Charlottesville NOW 

PRESIDENT ~ Charlotte’s employment history includes facility management and marketing at the student center of the University of Cincinnati, where she received her degree in business administration, and launching the Newspaper in Education program at the Daily Progress in Charlottesville. After incurable chronic illness ended career endeavors, she became a dedicated community volunteer. She mentored students and helped develop school programs in Albemarle County Schools, including competitive creative problem-solving teams, and has served in significant roles in political organizing.

1st VICE PRESIDENT ~ Kathe graduated from Cornell University with a degree in English Literature. She had a career in the hospitality industry, rising to the position of VP for Hilton Hotels Corporation in Beverly Hills, CA before leaving to raise her children and serve as a school, church, and community volunteer. The election of 2016 led to a deeper involvement in politics, and she was further activated by the white supremacists’ rally which happened when she had just moved to Charlottesville. She is especially passionate about ending systemic racial inequity.

2nd VICE PRESIDENT ~ Amy served in the Peace Corps before her career as a science teacher. Among her many board service experiences is the Charlottesville City School Board, where she formerly served as Chair and Vice Chair. Amy is Founder of Virginia’s List, a Political Action Committee that supports Democratic women running for state office. She is currently a candidate herself, running for the 55th District House of Delegates seat in the Virginia General Assembly.

3rd VICE PRESIDENT ~ Hailey is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where she also hopes to attend Law School. In the meantime, she is working for a law firm in Charlottesville. While at UVA she served on The Cavalier Daily newspaper staff for all four years, as well as participating in other student organizations. Hailey has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in Charlottesville and Hilton Head and served as an intern on a political candidate’s campaign. Hailey first came to Charlottesville NOW as an intern through the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor’s School.

SECRETARY ~ Becca is a graduate of Hanover College in Indiana, where she studied psychology, which she has used working in the mental health field with young people. She was previously Assistant Program Director at the Discovery School of Virginia and currently is a Mental Health Coach at Walton Middle School in Albemarle County Schools. She realized the importance of activism when reflecting on her single mom's life led to understanding the ways women are oppressed in our society. She has worked since to teach young people about empowerment and women’s rights issues. She loves to be outside, going hiking and floating down the James River.

TREASURER ~ Before his current “retirement job” at the University of Virginia, Doug used his Master of Computer Science Degree in a 37-year career with the federal government, starting as a software programmer for the Air Force and ending as Chief Information Officer at the Army’s National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville. He has also volunteered in the community, for schools, nonprofit organizations, and political campaigns. When not occupied by his job, he can be found outside working in his two-acre yard.

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR ~ Maria graduated from Mount Holyoke College with an undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies and interned at the headquarters of the National Organization for Women as well as the DC Rape Crisis Center in Washington, DC. Maria also holds a Master’s in Information Technology and has worked as a web applications and data base developer in Fairfax, VA, Nelsonville, OH and most recently at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. She has volunteered for political organizations and campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia, and served for five years as Secretary of Charlottesville NOW.

Virginia has been active in women’s rights, local politics, and music for years. She received her M.A. in English from the University of Arkansas, was a Charlottesville City Councilor and Mayor, and owned and operated Papercraft Printing & Design Inc. in Charlottesville for twenty-six years. Virginia has served on the boards and volunteered for many women’s rights and political organizations, including Charlottesville NOW, where she has previously held the offices of Vice President and Secretary. She solves the New York Times crossword puzzle every day.

Kobby is the immediate past president of Charlottesville NOW. She currently also serves on the Virginia NOW Board and represents the Eastern District on the National NOW Board. Kobby was a founder of the first Take Back the Night march in Charlottesville and of the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund, both originally projects of Charlottesville NOW. She earned her Master of Planning Degree from the University of Virginia, where she currently works as a Grants and Contracts Administrator. Kobby is always involved with nonprofit organizations that serve the community. Her passion is getting the Equal Rights Amendment enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

Alex is a student at the University of Mary Washington, where she is a Theatre Major and a member of the College of Education. She is double minoring in Social Justice and Musical Theatre. Alex was first introduced to Charlottesville NOW through her Blue Ridge Virtual Governor's School internship. Her passion is climate justice.

Kristin is a Jefferson Scholar student at the University of Virginia, where she co-founded Students for Equity and Reform in Virginia (SERV), which advocates for progressive policies. In her capacity as Head of Partnerships she has built relationships with legislators and community organizations in Virginia and at UVA. Kristin already has a long history of fighting for women’s rights, serving as President of the feminist club in her high school and serving as intern for the New York City chapter of NOW.

Nikki, whose home is in London, England, is a student at the University of Virginia. Passionate about advocating for women’s rights, she previously helped launch a sexual assault awareness campaign and pitched the idea to Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police to wear red wristbands to show allyship on the London Underground. She has also created social media for the mayor of a small French town and done organizing work near her home for Teens Unite Against Cancer.