After completing her Ph. D. in English at Washington State University, Rita moved to the University of Northern Colorado, where she was an Assistant Professor and Director of Women’s Studies.
Her research interests include women and mothering, women and medicine, and how women in higher education negotiate their identities in terms of class and race. Particularly, she is interested in seeing inclusive excellence and social justice become realities rather than theories. Rita teaches one course a year in the Women’s Studies Department, works with colleagues across the campus to understand and meet the needs of female students, staff, and faculty in different disciplines and departments, and collaborates with many people to celebrate the accomplishments of women at Lehigh. She looks forward to meeting new students, whether they are first year students or those who are graduating in a month. Spending time with students and colleagues remains her most rewarding experiences of being in higher education.
She enjoys spending time with her family at Hawk Mountain or playing croquet, chase, or catch in the backyard, likes to sew and hopes to learn quilting at some point in her life, finds time once in a while to watch mid-twentieth century films, delights in watching her children build the most amazing structures out of pretty much any materials they can find around the house, and savors her spouse’s brilliance.
Assistant Director
Michelle Issadore, M.Ed
610-758-5808 mii206@lehigh.edu
Michelle Issadore was born and raised in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. She attended Brandeis University and graduated in 2004 with a double major in Psychology and Women's Studies, as well as a minor in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. She also spent a semester studying at University College London in London, England. She then moved on to Penn State University's Master's program in College Student Affairs, where she worked as a Graduate Assistant with their peer hotline.
Michelle has been at Lehigh since 2006 when she started as the Sexual Violence Prevention Coordinator in the Women's Center before becoming the Assistant Director in 2007. Michelle takes great pleasure in engaging with Lehigh's fabulous students, faculty, and staff around why we still need feminism and the prevalence of sexism and violence against women in popular culture.
In her own time, Michelle enjoys reading, skiing, singing (badly) in her car, and spending time with her partner, Scott, and her family and friends.
"What I enjoy most about working at the Women's Center is the liveliness of the University Center, the fresh perspectives of the students and the inexhaustible enthusiasm and commitment exemplified by every member of the Dean of Students staff. No two days are ever alike in this office! There's always a new idea that we're kicking around, a speaker that we're trying to bring onto campus or a student/staff member that approaches us with a passionate desire to start up another initiative.
This university is unusually blessed with the amount of sheer talent embodied within every member of its Lehigh community!!"
Student Staff:
WC Intern
Samantha Arce
My name is Samantha, but everyone calls me Sam. I was born and raised in Manhattan and I love everything about New York: the diversity, the spontaneity, the lights, and the fact that I can go to the corner deli at anytime day or night and order the best beacon, egg, and cheese. I am Puerto Rican and Cuban, and I am very proud to be Hispanic. I came to Lehigh to experience new things and I am now a senior and happy to say that I am graduating in May with a lot of new knowledge about life and all the challenges that come along with it. I have opened up to many new ideas at Lehigh and have grown a great deal through my membership with the various clubs on campus, such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Diversity Delegates, and now the Brown & White and the yearbook committee. I look forward to continuing to grow with my work at the Women's Center this semester.
Staff Member
Eddie Brack
Hello All,
My name is Eddie Brack, and I am a proud member of Lehigh University’s Class of 2013! I hail from a small city known as Plainfield, In Central New Jersey. It is my desire to study one of the natural sciences at Lehigh, under the preparatory medical program. Apart from my interest in medicine, I enjoy creative writing, and as far as sports are concerned, I like to play Football and Basketball. So, why the Women’s Center? Well, I was raised by my mother in a single parent household, so I have always had such a deep and profound respect for women. Women have also made an array of contributions to the annals of history, but in this male dominant society, sometimes those great undertakings are overlooked or pushed to the side. I believe that we cannot move forward in the world and specifically at Lehigh, unless we actually erase the lines that divide us into groups and instead, recognize the accomplishments of everyone, men and women, wholly and entirely together, to ultimately make advances towards a better and brighter future. I am looking forward to working with the Women’s Center this year, and I look forward to helping everyone.
-Eddie.
WC Intern
Hailey Coonrad
Hailey Coonrad is entering her 5th year at Lehigh. She received her BS degree in Psychology last May, and is pursuing a minor in Women’s Studies. This is the first time that she is getting involved as an intern in the Women’s Center, but she is excited to become involved in the newly developed “She’s Got Game” female athlete discussion series. Hailey is also a co-captain on the women’s soccer team and she is involved with athletics leadership on campus.
Break the Silence Member & BTS liason for the Women's Center
Rachel Dorrell
"Libra de Feminae," WAVES Member, WoCA
Andrea Espinoza
Marian Wright Edelman said that “Service is the rent we pay for living on this Earth.” My name is Andrea D. Espinoza and I am a junior English major here at Lehigh. I volunteer at the Women’s Center as the moderator of Libra de Feminae Book Club, the coordinator of the Women of Color Alliance, and I am also a founding member of WAVES. What I love about Lehigh is the fact that we are small enough to feel like a family, but we are large enough to be influential on a grand international scale. My goal by the time that I leave here is to make every person on this campus feel safe regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation and disability. Although it is always a challenge, with the help of the Women’s Center, I will always do my part to make this campus smaller, and the Lehigh Family bigger. Thanks for reading
Origyns Editor, The 'F-Word' Editor
Dianna Hank
Hi everyone! My name is Dianna Marie Hank and I am a senior English and American Studies double major here at Lehigh with minors in Anthropology and Women’s Studies. I am from Long Island (Lawn Guyland), New York and go through “good bagel & pizza withdrawal” every time I come back to school here in PA. I am the president of the Women’s Rugby team whom I absolutely adore for being some of the most hardcore ladies I have ever met and showing me how to have a good time while getting dirty, sweaty, and bruised. I am also the president of the Chi Nu chapter of Sigma Tau Delta (the International English Honors Society). Aside from that, I am a cast member of The Vagina Monologues which is probably the best thing I’ve done since I’ve been here at Lehigh. Participating in the show has allowed me to meet so many wonderful women whom I now consider to be some of my closest friends. I love to read & write poetry, listen to music, be controversial, and question anything considered to be “normal.” Here at the Women’s Center, I am the editor of both Origyns, our literary magazine, and The F Word, our newsletter.
WC Intern
Suzanne Hyslip
My name is Suzanne Hyslip. I'm from Boston, MA and am currently a senior at Lehigh University. I will be graduating in January with a B.A. in English and a minor in Women's Studies. I am a member of Break the Silence and think that this is most definitely the best thing that I got involved in while at school. I love going to the beach, relaxing, reading books, and going out to eat. I'm glad to be interning at the WC this semester because it is my last one here!
Staff Member
Rebecca Kelley
Born in raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, her journey to Lehigh was an exciting and invigorating experience. She's excited for the opportunity to be working for the Women's Center as her first on-campus job and is looking forward to learning from all of the wonderful women that make Lehigh such an inviting community.
She is freshmen living in McConn. Her intended major is Earth and Environmental Sciences, She plays for the club volleyball team at Lehigh.
Staff Member
Jesús Luna
WC Volunteer
Heather Mushock
I am a graduate student at Lehigh and am working toward my Masters in special education with dual certification in special ed and elementary ed. I received my BA from Oberlin College in 2008 with a double major in psychology and English. I currently work at a group home for adults with developmental disabilities and hope to get a job teaching children with autism and/or multiple disabilities once I graduate. When not working or in class, I try to catch up on my pleasure reading. I was a staff member at the Women's Center last spring and was a 2009 Vagina Monologues cast member. Due to scheduling conflicts, I can only volunteer at the Women's Center at this time, but look forward to supporting the WC as much as I can.
Body Empowerment Alliance, Co-Director of "The Vagina Monologues"
Elisa Pennetti
I am a senior Behavioral Neuroscience major, hoping to pursue a Masters in Public Health. I’m from Collegeville, PA where I’ve lived for 18 years but my heart lies in Philadelphia – my favorite city! I love to cook (or at least learn how to!) different types of vegetarian dishes, read and learn new things, listen to music, be outside and in the sun, and have fun doing just about everything. If I didn’t love science so much, I’d probably be a stand-up comedian because I love to make people laugh. I coordinate to Body Empowerment Alliance and I am co-producing the Vagina Monologues this year – its 10th anniversary at Lehigh!
WC Volunteer
Sarah Poley
WC Volunteer
Laura Ponchick
Laura Ponchick is an undergraduate student majoring in Global Studies. She has become a volunteer at the women’s center due to her extreme passion for women’s rights both domestically and internationally. She has loved attending the staff meetings and becoming more involved in women’s center activities such as pink pumpkin painting, teaching people about CPCs, recruiting volunteers for the Allentown Women’s Center, luncheons, and anything else that has come her way. She is also a member of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom, the Global Union, and occasionally helps out with University Productions music department. She is also an avid collector of rubber ducks.
Staff Member
Martina Russial
My name is Martina Russial. I’m a senior and an English major here at Lehigh. I was born in Philadelphia and moved to Eugene, Oregon when I was 4 years old and love the West Coast. I came back to Pennsylvania for college because Lehigh seemed to be a great fit for me. Along with being part of the Women’s Center I’m in Leadership Lehigh, Alpha Phi Omega (The National Co-ed Community Service Fraternity), and the American Chemical Society. One of my greatest passions at Lehigh besides cooking and baking is community service. After school I plan on opening a restaurant on the West Coast and pursuing a teaching career later on in life.
WC Volunteer
Jacquelin Scully
Staff Member
Amanda Shao
Amanda Shao was born in the awesome state of New York. But soon after her birth, she lived in a country called Malaysia for neary 10 years. There, Amanda enjoyed the beautiful weather throughout the years and came to love swimming, surfing, snorkeling, and the game of volleyball.
Upon her return to the United States at the age of 10, Amanda attended John Witherspoon Middle School and soon graduated from Princeton High School in 2009. Princeton, New Jersey has always been a place where Amanda tries to give back to the community through her leadership in Princeton Young Achievers, an organization that helps minority children with studying, reading, and math.
For most of her summer vacation in High School, Amanda dedicates her time at the Young Women's Christian Association, where she enjoys playing sports with children and encouraging people to "eliminate racism, and empower women." - YWCA
Staff Member
Vanessa "Nezy" Smith
Hey everyone, my name is Vanessa Smith but Iam most commonly referred to as "Nezy." I am in the School of Arts and Sciences as a B.A. Psychology and German Major. I love learning new languages because I get sick of hearing English. If I could learn languages, bake desserts, laugh, and wear stilettos for the rest of my life, I would!
One of my favorite quotes, by an anonymous person, is "Success is a commitment, not a wish." This quote is very inspirational to me because I find myself wishing to be successful instead of putting in the strenuous effort it would take to accomplish my goals. When I read this quote, I am remided that I cannot quit and take the easy way out when I am faced with obstacles in life.
WC Volunteer
Tara Stephenson
Tara Stephenson, undergraduate degree in music education, chef's certificate, master's degree in counseling, currently working as an interviewer with the Center for Social Research at Price Hall.
I live in Easton with my husband and the 1 of our 2 sons who is still at home. The other one began his junior year in college. The one at home finishes high school this year.
I love music, especially vocal music. I like "classical" music (whatever that means), non-western European folk music, electric blues and rock. Other interests are diverse spiritualities (very pluralist outlook), governance, poetry and social justice topics. I am particularly drawn to subjects that touch on gender identity.
I am a member of the local Unitarian Universalist church, where I am usually the leader of something, where I teach (this year the 7-8 graders) and where I sing in the choir. I also sing in Lehigh's Choral Union.
Ask any questions you have.
Co-Director of "The Vagina Monologues"
Katie Walker
I hail from Louisville (Loo-ah-vul), Kentucky and trek all the way up here every year to be at Lehigh. This is my third year with The Vagina Monologues and I'm so excited to be co-producing with Elisa! Our goal is to raise $20,000 and I know we can do it.
When I'm not talking about Vaginas, I'm an English major with a love of literature (go figure), and I'm currently working on my honors thesis about Jane Austen. I also intern at/write for Organic Gardening Magazine and Underwired Magazine. I enjoy discussing, writing about, and sometimes fighting over women's issues.
I love cooking, the Louisville cardinals, watching bad TV, reading good books, sewing and just being around amazing people, which is why I love the Women's Center.
