Staff

Gloria D. Thomas, Ph.D.

President

Dr. Gloria D. Thomas joined HERS as President August 31, 2021. As President, Dr. Thomas supports the organization as an entrepreneurial and visionary leader responsible for enhancing the reputation of HERS and building strategic relationships to grow and advance the organization and the community of women it seeks to serve.  

Dr. Thomas has 20+ years of experience in the area of women’s leadership development that includes time at the University of North Carolina, University of Michigan, as well as the American Council on Education (ACE). She came to HERS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she served as the Director of the Carolina Women’s Center, Senior Personnel for the NSF-funded Targeting Equity in Access to Mentoring (TEAM) ADVANCE, and the Curriculum Development and Facilitator Trainer for the NIH-funded PROMISE Study. From 2009 – 2016, she was the Executive Director of the Center for the Education of Women (CEW) at the University of Michigan. Earlier, she served as Associate Director at the American Council on Education (ACE) for 8 years, first with the ACE Fellows Program, and subsequently in the Office of Women in Higher Education, where she was responsible for ACE Women’s Networks. Prior to working at ACE, she conducted research at CEW, and coordinated the Women of Color in the Academy Project, a support network for women of color faculty, while pursuing her doctoral degree. She began her career in academic administration in the Office of Admissions at Swarthmore College, where she worked for 7 years. 

In North Carolina, Dr. Thomas recently completed a 3-year term as State Chair of the NC ACE Network of Women Leaders in Higher Education.  She also volunteered as a writing tutor at the NC Correctional Institution for Women (NCCIW), and served on the board of BRIDGES, a professional development program for women in NC higher education. Dr. Thomas also served as a member and Program Chair for the AAUW Orange, Durham, Chatham Counties Branch and as Education Committee Co-chair and member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP.  

Dr. Thomas earned a B.A. in English and Black Studies from Swarthmore College (PA), an M.A. in English from Villanova University (PA), and a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Michigan. She is the proud, single mother of two young adults. 

Shannon B. Lundeen, Ph.D.

Vice President of Programs and Operations

Shannon Lundeen serves as the Vice President of Programs and Operations, after joining HERS as the Director of Programs in May of 2022. Shannon is responsible for program service development and delivery, admissions, and assessment, and also oversees the operations of HERS, including HR, marketing and recruitment, and alum engagement. Throughout her seventeen years in academic affairs leadership, she has worked in a variety of ways to advance equity and promote inclusive excellence in higher education. She has served as a professor and administrator in academic affairs, lived on campus as a faculty fellow, and has contributed to a wide range of scholarship from feminist bioethics to inclusive excellence in undergraduate residential education. Dr. Lundeen has taught and developed curriculum in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, directed a campus women’s center, provided women’s leadership programming, and has served as a content expert in diversity, inclusion, and equity in higher ed. She has worked at University of Pennsylvania, Case Western Reserve University, and most recently, Elon University.

After earning her PhD in philosophy with a graduate certificate in women’s studies from Stony Brook University in 2005, Dr. Lundeen served as the Associate Director of both the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Program (GSWS) and the Alice Paul Center for Research on Gender, Sexuality, and Women at the University of Pennsylvania. In these roles she taught in and developed new curriculum for the undergraduate and graduate certificate program in GSWS, organized several conferences and three annual endowed speaker series through the Center, secured the Center’s first postdoctoral fellow through a Mellon grant, established the GSWS graduate student pedagogy seminar series, and cultivated strategic partnerships with academic partners and colleagues within Penn’s twelve schools and across campus in Penn’s identity and cultural resource centers. For six of her eight years at Penn, Lundeen lived in residence in a first-year college house serving as a faculty fellow and living-learning community advisor, an experience that gave her the tools to develop a holistic and inclusive approach to educating, mentoring, and supporting students.

In 2013, Lundeen became the Director of the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women at Case Western Reserve University where she was appointed to the faculty in the School of Medicine (Bioethics) and the College of Arts and Sciences (Philosophy). In her role as Director, Lundeen provided overall leadership for the Center for Women, supervising professional and student staff, raising funds, assessing programmatic impact, and providing university guidance in policies, practices, resources, and services related to women, gender equity, sexual misconduct, and women’s leadership. As the Director, Lundeen was responsible for working with other colleagues and experts at the university to direct two annual leadership institutes—one for women faculty and one for women staff. Lundeen planned programs and events aimed at advancing gender equity not only within the university community but also in surrounding Cleveland communities. Under her leadership, the Center celebrated its tenth anniversary raising more funds than any other single event in the Center’s history.

Intrigued by the innovative, experiential, and holistic approach to undergraduate education at Elon University, Lundeen left CWRU to become Elon’s inaugural Director of Academic-Residential Partnerships and Associate Professor of philosophy in 2015. In this role, Lundeen has created an evidence-based strategic vision for living and learning at Elon that fosters integrative learning and enhances students’ sense of belonging. Serving as a director in the office of the provost, Lundeen has been able to play a key role in developing more inclusive curricula, creating accessible and culturally responsive residential environments, and diversifying students’ experiential learning opportunities. Through her professional service and scholarship, Lundeen has helped Elon gain a national reputation for the high-impact practice of residential learning communities. She has served on over twenty-four university-wide cross-divisional committees and task forces while at Elon including co-chairing both the Women’s Forum employee resource group and the Sexual Assault and Gender Issues Council (SAGIC) and serving on the Inclusive Community Council and the Council for Diversity and Inclusion Content Experts. In these roles, she has helped shape more inclusive practices and policies and expanded resources and services to members of minoritized and historically excluded identity groups. Finally, in the classroom, whether teaching an introductory gender studies section, an advanced philosophy course, or a global study-abroad class, Lundeen has helped her students learn how to take an intersectional approach to analyzing and addressing social injustices and structural inequities.

Lundeen is located in Denver with her family: her three sons, Paxton (14), Harley (11), and Phoenix (4), her partner, her mother, the gregarious family Aussiedoodle and the aloof family cat. They are all looking forward to enjoying the mile-high city and exploring the Colorado Rockies.

Felicia McGinty, Ed.D.

Director of Engagement and Outreach

Dr. Felicia McGinty is the Director of Engagement and Outreach, and joined HERS as the interim Director of Programs and Research in November of 2021. Dr. McGinty is responsible for program service development and delivery, HLI admissions, and research and assessment. She brings more than 30 years of professional experience in large public universities. A proud 2015 Bryn Mawr HERS alum, she is nationally recognized for her expertise in tackling some of higher education’s toughest challenges and making a positive impact in communities. She has been lauded for her bold leadership in addressing sexual violence on college campuses and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Prior to joining HERS, she served as Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration and Planning at New Jersey’s largest land-grant flagship campus, with 51,000+ students, over 11,000 employees, and a 1.7B operating budget. In this role she was responsible for all aspects of campus operations and provided oversight for: communication and marketing, human resources, information technology services, student affairs, space management, and other critical functions to advance the academic, research and service mission. Dr. McGinty has also held senior leadership roles at University of California Santa Cruz; Pennsylvania State University; and University of Maryland, Baltimore County. 

Dr. McGinty holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, a Master of Arts in Education Counseling, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University.

McGinty is a connoisseur of fine Black art, and recovering shoe-shopaholic with a penchant for antiquing. 

Tracey Bedford, M.B.A.

Interim Budget Manager

Tracey Bedford joined HERS in January of 2022 as the Accounting Specialist. Tracey is responsible for the daily and monthly recording of financial activity including accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll. She ensures registrations are processed, venues are paid, and financial records on operations are up to date.   

Before coming to HERS, Tracey contributed to the financial management of nonprofit organizations such as Girl Scouts of Colorado and Colorado FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Before focusing on financial management, she worked in product management at for–profit technology companies serving domestic and international research libraries, and later hospitals.   

Tracey’s commitment to furthering equity for women, stems in part from her undergraduate education in History and International Relations at the women’s college, Scripps College in Claremont, California. Bedford then attended the University of Colorado, Denver, and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.  She volunteered for many years in the nonpartisan voter education organization The League of Women Voters.   

Outside of work, Tracey is an avid reader and gardener. She enjoys hearing the latest adventures of her two children in college, her partner whose guitar playing contributes the sound track to her life, and her two pets, a puggle named Merlin, and a cat named Sir Griflet.   

Lauren Inman, M.Ed.

Instructional Designer and CRM specialist

Lauren Inman joined HERS in April of 2022 as the Instructional Designer. Lauren is responsible for developing in-person, online, blended, and web-enhanced programs created in collaboration with the other HERS facilitators. She runs the learning management software and designs trainings and resources for all of the HERS Programs. 

Lauren spent eleven years in education: four years as a high school science teacher, seven years designing and instructing STEM courses and three summers developing and running a Theater Camp.  Lauren received her M.Ed: STEM Curriculum and Instruction from Adams State University and her B.S in Biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She also attended the NASA Endeavor fellowship from Columbia University Teacher’s College. 

She considers herself a “maker” and “tinkerer.” She loves designing and building all kinds of things and am happiest with a project! On the weekends, you can find herehiking, camping, biking, reading or playing soccer. She is based in Denver, CO with her husband Greg, their son Ira and cat Leon.

Michelle Karas

Executive Assistant to the President, Board Relations Coordinator, and Office Manager

Michelle joined HERS in February 2023 as Executive Assistant to the President, Board Relations Coordinator and Office Manager. Her duties include providing administrative support for Executive Director Gloria Thomas and the HERS board and keeping the office running smoothly.

Michelle comes to HERS with an interest expanding her knowledge of women’s leadership and development after a 24-year career in print and digital journalism. She has worked as an editor for newspapers in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Colorado – most recently as editor of Pikes Peak Newspapers, a group of weekly publications based in Colorado Springs. Writing business features and personality profiles are her specialties. Michelle earned a B.A. in Journalism from Penn State University in her hometown, State College, Pa. She also attended the Denver Publishing Institute at University of Denver, earning a certificate in Publishing.

She enjoys exploring Colorado, reading fiction, and daily walks with her very active rescue dog, Lola.

Alicia Olivares Kirkeby

Senior Associate Director of Outreach and Engagement

Alicia Olivares Kirkeby, is the Senior Associate Director of Outreach and Engagement, after joining HERS as the Event Manager and Board Relations Coordinator in May 2022. Her duties as the Event Manager and Board Relations Coordinator included the end-to-end planning of HERS programs in different geographies and providing high-level administrative support to the HERS Board of Directors. Kirkeby is currently responsible for engaging, connecting, and cultivating an active HERS alumnae community led by volunteer alumnae leaders, planning strategic events and programming to inspire lifelong engagement and philanthropy with the organization.

Prior to joining HERS, Kirkeby was the Director of Alumni Engagement for the Josef Korbel School of International Studies (Korbel School) at the University of Denver. In this role, Kirkeby fostered lifelong connections to the Korbel School with the 7,500+ global alumni community, implemented strategic engagement activities, led a 32-member international alumni council, and worked closely with key University partners to support the efforts of alumni communities worldwide. Kirkeby oversaw over 22 events annually, including multiple diplomatic and event protocol arrangements for heads of state, senior government officials, and high-level national and international delegations.

Kirkeby also held the position of Director of Admissions – Worldwide for Up with People an international leadership program for college-aged youth that combined extensive world travel, community outreach and service projects, performance art training, and host family learning opportunities. In this role, she oversaw 23 enrollment professionals and worked and traveled in over 18 countries.

Originally from Colombia, South America, Kirkeby has lived in Brussels, Belgium, Esbjerg, Denmark, and has traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe. Kirkeby received a B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University and M.A. in Business Communications and Public Relations from the European University in Brussels, Belgium. Kirkeby currently resides in Denver with her family and enjoys traveling at any opportunity, reading, the outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Lindsey Templeton, Ph.D.

Associate Director of Programs and Research

Lindsey Templeton, Ph.D. joined HERS in December 2020, as a Senior Program Manager. In this role, she is responsible for program management, design, and delivery, with particular focus on and support for facilitators. Lindsey has over seven years of experience in higher education research and practice, with an emphasis on leadership and gender equity. Prior to HERS, Lindsey coordinated a leadership program for faculty members through the University of Maryland ADVANCE Office and served as Director of Research and Training for a non-profit organization focused on student leadership. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Richmond and M.A. and Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Maryland. Her dissertation research focused on women’s decisions to pursue the academic deanship. Lindsey is based in Pittsburgh, PA, and enjoys taking barre and yoga classes, trying new recipes and DIY projects, and spending time with her family.

Sophie Williams, M.A.

Director of Marketing and Recruiting

Sophie Williams joined HERS in July 2022 as the Director of Marketing and Recruiting. In this role, Sophie is responsible for promoting the HERS reputation and brand, content generation, supporting effective communication across all marketing channels, and supporting program recruitment.

Sophie brings nearly 15 years of experience in strategic communications for higher education and non-profit institutions, and has previously worked at such institutions as  Duke University, the North Carolina School of Science and Math (part of the UNC System), and Princeton University. During her career, she has launched brands, built websites, edited 350-page books, designed exhibits, garnered grants, and partnered with organizations to find the most effective ways to communicate with a variety of audiences and constituents.

Sophie holds a master of arts, where her thesis work centered on non-profit communications, a BA in art history, and a BA in English literature.