Board of Directors

Keri Angeles Pari

Special Events and Outreach

Co-Owner, RLM Event Management & Production
Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Chapman University; Certificate of Corporate Social Responsibility, Pepperdine University
Volunteer: Alumni Board of Directors, Chapman University; Board of Directors, Action in Africa

I am fueled by a deep belief in the transformative power of women’s leadership, and dedicated to empowering women to break barriers, lead with confidence, and inspire change. Advancing women’s rights, from equal representation to reproductive freedom, is essential for building a more inclusive and equitable future. When women have a seat at the table, entire communities thrive.

Karen Clark

Programs and Speakers
Founding Member & Past Chair

Retired Partner, law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Education: BA Stanford; MA in History, University of Washington; JD University of Michigan

WIL has been a passion of mine for over 30 years. I walked and campaigned for choice even before Roe v. Wade. I genuinely believed that the Roe v. Wade decision would permanently provide women with reproductive freedom. What a hopelessly naïve idea! Now we’re fighting for our rights as women all over again and WIL is more needed and more relevant than ever.

Gail Dratch

Membership

Social Worker, Retired
University Instructor, Chapman University and CSUF, Retired
BA University of the Pacific, MSW University of Southern California

I am passionate in my belief that society at all levels benefits from women having the rights and ability to make decisions regarding their reproductive health. In recent years it’s become clearer than ever that who we chose as our elected representatives is critical. That is why I am proud to be part of an organization doing this important work.

Mary Fleiss

Special Events and Fundraising

Activist
Education: BA Economics, University of California Berkeley

I believe in protecting reproductive rights for all women, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status. In a political climate that is threatening to roll back these rights, electing pro-choice women to public office is our best defense. As the mother of three daughters, I am proud to be a member of WIL and have the opportunity to make a difference.

Karol Gottfredson

Membership Chair

Related Organizations: Girls Inc. of Orange County; Planned Parenthood; Founding member Orange County Women’s Health Project
Retired: University of California Irvine, School of Education, Program Director
Education: BA University of California Davis, MA State University of NY, Albany, National Teacher Corps

One of the strengths of Women in Leadership is its nonpartisan approach to advocating for women’s rights and opportunities. Women in Leadership promotes education, political action and eternal vigilance to safeguard women’s health options and reproductive choices by electing bi-partisan pro-choice women to public office.

LaDonna Kienitz

Secretary

Tax attorney, Assistant Director, Tax Law Clinic, Fowler School of Law, Chapman University
Education: MLS, Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois;
MBA, Northwestern Univ., Kellogg School of Management, Evanston, Illinois;
JD, Western State University College of Law, Fullerton, California;
LL.M. in Taxation, University of San Diego, San Diego, California

I believe that it is imperative that a woman has complete autonomy over her own body. We must all work to ensure that there is no governmental or regulatory intrusion into a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her own body and medical care available to her.

Jennifer McDonald

Chair 2021-25

Communications Consultant
Education: UC Santa Barbara

I believe a woman should have the right to choose and that one of the best ways to protect that right is to elect pro-choice women. It takes so much courage to run for public office, it's an honor to help the women who do. WIL provides the funding and visibility these candidates need. I’m proud to support them through WIL.

Elizabeth Dorn Parker, Ed.D.

Outreach and Special Projects

Elected Governing Board Member, Coast Community College District
Vice Chair and Treasurer, Samueli Academy Board of Trustees
Education: BA Art History, UCLA; MPA CSU Fullerton, Ed.D. Community College Leadership, CSU Fullerton

As a longtime educational leader, one of my priorities has been to ensure women’s reproductive rights and that students receive accurate and age-appropriate health and sex education. Our democracy will not be secure unless students and women have the opportunity to access accurate reproductive education and health and all the rights these freedoms provide. I am proud to be a member and leader with WIL for nearly 30 years. When WIL-endorsed candidates win, we all win.

Phyllis Roberts

Treasurer

Retired VP of Finance and Operations
Previous owner of specialty manufacturing company
Education: California State University Northridge
Volunteer at Merage JCC Irvine, working on social action programs for the needy as well as cultural arts programming

I have long advocated for a women’s right to choose and WIL recognizes that women still don’t enjoy full equality in regards to control over our personal bodies and health choices. It is for these reasons that we must continue to elect pro-choice women at all levels of government to protect the gains that have been made and continue to work for total equality for women.

Susan Seely

Outreach and Event Support
Past Co-Chair, Past Treasurer

National Executive Director, NA’AMAT USA
Education: MA International Studies – Middle East, University of Washington
BA Political Science and International Relations, UC Santa Barbara

I have served on the WIL board since moving to Orange County in 1997. I believe in a woman’s right to have absolute choice over the decisions she makes regarding her own health and reproductive decisions. One route to ensuring that women’s right to choice is guarded and upheld is by working to make sure that women are increasingly represented in elected positions, both nationally and locally. I am the mother of two adult children, Clara and Emma, and the daughter of WIL Board member and Founder, Melinda Seely.

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