As part of our “Women on Wednesdays” series, please join American University's Women & Politics Institute for a virtual conversation with Stephenie Foster, author of the book, Take Action: Fighting for Women and Girls and WPI Executive Director Betsy Fischer Martin.

Stephenie Foster’s Take Action: Fighting for Women and Girls is an in depth guide to activism and advocacy for those who want to support women and girls. Emphasizing the value of education, economic opportunities, the elimination of gender-based violence, and promotion of women in political life, Foster makes clear, “Young women aren’t future women leaders. They are women leaders.” Her guide will help you get them to the forefront. Order the book here

Stephenie Foster, is a partner and co-founder of Smash Strategies, a consulting firm that helps institutions achieve better results by focusing on women's leadership and gender equality. Her expertise in women's economic and political empowerment has led to prominent roles on Capitol Hill, in the Executive Branch, in the nonprofit sector, and the law. Before founding Smash Strategies, Foster served at the U.S. Department of State from 2012-2017, which included service as a Senior Advisor and Counselor to the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues and as an advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Foster began her career as an attorney, and was a litigation partner in San Francisco, California. She received a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.R.P. from Cornell University, and a B.A. from the University of California.

Betsy Fischer Martin is an Emmy-winning journalist and former TV news executive. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University and a faculty member in the School of Public Affairs, where she teaches courses on campaigns and elections. During her earlier career in television news, she spent 23 years at NBC News serving as the longtime Executive Producer of Meet the Press with Tim Russert and as the Managing Editor of NBC News Political Programming.

A native of New Orleans, Fischer Martin did her undergraduate and graduate work at American University in Washington, DC. She is a cum laude graduate of their School of Public Affairs and earned a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the AU School of Communication.

“Women On Wednesdays”: Stephenie Foster - “Take Action: Fighting for Women and Girls”