Staff Members
Diane Cornman-Levy
Executive DirectorDiane Cornman-Levy
Watch VideoAs the Executive Director of WOMEN’s WAY, a nonprofit organization committed to achieving gender equality and justice, Diane is responsible for leading the restructuring of WOMEN’S WAY to reestablish it as a powerful catalyst for achieving gender equality and justice. Her role is critical to the transition and rebuilding of the organization that will support and expand on the mission.
Diane brings more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership, coalition building, and fundraising experience to WOMEN’S WAY. A tireless advocate for gender equality, Diane joins WOMEN’S WAY after running for State Representative of the 168th District, where she secured the highest percentage of votes on the Democratic ticket. Prior to that, Diane was co-founder and executive director of Natural Creativity, an educational initiative dedicated to helping young people develop a foundation for life-long learning that promotes self-direction, constructive purpose, and personal fulfillment, within a commitment to social equity.
Between 2015 and 2007, Diane was the Executive Director of the Federation of Neighborhood Centers (FNC), a non-profit organization that provides health and human services to more than 35,000 disadvantaged individuals per year. Prior to working at FNC, she was the Founder and Executive Director of Journey Home, a nonprofit organization that provided health and human services to more than 2,500 disadvantaged individuals per year. In each of these positions, Diane challenged the status quo through improving existing or developing new programs and services.
Diane served as the Co-Chair of the City of Philadelphia’s Food Policy Advisory Council (FPAC), and currently is a member of FPAC, Thomas Jefferson University’s School of Population Health’s Advisory Board, and the Philadelphia Declaration of Play Council.
Growing up in a family who was deeply committed to social justice built the foundation of her diverse career as a community activist, healthcare professional, educator, and non-profit leader. Diane is a long-term resident of Delaware County where she graduated from Radnor High School and then received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Brown University and a Master’s of Science in Physical Therapy at Northwestern University.
She returned to Delaware County in 1991 when she moved to Newtown Square. A mother of two daughters, she understands the health and economic inequities that women face, which is a driving force behind her past and present work. A strong advocate for public education, her two daughters graduated from Marple Newtown High School.
Jessica Muslin
Director of OperationsJessica Muslin
Jessica’s passion for gender equality issues developed during her studies at the University of Vermont, where she earned her BA with a double major in Women’s Studies and Sociology. While attending UVM, she volunteered as a hotline counselor for the Women’s Rape Crisis Center in Burlington. Jessica pursued a career in finance, beginning as a Sales Assistant at Raymond James & Associates in New York, where she progressed to eventually hold a position as Vice President. After 16 years in finance, Jessica decided to return to her roots and true calling in non-profit work focused on benefiting women and girls, joining the Young Woman’s Initiative in March of 2015 and then the Advisory Board in July. Jessica has been the Director of Operations for Women’s Way since June of 2016. She lives in the Forgotten Bottom neighborhood (FOBO) of Philadelphia with her partner and his two children.
Mary Scout
Mary Scout
Mary has been the controller at WOMEN’S WAY for over 19 years. She began her career at PriceWaterhouse in 1965 and has been a CPA since 1967. She then worked at the Pitcairn Company in Jenkintown for over 17 years as a Vice-president of Taxation. In the 1980s, Mary served on WOMEN’S WAY’s Board of Directors. Mary is a professional registered parliamentarian. She serves WOMEN’S WAY as its parliamentarian, and also serves the NJ PTA and Dance Masters of America.. Mary has served on the board of several women’s organizations, and is currently treasurer for her church. She is a graduate of Drexel University, with a degree in accounting. Mary is married and resides in Medford, NJ.
Board Members
Aletha Akers
MD MPH FACOGAletha Akers
Dr. Aletha Akers is a faculty member at PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and an adolescent gynecologist and medical director of Adolescent Gynecology Consultative Services in the Craig-Dalsimer Division of Adolescent Medicine at CHOP. Aletha also leads a research group that assesses strategies for improving access and quality of reproductive health services for adolescents.
Catherine Barbieri
Esq.Catherine Barbieri
Catherine Barbieri is a partner in Fox Rothschild LLP who practices in the area of employment law. Catherine also serves on the Firm's Diversity Committee and the Steering Committee of its Women's Initiative. She is also the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Women’s Law Project.
Denise E. Collins
Denise E. Collins
Denise E. Collins is the owner of DEC Consulting, LLC which focuses on business and real estate development. Denise received her B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education from Pennsylvania State University and her M.B.A. degree in Health Administration from Temple University. She is a member of the Board of Directors and Management Committee of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, a member of the Forum of Executive Women as well as a board member of WOMEN'S WAY.
Paula Crowley
Board ChairPaula Crowley
Paula Crowley was recently recognized by the Real Estate Forum – Women of Influence as one of the top 45 female executives making a difference in commercial real estate. Paula is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and speaks nationally on the topics of customer-focused design, merchandising healthcare services, and creating investment value from healthcare real estate. She is also Chairman of The High Company in Lancaster, PA, Chairman of her firm Anchor Health Properties, and Chairman of WOMEN'S WAY in Philadelphia.
Claudia Hearst Curry
Ed.D.Claudia Hearst Curry
Since 2002, Dr. Claudia Hearst Curry has served as Founding Director of the Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center at Community College of Philadelphia. There, she provides leadership in the development of programs and activities that address the interests and concerns primarily of women students. Claudia earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Innovation and Leadership from Wilmington University, and her B.A. in Organizational Management and M.B.A from Eastern University.
Brenda DeFeo
Brenda DeFeo
Brenda DeFeo has more than 20 years of management experience in healthcare and hospital administration. She is currently a Vice President for Bryn Mawr Hospital where she directs clinical support services, outpatient services and the oncology and pediatrics service lines. Brenda currently serves on the board of WOMEN'S WAY and is a trustee of the Valentine Foundation. She has also served as the Chair of the Maternity Care Coalition’s Corporate Advisory Committee and is a board member and treasurer of the Women’s Resource Center.
Don Forcey
Don Forcey
Don Forcey is an IT Executive at Vanguard where he has served in various roles across Data Center Operations during his 20 years there. He earned his undergraduate degree from Penn State University and holds a Master’s degree from St. Joseph’s University. Don is active with Home of the Sparrow, Adult Care of Chester County and is on the board of WOMEN'S WAY.
Gail Howard
Ed. DGail Howard
Gail Howard is Managing Director and a Senior Consultant at Liberty Business Strategies Ltd. She brings to her position over 25 years of experience as a senior consultant, executive coach, and Human Resources leader. She incorporates the best practices of both “insider” practical experiences with “outsider” objectivity to support leadership and corporate excellence in her work.
Elizabeth Ireland
Board TreasurerElizabeth Ireland
Elizabeth Ireland has been with Grant Thornton for 11 years where she serves as the Philadelphia office champion for Women@Grant Thornton, a firm initiative to ensure Grant Thornton becomes the premier firm for women with careers in accounting and professional services. Elizabeth also serves on the boards for WOMEN'S WAY and Professional Women’s Roundtable in Philadelphia and volunteers with the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Julie P. Laine
Julie P. Laine
Julie Laine is currently the Vice President, Chief Transaction Compliance Officer and Senior Deputy General Counsel at Comcast Corporation. Julie is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the College of William & Mary Law School. She is a member of Women in Cable & Telecommunications and a graduate of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute. Julie is also a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association and is a former co-chair of the FCBA’s New England Chapter.
Christine Lussier
CPAChristine Lussier
Christine Lussier is a retired certified public accountant and former senior tax manager at Deloitte where she specialized in individual and trust income tax. Christine left public accounting in 2009 in search of new passions and began studying yoga. She teaches yoga to elementary school children at Wissahickon Charter School and leads a women’s yoga program at Broad Street Ministries. Christine serves on the Boards of NextMove Dance, WOMEN'S WAY, and Philadelphia Photo Arts Center.
Tracey Pachman
Esq.Tracey Pachman
Tracey Sorens Pachman joined Villanova in August, 2014. She has over eleven years of experience as a practicing attorney and specializes in contracts, intellectual property, technology, marketing and other business law issues. Tracey earned her Bachelor's degree from Bryn Mawr College in both Psychology and Political Science and her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Tracey currently serves on the Board of Directors of WOMEN'S WAY in Philadelphia.
Mary E. H. Posner
Mary E. H. Posner
Mary E. H. Posner has spent her life working and volunteering in the nonprofit sector. She was the Director of Family Advocacy at Family Service of Philadelphia and has served on various nonprofit agency boards, particularly those serving women and girls. Among them, CHOICE, Women's Law Project, Women Against Abuse, New Directions for Women, Maternity Care Coalition, and the Shipley School. Before joining its board, Mary volunteered at WOMEN’S WAY for 40 years.
Joanne R. Soslow
Esq.Joanne R. Soslow
Joanne R. Soslow counsels public companies, emerging growth businesses, and corporate venture capital groups on corporate and securities matters. As the leader of the Morgan Lewis's securities practice, Joanne advises clients primarily in the energy, biotechnology, financial services, technology, medical device, specialty pharmaceutical industries. In her transactional practice, Joanne guides companies in their complex public and private equity and debt securities activities, venture capital initiatives, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Dr. Courtney A. Schreiber
Dr. Courtney A. Schreiber
Dr. Courtney Schreiber is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and founder and Director of the Penn Family Planning and Pregnancy Loss Center at the Perelman School of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also the founding director of PEACE, The Pregnancy and Prevention Early Access Center, and director of the Fellowship in Family Planning at Penn Medicine.
Kathryn Stripling
Board SecretaryKathryn Stripling
Kathryn Stripling has worked for AstraZeneca for the past 20 years, currently serving as the Executive Director of Promotional Regulatory Affairs. Previously, she was Senior Counsel, US Legal and Senior Director, US Compliance. Prior to her career at AstraZeneca, Kathryn was a Senior Litigation Associate at Rothgerber, Appel, Powers & Johnson. She received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.
Kim Takacs
Kim Takacs
Kim Takacs is Senior Counsel in the Global Corporate Transactions group at Chubb. She is a member of the Chubb Pro Bono Committee and is passionate about engaging in-house lawyers in pro bono service. Kim is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees for Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance.
Marguerite C. Weese Raab
Board Vice ChairMarguerite C. Weese Raab
Marguerite C. Weese Raab is a Director of Wealth and Fiduciary Planning at Wilmington Trust. She holds a Juris Doctorate and Master of Laws in Taxation from Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law and earned her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Maryland. Marguerite is also a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Probate and Trust Section’s Executive Committee and a prior chair of the section’s tax committee.