The National Office

About the National Office

The National Women's Studies Association, Inc. was founded in 1977 and officially charted in the State of Maryland on May 18, 1978. Since its founding, the Association grew through grassroots organizing and coalition work; an incredible cadre of women's, gender, and sexuality studies educators and activists shepherded NWSA and raised funds to hire our first full-time Executive Director in 2004. Over time, the National Office became the administrative anchor and works as thought partners with the elected Governing Council. Today, the National Office team works to support our expanding membership through programming initiatives and resource development - most notably the Annual Conference.

Connecting with Our Team

The National Office strives to meet the needs of our members, collaborators, and partners - though we do not work in the urgent way that white supremacist capitalist culture often expects and dictates1. The National Women's Studies Association engages members across Turtle Island (North America) and beyond; the Association therefore functions on a 9 AM - 5 PM ET schedule with sensitivities to our members based in other time zones. Your outreach is important to us and we look forward to connecting!

1Adapted from organizer paradyse oakley.

Courtney Carroll

Senior Operations and Infrastructure Manager

Courtney Carroll (she/her) serves NWSA as its Senior Operations and Infrastructure Manager. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Loyola University Maryland in Communications with a specialization in Advertising and Public Relations. Her interest in unpacking systems of oppression and how they impact issues of representation and inclusion first led her to an internship with the Association in 2021. Since joining the National Office, Courtney oversaw the curation of two national conferences and maintained vital records during years of instability for the Association.

When she is not stabilizing and supporting the daily operations of NWSA, Courtney is working on the elusive work-life balance. As a native Bostonian, staunch fan of Lizzo, and extra pickles on her sandwiches, Courtney is her best self when in the company of her family and close friends. She is passionate about equity work and contributes much of her intellectual growth to the community of scholars and activists within NWSA. While she may be known for her behind the scenes work, Courtney is a true testament to the transformative nature of the Association as she fine tunes her own feminist voice.

Meet Our Summer Fellows

Reporting to the Executive Director and Association President, our Summer Fellows work on myriad research projects and Association content that accurately reflects the values, focus, and alignment of the National Women’s Studies Association. Our team works independently, and at times, collaboratively to develop composite reports, original content, and resources in the following areas of focus: 

  • Research and Reporting (ie. accessibility protocols and benchmarking, WGSS programs and resources, etc.)

  • Public Relations and Marketing (ie. social media content, conference designs, infographics, etc.)

  • Association Support (ie. membership support and engagement, daily operations, conference program assistance, etc.)

Our first Summer Fellows positions were made possible through the support of Colorado College's Summer Internship program and Dr. Heidi R. Lewis' advocacy.

Paige Jones

2026 Summer Fellow

Paige Jones (she/her) is a rising senior at Mount Holyoke College, double majoring in Politics and CRPE (Critical Race and Political Economy). She is originally from San Antonio, Texas, where her passion for social justice and fight for immigrant rights began. She’s focused on merging her Latinx Studies concentration and politics background with the NWSA’s feminist practices and values. Paige believes in the importance of making feminist scholarship and resources accessible to everyone. She also serves as secretary for the MHC 2027 class board and is an event coordinator for the Mixed Identity Student Collective. In her free time, Paige loves watching documentaries, listening to music, and playing with her dog.

Charlotte Combe

2025 Summer Fellow

Charlotte Combe (they/she) is a rising senior at Colorado College, double majoring in Sociology and Feminist and Gender Studies. They are particularly interested in transnational feminism, housing justice, and substance use harm reduction, which she hopes to incorporate in her work with NWSA this summer.
At Colorado College, Charlotte helps run the Substance Use Harm Reduction Club, works as an office assistant for the Feminist and Gender Studies department, and is the incoming administrator for the Feminist and Gender Studies honors society.  In their free time, Charlotte loves staying involved in the local Denver music scene, watching horror movies, and working on her art. She is excited to learn, grow, and contribute to NWSA this summer as a fellow.

Ashley Paul

2025 Summer Fellow

Ashley Paul (she/her) is a first-generation Haitian American undergraduate student at Colorado College, where she is pursuing a self-designed major in Critical International Relations. Her academic work focuses on the historical and contemporary impacts of colonialism and slavery, with particular attention to the African diaspora. Passionate about social justice, Ashley is committed to amplifying marginalized voices through advocacy, scholarship, and storytelling. She is especially dedicated to promoting cultural, political, state, and individual sovereignty for communities affected by colonial and systemic oppression. Ashley’s long-term goals include working in diplomacy, media, or international advocacy; bridging cultural divides and championing equity for post-colonial nations and underrepresented communities around the world.

Kelsey Viadro

2025 Summer Fellow

Kelsey Viadro (she/her) is a rising senior at Colorado College pursuing a degree in Sociology with a double minor in Spanish and Non-Violence. She brings a thoughtful, community-oriented lens to her work which spans immigrant rights advocacy in Texas, the memory and promotion of human rights in Chile and local youth mentorship in Colorado Springs. Transnational feminism and abolitionist labor inspire Kelsey in scholarship and organizing. She remains committed to learning in community and is excited to engage collectively with liberatory realities. She is grateful to work alongside new friends, mentors and thinkers. Originally from California, Kelsey loves cooking with friends and family, dancing, playing ultimate frisbee and being in bodies of water. 

Brailey Harris

2024 Summer & Fall Fellow

Brailey Harris (She/They/He) is a Feminist and Gender Studies Major and a rising junior at Colorado College. They are originally from Mansfield, Texas, and became interested in the field through their love of community, history, and storytelling. After CC, Brailey will pursue a graduate degree and engage in research that centers on demystifying black, brown, and queer bodies throughout history and across the globe. Brailey is currently an ADEI Peer Educator at Colorado College and has recently presented a research project at the National Council for Black Studies’s 2024 conference.

Azaria Hampton

2024 Summer Fellow

Azaria Hampton (she/her) is a rising junior at Colorado College, majoring in Business with a minor in Education. In her free time, she enjoys baking, painting, and engaging in various artistic endeavors. She also cherishes spending time with her loved ones and being an active part of her community.

Azaria is thrilled to join the National Women's Studies Association this summer and is eager to expand her knowledge and understanding of women's studies and advocacy. Through this internship, she hopes to develop her skills in research, outreach, and community engagement. She looks forward to contributing to meaningful projects that promote gender equity and empower women, while also learning from the inspiring professionals within the NWSA.

Auna McConnaughey

2024 Summer Fellow

Auna McConnaughey (she/her) is a 2024 NWSA fellow. She is a rising senior at Colorado College majoring in Feminist and Gender Studies and minoring in Education. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to do the MAT program offered at Colorado College. Her senior thesis is one that will explore Feminist practices of letter writing and hopes to incorporate mixed media in presenting her research. She is excited to joining the NWSA team and to deepen her community within the discipline. At Colorado College, she is involved with the Feminist and Gender Studies department through her role as editor of the department’s publication, The Monthly Rag, as a student worker in the Interdisciplinary House, and through her upcoming role as Vice President for Triota. She is most excited and grateful for the opportunity to attend the NWSA conference in the Fall.

Auna also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and loved ones. She is from Colorado Springs and maintains a close relationship with her little sister, Aisling. In addition, she loves to collage, write letters/cards, and play bananagrams! She can’t wait to further engage with NWSA and their wonderful community.

Italia Quintana

2024 Summer & Fall Fellow

Italia Quintana is a Chicana from Denver, Colorado studying at Colorado College. With an educational background in Romance Languages, Political Science, and Race, Ethnicity and Migration Studies, she pursues activism that centers the experiences of Black and Indigenous communities. Italia has worked with various organizations that promote impactful initiatives and campaigns that uplift and amplify the voices of womxn, especially those who exist at multiple margins of oppression. Her activism and labor is driven by an unyielding commitment to intersectionality, transnational feminism, dismantling oppressive systems, and the belief that true liberation is achieved through collective action and solidarity.

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