AVOW Announces 2025 Women’s Campaign Institute Graduates

AVOW congratulates the 21 women who graduated Sunday from the eighth annual Women’s Campaign Institute. They represent both political parties and a wealth of diversity that they will contribute as they serve in elected office and on public boards and commissions. The women are:

• Emily Almodovar, Public Information Officer, Allen County Board of Commissioners

• Nena Bailey, Real Estate Broker, Bailey Realty Group

• Flora Barron, Entrepreneur

• Frances Brooks, Executive Director, Development, Indiana University Foundation

• Halie Brown, Advocate Development Specialist, The League

• Grace Caswell, CEO, Noble County Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Brianna Clopton, Pharmacy Technician, Parkview Health

• Tabitha Ervin, Chief Operating Officer, Fort Wayne YMCA

• Melissa Fisher, Co-Owner, New Wave Wellness

• Sandra Garza, BI Developer, Parkview Health

• Melissa Hall, Owner/Interior Designer, Blackbird Design Resources

• Ruthie Ilnicki, Epic Software Analyst III, Parkview Health

• Angela Carr Klitzsch, CEO, Women4Change Indiana

• Erin Mason, AVP of Project Management, MidWest America Federal Credit Union

• Daysha Sanchez, VP of Equity and Impact, Lumen Learning

• Tawanna L. Scruggs-Cottrell, Counselor, Uniquely You Counseling and Wellness Center

• April Smith, Access Navigator, Connect Allen County

• Dawn Smith, Strategy Integrator/Licensed Therapist, Courageous Healing Inc.

• Beth Squires, Director of Philanthropy, The League

• Deondra Steward, Owner/Lead Educator, Unique Cherubs Family Childcare LLC

• Sharon Wight, Communication Specialist, Edlio Inc.

The Women’s Campaign Institute is an intensive three-day training program held annually at Indiana Tech. Funding is provided by the Journal Gazette Foundation and many individual supporters. Among the world-class faculty presenting this year were:

• Patricia Russo, Executive Director, The Campaign School at Yale University

• Shalondra Harrison, Executive Director, Sally’s List of Oklahoma

• Jill Long Thompson, Former 3rd District Congresswoman

• Sharon Tucker, Fort Wayne Mayor

• Allen Superior Court Judge Lori Morgan

• Harriet Miller, Founder of the Women’s Bureau

• Steve Shine, Allen County GOP Chair

About AVOW

Founded in 2017 by Rachel Tobin-Smith, Marilyn Moran-Townsend, Patti Hays and Faith Van Gilder, AVOW has a mission to advance the voices of women in public life. Our shared values are courageous civility, inclusiveness and integrity. To learn more, go to www.avowfw.com or follow AVOW on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.