NHWN Staff
Cynthia Pearson
Executive Director
cpearson@nwhn.org
Cindy became the NWHN's Executive Director in 1996. Having been a part of the Network team since 1987, she has coordinated the internship program, managed the information clearinghouse, and directed NWHN's program and policy work. Cindy is a transplanted Californian, who moved to Maryland after obtaining an undergraduate degree in biology from UC San Diego and working as an abortion-rights organizer for Colorado NARAL. While living in San Diego, Cindy worked in several capacities at Womancare, a Feminist Women's Health Center. She is currently the president of the board of directors of Women's Health Specialists in Northern California, and is the treasurer of the National Breast Cancer Coalition.
Amy Allina
Program and Policy Director
aallina@nwhn.org
Amy joined the NWHN staff as Program Director in 1999. She is responsible for planning and implementing the NWHN's policy agenda. Previously Amy worked at the consulting firm of Bass and Howes, representing non-profit women's health clients including the Reproductive Health Technologies Project and the Family Violence Prevention Fund. Prior to that, Amy was a political organizer for the Maryland affiliate of NARAL and an associate editor at Multinational Monitor, a monthly magazine founded by Ralph Nader. She is also a former NWHN intern. Amy is on the board of directors of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project.
Heidi Gider
Director of Advancement
hgider@nwhn.org
Heidi joined NWHN in 2012 as Director of Advancement. She is responsible for individual contributions including direct marketing, events and long-term fundraising. A seasoned resource development professional, Heidi previously worked at Equal Rights Advocates in San Francisco, as well as the Society for Women’s Health Research and Legal Aid Society in DC. She is a co-founder in a DC-based firm, The Rainmakers Group, which provides development services to small-to-mid-size nonprofit organizations. She has presented to the Center for Nonprofit Success, Direct Marketing Association (DMA), and Merrill Lynch. She earned a BA in Political Studies from Bard College, completing her degree in three years.
Latasha Lyles
Office Coordinator
llyles@nwhn.org
Latasha is the NWHN's Office Coordinator. A DC metropolitan area native, she brings experience in office management. Latasha keeps the office and board running smoothly by catering to the NWHN's administrative needs. Prior to joining the NWHN, she worked as a government contractor.
Kate Ryan
Senior Program Coordinator
kryan@nwhn.org
Kate is a Senior Program Coordinator at the NWHN, responsible for developing and implementing a program of legislative and regulatory advocacy that focuses on reducing women’s exposure to unnecessary drug and medical treatment risks. Prior to joining the NWHN, Kate worked in the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA), where she worked on the women’s issues portfolio and managed a variety of constituent services programs. Kate also has international experience in women's health, having volunteered in Ghana with the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights where she monitored and assessed availability of, and access to, women’s sexual and reproductive health services. Kate received her MPA in International Public & Non-Profit Management and Policy Analysis with a focus on women’s rights from the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Shaniqua Seth
Health Communications Manager
sseth@nwhn.org
Shaniqua is the NWHN’s Health Communications Manager, responsible for managing the Women’s Health Voice department and its interns. The Women’s Health Voice receives health information requests from NWHN’s membership and the general public on a variety of women’s health topics. Prior to joining NWHN, Shaniqua was a Women’s Health Information Specialist that worked for the National Women’s Health Information Center (NWHIC). NWHIC was a service of the Office on Women’s Health, Department of Health and Human Services, whose vision was also to ensure women and girls lived healthier and had a better sense of well-being. She received a dual B.S. from George Mason University and Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Seton Hall University.
Amirah Tyler
Membership Coordinator
atyler@nwhn.org
Amirah is the NWHN’s Membership Coordinator, responsible for the administration of the Network’s fundraising and development efforts. She has experience with database management, working with member based organizations, and as a personal digital archivist. Amirah has studied at George Washington University and American University; and earned her BA in Cinema Studies and Comparative International Politics from The Ohio State University. She has studied in Mexico and France, and enjoys travelling. She is passionate about HIV/AIDS prevention, and has worked with Metro Teen AIDS and the Columbus AIDS Task Force. Amirah is a native Washingtonian who enjoys spending time with her family.
Melissa Montoya-Torres
Program Coordinator
mtorres@nwhn.org
Melissa received her B.A. from the University of California, Davis and earned a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2011. Before going to law school, she worked as a sex educator with Planned Parenthood in California, and while in law school, she served on the boards of LSRJ and La Raza Student Association. Melissa also worked with the public benefits team at the East Bay Community Law Center and served as the outreach coordinator for Boalt Hall Women’s Association where she coordinated a women’s health fair for law students and faculty. Melissa followed law school with a stint studying public health and in May 2012 she graduated from John Hopkins with a Masters in Public Health.
Susan Flinn, MA
Newsletter Editor
editor@nwhn.org
Susan edits the NWHN newsletter, the Women's Health Activist. A DC-based consultant who helps public health and social change organizations work more effectively, Ms. Flinn's areas of expertise include HIV/AIDS prevention, teen pregnancy prevention, women's health, and youth development. Ms. Flinn has worked at Maryland NARAL, the American Association of University Women, and the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH). Prior to becoming a consultant, Ms Flinn was the Legislative Affairs Directors at Advocates for Youth. She holds a masters degree in Public Policy & Women's Studies from the George Washington University.
