PLEN Staff
From left to right: Shannon Doran, Cheryl Banks, Emily Casteel
Shannon Doran, Executive Director
Shannon Doran serves as the Executive Director of PLEN and is the first PLEN alumna to lead the organization.
A PLEN program inspired Shannon to pursue a career in Washington, DC and empowered her to believe that she could make a difference in the lives of young women on the national level. As a senior in college, Ms. Doran participated in PLEN's Women & Public Policy Internship Semester, working with Girls Incorporated's public policy office, where she met many women who would become her role models and mentors.
Upon graduation, Ms. Doran worked immediately returned to Washington to work with DDB Issues and Advocacy, a full-service public relations and advocacy firm. There she assisted numerous clients with media and Capitol Hill outreach, in addition to playing a role in coalition building between cancer advocacy groups and clinical trials. In the summer of 2004, Shannon joined the PLEN staff as Program Coordinator, heading up programs planning and implementation for two academic years, while also leading alumnae outreach initiatives and assisting with fundraising endeavors. In April 2006, Shannon became the Executive Director of PLEN and is thrilled to helm the organization that made her forray into the public arena possible.
Shannon's career in public policy began Tucson, Arizona, where as an intern she helped to manage and promote Protection Connection (a social marketing campaign aimed at reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS) to local government and city officials. In addition, Shannon also assisted with the coordination and training of the Teen Advisory Group, a cadre of over 40 volunteer high school students who served as peer educators.
Shannon Doran earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Women's Studies at the University of Arizona. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Administration at George Mason University.
Emily Casteel, Program Manager
Emily Casteel graduated Magna Cum Laude from Western Michigan University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in International & Comparative Politics and Women's Studies. After graduation she came to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Public Leadership Education Network's (PLEN) Women and Public Policy Internship Semester . She spent her summer interning at Planned Parenthood Global Partners (PPGP). Shortly after completing her internship at PPGP, Emily accepted a position as Program Assistant at the Constitution Project, a bipartisan nonprofit that works on controversial constitutional law and legal issues.
In August of 2006, Emily enthusiastically accepted an offer to return to PLEN as a full-time staff member in the Program Coordinator position. As Program Manager she works closely with students, faculty, speakers, and PLEN staff to ensure PLEN programs are tailored to the specific needs of young college women.
Angie Azevedo, Program Assistant
Angie Azevedo graduated from Wells College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs: Ethics, Law and Social Policy with a concentration in Government and Politics. Upon graduation, she received the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Leadership Award for her commitment and activism in the Wells Community and the wider world. While at Wells, Angie participated in three of PLEN’s programs, the Women & Public Policy Seminar, Women & Congress Seminar, and the Women & Public Policy Internship Semester. During the summer of 2006, she interned with the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC), where she gained invaluable experience in endorsing and tracking congressional campaigns.
After graduation, Angie knew PLEN was the place she wanted to start her career and she, very excitedly, accepted the Program Assistant position in the fall of 2007. As PLEN’s Program Assistant, Angie is responsible for fielding all inquiries regarding PLEN’s six annual programs, overseeing student registration, and ensuring PLEN participants are well-prepared for their Washington, DC experience. With her wide-breadth of experience as a student in PLEN programs, Angie is excited to begin working with the next generation of women leaders.
