Chris has arrived at what she describes as her “dream job:” Senior Perfumer Fine Fragrances at Givaudan Fragrances Corporation, consistently ranked as the world’s top flavor and fragrance company. After earning a degree in chemistry and political science, her entire career has been devoted to fragrance, holding long senior tenures at Takasago, Fragrance Resources, and most recently International Flavors & Fragrances. Chris says, “My career as a senior perfumer is highly influenced by my Walker’s education. My high school chemistry and biology classes are staples of my fragrance development and new creations. Walker’s gave me the environment to be a free thinker and to have the confidence to believe in myself as a woman.”

Dr. Deidra Roach has devoted her career to addiction treatment. With over 40 years of experience in this field, she currently serves as a Program Director for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, where, among other responsibilities, she manages research portfolios addressing the treatment of co-occurring mental health and alcohol use disorders and alcohol-related HIV/AIDS among women. Deidra serves on the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and the NIH Coordinating Committee for Research on Women’s Health and also chairs the Interagency Work Group on Drinking and Drug Use in Women and Girls. Among many committee memberships, Deidra serves on the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, the NIH Coordinating Committee for Research on Women’s Health, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Forum on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.

Diane is a producer for the Anderson Cooper 360° program at CNN. In her 13 years with the network, she has been nominated for 12 Emmy Awards and received three: the 2022 Outstanding Hard News Feature Story: Short Form for “10-Year-Old Trapped with the Uvalde School Shooter Repeatedly Called 911 for Help;” the 2022 Emmy Award for Outstanding Investigative News Coverage: Short Form for “Investigating Uvalde,” and the 2019 Emmy Award for Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis for “Finding Hope: Battling America’s Suicide Crisis.”

Johanna is a Deputy Director-General at the World Trade Organization, where she leads the WTO’s work on economic research and statistics, digital trade, intellectual property, government procurement, competition, trade in services and investment, and documentation and information management. A native of El Salvador with over 30 years of experience in international trade, she has collaborated with governments and businesses to foster economic development through international policy and trade negotiations. Previously, Johanna advised firms and SMEs on trade regulations, foreign direct investment strategies, and market access. Additionally, she served as Vice Minister of Economy for El Salvador, where she oversaw trade policy formulation and negotiated both bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. Johanna also serves on the board of TradeExperettes,

Leander is Managing Partner at Shipman & Goodwin LLP in Hartford, CT, representing public school districts, independent schools, colleges, and universities in education and employment matters. In 2022, she was named by CT Governor Ned Lamont as a Commissioner of the CT Judicial Selection Committee and has since been named as Chair of the Commission, which is responsible for seeking and recommending to the governor qualified candidates for nomination as judges in CT courts. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of CBIA, CT’s largest business organization and the third largest in the country. Leander’s recent distinctions include: “The Best Lawyers in America” (2023-2025), as a CT “Super Lawyer: Schools & Education” (2024), Hartford Business Journal’s “Power 50 List” (2022-2024), Corporate Counsel Business Journal’s “50 Womento Watch” (2023) and as the 2022 CT Law Tribune’s “Attorney of the Year.”

Mimi was Director of the Seattle Art Museum for 15 years starting in 1994 and is now Director Emerita. She spent 19 years at Yale University Art Gallery (1975-1994) as curator of Asian art and then as Director. She was a fellow of the Yale Corporation and Founder and Chairman of the Dunhuang Foundation. She is currently Chairman of the Blakemore Foundation, on the board of Heritage University and Copper Canyon Press, and Trustee Emerita of the Gates Cambridge Scholars Trust at Cambridge University, UK. She formerly chaired the National Indemnity Program at the National Endowment for the Arts and served on the Getty Leadership Institute Advisory Committee. As a specialist in the history of Chinese art, Mimi has focused on the magnificent Buddhist cave temples of Dunhuang in northwest China since her retirement as a museum director.

Morgan is currently Manager of Mechanical Subsystems and Senior Satellite Mechanical Engineer for K2 Space, working on the corporation’s first flight of the Mega Class satellite. She was previously a mechatronics engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her love for mechanical engineering began in her junior year during one of Walker’s Lacuna programs. Friends then encouraged her to check out Walker’s robotics club. Locandro jokes, “They enticed me with food to get me to attend the first meeting!” After that meeting, Locandro fell in love with robotics: “I enrolled in computer science, advanced calculus, and physics classes, which really solidified my interest in mechanical engineering and coding. I think the opportunity to take these types of classes while in high school was super helpful in guiding me toward becoming an engineer.”

Nina earned her B.A. in Economics from Wellesley College, where she was a Madeleine Korbel Albright Institute for Global Affairs Fellow, a story editor for the Global Women’s Narratives Project, and a member of the Shakespeare Society. She is currently completing her law degree at Berkeley, where she is a member of Women in Tech Law, co-president of IP Law Society, an editor for the Berkeley Technology Law Journal, and has provided pro bono services through the California Asylum Representation Clinic. Following an internship with Fenwick & West, she will be joining the firm as a Patent Litigation Associate in the fall of 2025 (in the Mountain View office), working with technology and life sciences clients.

A global health scholar with extensive experience in research, teaching, and project management, Sahra is an Assistant Professor of Global Health at Denison University. Her research and publications encompass reproductive health, health systems, social determinants of health, and the role of self-awareness in health and education. Prior to completing her Master’s in Public Health, she worked as a Technical Project Officer at Abt Global on the Health Financing and Governance project, a five-year global initiative awarded by USAID and implemented in 40 countries. Sahra was the recipient of the People’s Choice Award from the National Institutes of Health for one of her research projects, and in 2023, the University of Maryland honored her with the Women of Influence Award.

After graduating from Yale’s School of Drama, Sigourney began her career as a stage actress. Her film career began when Ridley Scott cast her in Alien. She has acted in over 60 films, nearly 40 stage productions, on television, in documentaries, and has done extensive voiceover work. Known for her portrayals of strong, independent women, Sigourney has won a BAFTA, a Grammy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. In addition, she has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the International Goya Award from the Spanish Film Academy, and the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. She has said that her success is “really because I know how to analyze a script and make a story work,” for which she credits her Walker’s English teacher, Miss Hunt. In Sigourney’s own words, “It is such a powerful thing for a woman to have a great education in this world.”

Stephanie was born into the “family business” of Group Sales Box Office at Broadway.com, founded by her father, and currently holds up to 15% of the industry’s market share each week. She is now CEO/President, having worked her way through just about every position in the company and gaining decades of experience in bringing groups to Broadway. Selling over 6,000 tickets a year and offering over 100 events at any one time, she knows how to steward long-term relationships with both the producers and consumers of Broadway experiences. In her tenure, the company has moved to adapt first to the internet and more recently to digital sales. Exhibiting Walker’s core value of lifelong learning, Stephanie continues to learn every day. She sits on the board of the American Bus Association (in its 99th year leading group tours) as the first female travel industry member of their Executive Committee.

After graduating from Walker’s, Veronica had the opportunity to join a new women’s soccer club, Puerto Rico Sol FC. She earned a degree in criminal justice at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico while playing for the club and later for the Puerto Rican national team. She was then recruited by an international agent and is now a member of the professional women’s team ZNK Osijek in Croatia, where she currently lives. Growing her experience in the European soccer arena, her goal is to play in Liga F in Spain. Having received both athletic and music awards at Walker’s, Veronica credits her time here as giving her the confidence and independence to follow her dreams and an unconventional route to her career: “I was surrounded by the values of women’s empowerment, and never thought to even question if I could; I only thought of how I could make it happen and followed through.”

Ashley is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Centre on Armed Groups. She uses her experience with organizations such as the UN, the Red Cross, and various NGOs to communicate with armed groups directly and gain an understanding of their perspectives on conflict. Her end goal is to use that information to help others communicate, negotiate, and alleviate suffering for people who live in areas of conflict. Ashley says that Walker’s gave her the impetus to explore the world, and advises today’s students to “keep asking questions.”

Written in 2024

Carolina is a Salvadoran arts professional currently serving as Senior Director of Institutional Relations at the Mexico City-based Galeria OMR and the first Artistic Director of LagoAlgo, its cultural center in Chapultepec Park. Previously, she was Executive Director at Dallas Contemporary, where she blended her expertise in communications and business development to drive groundbreaking engagement with contemporary art, focusing on social and community impact. She has also worked as Director of External Affairs at New York’s leading public arts non-profit, Creative Time, and as Head of Communications at New York’s leading Latin American cultural institution El Museo del Barrio. She sits on the advisory board of Y.ES Contemporary, a non-profit fostering opportunities for contemporary artists in El Salvador, and has served as El Salvador’s Ambassador on Special Mission for Cultural Affairs. Carolina earned a BS in Fashion Merchandising from Texas Christian University. She is a Fellow of the Fourteenth Class of the Central America Leadership Initiative, making her a member of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network.

Written in 2024

Catherine earned her B.A. in Neuroscience from Dartmouth College and her M.D. from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, where she received the William Mellen Chamberlain Memorial Prize for the graduate who “has the best overall record of achievement during his or her four years of study.” Catherine graduated Dermatology Residency at Yale New Haven Health and is now an attending dermatologist at Tufts Medical Center. She was previously a resident physician at Brigham Women’s Hospital and a Research Assistant at both Dartmouth Hitchcock and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Written in 2024

Jade is a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Video Game Scoring and Contemporary Writing & Production. Born in China and raised in the United States, her studies with distinguished musicians such as Chihiro Yamanaka, Alain Mallet, Vadim Neselovsky, and Rob Lewis have cultivated her unique sound. Jade’s experiences range from performing as lead keyboardist with the orchestra at Boston Symphony Hall, performing hit records in both pop and hip hop in tribute concerts honoring Sylvia Rhone and Missy Elliott, and being the only pianist in Lauren Jauregui’s all-female band. As a composer and arranger, she worked for Pickle Music in New York. Jade now lives in China working for miHoYo as an in-house member for the music team HOYO-MiX, where she is currently writing music for the internationally acclaimed game Genshin Impact.

Written in 2024

LaToya is Senior VP of Strategy and Operations at Annexon Biosciences. Previously, she was VP of Product Development Strategy and Operations at Chinook Therapeutics, Inc., focusing on mental health and nephrology. She says Walker’s prepared her with a work ethic and self-discipline that prepared her well for higher education. Initially focused on lab research, LaToya realized during her doctoral work that interacting with people and the exchange of ideas was truly her passion. Working her way up to the position of Global Development Team Leader in the pharmaceutical industry allowed her to work towards strategies for global packages that meet a variety of needs. In this role, she learned a lot about inequities in healthcare and now uses her status and influence in leadership positions to help companies prioritize equity in their corporate goals.

Written in 2024

Leah is the Chief Marketing Officer responsible for the global marketing program and team at Mews, one of the fastest-growing European companies. With over 20 years of experience in brand and product strategy, communications, and growth marketing for tech startups, Leah is passionate about product innovation. Leah has helped multiple software companies launch award-winning products. She earned her B.A. in American History and Economics from Wheaton College. Having spent 15 years as a competitive equestrian where she learned firsthand the positive impact that outdoor sports can have on the lives of women and girls. Today, Leah is the Board Chair for Free to Run, an international charity supporting young women and girls in areas of conflict, building leadership skills, and improving their physical, emotional, and social wellbeing through physical activity and running.

Written in 2024

Linda* studied Agricultural Economics at Cornell University before returning home to New Mexico to become a fourth-generation rancher. Linda’s children have carried on the legacy. She was a founding member of the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, seeking to connect the present generation to 4,000 years of agricultural history in the region. In 1995, Linda was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Her commitment to ranching and cattle raising brought her such awards as the Cattleman of the Year Award and the Golden Spur Award. Linda shared a unique relationship with former Walker’s Head of School Natalie Galbraith Mitchell who, after Linda’s graduation, became her stepmother!

*Deceased

Lu is a Senior Lubrication Engineer at Tesla, Inc. where she is working to understand and optimize the tribology of electric vehicles. Her doctoral work at UPenn’s Carpick Research Group focused on tribology, the science of interacting surfaces in relative motion. She says that her favorite part of her research was “creating a new model in the field backed up by new results that people have never discovered before.” While at Walker’s, Lu was given the opportunity to connect with engineers off campus and to conduct research, which she says was the “springboard for what I do now.” While at Penn, Lu completed several internships with ExxonMobil.

Written in 2024

Meredythe is both Vice President of Operations at FinMkt, a leading multi-lender marketplace for consumer and small business loans, and a micro-influencer for food on Instagram. She would be the first to describe her path to finance as unconventional. A gap year working for a non-profit led her to the restaurant business. She worked her way up to managing large restaurant groups, but noticed that others with fewer qualifications were being promoted before her, so she decided to pursue an MBA. She then found FinMkt, co-founded and led by a Vietnamese woman: “Being able to work for a minority female founder brings a different feeling into the room.” Meredythe cites our school meditation — “the reason to know why we are sometimes misunderstood” — as something that continually inspires her to consider things from other perspectives. She also reflects that being a multi-season varsity athlete and pursuing academic excellence is a hallmark of the type of opportunities offered at Walker’s.

Renelle is a professional voiceover actress and narrator who has voiced projects for Disney, Marvel, and Warner Brothers. Previously, as a national television producer and reporter, she traveled the country interviewing celebrities. Now she helps clients make their artistic visions come to life. At Walker’s, she recalls helping a friend with a voiceover project for Carol Clark-Flanagan’s history class. This friend hated the sound of her own voice, so she asked Renelle to voice the project in her place. Ms. Clark-Flanagan complimented and encouraged Renelle in her work. Renelle reflects, “You never know how your words are going to stick with someone and inspire them!”

Shinta is the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Sintesa Group, an Indonesian conglomerate of 16 subsidiaries, as well as Chairwoman of the Indonesia Employers Association. Recently, Shinta was Chair of the B20, with a focus on “strengthening the resilience of women-led businesses and accelerating infrastructure support for women entrepreneurs”, as well as “increasing the digital capabilities of the female workforce.” Shinta has been named as one of FORBES 50 Powerful Asian Businesswomen, and Fortune Indonesia’s 20 Most Powerful Women 2022. In her numerous  leadership roles in several organizations, she advocates for bolstering women-led businesses, enhancing infrastructure support for women entrepreneurs, and boosting the digital skills of the female workforce.

Written in 2024.

Wendy is a Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of psychological suspense novels. She has previously worked as a Financial Analyst in Mergers and Acquisitions at Goldman Sachs & Co. and as an attorney at Broder & Orland LLC. As a former family law attorney with training in child advocacy, Wendy draws from her knowledge of trauma and psychology to write compelling and complex characters and stories. Wendy has returned to Walker’s to speak with our students about her career and has participated in several virtual alumnae author events.