Our Board
Phoebe Hopps, Chair
Phoebe Hopps is a community organizer and activist. She was the leader and founder for the Michigan chapter of the Women's March on Washington, mobilizing thousands of participants to attend the march. In November 2016, Hopps traded a career in project management and global travel to dedicate herself full-time to community organizing. Her focus is on immigration rights, religious and racial freedom, upholding the Affordable Care Act, and environmental protection. A native New Yorker, she has called Michigan home for the past seven years. She lives on Lake Michigan with her husband and son and has a passion for international adventure travel.
Marilyn Jaquish
Marilyn Jaquish is Faculty Emeritus at Northwestern Michigan College. Marilyn taught English, Journalism, and Professional Communications at NMC from 1980 to 2016. She, with a small group of students, founded White Pine Press, the student newspaper, in 1983. Currently serving on the Traverse City Human Rights Commission, Marilyn has lived in Traverse City since 1978. In addition to her NMC teaching career, she served in the U.S. Peace Corps in the Philippine Islands, was a reporter for the Indianapolis (IN) Times, and a writing coach at the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
Sondra Shaw-Hardy
Sondra Shaw-Hardy, a 1985 law school graduate, has devoted her life to helping women achieve equality. Her work has included co-founding the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Center for Philanthropy at Indiana University, writing six published books about women’s philanthropy and adjunct professor at Indiana University. Shaw-Hardy has been actively involved in politics as an elected official, campaign manager and fundraiser, having raised millions of dollars for candidates and for education in Washington DC, Wisconsin and Michigan. In 2016, Ms. Shaw-Hardy received the Athena Leadership Award for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.
Roberta Teahen
Roberta Teahen, living in Traverse City since 1968, served as Associate Provost and Director of the Doctorate in Community College Leadership at Ferris State University. She earned BA, MA, and PhD degrees at Michigan State University. Her activism dates back to early college days when she was the Secretary of Young Republicans followed by service as a precinct delegate and as president of the GT Area Republican Women's Club. Today she identifies as a progressive, who is committed to assuring equity through education, career preparation, health care, and other services that will enable more to enjoy the American dream.
Jane Hayes
Jane Hayes is a community activist who has lived and worked in Traverse City since 1979. She retired from Grand Valley State University as an Associate Professor of Social Work. Her 30-year social work practice includes employment at the Women’s Resource Center, Catholic Human Services, Grand Traverse CMH and Addiction Treatment Services. Jane served as the President of the National Organization for Women - Grand Traverse 1989-1990. In 2010, Jane was appointed to the Michigan Board of Social Work for a 3-year term by Governor Granholm. She is currently a member and has served as president of the Women’s Resource Center Board. She is also a past president of the Grand Traverse CMH Board, Dann’s House Board and the TCAPS School Board. She was a 1998 Democratic candidate for the MI House 104th District.
Lynn Larson - Emeritus
Lynn Larson has been an educator for 40 years. She has taught in Micronesia, China, the Bahamas, Tanzania and at Traverse City Central and NMC. Lynn is a political activist having served as chair of the Grand Traverse Democratic Party for eight years and on the Traverse City Human Rights Commission. She was Vice President of the Michigan Education Association for six years. She was also President of AAUW and the First Congregational Church.
Susan Rogan - Emeritus
Susan Rogan is a retired librarian who has worked in university, community college and elementary school settings. She was the first woman full professor in the history of Central Michigan University’s library and was the first person to teach the Internet in CMU’s School of Business. Susan has lived in Traverse City since 1997 and is the mother of 11 adopted children and the grandmother of nine. Two days after the 2016 election she began what is now Rogan’s List for people who were unhappy with the Trump administration and who wanted to become more politically involved in their federal government.
Carmen Stevens - Emeritus
Carmen Stevens is an entrepreneur who recently relocated to New York after residing in Traverse City for over 20 years. As a businesswoman, she remains active in consulting with organizations in the public and private sectors seeking to strategically advance their philanthropy and communications, as well as operating a photography studio in the metro NYC area. She is a former vice president within the insurance industry, development officer for women’s and children’s services, and researcher on giving trends of women. A humanist, her current advocacy work centers on protecting the civil liberties of those without a voice, including women, minorities and our planet. Carmen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Science from Central Michigan University.