About Us
The Suffrage Education Institute includes recognized and award-winning authors, historians, educators, and storytellers on the subject of women’s rights and the American women’s suffrage movement. After the creation of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial, the Institute was formed to continue the mission of honoring the American women’s suffrage movement and educating young people about this legacy of change-makers through rich, interactive events, media content and curriculum materials.
Suffrage Education Institute Board Members
Jessica Berg
Jessica Berg attended the University of Virginia, and later attended George Mason University for her master’s degree in Education. Jessica is currently an educator in Loudoun County, Virginia.
During her time as a teacher, Jessica founded the Ms. Phoenix Organization to empower young women. From this organization, Jessica was inspired to create the Women and Gender Studies Course for high school in Virginia, write the curriculum, and advocate expanding the course to other districts and states. Jessica is also an outspoken advocate against book bans, penning articles and testifying in front The Congressional Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
In 2018 Jessica founded the annual ‘Rise To’ Summit to inspire young students to make a difference. The summit funds the ‘Women and Gender Studies’ Scholarship Jessica created for young women pursuing higher education.
In 2020, Jessica was awarded a Virginia Congressional Commendation for her work in education. In 2021 she was honored with Virginia’s Chapter of NOW ‘Rising Feminist’ award. In 2023 she was named one of Loudoun’s 40 Under 40 for her advocacy and activism, and in 2025 she was recognized at a Women’s History event honoring 10 women in the DC-Metropolitan area.
Jessica continues to advocate for equitable education for herself, her two daughters, and for the future.
Robert P. J. Cooney, Jr.
Robert P. J. Cooney, Jr. is a graphic designer and the author of “Winning the Vote: The Triumph of the American Woman Suffrage Movement,” a widely praised and beautifully illustrated history of this important nonviolent movement. Director of the Woman Suffrage Media Project since 1993, he has spent decades delving deep into the nation’s photographic archives and consulting on numerous documentary films, books, and special projects. Co-author with Helen Michalowski of “The Power of the People: Active Nonviolence in the United States,” he has designed and created publications for the National Women’s History Project and the Alliance including posters, timeline display sets, centennial updates, magazines and the popular 2020 Gazette, “Women Win the Vote,” which encouraged national recognition of the women’s suffrage centennial. Robert’s work is in the tradition of American men who have supported women’s equality and recognized that women’s accomplishments are a central part of American history.
Connie Cordovilla
Connie Cordovilla served as the past president and is the current PAC Treasurer of the VA Chapter of the National Organization for Women and vice president of the Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues. She worked for thirty years at the American Federation of Teachers, promoting community engagement on civil, human and women’s rights issues. Issues of gender equity are a primary concern to her both as a young woman growing up in pre-Title IX America when she was told that “nice girls don’t go into Engineering” and for her two daughters as they chose STEM-related careers. Voting rights are also very important to her, serving as an Officer of the Election in Fairfax County in 42 elections. Connie received her undergraduate degree and Masters in Sociology from the University of Detroit and pursued her PHD at the Catholic University of America.
Living in Pimmit Hills for 49 years and as member and officer of the Pimmit Hills Citizens Association for most of those years, she represents the PHCA on the board of the McLean Citizens Association, an umbrella of the neighborhood groups in her geographic area. She is president of Friends of Pimmit Barn (A 501 c3 organization) which has an MOU with Fairfax County Park Authority to maintain its exterior areas as the Pimmit Barn Park.
Emily McCoy
Emily McCoy serves as Vice Chair and Secretary of the Suffrage Education Institute. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Women’s History Alliance.
She has served as Immediate Past Chair of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association and Co-Chair of its Interpretation and Design Committee. She led the development of the informational content of the national outdoor informative memorial to honor American suffragists. The memorial was dedicated in 2021.
For decades Ms. McCoy has been an activist for women’s rights primarily in Virginia. She had worked on such issues as the Equal Rights Amendment, child support, divorce law, abortion rights, and the prevention of child abuse, teen pregnancy, and domestic violence, and for equality in the courts and in athletics.
She continues her advocacy through the Virginia Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) having served on and chaired its Political Action Committee and having served as lobbyist and state president. She serves on the Fairfax County Commission for Women and served on the National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW) as secretary and vice president. She has also served on the state-wide Child Support Advisory Committee, and the Virginia Supreme Court’s Task Force on Gender Bias in Virginia Courts. Her activist awards include Lady Fairfax, Virginia NOW Lifetime Achievement for Outstanding Service, the NACW Recognition Award, and a Virginia Museum of History and Culture’s 2020 Changemaker. She currently serves on the Boar of the National Women’s History Alliance, and is retired from her post as principal systems engineer with the MITRE Corporation.
Nancy Sargeant
Nancy Lyons Sargeant is an award-winning broadcast news journalist with extensive national and local radio experience working as an anchor for NPR, AP Radio Network, Unistar, Marketwatch, and CBS Radio. She is currently the mid-day national news anchor on Bloomberg Radio (SiriusXM Channel 119) and local news anchor on Bloomberg 99-1, WDCH-FM, in Washington, D.C. During her career, she has received numerous national awards, including a national Edward R. Murrow Award for spot news coverage of 9/11, as well as a George Foster Peabody Award for a series on those victimized by crime. She also received a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for a series on poverty.
As chair of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association, she helped raise more than $3 million dollars to complete the garden-style, Turning Point Suffragist Memorial — the first national memorial to cover the entire arc of the suffrage movement.
Susan Sheats
Susan Sheats has over forty years of experience in leadership roles in the travel industry. Sue currently leads World Exposures, a socially responsible travel agency for curious travelers with critical thinking skills, where she curates independent as well as small group worldwide tours.
Previously, Sue was VP at National Geographic Expeditions, overseeing the global travel agency vertical. As VP Business
Development, with American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), she provided strategic development and implementation of an effective global sales plan. AS VP Business Development at Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) she supervised sponsorship sales globally for the largest business travel convention in the world. As National Account Manager – Travel, Washington Post Media, she developed plans for national and international travel clients.
Sue holds a Bachelor of Arts from The College of Charleston. Sue’s civic activities include: Chairman of the Board for OPEN International, past Chairman of Church Council and Chairman of the Trustees at her church, active CERT (Civilian Emergency Response Team) member since 2001 and an officer with her local Rotary Club.
Jordan Tautges
Jordan Tautges graduated from James Madison University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences. Her passion for public health, plus graduating during a global pandemic, led her to work with the Institute for Public Health Innovation and the Fairfax County Health Department. She started as a contact interviewer and then transitioned to the coronavirus call center.
After a few years working in local government, Jordan went to work for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. She currently manages public health programs focused on childhood injury and violence prevention.*
In her free time, Jordan serves as the Springfield Commissioner and Vice Chair for the Fairfax County Commission for Women and volunteers with the Fairfax County Befriend-A-Child Mentoring Program. As a life-long Fairfax County resident, she is passionate about serving her community through various volunteer opportunities. Jordan also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog, Zora, going to Burn Boot Camp, and reading.
*Jordan is serving on the Suffrage Education Institute board in her personal capacity.
Dr. Alotta E. Taylor, Ph.D.
Dr. Alotta Taylor’s career includes more than three decades of contributions and accomplishments at the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA). As a senior executive she led major programs and strategic initiatives within NASA’s Human Space Flight Program. She possesses proven leadership experience in leading people, and in developing and integrating policies, strategies, and programs. Throughout her federal career, she received several distinguished awards and recognition. Dr. Taylor’s federal leadership experience is complimented by community service at the national and county level.
Evelyn Tomaszewski
Evelyn P. Tomaszewski is an Associate Professor and MSW Program Director in the Department of Social Work at George Mason University, College of Public Health. Evelyn previously served as Senior Policy Advisor and Project Director with the National Association of Social Workers (USA); and consulted with organizations working to create multi-sectorial partnerships and initiatives with non-profit, public and private industry leaders in behavioral health. As an educator and public health social worker, she has led multiple stakeholder driven initiatives focused on gender equity, social and economic justice, HIV mental health, human rights advocacy, violence prevention, mental health and other NCDs, and ethics and social work practice
Evelyn currently serves as an IFSW Representative to the United Nations – North America, and has a leadership role in several US domestic and global organizations including the Board of Directors of the Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV (PASWHA), Suffragist Education Institute, and Secretary, Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Global Mental Health Committee of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice.
She earned her Master of Social Work from West Virginia University and a Graduate Certificate (Public Health/ Global and Community Health) from George Mason University. Evelyn has published peer-reviewed articles, position papers, and blogs on a range of policy practice issues.
Caitlyn Willis
Caitlyn Willis, Ed.S., is a dedicated educational leader with a strong commitment to fostering equitable learning environments and promoting instructional excellence. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Elementary Education with Stillwater Public Schools in Stillwater, MN, Caitlyn brings over a decade of experience in public education, marked by a passion for supporting both students and educators in achieving their fullest potential.
Holding an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree, Caitlyn has deep expertise in curriculum design, professional development, and systemic school improvement. Her leadership is characterized by data-informed decision-making, collaborative problem-solving, and a steadfast belief in inclusive practices that elevate all learners. She has played key roles in implementing innovative instructional frameworks, supporting MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports), and facilitating strategic planning efforts to align academic goals with community needs.
A champion of lifelong learning, Caitlyn is known for her ability to inspire teams, build strong school cultures, and translate vision into action. Her work consistently reflects a balance of strategic foresight and compassionate leadership.