Gender Equity Leadership — Women's Center


Hey Ya’ll! Join us for a workshop that will explore how gender equity can shape leadership approaches for passionate folks, on and off campus invested in climate justice. What does inclusive and impactful leadership look like now? How do we build long lasting relationships in our collective work framed in grace and liberatory design? How do we recover from our mistakes because we are not…perfect? How do we truly take care of ourselves and each other in this hard work as change agents? Let’s talk y’all and share strategies. It is time.

Hey Ya’ll! Join us for a workshop that will explore how gender equity can shape leadership approaches for passionate folks, on and off campus invested in climate justice. What does inclusive and impactful leadership look like now? How do we build long lasting relationships in our collective work framed in grace and liberatory design? How do we recover from our mistakes because we are not…perfect? How do we truly take care of ourselves and each other in this hard work as change agents?

Let’s talk y’all and share strategies. It is time.


Dr. Jabani Bennett (she/they) will serve as the first Black woman director of the Women’s Center at the University of Louisville with the aim to co-create affirming spaces committed to gender equity from an intersectional feminist framework. Prior to joining the center, Dr. Bennett has shaped and provided oversight over numerous creative and inclusive learning and engagement programs for diverse learners across their lifespans. Her career as an award-winning arts educator in New York City and Louisville public schools informs her current projects in social justice, cultural equity planning, and empowering self-identified femmes and feminine-presenting women through the arts. In 2007, Dr. Bennett was the student events coordinator at the center and led one of the few community-wide celebrations for LGBTQIA women on campus. In her return to the center as the director, she is excited to share her expertise in equity-centered leadership to nurture innovative solutions with student leaders as well as the wider Louisville community. Dr. Bennett received both a BA degree in fine arts with a concentration in painting and a minor in the Spanish language, and a Masters in Teaching in art education with an English as a Second language endorsement (PreK-12th grade) from the University of Louisville. They received their Doctor of Education in leadership from Spalding University.
Gretchen Hunt serves as the Executive Administrator of the Office for Women where she leads efforts to raise the status of women through education, advocacy and legislation. Previously, Gretchen served as Executive Director of Emerge Kentucky, Director of Victims Advocacy in the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, Staff Attorney for the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs and the Office of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse, and Immigration Attorney at the Center for Women and Families. She has taught courses on gender and the law and domestic violence law at the University of Louisville and the Brandeis School of Law. She has over twenty years of experience in legislation, grant writing, fundraising, public speaking, project management and leadership development and continues to consult at the national level on human trafficking. In 2019, she was recognized for her advocacy on behalf of women and immigrant communities by being inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame and in 2023, was chosen as a Woman of Distinction by the Center for Women and Families. Gretchen was a founding member of La Casita Center and currently serves on the board of the Governors Scholars Program and Mothers Esquire.
Regina has been a public servant and healthcare professional in emergency medical services for the last ten years. During their EMS career, they noticed gaps in knowledge and training around subjects such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence and human trafficking. They have obtained their NAEMSE level 1 instructor and hope to teach continuing education courses and EMT/paramedic classes in Jefferson County. They have accepted the challenge of instructing first responders about the disparities in their queer and gender non-conforming community. Regina had the privilege of being a part of the inaugural OFW ambassador. As an OFW ambassador, it has been their objective to improve mental well being for their fellow fire and EMS first responders. They volunteer their time to Louisville Youth Group and hope to be a positive role model for the queer youth of Louisville.
Moderator Dr. AnaNeicia Williams, serves as the Kentucky State Coordinator for Sistersong. She is responsible for building membership and an effective network of individuals and organizations within the state to improve institutional policies and systems that impact reproductive lives of marginalized communities. She is also known for her work with mothers through centering their experiences within maternal and reproductive mental health in her private practice. When Dr. Williams is not on the frontlines serving, you can find her training and facilitating in the community and to professionals. She is also an adjunct professor at Spalding University School of Social Work where she passionately mentors and prepares upcoming social workers and professionals.