Kathleen Mogelgaard (she/her/hers) is President and CEO of the Population Institute, where she directs the organization’s advocacy and public education activities. Kathleen is passionate about promoting deeper understanding of linkages among issues that are critical for sustainable development, including population dynamics, reproductive rights, gender, climate change, and food security. Prior to taking the leadership helm the Population Institute in 2021, Kathleen was a senior fellow at the institute and Principal of KAM Consulting, where she worked with clients in Washington and globally in policy analysis, research, and advocacy. She served as senior advisor at Population Action International, policy advisor at Oxfam America, assistant director of government relations at the National Audubon Society, and fellow at the Population Reference Bureau, where she provided research support and technical assistance for conservation and development projects in Africa and Asia. Kathleen has participated as an observer in negotiations on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, where she represented the World Resources Institute in advocating for effective adaptation planning that incorporates the expressed needs of marginalized and vulnerable communities. Kathleen has designed and taught courses on global challenges and political engagement at the University of Maryland, and was the lead researcher and writer of “Unfinished Business: The Pursuit of Rights and Choices for All,” the United Nations Population Fund’s 2019 State of World Population Report. She holds masters degrees in public policy and natural resources from the University of Michigan.
Heidi Worley (she/her/hers) is Communications Director at the Population Institute. As a public health specialist, Heidi has more than 30 years of experience in international development, strategic and policy communication, health policy analysis, issues advocacy, and health programming. She has served in senior communication roles for domestic and global nonprofits and private small businesses, delivering impactful results bringing evidence to action. Most recently, Heidi was a program director in International Programs at Population Reference Bureau (PRB), where she served as senior advisor in knowledge management and research uptake for a social and behavior change project focused on generating, packaging, and using innovative research to inform health programming. Heidi held other positions at PRB, as the organization’s editorial director, as well as in senior leadership roles for policy advocacy, strategic communication, and knowledge translation projects with research partners in government, academia, and the nonprofit sector. Before PRB, Heidi held positions at Maternity Care Coalition-Philadelphia; the International Center for Research on Women; Refugee Policy Group; and Youth For Understanding. She holds a master’s degree in international relations and international communication from American University and completed graduate work (all but dissertation) toward her doctorate in public health at Temple University.
Jennie Wetter (she/her/hers) is the Director of the rePROs Fight Back initiative, where she fights every day for sexual and reproductive, health, rights, and justice. Jennie is also the creator and host of the rePROs Fight Back podcast, which is a deep-dive into sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice issues like abortion, birth control, sex education, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. New episodes debut every Tuesday, and give you an insider’s perspective on what is happening and what you can do to fight back. Originally from Wisconsin, she has lived in Washington D.C. for the last 18 years. She received her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her MA from the American University’s School for International Service.
Eman Sleem (she/her/hers) is the Director of Finance and Administration at the Population Institute. Eman leads financial budgeting, accounting and reporting for the organization. She manages all audit, insurance, state registration and related administrative activities. She also administers all human resource functions and building operations. Eman has 14 years’ experience in the non-profit sector and holds a BA in Sociology and an MBA from the University of Maryland. She completed the Project Management Certificate at Georgetown University. She is currently a candidate for DEI and SRHM certifications.
Rachel Marchand (she/her/hers) is the Senior Policy Analyst and podcast producer for the rePROs Fight Back initiative. In this role, she provides guidance in digital communications and strategy to achieve rePROs Fight Back’s policy outcomes, co-produces the podcast, writes and creates original, branded content, and represents rePROs Fight Back in coalition. Rachel received her BA in International Relations at the University of New Mexico and Master’s in Public Health at Emory University. She previously worked at the United States Senate.
Elizabeth Piper (she/her/hers) is Director of Development at the Population Institute. She has dedicated over two decades to fundraising and nonprofit leadership, spanning a wide array of sectors including women’s health, the environment, higher education, the arts, and historic preservation. Immediately prior to joining the Population Institute, Elizabeth served as the director of philanthropy for The Women’s Initiative, a women’s mental health organization, and prior to that, for the Southern Environmental Law Center. In these roles as well as during her roles as director of development for Virginia Humanities at the University of Virginia and at San Francisco Opera, Elizabeth cultivated her passion for fundraising while building development teams, launching major giving programs, managing annual and capital campaigns, all while raising millions of dollars. Originally from Baltimore, Elizabeth received her BA from The University of Virginia and has lived in Charlottesville since 2007.