Cabinet Members
Jenne Alderks (she/they pronouns)
Jenne joined the Emerge Cabinet after graduating from the 2025 Emerge Cohort. Jenne holds a Masters of Public Administration, a certificate in Public Policy and Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and an Advanced Certificate in Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities. By day, Jenne works in human services for a county government and by night serves the city of Bothell as a city councilmember. Before running for city council, Jenne turned to public advocacy to build communities and drive solutions. This effort contributed to the creation of Northshore Family Partnership, an alternative learning program for students in the Northshore School District. Inspired by the power of community engagement, Jenne worked with the Kenmore Bothell Interfaith Group (KBIG) to provide meals and shelter to neighbors experiencing homelessness during the winter months. Jenne currently serves as the board treasurer for Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness. A strong supporter of equal rights, Jenne served as a co-chair for Anti-Racist Communities: Bothell, advocating with BIPOC communities to address discrimination in education, policing, and economic opportunity. Jenne also served on the city’s Planning Commission between 2020-2022. After growing up in Stockton, California, Jenne graduated with degrees in human development and family studies, with emphasis on family-friendly policy (Associates 2003, Bachelors of Science 2005, Masters of Education 2008). Jenne’s family enjoys Irish dancing, hiking, biking, board games, traveling, homeschooling, and volunteering in the community.
Dr. Melissa Bedford 
Dr. Melissa Bedford (she/her) is a former Title I public school teacher, current assistant professor in education, and elected school board director. Originally from Northern Nevada, she is a proud alumna of the University of Nevada, Reno, where she completed her BA in Political Science, MEd in Education, and PhD in Education-Literacy Studies. Dr. Bedford moved to Spokane in the fall of 2019 to begin her career in higher education at Eastern Washington University, where she teaches literacy methods courses to future teachers. In addition, she researches various areas of education including children’s and young adult literature, critical literacy, literacy-STEM integration, and culturally responsive teaching. After moving to Spokane, she quickly became involved in the local community, serving as Vice Chair of the local Young Democrats chapter and volunteering on various campaigns. Dr. Bedford participated in the 2021 Emerge Boot Camp during her campaign for Spokane Public Schools Board Director. She is excited to now be serving Spokane schools and the community, supporting teachers, students, and families on their educational journeys. During her free time, she enjoys celebrating her Asian American heritage by mastering her mom’s infamous lumpia recipe and spending time with her partner, Jeff, and all their fur babies.
Brandy Donaghy 
Brandy Donaghy is a community organizer and Navy veteran who is currently serving in the Washington State Legislature as a Representative from the 44th Legislative District. Her priorities include COVID-19 recovery that incorporates community support, housing security, justice reform, and maintaining green spaces. Donaghy serves on the board of directors for the Communities of Color Coalition. She also regularly volunteers to provide emergency services and disaster relief to the Snohomish community. Brandy is a graduate of Emerge WA’s 2017 Seattle boot camp.
Shelby Healy 
Shelby Healy is an advertising, marketing and communications veteran who has managed brands ranging from one-woman Etsy shops to Microsoft. She began on the journalism side of newspapers before selling ad spots. After 5 years of selling digital display, search, radio, print, newspaper and everything in between for The Seattle Weekly, The Seattle Times-PI, CBS, VEVO and last.fm, she read the tea leaves and has been hands on with social media for the last ten years, working for a small startup before heading to Microsoft in 2011 to manage Microsoft Advertising’s social presence and manage public relations and executive image. She is currently a Marketing Manager at Microsoft, managing the end to end social strategy, production, execution and analytics for Windows, Surface and Mixed Reality Commercial. She is a graduate of Emerge WA’s 2019 signature training program.
Kathy Mulkerin 
Kathy Mulkerin grew up in Walla Walla, attending Walla Walla Public Schools. She left to attend college. earning a BA in Psychology from the University of Portland, a Master’s of Education, Primary Montessori from Loyola University Maryland and Montessori Teaching certificate from Montessori Institute Northwest. Kathy returned to Walla Walla in 2005 to raise her son and be closer to her parents.
Kathy began her political career at age 5, knocking on doors with her Mom when she ran for School Board. Kathy is a former Chair of the 16th LD Democrats and former Washington State Democratic Committeeperson representing Walla Walla County.
After an unsuccessful run for Walla Walla County Clerk in 2018, Kathy stepped up to run for Walla Walla Public School Board Director in 2021 and won her election.
Kathy is a proud graduate of the Emerge Washington 2019 Governor Christine Gregoire Cohort. She completed a Master’s in paralegal studies from The George Washington University last year. Kathy is involved in furthering her passion to empower women and children. She is a co-founder of COCOA (Color Our Community on Awareness) and was recently sworn in as a Child Advocate.
Shilpa Prem 
Shilpa Prem is an attorney and engineer and has been passionate about getting more women into office. She brings extensive legal and professional experience and currently is Corporate Counsel at Amazon in their Lab126 division. She has been an active board member of the South Asian Bar Association, bringing South Asians women to the forefront of the legal field. She has also been a Child Advocate Attorney to represent children in court to advocate for the best interest of the child without a guardian or one who is part of the foster care system. Shilpa grew up in Corvallis, Oregon and currently resides in Washington.
Charmaine Slye 
Charmaine has lived in the 43rd Legislative District of Seattle for more than 50 years but holds her heart in the sunshine state of California. Growing up in the Central District, her first taste of activism was with Black Panther Party in the early days of the movement. In her work with nonprofits professionally and as a volunteer, she created and managed a meal program during the height of the AIDS epidemic, organized and emceed national LGBTQ conferences, and led community meetings and national conferences as a member of the SGIUSA Buddhist community. She worked on the volunteer leadership team for both the Obama Campaign (2008/2012) and the Hillary Campaign for Seattle (2016), was the emcee at the legislative convention, spoke at the 7th congressional convention, and was the team-lead support at the state convention. She was also the emcee for the Womxn’s March in Seattle in January, 2016. She is currently semi-retired but continues to work as the Visionary Advocacy Strategist for Arts Education Washington. She focuses personal time on letting the activist in her rise while engaging and uplifting Womxn’s voices at the individual and community level.
Joy Stanford 
Joy Stanford is Washington Conservation Action’s Political and Civic Engagement Director. She is a former candidate who ran for office in
both 2018 and 2020. She is a grassroots activist for the environment, education, housing, equity, and inclusion. She co-founded Gig Harbor
4 Racial Justice which fights for equality in her school district and the community at large. She serves on many boards and advisory
councils, including Emerge Washington, which recruits and trains women to run for office, Progress Alliance, Washington’s Paramount
Duty, and Moms for Peace. She graduated from the University of Phoenix with a degree in Business Administration. Joy loves a good
Malbec, time with family, scrapbooking with friends and fly fishing in her spare time.
Naghmana Sherazi
From sea turtle releases in Karachi (Pakistan’s largest city) to running for City Council in Spokane, Washington, Naghmana carries a passion for the environment and communities that she’s a part of. She became especially interested in environmental justice following the passing of the HEAL Act (SB5141), which creates a template and path towards centering communities most adversely affected by pollution as we move towards a more carbon neutral and green state. It defines how state law incorporates Environmental Justice ensuring all governmental agencies consider the needs of vulnerable communities as they continue their work. As a scientist, an educator, a medical professional, and a community leader, Naghmana has worked hard to raise awareness and educate people and bring about change for impacted and adversely effected communities, which she does daily in her position as Climate Justice Program Director of the Lands Council. She is a single mother, and loves to connect with people on the basis of food, music, culture, art, ethnicity, religion, and social and environmental justice issues.
Stephanie Wright
Stephanie Wright is an accomplished marketing and messaging strategist, author, and public speaker. She specializes in understanding what moves audiences to action and shaping stories, messages, and brands that connect communities to an organization’s mission, purpose, and goals—whether in advocacy, philanthropy, education, or political leadership.
Stephanie has been a lifelong advocate for women’s rights. She has been on the frontline of fighting for reproductive rights, played a role in organizing several of the Seattle Women’s marches and today serves as an ongoing public speaking trainer for Emerge Washington, helping to prepare candidates to run, win, and lead. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity and collective action, whether supporting grassroots movements, advising organizations, or mentoring emerging voices.
Beyond her professional work, Stephanie has been a dedicated animal shelter and foster volunteer, reflecting her lifelong advocacy for animal welfare.
Pam Eakes – Emeritus
Pamela Eakes combines a successful career in advertising and marketing with nonprofit executive leadership and organizational development, and a commitment to community and civic service. For over a dozen years, Eakes served as Founder & CEO of Mothers Against Violence in America (MAVIA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing violence by and against children. Eakes served on the Emerge WA cabinet and national board of Emerge and has termed out of both roles. Thank you for your service, Pam!