In May 2023, OWIG launched a new program to help enhance our efforts to support improving the diversity of women in and around government in Ohio. A product of OWIG's 2021 Strategic Planning Process, our new Scholarship Program will provide stipends for female college students interning at the Ohio Statehouse. Because the part-time internships offered at the Ohio House and Ohio Senate are typically unpaid, financially disadvantaged students often miss out on the opportunity to gain exposure to state government and the career opportunities internships offer. OWIG's scholarsh ..read more

We’ve got big news: OWIG’s website was recently named #19 on Feedspot’s list of the Top 20 Women in Politics Blogs—alongside names like POLITICO, PBS, and The Guardian! Check out the rest of the list here ..read more

Starting in 2022, OWIG is launching a new program to better connect our outstanding members with each other. The new initiative, aptly named Connect, will allow members to forge meaningful one-on-one connections with each other throughout the year. To accomplish this, the program will create curated member pairings to promote mentorship, learning, or the forging of new professional and personal relationships to supplement regular OWIG programming. The intent is for it to be flexible to meet each member’s needs, and you will be paired with another member based on like goals. If you are int ..read more

Starting in 2020, Ohio Women in Government will be rolling out a Regional Event Program, bringing women together under the OWIG brand outside of Columbus for the very first time. This program will expand our usual networking and educational programming to multiple cities across the state. For members who live and work in places like Cleveland and Toledo, these events will enable us to finally meet you where you are. Our goal is to make our organization more accessible to members and potential members all across Ohio, not just in Columbus. OWIG is excited to use its Regional Event Program to em ..read more

Judge Terri Jamison Hometown: Welch, WV Place of Work: Franklin County Court of Common Pleas - Juvenile Branch of Domestic Relations Tenure at Current Place of Work: 6.5 years OWIG Involvement: member for 2.5 years OWIG decided to switch things up a bit with our member feature this month by highlighting someone who actually serves in elected office. The local judicial branch isn’t always at the forefront of people’s minds, but we hope Judge Jamison’s story provides some insight into the kinds of people who serve there. Judge Jamison has always been around public service. Growing up, her fami ..read more

Bethany Sanders Bethany recently transitioned from a long tenure as Legal Counsel for the Senate Democratic Caucus to local government as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for County Auditor Michael Stinziano. After years of late nights analyzing budget bills and navigating the partisan super-minority in state government, Bethany had decided it was time for a change. Now she feels a bit strange to have finally put the legislative grind behind her. She certainly doesn’t miss working towards policy that likely wouldn’t become law. In fact, Bethany has already developed a new appreciation f ..read more

Ohio Women in Government had the privilege to host a lunch discussion featuring Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody J. Stewart on June 10, 2019 ..read more

Brie recently became Deputy Director of Children’s Initiatives for Governor DeWine, an impressive promotion that her nominator found truly worthy of recognition, especially given Brie is still relatively early on in her career. Brie Lushek Hometown: Stillwater, Ohio (Tuscarawas County) Place of Work: Governor’s Office of Children’s Initiatives Tenure at Current Place of Work: 2 months OWIG Involvement: member for 1.5 years, event attendee for 5 years Growing up the daughter of a single mother in small-town Appalachia, Brie saw firsthand the debilitating cycle of poverty and its subsequent imp ..read more

  Monica Cerezuella OWIG Member of the Month Hometown: North Canton, OH Place of Work: COTA, Central Ohio Transit Authority Tenure at Current Place of Work: 5 months OWIG Involvement: member for 4 years Monica’s nominator described her as a longtime role model of hers who is “already killing it” in her semi-new role at COTA. Also lauded for her strong advocacy on behalf of the Latino community, Monica was described as a “strong and proud” Latina who works to build up all women. Despite the fact that she is still relatively early on in her career, Monica has already experienced governmen ..read more

  Melissa Wheeler OWIG Member of the Month Hometown: New Riegel, Ohio (Seneca County) Place of Work: Westfield Tenure at Current Place of Work: 4 years OWIG Involvement: member for 14 years (on and off), member of Steering Committee for 4 years Melissa is a former OWIG officer who decided to forgo her position this year to give others the chance to take on leadership roles. That genuine selflessness and penchant for mentorship is so characteristic of the person Melissa is. Melissa’s nominator wasted no time in recommending her to be featured as soon as Melissa had resigned her officer po ..read more