Board of Directors
Mary Clemons
Mary Clemons is a retired church administrator. She managed the church finances and oversaw fundraising activities. Mary has been a member of Women’s Voices since its founding and has served as Treasurer and was President from 2011-2014.
Ruth Ehresman
Ruth Ehresman is a Distinguished Alumni of the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University. She is a former teacher and social worker, and spent the past 17 years working as a policy analyst and organizer for several statewide public interest groups. Ruth has served on many boards and advisory groups, both locally and statewide. She loves dogs, tennis and playing the piano, but her greatest passion is social justice.
Linda Zazove
Linda Zazove was the Deputy Director for Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, a civil legal aid program serving low income people in 65 counties in central and southern Illinois. She worked in their East St. Louis office for over 30 years. She specialized in health and welfare issues, moving into resource development and strategic planning. She serves on the Women’s Voices Advocacy Committee, the Planning Committee and serve as the Health Care Liaison.
Becky Clausen
Becky Clausen is a retired computer business analyst who has been inspired to work on social justice issues by Women’s Voices. She especially is interested in heathcare, taxation and food equity. For fun, she volunteers for AARP doing taxes, helps with a church youth group and makes suggestions about web site design.
Trish Gunby
Trish Gunby has been active in Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice serving on the Advocacy Committee. She worked for Citicorp Mortgage and Ralston Purina in various marketing capacities, then spent a number of years volunteering at her children’s schools and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Trish also volunteered at her church, Manchester United Methodist Church, where she most recently served as Leadership Board Chairperson and now works as Social Justice Coordinator. She credits the group WE CAN, West County Community Action Network, for starting her on her social justice path and currently co-leads the Voting Rights Team. She is married to Mark and has two adult children, Kyle and Bryn, and a spoiled pooch, Ellie. Her mantra is, “If you’re comfortable in your circle, you need to enlarge it.”
Karen Francis
Karen Francis is a retired high school administrator. She currently is the Chair of the American Association of University Women's (AAUW) Public Policy Committee , on the Board of Safe Connections, a facilitator for the YWCA's Witnessing Witness program and past president of the Ballwin Chesterfield Branch of AAUW. She is passionate about women’s issues and social justice. To quote former first lady Michelle Obama, “Find people who make you better” and that truly is Women’s Voices of St. Louis.
Susan Flanagan
Susan is retired from Medtronics where she was National Program Sales Manager. A former teacher, Susan graduated from Ohio University and earned a master’s degree from Cleveland State University. She has a small jewelry business. She is a Sustainer with Junior League of St. Louis and is on the board of Father Bob’s Outreach in North St. Louis.
Joan McKerrow
Joan is a retired Nurse Educator, having worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for more than 25 years. She helped organize and was the past president of the New York City Affiliate of the Association of Nursing Professional Development. She has an MPH from Columbia University. Access to health care, and the impact of gun violence have been areas of particular interest. She was introduced to WVs upon return to her native city and has been inspired to become involved in WV, and to work for social justice here in our city and our state.
Judy Arnold
Judy Arnold is a freelance communications consultant who has been an editor of a national journal for health care administrators and a teacher. She has previously served on the Women’s Voices board and the board of the Friends of the Kirkwood Public Library.
Carolyn Crowe
Carolyn initially became actively involved in social justice issues more than four decades ago when she lobbied for the passage of car seat legislation in Missouri. More recently, she has been a vocal advocate for health care for all and common sense gun solutions. She serves as a Faith Community Nurse in Webster Groves.
Mary Schuman
Mary’s degrees in political science and urban affairs led her to her first career in community planning, but after the birth of her second child, she chose to be at home with the boys and quickly found her way into civic and other volunteer organizations. For 25 years she served her local community on boards and commissions, in the schools and as an elected official. For the past 15 years, Mary has volunteered as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) with Voices for Children. She currently serves as Co-Chair of Women’s Voices’ Campaign for Common Sense Gun Solutions.
Gwen Wesley
Gwendolyn J. Wesley is a founding member and immediate past president of the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund (SOS). Her corporate work experience includes information systems technology, governmental and regulatory affairs, and corporate director of diversity and equal employment. Gwen has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in St. Louis County Family Court and on their board of directors. She is a charter member of the St. Louis Symphony In Unison Chorus, where she serves on the Advisory Committee. Gwen and her husband are blessed to be the parents of a wonderful daughter and son-in-law and grandparents to two beautifully gifted granddaughters.