About JAWS

The Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) brings together working journalists, journalism educators and researchers from across the country to share resources, support, training and information about issues that affect women in our field. We meet in person and online in an atmosphere of mutual support and enthusiastic interest in one another’s differing experiences and journalistic dreams.

We are Pulitzer Prize winners and toilers in the most obscure outposts of American journalism. We are just out of college and we are in our seventh decade and still working for truth and justice. We have been celebrated and dismissed, patronized and powerful, out of work and in the most wonderful jobs in the world.

Many of us have created our own jobs, whether by working for ourselves or for some of the biggest media corporations in the U.S. JAWS has helped many of us shape our own future by providing a testing ground, a sounding board and a launch pad for ideas we just couldn’t resist trying out.

We characterize our mission this way: “JAWS advances the professional empowerment and personal growth of women in journalism and advocates for more inclusive coverage of the diverse experiences and cultures that comprise our society.”

JAWS incorporated as a nonprofit in 1990 and because JAWS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), donations are tax deductible.

For more information:

Contact us:

Contact form

Email:

Address: 2885 Sanford Ave. SW #29226
Grandville Michigan, 49418

Staff

Molly Schar
executive director

Molly (she/her) has nearly 30 years of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors. She spent more than a decade total in association executive director roles with the National States Geographic Information Council and Ophthalmic Women Leaders before joining JAWS.

 

Molly is also the founder of the Worthiest Project, where she channels her passion for helping changemakers prevent and recover from burnout. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina with a BA in journalism.

 

She lives in her adopted hometown of New Orleans with two rescue pups after living on boats in Washington, DC, and Northern California. She is a longtime volunteer with her local community radio station.

Brigid Colver
Communications & Community

Brigid is the JAWS communications and community manager, working to connect and inspire JAWS members and the larger community. 

 

While Brigid has spent ten years managing community and communication functions at SaaS companies like SAP and LinkedIn, she has always harbored a secret interest in journalism. She is thrilled to support JAWS’ community, mission and commitment to DEIB in this role.

 

Brigid and her partner live in Michigan with their four kids and two cats. In the midst of the chaos, she hikes, gardens and pursues creative writing.

Brittany Holmes
Membership

Brittany is JAWS’ membership coordinator. In this role, she oversees membership logistics and operational support. Driven by a strong commitment to doing what is right for our members and helping others be successful in their roles, Brittany keeps us all organized and moving forward. She brings to the role extensive experience in software implementation, operations, and project management.

 

Brittany holds a bachelors’ degree in mass communications (minor in business communications) from Towson University. She is deeply passionate about her work with JAWS and other clients and she actively volunteers with organizations that aim to expose female students to STEM career opportunities. 

 

With her husband and three children, Brittany resides in North Carolina. Beyond her professional endeavors, she enjoys exploring distinctive restaurants, traveling and experimenting with new recipes for her family.

partnerships

JAWS is building partnerships with other journalism organizations and programs, both to speak out on behalf of those who need support and to offer discounts and special opportunities that we might not be able to offer separately.

We’ve partnered and are partnering with such groups as the Poynter Institute, The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), Native American Journalists Association, National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), Online News Association (ONA), Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW), Association of Independent Radio (AIR), National Press Club (NPC), USA Today Network, JSK Journalism Fellowships at Stanford, University of Florida, and our funders, Democracy Fund and Ford Foundation.

Committees

Volunteers make up the heart of Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS). Committees and task forces help JAWS deliver the best resources, the most innovative programming and a strong sense of community for our members. Committees and task forces may change in order to meet the needs of the JAWS community.

If you would like to join a 2023 committee or task force, please let us know! Email .

Board Governance 
Supports the overall infrastructure, capacity and development of the Board of Directors.

Co-Chairs:
Julia Kagan
Gwyneth Doland

CAMP 
Develops the programming for 2022 CAMP.

Co-Chairs:
Tanya Gazdik
Elissa Yancey

Communications 
Identifies and assesses communications needs for JAWS and assist with communications messaging.

Co-Chairs:
Carrie Osgood
Lauren Moraski

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Identifies and assesses diversity and inclusion needs of JAWS.

Chair:
Linda Jue

Finance
Provides financial oversight and support to JAWS.

Co-Chairs:
Joanna Hernandez
Suzanne Cosgrove

Membership 

Understands the composition of, assess the needs and identify value and benefits for the JAWS membership.

Co-chairs:
Amanda Crawford
Jill Cornfield

Regional Groups
Provides support for Regional Groups, identify needs/challenges and collaborative opportunities.

Co-Chairs: 
Suzanne Cosgrove
Sana Siwolop

Programs and Services
Identifies and assesses JAWS programming and service opportunities.

Co-Chairs:
Cirien Saadeh
Sonya Ross

Elections
Identifies members for board nomination.

Co-Chairs:
Fara Warner
Tanya Gazdik

Fundraising and Development

Provide financial guidance and support for JAWS, a nonprofit organization.

Co-Chairs:
Alison Bethel
Amy Resnick

Legacy Fund Trustees
Supports special projects that enrich the work of JAWS and honor women trailblazers of the organization and the industry. The Legacy Fund was built from gifts of courage, action and commitment to the promise of JAWS

Co-Chairs:
Jane Isay
Amanda Crawford (Board Liaison)

Member Communications Task Force:
Review all of the ways that members can communicate with each other and discuss the best way/platform to enhance these communications. Research additional options and provide recommendations to the Board, if needed. Also, look at our current membership platform and come up with a plan on how to activate the system in 2023. Work alongside the membership and communications committees.

Chair:
Barbara Selvin