TYSONS, Va. — Lafayette 148 New York at Tysons Galleria became the epicenter of Washington’s women-in-leadership community on Thursday, November 13, as senior female chiefs of staff from Capitol Hill convened for the boutique’s annual holiday shopping fundraiser in support of American University’s Women & Politics Institute and its WeLead campaign training program, as well as American University’s First Ladies Initiative.
The event was hosted by Anita McBride, director of the university’s First Ladies Initiative; Betsy Fischer Martin, executive director of the Women & Politics Institute; and Tammy Haddad, CEO of Haddad Media and founder of the Washington AI Network.
A bipartisan panel discussion anchored the evening, featuring Senate chiefs Toni-Marie Higgins, longtime chief of staff to Sen. John Boozman; Elizabeth Falcone, chief of staff to Sen. Mark Warner; and Liz Johnson, former chief of staff to Sen. Mitt Romney. Falcone, Johnson, and Reema Dodin participated in an on-stage conversation moderated by Fischer Martin and McBride, offering candid insights into their career paths, leadership styles, and experiences navigating the highest levels of congressional power.
Other chiefs in attendance included Caitlyn Stephenson, chief of staff to Sen. Gary Peters; Marie Baldassarre, chief of staff to Rep. Ro Khanna; and a number of rising staff leaders from across Capitol Hill.
Panelists addressed the evolving role of women in government, highlighting the progress that has been made toward gender equity and the work that remains. They emphasized the value of mentorship, bipartisan collaboration, and resilience in shaping effective public service careers, underscoring how women in senior staff roles increasingly influence major policy decisions and legislative strategy.
The evening drew a strong Washington crowd, with Lafayette 148’s King Chong and Jen Shields welcoming guests including Helen Milby, Katelyn Bledsoe, Julie Russell, Mollie O’Dell, Angeli Chawla, Wendy Benjaminson, Julie Jarvis, Kate Super, and Virginia Coyne.
The event served as both a celebration of women leaders in public service and a fundraiser for programs that continue to expand pathways for future generations of women in politics.
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