Board of Directors
AJ Gordon
Co-Chair
(she/her)
AJ Gordon is a senior at Watkins Mill High School. She came to her first MoCoEmpowHER meeting in February 2020 and later became a Leadership Institute Fellow before assuming Co-Director of the Institute in 2021. AJ has been involved in MSP as a summer intern and board member at her school's MSP chapter. She enjoys reading and cooking and wants to foster a community where women can gain the confidence needed to enter leadership positions and navigate academic spaces.
Aves Hasrat
Co-Chair
(she/her)
Aves Hasrat is a junior at Gaithersburg High School. She joined MoCo EmpowHER in 2018 and was involved in the first Leadership Institute as an 8th grader. The uplifting community EmpowHER fostered inspired her to further involve herself in the planning and facilitating aspect of the organization. Aside from EmpowHER, Aves serves as her junior class president and on MCR as one of the Education Policy Directors. She strives to educate others and echo the student voice in MCPS policy decisions. Aves hopes to work with the leadership team to open new opportunities for women and elevate EmpowHER’s message.
Pamuk Altan-Bonnet
Media Director
(she/they)
Pamuk Altan-Bonnet is a senior at Walt Whitman High School. She started attending MocoEmpowHER meetings as a freshman, and became a Leadership Institute Fellow as a sophomore. She is also a part of the MCPS Special Elections Committee. She enjoys acting and being on tech in her school's plays, as well as boxing and playing piano. She also volunteers locally and interns in a clinical lab at the NIH. She hopes to encourage young women to get involved in advocacy even if they don’t have any experience.
Ana Del Roio
Communications Director
(she/her)
Ana Del Roio is a senior at Northwest High School. This is her second year with MoCo EmpowHER as she served as the Website Designer during the 2021-2022 school year. In addition to EmpowHER, she is the Chief of Communications on Board of Education Member Lynne Harris Student Intern Team and has been a Media Deputy for the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association since 2021. Ana also plays field hockey and lacrosse at Northwest and is excited to discuss female representation in books and film in EmpowHER this year.
Sedise Tiruneh
Community Projects Director
(she/her)
Sedise Tiruneh is a senior at Montgomery Blair High School. She started attending EmpowHER meetings last year, but this is her first year as a part of the Board of Directors. She's a member of other clubs like MCR and MCFC and in her free time likes to read, make playlists, and go on hikes. She is excited to work with this team and hopes to work to increase accessibility and diversity in advocacy and affinity spaces.
Aneela Shemsu
Leadership Institute Director
(she/her)
Aneela Shemsu is a junior at Thomas Wootton High School. She enjoys public speaking, watching movies, and hanging out with friends in her free time. She started getting involved with MocoEmpowHer as a sophomore and eventually attended the Leadership Institute. Other than MocoEmpowHer, she is also involved with MCR in the SEC. She wants to encourage women to become more involved in public speaking and advocating for issues they are passionate about.
Mridhula Bharathwaj
(she/her)
Leadership Institute Director
Mridhula Bharathwaj is a senior at Clarksburg High School. She was a Leadership Institute Fellow as a junior and was also a part of the MCR Executive Board as a County Affairs Deputy in the Legislative Affairs Department. She was also a Congressional Aide for Representative Seth Moulton (MA-6). She enjoys dancing, playing piano, and spending time with family and friends. She hopes to empower young women to be change-makers in society and be a voice for themselves and others.