The Women's Leadership Initiative at Yale University

President

Merlyn Deng is a junior in Saybrook College majoring in Economics. When she's not working on WLI efforts, she spends her time working on bringing youth together to lead educational initiatives in Sichuan, China.  She spent her last summer doing behavioral economics research for Yale's School of Management. In her free time, she likes reading Wikipedia, listening to Shades, learning about Chinese legal reform, taking pictures with her Nikon, and eating Greek yogurt.

Vice President

Stephanie Marton is a junior in Morse, and a Cognitive Science major with a focus in reasoning and decision making. Her academic interests include Behavioral Finance and Neuroeconomics. At Yale, she works for MAYA consulting, dances with the Yale Irish Step Dancers, plays club squash and leads FOOT trips. She hopes to pursue a professional career in business, and is especially interested in entrepreneurship. She spent last summer working for the Center for Women and Enterprise, a female entrepreneur resource base in Boston. 

Chair of Speakers

Meng Jia Yang is a sophomore in Pierson College majoring in Economics. When she's not spending time with the great women of WLI, she's debating for Yale and developing curriculum for the Urban Debate League.

Co-Chair of Mentorship

Melissa Hou is a freshmen in Berkeley College prospectively majoring in Political Science or Economics.  This year, she hopes to help establish mentorship as the flagship program of the Women's Leadership Initiative and strengthen the organization's presence on campus.  Outside of WLI, she serves as Communications Chair on the Freshmen Class Council, is part of the Yale Business Society, serves on CASPY board, and is proudly pledging Kappa Alpha Theta.  In her free time, she enjoys travel, food, and writing.

Chair of Outreach

Kate Parker is a junior in Davenport College majoring in History.  After playing varsity volleyball for three years, she is now involved with the Women's Leadership Initiative as the Outreach Chair.  At Yale, she works with the Intercultural Affairs Council, the Sex Culture Initiative, Sappho, Pi Beta Phi, and Tutoring in Elementary Schools.  In her spare time, she enjoys playing childhood boardgames, shooting her bow and arrows, reading about LGBTQ issues, and bonding with friends over good food.

Chair of Freshmen Outreach

Eileen Jang is a freshmen in Calhoun College and a prospective Economics and International Studies major.  She hopes to help create a larger membership base for WLI, and is especially working to improve freshmen outreach efforts.  Outside of working with the great ladies in WLI, she serves as Alumni Outreach Co-Coordinator for the Asian American Cultural Center, and plays Calhoun intramural sports.  She also enjoys good food, travel, and trail biking on sunny days.