Women’s Institute Leadership

The Denise Taber Finard ‘80 Women’s Institute at Russell Sage College is led by a team of professionals and change-makers who are dedicated to ensuring the institute continues the college’s legacy while serving the needs of today.

Eileen V. Brownell, Ph.D.

Interim Executive Director

Dr. Eileen V. Brownell has taught and held leadership positions at Russell Sage since 1983. She was awarded tenure in 1990 and after retirning from her faculty position in 2025 now holds the title Professor Emerita of Business. Throughout her career at Russell Sage, she has been a leading figure in developing and implementing both the field of technology and socially responsible business practices in the business curriculum.

In addition, she was actively engaged in programming for the Helen M. Upton Center for Women. Dr. Brownell has led global travel experiences for women as well as service projects in the community. Her work as a leadership consultant with ReGenIGNITE has evolved to include well-being and life coaching for women. She brings her expertise in organizational leadership and women’s education to the institute.

MaryEllen Tedesco

Faculty Fellow

MaryEllen Tedesco is the Department Chair and Undergraduate Program Director of the School of Management. With 40 years of progressive experience in Human Resources, she brings deep industry expertise and academic insight into the classroom. Her leadership role in government administration guided the organization in talent strategy, organizational development, employee relations, leadership development, and strategic workforce planning.

As a Professor of Practice, she is committed to bringing theory and application—equipping students with both the strategic mindset and practical skills required to succeed in today’s complex workplace. Professor Tedesco brings to our ambassador program her teaching philosophy that emphasizes experiential learning, ethical leadership, and evidence-based management practices. Her ability to build community and foster trust, respect and open communication will provide the ambassadors with an environment for growth and connection.

Throughout her career, Professor Tedesco has been dedicated to mentoring emerging professionals, fostering inclusive organizational cultures, and advancing the strategic role of human resources as a driver of business success.

Dr. Tonya Moutray

Faculty Fellow

Dr. Tonya Moutray is a Professor of English in the Interdisciplinary Studies Department. Her research explores the intersections between women’s studies, the history of healthcare and education, and literature and culture. Her most recent work, presented at Queen Mary University, London (June ’26) and the Capital District Feminist Studies Conference at Russell Sage College (March ’26), illuminated the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and their pivotal role in expanding parochial school development for immigrant children in Troy during the Gilded Age. She teaches courses in Romantic and Victorian literature (including Jane Austen!), first-year writing, and RSC 301: Innovating to Impact.

Working with Dr. Gertrude Hutchinson (Professor Emerita of Nursing), Tonya developed and expanded ENG/NSG/WST 267: Ill-Behaved Women: Nursing and Literature, an interdisciplinary Honors course which investigates how nursing and nurses are represented in popular culture and literature while simultaneously examining the women leaders who innovated and professionalized the field. She is a committed advocate for student research.

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Jennifer Gish

Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Russell Sage College, Women’s Institute Cabinet Liaison

Jennifer Gish serves as the connector between the Denise Taber Finard ‘80 Women’s Institute leadership team and college leadership. In addition to serving as the college’s vice president for marketing and communications, Gish is the founder and president of Strong Through Every Mile, a nonprofit organization that empowers survivors of domestic abuse through the sport of running, and is the former editor of the Times Union’s Women@Work magazine. She holds a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from Penn State University, in addition to a bachelor’s in journalism from Penn State, and an M.S. in Integrated Marketing and Communications from West Virginia University.

Dr. Jen Murphy

Lead Designer for the Russell Sage College/Women@Work Women’s Professional Development Certificate Program

Dr. Jen Murphy, a member of the institute’s advisory board, has been contracted to lead the institute’s effort to create a co-branded women’s professional development certificate program with the Times Union’s Women@Work. She is the executive director of the undergraduate division at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and has more than 20 years experience at various institutions and business schools, including Indiana University, Arizona State, American University, and Ohio University. She is a global speaker, published author, and researcher of women leaders in higher education, serves as an MBA career consultant at the University of Cambridge in the U.K., and regularly speaks, trains, and consults for universities.