Melissa Tenzer | Women's Leadership Summit

FAQs

Questions?

Questions? Contact Assistant to the Dean Stephanie Horner, horners@tcnj.edu or 609-771-3050.

When is the Conference?

The 15th annual Women’s Leadership Summit will be held on October 29, 2025. Keep checking back for tickets to go on sale!

How long is the Conference?

9:00 AM to 2:30 PM (exact times subject to change) (exact times subject to change)

Where is the Conference?

The College of New Jersey

2000 Pennington Road
Ewing, NJ 08628

Education Building, Room 212

Directions to TCNJ

How much is a ticket and what does it include?

In-person tickets are $100. TCNJ faculty, staff, and alumni tickets are $80. A discounted table of eight is available for $640.

Your ticket includes:

Keynote address
A choice of one, out of two, breakout sessions
Breakfast
Lunch
Autographed keynote book
Closing activity

What is your refund policy?
We do not offer refunds on ticket purchases at this time.

Who is speaking at the Summit?

The speakers are listed above under the “Speakers” link. They will be updated as they are confirmed.

What should I wear?

Attendees generally wear business casual attire.

How can I register?

Keep checking back for tickets to go on sale.

Seating

Seating for the entire event is on a first-come/first-served basis. If a table is purchased, the guests will be seated together unless otherwise specified.

Accessibility statement

TCNJ aims to offer inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including those with disabilities, to engage fully. If you require reasonable accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact arc@tcnj.edu two weeks ahead of the event.

How do I become a sponsor?

Contact Quiana Starr, starrq@tcnj.edu, 609-771-2566.

Dietary restrictions?

Contact, Stephanie Horner, horners@tcnj.edu, 609-771-3050.

Comments or Suggestions?

Contact Stephanie Horner, horners@tcnj.edu, 609-771-3050.

Dr. Sandra Schwartz

Dr. Sandra Schwartz brings over two decades of dedicated educational leadership to her current role as K-12 Supervisor for Business, Math, and Science at Montville Township Public Schools. Her expertise spans curriculum development, professional development workshops, pioneering initiatives, and fostering community engagement. Dr. Schwartz holds an Ed. D in Educational Leadership from the College of Saint Elizabeth and is recognized for her commitment to student success and educational innovation.

Dr. Tamar Spitzer

Dr. Tamar Spitzer is a dedicated feminist researcher and speaker specializing in Organizational Leadership. She has presented at prominent women’s leadership conferences on the topics of the death of female superintendents in K-12 education, working motherhood, the unique qualities of female leaders, and how women can harness stress for forward advancement. Dr. Spitzer also has a TED Talk called “A Case Against Mrs”. Dr. Spitzer is an administrator in Montville Township Public Schools, supervising the World Language and ESL departments.

Sylvia Baffour

Sylvia Baffour is a renowned speaker, author, and emotional intelligence expert, celebrated for her dynamic approach to personal and professional development. She was recently ranked among HubSpot’s Top 15 Female Motivational Speakers alongside the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Mel Robbins.

Sylvia’s global background, having lived in various countries around the world, enriches her ability to connect with and relate to diverse audiences. As the author of “I Dare You to Care – Using Emotional Intelligence to Inspire, Influence, and Achieve Remarkable Growth,” Sylvia encapsulates her extensive knowledge and experience, offering readers practical tools to harness the power of emotional intelligence for personal and professional development.

Her work is a testament to the transformative power of emotional intelligence, making her an invaluable asset to organizations focused on thriving in an ever-changing world.

Committee

The TCNJ Women’s Leadership Summit Committee consists of: Tammy Dieterich, Interim Dean, School of Business; Stephanie Horner, Assistant to the Dean, School of Business; Ro Multari, Program Assistant, School of Business; Quiana Starr, Program Assistant, School of Business; Stephen Tomkiel, MBA Director; Gavin Farber, Coordinator for Undergraduate Advising, School of Business

Bio Dima Ghawi

Dima is Middle-Eastern in her genes, American in her heart, and a global citizen in her spirit. Sheignites the untapped potential in individuals across the globe, empowering them to shatter limitations and become courageous, purpose driven leaders. Her own journey is one of escaping confinement, crossing continents, and transforming her life’s purpose. Harnessing the power of her story, Dima is committed to inspiring individuals to attain personal and professional growth.

Through keynote speeches, workshops, and executive coaching, Dima shares her unique leadership transformation journey with one goal in mind: motivate and activate those around her to reimagine their potential and grow into leaders.

Dima draws from two decades of corporate experience leading global teams and developing future leaders worldwide. She has worked across the United States, Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa for several Fortune 100 companies including IBM, Merrill Lynch, and Intuit. She has honed a keen expertise in developing leaders to meet the demands of the global workforce.

Dima’s memoir Breaking Vases received many awards including Writer’s Digest 2018 Grand Prize Award, Best Indie Book Award, Readers’ Favorite Award, National Indie Excellence Award, and Nautilus Book Award.

She has been recognized for her services with the 2014 President of the United States Bronze Volunteer Service Award, the 2019 Baton Rouge Business Report “Influential Women in Business,”2014 Baton Rouge Business Report’s “Forty Under 40” Award, and the 2016 Louisiana State University “Esprit de Femme Award.” She has been featured in numerous publications for her professional and philanthropic work.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimaghawi/

Elisa Torres

Elisa Torres is a commercial leader in the healthcare industry with passion and conviction for building those around her. She has held roles across Sales, Marketing, and Learning & Development functions both in the US and abroad in Asia. Elisa studied marketing at The College of New Jersey and has spent the past 16 years honing her craft, which has led to much innovation and transformative change in her workplace.

Elisa hails from the most loving and generous Puerto Rican family. If she can leave the world a better place for them, she will have fulfilled her life’s calling. Her youth was marked by significant financial and emotional loss, which inspired her to pursue greatness and cultivate it in those around her. Elisa serves her community by mentoring young professionals. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the not-for-profit, Strategies to End Homelessness. She is currently pursuing her Executive MBA from The Wharton School.

In her free time, you can find Elisa doting on her 7 nieces and nephews or traveling to experience a new culture. You can learn more about Elisa on her website, www.elisaspeaks.com.

Bozena Leven, PhD

Bozena Leven graduated from the Central School of Planning and Statistics, Warsaw, Poland with an M.A. in Economics (specializing in International Trade) and was awarded a Ph.D. in Economics from Cornell University. Her primary areas of study included International Economics and Economic Development. She has interspersed her academic duties with consulting stints at the Ford Foundation, International Affairs division assisting in their Soviet-East European program, the United Nations, office of the Under-Secretary-General, Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, the William Davidson Institute, University of Michigan and the World Bank. Her publications and research focus on two areas: financial restructuring of Eastern and Central Europe and the welfare effects of macroeconomic reforms in that region. She is also the Executive Director of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America in New York and the Interim Dean of the School of Business at the College of New Jersey.

Dr. Kathryn A. Foster

Dr. Kathryn A. (Kate) Foster became the 16th president of The College of New Jersey in 2018.

A native of New Jersey and a scholar-educator with over thirty-five years of experience in public higher education, Foster comes to TCNJ from the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) where she served as president from 2012 to 2018. Prior to the presidency, she was a Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, on research leave from the State University of New York at Buffalo, her academic home from 1993 to 2012.

Foster earned her BA in geography from The Johns Hopkins University, her MCP (city planning) from the University of California, Berkeley, and her PhD in public and international affairs from Princeton University.

An overarching aim of Foster’s first year at TCNJ has been to clarify the college’s institutional priorities and align the relevant pieces – strategy, budget, capital investment plan, and programming – to ensure that the institution is making the most responsible and wise choices for today and tomorrow. This has involved the introduction of a new budget process to better align investment plans with priorities, and the development of key performance indicators to monitor progress.

Foster has placed particular emphasis on building a more inclusive community at TCNJ. The creation of a Division of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; formation of a Bias Response Team; and the development of new education and advocacy programs are among the early achievements.

Chanelle Lester

Chanelle is currently the MBA Director at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing, NJ. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University – Douglass College where she was a member of the Division I Scarlett Knights Track & Field team. Directly after graduating from Rutgers in three years, she went on to pursue her Juris Doctor degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law. Upon completion of her law degree, she started recruiting for the Law School’s Admission Office. It was at that point she realized her love for working in higher education and promoting graduate degree programs. Shortly after finishing her role as a temporary recruiter for Temple, she secured a position at Stevens Institute of Technology as the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions where she was able to increase the number of domestic graduate students and implement more efficient methods of reviewing files and recruiting students. She then went on to serve as the Associate Director of Graduate Admissions at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ. While there, she helped to implement a paperless environment through data imaging and paperless decision-making. In efforts to continue to promote academic excellence, she accepted a position as the Director of Graduate and International Admission at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus. After a number of years of commuting to New York, she found her way back to New Jersey at Rider University as the Director of Graduate Business and International Admissions. It was during this time she recognized her desire to pursue more fully a career that combined enrollment, recruitment, program development and program assessment at which time she accepted the position with TCNJ. She currently resides in New Jersey with her husband, Larry Lester Jr. and two children. She enjoys traveling abroad with her family and is actively engaged in volunteer service work on a weekly basis.

Jigna Rao

Jigna Rao is Director at Center for Continuing Studies at Mercer County Community College where she oversees professional development, personal enrichment, and workforce development training programs that create educational pathways for adults, while cultivating a community of learning. Jigna’s career spans education, government, healthcare, business, and nonprofit fields where she has used her leadership to influence growth, affect change, and engage audiences. Previously, Jigna led the Youth Services Programs at Millhill Child and Family Development including the City of Trenton Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program. Prior to this, Jigna served on NJ Governor Corzine’s staff as the Director of Drumthwacket- NJ Governor’s Official Residence.

Jigna’s passions go beyond her professional endeavors. In 2007, following a diagnosis of Pelvic Tuberculosis and infertility, she learned firsthand about the stigma of such conditions, particularly for women. She realized that she could make an impact by sharing her story publicly, since few survivors feel they can do so without fear of being socially isolated. Jigna has received multiple recognitions for her advocacy work, including Princeton YWCA’s Tribute to Women Award.

Jigna’s commitment to human rights extends beyond TB. She dedicates her efforts to domestic violence, minority health, and serves on various nonprofit boards and committees including Womanspace, SKN Foundation, and Princeton YWCA. Jigna is an alumni of TCNJ and Mercer County Community College. Jigna lives in Hopewell with her husband and their dog.

Lisa Christiansen

Dare to Lead Book Cover Lisa Christiansen believes that executive leaders build trust through courageous leadership, and that trust is what drives thriving teams and loyal customers. Lisa brings over 30 years of global and national corporate experience to her work as a highly skilled facilitator of personal development for individual executives and their teams. She partners with her clients to help them unleash their full leadership potential so that they can bring business and people together to deliver outstanding results.

Finding her energy in helping professionals excel in their careers, Lisa has a thorough understanding of the challenges that executives face in today’s business environment. During her corporate career, Lisa held various leadership roles including one as a global sales manager for a multi-million dollar business unit; Lisa was also a retail manager for multiple locations with sales ranging from 75-120M, with a staff of 230-450 employees. Finally, she served as the director for a new business start-up. Lisa’s had full P&L responsibility, developed strategic, tactical and operational business plans, and worked cross functionally with various stakeholders.

Lisa is a Professional Certified Coach, accredited through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and certified by the Institute for Professional Coaching (iPEC). She served on the board of directors for ICF Philadelphia and volunteers as a coach for the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, offering pro-bono coaching for Women Vets Rock. In addition to her work as an executive coach, Lisa is a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of NEW, The Network of Executive Women, where she is a mentor for NEW leaders. One of Lisa’s favorite ways to work with clients is through her certifications in Dr. Brené Brown’s Dare to LeadTM program and the Conversational Intelligence® program. These give her the ability to train and speak on building deeper connections while also creating courageous work cultures.

Melissa Tenzer

Melissa Tenzer was appointed Executive Director of Dress for Success Central New Jersey (DFSCNJ) in December 2015. Ms. Tenzer has over 20 years’ experience in leadership development, career building, professional coaching, changed management and community advocacy. Before joining DFSCNJ, Melissa served as President and Chief Executive Office of her own Mercer County staffing agency, CareersUSA. She has also held significant nonprofit leadership roles, including Committee Chair, Champion for Business New Jersey, Human Resources Chairman and Executive Board Member, Eden Autism Services; Board Member, Mercer County Community College Foundation; Executive Board of Trustees, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce; and, Chair, PMRCC Foundation. In recognition of her community service, Ms. Tenzer was a 2012 recipient of the YWCA Princeton Tribute to Woman Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, Ms. Tenzer was appointed to the Mercer County Workforce Development. Ms. Tenzer is a graduate of Rider University with a bachelor’s degree in human resources and marketing.

Tammy Tibbetts

Tammy is a pioneering social impact entrepreneur who has channeled her passion for girls’ equality and education into nine years of multi-million dollar growth for She’s the First. Tammy is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist and has done three TEDx talks. She is a proud College of New Jersey graduate and now serves on TCNJ’s Board of Trustees.

Tammy has been recognized for her leadership and global impact by Forbes 30 Under 30, Time’s 30 Under 30 World Changers, and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business. Currently, she’s working on a book project with her co-founder, Christen Brandt, to help people craft their own personal impact plans, using the lessons that have made She’s the First successful.

Student Session Information

A free student session with Keynote speaker, Nathalie Molina Niño, will take place 10:30am-11:45am in Education 115. The session is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and Women in Business. The session is open to TCNJ students of all majors. Email beaginn@tcnj.edu to register.