At the Hudson River Museum March 15
Masha Turchinsky, the HRM’s Anita K. Hersh Director and CEO, will moderate a panel of dynamic women leaders who will discuss how they stepped into their roles of innovation, strategy, and leadership. Come celebrate and learn from these amazing women during Women’s History Month! They include Linda Fears, Editorial Director of Today Media; Morgan McEwen, founder and artistic director of Mordance; Shanae Williams, Westchester County Legislator; and Annie Willis, District Director to New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Light refreshments to follow.
Shanae Williams has dedicated fourteen years to public service, including six years representing Council District One on the Yonkers City Council. In 2023, she was elected to serve District 16 on the Westchester County Board of Legislators. A committed advocate for a more affordable and accessible county, Legislator Williams proudly chairs the Infrastructure and Housing Committee and was selected by her colleagues to serve as Majority Whip during her second term on the Board. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Albany and a Master of Business Administration in Leadership from Walden University.
Linda Fears is the Editorial Director of Today Media Inc., publisher of Westchester Magazine, Westchester Home, 914INC., and other publications, as well as the Editor in Chief of Westchester Magazine and Hudson Valley. Prior to joining Today Media in 2021, Linda was the Editor in Chief of Family Circle for nearly 12 years. A recognized food expert, Linda served as a judge on Guy Fieri’s Food Network show Ultimate Recipe Showdown and on Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen. She was also a frequent guest on NBC’s The Today Show. In addition, Linda was Editorial Director of Allrecipes magazine, Group Editor of Martha Stewart Living, Rachael Ray Every Day and Eating Well, and Deputy Editor of Parents. Linda received her bachelor’s degree and nutrition certification from Cornell University. She and her husband live in Chappaqua where they raised their three children.
Morgan McEwen is the founder and artistic director of MorDance, a pioneering ballet company that reimagines the art form as a catalyst for social impact and community building. A former professional ballerina who has performed with The Metropolitan Opera, BalletMet, and Richmond Ballet, she is known for powerful, activism-driven choreography commissioned by companies including BalletX and Eglevsky Ballet. Since founding MorDance in 2014, she has expanded its reach beyond the stage through free after-school programs, workshops, and accessible performances, earning recognition from The New York Times and major arts funders. A frequent public speaker and advocate for the arts as a driver of education and economic vitality, McEwen has been named one of Westchester’s 40 Under 40 and continues to champion ballet as an active force for change.
Annie Willis was born in Far Rockaway, Queens, and raised by a single mother and grandmother who instilled in her a deep sense of community responsibility and an unwavering belief in women’s limitless potential. Today, she serves as District Director to New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, overseeing operations for Senate District 35 and ensuring constituent needs are addressed and community voices heard. Annie played a key role in the 2024 Yonkers campaign to pass New York’s Equal Rights Amendment and is current Chair of the New York State Young Democratic Women’s Caucus. A graduate of the Baruch College Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, she was named to the 914INC. Wunderkinds Class of 2024 by Westchester Magazine and received the David A. Ford, Sr. Award from the Black Democrats of Westchester.
This program is part of Women’s History Month 2026.
Sunday, March 15, 202612:30–2pm
HRM Theater (New!), Hudson Room
This event is free with general admission
To Register, visit:
https://hudsonrivermuseum.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FPo00000ReN1ZMAV
