9th Annual Women's Leadership Institute
GreatHER Expectations:
Communicate & Connect
Kicking off Women's History Month, Women's Leadership Institute is for members of the Florida Atlantic community who support efforts in enhancing opportunities for increased networking, skill building, and empowerment.
Schedule of Events
FEBRUARY 29, 2024
2:00PM - 7:00PM
BOCA STUDENT UNION - LIVE OAK
Special Thanks
Keynote Speaker
The Honorable Samantha Schosberg Feuer
Samantha Schosberg Feuer, a native Floridian, was born and raised in Miami. She attended Tufts University and University of Florida Law School. Samantha has always had a passion for public service, leadership, and community service. In 2014, she was elected Circuit Judge for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and was subsequently re-elected in 2020. She now presides in the Probate/Guardianship Division.
Throughout her time as a Florida Bar member, Samantha was appointed to the Standing Committees for Diversity and Inclusion and Mental Health and Wellness. In 2018, she was appointed to the Palm Beach County Advisory Commission on Women and was reappointed in 2022. This Commission focuses on countywide issues pertaining to women.
Samantha is active in the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL) at state and local levels. In 2010, as President of Palm Beach County FAWL, Samantha emphasized the need for women to strive for leadership roles, elected office and managerial/executive positions. In 2018, she was honored with the FAWL Jurist of the Year Award. Her passion for mentoring young lawyers can be seen in receiving the Palm Beach County Bar Association Mentorship Award and the University of Florida, Florida Blue Key Myra F. Morgan Outstanding Mentorship Award in 2022.
Outside of her judicial duties, Samantha co-founded the Women’s Foundation of Palm Beach County investing in and advocating for women and girls to assist with their economic, political, and social status. Through the Women's Foundation, Samantha started the Girls Leadership Institute (GLI) providing leadership training for at-risk girls and the Road to the Bench program, which trains and assists women interested in running for office.
Samantha is active in the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL) at state and local levels. In 2010, as President of Palm Beach County FAWL, Samantha emphasized the need for women to strive for leadership roles, elected office and managerial/executive positions. In 2018, she was honored with the FAWL Jurist of the Year Award. Her passion for mentoring young lawyers can be seen in receiving the Palm Beach County Bar Association Mentorship Award and the University of Florida, Florida Blue Key Myra F. Morgan Outstanding Mentorship Award in 2022.
Outside of her judicial duties, Samantha co-founded the Women’s Foundation of Palm Beach County investing in and advocating for women and girls to assist with their economic, political, and social status. Through the Women's Foundation, Samantha started the Girls Leadership Institute (GLI) providing leadership training for at-risk girls and the Road to the Bench program, which trains and assists women interested in running for office.
Panelist
The Honorable Danielle Sherriff
Judge Danielle A. Sherriff was appointed to the County Court bench in Palm Beach County in May 2023 and is currently assigned to the Civil Division. Before her appointment, Judge Sherriff was an attorney for the School District of Palm Beach County and a personal injury attorney for over 13 years. Her strong commitment to the legal community and the community at large is demonstrated in her service as President of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers and as President of the F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association. She has also served on several boards within the local community, such the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics, Scholar Career Coaching, Family Promise Homeless Coalition, and the Women’s Foundation of Florida.
Panelist
Justine Avila
Justine Avila is the owner and principal designer at A Jolie Design, Inc., a boutique interior design firm in South Florida, specializing in residential and yacht design. With more than 15 years of experience in the yachting industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work. Justine’s commitment to FAU and its alumni is highlighted by her passion for bringing fellow alumni back to their alma mater as the current Alumni Board Chair. Her active role in working with the board to cultivate the alumni base showcases her dedication to strengthening the ties between the university and its community.
Panelist
Carolina Diaz
Carolina Diaz is a senior multimedia major with a minor in communication that has dedicated her time in college to student leadership positions in registered student organizations. Throughout her time at Florida Atlantic, Carolina has been involved in organizations like the College Panhellenic Association, the Theta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi and Generation Action. She is passionate about health and wellness education and advocacy.
Panelist
Dr. Marcheley Adam
Marcheley Adam, Ph.D., LCSW-QS is an instructor of social work with a long history of collaborating with social work, child welfare, and public health organizations. Her research interests focus on mental health services and interventions, risk and resilience, life course perspective, and positive youth development. Marcheley is particularly interested in school social work, youth mental health, and interventions that foster and nurture mental health and well-being in children and families.
Panelist
Marva Furlongue-Laver
Marva has International Social Work experience working in Children and Family Service, including extensive experience working with adolescents with behavioral challenges. Her guiding principle: H.O.P.E.- Helping Others Performance in Excelling; has defined her career for over 30 years. Good social work can transform people's lives and protect them from harm; her career objective has been to provide comprehensive social work services to families. An extension which supports this objective is to engage in the training/development of future social workers to support them in acquiring the skills and knowledge to establish effective relationships with children, families and professionals in a range of settings and members of the public.
Panelist
Keva Anderson-Konsker
Keva holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from Florida Atlantic University. She joined the advising staff in the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice after serving 16 years in FAU’s Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence. She also holds bachelor's degrees in Sociology and Management, in addition to a certificate in Ethnic Studies. As the retention advisor, Keva meets with students who are at-risk of being suspended or dismissed from the University.
Women's Resource and Community Connection
The Women's Resource and Community Connection helps connect students with the services they need in order to do their best!