Staff

Our Team

Our team is devoted to making Women of Praize a safe place where women can find support, encouragement, and kinship.

Rev. Adwoa Rey, MARS | President and Chief Executive Officer

Adwoa Rey an executive leader with more than 20 years of experience driving transformative change across the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors. She serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Women of Praize, where she advances spiritual and professional support for women of color in politics and public service. She is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of AAR Strategies LLC, advising organizations on fundraising, operations, communications, and government affairs.

A seasoned advancement strategist, Adwoa has led multi-million-dollar fundraising initiatives, strengthened donor pipelines, and built high-performing teams at national organizations including Sojourners, Faith in Public Life, and The Faith & Politics Institute. Her work has consistently translated vision into sustainable revenue growth, operational efficiency, and expanded impact.

Her experience spans the highest levels of public service and advocacy. She has supported congressional leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, including 235 members of the House Democratic Caucus, and has represented hundreds of businesses in federal policy advocacy. As a political fundraiser and strategist, she has raised millions of dollars for candidates at the local, state, and federal levels.

Adwoa is widely recognized as a coalition builder and thought leader at the intersection of faith, policy, and civic engagement. She serves as an Advocacy Consultant to the National Council of Churches, representing a network of more than 35 million people. She is also a professor at Seton Hall University and facilitates national trainings on faith-based advocacy and public leadership.

Deeply committed to public leadership, Adwoa holds leadership roles on multiple boards and commissions in Northern Virginia and nationally, advancing solutions across housing, transportation, human services, and technology. She has been recognized as one of Northern Virginia’s “40 Under 40” and a national AI Policy Influencer by the Brookings Institution.

She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Southern Connecticut State University and a Master’s degree in Religious Studies from Howard University School of Divinity. She has completed executive training at Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Oxford in public leadership and artificial intelligence.

Adwoa’s work is grounded in a commitment to equity, innovation, and building systems that expand opportunity. She believes deeply that more is possible—and works every day to that a reality.

Martine Senecal | Communications Manager

Martine Senecal is the communications manager at Women of Praize. She has worked in the field of public relations for more than ten years, providing services to musical artists, beauticians, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Martine is the owner of ALPHAfemme Branding, LLC, a branding and communication business dedicated to assisting African American women entrepreneurs find their brand stories, engage with their audience, and continue to stay relevant while expanding their reach.

Neosho C. Ponder, Ph.D. | Program Manager

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Neosho C. Ponder is an Adjunct Professor at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC. Her research foci include, social media,
popular culture, interpersonal and intercultural communication, new media technologies, and family communication, which merges her love for learning and all things media. In addition to her doctorate in Communication, Culture, and Media, Neosho also earned a Master of Arts in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Howard University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Missouri- Kansas City.

This first-generation college graduate and professional auntie is an active member of the Washington DC Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is also active in other civic and public service organizations including, NAACP and ministries at Reid Temple AME Church. Neosho enjoys volunteering, visiting museums, and people watching around DC.

In April 2016, at the age of 36 and one year after completing her PhD, Neosho was diagnosed with stage-2b breast cancer. Her determination to fight and share her story, has led her to be featured on CNN and BET, while still in treatment. At the encouragement of friends, family, and strangers, Neosho has been working on her memoir, GOD’S GOT JOKES, set for release in December 2021. She has not allowed a diagnosis to stop her from educating, empowering, and uplifting her community. Now in her 5th year of survivorship, Neosho is passionate about supporting other survivors through the Young Survival Coalition and For the Breast of Us. She also loves rowing on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers with WeCanRow DC, a national rowing club for breast cancer survivors, where she is the youngest and one of few women of color.

Grace Fischer | The Fund For American Studies (TFAS) Summer Intern

Grace Fischer (not pictured) is a recent graduate of Whittenberg University where she earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in History. At Whittenberg, Grace served the student body as an Interfaith Senator and an active member of Campus Ministries. She is a proud member Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.