National Leaders Collective
2025 Speakers

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Kristan Hawkins

President of Students for Life of America (SFLA)

As President of Students for Life of America (SFLA), Kristan Hawkins has spent more than 16 years building a national network of more than 1,400 student-lead groups in more than 50 states, layering campus activism now with political engagement through Students for Life Action, which she also heads.

With the Students for Life team, Kristan has launched key initiatives to mobilize pro-life activists such as the Campaign for Abortion Free Cities, StandingWithYou.org, and the Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement. Recently, she and her team are leading the pro-life movement’s response to the proliferation of dangerous Chemical Abortion Pills at ThisisChemicalAbortion.com. This school year, her team will have one million conversations with Gen Z, those most targeted by the abortion industry, converting 10-20% of those they reach.

Each year, Kristan travels across the nation to speak on college campuses such as UC-Berkeley, Harvard, Dartmouth, and Ohio State University to educate our youth on the horrors of abortion. She also hosts a bi-weekly podcast called Explicitly Pro-Life. Kristan regularly appears in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, NPR and has been interviewed by every major television network in America.

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Brandy Meeks

President of the Vitae Foundation

Brandy has led in the pro-life movement for well over a decade. Her passion and energy for the mission increased while she served as a pregnancy center director in her early years. Later, she was recruited as the Director of Marketing and Research Application at Vitae Foundation. In 2018, Former Planned Parenthood director turned pro-life advocate Abby Johnson asked Brandy to join her as the VP of Operations at And Then There Were None to help more abortion workers leave the abortion industry while the movie Unplanned gained popularity. Together, they also launched Pro Love Ministries, a pro-life organization that seeks to fill gaps in the movement. After the Dobbs decision was announced in 2022, Brandy was pursued by Vitae Foundation’s board of directors to lead as the next President. She now leads Vitae Foundation–an organization that facilitates lifesaving research and applies the findings to create messaging strategies to share with others. Brandy is a founding board member of Abortion Survivors Network with abortion survivor Melissa Ohden, continues to assist as a board member at And Then There Were None, serves with the United Nations through the Organization of American States as a CSO to protect human rights internationally, and is also a Commissioner with the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Christian Life Commission, the public policy arm of the MBC.
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David Bereit

Executive Director for the Life Leadership Conference

David Bereit is an internationally acclaimed pro-life leader, strategic advisor, coalition builder, and dynamic communicator.

David's pro-life journey began in Bryan/College Station, Texas, where he rallied 60 churches and thousands of volunteers to drive Planned Parenthood out of local schools, revoke its taxpayer funding, reduce abortions, and ultimately shut down the local abortion center—prompting Planned Parenthood to label his town "the most anti-choice place in the nation."

He went on to found and lead 40 Days for Life, growing it into the world's largest grassroots pro-life mobilization. Under his leadership, the movement galvanized 2,000 leaders and 750,000 volunteers in 600 cities across all 50 states and dozens of nations, leading to 14,643 lives saved, 177 abortion workers leaving the industry, and 96 abortion facility closures.

Today, David serves as Executive Director for the Life Leadership Conference, maximizing the pro-life movement’s impact through strategic coordination, unified messaging, targeted mobilization, leadership development, and a significant financial commitment to innovative life-saving efforts.

David has addressed over 1,000 audiences and one million people worldwide, been featured in nearly every major media outlet, raised $100 million for pro-life and faith-based causes, and advised countless ministries. His work has earned accolades and awards from the Pontifical Academy for Life, Students for Life, Legatus, the Sisters of Life, and the West Coast Walk for Life, among many others. After the reversal of Roe v. Wade, he was named among the "50 Greatest Pro-Life Leaders of the Last 50 Years."

David and his wife, Margaret, have been joyfully married for 32 years, live in the Washington, D.C., area, and are the proud parents of two adult children.

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Jay Watts

Founder and President of Merely Human Ministries

Jay is the Founder and President of Merely Human Ministries, INC., an organization committed to equipping Christians and people who hold pro-life views to graciously defend the intrinsic dignity of all human life in a positive, impacting and Gospel inspired manner.

He served at Cobb Pregnancy Services for three years as Development Coordinator and currently sits on their Board of Directors. His daily work among women and men offering life-affirming options for families facing unexpected pregnancies fostered a deep and continuing love for pregnancy centers.

He left CPS in 2010 to serve for eight years with Life Training Institute (LTI) and Scott Klusendorf as the Vice-President of Development and Communications where he contributed as a speaker and writer.

He has spoken to high schools, universities, and professional organizations all across the United States. He has been an invited speaker to dozens of university groups including Harvard, UNC – Chapel Hill, NC State, and University of Illinois to name only a few. He has appeared on radio and television interviews, regularly featured as the keynote at banquets and national conferences, published popular level articles on a wide array of topics pertaining to bioethics and the university culture, and is a contributing writer to Christian Research Journal.

He lives in Marietta, GA with his wife and three children.

Tina Whittington

Executive Vice President for Students for Life of America

Tina Whittington received her Associates Degree from Portland Community College, and then got married and moved 3,000 miles across the country to Virginia in order to follow her pro-life calling with Rock for Life. Tina began full-time pro-life work in 1999 as Project Manager for Rock for Life. While there, she put together pro-life literature, wrote for the monthly newsletter, spoke at high schools and colleges, organized events, and toured with Christian bands sharing the pro-life message from stage at hundreds of concerts and music festivals. She has been a guest on Fox News, EWTN, Nightline, Loveline with Adam Carrola & Dr. Drew, and has been quoted in the New York Times and the Washington Post. Tina currently resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia and serves the Pro-Life Generation as Students for Life’s Executive Vice President. This work includes managing the daily operations of SFLA as well as an ever-growing team.

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Matthew Ray

Legal counsel for the Center for Academic Freedom for Alliance Defending Freedom

Matthew Ray serves as legal counsel for the Center for Academic Freedom with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he defends the rights of students, professors, and organizations to speak, associate, and worship freely. Ray earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2022. He is a 2022 Blackstone Fellow. Prior to law school, Ray graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in European History and English Literature.
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Elizabeth Richards

Senior Regional Programs Manager at Sidewalk Advocates for Life

Elizabeth Richards serves as a Senior Regional Programs Manager for Sidewalk Advocates for Life (SAFL), the largest sidewalk outreach organization in the nation, which trains and equips volunteer teams across the U.S., as well as Mexico and Colombia.

In her role as a Regional Programs Manager, Elizabeth advises and supports sidewalk advocacy teams in the western region of the United States. She is humbled to be a part of the SAFL National Programs team, whose goal is to pour into local leaders so they can pour into those they come into contact with on the sidewalk. The SAFL program has helped over 24,000 abortion-vulnerable moms choose life and 103 workers leave the abortion industry, and celebrated the closure of 62 abortion and abortion-referral facilities where a sidewalk advocacy team has been present.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as an Associate Degree in Nursing from Edison State College in Naples, Florida. She is a certified fertility awareness educator through Fertility Education and Medical Management (FEMM) and has a deep love for teaching women and men about God’s design of their sexuality and the beauty of cooperating with a woman’s natural cycle. One of her greatest passions is advocating for women and families as a certified birth and postpartum doula and helping new parents navigate the often bumpy transition into parenthood.

Elizabeth was a proud, single mother who faced an unexpected pregnancy, and is now married and raising her grandson. Elizabeth calls North Carolina home with her family.

SIDEWALKADVOCATES.ORG

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Kate Carney

Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Manager for Students for Life of America

Kate Carney grew up in Burnt Hills, New York and graduated from Ithaca College after studying Vocal Performance. Moved by the heartbreaking reality of abortion, a year after graduating college, she took a chance and threw herself head-first into the pro-life movement. Her main goal is to influence the lives of the students she works with to be unafraid in the face of adversity. Kate Maloney currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts and serves the Pro-Life Generation as the Campaign for Abortion Free Cities Manager. This work includes ensuring that efforts to make more than 20 different cities nationwide abortion free are operating smoothly and making progress.

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Stephanie Stone

Students for Life’s Standing With You Coordinator for Students for Life of America

Stephanie Stone grew up in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania and graduated from the Catholic University of America after studying Politics and English. During her time at CUA with Cardinals for Life, Stephanie worked with her Regional Coordinator, Michele Hendrickson (who is now her boss!), to bring a display to campus, go to the March for Life, and host CUA’s first Pep Rally for Life. A year after graduation, she joined SFLA as the Capital Area Regional Coordinator assisting groups in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia. Stephanie Stone and her work have been featured on multiple news outlets such as Breitbart and Fox News, and her writing has been featured on Media Research Center’s NewsBusters, Maryland March for Life’s blog, as well as Students for Life of America’s blog. She has spoken on campuses across Maryland, D.C., and Virginia, at press conferences, and regularly at churches in the Capital Area. Stephanie currently resides in Fairfax, Virginia and serves the Pro-Life Generation as Students for Life’s Standing With You Coordinator. This work includes the management of Standing With You, Students for Life’s pregnancy support program.

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Liana Moorman

Eastern Regional Manager for Students for Life of America

Liana Moorman grew up in Florence, New Jersey and graduated from DeSales University after studying Political Science and Theology. Liana joined the DeSales Pro-Life Club during her freshman year and became the president her sophomore year. During her time leading the group, she discovered Students for Life of America and the resources they offered. Their training and campus displays were pivotal in her growth as a pro-life activist. Liana currently resides in Philadelphia, PA and serves the Pro-Life Generation as Students for Life’s Eastern Regional Manager. This work includes managing the awesome East Coast team of Regional Coordinators.

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Tom Usle

Northern Regional Manager for Students for Life of America

Tom Usle grew up in Sierra Madre, California and after studying at Iowa State University, he graduated with a degree in Fire Science.

Though he always considered himself pro-life, he was not always vocal about it given the backlash he thought he would receive from his peers in high school. But during his time in college as the abortion activists became more radical and outspoken, Tom came to realize that being all talk and no action would do nothing to combat the widespread acceptance of abortion. There is nothing he would rather be doing than serving in the protection of mothers and children everywhere.

Tom currently resides in Valparaiso, Indiana and serves the Pro-Life Generation as Students for Life’s Northern Regional Manager. This work includes managing the Regional Coordinators in the northern states.

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Lydia Taylor Davis

Spokesperson and Social Media Coordinator for Students for Life of America
National Leaders Collective Alum

Lydia Taylor Davis grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and graduated from Campbell University after studying management.

Lydia served as President of Campbell University’s Students for Life chapter during her time as a student and is still known as “the pro-life girl” across her state of North Carolina. She has dedicated her life to ending abortion and gained national attention for facing extreme backlash from the pro-abortion movement. In 2023, she participated in a highly anticipated abortion debate in which a majority of the pro-choice audience voted that she won. She’s been featured in Fox News, Steve Bannon’s War Room, the Whatever Podcast, Wall Street Journal, ABC, Newsmax, and other news outlets. Lydia is best known for her viral pro-life TikTok content which has reached millions of people and helped educate Gen Z on the truth about abortion. She now tours the country, speaking on college campuses about abortion for Students for Life and works tirelessly to protect life nationwide.

Lydia currently resides in Spring Lake, North Carolina, and serves the Pro-Life Generation as Students for Life’s Spokesperson and Social Media Coordinator. This work includes touring the country and speaking about abortion to change minds on college campuses, as well as creating powerful social media content across the organization’s platforms to spread the pro-life message.

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Mark Mezzina

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Savanna Deretich

Government Affairs Coordinator for Students for Life Action
National Leaders Collective Alum

Savanna Deretich grew up in Ham Lake, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Northwestern in St. Paul with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Communications/Family Advocacy and Biblical Studies.

Savanna is the Government Affairs Coordinator with Students for Life Action. As such, Savanna lobbies for strong state pro-life legislation, builds relationships with pro-life champions, and is the media spokesperson.

In college, Savanna started a Students for Life group on her campus and her passion for the pro-life movement rapidly blossomed. Right around when she began to lead the Students for Life group, infanticide was legalized in New York. On that dark day, a burning fire ignited in her heart and she knew being a voice for the voiceless and protecting life in law would be her life’s work. The next day, Savanna changed her major to fit a pro-life career path.

Before Savanna became an employee with Students for Life, she was a Minnesota State Captain with Students for Life Action, a 2019-2020 Wilberforce Fellow, a 2020-2021 Student Spokesperson, as well as founded and served as President for the Students for Life group on her campus at the University of Northwestern St. Paul for over three years.

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Rebecca Rose

National Leaders Collective Event Emcee
National Leaders Collective Alum

Rebecca Rose is a member of Students for Life’s SCOTUS Squad, where she represents the Pro-Life Generation at the Supreme Court during high-profile, abortion related cases. Rebecca is a former Thaddeus Stevens and Christian Leadership Fellow. She founded Students for Life clubs at her high school and at Patrick Henry College, where she is studying Government with a concentration in American Politics and Policy. She has gained experience through internships with Kansans for Life; the Kansas Secretary of State; the U.S. House of Representatives and on campaigns – including the first state-wide abortion related ballot initiative after Roe vs. Wade.
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Graceann Siff

National Leaders Collective Event Emcee
National Leaders Collective Alum

GraceAnn Siff is a 2024 SFLA graduate from Liberty University where she was a group leader of her Students for Life group. She completed the Standing With You Fellowship, and she was a member of SFLA's SCOTUS Squad, a rapid response team who mobilized for events at the Supreme Court. Her Standing With You Fellowship project involved working with Liberty University to create a pregnancy resource page for pregnant and parenting students. As a member of Students for Life’s SCOTUS Squad, she advocated on behalf of the pro-life movement during landmark abortion-related cases. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, interned with The Institute for Women’s Health in the spring of 2024, and interned with the SFLA Leadership Initiatives Team in the fall of 2024. Passionate about spreading the pro-life message, she works remotely as a content creator, podcast host (and travel agent)! GraceAnn lives in Lynchburg, Virginia with her loving husband, and volunteers at her church's Embrace Grace program. GraceAnn also works as a content creator (and travel agent!), educating on women’s health and biblical values.

Anna Young

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Julie Kilmer

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