LWVLA 2024 Board Members



M. Christian Green
President, LWVLA

Christian Green holds degrees from Georgetown University in history and government, Emory University in law and theology, and the University of Chicago in religion and ethics. She has taught at DePaul University, Harvard Divinity School, and the Candler School of Theology. She has been a researcher at the Religion, Culture, and Family Project at the University of Chicago, the Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics in Chicago, and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

She is currently a Senior Fellow and Research Director on Law, Religion and Human Rights at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion (CSLR) at Emory University, where she is an editor of the Journal of Law and Religion and Canopy Forum:Interactions in Law and Religion. She is also editor and publications manager for the South Africa-based African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ACLARS). Christy is a member of LWV Lafayette and previously served as LWVLA Vice President and Chair of the Voting Rights Committee.



Bonnie Schmidt
Vice President, LWVLA

Bonnie Schmidt has been a member of LWVST for ten years. She has been active in many social justice efforts and was formerly the chair of the League's Criminal Justice Committee. She holds a BA from Youngstown University and an M.ED in Rehabilitation Counseling from Kent State. She has been director of rehabilitation counseling at Goodwill Industries, Regional Sales Manager at Lifeline Systems, and Executive Director of the Senior Citizen's Council of Lake County. She is currently the co-chair of the Unitarian Universalist Ukrainian Relief Fund, having brought three Ukrainian refugees to St. Tammany Parish.



Alicia Chaisson
Secretary, LWVLA

Alicia Chaisson was the Spokesperson for LWV Lafayette from 2017 to 2020, for which she earned the Innovator Award for spearheading the first Spanish language voter guide and increasing visibility through social media, press releases, and speaking at council meetings. She was honored by the Lafayette 705 in 2019 as a recipient of the 20 Under 40: Young Leadership Award. She was a candidate for Lafayette City-Parish Council in 2015. Alicia is a talented Theatre teacher for Lafayette Parish. She earned her BFA in drama at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 2006 with honors and merit scholarships. From 2008 to 2011, as an active ensemble member of the New York Neo-Futurists; she wrote, directed, and performed in their signature show, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. Since moving to Lafayette in 2011, Alicia has directed, written, consulted, acted, or performed in over 20 productions at the professional, university, and community level. She loves using her theatrical and organizational skills to further the mission of the League.



Peggy Sabatier
Treasurer, LWVLA

Peggy Sabatier retired from working for the State of Louisiana in 2012 after 30 years of service, and she has over 20 years of experience in accounting and auditing. Peggy earned her BS in Business Administration from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, with specialization in accounting, while working in the USL Business Office in Accounts Payable. Over the course of her career in government, she has worked for the Lafayette Parish Health Unit, the Louisiana Department of Revenue, and the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Peggy has worked as a self-employed auditor for small credit unions since her retirement from state civil service, and she has served as Treasurer for several non-profit political and civic organizations. She has been a member of the LWV of Lafayette since 2016 and particularly committed to women's issues, health care, and voting rights.



Sylvia Johnson
Board of Directors, LWVLA

Having worked in the public and private sectors, Sylvia Johnson has extensive experience in law, business and social services. Also, she has lived and worked in more than a dozen countries for the U.S. State Department. She consults with small businesses on personnel and property issues. Sylvia has long been an advocate for voter registration and fair access to vote. She serves as a community volunteer with the elderly and the disabled. A current resident of St. Tammany Parish, Sylvia is a native of South Carolina. She holds academic degrees from Duke University and Loyola University of the South. Sylvia is a member of 79 League of Women Voters of St Tammany and she worked with VOTE 411 for the State League.



Wendy King
Board of Directors, LWVLA

Wendy King is an LWV New Orleans Board member and has been active in area environmental issues since the late 1970s. She joined the Sierra Club in 1977, shortly before graduating from Loyola University. Her volunteer work for the Sierra Club has included editing the Chapter and Group newsletters, being treasurer of the New Orleans Group, and currently chairing the New Orleans Group's Waste and Recycling committees, plus being the New Orleans Group Excomm's secretary. For LWVNO, she has met with other environment committee members to discuss issues and actions her committee can work on. She is currently the LWVLA State Environment Committee Chair and has followed the legislature's environmental legislation each session.



Gisele Proby-Bryant
Board of Directors, LWVLA

Gisele Proby-Bryant is a licensed Speech Pathologist in the state of Louisiana and is recognized for her expertise in school law, and advocating for people with disabilities. She retired after 35 years of service as Bossier Parish Schools Director of Special Education and Federal Programs; her strong mentorship skills have propelled the next generation of educational leaders to influential positions, leaving an enduring legacy of excellence that continues to shine brightly into the lives of others. Gisele earned BA and MA degrees from Northwestern State University and received certification in Educational Leadership with 30 hours above her master's degree from Centenary College. Gisele was recently appointed to serve on the Caddo Parish Juvenile Justice Board to reimagine the criminal justice system. She is the past president of the Arc Caddo Bossier and Board of Director for Louisiana Arc supporting people with disabilities to help them reach their fullest potential. Gisele served as a member of the LWVLA PPFM working group and currently serves as president of LWV Caddo Bossier.



DeVoe Allen
Nominating Chair, LWVLA

DeVoe Potter Allen currently serves as a co-chair of LWV-St. Tammany Parish, as well as chair of the local Environmental Committee. She received a BA and an MA in Psychology from Southeastern Louisiana University. She retired after a career of 25 years with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, Child Welfare Division. Post retirement, she worked as a school psychologist with a private pupil appraisal team that contracted with charter schools in New Orleans, LA. DeVoe is a passionate advocate for children and families. She also advocates to environmentally sustainable development and protections for all aspects of the earths environment.



Alfred Doucette Jr.
Nominating, LWVLA

Alfred Doucette, Jr. is a past President and Vice President of LWV Lake Charles. He is a past President and Vice President of Lake Charles Toastmaster International 1225 and Coach and Vice President of Education of Great Speakers Unlimited 2484 Beaumont Texas. In Lake Charles he serves on the Mayor's Commission of Disability. Alfred is a life member and a past Commander of Chapter 17, Disabled American Veterans and 1999-2000 Aide to the National Commander. He earned an AA Degree in computer information system specialist and application specialist from Sowela Technical College. Alfred is a State Member and has served two terms on the LWVLA Board of Directors. Alfred is a 17 years Navy Vietnam Veteran. Alfred is a member of AARP Louisiana Executive Council Speaker Bureau and Veterans Council.



Kathleen Schott Espinoza
Nominating, LWVLA

Kathleen Schott Espinoza has been an instructor of Geography at the University of Louisiana Lafayette since 2007. In addition to a full-time teaching load, she has served on numerous committees and currently is part of an effort to promote and integrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) education into undergraduate programs at the university. In the community Kathleen serves as a member of a parish wide effort to support Lafayette Parish Public Schools and is a board member of a foundation that supports the Vermilionville Living History Museum. Kathleen has been a League member for over a decade and has served for several years as a member of the Lafayette League's leadership Team. She has also served as LWVLA education chair and led a statewide committee to study charter schools in Louisiana, resulting in a policy adoption by LWVLA in 2019.