Bring Advancing Women in Leadership to Your College Campus
NEW Student Chapter
Advancing Women in Leadership (AWIL) has expanded beyond our annual conference. The first student Task Force member Alison Gambill of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California started the first student chapter.
Advancing Women in Leadership Club
Alison Gambill, Founder & President, Sydney Elgin, Vice President
It all begins with willingness and a dream. In AWIL’s 10th year, 2025, the Student Chapter premiered at Westmont College. Their dream of inspiring and equipping young ladies to lead has taken flight!
The Westmont AWIL Club has made a splash as they’ve explored their “why”, heard from marketing executive Irene Neller on her leadership journey and the meaning of the “pearl”, and have nationally renowned engineer David Gambill’s “53 Years of Lessons”. This holiday season, they are putting together care packages for victims of domestic violence in Santa Barbara.
Club Resources
“The pursuit of excellence in leadership and the action of my choices today defining the woman I am tomorrow.”
Alison Gambill
Founder & President
Economics & Business Student at Westmont College
Insurance Licenses: AR-21109273 CA-4495602
Alison Gambill is a junior Augustinian Scholar and Presidential Leadership Fellow Economics and Business major at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. From Little Rock, Arkansas, graduating from the all-girls Catholic school Mount St. Mary Academy as the Student Body President, Alison is ready to inspire young women to chase their dreams and fulfill their potential. As Student Body President, she addressed the tragic passing of her classmate, led the school in collecting 79,082 cans to supply the Central Arkansas food banks, and spoke with families, classmates, and parents, at pep rallies and speeches calling young women to continue “A Tradition of Excellence”. She has attended leadership conferences such as: Pepperdine University’s Crossways: A Christian Youth Leadership Experience, the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar, American Legion Auxiliary Arkansas Girls State, and now AWIL’s 2025 Conference where she co-presented with Dr. Jamie Sanfilippo “Young Women SHOULD Lead”.
Alison has worked in the insurance industry for four years holding insurance licenses in both Arkansas and California. Starting at Matt Morris State Farm her junior year of high school, she handled claims, including Central Arkansas’s tornadoes in March 2023, boosted customer retention and satisfaction, wrote insurance policies, ran events, marketing, and social media. Now she serves the Channel Islands Fiduciary Group auditing customers policies and attending probate court on their behalf. She takes pride in her fiduciary duty and taking care of “her” customers.
Alison is tasked with developing and leading the first student-led AWIL Task force representing 7-9 different CCCU institutions, who desire to plan a series of seminars or workshops during the annual AWIL conferences geared to reach and inspire female students. The dream and goal of this new initiative is to attract more students from our campuses to attend and be inspired to seek ways of leading and influencing others on their college and university campuses.
“I’m grateful for where I am today, and I’m excited for where I’m going.”
Sydney Elgin
Vice President
Psychology & Nursing Student at Westmont College
Certified Nursing Assistant #01352336
Sydney Elgin is a Sophomore Psychology major and pre-nursing student at Westmont College. She is passionate about leadership, service, and healthcare, demonstrating initiative on and off campus. Sydney is a Licensed Nursing Assistant (CNA) and is certified in Basic Life Support and Ethics in Healthcare. Through her experience as a CNA, she has gained hands-on exposure to patient care and has a genuine love for caring for her patients. Sydney also has experience shadowing in the operating room, where she has observed compassionate, attentive care demonstrated by the surgical team that she seeks to replicate in her future career as a nurse.
Beyond healthcare, Sydney has shown entrepreneurial leadership as a small business owner offering luxury picnic tea parties in Santa Barbara and Santa Clarita valley, where she manages event design, client relations, and logistics start to finish. She has also served as a volunteer tutor through Step-Up Tutoring, providing one-on-one academic support, working to close the educational gap in lower income communities, and as a teaching assistant in children’s ministry at Westside Christian Fellowship. As a graduate of Saugus High School, Sydney was an AP student and multi-sport athlete, serving as a team captain of the softball team and developing strong skills in leadership, teamwork, and motivation.
As co-leader of Westmont's Advancing Women in Leadership club, Sydney is passionate about empowering women in leadership, aiming to help girls build confidence, develop their voices, and recognize their potential to lead in both professional, academic and personal spheres.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Georgia Waldroup
Media Manager
Kinesiology & Nursing Student at Westmont College
Georgia Waldroup is a freshman Presidential Leadership Fellow Kinesiology Major at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. From Newberg, Oregon, graduating from private Christian school Ambleside of the Willamette Valley, known for leading her classmates to excellence by example. She has served as a role model for girls at YoungLife, where she served over the summers of 2024 and 2025. She began attending Westmont in Fall of 2025, where she took on the role of being a Presidential Leadership Fellow, attendee of YoungLife club, and is on the cheer team. Georgia believes in fairness and success for all women, and strives to make sure that they know they have a voice, and that leading isn't only a job for men. Georgia is mentored by Alison Gambill, who is the Founder and President of the Advancing Women in Leadership Club.
“Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader… they set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role- its always about the goal.”
Samantha Flores
Media Manager
Communications Student at Westmont College
Samantha Flores is a freshman Communications student at Westmont College in Santa, Barbara, California. Samantha is a Presidential Leadership Fellow. Growing up in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California, Samantha graduated from Monrovia High School in 2025. Samantha is passionate about growing as a leader and helping and supporting those around her to explore and achieve their goals. She has sought out, and obtained, roles and opportunities to increase and improve her work and leadership skills, including graphic design, assisting in creative design work in the fashion and entertainment industry, and on-going volunteer work within her church. Samantha also seeks to be an active part of change of the systemic issues that continue to oppress and marginalize women and others, while promoting justice and fair opportunities for all. Samantha is excited to be a part of the AWIL group at Westmont and not only grow as a woman in leadership herself, but reach other young women to help them grow as a leader as well.
“Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader… they set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role- its always about the goal.”
Peter Sullivan
Director of Male Engagement
Chemistry & Pre-Med Student at Westmont College
Peter Sullivan is a sophomore Chemistry major and Pre-Medical student at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He is passionate about both science and serving his fellow students and the community. He is excited to work with the AWIL team to support initiatives that strengthen leadership opportunities across campus.
Peter has been dedicated to healthcare service since his sophomore year of high school. He volunteers at Kern Medical Center, a local nonprofit hospital, where he is a member of the simulation center team and gains hands-on exposure by shadowing surgeons and pediatricians. Through the popular fast-food chain Raising Cane’s, he successfully organized a fundraiser to support Kern Medical Center raising several thousand dollars of funding.
As Leader of Male Engagement, Peter is committed to fostering a strong, supportive community, helping men know that they, too can support women in leadership. Peter is committed to helping AWIL thrive and is committed to advancing a more inclusive and welcoming environment in the club and across the community.
“Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader… they set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role- its always about the goal.”
Jude Sanchez
Director of Male Engagement
Economics, Business, & Psychology Student at Westmont College
Jude Sanchez is a sophomore at Westmont College pursuing a double major in Business & Economics and Psychology. Jude is excited to join the AWIL team as a Director of Male Engagement, where he hopes to foster an inclusive, supportive environment for all on campus and hopes to create leadership opportunities with students. With a keen interest in wealth and portfolio management, Jude brings a blend of business acumen and passion for community service to his leadership role.
Jude serves as a business office assistant at Westmont College, where he’s gained valuable hands-on experience in accounting, bank processing, and expense tracking. Jude is deeply committed to giving back to the community, having led fundraisers for Children’s Hunger Fund, the Walter Hoving Home, and Medical Youth Society of San Marino. Jude is eager to use his leadership skills and passion for service to create a positive and collaborative atmosphere at AWIL.
“Driven by Faith. Defined by Purpose.”
Abigail Adatsi
Secretary
Politcal Science Student at Westmont College
Abigail Adatsi is a Freshman Political Science major at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Born and raised in Lansing, Michigan, Abigail moved to the West Coast to begin making her mark on the world. Abigail’s commitment to fostering positive change within her community is evident in her high school leadership roles. As president of the Black Student Union Club, Secretary of the Women’s EmpowHER Club, AP Student, Honor Roll student, a voice on Student Panels with the School Board, and Principal’s List Student, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead with empathy, vision, and determination, all while maintaining excellent performance in her classes. She shows an unwavering commitment to advocacy, empowerment, and positive change. Additionally, as a member of the Peer Helping Club, Abigail has exhibited incredible interpersonal skills, proving herself to be a resourceful and compassionate mentor who listens attentively and supports others with genuine care.
During her time in high school, Abigail discovered an extraordinarily lingering passion for practicing law. Abigail ranked at the top of her class in both Constitutional Law and Criminal Justice, driven by a desire to learn how the justice system works. As Black Student Union Club President and Secretary of Women’s EmpowHER Club, Abigail not only worked with intentions to create a safe and welcoming environment on campus for students who identify as People Of Color, but also developed a passion for continually seeking equality and justice for all, regardless of color, race, gender, or ethnicity. Abigail plans to attend law school after graduation to serve the communities around her, driven by her genuine love of serving and loving others. Abigail Adatsi is an extraordinary individual whose dedication, leadership, and academic excellence make her an ideal candidate for continuing her education. Her intellectual curiosity and passion for learning are especially evident in her aspirations in law—fields where her resourcefulness, analytical thinking, and commitment to social betterment will undoubtedly shine.
As Secretary of Westmont’s Advancing Women in Leadership Club, Abigail embodies the qualities of a lifelong learner and leader. Abigail pledges to serve and inspire the Women in and around her community. She works with intention and diligence to help other women see their true potential in both professional and personal spheres. With eagerness, Abigail envisions a space where women can come together in community, uplift one another, and learn more about their identities through service to one another. She wholeheartedly wants to be a part of that space.
Want your own student chapter?
Contact Us
Alison Gambill Sydney Elgin
agambill@westmont.edu selgin@westmont.edu