The 15-member Michigan Women's Commission was created by statute in 1968. Commission duties include reviewing the status of women in Michigan, directing attention to critical problems confronting women, and recognizing women's accomplishments and contributions to Michigan. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and serve three-year terms.
Appointed MWC Commissioners agree to
Questions, comments, concerns? Email us leo-miwomenscomm@michigan.gov
Cheryl was selected by Governor Whitmer as the Executive Director of the Michigan Women’s Commission (MWC) in October of 2019. Cheryl shares the same understanding with Governor Whitmer that when women in Michigan thrive, all Michiganders thrive. She is dedicated to engaging in discussions with women across Michigan about how they may fully participate in Gov. Whitmer’s vision for Michigan’s economy and way of life.
Prior to being selected as Executive Director of the MWC, Cheryl dedicated a major portion of her career to electing women in Michigan. She worked to elect Michigan’s first female U.S. Senator and Governor, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Governor Jennifer Granholm. Most recently she served as Senior Advisor to Governor Whitmer’s 2018 election campaign.
Cheryl has a B.A. in Journalism from Michigan State University and lives in East Lansing. She enjoys volunteering as an Advisory Board Member for the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing.
Anna Rose Benson, of Lansing, is the Stakeholder Relations Lead for the Michigan Women's Commission. Benson is a passionate advocate for women's rights and works tirelessly to create effective solutions to the unique problems women face. She liaises with various stakeholders, including legislators, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and corporate entities, to ensure that women's voices and perspectives are heard. Before this role, she worked as the Public Engagement Coordinator for the City of Lansing, where she discovered her love for community-engaged learning. Benson is a proud queer, Asian-American woman and is committed to using her privilege to represent and uplift marginalized voices. She is friendly and approachable, always willing to lend a helping hand, dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable society, and inspires future leaders. Benson graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in business marketing and an additional major in Spanish.
J’Nay Mason is the Communications Specialist for the Michigan Women’s Commission. Her duties under this position include managing the commission’s social media accounts and developing communication strategies for growth. A Flint native, J’Nay moved to Lansing in 2019 and graduated from Michigan State University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising Creative from the College of Communications, Arts, and Sciences. Prior to this position, along with attending undergrad, she worked with local small business owners and entrepreneurs in various communication positions. J’Nay is also a social justice advocate and Black Queer Feminist who has worked to help those in her community since she was young. This drive to use her creative skills to speak for marginalized communities is what drew her to the Women’s Commission and she’s proud to know that the work she’s doing is helping uplift the women of Michigan.
