March is Women’s History Month, and a moment to recognize what has always been true: women are not just part of the story of glass—they are driving it forward.
Across studios, institutions, and organizations around the world, women are shaping the direction of the field in real time. From early pioneers like Audrey Handler to the artists, leaders, and innovators working today, their impact is not a trend—it’s a foundation. In 2026, that influence is not only visible, it’s undeniable.
*We use “women” in a broad and inclusive sense, encompassing trans women, cis women, and people assigned female at birth.
A Community Led by Women
At the Glass Art Society, that leadership starts from within.
Our small but mighty staff—spanning Corning, Philadelphia, and the UK—is entirely made up of women. Every day, they are making decisions that shape how GAS connects, supports, and advocates for artists worldwide. Their work is both strategic and deeply human: building programs, fostering relationships, and finding new ways to serve a global community.
From vision to execution, women are helping define what GAS is—and what it can become.
Leadership at Every Level
That momentum continues at the board level, where women make up more than half of the GAS Board of Directors.
These are artists, curators, educators, and industry leaders—women who run studios, lead companies, organize exhibitions, and shape discourse across the field. Their perspectives guide GAS at the highest level, ensuring that our direction reflects both experience and possibility.
Their leadership is not symbolic. It is active, engaged, and essential.
- Michelle Bufano, Vice President
- Mika Drozdowska, Secretary
- Julia Rogers, Conference Chair
- Janine Christley
- Kate Dowd
- Annabelle Javier
- Dr. Kayla Natividad
- Danielle Rickaby
- Danielle Ruttenberg
- Dr. Sunny Wang
- Martha Zackin
Stronger Through Partnership
Beyond GAS, women are leading many of the organizations we work alongside.
Our 2026 conference partnerships—with the Corning Museum of Glass, the Stained Glass Association of America, and the International Society of Glass Beadmakers—are all guided by women at the helm. This alignment is more than coincidence; it reflects a broader shift across the field, where women are increasingly shaping institutional vision and direction.
- Dr. Jessica Levin Martinez, President + CEO, The Corning Museum of Glass
- Megan McElfresh, Executive Director, Stained Glass Association of America
- Laura Simone, President, International Society of Glass Beadmakers
That shift is also part of the conversation itself. At the Corning 2026 conference, GAS Executive Director + CEO Brandi P. Clark will join a panel moderated by Dr. Lisa Naas exploring the rise of women leaders in glass—an acknowledgment of just how much the landscape is evolving.
Our Presenters
That evolution is especially visible in this year’s conference programming.
The theme of Corning 2026, Celebrating Community | Expanding Futures, reflects a collective belief in the power of connection and shared vision. And within that framework, something remarkable emerged organically: a program shaped in large part by women.
The majority of presenters are women, and many are sharing perspectives, techniques, and narratives that reflect their unique experiences in the field. This is not about representation for its own sake—it’s about recognizing the depth of knowledge, creativity, and leadership already present in the community.
The result is a program that feels both timely and expansive—one that reflects where glass is now and where it’s headed.
Liu Yu
Julie Bellemare
Evelyn Gottschall Baker
Angela Thwaites
Dawn Bendick
Brooke Hamling Flynn
Molly Jo Burke
Erika Tada
Lisa Cahill
Jeri Warhaftig
Aimee Frodsham
Irene Peterson
Elizabeth Devereaux
Taryn Coles
Michelle Bufano
Brandi P. Clark
Lisa Naas, PhD
Tami Landis
Jessamy Kelly
Meghan Bunnell
Nicole Berger
Lisa Zerkowitz
Katerina Verguelis
Sara Rastegar
Marta Byrdziak
Christen Baker
Silver Kim
Molmol Kuo
Danielle Kaes
Amy Lemaire
Kayla James
Sally Prasch
Morgan Peterson
Jennifer Crescuillo
Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen
Stephanie Trenchard
Catherine Benoit
Anne Clifton
Kwun Lan Wong
Katie Severance
Kyle Meyer
Kim Edwards
Bronwen Heilman
JC Herrell
Shayla Behrman
Kerry Collison
Kait Rhoads
Deborah Czeresko
Tabitha Burrill
Sarah Blood
Sandra Bacchi
Laura Donefer
Women in the Community
This year also offers powerful opportunities to connect past and present.
At the Corning Museum of Glass, Tough Stuff: Women in the American Glass Studio offers long-overdue recognition to the women who helped shape the Studio Glass Movement. Curated by Tami Landis and Rïse Peacock, the exhibition is the first major survey dedicated to the work of women artists whose contributions have too often been overlooked. Featuring more than 200 works, Tough Stuff brings renewed visibility to artists including Claire Falkenstein, Audrey Handler, Margie Jervis, Susie Krasnican, Kathleen Mulcahy, Ginny Ruffner, Ruth Tamura, and Toots Zynsky—firmly placing them within the canon they helped define.
At the same time, new work is being created in real time. The Museum’s Annual Flame Collab will bring together leading flameworkers—Sibelle Yuksek, Adrienne DiSalvo, and Nicole Berger—to create a collaborative sculpture during the conference. It’s a living example of what happens when skill, experimentation, and collaboration converge.
Together, these moments create a powerful throughline: honoring the women who built the field while supporting those actively redefining it.
More Than a Moment
At GAS, celebrating women is not limited to a single month.
It’s embedded in how we program, who we support, and how we think about the future. It shows up in our leadership, our partnerships, and the opportunities we create for artists at every stage of their careers.
Because the truth is simple: the strength of this field depends on the people shaping it.
And in 2026, women are not just part of that story—they are powering it forward.