Sentilla Hawley, BA ’22, is an alumna of the New Leadership Oregon, a program of PSU’s Center for Women’s Leadership.
At Verde, a Portland-based environmental justice nonprofit, you might have found PSU graduate Sentilla Hawley, BA ’22, fleshing out the strategy for a community outreach effort, putting the finishing touches on the collateral for a marketing campaign, or prepping to meet with TV reporters interested in covering Verde’s work to connect low-income Portlanders with affordable renewable energy.
A proud member of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Hawley brings a distinct perspective to the kind of work that occurs at the intersection of social and environmental justice and a commitment to amplifying the voices and issues that matter most to her community.
The Kenaitze are part of the Dena’ina, Alaska Native Athabaskans who are the original inhabitants of south-central Alaska. The tribe became a federally recognized sovereign nation in 1971 under the Indian Reorganization Act. The Dena’ina adhere to a matrilineal system, which 19th-century anthropologists believed was the basis of early human kinship. A story of the Kenaitze Tribe holds that they are descendants of sisters from Alaska’s Copper River area.
With a cultural heritage that prioritizes female influence and power, perhaps it’s no surprise that Hawley was drawn to New Leadership Oregon (NLO), a program of PSU’s Center for Women’s Leadership (CWL). The cohort-style learning initiative is designed to inspire participants to identify and hone the skills needed to lead in any context — in their community, within the nonprofit sector, in the boardroom, in politics, at home, or as activists.
NLO appeared on Hawley’s radar screen in 2021. It was year two of the Covid pandemic—a time when many college students struggled to find the right balance between learning, building community, and taking sensible health precautions.
Hawley was busy. Very busy: working toward degrees in Communications and Liberal Studies within PSU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, serving as Student Government Executive Staff Director, participating in various committees of the Associated Students of Portland State University, providing input on higher education costs as a member of PSU’s Tuition Review Advisory Committee, and landing on the Dean’s List.
Still, she felt isolated. So when someone posted a message about NLO on the student government Slack channel, she was intrigued. Earning a spot in the program proved a salve. Hawley easily forged connections with others on similar paths. Over Zoom, she and her cohort members delved into a range of issues, such as masking’s effects on social and workplace interactions, what it’s like to bring various identities into the workplace, and navigating bureaucracy.
NLO created a safe space for participants to be vulnerable, which allowed for frank exploration of thorny matters. Hawley gives CWL’s co-director, Jessica Mole Heilman, a lot of credit for being “so intentional about everything.” It wasn’t only about getting it right when it came to discussion topics and guest speakers. It was also about getting it right on the details of inclusion and accessibility—in all its forms.
From the size and types of chairs, to what food would be served, to making sure everyone had transportation for the final in-person program, “Jessica was very clear and direct about what inclusion and accessibility means.”
Mole Heilman also provided important reassurances to students who may not have had the opportunity to fill their closets with what mainstream corporate culture has traditionally defined as a work wardrobe. “She told us to bring our whole selves to any space we’re in . . . to not worry about what we look like or what we wear.”
“She showed us that you don’t have to put yourself in a box, and that as a leader, you don't have to perpetuate white supremacy culture. She taught us what it really means to actively challenge that.”
NLO culminated with a trip to the state Capitol in Salem, where participants met with former Governor Barbara Roberts, the first woman elected to that office in Oregon. “It helped us see ourselves in positions of power and understand that we have the power to make a difference,” Hawley says.
Upon completing the NLO program, Hawley joined the CWL team as a marketing intern, a stint that coincided with her senior year. After graduating, she moved into a full-time position, with the title of marketing manager.
Calling it a “full-circle moment,” Hawley focused on NLO’s social media accounts and the program’s rebranding effort. Her work coincided with CWL’s transition from a white-centered feminist perspective to its now intersectional and gender-expansive approach. Hawley infused the new logo with a sense of nostalgia and vibrancy to reflect NLO’s legacy while simultaneously signaling its progressive shift and commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
The rebranding project certainly gave Hawley a showpiece for her portfolio. But perhaps the most important thing to come out of her experience with NLO is the long-term impact of learning to take healthy risks, to step into spaces with confidence, to build community, and to trust the process of pursuing work that aligns with her values.
“NLO reinforced that I belong in the rooms I walk into, that my voice matters, and that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about showing up, listening, and being willing to learn.”
Hawley called on that training only a few months after joining the Verde staff as the organization’s first communications staffer. Verde was working with Rep. Khanh Pham (D-Portland) on the TREES Act (Trees Restoring Economic and Environmental Stability), which established funding for green infrastructure and tools to protect the urban canopy. Hawley was tapped to testify in support of the bill. “That kind of advocacy felt like a whole new level of responsibility. I didn’t know much about the legislative process, but I knew I needed to speak confidently.”
Rather than shy away from it, she immersed herself. “I wanted to experience the process firsthand, to understand how policies that directly impact communities get shaped. I had done plenty of public speaking, but this felt different. Walking up to that desk in front of the legislators, I was beyond nervous—sick to my stomach, even. But in that moment, I reminded myself why taking this risk mattered. It wasn’t just about pushing myself out of my comfort zone; it was about standing up for something bigger than me, for the betterment of Oregonians.”
That moment of pushing through the fear was worth it. The bill passed unanimously. “I’m so proud that I took that risk. It reinforced what NLO taught me: stepping up, even when it’s uncomfortable, can lead to real change.”
Three years out, Hawley is still connected to NLO through a contract to help CWL with special projects. It’s one of the many ways she remains aligned with her values. And in continuing to apply her creative chops to CWL’s mission, she helps extend a hand to the next generation of leaders, exemplifying the very essence of NLO and her matrilineal Kenaitze Tribe roots.
Editor’s Note: As CWL was preparing to publish this piece, Hawley informed us that she’d just taken a new position as Marketing Manager with Evergreen Energy Partners. She is excited to be able to continue working on energy efficiency issues.