About Our Organization

Founded in 2009, the Women’s Diplomatic Series is a non-profit organization whose goal is to provide unique, diplomatic programming for its members.

WDS aims to host 8 to 10 programs and events every year that provide opportunities to meet and engage with the global diplomatic community, including ambassadors and their diplomatic corps.

To date, we have hosted over 100 events at 90 embassies, official residences, and notable venues across the Washington, DC area.

Our events include morning coffees, midday luncheons, afternoon teas, and evening receptions.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cristina Hilsenrath, President

Donna Jervey, Vice-President & Treasurer

Colleen Mudlaff, Past-President

Tracy Brew

Tina Burns

Caren Danies

Caroline Horrigan

Suzette O'Connor

Faith Psillas

Cristina Hilsenrath brings a breadth of professional and personal experience, both domestic and international, to her role as President of the Women’s Diplomatic Series. She has worked for over thirty years as a TV journalist. Cristina currently produces Fox 5's On The Hill, a weekly political talk show with nationally-known and local guests. Prior to her foray into production, Cristina was an award-winning journalist and public relations expert. She has been a reporter both in Hong Kong and in the U.S. having extensively covered the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Cristina has received awards for her on-air reporting coverage of events such as the Handover of Hong Kong to China, the crash of TWA Flight 800 and the Hampton Wildfires on Long Island. During her tenure with the global market research firm, The NPD Group, she also received the company-wide Award for Excellence. 

Along with her achievements in the professional world, Cristina’s focus has always been the human angle - looking for ways to make things personal and to forge connections. She firmly believes that people are more alike than different and that these similarities are what make the world a better place. Cristina has been a member of WDS for more than a decade. As President of WDS Cristina loves to share her passion for world travel with the women at WDS through the events she plans with Ambassadors and their staff from all over the globe. Cristina likes connecting the stories of the diplomats we meet with the WDS membership.

When not tracking down the next story and looking for stimulating programs to bring to WDS, Cristina enjoys spending time in her Maryland community, volunteering at Manna Food Center, participating as an active member of Our Lady of Mercy Church, and above all else, being the proud mother to Alex, Hope and Lucas.