January 4, 2012—Washington, D.C – The Independent Women's Forum (IWF) is pleased to announce that Sabrina Schaeffer, a long-time senior fellow of IWF, has been named Executive Director. She will be working closely with Carrie Lukas, who continues in her role as IWF's Managing Director, and Nicole Neily, who served as IWF's Executive Director throughout 2011. Neily will continue as an IWF senior fellow.

"Sabrina has been a consistent advocate for limited government and free markets, working with IWF and other prominent conservatives and free market organizations for years. I'm thrilled that she is taking on this new leadership role at IWF,” said Carrie Lukas, IWF's Managing Director. “I'm also glad that Nicki – who has done a tremendous job leading IWF in 2011 – will continue to play an important role in IWF moving forward.”

Schaeffer has previously served as a senior fellow for IWF and the managing partner of Evolving Strategies, a public opinion research firm. Prior to joining IWF, Sabrina served as speechwriter for Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), Director of Media Relations for the Republican Jewish Coalition, and a Director at the White House Writers Group. Sabrina started her career in Washington as an assistant to the late Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick at the American Enterprise Institute. She is a regular contributor to Politico’s Arena and The Hill’s Pundits Blog.

"I'm honored to assume this new role," said Schaeffer. "At a time when the country faces such a serious economic crisis, we must work to scale back the size and scope of government. We need a return to individual rights, constitutionally-limited government, fiscal responsibility, and free markets. Ultimately what’s good for women and their families is not more government intervention, but robust economic growth. That’s why I look forward to working with IWF and our allies to promote these values and make this country a better place for future generations."

“IWF is excited about the opportunities that this year—such a critical year for our nation—will present. I'm glad that we have such a strong leadership team in place at IWF," said IWF Chairman Heather Higgins.

The Independent Women's Forum (IWF) is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit educational institution. IWF is dedicated to building support for free markets, limited government, and individual responsibility. IWF seeks to combat the too-common presumption that women want and benefit from big government, and build awareness of the ways that women are better served by greater economic freedom. For more information, or to schedule an interview with Sabrina Schaeffer, please call Audrey Mullen at 703-548-1160 or [email protected]; Schaeffer can be reached at [email protected].