Ms. Kuriansky, MA, JD has been an advocate on behalf of women’s rights throughout her career. She has led several national and local non-government organizations in the United States and has consulted on an international level in Russia, the NIS, the European Union and Southeast Asia.
 

Ms. Kuriansky served as Executive Director of Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) between 2001 and 2011. Established in 1964, WOW works nationally, on a state level and in its home community of Washington, DC to achieve economic independence for women and girls throughout their lifetime. Between 1987 and1994, Ms. Kuriansky was Executive Director of the Older Women’s League (OWL), a national advocacy and membership organization, with chapters throughout the country that addressed economic and social issues facing women as they age. She was the co-founder and chair of the Campaign for Women’s Health between 1991 and 1994 that provided a woman’s voice in national health reform.

 

Ms. Kuriansky has worked in the field of violence against women since 1978. She was the first President of My Sister’s Place in Washington DC, served as the Executive Director of Women Against Abuse (WAA) in Philadelphia between 1981 and 1987. During her tenure, Philadelphia established the first civil and criminal courts solely addressing domestic violence and the first program working with battered women in prison in the United States. In 1995, she directed technical assistance office established by the US Justice Dept. to implement the landmark Violence Against Women Act in all 50 states and the territories.

 

Ms. Kuriansky has testified before administrative hearings and Congress, made numerous television and radio appearances and been a resource to the written and electric media, federal agencies and the White House. Between 2008 and 2011, she served as a frequent resource to the White House Council on Women and Girls, the Middle Class Task Force, and the Domestic Policy Council.

Ms. Kuriansky has worked on an international level throughout most of her career with her primary focus in Russia beginning in 1994 through today. Ms. Kuriansky is an active volunteer of Advocates for Human Rights where she is a member of its annual delegation to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. As a past board member of Project Kesher, she continues to participate in and speak in programs in Israel, Russia and the NIS to advance the lives of women and girls through a Jewish and gender lens.

Today, Ms. Kuriansky serves on various local, national and international boards. She is a trustee and formerly chaired (7/17-6/19) the Tikkun Olam Women’s Foundation that promotes social change on behalf of women and girls in the DC Metro Area and Israel. She chaired the Board of the Battered Women’s Project, a national resource center that provides technical assistance to civil and criminal justice systems throughout the United States. As Chair of Circles, USA, Ms. Kuriansky leads their civic participation efforts to engage low-income families in advocating for social change in over 20 states. Ms. Kuriansky also serves on the board of LEAD Fund.

Ms. Kuriansky has been recognized for her leadership and has received awards including a Gloria Steinem award where she was named “A Woman of Vision” by the Ms. Foundation. She received her most recent award in 2020, by the Advocates for Human Rights for her work as a volunteer. Ms. Kuriansky was appointed by President Clinton to serve on the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women (1994-2001).
 

Ms. Kuriansky holds a J.D. (University of Virginia) and a Master’s Degree in Urban Affairs (Occidental College) in conjunction with a CORO Fellowship in Public Affairs. She is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society (Washington University in St. Louis where she received her BA).