“Women Leading Locally” 

How Township Leaders Shape Our Community and Culture.

A special live recording of the Town & Gown Podcast

Presented by Strategies for Justice and Spheres of Influence

Women in government are transforming how communities think, lead, and grow. Join us for a dynamic Town & Gown Podcast conversation featuring local and regional leaders whose work is reshaping policy, public discourse, and institutional culture.

This live-recorded episode brings together elected officials, public servants, academic leaders, and community partners to explore how women influence ideas, drive cultural change, and expand pathways to public service.

Our Guest

Tracey Mariner

College Township Supervisor/College Township Councilwoman

Tracey Mariner works as a community-focused academic who leads public service development while studying at Pennsylvania State University where she earns her B.A. in Law and Society with Legal Studies and Dispute Management and Resolution and Crime Law and Psychology minors. She also studies Christian counseling at the graduate level. Her research investigates how justice institutions work with community development programs and leadership approaches to create improved results for discriminated groups based on their background.

Tracey established Future Forward through her student-led program which teaches students to become ethical leaders who understand sustainability concepts and establish connections between industries to develop future leaders who will create positive change. She works to link students with civic leaders and nonprofit organizations and public institutions which helps them create better community results and public participation.

Tracey brings her background in financial services and organizational operations together with her academic training in conflict resolution and policy and social justice. Her experience as an advocate together with her fight against obstacles has driven her to create public dialogue areas which accept everyone and educate others about public service participation.

Our Host

Terry Watson, M.S. (he/him) is an accomplished professional speaker, trainer, and award‑winning author whose work centers on disability equity, racial justice, and community healing. He serves as the Associate Director for Student Disability Services and the Interim Director for Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity at Penn State World Campus. In these roles, he collaborates with faculty, instructional designers, and student‑facing units to advance accessibility and foster inclusive learning environments. Since 2011, he has supported college students with disabilities, helping shape policies and practices that ensure equitable access to higher education. His commitment to advocacy began in 2001 through his work with children on the autism spectrum, and in 2024 he was honored with Penn State’s Robison Equal Opportunity Award.

Mr. Watson is also the founder of Strategies for Justice (SFJ), BWMP LLC, a speaking and training bureau rooted in the belief that unveiling untold narratives of injustice can spark meaningful reform. SFJ partners with communities, institutions, and organizations to facilitate civil, transformative dialogue on race, ability, gender, and law enforcement. His work is deeply informed by his lineage: he is a descendant of Moses P. Cobb and Samuel J. Battle, the first African American police officers to serve full careers in New York City. Their legacy inspired the creation of The Battle with Moses People and later the establishment of SFJ in 2019.