Allyson Sonenshine C93, has over 25 years of nonprofit, legal and volunteer experience in women’s health. Some would say she is a “tireless advocate” but lately her neck and back have been protesting. Nevertheless, she persists … since 2011, Allyson has served as the Founding Director of the Orange County Women’s Health Project, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing local women’s health through education, collaboration, and advocacy. Before launching the OCWHP, Allyson worked with the Merage Foundations, where she helped establish a nationally recognized Wellness Center at El Sol Academy, a Title I charter school in Santa Ana, and prior to that, she practiced employment and business litigation with Bingham McCutchen (now Morgan Lewis) in Los Angeles. On the volunteer side, Allyson has performed pro bono legal work for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and The Rape Treatment Center, served as the Board Chair for both Essential Access Health and Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties, and presently serves on the Orange County Health Improvement Partnership. What seems like a lifetime ago, Allyson graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her JD at USC School of Law.

Allyson and her Penn sweetheart Coby CW92 have enjoyed raising two sons in Newport Beach, California. Over the years Allyson has volunteered with her older son’s hockey team, her younger son’s surf team, and their high school boosters association. To let loose, Allyson sings lead vocals with The New Originals, an 80’s cover band, and follows with envy the professional music careers of her friends from Off the Beat.