rights of women

Chelsea Shields is a biocultural anthropologist, TED Fellow, and researcher whose work explores the evolutionary foundations of religious belief and the physiological power of social connection. Raised in a Latter-day Saint family in Utah, she went on to earn dual PhDs in biological and cultural anthropology from Boston University in 2017. Shields’ academic research focuses on the concept of social susceptibility—how human bodies have evolved to be deeply responsive to social interaction and meaning-making. Over the course of a decade, she conducted extensive fieldwork with Asante indigenous healers in central Ghana, studying the evolution and elicitation of placebo and nocebo effects in ritual healing ceremonies. Her dissertation, “The Social Life of Placebos,” argues that grounding human behavior in social adaptations reveals important discoveries across placebo studies, religion, pain, stress, and empathy. She presented at the 2014 Conference of the Mormon Transhumanist Association on the evolutionary psychology of religion, examining how religious belief functions as a powerful biocultural force—shaping neural development, social bonding, and coping mechanisms—and how understanding these processes is essential for anyone thinking seriously about the future of the human brain and body. Shields is a three-time TED speaker, an advocate for gender equality within religious communities, and founder of Brandthropologie Agency, where she applies her research in social susceptibility and nonverbal communication to brand strategy and consumer research. She lives in Salt Lake City with her family.

Jessica Finnigan is a scholar and project consultant operating at the intersection of social systems, technological innovation, and organizational health. Originally recognized for her academic work at the University of Cambridge and King's College London, Jessica’s research explored how religious frameworks and technological access impact human progress in the developing world. Today, she translates those high-level insights into high-impact results as a Fractional Project Manager and the founder of Project Startup LLC. Jessica’s research highlights the critical, yet often overlooked, role of technology in alleviating suffering and fostering sustainable development in the developing world. Drawing upon her experience working with international databases focused on women’s issues, she emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive and nuanced approaches to technological implementation, advocating for solutions that acknowledge the complexities and tensions inherent in diverse cultural contexts. Jessica bridges the gap between technological innovation and the realities of the developing world, seeking to understand and address the “Great Divide” between technological access and implementation in developed and developing nations. Her work emphasizes the importance of considering sustainable food security and other fundamental needs when introducing technology into communities facing significant challenges.

Neylan McBaine is a prominent figure in Utah’s women’s advocacy scene and a connector between Mormon history and future-oriented thought. Originally from the East Coast, she graduated from Yale University and then honed her skills as a digital marketer at both large corporations like Walmart and smaller companies like Tea Collection. Additionally, she served as a brand strategist for Bonneville Communications, gaining valuable experience in shaping narratives and messaging. For over a decade, McBaine has been a vocal advocate for women in Utah. She is the founder of the Mormon Women Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of Mormon women by sharing their stories and exploring avenues for greater inclusion within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her commitment to this cause led her to author the book, *Women at Church*. Most recently, McBaine co-founded and serves as the CEO of Better Days 2020, a statewide Utah project commemorating the 150th anniversary of women first voting in Utah and the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment. This role allows her to combine her marketing expertise with her passion for women’s history, particularly the significant contributions of women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the suffrage movement. She explores the application of women’s history lessons to diverse priorities including those found within transhumanist thought. While now focusing on a broader scope encompassing all Utah women, McBaine acknowledges the importance of her Mormon heritage and its connection to her work. Her perspective bridges the past and the future, making her a unique voice in conversations about progress, faith, and the potential of women.

Rosalynde Welch is a scholar of English literature, focusing on the intersection of private conscience and early modern literature. She holds degrees in English literature from Brigham Young University and the University of California, San Diego, where she completed her dissertation. Her academic interests also extend to Mormon literature and philosophy, reflecting a broader engagement with faith and intellectual inquiry. Beyond academia, Welch contributes to public discourse as a writer on interreligious issues for the *Saint Louis Post-Dispatch* and as a blogger on Mormon topics at timesandseasons.org. She also serves as the managing editor of *The Mormon Review*, demonstrating a commitment to fostering critical conversation within and beyond the Mormon community. During her presentation at the Mormon Transhumanist Association, Welch presented “A Material Girl in a Material World: Mormonism, Materialism, and Gender.” The talk, and much of her work, navigates complex terrains of gender, religion, and philosophy. Welch has noted her interest in feminist theory and evolutionary psychology.

Sarah Melissa Granger Kimball (1818–1898) was a pioneer advocate for women’s rights and an early leader in the Relief Society. Born in Phelps, New York, to a prominent family, she joined the Church in 1833 at age fifteen. She was one of twenty-three women known to have attended Joseph Smith’s School of the Prophets in Kirtland. In Nauvoo, Kimball organized a charitable sewing society that evolved into the Relief Society when it was officially organized on March 17, 1842. She believed this founding marked the beginning of a new era of opportunity for women worldwide. After crossing the plains to Salt Lake City in 1851, driving her own team, she was appointed Relief Society president of the Fifteenth Ward. Kimball served as ward Relief Society president for forty years while also holding positions as general secretary of the Relief Society and president of the Utah Woman Suffrage Association. Her gravestone reads “Strong-Minded and Warm-Hearted,” fitting tribute to a woman who declared that “education and agitation are our best weapons of warfare” in advancing women’s rights.