Conversations with Women of Distinction with Christine Stenning

Join us for this new series of monthly fireside chats at Innovate Newport with a local Woman of Distinction (entrepreneur, business woman, elected official, community leader, or author) and the Chamber President.

*** Special guest host for July is Lynne Tungett of Newport This Week!

All are welcome to coffee, tea, fruit, and pastries upon arrival. The speaking program will begin around 9:15 and guests will hear a 20-30 minute conversation and have the opportunity to ask questions to follow. After the Q&A, all are welcome to stay and network.

July Woman of Distinction: Christine Keyser Stenning

About Christine:

Christine Stenning, who was raised in a military family, was educated at the University of the South Sewanee in Sewanee Tennessee, receiving a degree in political science with a focus in international politics in 1980.  

Having always desired to teach, she pursued a career in education and received her teaching degree at the University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida.  Christine’s teaching experience has been diverse having taught with the Department of Defense, in public schools as well as a private Catholic high school in Jacksonville, Florida.  Christine is a social studies teacher and has taught U.S History, Geography and World History.  Christine taught Advanced Placement World History, was an Advance Placement Reader for the College Board and was also a consultant for the College Board, reviewing questions for the SAT and ACT. 

Christine’s first introduction to Newport, RI was during one of her father’s duty stations. She attended Middletown Middle School and during the second posting in Newport, attended Middletown High School. Newport was by far one of the best duty stations for the Keyser family. 

After moving to Newport, RI in 2020, Christine became active with the Newport County League of Women Voters.  The work of the League is non-partisan, and the focus is voter education and voter registration.  She was appointed president of the league in 2022.  During her term as president, the Newport County League of Women Voters has tripled their membership and has become an active force for voting registration in Newport County. Christine is also on the board of the League of Women Voters Rhode Island. 

Christine volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for the state of Rhode Island.  The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) was developed as a volunteer program by the Family Court in 1978 addressing the need for advocacy for those children who had been abused and/or neglected, and who, through no fault of their own, found themselves involved with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Family Court.

Christine and her husband, Mark, live in Portsmouth, RI, and are proud grandparents of ten grandchildren. 


Thank you to our series sponsor, Newport This Week!

Confirmed Women of Distinction include:

January 11th: Elizabeth Lynn, Executive Director, van Beuren Charitable Foundation

February 8th: Cristina Offenberg, Esq. Silva, Thomas, Martland & Offenberg, Ltd.

March 7th: Crista Durand, Newport Hospital

April 4th: Gail Alofsin, Newport International Boat Show, Author, Keynote Speaker

May 9th: Britt Riley, Founder, The Haven Collection

June 13th: Kathy Staab, Owner & President, Jane Pickens Theater + Event Center

July 11th: Christine Stenning, Chair of League of Women Voters Newport County 

August 8th: Dana Borelli-Murray, CEO, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England

September12th: Dayna Gladstein, President & CEO, Newport Mental Health

October 10th: Katie Potter, Newport Chowder Co.

November 14th: TBD

December 12th: Brenda Brock, Farmaesthetics