2022 Slate of Nominees for Alumnae Association Board and Committee Positions
The Nominating Committee respectfully submits the following slate of candidates for election at the Annual Meeting, to be held on May 21, 2022. Each candidate has been fully informed of the responsibility and rights of the position and has indicated consent to serve if elected. Members may submit additional nominations as outlined in the bylaws. Terms are 2022–25, except when specifically noted.
Board of Directors Positions
Alum Trustee (2023–2028)
Sarita Gupta ’96, Silver Spring, Maryland. Vice president, U.S. Programs, Ford Foundation.
Chair, Classes and Reunion Committee
Sabrina L. Maurer ’90, Guilford, Connecticut. Senior scientific portfolio director and team lead, Envision Pharma Group. PharmD, University of MD, School of Pharmacy; Association: Internal Achievement Awards Committee member 2018–21. Class: current head class agent; former treasurer, class agent, reunion gift chair, reunion gift caller. College: Mount Holyoke Fund Volunteer Steering Committee 2014–18, Annual Fund Committee 2006–12, New York Event Committee 2000–03. Awards: Student Leadership Award; Loyalty Award 2015.
Chair, Clubs and Groups Committee
Naomi Barry-Perez ’96, Washington, D.C. J.D., Georgetown University. Association: Clubs and Groups Committee member 2002–05. Class: class agent 1998–99, reunion gift caller 1997–98. Washington, D.C., Club: former member at large 2006–07, young alum chair 1999–2001, alum representative assistant 1998–2010, book award sponsor 1998–2010. Central NY Alum Region: alum representative assistant 1998. Minneapolis Club: alum representative assistant 1996. College: current ALANA member, Advisory Council to the MHC Semester in D.C. Program and Victoria Schuck Campaign Steering Committee member, Weissman Center for Leadership volunteer, 2015 Women Leading in Public Service Summit volunteer. Awards: Loyalty Award 2021, Harry S. Truman Award, Weed-Ford-Mellon Research Scholarship, Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, Victoria Schuck Scholarship.
Chair, Volunteer Experience Committee
Wendy Fisher ’00, Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. Talent lead, ZOLL Medical. MBA, Babson College. Association: Volunteer Experience Committee member 2014–18. Class: current head class agent; former reunion chair, secretary, Nominating Committee member, reunion booklet chair.
Committee Members
Members, Alum Trustee Nominating Committee
Dr. Maisha Imani (Bobbie) Hamilton ’70, Chicago, Illinois. Former executive director, West End Community Conference. Ph.D, psychology, University of Chicago; M.A., psychology, University of Chicago; pending degree, theology, Meadville Theological Seminary, Harvard University. College: former alum trustee 1991–96, Leadership Task Force Task Force member. Association: Alum trustee 1991–92. Awards: Sigma Xi, Mary Lyon Scholar, Sesquicentennial Award.
Members, Classes and Reunion Committee
Patrice Faith Behnstedt FP’00, Bartow, Florida. Assistant public defender, 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida. J.D., University of Miami; M.A., University of South Florida. Association: Reunion Task Force Committee member 2010–11. Class: current scribe; former website coordinator, reunion chair, vice president, president, reunion dinner chair, reunion welcome/hospitality chair.
Lisa S. Buffitt ’93, Sandwich, Massachusetts. M.S., University of Idaho. Class: current reunion co-chair; former reunion nametag chair, reunion welcome/hospitality chair, reunion chair. Northern New Jersey Club: former board member at large, book award chair.
Members, Clubs and Groups Committee
Cydney Forrest Albert ’07, Little Elm, Texas. MBA, University of Texas, Dallas. Association: Legacy of Diversity Committee member. Class: class agent 2007–11. Dallas-Fort Worth Club: former alum representative assistant. Pasadena Alum Region: former alum representative assistant. Hartford Club: former alum representative and alum representative book award sponsor. College: ALANA member. Awards: Helen Warren Smith Prize, Student Leadership Award, Weed-Ford Research Scholar, Weed Summer Research Scholar, Robert P. Sibley Prize.
Courtney Kaufman ’16, Forest Hills, New York. Class: current reunion co-chair; former Nominating Committee member 2017–18. New York City Club: former co-president, treasure, young alum chair. Queens Alum Region: former alum representative assistant 2017–18. Awards: Anna Edwards Prize.
Members, External Achievement Awards Committee
Graham Ray ’83, Denver, Colorado. Former assistant professor of medicine, University of Colorado-Denver. BSN, Medical College of Virginia; MSN, University of Colorado School of Nursing. Class: former Nominating Committee chair and member.
Minerva Phifer ’94, New York, New York. Project strategy director, Workday Inc. Association: Black Alumnae Conference Planning Committee member 2011–12. Class: current Nominating Committee member. Chicago City Club: former alum representative assistant. Chicago Suburbs Club: former alum representative assistant.
Member, Fellowship Committee (2022–2024)
Jack Gieseking ’99, Lexington, Kentucky. Assistant professor, University of Kentucky. D.P., philosophy, M.A. psychology, CUNY Graduate Center. Association: Volunteer Steering Committee member 2014–16; Brooklyn Alum Region: alum representative assistant 2012–14, young alum committee member 2010–18. Class: current class agent; former head class agent, reunion website coordinator, president, Nominating Committee member, reunion chair, newsletter editor, treasurer, reunion sign chair. Club of New York: young alum chair 2003–04, former alum representative book award sponsor president. Northern NJ Club: alum representative assistant 2000–03. College: Annual Fund Committee member 2006–12. Awards: Class of 1905 Fellowship.
Members, Finance Committee
Yakut Z. Akman ’80, Darien, Connecticut. Former chief third-party management officer, Citigroup. Certified information security auditor, Yale University School of Management Executive Education, Women on Boards Program. Association: former member, External Achievement Awards Committee, Alumnae Honors Research Committee, Legacy of Diversity. Class: former member Nominating Committee, vice president. Fairfield Villages Club: Nominating Committee 2009–14.
Lynne Inman ’86, Evanston, Illinois. Senior director, Global Commercial Business Technology Solutions Operations, AbbVie. J.D., Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.
Members, Internal Achievement Awards Committee
Sarah (Sally) Michalec ’76, Boise, Idaho. Retired. Association: Internal Achievement Awards Committee member 2018–21. Class: former class agent, president. Awards: Loyalty Award.
Alyssa Whitbeck Rose ’02, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Assistant vice president, operations, Beacon Health Options. MSW, University of Connecticut; J.D., University of Connecticut. Class: current website coordinator; former vice president, head class agent, reunion chair. Awards: Young Alum Volunteer Leadership Award.
Member, Nominating Committee
Mayra Laura Garcia ’94, La Jolla, California. Criminal defense attorney, Law Office of Mayra L. Garcia. J.D., Boston University. Association: Nominating Committee member 2008–11. San Diego Club: board member at large, Program Chair 2013–16, member at large 2006–09, president/contact 2003–06.
Lynette Rizzo ’96 (2022–2023), Jackson Heights, New York. Associate director of marketing, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, New York. Certificate in performing arts management, New York University. Association: Nominating Committee 2017–20; Clubs Committee 2012–15. New York City Club: Program Committee 2018–19, membership chair 2017–18, president 2014–17, vice president 2013–14, communications chair 2012–13, secretary 2009–12, membership chair 2008–09, vice president 2007–08. Class: current co-scribe. Awards: Certificate of Appreciation 2017, Loyalty Award 2016, Helen Rogers Award (Dance) 1996.
JoAnna Jarboe ’02, South Hadley, Massachusetts. President, Collegiate Founders Inc. MBA, Entrepreneur University; Ph.D., education, Star University. Association: Clubs Committee member 2002–05, clerk 1993–96, Strategic Planning Committee member 1992–93. Class: current president, reunion gift caller; former newsletter editor, treasurer, reunion sign chair. South Hadley Club: current second vice president; former alum representative book award sponsor president. Boston Club: former chair, Ways & Means Committee. College: current member, Annual Fund Committee; former chair, Annual Fund Committee. Awards: Medal of Honor 2007. Current chair, American Learned Society.
Alessandra (Ally) P. Hickson ’09, Sunnyvale, California; Managing editor, WW Retail Communications, Apple; M.A., journalism, New York University. Association: Communications and Quarterly Committee 2017–20. San Francisco Alum Region: current alum representative assistant; New York City Club: former alum representative assistant, alum representative, alum representative book award sponsor. Club of Philadelphia: former alum representative assistant, alum representative book award sponsor. Awards: Harriett Newhall Fellow 2008.
Member, Volunteer Experience Committee
Katherine (Katie) O’Brien ’00, Newark, Delaware. Human resources director, Aramark Healthcare. M.S., counseling/counselor education, Indiana University Bloomington. Association: Young Alum Committee. Class: current class cornerstone chair; former head class agent, reunion booklet chair. Wilmington Alum Region: current alum representative; former alum representative assistant. Greater Baltimore Alum Club: former alum representative assistant. Bloomington Alum Region: former alum representative. Awards: Robert P. Sibley Prize.
March 31, 2022
Love that most nominees are from more recent classes. Time to pass the torch on the direction of the AA and of the college in general. We oldsters should be about raising and giving money to support goals which resonate with us.