The Nominating and Governance Committee is pleased to present the slate of nominees for open board positions for 2024–2028:
- Anne Green ’93
- Eddie Gamarra ’94
- Alisa Swire ’84
- Michael Neuwirth ’89
- Sheryl Smikle ’81
- Heller An Shapiro ’81
- Kerri Tillett ’91
- Emily Weisgrau ’96
AAVC Trustee
- Anne Green ’93
- (she/her/hers)
- New Jersey
- Term of Service: 2024–2028
Additional Vassar Volunteer Experience
Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee, 2020–present; member, Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, 2020–present; member, Communications Advisory Committee, 2018–present; Director, AAVC Board of Directors, 2018–present; member, AAVC Nominating and Governance Committee, 2018–present; member, AAVC Communications Advisory Committee, 2018–present; mentor, Sophomore Career Connections, 2018–2024; volunteer consultant to Vassar senior staff regarding communications issues, Fall 2017; volunteer, Career Advisor Program, 1994–2006.
Professional/Community Experience
Chief Executive Officer & Principal, G&S Business Communications, 2024–present; Principal & Managing Director, G&S Business Communications, 2018–2024; Steering Committee member, Friends of the QueensWay, 2016–present; board member and past Chair, LifeWay Network, 2015–2023; board member, PR Council, 2017–2019; Executive Committee member, Public Relations Global Network, 2016–2018; President & CEO, CooperKatz & Company, Inc., 2011–2018; Vice President, Senior Vice President, General Manager, and President & COO, CooperKatz & Company, Inc., 1996–2011; associate, Burson-Marsteller, 1993–1996.
AAVC Alum Recognition Committee Chair
- Eddie Gamarra ’94
- (he/him/his)
- California
- Term of Service: 2024–2028
Additional Vassar Volunteer Experience
Member, AAVC Alumnae/i Recognition Committee, 2023–present; board member, Vassar Club of Greater Los Angeles, 2021–2022; member, AAVC Alumnae/i Recognition Committee, 2016–2020; Vice President, Vassar Club of Southern California, 2013–2016 and Co-Chair, 2012–2013; volunteer, Club Admission Committee, 1998–2015; member, AAVC Nominating and Governance Committee, 2009–2012; note-writer/phoner, Class of 1994, 2009–2010, 2007–2008, 2005–2006, and 1996–1997; Director at Large, AAVC Board of Directors, 2004–2008; member, AAVC Vassar Fund Committee, 2005–2007; President, Class of 1994, 1994–1999.
Professional/Community Experience
Advisory Board member, Glendale Community College, 2022–present; Vice President, Literary Affairs, Paramount Global Kids & Family and Nickelodeon’s Awesomeness, Paramount, 2019–2024; Vice President, Studio Development, Nickelodeon, 2019–2021; co-head of the book department/Literary Manager/Producer, the Gotham Group, 2004–2019; visiting assistant professor, Emory University, 2002–2003.
AAVC Nominating and Governance Committee Chair
- Alisa Swire ’84
- (she/her/hers)
- New York
- Term of Service: 2024–2028
Additional Vassar Volunteer Experience
Member, AAVC Board, 2023–present; member, AAVC Nominating and Governance Committee, 2023–present; Vice Chair, Alumnae House Committee, 2022–present and member, 2019–2022; Program Chair, Vassar Club of the Hudson Valley, 2022 and Vice President, 2020–2022; member, Advisory Council for the Consortium on Forced Migration, Vassar College, 2018–2020; Chair, Wisconsin Alumni Admissions Program, 2008–2016 and member, 2006–2008; note-writer/phoner, Class of 1984, 1997–1998.
Professional/Community Experience
Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Johnson Outdoors Inc., February 2001–December 2016 (ret.). Director, Hudson Valley Credit Union since 2022 and member of the Finance and Compensation & Benefit Committees since 2023; Chair, Governance & Nominating Committee and Board Secretary, 2022–2023; pro bono immigration law attorney, My Sister’s Place, since 2022; trustee and Chair of the Finance Committee, Poughkeepsie Day School 2019–2020; Refugee Resettlement Coordinator, Greater Newburgh Interfaith Council, 2016–2018.
AAVC Board Director
- Michael Neuwirth ’89
- (he/him/his)
- New York
- Term of Service: 2024–2028
Additional Vassar Volunteer Experience
Member, AAVC Class Engagement Committee, 2022–present; President, Class of 1989, 2019–present; Class Agent, Class of 1989, 2017–2020; volunteer, Club Admission Committee, 2002–2013.
Professional/Community Experience
Corporate Communications & Public Relations Consultant, Neuwirth Communications, LLC, 2020–present; angel investor, 2020–present; Chief Communications Officer, American Sustainable Business Network, 2021–2022; Public Relations & External Communications Lead, Danone, 2005–2020; Senior Vice President, Ruder Finn, 2003–2005; Director of Corporate Communications, Acirca, Inc, 2001–2003; Public Relations Manager, Danone, 1994–2001; Senior Account Executive, Porter Novelli, 1990–1994.
AAVC Board Director
- Sheryl Smikle ’81
- (she/her/hers)
- Georgia
- Term of Service: 2024–2028
Additional Vassar Volunteer Experience
Class Agent, Class of 1981, 2023–present; Steering Committee member, Vassar Club of Atlanta, 2023–present; Student Life Committee member, African American Alumnae/i of Vassar College (AAAVC), 2023–present; volunteer, Club Admission Committee, 2023–present; committee member, Vassar Club of Atlanta, 2022–present; Director, AAVC Board of Directors, 2020–present; member, AAVC Alumnae House Committee, 2020–present; member, AAVC Nominating and Governance Committee, 2020–present; Vice President, Class of 1981 Committee, 2017–present; Class Agent, Class of 1981, 2023–2023; member, Campus Investor Responsibility Committee (CIRC), 2017–2021; volunteer, Club Admission Committee, 2013–2016; note-writer/phoner, Vassar Fund, 1996–1997.
Professional/Community Experience
Training Director/Insurance and Business Learning Portfolio Management—Human Resources, AIG, 2017–present; Volunteer Advisor, Florence Belsky Charitable Foundation, 2017–present; author, Congratulations, You’re a Compliance Officer! Now What?, 2019; Compliance Learning & Communications Leader, GE Capital Americas, 2012–2016; Associate Dean-Baccalaureate Studies/Director, the College of Westchester, 2006–2012; Assistant Director for Disability & Support Services, Vassar College, 2004–2011; professor, SUNY New Paltz, 2003–2004; professor, SUNY Ulster Community College, 2003–2004; Director-Compliance, American Express TRS, 1993–2004; adjunct professor of ESL, Hudson County Community College, 1984–1985; Spanish teacher, NYC Board of Education, 1984–1985.
AAVC Board Director
- Heller An Shapiro ’81
- (she/her/hers)
- Maryland
- Term of Service: 2024–2028
Additional Vassar Volunteer Experience
Member, AAVC Vassar Fund Committee, 2022–present; committee member, Class of 1981, 2021–present; committee member, Class of 1981, 2020–2021; Sophomore Career Connections mentor, 2018; Co-Chair, Class Reunion Gift, 2000–2001; Co-Chair, Class of 1981, 1996–2001; Co-Chair, Class Fund, 1996–2000; AAVC Volunteer Leadership Week trainer, 1992–1993; Second Vice President, Class of 1981, 1991–1996.
Professional/Community Experience
Volunteer team leader, Compass Pro Bono, 2023–present; consultant, coach, Heller An Shapiro, 2008–present; volunteer grant review panelist, Maryland State Arts Council 2021, 2023; Executive Director, ArtStream, Inc., 2016–2023; board member, Head of School Search Co-Leader, Barrie School, 2015–2017; consultant, Optica, 2010–2016; Co-Leader, Executive Development Career Workshops, Executive Search Consultant, TransitionGuides, 2007–2016; consultant, Barth Syndrome Foundation, 2010–2012; Board Co-Chair, Kidsave International, 2010–2012; Executive Director, Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, 1997–2007; Board of Directors member, Chair Standards of Excellence Committee, National Health Council, 2003–2007; Associate Director of Affiliate Management, Christmas in April USA/Rebuilding Together, 1997–1998; Deputy Director, State and International Services, VSA, 1995–1997; Director of Affiliate Management and Training, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, 1992–1995; Director of Volunteers, Kennedy Center, 1986–1991 and recipient of 1991 President's Volunteer Action Award; Leadership America, Class of 1993; board member, Chair of Public Issues, Chair National Summit on Trends in Volunteer Leadership Development, Association for Volunteer Administration (AVA), 1991–1993; Founder and Chair, MVP-Arts (Managers of Volunteer Programs in the Arts), 1990–1992.
AAVC Board Director
- Kerri Tillett ’91
- (she/her/hers)
- Massachusetts/North Carolina
- Term of Service: 2024–2028
Additional Vassar Volunteer Experience
Member, AAVC Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee, 2021–present.
Professional/Community Experience
Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2021–present; Associate Vice President for the Division of Inclusive Excellence, the College of New Jersey, 2011–2021; Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, New Jersey Department of Transportation, 2004–2010; Practicing attorney, 1996–2004; Law Clerk, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1994–1996.
AAVC Board Director
- Emily Weisgrau ’96
- (she/her/hers)
- Pennsylvania and Massachusetts
- Term of Service: 2024–2028
Additional Vassar Volunteer Experience
Member, AAVC Vassar Fund Committee, 2020–present; co-chair, Class of 1996, 2016–present; web master, Class of 1996, 2006–2011; correspondent, Class of 1996, 1996–2001; volunteer, Note-writer/Phoner, 1998–2000.
Professional/Community Experience
Founder and President, Weiswood Strategies Ltd., 2019–present; grants review panelist, National Endowment for the Arts, 2021; Awards Executive Committee member and judge coordinator, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, 2020–2021; chair, Get Out the Vote Committee, Swarthmore College, 2018–2019; Director of Advancement Communications, Swarthmore College, 2016–2019; Development Communications and Brand Manager, Haverford College, 2013–2016; grants review panelist, Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts, 2014; President, Board of Trustees, Bala House Montessori School, 2011–2013; Development Communications Specialist, Haverford College, 2009–2013; Development Committee member, Bala House Montessori School, 2009–2011; Professional Services Officer, the Philadelphia Foundation, 2005–2009; Executive Director, the Princeton Singers, 2003–2005; Director of Development, OPERA America, 2002–2003; golden lion tamarin monitor, Smithsonian National Zoo, 2001–2002; Associate Director, Foundation & Government Grants, Washington National Opera, 2000–2002; Arts Management Fellow, American University, 1998–2000; Annual Fund Coordinator, Opera Philadelphia, 1996–1998.
