THIS Leadership
Executive Committee
This is a body of annually elected and appointed volunteers who make organizational decisions.
President: Margaret (Peggy) Letter (Download bio)
Co-President: Sarah Moss (Download bio)
Chief Operating Officer: Carol Bradford (Download bio)
Vice President of Programs: Arcangela (Angel) Cavise
Vice President for Cultural Exchanges: Christine Schaubach
Treasurer: Lynne Shank
Development Chair: Beth Howell
Volunteer Chair: Ieva O’Rourke
Bylaws Committee Chair: Valeska (Lexie) Ellis
Director of Diplomatic Relations: Janine Seltzer Ali
Director of Communications: Chris Raleigh
Nominating Committee Chair: Suzanne Carbone
Members-At-Large: Nancy Coyle (Maryland), Lind Kirkpatrick (Washington DC), Sherry Mahoney (Virginia), Marlene Rubin (Virginia)
Parliamentarian/Secretary: Susan Sherman
Advisory Board
The THIS for Diplomats Advisory Board is composed of Past Presidents and invited non-volunteer members of the community. The non-volunteer Advisory Board members are as follows:
Olivia Brown
Dr. Jennifer Clinton
Lexie Ellis
Ágnes Fenyvesy
Natalie Jones (Executive Vice President of Meridian International Center)
Phyllis Kaplan
Ambassador Kenton Keith
Joan Keston
Liz Klass
Shahin Mafi
Ambassador Capricia Marshall
Elena Olson
Magdalene Palumbo
Susan Rushton
Adele Siegmund
Sharon Spilhaus
Joy Vige
Linda Wildes
Bonita Williams
Ahmad Tariq Noorzadeh (Former Deputy Ambassador)
Nida Jamal (Coordinator)
Diplomatic Advisory Board
Our Diplomatic Advisory Board is comprised of spouses of current ambassadors from the countries listed:
Republic of Cameroon: Esther Djidjeu
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Lajo Balumuene
Republic of Nicaragua: Miriam Hooker
Member Emeritus: Nobuko Sasae
Member Emeritus: Douha Smith
Past Presidents
Cissy Anderson (1998 - 1999)
Magdalene Palumbo (1999 - 2000)
Connie Andre (2000)
Susan Rushton (2000 - 2001)
Jacquelyn Pickett (2001 - 2002)
Elena Olson (2002 - 2003)
Olivia Brown (2003 - 2004)
Marlene Futterman (2004 - 2005)
Susan Lee (2005 - 2007)
Bonita Williams (2007 - 2008)
Valeska Ellis (2008 - 2010)
Joan Keston (2010 - 2012)
Phyllis Kaplan (2012 - 2014)
Laurence Jarvik (2014 - 2015)
Elizabeth Klass (2015 - 2017)
Adele Siegmund (2017 - 2019)
Linda Wildes (2019 - 2022)
Elizabeth Klass (2022-2023)
Eleanor Israel (Founder)
Lillian Owen (1962 - 1967)
Petey McClintock (1967 - 1969)
Mary Louise Day (1969 - 1971)
Paula Jeffries (1971 - 1975)
Ruthanna Weber (1975 - 1977)
Anne Good (1977 - 1979)
Peggy Brown (1979 - 1981)
Joyce Bonin (1981 - 1982)
Polly LeFaivre (1982 - 1984)
Joy Vige (1984 - 1986)
Lee Murek (1986 - 1988)
Jean Wall (1988 - 1989)
Ellie Krone (1989 - 1990)
Evelyn Moore (1990 - 1992)
Marion Turner (1992 - 1994)
Sharon Spilhaus (1994 - 1996)
Shirley Gayner (1996 - 1997)
Mary Gianoplus (1997 - 1998)
Office Staff
Program Manager: Rasheed Behzad