CED Leadership

Executive Committee

This is a body of annually elected and appointed volunteers who make organizational decisions.

  • President: Terry Tretter (Download bio)

  • Vice President for Cultural Exchanges: Christine Schaubach

  • Co-Chairs for Programs:

    Joanna Athanasopoulos Owen & Dorothy Hsiao (President’s appointment)

  • Treasurer: Valeska (Lexie) Ellis

  • Director of Communications: Carol Bradford

  • Volunteer Committee: Suzanne Carbone, Co-Director

    Harriet Kelman, Co-Director

  • Bylaws Committee Chair: Susan Sherman

  • Director of Diplomatic Relations: Janine Seltzer Ali

  • Members-At-Large: Randa Mendenhall, Adele Siegmund, Lila Gurany, Elizabeth Stein

  • New Diplomat Welcome: Sarah Moss

  • Nominating Committee Chair:

  • Nominating Committee Members: Angel Cavise, Nancy Coyle, Lind Kirkpatrick, Marlene Rubin, Abeba Telahun

Advisory Board

The Cultural Exchange 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

  • Valeska (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 (Advisory Board Chair)

Diplomatic Advisory Board

Our Diplomatic Advisory Board is comprised of spouses of current ambassadors from the countries listed:

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)

  • Margaret (Peggy) Letter and Co-President Sarah Moss (2023-2025)

  • 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: Poia (Rasheed) Behzad