Board of Directors and Committees

Theoria Cason

Board Chair

Dr. Theoria Cason is a highly regarded communicator dedicated to helping as many people as possible become their very best selves, and do their best work, in the workplace. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2008. Currently, with more than 12 years of combined experience, working in private, non-profit, and higher education institutions, Theoria has left an impact on thousands.

As a speaker, coach, and Cornell University Certified Diversity Professional, Theoria specializes in improving professionals' performance by crafting goal-oriented actions that result in professionals driving change, creating impact, and promoting peace.

Founder and CEO of Theoria In Praxis, LLC, her commitment to lead with integrity serves as a barometer to facilitate cultural change. She is a daughter; sister, friend: adventurer: and globetrotter! You can connect with her at www.theoriainpraxis.com and
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/theoriamcason

Frank Kruppa

Board Vice Chair, Financial Administration Committee

Frank Kruppa was appointed in 2011 as the Public Health Director of the Tompkins County Health Department in New York and added Mental Health Commissioner duties in 2015. Mr. Kruppa began his public health career in 2001 as an Environmental Specialist at the St. Lucie County Health Department in Florida. His career progressed through the ranks serving as a supervisor and Environmental Health Director until he was appointed Administrator of the Okeechobee County Health Department in Florida in 2008.

Mr. Kruppa has focused his public health work on preventing teen pregnancy, decreasing the incidence of tobacco use in youth and developing strong public health organizations. He has extensive emergency preparedness and response experience having served in the Incident Command Structure for 7 hurricanes.

Mr. Kruppa is a Past President of the New York State Association of County Health Officials and currently serves on their Board of Directors. He previously served as Chair of the Tompkins County Health Planning council and is currently on the Care Compass (DSRIP PPS) Board of Directors. He spent seven years on the Town of Danby Planning board with three serving as Chair.

Mr. Kruppa has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Central Florida, a Master of Public Health degree from Albany University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from Binghamton University.

Ian Harrop

Treasurer, Financial Administration Committee Chair

Ian Harrop works for Corning Incorporated as a Finance Director. He has been with Corning Inc. for more than 20 years and has held various Finance roles; including Operations Manager for Corning’s APAC Shared Service Center, located in China. As a member of Corning’s Finance Team, he works closely with colleagues across the globe, which helps him enhance his global perspective.

Ian spent his formative years in Guyana, and he unhesitatingly credits good fortune for being blessed with exceptional parents. He also acknowledges the roles excellent teachers and exemplary individuals played in helping him along the way; therefore, he is passionate about “paying it forward.” Ian holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the SUNY Geneseo, and a MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Courtney Owens

Secretary, Development Committee

A native of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Courtney Owens serves as an Assistant Director for the Dean of Students, Student and Campus Life at Cornell University. She holds a Masters in Organizational Leadership & Development from Western Kentucky University. As a higher education professional, Courtney focuses on institutional retention and success, leadership development, and seeks to enhance local strategic partnerships within Greater Ithaca. Within her role at the university, Courtney is responsible for allocating donor relative funds, deepening existing relationships between internal and external stakeholders, and provides equitable access for Ithaca residents to promote sustainable qualities of life. In addition, Courtney specializes in designing educational DEI Leadership trainings that influence future leaders for a better tomorrow.

Keith McCafferty

Immediate Past Chair, Ex-Officio on Executive Committee

Keith McCafferty works at Legal Assistance of Western New York, a not-for-profit law firm with seven offices and 145 staff spread over a fourteen county area to provide free legal aid to low-income and other vulnerable people with civil legal problems.

He was previously counsel in the Trusts & Estates, Corporate, Real Estate, Tax and Elder Law practice areas at Hancock Estabrook. His legal practice concentrated in the areas of estate planning and corporate governance. Mr. McCafferty assisted individuals on issues related to estate planning, trusts, planning for the elderly and disabled, and estate and trust administration. Mr. McCafferty also advises tax-exempt organizations on diverse legal issues, including formations, taxation and tax-exempt issues, corporate governance, corporate restructurings, regulatory matters, and a variety of commercial ventures, contracts, and transactions.

Don Manuel Presents

Community Engagement Committee Chair

In his early 20s, he moved to Ithaca from Ohio by way of NYC. Like many young adults, he didn’t look at the world through a philanthropic lens, but had already acclimated to the culture shock that is the global population living in one community and sharing its roots with one another. Moving to Ithaca was like a baby NYC with the many diverse cultural backgrounds. In the summer of 2011, he began his first non-profit experience with No More Tears/ No Mas Lagrimas. He was asked to help provide entertainment for the first annual Boricua Afro Americano Parade and Festival on the downtown Ithaca Commons. Since that seed of philanthropy and community involvement was sown, he created Creating Dreams Movement that same year and was nominated to be a part of Natural Leaders Initiative at Cornell Cooperative Extension.

He had the privilege of working with the Kettering Foundation in Ohio on deliberate democracy and how to make it work for all. He was briefly a Tompkins County Human Rights Commissioner. He worked with Get Your Greenback, Ithaca Food Justice Summit, and Streets Alive back in its beginning years, just to name a few. He had the honor of working with our Community Foundation in 2016 for the Spring grant cycle that was scheduled for $150k in grants. That number was almost doubled by the end of the grant cycle, and it was the largest grant cycle of its time due to the championing of many up-and-coming local organizations. He is humbled to join the board again for some amazing community work and look forward to learning more about our great team and the amazing organizations applying this year.

As a husband, father, and grandfather, He feels it's part of his duty here on earth to help leave it just a fraction better than we got here.

Marybeth Tarzian

Development Committee Chair

Marybeth has dedicated nearly 30 years of her career to fundraising and constituent engagement across the higher education spectrum. She has held various leadership roles, specializing in results-oriented collaboration that lead to meeting strategic objectives.

Marybeth joined the Cornell University Division of Alumni Affairs and Development in 1998, after having worked in fundraising capacities at Ithaca College and Philadelphia University. Her career at Cornell began as the director of the annual fund for the Cornell Law School and later the Johnson Graduate School of Management. In 2005 Marybeth became the assistant dean for alumni affairs and development in the College of Human Ecology (CHE). During her 12 year tenure at CHE, Marybeth led a successful comprehensive campaign to raise $95 million for the College. More recently Marybeth served as Associate Vice President for College and Units, overseeing 9 fundraising teams. In 2021 Marybeth reestablished her focus on working directly with donors and is now serving as a philanthropic liaison to Cornell supporters as a Major Gifts Officer.

Marybeth has lived in Ithaca for 33 years. She has been an active community volunteer serving as a board member for the Ithaca Voice, Child Development Council, Bryant Park Civic Association, the Belle Sherman PTA as well as serving as a committee member for the Planned Parenthood Development Committee and most recently, the Community Foundation Development Committee. She received her bachelor’s degree from Alfred University and her master’s degree from Ithaca College (both in communications). Marybeth and her husband, Rob Gearhart, live in the Belle Sherman neighborhood when they aren’t visiting their son, Wilson, in NYC (or spending a precious two weeks fulfilling their need to be near the ocean on Block Island).

Jumoke (Jum) Warritay

Nominating & Governance Committee Chair

Jumoke is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) facilitator and consultant. She offers programs that raise awareness of DEI topics, build critical skills, and make personal and organizational change. Her services include workshops, culture and equity assessments, consulting, and coaching. Jum works towards more human-centered, accessible, just, equitable and inclusive work and learning environments. She holds a doctoral degree from Cornell University, a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, and certifications in Cultural Intelligence and Bold & Inclusive Conversations. In addition to spreading love in the world, Jum enjoys dancing, playing volleyball, and eating pie.

Angela Zhang

Philanthropic Services & Community Relations Committee Chair

Angela works as a web designer and product manager at Wordsmyth LLC, an educational software company located in Ithaca NY. She graduated from China Agricultural University in 1997 with a bachelor degree of Food Science & Engineering. While search for a career path, she explored and acquired a wide range of job experiences, from salesperson in a food company, to project manager for an advertiser, to teaching English in a community college in Beijing, China. In 2010, she came to Ithaca, enrolled in a non-degree program at Cornell. Her interests in community engagement led her to serve on GreenStar Co-op Council, and then serve on the board of the First Unitarian Society in Ithaca.

During the COVID years, Angela has developed interests and skills in gardening and watercolor painting, as well as raising awareness of civic ecology.

Rob Brown

Financial Administration Committee

Having transplanted from Illinois' farm country, Rob Brown has lived in Tompkins County -- mostly its rural Towns -- since the early 1990s. A human rights activist, environmental advocate, and "sucker for a good cause" Rob has been committed to volunteerism and work within the nonprofit sector for the majority of his/her/their life.

Currently the Director of Financial Operations for Finger Lakes ReUse, some of his other community commitments have included organizing with and representing workers mistreated by employers; helping provide free care and accessible health education to people without health insurance; providing financial health services and supporting entrepreneurial development with economically marginalized communities; and advocating for ecologically sustainable agriculture. Outside administration and finance, Rob's professional life has spanned bicycle mechanics, clinical herbalism, fund-raising, landscaping, business consulting, and waste hauling.

Rob believes that community institutions must be accountable and responsive to the people they serve, and that building a genuinely equitable future is the most important work one can do.

Jessye Cohen-Filipic

Philanthropic Services & Community Relations Committee

Jessye Cohen-Filipic is a licensed psychologist and Associate Professor at Ithaca College. In addition to her academic work, she currently oversees behavioral health services at REACH, where the organization has integrated BH services in their harm reduction health equity medical practice. She has specialized training in evidence-based therapies to individuals with PTSD, substance use disorders, and complex medical issues, and she provides training in motivational interviewing, recovery coaching, harm reduction in behavioral health, working with LGBTQ clients, and integrated primary care. Jessye is passionate about equitable access to compassionate and competent behavioral health services and is committed to working towards changing systems to be trauma-responsive.

In addition to her professional work, Jessye has viewed systemic problems through the lens of a foster parent for the past 10 years. Jessye has been involved in mental illness stigma busting since she was 16 and involved in disability rights advocacy in recent years.

Jessye has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, a master’s degrees in Counseling Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature and Women’s Studies from Smith College.

Jonathan Culler

Community Engagement Committee

Jonathan Culler grew up in North Haven, Connecticut, and after college spent 11 years studying and then teaching in England. In 1977 he and his wife, Cynthia Chase, moved to Ithaca, where he spent 43 years as Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Cornell, focusing on literary theory, French literature, and lyric poetry. Among his publications, his most popular book is Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction, which has been translated into 27 languages. His latest book is Theory of the Lyric.

At Cornell he took on various administrative responsibilities: directing the Society for the Humanities, chairing various departments, and working (briefly) as a dean. Beyond Cornell, he served as chair of the New York Council for the Humanities (now Humanities New York) and as secretary of the American Council of Learned Societies and in these and other academic contexts he spent a good deal of time evaluating grant proposals.

A long-time supporter of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing and other local organizations, he has, since retiring in 2020, become more directly involved, and he particularly enjoys volunteering at Loaves and Fishes.

Jessica Custer-Bindel

Community Engagement Committee

Jessica is originally Ethiopian, Somalian, and Italian, and arrived to Ithaca in 2009 by way of Rome, Riyadh, Montclair, Barcelona, and New York City. Living in Ithaca has been, by far, her longest stay in one place. Jessica taught for 15 years, and currently works at the Child Development Council as the Infant & Toddler Specialist for Tompkins and Cortland counties, and as a Childcare Specialist for Tompkins county. Jessica enjoys working with children, and is passionate about issues relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in childhood education.

Jessica has a Masters in Childhood Education, and New York State teaching certificates in Early Childhood Education, Childhood Education, E.S.L, and Italian. Prior to working at the Child Development Council, Jessica worked at Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center, ICSD, Community Nursery School, Cornell’s Latin American Studies Program, and Directed her own Spanish Through the Arts Program at GIAC through the Cornell Civic Leaders Fellowship. Jessica is an NLI grad, and finds that community work brings her joy. Jessica is a mother to two kind, imaginative, and sometimes mischievous children and lives in Fall Creek with her husband, David. Occasionally, you can find Jessica around town singing Bossa Nova with her band mate, Lynn Wiles, or sharing poetry at open mics.

Stamie Despo

Development Committee

Stamie is a self-described “Army brat” who spent her childhood moving and living in different parts of Europe and the US. She credits those formative years with giving her the skills to think strategically, be agile in thought and action, focus on meaningful relationships and look at the long view.
Stamie brings over 20 years of experience in philanthropy and is currently the Executive Director for Leadership Annual Giving at Cornell University. In this role, Stamie is responsible for the overarching strategy to drive flexible support and pipeline development at the leadership level for the University. She engages alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends to participate philanthropically in advancing the mission of the University.

Prior to being tapped for her current position, Stamie most recently served as the Executive Director of Susan G. Komen spanning 13 counties in the greater Charlotte, NC, area. Under her leadership, the Charlotte chapter reversed 3 successive years of declining revenue through the implementation of transformation strategies and was one of the top 5 affiliates in the US for fundraising revenue and Race for the Cure dollars and donors.
Stamie was honored as a 2019 nominee for the Charlotte Athena Leadership Award for Service for engaging women donors, mobilizing community support, advocating for health equity, and closing the gap in health disparities. Stamie’s focus on philanthropy is engaging donors in a meaningful and authentic way, creating a culture of philanthropy, building meaningful relationships, and striving for a people first culture.

Prior to Komen, Stamie worked in a leadership position in higher education fundraising and alumni engagement, served as the founder, treasurer and trustee of a foundation that provided art therapy to children with cancer and managed hundreds of volunteers for a religious organization.

Stamie holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, Cum Laude, from Smith College, a master’s in teaching degree, Summa Cum Laude, from Monmouth University, a Non-Profit Management Certificate from Duke University, and an Event Planning Certificate from UNC Charlotte.

Stamie is a life-long learner, coach, and mentor. You can listen to some of her guest podcast episodes on building a culture of philanthropy and creating a people first culture on Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership Podcast. Stamie lives in Ithaca with her husband, Aris, who works at Cornell University’s Center for Technology Licensing. They both celebrate their Greek heritage and enjoy exploring the region’s surrounding communities and Cayuga Lake via kayaking and boating with their two boys and grandson.

Robin Dubovi

Community Engagement Committee

Robin Dubovi has lived in Ithaca since 1982, where she raised two daughters, worked, and volunteered throughout the community. She holds a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Health Services Administration. As a licensed clinical social worker, Robin spent her career utilizing a strengths-based and collaborative approach across a diverse range of medical, community, and higher education settings. Earlier in her career, she had the opportunity to work as part of multi-disciplinary teams supporting individuals and families at medical centers in both urban and rural areas.

Once in Ithaca, Robin served as the Director of Family Services at what is now called Racker, coordinated several community-focused programs at Catholic Charities, and worked as a Student Accessibility Specialist at Ithaca College. Robin was one of the founders of the Family Resource Coalition, promoting collaborative work to support children and families. She was a longtime facilitator of the Family Development Credential (FDC) program, which equips frontline workers and agency leaders with skills and competencies to empower families to capitalize on their strengths to meet their goals.

Robin has been a Board member with the Vitamin L Chorus, the Center for Transformative Action, the Ithaca Reform Temple, and Love Living at Home (for which she served on the original steering committee). She has served on the Community Foundation's Community Engagement Committee and participated in three grant review cycles. Robin enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, trying many new endeavors, and enjoying all that the Ithaca area has to offer.

Linda Gasser

Community Engagement Committee

Linda has lived in Ithaca since 1981 and retired from a 42-year career working in higher education and outside as an administrator, faculty member, staff person, consultant, trainer, and executive coach. She has designed and provided trainings, workshops, executive education, and undergraduate & graduate level courses to students, faculty, administrators, business leaders, for profit & not-for-profit organizations, and other groups on a wide range of topics for professional, career, and organizational development. Her particular interests include organizational development and change, leadership and management development, personal and career development, emotional intelligence, diversity and cross-cultural awareness, strategic planning, executive coaching, and interpersonal dynamics. She has degrees from Grinnell College, Indiana University, and Cornell-ILR.

After working and traveling extensively abroad in Central/Eastern Europe and elsewhere (to 65 countries and all 7 continents), she also has substantive cross-cultural experience. She still teaches a career development class and engages with foreign scholar exchanges at Cornell and also teaches in a leadership development program in Central Europe for NGO leaders who are trying to further democratize their countries-something she finds very rewarding. Linda has a wonderful extended step-family that includes 10 grandchildren created from her marriage to husband, Lenny Nissenson, who has 2 children still living in Ithaca and one other and 3 stepchildren in other states. Together, they enjoy family, nature, cooking, theatre, mystical subjects, reading, helping others, and living in Ithaca! Linda is looking forward to learning more deeply about people & issues in Ithaca & collaborating in creative ways to extend the reach of the Foundation.

Chris Kelly

Development Committee

Christopher Kelly is a Sr. Vice President and Manager of the Retirement Services Group at Chemung Canal Trust Company. In this role, Chris leads a team that provides administration and investment management of employer sponsored retirement plans to businesses and organizations across central New York. Throughout his career, Chris has spent time helping businesses design retirement benefit plans and advise employees on the importance of saving and investing for the future. In addition, Chris is the Market Team Executive for the Finger Lakes Region of Chemung Canal Trust Company.

Chris received his bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Illinois and an MBA in Risk Management & Insurance from Georgia State University. Before moving to Ithaca in 2011, Chris had the opportunity to spend parts of his career in Atlanta (GA), Madison (WI), and Dallas (TX).

Chris is a member of the Rotary Club of Ithaca and participated in Leadership Tompkins in 2013. When his children were in elementary school, Chris served as the Treasurer on the Board for the South Hill School Age Program and coached in the Rotary Youth Soccer program through the Ithaca Youth Bureau. He is a member of the American Retirement Association and the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries. Chris lives in Ithaca with his wife Erica (the medical director at Ellie Diagnostics) and his two children – one attending RIT and the other at Ithaca High School.

Terrance King

*ON LEAVE* Nominating & Governance Committee

Terrance A. King was born in the South Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon, NY. Terrance has been an educator for over eight years with experience teaching general/special education at the Elementary and Middle School levels. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, the world's first African American collegiate Greek-lettered organization. In August 2020, he began his Ph.D. studies in special education through a full-ride scholarship at Syracuse University. In July 2020, he was appointed his first pastorate to serve the city of Ithaca, NY, and the Historic St. James A.M.E. Zion Church congregation. A nationally recognized site for being a stop on the underground railroad and was frequently visited by historical icons like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.

Mr. King strives daily to ensure that his work in academia, among friends, family, organizations, and the church, will create an unforgettable legacy.

Carol Mallison

Community Engagement Committee

Carol Mallison arrived in Ithaca in 1982 on the weekend of the Ithaca Festival. The bulk of her career has been spent in affordable housing while working as a Section 8 Rental Assistance Manager, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services Rental Manager, and as the Executive Director of McGraw House from which she retired after 23 years in 2019. A lifelong member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and former Talking Circles participant, Mallison has served on boards of directors of a variety of community organizations, and spent many hours volunteering on their projects, including the City Federation of Women’s Organizations, Ithaca Murals, the Ithaca Festival, Cayuga Waterfront Trail, Sister Friends, Cayuga Trails Club, Diversity Consortium of TC, Landlords Association of TC, Ithaca’s Public Art Commission, Gadabout, COFA, the United Way fund review committee, Social Service League, Newfields of Fun Playground and Cayuga Nature Ctr. Treetops builds, and the Newfield Food Pantry. Mallison looks forward to serving the community from a new perspective through the Community Foundation.

Mudit Nopany

Financial Administration Committee

Biography coming soon.

Tom O'Toole

Community Engagement Committee

Thomas O’Toole is Executive Director of Master of Public Administration (MPA) Programs at Cornell University’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. His portfolio includes monitoring the strategic direction of Cornell’s two-year residential MPA Program , an 18-month Executive MPA Program, and providing ongoing oversight to ensure achievement of the Program’s educational and professional missions. A public affairs educator for over twenty years, Tom teaches graduate courses at Cornell on Public Administration, Comparative Public Administration, and Strategic Planning.

His previous Board experience includes positions on the Board of Bosnia Initiatives for Local Development (BILD) and AguaClara. He currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Sawa Sawa Network, an organization that harnesses the power of digital media and emerging technologies to build peace and community in South Sudan and its diaspora.

At Cornell, Tom serves as Advisor to the Cornell Public Affairs Society (CPAS) and the Cornell Policy Review. He earned his BA in International Relations from Bucknell University and his MPA, MA, and Ph.D. in Government from Cornell. He is a 2015 recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Professor Service.

Tom lives in Ithaca with his wife Jennifer, an Economic Development Planner for the City of Ithaca, and his four children.

Wade Pickren

Philanthropic Services & Community Relations Committee

Wade Pickren holds a doctorate in psychology from the University of Florida. During his career he has held leadership positions at the American Psychological Association (Washington, DC), at Toronto Metropolitan University, and Ithaca College. He is also a leading author and editor in the field of psychology with thirteen books published. Although retired from active academic employment, Wade continues to serve in leadership roles in psychology and related fields. His current scholarship and activist practice is focused on the current crises of climate, food security, social/income inequities, and biodiversity, with special emphases on their impacts in terms of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity. His current project, Living Earthwise, is intended to help humans develop effective earth-oriented interventions to counter these
impacts.

Julia Ressler

Philanthropic Services & Community Relations Committee

Julia Ressler (she/her) works on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team at Cayuga Health as the Manager for Community Health and Engagement. In this role, she is working to expand organizational efforts to meet community health needs and advance health equity through community-centered solutions. She co-chairs the Cayuga Health Data Governance Committee for Health and Organizational Equity and coordinates the Rural Health Equity Training Collaborative.

Julia holds Master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Health from Temple University. She has lived and worked in and around Philadelphia, PA for most of her professional career in a variety of settings, including healthcare organizations, non-profits, and public agencies. She has had a broad range of experience in the areas of child development, mental health, overdose prevention, LGBTQ+ health and gender affirming care, trauma-informed care, and community health education. She moved to Ithaca about three years ago after ignoring TLC’s advice and chasing the waterfalls. Since then, she has been inspired by local changemakers and is thrilled to be a part of this Board and work in collaboration toward an equitably healthy and thriving community.

Richard Rivera

Community Engagement Committee

Richard Rivera is the Associate Director of Cornell’s Prison Education Program. He is also the Outreach and Reentry Coordinator for Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources (“OAR”) of Tompkins County. Richard is also an ethnographic researcher looking at the intersectionalities of mental health, substance use, and homelessness in Ithaca’s homeless encampments commonly referred to as “The Jungle.” A social justice advocate, Richard has published scholarly articles and has appeared on several panels covering such issues as the traumatic effects of serialized parole denials to pandemics and carceral environments.

Pamela Tan

Nominating & Governance Committee

Pamela Tan (she/her) is the Deputy Director of Admissions at Cornell University. Her higher education experience includes serving as: the Director of Admissions of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; a member on the Committee for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with the Council of International Schools; a director at The College Board; and co-chair of the Association of Black Admissions and Financial Aid Officers of the Ivy League and Sister Schools.

Pamela grew up in south Florida by way of the Philippines, and she and her family (husband Chris and son Sam) have been Tompkins County residents for over a decade. She has served on the board of directors for The African Seed Access Index (TASAI) and the WRFI community radio station and is a volunteer for the Ithaca Youth Hockey Association and the Ithaca High School Varsity Ice Hockey Boosters.

Derek Thompson

Financial Administration Committee

Derek Thompson was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, and recently relocated to Ithaca when he accepted his current role as Vice President of Consumer Lending for CFCU Community Credit Union. Prior to relocating to Tompkins County, Derek spent 13 years with his hometown credit union in Poughkeepsie, NY. He has held positions as a Financial Advisor, Branch Management and Consumer Lending Management. Working for local community credit unions has also afforded him the opportunity to contribute to the wellness of the communities in which he lives. Derek received his B.S. in Finance from SUNY New Paltz.

Reginald White

Development Committee

Reginald H. White is the Senior Director, Human Resources for the Research Division at Cornell University. In this role, he manages the delivery of human resources services for the division and the research centers that report to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. He is also responsible for the Research Communications function which helps to tell the stories of Cornell researchers. Reginald is a strategic partner to the Vice President and in that role helps to influence the future of research at the university. In addition, he serves as an executive coach to faculty and staff and conducts presentations across campus on Leadership and Diversity and Inclusion. He has spent a significant portion of his career focused on designing strategies and programs to create more equitable communities.

Reginald also serves as the Chair for the Men of Color Colleague Network Group.

Prior to returning to Cornell, he was President of a consulting firm, Toran Enterprises, LLC that specialized in executive coaching, diversity and leadership development. In this role, he has traveled extensively and facilitated sessions in South Africa, Amsterdam and London. Prior to that he was at Merrill Lynch as Vice President, Divisional Marketing Manager. Before joining Merrill Lynch, he spent a number of years at Fidelity Investments in various roles including Vice President, Marketing, Internal Management Consultant and Vice President, Human Resources.

Reginald is an active Cornell Alum who has served as Past President, Human Ecology Alumni Board and Cornell Council, He currently serves as a member of Mosaic at Large and the University Board of Trustees. He received his B.S. in Psychology at Cornell University and his Executive M.B.A. at Boston University.

Celebrating Board Members and Community Volunteers Service on Our Committees

2024 COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BOARD COMMITTEES (information is subject to change)

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
4th Wednesdays at 3:30pm
Don Manuel Presents, Co-Chair
Robin Dubovi, Co-Chair
Jonathan Culler
Jessica Custer-Bindel, on leave
Linda Gasser
Carol Mallison
Richard Rivera
Tom O’Toole

Community Members:
Sara Knobel
Judy Hoffman
(Open to new members, contact Gloria Coicou)


DEVELOPMENT
1st Mondays at 5pm
Marybeth Tarzian (Chair)
Stamie Despo
Chris Kelly
Courtney Owens
Reginald White

Community Members:
Beth Anderson
Jen Gabriel
Alan Mathios
Jim Mazza
(Open to new members, contact Nancy Massicci)


FINANCIAL ADMINSTRATION
4th Wednesdays at 5pm
Ian Harrop (Chair)
Rob Brown
Frank Kruppa
Mudit Nopany
Derek Thompson

Johnson Board Fellow:
Phoebe Kyritsis

Community Members:
Phil McPheron
Steve Pope
(Open to new members, contact George Ferrari)

NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE
4th Mondays at 5pm
Jum Warritay (Chair)
Wade Pickren
Pamela Tan
Terrance King

Community Members:
Christine Barksdale


PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES & COMMUNITY RELATIONS
2nd Fridays at 12:15pm
Angela Zhang , Chair
Jessye Cohen Filipic
Julia Ressler

Community Members:
Rita Melen
Marie Taylor
(Open to new members, contact Amy LeViere)

Johnson Board Fellow:



EXECUTIVE (officers and cmte chairs)
1st Tuesdays at 5pm

Theoria Cason
Don Manuel Presents
Frank Kruppa
Ian Harrop
Courtney Owens
Marybeth Tarzian
Jum Warritay
Angela Zhang

Ex Officio
Keith McCafferty, Immediate Past Chair

2024 FIELD OF INTEREST
ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Women’s Fund Advisory Committee
1st Wednesdays at 4pm

Sheila Squier (Chair)
Stacey Murphy (Past Chair)
Courtney Owens (liaison with Community Foundation Board of Directors)
Marie Beshures
Liza Burger
Aly Evans
Shine Gonzalez
Susie Gutenberger
Sherri Koski
Tierra Labrada
Dorothy Lovelace
Alice Moore
Emily Russell
Kary Young

Gratitude for Board Emeriti

Since 2000 many volunteers have contributed their time and expertise to guide our work and we acknowledge them with gratitude for tireless service.

Josephine Allen
Rick Banks
Christine Barksdale
Jacki Barr
Beverly Baker
Fred Ballantyne
John Bailey
Donald Barber
Mary Berens
Percy Browning#
Max Brown
Tommy Bruce*
Penny Boynton
Sahara Byrne
Travena L. Byrd
David Call
Michael C. Cannon
Samantha Castillo-Davis
Luis Manuel Charris
Eric Clay, PhD
Tom Colbert
Fabina Colon
Janice Conrad
Caroline Cox
Bill Currie
Kristin Dade
Paula Davis
Fernando de Aragon
Sandy Dhimitri
Jeff Dobbin#
Mary Pat Dolan
Clover Drinkwater
Randy Ehrenberg*
Nicole Eversley Bradwell
Ross Feldman
Marcie Finlay
Francille M. Firebaugh*
Jennifer Gabriel
Greg Garvan
Mariette Geldenhuys*
Jean Gortzig*#
Brad Grainger
Matthew Green
Wendy Hankle
Eldred Harris
Robert L. Harris, Jr.
Howard Hartnett#
Janet Hawkes
Margaret A. Hendricks*, Board Chair and Executive Director Emerita
Damayanthi (Dammi) Herath
Carman Hill#
John Moss Hinchcliff*
Mary Beth Holub
Anthony Hopson
Theodore Hullar
Joanne James
Bob Jewell
Sara Knobel
John Krout
Eric Lerner
Laurie Linn
Tim Little
Keith McCafferty*
Ken McClane
Mary MacAusland
Linda Madeo*
Ann Martin
Robin Masson*
Alan Mathios*
Jim Mazza
Diane McDonough
Philip McPheron
Nelson Mead
Liebe Meier Swain
Mimi Melegrito-Palmer
Nina Miller
Risa Mish, JD
Alice Moore
Ed Morton
Bill Murphy
Susan Murphy*
Bill Myers
Megan Omohundro
Rick Page
Ron Poole
Stephen Pope
Nancy Potter
Ben Renberg
George Ridenour#
Michelle Rios-Dominguez
Frank Robinson, PhD
John Rogers
Kim Rothman
Steve Ruoff
Jake Ryan#
Basil Safi
Vilma-Santiago-Irizarry
Mickie Sanders-Jauquet
Helen Saunders
Eric Schillinger
Diane Shafer
Caitlin Schryver
Anne Shelton
Kevin Shreve
Khandikile Sokoni
Peyi Soyinka-Airewele
David Squires
Neal Stamp#
Lynn Swain
Carol Terrizzi
Natasha Thompson
Tom Torello
Carol Travis
Jeffrey B. True, Executive Director Emeritus
Sally True
Lucia Tyler
Paul Velleman
Linda Wagenet
Julie Waters
Baruch Whitehead
Stephanie Wiles
Amy Yale Loehr
Gene Yarussi

* former board chair
# deceased

Incorporating Directors
Jeff Furman
Howard P. Hartnett#
William Myers
John Semmler#
Diane Shafer
Bob Swieringa