Public Service Award Committee

Alex Wood '06

Alex graduated (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude) from Goucher in 2006, where he majored in history and was active in student government. Driven by his desire to give back for the many good things that he received during his time at the College and because of the joy it gives him to be involved, as an alumnus Alex has held numerous roles including serving on Goucher’s Board of Trustees and various College and AAGC committees, and receiving the Jennifer Mitchell Reed ‘86 Young Alumni Award.

Professionally, Alex is a clinical social worker working as a psychotherapist in a private psychotherapy practice. Prior to his current profession, Alex spent a decade in the higher education sector, including several years at one of the Washington, DC based “Big Six” national higher education associations, where he provided executive support and planned professional development sessions for new college presidents. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a Master of Social Work from The Catholic University of America.

His hobbies include being an ardent follower of politics (US, UK, and Ireland), reading, watching films, collecting stamps, photography, traveling, and learning how to play golf. He is a supporter of Manchester United, his Hogwarts house is Hufflepuff, and he believes that, despite any imperfection, Batman is the quintessential superhero. Alex also believes that good friends, unbounded curiosity, and most importantly, a ready sense of humor are essential to a life well-lived. Alex resides in Baltimore County with his two dogs, Owney and Emma.

Noah Block '21

Noah Block is a transformative justice advocate who works to expand community-driven approaches that support systems-impacted adults and youth. Noah is the Advocacy Manager at ANCOR, a national disability provider association, where he develops their national grassroots advocacy strategy, leads their housing policy, and supports ANCOR’s Disability Champions Political Action Committee.

Before coming to ANCOR, he worked in a variety of settings, including the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Redwood Community Services, and the California Association of Youth Courts. In all his work, Noah seeks to connect communities' voices to policy outcomes.

Beyond his professional commitments, Noah serves as secretary on the Board of Directors of Youth Transforming Justice, a California-based nonprofit that promotes peer-to-peer trauma-informed restorative justice practices. Additionally, Noah is a board member at the California Association of Youth Courts, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting youth diversion programs.

Noah holds a degree in Peace Studies and American Studies from Goucher and received the Elizabeth Nuss Emerging Leader Award as a student.

Nettie Cohen Blume '76

Nettie is a lifelong resident of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She attended public schools in Tuscaloosa and graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1972. She found out about Goucher College from her best friend and fell in love with Goucher the minute she stepped foot on campus. After graduation, she taught school for one year, then attended the University of Alabama Law School, graduating in 1980.

She worked for 8 years as an Assistant D.A. prosecuting cases from misdemeanors to murder. However, she specialized in juvenile court work. After she left the D.A.’s office, she continued to work in juvenile justice, representing children and parents. She worked on the Alabama Juvenile Justice Task Force in 2016.

She joined her husband, Gary “Gar” L. Blume in private practice in 1988 after her two children, Zack and Rachel, were born. Together, Nettie and Gar have represented all types of people, those charged with crimes, those who have become disabled, those who need domestic relations help, people with mental illness, and others who just need legal help.

As an attorney, Nettie has served in various positions in the legal community. She was president of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association and was a member of the executive committee for several years.

The Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association is one of her favorite groups of lawyers. She is a past president of the organization. Previously, she was an area vice president, then treasurer for 8 years, guiding the organization from almost insolvency to a secure financial position. She has won two merit awards from ACDLA for Outstanding Representation in a Criminal case.

She has recently become very interested in domestic relations mediation and is a registered mediator in Alabama.

Nettie is now a grandmother of six, one of whom comes to the office every day after school, which is a total joy. The others live about two hours away and are a different joy, but also a complete joy.

Marie Brown '03

Marie Brown '03 Marie is an alumna of Goucher College’s class of 2003, having graduated summa cum laude. She majored in American Studies with a minor in Women’s Studies and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

Professionally, Marie is an experienced higher education administrator with over 20 years in the field. Her first exposure to the industry was a part-time summer gig working in Goucher’s SAS Office, which she enjoyed so much that she began to explore pathways to a career in college administration. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Dean of Administration and Strategic Initiatives at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, collaborating closely with the Dean of Nursing on faculty affairs and special projects that advance the strategic goals of both the Dean and the school. She has held administrative roles at the George Washington University School of Nursing, the University of Maryland School of Nursing, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. In addition to her Bachelor of Arts degree from Goucher, Marie earned a Master of Science in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.

A native Marylander, Marie currently lives in the White Marsh area of Baltimore County. She has one daughter, Juliette, who is a student at Howard University, and a beloved Yorkie named Mocha, who requires lots of time and attention.

Virginia Verdirame-McMahon '83, P'09

Virginia was a history major who went on to earn two master's degrees in education—one from Adelphi University and one from Long Island University. She was an elementary school teacher for 27 years, where the majority of that time was spent in the Port Washington School District in New York.

Now retired, she followed her other passion and started a horseback riding/training and boarding facility, Stargazer Farm, in East Woodstock, CT four years ago. Virginia Ride all four years at Goucher and in 1983 riders for the first time competed in the ANRC national Championship. Virginia was also one of the first Goucher Gophers.

In her spare time, she loves traveling with her husband Chris, and riding with her daughter Claire (Goucher ‘09) and her granddaughter, Lucy.

Charlie Schaefer-Canner '25 

Charlie graduated summa cum laude with honors in data science from Goucher in 2025, where he majored in data science and minored in Spanish. He was also elected Phi Beta Kappa and was a recipient of the Senior Leadership Award. At Goucher, he served two terms as the treasurer of the Student Government Association, worked as a tutor in the QR center, was an Arsht Presidential Diplomat, and volunteered with GoucherVotes! Since graduation, he has been interning for Goucher alum Congressman Johnny Olszewski in his DC office and hopes to continue to work in the public sector in state/local government. He is very excited to begin this new chapter as an alumnus with the AAGC and looks forward to staying connected to the college through this work.

Diane Russell '94

Diane (Severin) Russell graduated from Goucher College in 1994 with a degree in international relations and received the Sarah T. Hughes Award for Excellence in Intellectual Inquiry in International Relations. An Oregon native, she began her career as a Goucher admissions counselor, representing the College in the western U.S. for two years.

After working in both the private and nonprofit sectors, Diane returned to Goucher to earn an M.Ed. in 2005, specializing in at-risk youth and international education, while teaching high school information skills and world history at The John Carroll School in Bel Air, Maryland. As technology advanced, she became a leader in integrating digital tools into the classroom, training faculty, and later launching her own consulting business, serving independent schools for five years.

Diane is married to Greg Russell ’95. When their son, Elliott, began attending Harford Day School, she accepted a role in admissions—bringing her career full circle. Now in her twelfth year as director of enrollment management and strategic communications, Diane also serves on the Board of Trustees’ Finance Committee, acts as administrative liaison to the Parent Association, and coaches the middle school cross-country team.

Maureen Malomba
Assistant Professor of Business Management