AAGC Board of Directors

Kim Van Newkirk Shaffir ’83, P ’15

A communications major, Shaffir began working during her senior year at Baltimore’s WMAR-TV, where she operated a studio camera for local news programs. Later that year she made the move from local news to the network, beginning a 39-year career in the Washington Bureau of CBS News. As an editor Shaffir has covered every major beat in Washington: the Capitol, the Pentagon, and the White House. For six and a half years Shaffir worked primarily for the CBS program Face the Nation as a producer/editor. In 2013 she and her team received an Emmy for their broadcast about the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Shaffir served as her class’s Quarterly representative for twenty years and has also been a member of the AAGC nominating committee and an Alumna Trustee. Now retired from the hectic pace of television news, Shaffir is enjoying having time to focus on Kim Shaffir Designs, designing and selling knitting patterns. When not designing, knitting or volunteering for Goucher, Shaffir enjoys traveling and spending time with family. She lives in Annapolis with her husband Greg; her daughter, Kira, graduated Goucher in 2015.

Gretchen Gilliland ’03

A recipient of the Jenifer Mitchell Reed ‘86 Young Alumnae/i Award, Gilliland graduated in 2003 with a BA in Psychology and minor in Art. She earned her MA in Higher Education Philanthropy from Regis College and currently resides in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Zach. Since graduating, Gilliland has worked with a number of universities and nonprofits in fundraising and development, utilizing skills she learned as a student while working in Goucher Phonathon at the Alumnae/i House, and as an active member of the SGA exec team. She currently leads the major gifts team for the Colorado School of Mines Foundation and volunteers regularly in the Denver community around human services causes.

Joey Fink ’15

Among various volunteer and leadership roles, Fink serves as an active alumnus of both Goucher College and The Park School of Baltimore. As a Goucher Legacy (Julie Fink ’09), Fink followed in his sister's "hoof steps" as captain of Goucher's nationally ranked equestrian team. Fink graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Goucher College where he was a two-time equestrian National Champion. In 2021, Fink was inducted into Goucher College’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Fink recently returned to the Baltimore - Washington area after a career first in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania followed by time in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Joey Fink joined The Bell Broseker Group at Morgan Stanley in 2022, bringing close to a decade of experience in the financial service industry with his Certification in Long-Term Care.

Jennifer Reynolds Hervy ’96

A 1996 graduate with a degree in Communications and minor in Business, Hervy has worked in the Human resources field for over 25 years and is currently People Team Leader for Optum Financial, a division of UnitedHealth Group. In addition to her degree from Goucher, Hervy earned an MA in Public Communication from American University and holds multiple certifications in human resources. Since graduation she has been an active alumna serving as Class Fund Manager for many years and providing hours of support to students through the Career Education Office. Additionally, she is an active member of the Chesapeake Human Resources Association serving on their college relations committee, and she completed a three-year Board role at The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore. Hervy divides her time between Towson and Rock Hall, MD and enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, cheering for the Orioles and Ravens, and sailing the Chesapeake Bay.

Marie Brown ’03

Inspired by her time as a student to pursue a career in higher education administration, Brown is pleased to return to her alma mater as a new member of the AAGC Board. A graduate of the class of 2003, Brown majored in American Studies with a minor in Women’s Studies (or was it Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in ’03) and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in her senior year. After Goucher Brown earned a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. She is now in the process of completing doctoral studies at Morgan State University. Professionally, Brown has spent more than two decades in various academic administration and enrollment leadership roles at several local colleges including Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland Baltimore, and George Washington University. At present, she serves as Assistant Dean for Administration and Strategic Initiatives for the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.

Jessica Solomon '18

Jess is a native Philadelphian but calls Los Angeles her home. She currently is the Communications and Content Coordinator at IKAR, a Jewish spiritual community. She earned her BA from Goucher in 2018, majoring in Media and Communications, and graduating Cum Laude with Honors in Media and Communications. Jess enjoys exploring LA, photography, and checking off her bucket list items. She is honored to continue serving on the Goucher College Alumnae/i Board.

Denise Gotay Theunissen ’89, P’25

Theunissen is a Senior GIS Data Manager and has over 30 years working with the federal government in various positions ranging from Intelligence/Geospatial Analyst to Librarian. She is currently the GIS Division Chair and past Assistant Chair for the Technical Division Directors’ Council for the American Society for Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (ASPRS). She has been the class of 1989’s Fund Manager for more than 25 years and has been active through various programs at Goucher such as the mentorship program. Since Goucher, she has several accomplishments such as: a MS in Geospatial Information Sciences, several recognition awards, and being a mom of three. She’s most proud of the fact that one of her children decided to join the Goucher family in 2021 and is now enjoying life as a gopher.

She expressed much of her strong commitment to service and career on her Goucher college education, which greatly contributed to her decision to stay in Washington.  In every agency she’s worked in, she aided and contributed toward women and diversity, and continues to promote women in STEM through Women in GIS, ASPRS, and other organizational platforms. To continue the Goucher College legacy of supporting and promoting women’s issues, she created the “Dr. Marianne Githens’ Scholarship Fund” with the aid of other alums, which is awarded to a student pursuing Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

She's active in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts as treasurer and parent volunteer. She serves as the Chorus Booster President of her youngest's high school.

Mariah St. John Lees ’23

Lees is a first-year master’s student in research psychology at Villanova University. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Goucher in 2023 with a B.A. in psychology. She was also a member of the Psi Chi Society, an Arsht Presidential Diplomat, a French tutor, an active research assistant in the psychology department, and the recipient of the Ruth C. Wylie prize. She has a diverse and eclectic background working in many fields including ecotourism, hospitality, and athletics coaching. Her most memorable times included sailing Monterey Bay and kayaking in southeast Alaska. She is an avid hiker and adventurer who loves exploring the Philadelphia area.

Leda Fuller Favor ’79

Favor has over 30 years’ experience in human resources and managerial experience that expands to both union and non-unionized settings. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology/Economics from Goucher College, and a Master’s degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois. She is currently Senior HR Manager for Maryland Auto Insurance and remains Owner and Principal Consultant for Creative HR Solutions, LLC. Favor ascended to positions within a wide range of Fortune 50 companies such as General Cable Company, Mobil Oil, Allied Signal, Raytheon, and Siemens Corporation. She provided leadership to multi-national and global-based accountabilities in Germany and China, focusing on competency assessment, career development, and delegation assignments and also focusing on safety and occupational health. During her tenure with Siemens, Favor was appointed HR business consultant for the CEO and the US based corporate office of Siemens AG based in Washington, DC.

She and her husband, Kevin Favor PhD., spend their vacation time traveling to locations in China, Spain, Mexico, and the Caribbean. They are the parents of one married son, Trevor, who is currently employed with Siemens Corporation and is a graduate of Purdue University with a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering. Trevor and wife Ebony are the proud parents of Leda and Kevin’s first grandson, Issac. Favor’s hobbies and pursuits include golf, exercising, dancing, reading and music. Favor has maintained her strong religious affiliation with the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church throughout her life and is currently serving a leadership role as chairperson of the local social action committee. Other affiliations include the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), Society of Occupational Health Psychology, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, and the Conference Board.

Marc Cousins ’95, M.ED. ’07

Marc Cousins began his career as a middle school science teacher in Baltimore City before spending the next 20 years at two independent schools in the Baltimore area, the majority of that time as an athletic director. In 2016 he began a new career as a non-profit fundraising consultant for The Compass Group where he partners with organizations in their fundraising efforts. Originally from Maine, Cousins graduated with a BA in Elementary Education and M.Ed. in Sports Administration and Athletic Leadership. While at Goucher he was a member of the basketball, lacrosse, and cross-country teams and was also a house president for two years.

Ruth Rathblott ’91

Ruth Rathblott, MSW is an inspirational speaker, executive coach and consultant, and bestselling author of the bestselling book Singlehandedly. She is dedicated to transforming company cultures through the power of “unhiding.” With a wealth of experience as a former award-winning CEO and leader in the non-profit sector for over 25 years, Ruth champions the idea that embracing people’s differences is the key to fostering creativity and innovation within organizations.

Singlehandedly. Learning to Unhide and Embrace Connection, delves into the transformative concept of unhiding, where she explores how valuing different perspectives and experiences leads to unparalleled growth and understanding. Her impactful TEDx talk When I Stopped Hiding, I Found Freedom has inspired thousands, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in leadership. Ruth has spoken to organizations including Facebook, Bloomberg, Sony, and Paramount.

Ruth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Goucher College and a Master’s of Social Work degree from Boston University. She is DEI and MBTI Certified, a contributor to The Mighty, and currently serves as a Board Member of The Lucky Fin Project.

“Inclusion starts with accepting differences.”

Recognized for her expertise in unleashing the potential of individuals and teams, Ruth believes that true inclusion starts with acknowledging and accepting differences. By embracing unhiding leaders become relatable and human, fostering an environment where creativity thrives and unique talents are celebrated. Join Ruth in the journey toward a more innovative and inclusive workplace, where embracing diversity becomes a catalyst for unprecedented success.

Ruth resides in NYC. She loves Central Park, theater, photography, travel, and adventure. When she’s not helping organizations expand their concept of diversity and inclusion, she’s taking advantage of all the city has to offer and planning her next travel adventure.

Erin O'Brien Anderson ’84

At five years old, Erin was doing multiplication tables at the dinner table with her math-teacher parents. It was inevitable she would major in math. It was not inevitable that she would attend college outside of New England (shocking!) or that she would retire as a Chief of Staff executive within the Department of Defense (DoD) (yikes - she stayed in Maryland after graduation!). Fortunately for Erin, her aunt introduced her to Goucher College where she graduated in 1984 with a double major in Math and Computer Science and subsequently began employment at DoD despite the polygraph!

Erin’s career took her all over the world including a 3+ year detail in England, a 2-year detail on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and a 2-year detail at the Defense Information Systems Agency. In addition, DoD sent Erin to the United States Naval War College in Newport RI for a year where she earned her Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies. Over 36 years she alternated between management and technical positions, reinventing herself many times with the help of her Goucher liberal arts background, and retiring in 2020.

Erin now resides in Grafton, MA with her husband, Mark, and, hopefully very soon, their 5^th retired greyhound. Erin loves to sail (she was the Commodore of the Arundel Yacht Club), travel, read, bake, and research genealogy. In retirement, Erin counts on her Zoom calls and visits with her Goucher besties, phone calls and visits with her Goucher ‘63 adopted "mother" (Erin's home away from home during college) and social media connections with Goucher Women of Promise alumnae from the early to mid 1980’s! She is particularly proud to support the Class of 1984 Alicia Carter Memorial Scholarship through advocacy and personal donations and loves to meditate in the campus garden dedicated in Alicia's memory. If you haven't visited, check out the garden next time you are on campus. She can’t wait to meet even more alums through the AAGC now and looks forward to seeing you in Alicia's garden someday soon.

Royal Banks ’20

Royal graduated from Goucher in 2020 with a degree in History and Secondary Education. During her time at Goucher she served in numerous roles. She was the co-founder of Black Seed & Goucher's History Club and also worked as an administrative assistant at Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP). After Goucher, she did a year in Americorp at Match High School in Boston, MA. She is now a social studies teacher at a local Baltimore City School. Royal loves teaching history and other fun content to her students. In her downtime she enjoys dance, baking, music, traveling, and engaging in prison reform as much as possible.

Caroline Mandala Bauerle ’89

Caroline is the mother of two adult children and lives in Easton, MD. She is the Director of Development at Benedictine, an organization that supports developmentally disabled and autistic children and adults across Maryland's Eastern Shore.

After graduating from Goucher with a BA in Communications, Caroline went home to New York, where she worked on an equity trading desk for 10 years. She took some time off in her early 30's to be a full-time mom, then changed careers and went into fundraising and development, working for Goucher for six years. Caroline enjoyed meeting all the amazing Goucher alumnae/i all over the country.

She's a proud member of the Class of 1989 - the last class to graduate all women. Her years at Goucher instilled a love of learning and gave her friends she now considers family.

Karen Garrett MAAA ’18

Karen Garrett is the Senior Program Officer for the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of the Under Secretary for Education. She is a key advisor to the Under Secretary for Education and oversees the financial and administrative operations for the office. Karen also oversees the competitive distribution of resources, which includes an in-house grants initiative providing resources and support to advance Smithsonian education goals and objectives and activating the Smithsonian’s PreK-12 strategy to reach every classroom in the nation. Karen has worked in philanthropy and supported cultural organizations since 2000. She has a BFA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College and a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Goucher College.

Denise Pittman Glass ’80

While attending Goucher Denise actively served as the President of the Black Student Association, Resident Assistant for Gallagher House, and Admissions (?)Tour Guide, just to name a few of her achievements at Goucher, which resulted in being the recipient of the Martha A. Nicholas Service Award. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Denise has spent her illustrious career as a Program Manager delivering Air Traffic Control facilities (brick and mortar) and equipment (systems and infrastructure) in the National Airspace System. First for the Department of the Navy involving Aircraft Carriers and embedded land-based systems where she acquired a Master of Science in Computer Science from the Florida Institute of Technology extension program and then onto both a challenging, yet rewarding career with the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Recently, after graduating from the FAA’s Senior Leadership Development Program, Denise is on temporary assignment to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), supporting the President’s $541 Billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocation to OST for project delivery across America.

Denise’s commitment to providing service to the community includes being Vice President and President of the Parents Teacher’s Association at McDonough High School in Pomfret, MD, and Deaconess at the Body of Christ Church in Waldorf, MD. Her passion for wanting to give back to Goucher is still evident as an active member of the Jewell Robinson Dinner Committee, Black & African American Alumni Affinity Group, and now a new member of the AAGC Board.

Denise has been married to James for 31 years and has a wonderful son, Devin, who is 27.

Gloria Kantor ’04

After graduating in 2004, Kantor has used her Management degree and Communications minor crafting experiences in radio promotions, helping to build a wine and liquor distribution business, and currently works as the VP of Operations for the Association for Corporate Growth in Atlanta and the Southeast region. In her time at Goucher, you could find her in the SRC working with the women’s basketball team or as a student trainer. She also held numerous leadership positions in clubs, helping to create the programming board and SGA. Gloria currently lives in her hometown of Atlanta, where you can find her out at a concert, running, or enjoying all that the city offers.

Jennifer Lundgren Lewis-David ’94

Lewis-David graduated from Goucher with honors, double-majoring in European Studies and History, as well as being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. While at Goucher, she enjoyed singing with The Reverends’ Rebels, the Goucher Chorus, the Goucher Chamber Singers, and also being part of the community service and environmental clubs. She and her best friends lived in Gallagher House in Froelicher Hall all four years—of course, it was physically located a little differently 1990-1994! Lewis-David obtained a Juris Doctor law degree with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1997. While in law school, she had the opportunity to serve as Associate Editor on The Business Lawyer, a legal journal jointly published by the American Bar Association and the University of Maryland School of Law. Thereafter, she joined the corporate world as in-house counsel. Over the last 20 years she has held roles in regulatory affairs, compliance, and the legal department of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, a Fortune # 6 company. As a Deputy General Counsel with UnitedHealthcare, she currently serves as general counsel for the $3B individual insurance businesses.

Lewis-David has been on the Board of Directors of the Maryland March of Dimes since 2014 and just completed several years as Chair of the Board. She has been singing for 25 years with the contemporary music group at The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Towson, MD. She and her husband, Rajesh David, a pharmacist with Ascension’s St. Agnes Hospital, will be celebrating their 9^th wedding anniversary shortly and are the proud aunt and uncle of six amazing nieces and nephews, all under the age of eight years.

Lewis-David recently established a scholarship at Goucher, The Gretchen Lundgren Lewis ’68 and Jennifer Lundgren Lewis-David ’94 Scholarship Fund, to honor her family’s mother-daughter legacy at the college.

Ellen Rosenblum Rubesin ‘78

After graduating Goucher with a BA in English in 1978, Ellen went on to receive her master’s degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley. While obtaining her degree at Berkeley, Ellen worked part-time for the American Heart Association in San Francisco. That’s where she realized how much she enjoyed fund-raising and development work. Ellen returned to the east coast where she began working for the American Cancer Society in Philadelphia. In addition to her work with the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society, Ellen’s 40-year career in fund-raising included executive positions at JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Association), the Media-Providence Friends School and most recently the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) where she was the Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter until her retirement in 2019. Since retiring, Ellen has continued to volunteer for both JDRF and LLS. 

Ellen lives in Media, PA with her husband of 44 years, Steve. They have two adult children and two grandsons.

Judy Yu ’93

Dr. Yu truly enjoys giving back to the community. She currently chairs the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Health/Wellness Committee. Dr. Yu also chairs the McDonogh Parent Association's Parent Education Committee. She co-founded Junior Fellowship of Christian Athletes, JFCA. She was involved with the Healthy Anne Arundel Coalition to "Make Health Happen." You will often find Dr. Yu volunteering for Missions of Mercy, donating dental services to the public or volunteering at her church by cooking for Heaven’s Kitchen.

She attended the Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, PA where she received her D.M.D. and was honored in the Temple University Gallery of Success. Her undergraduate degree, a B.A. in Chemistry, was attained at Goucher College in Towson, MD where she was a Dean’s Scholar. She completed her Executive M.B.A. at Loyola University in Timonium, Maryland.

Damon Highsmith ’03

Highsmith is a project manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC where he develops water pollution regulations. He has also been involved in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill recovery. Originally from San Antonio, TX Highsmith studied Management and Political Science at Goucher, was a member of the men’s soccer team, and studied abroad in Havana, Cuba. Since his graduation he has also received his Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy from The Johns Hopkins University.