AAGC Board of Directors

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, Texas, 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.

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 her now 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. In early 2018, Shaffir was promoted to Digital Media Operations Manager, overseeing and managing the bureau’s transition to an all digital editing system.  Shaffir served as her class’s Quarterly representative for twenty years and has also been a member of the AAGC nominating committee. When not covering the news or volunteering for Goucher, Shaffir designs and sells knitting patterns in her spare time. She lives in Annapolis with her husband Greg; her daughter, Kira, graduated Goucher in 2015.

Alicia Ladson Copeland '01

Copeland began her career as a Spanish teacher and college prep program coordinator in Baltimore County, MD. She continued to teach for 10 years at the elementary, middle and high school levels and considers herself an educator for life. Alicia is currently the After-School & Summer Programs Director at the Parks & People Foundation in Baltimore, MD. She oversees the Foundation’s middle school sports program, after-school paid internship for local high school students and SuperKids Camp. In her spare time, she is a CollegeBound Foundation mentor, advises her sorority’s HS youth group, is a mother of 2, and plans weddings and events.

Alicia Ladson Copeland '01

Copeland began her career as a Spanish teacher and college prep program coordinator in Baltimore County, MD. She continued to teach for 10 years at the elementary, middle and high school levels and considers herself an educator for life. Alicia is currently the After-School & Summer Programs Director at the Parks & People Foundation in Baltimore, MD. She oversees the Foundation’s middle school sports program, after-school paid internship for local high school students and SuperKids Camp. In her spare time, she is a CollegeBound Foundation mentor, advises her sorority’s HS youth group, is a mother of 2, and plans weddings and events.

Gretchen Gilliland ’03

A recipient of the Jenifer Mitchell Reed 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 has been in Denver for the past ten years. 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 is currently Director of Major Gifts for the Colorado School of Mines and volunteers regularly in the Denver community around human services.

Deanna Galer '17

Galer is a nonprofit professional who uses her Goucher B.A. in Sociology & Social Justice to inform all aspects of her work. She remembers so clearly the moment she received the notice of her acceptance and then – the important bit – her financial aid package to attend Goucher. It was the day after the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2013. Galer served on Goucher’s Board of Trustees from 2017–2020 as the Recent Graduate Trustee. She is currently the Director of Development at Maternity Care Coalition, a regional maternal and child health organization based in Philadelphia. She lives in West Philadelphia with her partner, Hayim Wolf ’14, and their service-dog-in-training Frances.

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 possesses 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, 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.

Jodie Hirsch Slaughter ’79

Slaughter graduated from Goucher in 1979 with a degree in English. For more than 25 years, she dedicated her career to helping non-profit, membership associations solve their most pressing challenges. She founded McKinley Advisors, the largest association research and strategy firm, in Washington, DC in 1994.

Slaughter was an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). She is an ASAE Fellow, past Chair of the Fellows, and a past Director on the ASAE and ASAE Business Services Boards. She was a frequent speaker and was recognized as a “best of” presenter at the ASAE Annual Meeting, and in 2011 was inducted into ASAE’s Academy of Leaders. Slaughter also appeared frequently in Associations Now and was a contributing author of the book, Generating and Managing Non-dues Income in Associations.

Since retiring from McKinley in early 2018, Slaughter has focused on her passions, completing her first triathlon and serving on the board of a professional membership organization. Jodie lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband, David, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jellybean.

Carol Brooks, MACS '16

Brooks is a collaborative activist, currently working with African American elders and community leaders from throughout Baltimore County, MD, connecting them with the resources and support they need to sustain their cultural and historic preservation efforts. Her work includes launching the Diggs-Johnson Museum Legacy Preservation Project, establishing the Baltimore County Coalition of the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project (MLMP), and conducting oral history interviews as part of the Maryland Lynching Truth, Racial Healing, & Transformation Oral History Initiative.

As a graduate of the Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program (MEILP) through the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and University of Baltimore Shaefer Center for Public Policy, Carol uses a lens of diversity, equity and inclusion to inform her work as a senior workforce analyst. She also serves as a liaison to the Chief Diversity Officer and the Baltimore County Employee Diversity Council. 

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 Studies 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 spent nearly two decades in various academic administration and enrollment leadership roles at several local colleges including Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland Baltimore, and Notre Dame of Maryland University. At present, Brown serves as Senior Advisor to the Dean of Nursing at George Washington University, commuting to the DC campus from her home in Baltimore County. She has one daughter, Juliette, who is a star soccer goalie and statewide spelling bee champion.

Colleen Carpenter-Gonia MACS ’19

Hi! My name is Colleen. It’s Irish, but I’m not; my parents just fell in love with those 7-letters and so it was. Here’s a peak into me: I’m a partner to my spouse, Peter. I’m a living donor and only have one kidney; my other one lives in my dad! I’m a #dogmom to three pit bull rescues, a lady farmer, an “anything the boys can do, I can do better,” feminist, and I’m an aunt to 5+ little monsters that are trailblazing a brighter and better world. I’m a 5strongW4, and INFJ, a strategic thinker, creator, and progressive believer, and, l do my darnedest to intentionally integrate childlike wonder, mystery, and fun into well, everything. That’s enough about me though, who are you?!

Marc Cousins ’95, M.ED. ’07—Athletics Liaison

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.

Joey Fink ’15—Race, Equity, & Identity Liaison

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 nearly 25 years and is currently Vice President of Human Resources for ConnectYourCare, an Optum Financial business. 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 for Girls in Baltimore where she was most recently the Upper School Parent Association Chair. Hervy lives in Towson and enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, cheering for the Orioles and Ravens, and sailing the Chesapeake Bay.

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 and 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 8 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 (formerly 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 Pennsylvania with her husband of 44 years, Steve.  They have 2 adult children and 2 grandsons.

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 B.A. 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 3. 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 a large part of her strong commitment to service and career on her Goucher college education which significantly 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 “Dr. Marianne Githens’ Scholarship Fund” – with the aid of other alums, which is awarded to a student pursuing Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies.

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

Jay Gilman ’09

Gilman was an individualized interdisciplinary major primarily focused on anthropology, arts administration, and theater. He also holds an M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from UPenn. While at Goucher, Gilman served as president of Red Hot Blue, sparking a continued passion for the intersection of social impact and the arts. After a number of years working in performing arts leadership capacities, Gilman is now a consultant for the global firm CCS Fundraising. His sister, Laura Gilman, is also a Goucher alumna from the Class of 2007 and served as president of Hillel.