AAVC Board Slate 2008
Diane Downing ’77
Cleveland, Ohio
Vassar Volunteer Experience
President, 2003–05, program chair, 2001–03, Vassar Club of Cleveland
Professional/Community Experience
Vice president, Cleveland Browns, 2005–present; director of stadium operations, Cleveland Browns, 2000–05; new Cleveland Browns stadium project manager, 1996–99; assistant executive director, Ohio Lottery Commission, 1995–96; executive assistant for service, Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White, 1990–95; executive assistant to Mayor George V. Voinovich, 1985–89; deputy director, Department of Community Development, Cleveland Mayor George V. Voinovich, 1980–85; assistant to Cuyahoga County Commissioner Seth Taft, 1977–79; board member of United Way of Greater Cleveland, Leadership Cleveland, the Diversity Center of Cleveland, and the Bond Accountability Commission of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Tanya Odom ’92
New York, New York
Vassar Volunteer Experience
Class correspondent, 1992–97; 5th year reunion chair, 1997; admissions interviewer 2000–present; class president, 1997–2002; director-at-large, AAVC Board of Directors, 2006–present
Professional/Community Experience
Global diversity and inclusion consultant, 2001–present; Towers Perrin, change management consultant, 1999–2001; co-author “Evaluation in the Field of Education for Democracy, Human Rights and Tolerance,” 2004; Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, consultant, 2003–present; Anti-Defamation League A World of Difference Institute, assistant project director and coordinator of programs and special projects, 1994–99; Bertelsmann Foundation’s International Tolerance Network 1999–2003; World Conference Against Racism, delegate, 2001; assistant to the director of Children’s Services and Consultant, 1994–96; Fundacion de Apoyo Infantil in Mexico and La Posada del Buen Samaritano in the Dominican Republic, volunteer, 1992–93; Grand Street Settlement drop-out prevention program, case manager, 1993–94; Dutchess County Red Cross, board member, 1990–92; Townsend Harris Alumni Association, president, 2004–present; International Organization of Adolescents, board member, 2002–04; CampAmerikids, advisory board member, 2003–present
Ellen McPhillips Baumann ’63
Jackson Heights, New York
Vassar Volunteer Experience
Member of AAVC Nominating Committee, 2004–07; board member, serving in various positions, including secretary, chair of nominating committee, member of scholarship committee, Vassar Club of New York, 1968–99; Vassar College Capital Campaign; member of 25th, 35th, and 40th reunion gift committees
Professional/Community Experience
Attorney, Reed Smith LLP, 1999–present; senior associate, Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather & Geraldson, 1986–99; associate, Carro, Spanbock, Fass, Geller, Kaster & Cuiffo, 1983–86; associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, 1979–83; member and chair of English department, Garden School, Jackson Heights, New York, 1964–76; member of English department, Regina High School, College Park, Maryland, 1963–64; member, Board of Trustees, 1982–present, Garden School; president, Board of Trustees, 1991–2007, Garden School
Karen Strain Smythe ’82
Poughkeepsie, New York
Vassar Volunteer Experience
Member, AAVC House Committee, 2003–present; phoner/notewriter, Annual Fund, 2001–03
Professional/Community Experience
Vice president, C.B. Strain & Son, 1998–present, a mechanical contracting firm started by Smythe’s great-grandfather in the early 1900s; vice president for marketing, Dannon Company, 1997–98; vice president for marketing, Delisle Company, 1993–97; product manager, Dannon Company, 1991–93; associate product manager, Best Foods, 1988–91; assistant product manager, Frito-Lay, 1987–88; soccer coach, AYSO in Tarrytown, NY, and Town of LaGrange Soccer League; Sunday School teacher, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church; choir member, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church; class parent, Dutchess Day School; trustee and secretary, board of The HealthCare Chaplaincy, New York City; board member, The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum; trustee and secretary, board of The Bardavon 1869 Opera House
Jong Kim Kozman ’93
Dallas, Texas
Vassar Volunteer Experience
Admission chair and interviewer, 1993–present; class correspondent, 1993–98
Professional/Community Experience
Partner, Andrew Kurth LLP, present; associate attorney, Andrew Kurth LLP, 1999–2007; associate attorney, Hall and Kleeman, PLLC, 1997–99; member, State Bar of Texas, 1997–present; pro-bono legal services, Connemara Conservancy Foundation, 2003–05, and Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, 2006–present
Doug Johnson ’80
Tucson, Arizona
Vassar Volunteer Experience
Vice president, Vassar Club of Tucson, 2001–present; class fund chair, 2005–present; admissions interviewer, 2003–present; class co-correspondent, 1995–2000; notewriter/phoner, Annual Fund, 1989–91
Professional/Community Experience
Home Mortgage Consultant, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, 2005–present; co-founder, The Archer Group, 1998–2001; structured capital management, Alex Brown & Sons, 1993–98; vice president, Morgan Stanley, 1984–89
Joy Williams ’87
Bloomfield, Connecticut
Vassar Volunteer Experience
25th reunion co-chair; class correspondent, 2002–present; class president, 1997–2002; notewriter/phoner, Annual Fund, 2003–05
Professional/Community Experience
Senior director of sponsorship development, ESPN, 2005–present; assistant vice president, JP Morgan Chase, 2002–04; additional production experience at HBO, MTV, WCBS-TV, Mag Rack, and NYMetro.com; African American Alumni Association, Columbia Business School, 2002–present; student body president, Columbia Business School, 2000–01; Women in Cable, New England Chapter, executive committee member, 2007–present. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Theta Iota Omega Chapter, Cotillion chair, 1997–99; National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Nassau Chapter, treasurer, 1995–96