(Washington D.C) – On Saturday the Senate confirmed the appointment of nine members to serve on the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Three of the nine are new members, while the remaining six have served previously on the board for varying lengths of time.

“We’re pleased the Senate has acted on these nominations, which will bring board membership close to full strength,” said board chair Stephen Goldsmith. “These are exceptional people who will provide invaluable insight and direction as we work to strengthen the Corporation and engage more Americans in service to their communities.”

The nine confirmed on Saturday join existing board members Stephen Goldsmith and Carol Kinsley. The board sets policies and direction for the Corporation and its programs Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America, which engage nearly two million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet community needs. Members who serve on the bipartisan board of directors are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

The new board members are:

Leona White Hat of South Dakota, a Lakota/Sicangu Lakota, was confirmed through October 2008. She is studying for a masters of science in curriculum and instruction at Black Hills State University, where she also received an undergraduate degree. She taught English classes for the Upward Bound Program at the university and also tutored there. Since December 2002, she has served as assistant director of the Center for Indian Studies. She is currently working on recruitment and retention of Native American students at BHSU. She will serve as the youth member of the board.

Jacob Joseph Lew, who was confirmed through October 2008, is the executive vice president of New York University and professor of public administration. He served as director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Clinton Administration after serving as special assistant to the president. Prior to his service in the executive branch, he was an attorney in private practice after several years as an aide to several members of Congress.

Mimi Mager of Washington, D.C., who was confirmed through December 2007, is a partner in the public affairs firm Heidepriem and Mager. Previously, Mager served as director of Congressional and Federal Affairs for Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly of the District of Columbia. From 1987 through 1990, she worked for the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, where she designed and implemented the grassroots legislative campaigns that culminated in the enactment of the Civil Rights Restoration Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Housing Act Amendments, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She has also served as special assistant/deputy to the director of VISTA.

Those who have served previously are:

Cynthia Boich of California, who was confirmed through October 2007, has held executive positions in a number of commercial real estate, investment, energy, and consumer product marketing firms, including C&B Investments, B.T.C.T. Inc., M.M. Coal, and Boich Companies. She is a founder of Charter 100, an international women's leadership organization that connects businesses with volunteer organizations, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Heart Institute Foundation. In addition, she has a strong interest in building partnerships between community and faith-based groups. From 1985-1988, Boich served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business Ownership under President Reagan. Boich has served on the board since January 2003.

Mark D. Gearan of New York, who was confirmed for a one year term, is president of Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y. Previously, he was director of the Peace Corps and served at the White House as Assistant to the President and Director of Communications, as well as Deputy Chief of Staff during the Clinton Administration. Gearan previously served on the board from December 2000 through December 2002.

Dorothy A. Johnson of Michigan, who was confirmed though October 2007, is president of Ahlburg Company, a philanthropic consulting group, and President Emeritus of the Council of Michigan Foundations, which she led from 1975-2000. She has been on Kellogg Company's Board of Directors since 1998 and has served over the years on the boards of many leading nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, including the Council of Foundations, the Foundation Center, Independent Sector, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Johnson previously served two terms on the board, from May 1998 through October 2002, and again from December 2003 through the present.

Henry C. Lozano of California, who was confirmed through October 2008, is president and CEO of Californians for Drug-Free Youth, Inc. He was named by President Bush as a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Drug-Free Communities and co-chairs the White House Office on National Drug Control Policy. He has 30 years of experience and leadership in addressing problems caused by drug and alcohol abuse. Lozano has served on the board since December 2003.

William A. Schambra of Virginia, who was confirmed through September 2006, is the director of the Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal. Prior to joining the Hudson Institute in January of 2003, Schambra was director of programs at the Bradley Foundation in Milwaukee. Previously, he served as a senior advisor and chief speechwriter for Attorney General Edwin Meese III, Director of the Office of Personnel Management Constance Horner, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Louis Sullivan. He was also director of Social Policy Programs for the American Enterprise Institute, and co-director of AEI’s “A Decade of Study of the Constitution.” Schambra was appointed by President Reagan to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Schambra has written extensively on the Constitution, the theory and practice of civic revitalization, and civil society and is the editor of several volumes. Schambra has served on the board since April 2003.

Donna N. Williams of Texas, who was confirmed through October 2006, is a program manager for the Parsons Corporation, the fifth largest architectural and engineering firm in the world. A mechanical engineer, she is directly responsible for a Federal Aviation Administration contract covering the southeastern United States. The Parsons Corporation awarded her with the company's "Engineer of the Year" award in 1993. In May of 1999, the Parsons Corporation selected her as one of sixteen individuals out of 10,000 employees to serve on the Parson Corporation’s Leadership Council. The Council’s focus is to provide the CEO with new and different perspectives and viewpoints to corporate operations and strategic planning. Williams has served on the board since April 2003.

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country, primarily through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.

RSS Help  Printable Page