Theory of Change

If We Work In Partnership With Young People, Educators, Business Leaders,
And The Community At-Large To

Explore & Educate

On critical global and local issues

Convene

People of diverse lived experiences

Inspire & Support

Leadership and advocacy

Then Pittsburghers Will Have

Informed Dialogue

and deepened understanding of global & local issues

Greater Empathy

for those different from them

Relevant Skills

& meaningful Relationships

And Therefore Pittsburghers Will

Which Will Result in

Transformed Leadership

Inclusive Policies & Practices

Greater Acceptance & Sense of Belonging

Shared Learning & Innovative Problem-Solving

Meet Our Team

Betty Cruz

President & CEO

Betty Cruz

Betty Cruz assumed the role of President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh in January 2020.

Dara Goldhagen

Deputy Director

Dara Goldhagen

Dara Goldhagen joined the Council as deputy director in August of 2023.

Kathleen Newell

Director of Youth Programming

Kathleen Newell

Kathleen Newell joined the council team in April 2017 as an Education Program Manager.

Kara Bowen

Communications Manager

Kara Bowen

Kara Bowen joined the Council team in June 2021.

Alicia Cagle

Youth Programming Manager

Alicia Cagle

Alicia Cagle joined the Council in June 2023 as the Youth Programming Manager.

Mary Pancoast, JD

Youth Programming Coordinator – Global Minds

Mary Pancoast, JD

Mary Pancoast joined the Council in February 2023 as Youth Program Coordinator for Global Minds.

Lauren Scholle

Senior Operations Coordinator

Lauren Scholle

Lauren Scholle is Senior Operations Coordinator and joined the Council full-time in January 2022.

Marilyn Horton

Intern

Marilyn Horton

Marilyn joined the Council team as an intern in January 2023. She is currently studying Criminal Justice & Legal Studies at Robert Morris University.

Giuliana A.

Youth Fellow — Fundraising & Development

Giuliana A.

Giuliana A. is our Youth Fellow for Fundraising & Development for the 2023-24 school year.

Izzy L.

Youth Fellow – Global Minds

Izzy L.

Izzy L. is our Youth Fellow for Global Minds for the 2023-24 school year.

Lucia M.

Youth Fellow — Careers & Conferences, Public Programming

Lucia M.

Lucia M. is our Youth Fellow for Careers & Conferences — Public Programming for the 2023-24 school year.

Kristina W.

Youth Fellow — Careers & Conferences, Youth Programming

Kristina W.

Kristina W. is our Youth Fellow for Careers & Conferences —Youth Programming for the 2023-24 school year.

Julia T.

Youth Fellow — Communications

Julia T.

Julia T. is our Youth Fellow for Communications for the 2023-24 school year.

Morgan M.

Youth Fellow — Youth Voice & Partnerships, Hybrid Programs

Morgan M.

Morgan M. is our Youth Fellow for Youth Voice & Partnerships, Hybrid Programs for the 2023-24 school year.

Praneeth O.

Youth Fellow — Youth Voice & Partnerships, Virtual Programs

Praneeth O.

Praneeth O. is our Youth Fellow for Youth Voice & Partnerships, Virtual Programs for the 2023-24 school year.

Board of Directors

Saleem Ghubril

Chairperson

Saleem Ghubril

Executive Director, The Pittsburgh Promise

Margaret C. Gleason

Vice Chair

Margaret C. Gleason

Partner, Jones Day

Barbara E. Barnes, M.D., M.S.

Secretary

Barbara E. Barnes, M.D., M.S.

V.P. of Sponsored Programs, Research Support & Continuing Medical Education, UPMC

Patrick Forster

Treasurer

Patrick Forster

Partner, Healthcare Industries, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Betty Cruz

President & CEO

Betty Cruz

President and Chief Executive Officer, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

Alan L. Ackerman, Esq.

Director

Alan L. Ackerman, Esq.

Retired, Attorney-at-Law

Ariel C. Armony, PhD

Director

Ariel C. Armony, PhD

Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs and Director, University Center for International Studies, University of Pittsburgh

Catherine Augustine, PhD

Director

Catherine Augustine, PhD

Director, Pittsburgh Office; Senior Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation

Jenna Baron

Director

Jenna Baron

Executive Director, ARYSE

William F. Benter

Director

William F. Benter

Chairperson and International CEO, Acusis

Kathleen Buechel

Director

Kathleen Buechel

Executive Director, The Benter Foundation

The Honorable Rich Fitzgerald

Director

The Honorable Rich Fitzgerald

Chief Executive, Allegheny County

The Honorable Edward C. Gainey

Director

The Honorable Edward C. Gainey

Mayor, City of Pittsburgh

Lynette Horrell

Director

Lynette Horrell

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

Peyton Klein

Director

Peyton Klein

Founder, Global Minds Initiative

Paul Overby

Director

Paul Overby

Honorary Consul, Federal Republic of Germany in Pittsburgh

Ihab Salib

Director

Ihab Salib

Senior Vice President, Federated Hermes

Director Emeriti

*Alan H. Finegold

Esq. , Law Offices of Alan H. Finegold

Director Emeriti

F. Worth Hobbs

Former President, Alcoa Foundation

Director Emeriti

**The Honorable Dick Thornburgh

Former Attorney General of the United States, Former Governor of Pennsylvania

Director Emeriti

**James M. Walton

Chairperson, The Heinz Endowments

*Past Chair | ** Deceased

Youth Board

Aavin M.

Aavin M.

Avery N.

Avery N.

Makenzie S.

Makenzie S.

Natalia C.

Natalia C.

Nandana M.

Nandana M.

Pavel M.

Pavel M.

Sophie G.

Sophie G.

Tom O.

Tom O.

World Affairs Councils of America

The Council is a member of the World Affairs Councils of America, an association of more than 90 councils in 40 states. Nearly 200,000 people are members at Councils nationwide, and the network reaches tens of thousands more individuals through a variety of outreach activities in schools and communities. The World Affairs Councils of America network is the largest non-profit international affairs organization in the world.