Theory of Change![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/arrow-new.png)
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
And Ultimately Realize Our Vision Of
Meet Our Team
![Betty Cruz](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/betty-cruz.png)
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](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Dara-V2-1.png)
Deputy Director
Dara Goldhagen
Dara Goldhagen joined the Council as deputy director in August of 2023.
![Kathleen Newell](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kath.png)
Director of Youth Programming
Kathleen Newell
Kathleen Newell joined the council team in April 2017 as an Education Program Manager.
![Alicia Cagle](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Untitled-design-8.png)
Youth Programming Manager
Alicia Cagle
Alicia Cagle joined the Council in June 2023 as the Youth Programming Manager.
![Mary Pancoast, JD](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/MaryHeadshot-e1676475085530.jpg)
Youth Programming Coordinator – Global Minds
Mary Pancoast, JD
Mary Pancoast joined the Council in February 2023 as Youth Program Coordinator for Global Minds.
![Natalia C.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Natalia-Connor-Photo.jpg)
Youth Fellow — Communications Fellow
Natalia C.
Natalia C., is our Communications Fellow for 2024-2025.
![Oviya G.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Oviya-Gowder-Photo.jpg)
Youth Fellow – Global Minds
Oviya G.
Oviya G,. is our Youth Fellow for Global Minds for the 2024-25 school year.
![Kenza B.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kenza-Bey-Photo.jpeg)
Youth Voice Fellow
Kenza B.
Kenza B., is our Youth Voice Fellow for the 2024-2025 school year.
Board of Directors
![Margaret C. Gleason](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/gleason.png)
Chair
Margaret C. Gleason
Partner, Jones Day
![Catherine Augustine, PhD](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/christine.png)
Vice Chair
Catherine Augustine, PhD
Director, Pittsburgh Office; Senior Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation
![Paul Overby](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/image-3.png)
Secretary
Paul Overby
Honorary Consul, Federal Republic of Germany in Pittsburgh
![Patrick Forster](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/forster.png)
Treasurer
Patrick Forster
Partner, Healthcare Industries, PricewaterhouseCoopers
![Betty Cruz](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/betty-cruz-1.png)
President & CEO
Betty Cruz
President and Chief Executive Officer, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
![Alan L. Ackerman, Esq.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ackerman.png)
Director
Alan L. Ackerman, Esq.
Retired, Attorney-at-Law
![Tracey Reed Armant, PhD](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Tracey-Reed-Armant-scaled-e1711482561149.jpeg)
Director
Tracey Reed Armant, PhD
Program Officer, The Grable Foundation
![Ariel C. Armony, PhD](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/armory.png)
Director
Ariel C. Armony, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs and Director, University Center for International Studies, University of Pittsburgh
![Jenna Baron](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/baron.png)
Director
Jenna Baron
Executive Director, ARYSE
![Kathleen Buechel](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/buechel.png)
Director
Kathleen Buechel
Executive Director, The Benter Foundation
![Les Dutka](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/LD-Headshot-2-scaled-e1706107522959.jpg)
Director
Les Dutka
Founder and former CEO, Echo International
![The Honorable Edward C. Gainey](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/16898_ed-gainey-mayor.jpg)
Director
The Honorable Edward C. Gainey
Mayor, City of Pittsburgh
![Ali Hamdani, MD](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screen-Shot-2024-01-18-at-12.59.32-PM.png)
Director
Ali Hamdani, MD
Director, Global Care & Traveling Patient Services, UPMC International
![David J. Hickton, JD](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/David-Hickton-Headshot.jpg)
Director
David J. Hickton, JD
Founder, University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security
![Lynette Horrell](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/young-1.png)
Director
Lynette Horrell
Partner, Ernst & Young LLP
![Sara Innamorato](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/sara-scaled-e1705601446722.jpeg)
Director
Sara Innamorato
County Executive, Allegheny County
![Peyton Klein](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/klien-1.png)
Director
Peyton Klein
Founder, Global Minds Initiative
![Stephen Lackey](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/lackey-1.png)
Director
Stephen Lackey
Vice Chairperson (Ret.), BNY Mellon Pennsylvania
![Kendra Ross, PhD](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kendra-Ross.png)
Director
Kendra Ross, PhD
Head of Social Impact, Duolingo
![Ihab Salib](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/salib.png)
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
![Farahangiz A.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Farahangiz-Alozie-Photo-scaled.jpeg)
Farahangiz A.
![Zane A.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Zane-Aqra-Photo.jpg)
Zane A.
![Eva F.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Eva-Friedlander-Photo.jpeg)
Eva F.
![Morgan M.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Morgan-McCray_YF-e1683740795559.jpeg)
Morgan M.
![Julia T.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Julia-Tracy-Photo-scaled.jpg)
Julia T.
![Ushan D.](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Ushan-Dahal-photo.jpg)
Ushan D.
![https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/workl.png](https://worldpittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/workl.png)
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.