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

World Affairs Council Staff

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.

Kathleen Newell

Director of Youth Programming

Kathleen Newell

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

Joe Poskin

Director of Operations

Joe Poskin

Joe Poskin oversees operations and human resource services for the World Affairs Council.

Heather Joy Lombardi

Strategic Programming Manager

Heather Joy Lombardi

Heather Joy Lombardi joined the team as the Strategic Programming Manager in January 2023.

Kara Bowen

Communications Coordinator

Kara Bowen

Kara Bowen joined the council team in June 2021 as Communications Coordinator. Kara previously served as a Communications Consultant at Lumina Foundation.

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.

Shawn Reming Jr., PhD

Senior Youth Programming Coordinator — Engagement

Shawn Reming Jr., PhD

Shawn M. Reming Jr. joined the Council in May 2021 and is the Senior Youth Programming Coordinator — Engagement.

Lauren Scholle

Operations Coordinator

Lauren Scholle

Lauren Scholle joined the Council full-time in January 2022 as an Operations Coordinator.

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

Michael Morley

Director

Michael Morley

Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company

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

Alekhya Buragadda

Alekhya Buragadda

Zachariah Jonassaint

Zachariah Jonassaint

Peer Khan

Peer Khan

Harshitha Lingam

Harshitha Lingam

Aavin Mangalmurti

Aavin Mangalmurti

Ayushma Neopaney

Ayushma Neopaney

Jake Rechenmacher

Jake Rechenmacher

Yu Xiao

Yu Xiao

Mary Zagrocki

Mary Zagrocki

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.

The Council also is an Educational Improvement Organization, as designated by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development. Click here to find out how businesses can receive tax credits for supporting Council school programs. A copy of the official registration and financial information for the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999