Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College (AAVC)
Board of Directors
The AAVC Board of Directors is a group of dedicated volunteers that serves the college and more than 40,000 alumnae/i at the highest level. The Board manages the affairs of the AAVC, working closely with the college's Associate Vice President for Alumnae/i Engagement and Executive Director of the AAVC, and meets regularly on campus in October, February, and in June at Reunion. Most of the Board’s work, however, is accomplished by hard-working ad hoc and standing committees comprised of directors, volunteers, observers, and staff liaisons.
Current standing committees are devoted to these AAVC priorities: Alumnae House, Alumnae/i Recognition, Career Networking, Clubs, Communications, Nominations and Governance, and the Vassar Fund. The Board regularly examines programming and policy to ensure that the AAVC meets the varied needs of its diverse, worldwide constituents and advances the interests and mission of Vassar in relevant and substantive ways. Six AAVC directors also serve as Vassar College trustees. Additionally, observers from the AAAVC and the college student leadership attend the AAVC board and committee meetings.
The Board recently revisited its bylaws as well as the roles and duties of its directors and officers. Nominations to the Board are sought throughout the year with elections occurring in June, at Reunion. The board encourages nominations of individuals who have high levels of professional achievement as well as experience serving the college, and who reflect the diverse backgrounds of our over 40,000 constituents.
View the current slate of nominees for open board positions for 2022-2026.
Current Board
AAVC President and AAVC TrusteeStephen Hankins ’85, P’13, ’17 (he/him/his), California
Term of Service: 2018–2022
AAVC Vice President, AAVC Trustee and Clubs Committee ChairBrian Farkas ’10 (he/him/his), New York
Term of Service: 2018–2022
AAVC Vice President and AAVC TrusteeMonica Vachher ’77 (she/her/hers), Pennsylvania
Term of Service: 2021–2025
AAVC Trustee, Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair and Nominating and Governance Committee MemberTyrone Forman ’92 (he/him/his), Illinois
Term of Service: 2021–2025
AAVC Trustee, Alumnae/i Recognition Committee Member and Career Networking Committee MemberSeiji Hayashi ’91 (he/him/his), Maryland
Term of Service: 2020–2024
AAVC Trustee and Career Networking Committee ChairNatalie Nixon ’91 (she/her/hers), Pennsylvania
Term of Service: 2019–2023
Class Engagement Committee Chair and Clubs Committee MemberAlexandria Dempsey ’09 (she/her/hers), California
Term of Service: 2020–2024
Communications Advisory Committee Chair and Career Networking Committee MemberJustin Hergianto ’04 (he/him/his), New York
Term of Service: 2021–2025
Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, Communications Advisory Committee Member and Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee MemberAnne Green ’93 (she/her/hers), New York
Term of Service: 2020–2024
Alumnae House Committee Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee Member and Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee MemberDelia Cheung Hom ’00 (she/her/hers), Massachusetts
Term of Service: 2020–2024
Vassar Fund Committee ChairStephanie Hyacinth ’84 (she/her/hers), New York
Term of Service: 2018–2022
Alumnae/i Recognition Committee ChairAmy Pullman ’71 (she/her/hers), Virginia
Term of Service: 2020–2024
Ad Hoc Student and Young Alumnae/i Engagement Committee Chair and Ad Hoc Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee MemberEllie Winter ’18 (she/her/hers), Rhode Island
Term of Service: 2021–2025
Vassar Fund Committee Member and Class Engagement Committee MemberKatrine “Cage” Ames ’69 (she/her/hers), New York
Term of Service: 2020–2024
Alumnae/i Recognition Committee Member and Career Networking Committee MemberMaybelle Taylor Bennett ’70 (she/her/hers), Washington, DC
Term of Service: 2021–2025
Nominating and Governance Committee Member and Ad Hoc Student and Young Alumnae/i Engagement Committee MemberPatrick DeYoung ’18 (he/him/his), Washington
Term of Service: 2020–2024
Nominating and Governance Committee Member and Communications Advisory Committee MemberAC Dumlao ’13 (they/them/he/him), New York
Term of Service: 2021–2025
Alumnae House Committee Member and Ad Hoc Student and Young Alumnae/i Engagement Committee MemberJames Estrada ’13 (he/him/his), Michigan
Term of Service: 2021–2025
Nominating and Governance Committee Member and Communications Advisory Committee MemberChip Reid ’77 (he/him/his), Washington, DC
Term of Service: 2020–2024
Nominating and Governance Committee Member and Alumnae House Committee MemberSheryl Smikle ’81 (she/her/hers), New York
Term of Service: 2020–2024
Nominating and Governance Committee Member and Career Networking Committee MemberKen Wong ’07 (he/him/his), New York
Term of Service: 2018–2022
About the AAVC
Founded in 1871, the Alumnae/i Association of Vassar College (AAVC) is celebrating its 150 year anniversary in 2021. Its mission is to lead the over 40,000 Vassar alumnae/i in connecting with each other and with the college. We celebrate the shared Vassar experiences that bring us together, and we strive to make a difference for our college and for each other.
In collaboration with the Office of Advancement, AAVC connects more than 40,000 Vassar alumnae/i worldwide with each other and the college through classes, clubs, and affiliate groups; reunions, mini-reunions, awards, and travel programs; online and print publications; and regional, on-campus, and young alumnae/i events.
Vassar, the Alumnae/i Quarterly, is distributed to alumnae/i, faculty, and administrators. Issues are published in fall, winter, and spring/summer.
AAVC advises on the use of Alumnae House as a welcoming on-campus home for alumnae/i and gathering place for students. The House was given to the college by two alumnae in 1924. Its Tudor-style architecture and gracious atmosphere make it a pleasant gathering place for alumnae/i, faculty, students, administrators, staff, and visitors to the campus.
The Associate Vice President of Alumnae/i Engagement and Executive Director of the AAVC manages the affairs of the association in accordance with its bylaws determined by the board of directors. The association takes its direction from the over 40,000-member constituency whose volunteer leadership, perspective, and energy help guide and support the college. Once their class graduates, all matriculated students of the college are considered members of AAVC with voting privileges. AAVC does not charge membership dues.