Who We Are
Staff
Program Coordinator, LLL Program
Wendy Brisley has focused much of her adult life working with the youth of New York State. Wendy is also an Administrative Assistant with Partnership for Education and is Chairperson of the Hudson Valley Foundation for Youth Health, Inc. Wendy is a former teacher and Family Services Coordinator. Wendy worked for the Partnership for Education before coming to Young Rhinebeck.
Board of Directors
Edward J. Sullivan, Ed.D.
President
An educator for over 40 years, Dr. Sullivan has been an elementary school teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal (of Rhinebeck’s Chancellor Livingston School), and Superintendent of Schools. Currently, he is an Associate Dean for Teacher Education at Marist College. Dr. Sullivan is the recipient of numerous awards and honors in the field of education. His doctoral dissertation focused on teacher participation in decision-making and his interests include school management issues, curriculum, and whole child education.
Jennifer Drake
Co-Vice President
Jen currently works as Grants Program Coordinator at the Dyson Foundation, a family foundation based in Millbrook, NY. Prior to working in philanthropy, Jen worked for a nonprofit organization managing a maternal-infant health program. Jen is the immediate past president of Young Rhinebeck’s board.
Frank Mulhern
Co-Vice President
Frank has 24 years of experience as a school administrator and currently serves as Director of Pupil Personnel Services in the Beacon City School District. Frank has extensive experience in the special education field, as well as in providing professional development training to paraprofessional direct care staff in school and residential settings.
Ron Carleton
Treasurer
Ron is a principal in Financial Training Partners where he teaches company analysis, corporate finance, credit analysis, financial markets, and debt structuring at commercial and investment banks worldwide. Ron has a background in corporate banking and has extensive experience teaching on the subject of banking and finance in many settings, including as an adjunct professor at New York University.
Deirdre Burns
Secretary
Deirdre is President of the Rhinebeck Central School District Board of Education. Prior to her involvement in education, she was a community organizer and public health educator.
Glenn Cherrits
Director
Glenn works from home devising marketing and website strategies through his company the Poesis Group, and spends a lot of time raising his 5 and 7 year old boys. Glenn's teaching experience includes directing sites, training teachers, and teaching SAT, GRE, LSAT courses for the Princeton Review. He has been a fundraising consultant for arts, humanities, and social change non-profits; and Managing Director of the American Stage Company theatre.
Terri Hall
Director
Terri currently works as Development Associate at Omega Institute. Prior to this, she worked in the public television and music industries and was a regular contributing writer for Care2.com. In addition, for 11 years, Terri owned a massage therapy business, primarily servicing post-production houses in NYC.
Jennifer Lavenhar
Director
Jennifer currently develops new business and creates branding strategies for clients of PhoCusWright, a company that provides research for the global travel industry. Previously, she has been a Senior Producer with BitFlip (a Silicon Alley pioneer), Development Director for the New York League of Conservation Voters, and a Special Event Manager for Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights Watch Film Festival. In her spare time, Jennifer likes to dance, throw pots, perform improv and study clowning.
Katie Van Sant
Director
Bio forthcoming.
Karri Wolfe
Director
Karri has over 23 years of experience working with children and families. In addition to her work at Ramapo for Children, Karri is active in the Rhinebeck community where she serves on the Board of Northern Dutchess Daycare, as the Rhinebeck Community Girl Scout Organizer, as a Girl Scout Leader, and as a volunteer in the school district. She has also worked with the Rhinebeck Science Foundation and the Rhinebeck Recreation Department.
