--- title: Former Members of the Board of Directors date: 2024-04-03T17:47:00-04:00 author: Eva Parker Passalacqua canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/our-story/board-of-directors" section: Our Story --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [Our Bodies Ourselves People Through the Years](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/our-story/our-bodies-ourselves-people-through-the-years)# Former Members of the Board of Directors In 1972, the [founders](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/our-story/founders) formally incorporated as the nonprofit The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective and became the original board of directors. In 1983, they decided to expand and open the board to community members. Over the years, over 100 people served on the board, helping the organization fulfill its mission of improving the health and lives of women worldwide. In 2025, Our Bodies Ourselves became part of the Center for Women's Health and Human Rights at Suffolk University, and the nonprofit — and its board of directors — closed. *Note: If you were part of the board and aren’t listed here or are listed incorrectly, we’re sorry! Please* [*let us know*](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/contact-us)*.* Adrienne Asch, 1998 – 2002 Alexandra Spadola, ? – 2025 Amanda Buck Varella, 2003 – 2008 Amy Crysel, 2017 – 2019 Anita Raj, 2001 – 2002 Anne Brewster, 2006 – 2010 Aziza Ahmed, 2018 – 2025 Barbara Anthony, 2010 – 2011 Bea Bezmalinovic, 2008 – 2015 Benjamin Albert, 2008 – 2011 Bindiya Patel, 2017 – 2018 Bonnie L. Shepard, 2000 – 2006, 2016 – 2018 Byllye Avery, 1988 – 1992 Caroline Crosbie, 2008 – 2015 Cassandra Clay, 1996 – 1997 Catherine Annas, 2008 – 2014 Catherine Record, 2013 – 2016 Cecelia Wu, 2001 – 2003 Cristina Alonso, ? – 2025 Christina Knowles, 2013 – 2016 Daniel Fox, 2012 – 2018 Deborah Ruhe, 2002 – 2002 Denise Dabney, 2001 – 2003 Dharma Cortes, 2004 – 2005 Diana Namumbejja Abwoye, 2018 – 2025 Diane Hamer, 1995 – 1996 Donna Soodalter-Toman, 2003 – 2005 Eliza­beth Daake-Kelly, 2003 – 2005 Elizabeth Levy, ? – 2025 Elizabeth MacMahon-Herrera (co-founder), 1988 – ?, 2015 – 2016 Ema Rosero-Nordalm, 2003 Erin Entrada Kelly, 2017 – 2018 Ester Shapiro, 1995 – 2001 Esther Rome (co-founder), 1972 – 1995 Eva Boyce, 1998 Fiona Smith, 2002 – 2004 Gina Wingood, 2012 – 2015 Heather Alger, 2002 – 2003 Heather Baker, 2013 – 2016 Heather Nelson, 2009 – 2012 Ileana Jimenez Garcia, 2003 – 2005 Jane Cottingham, 1988 – 1990 Jane Pincus (co-founder), 1972 – 1988, 2001 – 2003, 2015 – 2018 Jarrett Barrios, 2012 – 2013 Jayne Carvelli-Sheehan, 2003 – 2005 Jennifer M. Somers, 2017 – 2018 Jennifer Sulla, 2013 – 2016 Jessica Halverson, 2007 – 2013 Joan Ditzion (co-founder), 1972 – 2001, 2002 – 2015 (ex-officio), 2015 – 2018 Joan Rachlin, 2015 – 2017 Joanne Barker, 2009 – 2013 Joelle Leacock, 2017 – 2018 Judith Kurland, 1995 – 1996 Judy Norsigian (co-founder), 1972 – 1996, 2018 – 2025 Julie Mottl-Santiago, 2010 – 2015 June Cooper, 1995 – 1997 Katherine Record, 2014 – 2015 Katie Reilly, 2008 – 2009 Kristin Guest, 2010 – 2015 Laura Anne Stuart, 2002 – 2004 Laurie Carter Noble, 1999 Liza Molina, 2002 – 2005 Malika Redmond, 2013 – 2015 Marcia Brown, 2005 – 2011 Mariya Patwa, 2018 – 2025 Marjorie O’Reilly, 1999 – 2000 Marlene Gerber Fried, 2016 – 2018 Marta E. Pagan-Ortiz Marsha Saxton, 1988 – 1991 Martha Bil Manevich, 2001 – 2003 Mary (Bebe) Poor, 2005 – 2010 Mary Stern, 1972 – 1973 MaryJo Marion, 1999 – 2004 Michele Russell, 1996 – 1997 Miriam Zoll, 2009 – 2015 Mirza Lugardo, 1996 – 1997 Moisés Russo, 2008 – 2009 Myriam Hernandez Jennings, 2006 – 2013 Nancy Lyons Allen, 2010 – 2015 Nancy Forsyth, 2003 – 2009 Nancy Miriam Hawley (co-founder), 1972 – 1996, 2018 – current Nandini Sen Gupta, 1988 – 1991 Neda Joury-Penders, 2005 – 2008 Norma Meras Swenson (co-founder), 1972 – 1996, 2015 – 2018 Pamela Berger (co-founder), 1972 – ? Pamela Bridgewater, 1999 – 2003 Patricia Roche, 2002 – 2008 Paula Doress-Worters (co-founder), 1972 – 1996, 1998 – 1999, 2015 – 2017 Penelope Risebor­ough, 2004 – 2010 Polly Kornblith, 2016 – 2017 Rachel Breman, 2013 – 2017 Rachel Zack Ishikawa , 2009 – 2011 Rachel Wilson, 2005 – 2008 Rema Iyer, 2006 – 2007 Rita Raj, 1998 – 2000 Ruth Bell Alexander (co-founder), 2015 – 2016 Ruth Hubbard, 1998 – 1999 Ruth Seidman, 1995 – 2001 Sally Deane, 2000 – 2005 Sally Whelan (co-founder) 1983 – ? Shahira Ahmed Malm, 2005 – 2009, 2017 – 2018 Sherry Flashman, ? – 2025 Sue Reamer, 2001 Susan Ruderman, 2012 – 2015 Teresa Harrison, 2009 – 2010 Urmi Bharad, 1999 – 2000 Vilunya Diskin (co-founder) 1972 – 1985, 2001 – 2005, then ex-officio Wendy C. Sanford (co-founder), 1972 – 1995 Zobeida Bonilla, ? – 2025 ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)More of Our Story - [ Our Bodies Ourselves Timeline: 1969 – present](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/our-story/our-bodies-ourselves-timeline-1969-present) - [ Our Bodies Ourselves People Through the Years](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/our-story/our-bodies-ourselves-people-through-the-years) - [ Publications](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/publications) - [ The 40th Anniversary Symposium](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/our-story/the-40th-anniversary-celebration) - [ Other Our Bodies Ourselves Archives](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/our-story/other-archives) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)