Board of Directors
Jan Eidelson (President)
Jan has spent her youth and adult life focused on social justice and advocating for abused women. She is the President of the Board of Directors and a member of Psychologists for Social Responsibility.
Sarah Barr (Vice President)
Sarah is the Director of Academic Programs at the Center for Community Engagement at Amherst College. She works with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community organizations to develop community-based courses, research projects, internships, and co-curricular initiatives. She recently completed a master’s degree in Theology and Ethics at Hartford Seminary.
Roderick Anderson
Roderick Anderson is a visiting lecturer at Trinity College with the International Studies Program where he teaches Global Politics and Theories of Globalization. He also teaches at Central Conn. State University in the International Studies Program. Roderick is currently completing his dissertation at UMass Amherst in the Anthropology Department. His research as a socio-cultural anthropologist focuses on Afro-American civic leadership, civil society, nationalism, social movement theory, critical race theory, political economy, African Diaspora, cultural theory, and cultural heritage. Roderick’s research interest emerges out of his background as a social worker and community activist from Hartford, CT, where he worked closely with local civic leaders on projects including “Communities against Drugs,” “Urban and Suburban Dialogs,” and the “Men of Color” initiative.
Robert Brainin
Robert has worked in nonprofit finance for the past 15 years. He has an MBA from the University of Chicago. Currently, and is currently Chief Financial Officer at Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School in South Hadley.
Bill Clement
Bill is an Extension Professor at UMass Amherst using geophysical methods to understand Earth processes. He moved to Amherst from Boise, Idaho in 2010 and started volunteering at the Center in the Food Pantry.
Richard Cohen
Richard is an attorney who presently works as a consultant advising companies in the areas of commercial and antitrust law. He was employed for 27 years as an in-house corporate attorney and 3 years as a litigator at a Wilmington, DE law firm. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Larry Crook
Larry has 20 years of experience as a National Account Manager and Director of Market Development securing financial, commercial and government business through outsource service solutions. He currently provides business development consulting for new start-ups and other organizations. He earned a BS from the University of Oregon, and completed MBA graduate coursework at West Chester University.
Aron Goldman
Aron Goldman is the Executive Director of The Springfield Institute, a think tank designed to raise the level of debate–and broaden participation in the debate–about transforming cities. In addition to original analysis and regular commentary, Goldman consults with grassroots, regional, national, and international organizations in the areas of capacity-building and strategy. In his spare time, Goldman manages and advises political campaigns. Goldman holds a Masters degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School for Public and International Affairs.
Susan C. Lowery, MD
Dr. Susan Lowery is a Board Certified Family Physician who had a private practice in Amherst for 13 years prior to retiring in 2004. She trained at Montgomery County Hospital, a subsidiary of Temple University, where she completed her MD in 1987. She has a BA in Psychology from LaSalle University in Philadelphia.
Naz Mohamed
Naz volunteers to cook the Monday meal, sits on the Event Committee, and helps out with other events and activities as needed by the Center. She has volunteered in the area for over a decade in other human service centers. Naz is an Early Childhood Educator by profession. She is also involved in the Interfaith Community, and the Hampshire Mosque in Amherst. The source of her inspiration comes from her faith–Islam–which considers all deeds of charity and community service to be acts of worship.
Amy Rothenberg, ND
Dr. Amy Rothenberg graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, and has been in private practice since 1986. She writes and teaches widely on topics in complementary and alternative medicine. She served on the Amherst Board of Health for six years.
Marcie Sclove
After working as a professional chef, culinary professor, and restaurant owner for 25 years, Marcie became the Food Coordinator at the ASC in 1997. Since then, Marcie has remained active in the ASC community as a volunteer and Board Member. She also works as a doula (childbirth attendant), often volunteering to support low income and at-risk birthing women at Baystate Hospital and Franklin Medical Center.
Manju Sharma
Manju joined the Amherst Survival Center board in June 2012. Manju works at The Environmental Biotechnology Center at The University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Manju is also the Hindu advisor for Mount Holyoke and Amherst Colleges where she is actively engaged in volunteer and community service projects–some of which directly benefit ASC. She sits on the Event Committee and volunteers at ASC events.
Kenneth K. Toong
Ken is the Executive Director of Auxiliary Services at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is responsible for oversight of the Campus Center/Student Union complex and Events Office; Dining Services, retail food services, Hotel and Conference Services, retail services and the UMass system’s trademark and licensing program and serves as the contract administrator for bookstore operations.
