GNSAH - Key Persons


Amy E. Butler

Job Titles:
  • Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations at American University
Bio Amy had served as Executive Director of Foundation Relations at GW for six years. Prior to GW, she spent 11 years working for national and local organizations including NARAL Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, American Rivers and National Public Radio, helping to raise more than $30 million. She also has devoted three years as a full-time volunteer grassroots fundraiser for the Southern Tier AIDS Program, Southern Tier NAMES Project. She received her bachelor's degree in 1987 from the University of California, Los Angeles in United States history with both college and departmental honors. She also earned a master's degree in 1989 and a Ph.D. in United States history from Binghamton University in 1997. She is the author of Two Paths to Equality, a case study of the legislative and legal strategies used by national women's organizations to advance equal rights in the workplace.

Captain Roosevelt Harvey Brown

Job Titles:
  • Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy / Chaplain of Navy Medicine and Special Assistant to the Navy Surgeon General
Bio Chaplain Brown has a Doctor of Ministry from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains and is certified by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education as a Psychotherapist. He retired as a captain from the navy. He presently serves as a chaplain with the Family Support Program at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. His previous assignments in the navy include the Chaplain of Navy Medicine at Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and Command Chaplain for the Walter Reed National Medical Center.

Cherron Gardner-Thomas

Job Titles:
  • Associate
  • Executive

Chris Kelley Cimko - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • Communications Strategist
Bio Chris Kelley Cimko, a communications strategist, specializes in strategic communications, public affairs, international affairs, image building and media relations. CIMKO STRATEGIES, provides a range of services to help clients navigate the challenges and complexities of achieving their reputational, communications, and public affairs goals. In addition, she is Executive Producer of a television series currently in development. Chris has held senior positions on Capitol Hill, the 1989 Presidential Transition, the Department of Defense, and as an executive of leading global public relations firms - working with clients from across the U.S. and around the globe. She has served on numerous boards, including the Armed Services YMCA; Child Trends, and Congressional School.

Christina M. Puchalski - Founder

Job Titles:
  • Founder
  • Founder and Director / Professor, Medicine and Health

Edith Graves

Job Titles:
  • Marketing Executive
Bio Edith Graves is a marketing executive with over 20 years' experience working as a liaison between corporate leadership and creative teams. At Edith Graves & Associates, LLC she oversees the development of award-winning branding projects and marketing campaigns that showcase the importance of good design in the workplace and home. She has worked in senior marketing positions as at architecture firms, banks, Nasdaq, Shearson, as well as award-winning graphic Design studios in Washington DC, Boston, and New York. Edith also represents fine artists across the country as principal of Studio E Partners, LLC.

Kathryn M. Braeman

Kathryn M. Braeman Bio Kathryn M. Braeman has served on the Advisory Board since 2013 and served as Board Chair from 2014-16 when she initiated the platinum dinners. Kat has served in a leadership role for other non-profit organizations. She is on the board of the Marin Shakespeare Company and has served on the board of the National Continuing Care Residents Association and on the board of UU Marin. She also has a leadership role on the Women, Leadership & Philanthropy Council of Dominican University and served on the national board of the AAUW (2011 to 2015). As a federally appointed administrative judge and lawyer, Ms. Braeman held leadership roles at the National Association of Women Judges and the American Bar Association. Kat lives in the San Francisco Bay area. Email: kajudge@gmail.com

Rev. Dr. Marian S. Crane

Bio Rev. Dr. Crane holds a Doctor of Ministry and a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary, and a Master of International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is an ordained elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church and has served multiple congregations over the years. Rev. Dr. Crane is currently the lead pastor at Pasadena United Methodist Church. She served on the executive committee for the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOOM), the Lead Women Pastors and Future Leadership Consultation, and United Methodist Boards. Mernie has conducted numerous workshops and currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Thomas S. Wallsten

Thomas S. Wallsten, PhD Bio Thomas S. Wallsten is a cognitive and mathematical psychologist with research interests in probabilistic inference, judgment, choice, and communication under risk and uncertainty. He is professor emeritus and former department chair in the University of Maryland Department of Psychology. Prior to Maryland, Dr. Wallsten was on the faculty at the University of University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill and held visiting appointments at universities in the U.S., Germany and Israel. He has served on numerous journal editorial boards, including as editor in chief and associate editor, as well as in advisory roles for the National Science Foundation, U.S. EPA and other federal agencies. Email: tswallst@umd.edu

Trace Haythorn

Bio Trace Haythorn, PhD joined the staff of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) in 2013 as Executive Director and CEO. Prior to coming to ACPE, Trace served as the executive director of the Frazer Center in Atlanta; President of the Fund for Theological Education in Atlanta; professor and program director at Hastings College in Hastings, NE; and associate pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. He completed his Ph.D. in cultural foundations of education at Syracuse University, a masters of divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary, and a bachelor of arts at Austin College (Sherman, TX). Trace is married to the Reverend Mary Anona Stoops, and they have two children, Jacob and Martha.