Join Our Board!
If you have some time and talent to spare, please consider applying to join the vibrant board of WomenSafe. Your skills might be a great addition to our engaged team of visionaries. We typically meet one evening per month, in Middlebury. Our board utilizes a policy governance and shared leadership model. Participation and childcare stipends available for interested candidates. WomenSafe prioritizes recruitment of members of diverse backgrounds and qualifications to help us address challenges of power, culture and privilege.
Meet Our Board!
Chelsea Colby (Chair) graduated from Middlebury College in February 2018 receiving a BA in Environmental Studies. She is now the teacher of nineteen flexible, creative, intelligent, and thoughtful 1st and 2nd graders at Cornwall School. Chelsea joined the WomenSafe board this past year. Prior to joining the board she was a long time MiddSafe advocate and a volunteer at New Beginnings in Meredith, Hampshire. She is an adoring bunny momma to two who enjoys hiking, yoga, nordic skiing, and reading children’s books and young adult literature.
Ellen Whelan-Wuest is a Deputy Program Director for the Council of State Governments Justice Center, where she manages teams leading Justice Reinvestment initiatives in states across the country. Over her career Ellen has worked for federal, state and local government offices in Chicago, New York and North Carolina. Ellen holds a BA in Latin American history and sociology from Middlebury College, and an MA in public policy from Duke University. Ellen and her family live in Cornwall and in addition to the board of WomenSafe, she’s a member of the Addison Central School District Community Partnership Council, and the Wellspring singers.
Rebecca (Becky) Strum (Secretary) moved from the New York Metro area to Vermont in June of 2016 and joined the Board that year. A stage director and Arts Educator, Becky holds a PhD in Performance Studies from NYU, an MFA in Acting from Columbia University and a BA in English from Dickinson College. While Artistic Director of the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts at Bergen Academies in Hackensack, New Jersey, she received a SURDNA Arts Teaching Fellowship in 2007, the Princeton University Award for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching in 2009 and the Montclair University Award for Excellence in Teaching Theatre in 2012. She lives with her partner, Chuck and rescue dog Catesby and cherishes visits from her grown children Kate and Alec who live on the West Coast.
Caroline is the chef/owner of Haymaker Bun Company. She holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and African Studies from The University of Vermont. Prior to going to pastry school in Paris, she worked in low income housing and financial education at Champlain Housing Trust and the Champlain Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). While working at CVOEO, she taught financial education and financial empowerment classes at domestic violence shelters. Caroline lives in Middlebury with her husband, son, and dog. In her spare time she enjoys reading, biking, hiking, and doing any snow sport.
Crystal Jones is the Assistant Director of Education for Equity and Inclusion at Middlebury College. She is originally from Illinois but absolutely loves living in Vermont. She is passionate about social justice work and education and is looking forward to all the ways she can support the incredible advocacy and care WomenSafe offers our community. When she is not talking to students, faculty, and staff about ways to increase equity and inclusion in the Middlebury College and greater community, you can find her hanging out with her cat, Trixie, watching the latest reality television series, or reading a fantasy novel!
Elaine Orozco Hammond serves as the director of BOLD and the assistant director of community standards here at Middlebury College. Originally from the DC suburbs, Elaine holds a law degree from the University of Baltimore and, for nearly a decade, ran a non-profit organization assisting low-income, high-achieving DC students attend college. She is passionate about social justice, including equity in education, civil rights, and women’s issues, and served on last year’s local school district’s Task Force on Racism, Bias and Discrimination. Elaine enjoys running, eating sushi and dark chocolate, and encouraging her partner and three kids to drink green smoothies.
Deb Wales of Weybridge has worked in fundraising at Middlebury College for 18 years. Prior to that, Deb practiced law in Vermont and a few other New England states. Deb holds an A.B. from Smith College and a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire School of Law. Keenly aware that domestic violence crosses all boundaries, she was moved to take the training offered by WomenSafe and is now honored to serve on the Board. Deb takes pride in watching her two twenty-something children become adults who participate meaningfully in their communities. Deb enjoys reading non-fiction books—particularly on topics of psychology and Buddhism—often with a cat or two on her lap. She also serves on the Board of EastView at Middlebury and aspires to do stand-up comedy.
Dr. Margaret Miles (Treasurer) is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Vermont State University Castleton. She is also a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She is a founding member of the Castleton Center for Social Justice and Trauma Informed Care. Margaret grew up in Vermont and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of Vermont social workers. She lives in Middlebury with her husband, son, and dog. When she’s not teaching you can find her spending time outside with her family.