Board of Directors

Our Vision

By 2030 we will be well-known for creating educational experiences that reach at least twice as many people as we do today. We will stand together to lead, act and inspire change in our communities to help build a more just and peaceful world.

Chair of the Board, Stephenie Teichman

2018 term ending 2020

Stephenie became a member of CISV in 2007. Since 2018, she has been a member of the Austin-San Antonio Chapter. Prior to that, she was an active member of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. She has enjoyed watching both of her children mature as they participated in a variety of offered programs. The ability of CISV to instill confidence and cultural awareness it its participants paired with its ability to develop independent thinkers and leaders of the future is what has kept her involved for the past 12 years.

In addition to her role on the Governing Board, Stephenie served as National Risk Manager (2010-2019) and has served the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter as Local Risk Manager (2007-2017), Step Up Planner (2017) and Development Officer (2017-2018). She won the National Service Award in 2017. Internationally, she currently serves as a Risk Management Regional Coordinator for the Americas and is an International Risk Management Trainer.

Stephenie brings a strong background in non-profit governance, strategic planning, financial management and fundraising to the Governing Board, having served as an elected official on the Lafayette School District Governing Board (2004-2012), and as a director of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation (2013-2017).

As a private attorney, Stephenie practiced law in Louisiana, and Texas as a corporate and transactional business attorney. She also taught Business Law at St. Mary’s College of California and participated in the test preparation, calibration, and admission of new bar applicants for the State of California for 20 years.

Amanda Stegner

2017 term ending 2020

Amanda works at the public library in Dearborn, Michigan. She is a graduate of Smith College.

A member of the Board of Directors since 2013, Amanda currently serves as the International Representative and chairs the Education Committee.

Active in CISV since 2007, Amanda is a member of the Detroit Chapter where she has staffed and directed programs and currently serves as a Co-Advisor of the Junior Branch. She has also led delegations to Italy, Guatemala, Germany, Finland, Norway and France. Amanda lives in Dearborn, MI

John C. “Christian” Warner

2019 term ending 2021

Christian Warner is a political appointee in the Obama administration, where he serves as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a Powers-Knapp Scholar, double majoring in Political Science and International Studies, with specific focuses in International Relations and Global Security.

A member of the Board of Directors since 2013, Christian previously served as the Junior Branch representative on the Board. Currently, he serves on the Education, Organizational Development and Finance Committees of the board. Prior to his election, Christian served one term on the National Youth Committee and was the Chair of the National Mini Camp Committee in 2012.

Christian has been actively involved with CISV from an early age, attending programs in Copenhagen, Denmark; Campinas, Brazil; San Jose, Costa Rica, Geneva, Switzerland, and Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland. Originally from Birmingham, Michigan, Christian currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Tait Anberg

2017 term ending 2020

Tait is an elementary public school teacher in Atlanta, GA. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco where he earned his bachelor and master of arts degrees. Tait received his teaching certification from Mercer University in Atlanta.

A member of the Board of Directors since 2014, Tait chairs the Organizational Development Committee and serves on the Education Committees of the Board. Prior to his election to the Board, Tait served as National Expansion Chair, presidential appointee to the Executive Committee, National Trustee-at-Large, National Leadership Trainer, National Seminar Camp Committee Chair, National Training Committee Youth Liaison, and National Youth Convention Chair.

Actively involved since 1985 when his family joined the San Francisco chapter, Tait attended Interchange and Seminar programs as a youth participant, led two Village delegations, staffed a Village and Youth Meeting, directed two Villages, planned a Village, Summer Camp, and Seminar Camp, and founded the Atlanta chapter. He worked for the 1996 Centennial Olympics, the Atlanta Union Mission, and coached high school and youth wrestling. He lives with his wife and daughter in the Atlanta area.

Louise Harty

2017 term ending 2020

Louise holds her Bachelor of Accountancy degree from New Mexico State University. She has worked in the accounting industry for over 30 years. She has been most inspired by her time with First Place AZ and SARRC. She most recently was a senior accountant with Caliber Services in Phoenix, and has chosen to return to independently contracted work.

Elected to the board in 2017, Louise has been a member of the Finance and Organization Development committees. She is currently serving as the Finance Committee Chair and Treasurer. She became involved in CISV in 2005 as a Village parent. She was an active member of the Philadelphia chapter, including two years as board president. After a move to Jacksonville in 2009, she immediately joined the board and served as the treasurer.

Originally from New Mexico, Louise has moved extensively and called many cities home. She currently lives in Cleveland, OH with her husband Leland. They have three grown children.

Mary Kate Huffman

2018 Term ending 2021

Kate serves as a trial court judge on the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in Dayton, Ohio. She also teaches at the University of Dayton School of Law. Kate graduated from Wright State University with a B.A. in political science, and from the University of Nevada with an M.A. in judicial studies. She received her J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law.

A member of the Board of Directors since 2018, Kate serves on the Organizational Development and Governance Committees. After many years of active involvement in other local non-profit organizations, Kate recently joined CISV Miami County. During her youth, Kate, he brother and sister were all actively involved with a variety of CISV programs. Her mother served on the board of CISV Miami County and was an adult interchange leader. Kate describes her CISV experience as providing the foundation for her educational decisions and her volunteer work in the community, and particularly her work with the University of Dayton School of Law Lawyer as Global Citizen initiative.

Mario Hidalgo

2019 Term ending 2021

Mario Hidalgo is a multicultural leader, working for several years in the travel industry. He holds a global position at Egencia, an Expedia Group company, overseeing the relationship with entities in 40 countries across all continents. Mario holds an MBA on International Commerce from Alma Mater university in Costa Rica.

A member of the Board of Directors since 2019, Mario is a founder member of the CISV Miami Florida Chapter; he serves as Board member of the chapter with the role of Fundraising Coordinator. He also is a certified Risk Manager and also served as Trustee.

Born and raised in Costa Rica, studied at a German school, 15 years living in the USA and working for global companies, provide Mario with a unique global perspective. He currently lives in Miami, Florida.

Hana Strickland

2019 Term ending 2021

Hana Strickland is a Senior Buyer, specializing in project management and working for several years in corporate retail. Currently, she is working for Walmart eCommerce as the Category Manager of Upholstered Furniture. Hana is a graduate of The Ohio State University, double majoring in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in Spanish.

A member of the Board of Directors since 2019, Hana previously served as the International Junior Representative of CISV International. Currently, she serves on the Education and Organizational Development Committees of the board. Prior to her term as IJR, she also served on the International Junior Branch Team, as National Junior Representative of CISV USA, one term on the National Youth Committee, and as the Local Junior Representative of the Cincinnati Chapter.

Actively involved with CISV since 2001, Hana has attended, staffed, and directed programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Jonkoping, Sweden; Quito, Ecuador; Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; and Bogota, Colombia. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Hana currently resides in New York City.

Ann Appert

2020 Term ending in 2020

Ann Appert is Director of Finance and Planning for the Assessment Program at WestEd, an education research think tank. She oversees project management and budgets for all of WestEd’s large scale assessment development projects. Previously, she co-led the Smarter Balanced Project Management team, overseeing implementation for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium — a collaboration among 26 State Education Agencies to create a next-generation standardized assessment system based on the Common Core State Standards.

Ms. Appert joined the CISV board of directors in 2020. She began her affiliation as a volunteer with the San Francisco Chapter when her twins attended separate Villages in 2002. As her three children continued their participation over the next 8 years, she volunteered for the chapter helping organize a summer camp, hosting participants for home stays, and helping run the delegate selection process. While she has not recently been active as a volunteer, she avidly follows CISV activities and has remained a steadfast donor. She brings over 20 years of non-profit board experience to CISV having served for organizations ranging from Youth Homes Inc, a group home foster care agency, to Lafayette School Board and JF Kapnek Trust -Pediatric AIDS Zimbabwe.

Olivia Miller Junior Board Director

2019 Term ending 2020

Olivia is a current senior at Colgate University studying towards a degree in Anthropology and Peace and Conflict Studies with a specific focus in international cooperation.

Prior to serving as the Junior Branch Director, Olivia previously served for two years as the National Junior Representative, for one term on the National Committee for Leadership Development, and for one year as a member of the National Mini Camp Committee.

Olivia has been actively involved with CISV since 2008, attending programs in Brasilia, Brazil; Berlin, Germany; Campinas, Brazil; Darmstadt, Germany; Lodz, Poland; and New York City. Originally from the New York City chapter, Olivia currently lives in Hamilton, New York.