BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Faith Parker, Chair Faith Parker holds a BA from Wellesley College and a Master’s degree in Human Services Management from the Heller School at Brandeis University.  She worked for 14 years in the Human Resources field managing corporate pension and executive benefit plans at area companies including Avery Dennison and BankBoston.  In 2000 she retired from corporate life and co-founded the Parker Family Foundation, a private family foundation whose funding priorities include education, the arts, health care and the integration of technology into society.  Faith was a founding Board member of Norumbega Harmony, an a capella singing group specializing in early American hymnody, and served as their Treasurer for five years.  She currently serves on the Board of Trustees and as Clerk of the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA.

Thomas K. Birch, Clerk Thomas K. Birch has his own general practice of law in Boston.  He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and Northeastern University School of Law. He is currently on the board of the South Cove Community Health Center.

Austin de Besche    Austin de Besche has been a cinematographer for over 34 years, a director for half that time.  He has photographed feature films (Return of the Secaucus Seven and Lianna for John Sayles), documentaries (including Emmy winners Voices of the Children and On Thin Ice), national children’s programming (Postcards from Buster for PBS), second unit television work (Cheers and St. Elsewhere), concert films, magazine shows, corporate films and television commercials. Awards include “10 Best Films of 1980” lists of the Los Angeles Times and Time Magazine for Return of the Secaucus Seven.  He is also an actor and performer in television commercials and corporate films and has performed in plays and in improv comedy.  He is a member of the Boston Community Choir.  He graduated from Dartmouth College, is on the faculty at Boston University, and is a member of the IATSE Local 600 and NABET Local 18 unions. Mr. de Besche recently produced, directed and photographed Pilgrimage into the Past, a documentary about a Holocaust survivor and his family.

*Benjamin Evett, Artistic Director (bio on Staff page)

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Good The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Good is active in the Andover Public Schools as well as a variety of community groups.  She is a clergyperson in the United Methodist Church, serving churches in Connecticut and most recently in Wellesley, MA.  She graduated from the University of Colorado, Yale Divinity School, and Hartford Seminary.  At the moment she is a mom and a fiber artist, an occasional preacher and retreat leader.  She has been a volunteer with the Rosie's Place Craft Cooperative and Boston Interfaith AIDS Ministry.

Denise Jillson                    Denise Jillson is local to the area, having grown up in Davis Square, and has lived in Cambridge since 1975. She has worked in Cambridge for her entire career; in Manufacturing/Engineering, Sales Management, Institutional Development and is perhaps best known for her political grassroots organizing. Denise is Vice President of the Executive Board of the Boston Minuteman Council/Boy Scouts of America, Vice President of the Board of the Community Charter School of Cambridge and immediate past President of the Rotary Club of Cambridge.  She is the Executive Director of the Harvard Square Business Association and an alumna of Lesley University.

Sarah Leaf-Herrmann Sarah Leaf-Herrmann has 20 years of experience in communications, media relations and event management. She is currently Vice President, Marketing and Public Relations at CM Communications, a boutique luxury marketing agency in Boston. While at the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras, she ran the international press conference and announcement of the appointment of Keith Lockhart to succeed John Williams as Boston Pops Conductor.  She began The Idea Co. in 1998, which provided public relations and fundraising counsel for small non-profit organizations in Boston, and was Director of Public Relations at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, the only AAA Five Diamond and Mobil Five-Star hotel property in New England.  She is Past President of Boston Women Communicators and Chair of External Affairs for the Topf Center for Dance Education Board.  Ms. Leaf-Herrmann is also a member of Women in Development of Greater Boston, Publicity Club of New England, The Ad Club of Boston, Public Relations Society of America - New England Chapter, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, and Amateur Chamber Music Players of America. A graduate of Michigan State University in Piano Performance, she was the 3rd place winner in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She taught piano at the New England Conservatory for six years and has a wealth of experience in coaching opera and accompanying dance recitals and studio training.

Sarah Newhouse, Ex Officio (bio on Resident Acting Company page)

Geoffrey Nunes       Geoffrey Nunes is a graduate of Princeton University, ’52 (Woodrow Wilson School, Honors), and Harvard Law School, ’57 (JD).  He was an Officer in the U.S. Navy from ’52-’54.  He had a private practice in New York City from ’57-’66.  He was then the Senior Vice President, General Counsel, for Lenox China, and Executive Vice President  of the Millipore Corporation.  He is currently a Director of Reebok International.  Mr. Nunes was an Overseer at the New England Conservatory of Music from ’96-’02, and is currently on the Board of Visitors. He is a Trustee at the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park and a Trustee of the Boston Biomedical Research Institute.

Eileen Reuter                    Eileen Reuter has served as the Director of Ticketing Services for The Boston Celebrity Series since 1997.  She is a former Board Member (External Relations Committee) of the Topf Center for Dance.

Rick Teller, Treasurer Rick teller is a private investor.  He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, '68,  and holds an MBA from Harvard University, '70.