Governance
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AAUW New York State Board of Directors
Sandy Camillo is an advocate for women’s equity. Author of "The Journey of an Invisible Woman" and the upcoming "THE SHOCKING TRUTH: Behind What Men REALLY Think About Women," she has also published numerous articles exploring gender dynamics. Her commitment to advancing women’s rights led to roles like Director and Governance Officer at AAUW. She also served on the NY Leadership Council of Autism Speaks.
Sandy holds MS and Administrator’s degrees in education and is a licensed real estate broker. Her career spans roles from school principal to writer, paralegal, receivership specialist, realtor, court appointed special advocate, and gender advocate. Her unusually diverse experiences enable her to realize that regardless of socio-economic backgrounds, there is a wide gap in men and women’s understanding of one another.
Suzanne Young-Mercer earned a BS degree from Baruch College, NY in 1988, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2005. She has had a 42-year career in the healthcare industry, including 23 years of administrative experience.
Suzanne joined AAUW in 2012 with the AAUW-Rockland, NY branch, serving as Program VP and Branch President. She was selected to join the AAUW-NYS Board as Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, holding the position for six years. She also serves on the AAUW National Inclusion and Equity committee. In June 2024, Suzanne began her term as AAUW-NYS President after serving as President-Elect.
A Message from the President
As a member of the North Shore Branch for 14 years, Janet has held the positions of Recording Secretary, Director and co-chair of the Branch’s Nosh political action study group. As current President of the branch, she is serving in her second term with one year remaining.
Before joining AAUW she was a forty year veteran with the Board of Education as a classroom teacher, reading specialist and mentor/staff developer in schools around her district.
Carol, a Williamsville, NY resident, holds a degree from the University of Buffalo School of Social Work and SUNY Empire State College. She has served for over 40 years at the VA Western New York Healthcare System, including 18 years as Federal Women’s Program Manager.
Carol is a strong advocate for veterans and women’s rights, supporting the Women’s Rights National Historical Park and National Women’s Hall of Fame. She has volunteered for numerous veterans’ events and held leadership roles in AAUW. Recognized for her service, she has received multiple awards, including the 2018 Legion of Honor Humanitarian Award and the 2007 YWCA Community Volunteer Award.
Lynn Gore earned a BA at Hartwick College and a Master’s degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison. She taught French for 35 years and was involved with both local and state-level Foreign Language organizations. In retirement, she joined AAUW Kingston and has served as Membership VP from 2017-2019, and as President from 2019 to the present. She previously served on the AAUW NYS board as secretary for three terms 2020-2023.
She looks forward to serving on the board again.
Abby Hirsch has been a member of national, state, and local AAUW for over 25 years. She is currently the co-president of the AAUW Westchester Chapter. She has been an active member here and has served as corresponding secretary, a member of the STEM conference a member of the Running and Winning program to encourage young women to be involved in service among other things.She is also a member of the NYSAAUW state public policy committee where she has prevented on the topic of book bannings. This is an area that she feels passionate about.
Abby received both a BA and MA from New York University. She also has a counseling degree from Hunter College and worked for over 30 years as a school counselor. After retiring from that profession she became a counselor educator at Mercy University. She was associated with Mercy for over 15 years as an administrator and professor in the graduate program of school counseling.
Barbara grew up in Queens, married, became a mother, and later returned to Queens College to earn her BA degree. With a background in accounting, Barbara became an investment advisor with Merrill Lynch. After 40 years, Barbara recently retired from Merrill as a Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor.
Barbara joined AAUW in 2022 and hopes to make a valuable contribution to the organization.
AAUW New York State Committees
Finance Committee
Suzanne Young-Mercer
Janet Lobel-Adler
Lynn Gore
Barbara Mastellone
Grants Committee
Carol Griffith
Abby Hirsch
Betty Harrell
See Also
Dear Esteemed Members of AAUW-NYS,
I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the presidency of AAUW-NYS. Together, we stand at a pivotal moment in our organization's history, poised to define a new way forward that will shape the future of AAUW-NYS and empower women and girls across our state. I am committed to fostering collaboration and partnership with our branches as we embark on this journey. By working hand in hand with our branches, we can harness the collective wisdom, strengths, and resources of our diverse membership to drive meaningful change and advance our shared mission.
Furthermore, I believe in the power of collaboration with like-minded organizations that share our vision for equity and inclusion. By forging strategic partnerships and alliances, we can amplify our impact, leverage our collective influence, and broaden our reach to effect positive change for women and girls in New York State. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that AAUW-NYS is at the forefront of the fight to make equity for women and girls a reality in our communities and beyond.
Through advocacy, education, research, and empowerment initiatives, we will work tirelessly to break down barriers, challenge injustices, and create a more equitable and inclusive society for all. I invite each and every one of you to join me on this transformative journey. Although I was personally disappointed in the outcome of OpenUp AAUW, I still believe we have an opportunity to lift every woman through our advocacy. So together, let us roll up our sleeves, lift each other, and build a future where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive and succeed. Our collective efforts will be the driving force behind the positive change we seek to create.
Thank you for your trust, support, and dedication to AAUW’s mission. Together, we will define a new way forward, united in our commitment to making equity for women and girls a reality.
Let's embark on this journey together, with passion, purpose, and unwavering resolve. Thank you.