Lory Britain,
President
I have the privilege to have experienced and accomplished so many things in my life (thus far). Above all, my greatest joy always is being a mother and grandmother. At first glance, it might look as though I have worn many professional different hats. However, there is a constant theme that runs throughout my life: I see the world from a child’s eyes and support and nurture the wonder of it all and spread this insight to others. I have been a beloved preschool teacher, respected researcher in Early Childhood education, faculty at colleges and university, science textbook author, trainer, director of a respected child abuse prevention and family support non-project, developer of materials and standards that have been implemented throughout Oregon and in Ukraine. I have written children’s books that support children’s emotional development and are distributed throughout the world in several languages. The most famous ones are It’s MY Body (originally published under the name Lory Freeman) and recently, “I’m Happy-Sad Today”. I have joyfully illustrated some of my self-published books, as well. And most recently during the past few years, I have followed my heart through imaginative art. I look forward to participating fully with the fabulous women in PWNO.
Alice Ahlstedt,
Past President
Alice is retired from a 30 year career as an Adult Basic Skills Development Instructor at Lane Community College. In addition to teaching responsibilities, she served as a statewide trainer in best practices for other ABSD Instructors. Alice received the Adult Basic Skills Development Instructor of the Year Award in 2009. She joined PWNO in 2019 and held the position of VP for programs for 2 years. Currently, she is Past President. Post-retirement interests include grandchildren, gardening, golfing and spending time at her cabin on the McKenzie, as well as participation in PWNO.
Patsy Hand,
President Elect
I grew up on a cattle ranch. Gorgous hills and tall mountains all around. My father was my pilot and we traveled all over in his airplane for him to do competitive boxing. He taught his girls to fight with boxing gloves – I loved it. However my favorite thing was to sing with a woman from No Rio, New York. Singing became my love. I studied and sang professionally throughout college and stints of acting. I also love animals and have spent a great deal of my life developing an animal hospital in Eugene for those who cannot care for their pets. Early on in my life I found a love of writing novels and short stories, and along with my art, I am loving the challenge. l do a enjoy a good challenge!
Alice Kaseberg,
Treasurer
Happiness for Alice is Australia, the mountain vistas in Central Oregon, and any NASA center from Huntsville (AL) to Jet Propulsion Labs (CA) to Kennedy Space Center (FL) to the Canberra Deep Space Complex (Australia). Alice started her 30-year teaching career in Australia, loved secondary math teaching in Eugene, and finished with 15 years at Lane Community College. A benign brain tumor in 1999 led to her early retirement. She didn’t slow down because that same year she completed the 2nd edition (of 5) for her Introductory Algebra and Intermediate Algebra textbooks. She earned a Presidential Award from the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) for her service as a co-director (2004-2007) in developing and implementing a project to train new community college math teachers in leadership and curriculum. She and her husband Rob play cribbage twice a day. Since COVID, she has turned her writing efforts to her family and Rob’s family histories (stories, not genealogy). PWNO has been essential for her passion for learning about the world of work outside education.
Valerie J. Brooks,
Programs
Multi-award-winning author Valerie J. Brooks writes femmes-noir psychological thrillers where the women are badass and take center stage. The first in the Angeline Porter Trilogy Revenge in 3 Parts was a finalist for the Nancy Pearl Book Award and a winner in the International Readers’ Favorites Thriller Awards. NY Times bestselling author Kevin O’Brien called her second book Tainted Times 2 “… a real nail-biter from first page to the last.”
Brooks worked as a strategic planner for Lane Community College, was an associate editor of fiction at Northwest Review, served on the Board of Directors for Oregon Writers Colony and Eugene Ballet, and co-founded the Mid-Valley Willamette Writers Speakers Series. Her awards include an Elizabeth George Foundation grant and five writing residencies. She teaches writing workshops and classes, plus reviews suspense, thriller and noir novels, podcasts, and streaming shows on her blog.
She happily lives in Oregon’s McKenzie River Valley with her husband, Dan Connors, and their Havanese pooch Stevie Nicks.
Cynthia Ramsey,
Programs
Cynthia lives in Eugene Oregon with her blue chow, Bella and her daughter Sara, nearby. She is originally from the East Coast, went to Oglethorpe in Atlanta and lived in Santa Monica for over 40 years, while commuting to Eugene for half that time. When first going to LA, Cynthia was a Location Manager in film and television for 7 years, later becoming a banker for 25+ years. Cynthia is now interested in painting, hiking, traveling, writing and donating some time to worthy causes.
Carol Marusich,
Membership
After 40 years of private practice in Eugene and working with students as adjunct faculty for the Pacific University College of Optometry, Dr. Carol retired and now pursues volunteer involvement in local organizations that are near and dear to her. Serving on multiple Optometry boards (local, state & national), the Head Start Advisory Council and the American Optometric Association Children’s Vision Foundation, along with providing international education in her specialty, has been great preparation for her current endeavors. Her position on the Cascade Health Board of Directors, working to build and maintain our local Pete Moore Hospice House and continuing to meet the healthcare needs of our community, is a passion. A long-time member of PWNO since 1982, and a past President, Carol returned to our board of directors in 2018. Sharing adventures with her husband, children and grandchildren, trekking the coast, getting lost in a good biography or mystery, and a slow game of golf bring special joy.
Jean Meyer-Fero,
Communications
Jean was born and raised on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. She decided at an early age (after her Dale Evans cowgirl period) that she wanted to be a graphic designer. In 1975 she earned a BS in Art from the University of Wisconsin. In 1979 she and her (future) husband Mike took a winding road trip to Oregon and decided to stay. Her first job in Eugene was with the Community Center for the Performing Arts. It was a great way for a newcomer to become immersed in the arts community. Jean spent four years in the advertising department of The Emporium and thirteen years as (progressively) the Art Director, Marketing Director and Creative Director of Obie Media, a national out-of-home media advertising company. Since 2002 she has owned her own graphic design business, Aries Creative, and is a partner in a design and marketing cooperative, Helios Creative. For many years, Jean served on the board of directors for Dance for a Reason, an annual benefit dance show. In her dream world Jean is a touring torch singer. In real life she loves singing with her friends, bringing interesting people together and growing flowering plants that work as hard as she does.