PRESIDENT – My-Linh Kunst
My-Linh Kunst is a leadership coach, university professor, photographer, and activist for human rights for women. A native of Vietnam, My-Linh emigrated to the US at the end of the Vietnam War. She received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Virginia, an MBA from the Wharton School, and studied Person-centered counseling in London. She spent nearly two decades in management consulting, with her last post as Managing Director of a German consulting firm. She then worked in non-profits, culminating in her two-term Presidency of FAWCO, a United Nations accredited NGO with ECOSOC consultative status. She now teaches at the University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule für Wirtschaft, Technik und Kultur) in Berlin and coaches women on the path to leadership. Parallel to her business career, My-Linh is a published and exhibited portrait photographer since 2006. Her books: Beyond Borders featured inspiring American women living overseas and Hope is a Thing of Feathers portrays human trafficking survivors and change makers. Her photography has been exhibited in Berlin, Paris, The Hague and Seoul. Married to her German husband Matthias, My-Linh has been in Berlin since 2008 and has two sons at the JFK School.
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT – Lissa Rosenbloom
Lissa Rosenbloom is a long time resident of Berlin, having moved here From Oakland, California in 1999. She is active in many capacities at the Berlin International school, is a volunteer for refugee services, and an English teacher. In her previous life she worked in the non-profit world in California, consulting with many organization such as the San Francisco Aids Foundation, Human Rights Watch, Environmental Defense Fund, and political campaigns. She is also an visual artist, with a BFA from the University or North Carolina.
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT – Karen Castellon
Karen Castellon is active in Berlin as mom at Berlin International School, Girl Scout leader for 4th and 5th graders, member of All Saints Church (Huttenweg), Fair Trade Ambassador for Catholic Relief Services, and coordinator of a scholarship program for students in Guatemala. Her corporate background includes 10 years in telecommunications and more recently consulting on strategic planning for the Roman Catholic church in New York City, Kansas City and Trenton, New Jersey. Fluent in Spanish, Karen spent two years earlier in her career living and working in Venezuela. Her background includes work with the federal government, non-profits, and non-governmental organizations. Karen is a certified coach through The Coaches Training Institute, earned an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia, and a BBA degree in International Business and Spanish from The George Washington University. A native of Staten Island, New York, Karen lived 18+ years in Bridgewater, New Jersey before moving to Berlin in April 2016 with her husband and 3 children.
TREASURER – Jennifer Padfield
Jennifer Padfield is an English tutor, avid dog walker, and amateur tour guide in Berlin. A sister of the Chi Omega Fraternity, She earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. She has over 10 years experience in various non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America, Starfish Initiative, Gift of Life, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Jen has balanced this with a career as a paralegal for legal and banking businesses, as well as a case manager for Indiana Department of Child Services. Jen’s biggest passion is ice skating, where she still enjoys coaching children of all ages. Born and raised in Springfield, New Jersey, Jennifer has also lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, before moving to Germany in 2015 with her husband and their golden retriever.
SECRETARY – Claudia Tessier
Claudia Tessier is an internationally recognized author and speaker on healthcare documentation, electronic health records, and mHealth (mobile health) and has served on multiple US and international health informatics standards boards and committees. She was a healthcare association executive for over 20 years, taught at the university level, as well as in adult education settings, and currently teaches an online course in medical coding. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from San Francisco State University and her Master of Education degree from the University of Houston. An AWC of Berlin member since 2015, Claudia serves on the FAWCO regional meeting planning committee, co-chairs the book club, and participates in the tutoring program for teenage refugees. Claudia and her life partner have lived in Berlin for three years. A native of a small town in Massachusetts, she has also lived in California (San Francisco, Claremont, and Modesto); Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Baltimore Maryland; Washington DC; Wiesbaden Germany; and before moving to Berlin, in Boston MA.