Former Board of Directors

In 1972, the founders formally incorporated as the nonprofit The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective and became the original board of directors. In 1983, they decided to expand and open the board to community members. Since then, over 100 people have served on the OBOS board, helping the organization fulfill its mission of improving the health and lives of women worldwide.

(See who’s part of the current OBOS Board of Directors.)

Note: If you were part of the board and aren’t listed here or are listed incorrectly, we’re sorry! Please let us know. 

Adrienne Asch, 1998 – 2002
Amanda Buck Varella, 2003 – 2008
Amy Crysel, 2017 – 2019
Anita Raj, 2001 – 2002
Anne Brewster, 2006 – 2010
Aziza Ahmed, 2018 – current
Barbara Anthony, 2010 – 2011
Bea Bezmalinovic, 2008 – 2015
Benjamin Albert, 2008 – 2011
Bindiya Patel, 2017 – 2018
Bonnie L. Shepard, 2000 – 2006, 2016 – 2018
Byllye Avery, 1988 – 1992
Caroline Crosbie, 2008 – 2015
Cassandra Clay, 1996 – 1997
Catherine Annas, 2008 – 2014
Catherine Record, 2013 – 2016
Cecelia Wu, 2001 – 2003
Christina Knowles, 2013 – 2016
Daniel Fox, 2012 – 2018
Deborah Ruhe, 2002 – 2002
Denise Dabney, 2001 – 2003
Dharma Cortes, 2004 – 2005
Diane Hamer, 1995 – 1996
Donna Soodalter-Toman, 2003 – 2005
Eliza­beth Daake-Kelly, 2003 – 2005
Elizabeth MacMahon-Herrera (co-founder), 1988 – ?, 2015 – 2016
Ema Rosero-Nordalm, 2003
Erin Entrada Kelly, 2017 – 2018
Ester Shapiro, 1995 – 2001
Esther Rome (co-founder), 1972 – 1995
Eva Boyce, 1998
Fiona Smith, 2002 – 2004
Gina Wingood, 2012 – 2015
Heather Alger, 2002 – 2003
Heather Baker, 2013 – 2016
Heather Nelson, 2009 – 2012
Ileana Jimenez Garcia, 2003 – 2005
Jane Cottingham, 1988 – 1990
Jane Pincus (co-founder), 1972 – 1988, 2001 – 2003, 2015 – 2018
Jarrett Barrios, 2012 – 2013
Jayne Carvelli-Sheehan, 2003 – 2005
Jennifer M. Somers, 2017 – 2018
Jennifer Sulla, 2013 – 2016
Jessica Halverson, 2007 – 2013
Joan Ditzion (co-founder), 1972 – 2001, 2002 – 2015 (ex-officio), 2015 – 2018
Joan Rachlin, 2015 – 2017
Joanne Barker, 2009 – 2013
Joelle Leacock, 2017 – 2018
Judith Kurland, 1995 – 1996
Judy Norsigian (co-founder), 1972 – 1996, 2018 – current
Julie Mottl-Santiago, 2010 – 2015
June Cooper, 1995 – 1997
Katherine Record, 2014 – 2015
Katie Reilly, 2008 – 2009
Kristin Guest, 2010 – 2015
Laura Anne Stuart, 2002 – 2004
Laurie Carter Noble, 1999
Liza Molina, 2002 – 2005
Malika Redmond, 2013 – 2015
Marcia Brown, 2005 – 2011
Mariya Patwa, 2018 – current
Marjorie O’Reilly, 1999 – 2000
Marlene Gerber Fried, 2016 – 2018
Marsha Saxton, 1988 – 1991
Martha Bil Manevich, 2001 – 2003
Mary (Bebe) Poor, 2005 – 2010
Mary Stern, 1972 – 1973
MaryJo Marion, 1999 – 2004
Michele Russell, 1996 – 1997
Miriam Zoll, 2009 – 2015
Mirza Lugardo, 1996 – 1997
Moisés Russo, 2008 – 2009
Myriam Hernandez Jennings, 2006 – 2013
Nancy Lyons Allen, 2010 – 2015
Nancy Forsyth, 2003 – 2009
Nancy Miriam Hawley (co-founder), 1972 – 1996, 2018 – current
Nandini Sen Gupta, 1988 – 1991
Neda Joury-Penders, 2005 – 2008
Norma Meras Swenson (co-founder), 1972 – 1996, 2015 – 2018
Pamela Berger (co-founder), 1972 – ?
Pamela Bridgewater, 1999 – 2003
Patricia Roche, 2002 – 2008
Paula Doress-Worters (co-founder), 1972 – 1996, 1998 – 1999, 2015 – 2017
Penelope Risebor­ough, 2004 – 2010
Polly Kornblith, 2016 – 2017
Rachel Breman, 2013 – 2017
Rachel Zack Ishikawa , 2009 – 2011
Rachel Wilson, 2005 – 2008
Rema Iyer, 2006 – 2007
Rita Raj, 1998 – 2000
Ruth Bell Alexander (co-founder), 2015 – 2016
Ruth Hubbard, 1998 – 1999
Ruth Seidman, 1995 – 2001
Sally Deane, 2000 – 2005
Sally Whelan (co-founder) 1983 – ?
Shahira Ahmed Malm, 2005 – 2009, 2017 – 2018
Sue Reamer, 2001
Susan Ruderman, 2012 – 2015
Teresa Harrison, 2009 – 2010
Urmi Bharad, 1999 – 2000
Vilunya Diskin (co-founder) 1972 – 1985, 2001 – 2005, then ex-officio
Wendy C. Sanford (co-founder), 1972 – 1995