Sarasota World Affairs Council

Dr. Nat J. Colletta || President

Adjunct Professor of International Studies at New College of Florida, Founding Manager of the World Bank’s Conflict Prevention/ Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit; advisor to UN and other multilateral agencies.

Dr. Barbara Hicks || Executive Vice President

Professor of Political Science and International Studies, Chair of the Division of Social Sciences at New College of Florida; former VP of UN Association, Sarasota-Manatee chapter.

 

Virginia Hitchcock || Vice President for Communications

Formerly with the World Bank External Affairs Department; UN Women International Film Festival Committee, Guardian ad Litem. 

​

Wesley Anne Beggs || Secretary

SRQ 2018 30  Under 30; BA in Political Science, New College, 2014;  first SWAC intern  

​

J. Michael Holmes || Treasurer

Former senior banking executive; Director/Treasurer, The Exchange; AARP tax assistance; Florida CPA; Habitat for Humanity.
 

Jennifer Ahearn-Koch

At-Large City Commissioner and Mayor of the City of Sarasota; founder, JAK Consults, marketing consulting; VP, Manasota League of Cities; board member, Sarasota Bay Estuary and Coastal Advisory Committee.

​

Dr. Suzanne Feetham

Internationally recognized leader in healthcare; landmark research on families, genetics/genomics, and public health; designated a Living Legend by American Academy of Nursing.

​

Jorge Ignacio Fernández

Former senior corporate executive; advisor on Cuban affairs and trade; co-founder, Americans for Humanitarian Trade with Cuba; CARITAS Cuba; Best Buddies International.

 

Dr. Donal O’Shea

Mathematician and author; Professor of Mathematics, New College of Florida; former President of New College of Florida and Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of Faculty, Mount Holyoke College.

​

​

Ex Officio

​

Lynne Partington || Program Director

Former Vice-President of Detroit's Council of World Affairs, Adjunct Professor at Wayne State University, and Executive Director of Freedom House, Detroit.