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Westchester Community College Foundation Announces Six New Board Members

The Foundation awards over $2 million to WCC students annually

The Westchester Community College Foundation announced the addition of five new board members to the not-for-profit organization that has been supporting the institution and its students for over five decades. The new board members include Dr. Amy Ansehl, Associate Dean, School of Health Sciences and Practice, New York Medical College; author Benjamin Cheever; Lisa Denig, Special Counsel for ADR Initiatives in the NYS Office of Court Administration; Doug Greene, Vice President, Chief Information Officer at Guardian Life; Joyce Hirsch, Senior Vice President Relationship Manager (Retired), Wells Fargo Wealth Management Group; and Josh Strauss, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Imperial Dade.

“We are excited and fortunate to have such a distinguished team of new members joining our Foundation’s board,” said Board Chair Joanne Landau. “Each of these new members bring to our organization an expertise and sensitivity to our mission that will be invaluable in continuing our efforts, which is of particular importance as we continue our re-emergence from the pandemic and its corollary economic crisis.”

Dr. Amy Ansehl is a well-respected member of both the clinical and academic communities. In addition to her role as Associate Dean, School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College, she also serves as the Chair of the Visiting Nurse Services of Westchester Foundation. Dr. Ansehl has demonstrated educational leadership in her community activities as a coalition leader and chairperson for Westchester County, the New York State Department of Health, the March of Dimes, the American Lung Association, The Hudson Valley Asthma Coalition, the United Way, and the Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam and the Bronx.

Benjamin Cheever is a writer and editor. To date he has written four adult fiction novels, one children’s book and two nonfiction books. He edited The Letters of John Cheever, a collection of letters that show John Cheever’s development as a writer and a man. He also hosts a TV show called “About Writing,” of which the 50+ episodes can be seen at PCTV76.org.

Lisa Denig is the Special Counsel for ADR Initiatives to Deputy Chief Administrative Judge George Silver, the third highest ranking judge in New York State. To reach this lofty position in the legal profession, Ms. Denig began her journey by enrolling at WCC after she was married and had two small children. After graduating from WCC, she earned her bachelor’s degree at Vassar College and her J.D. at Pace University School of Law. At this point in her career – which has included serving on the staffs of a NYS Senator and the Putnam County Executive, clerking for a Federal Judge, and working for the Westchester County

DA’s office as Bureau Chief of Special Litigation – Ms. Denig still points with pride to her years at WCC as the formative years that helped set her on the course of professional success.

Doug Greene has held positions of progressively greater responsibility at Guardian Life since 2002, where he is currently the Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer. As a senior information security and IT risk/controls leader he mitigates risk, ensuring regulatory compliance and delivering business results.

Joyce Hirsch retired after a distinguished career in private banking at Wells Fargo and Citigroup. Ms. Hirsch established Wells Fargo’s business relationships with many of the largest global law firms in NYC, growing her portfolio from $0 to $10 million in revenues. Prior to Wells Fargo, Ms. Hirsch held a variety of positions at Citigroup focusing on the bank’s relationship with law firms around the United States. She has served on numerous boards and committees in Westchester, including the Scarsdale Public Library, where she was board president.

Josh Strauss is the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Imperial Dade (a Bain Capital Portfolio Company). Imperial Dade acquired his family business, Strauss Paper, where he was the Vice President of Corporate Development. In 2019 Mr. Strauss was named to Business Council of Westchester’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars.

About Westchester Community College

Westchester Community College provides over 24,000 full-time and part-time students with an education taught by award-winning faculty at one of the lowest tuition rates in New York State. The college offers over 60 degree and certificate programs, including innovative programs in such high-demand fields as cybersecurity, health information technology, respiratory therapy, and digital filmmaking. The college reflects the rich diversity of its region and was the first SUNY campus to be designated a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Westchester Community College Foundation

Since its founding in 1969, Westchester Community College Foundation (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) has raised funds to meet college and student needs not covered by public funds, distributing over $2 million in scholarships annually. Recognizing that public education is a public responsibility, the Foundation enables the college to continue to offer access to quality education and the skills for success through its fundraising and programmatic activities.