Council and Committee Rosters
Executive Committee
Purpose: To act on behalf of the Board of Directors when the board is not in session and within the scope established in the Lamaze International Bylaws.
- Alice Turner, President
- Christen Sadler, Past President
- Tanya Cawthorne, President-Elect
- Kacy Cutler, Secretary/Treasurer
Accreditation Council Governing Body
Purpose: Serves as the standard-setting body for accreditation of Lamaze Childbirth Educator Programs and outside organizations seeking Lamaze contact hours for educational offerings; makes policy decisions relating to accreditation matters.
- Mary Healy, Member
- Michele Ondeck, Member
- Gemma Wilson, Member
- Deborah Woolley, Member
- Marilyn Curl, Board Liaison
Certification Council Governing Body
Purpose: Serves as the standard-setting body for Lamaze certification and makes policy decisions relating to certification matters.
- Elizabeth (Betsy) Armstrong, Certification Council Chair
- Betsy Armstrong, Chair / Public Member
- Judy Lothian, Exam Construction Chair
- Wendy Budin, Item Writing Committee Chair
- Cara Terreri, At-Large Member
- Debra McAllister, At-Large Member
- Barbara Hotelling, At-Large Member
- Eileen DiFrisco At-Large Member
- Maria Brooks, Education Council Chair (non-voting)
- Michele Deck, Accreditation Council Chair (non-voting)
Education Council Governing Body
Purpose: Responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating professional education programs that promote childbirth educator training and development. Makes policy decisions related to professional education programs.
- Maria Brooks, Chair
- Wendy Shiffer, Childbirth Educator Training & Resources Chair
- Meghan Bardwell, Continuing Education Chair
- Joy Kusek, Parent Education Chair
- Jamie Wasson, Member At-Large
- Jessica Deeb, Board Liaison
Finance Committee
Purpose: Makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the annual budget, selection of financial audit firm and investment manager, financial policies and transfers.
- Kacy Cutler, Secretary/Treasurer, Chair
- Alice Turner, President
- Tanya Cawthorne, President Elect
- Christen Sadler, Past President
- Robin Douthit, Elected Director-at-Large
Search Committee
Purpose: Actively seeks out leadership candidates for the Board of Directors and other key leadership positions, reviews their qualifications, and recommends candidates for the election slate or appointment in accordance with the Lamaze International Bylaws and procedures established by the Board of Directors.
- Christen Sadler, Past President, Chair
- Shauna Lively, Elected Director
- Kathryn Konrad, General Member
- Ambar Rivera, General Member
- Renece Waller-Wise, General Member
Research Working Group
Purpose: The Lamaze Childbirth Education Research Initiative was developed to facilitate research into childbirth education that investigates: Evaluation of childbirth education accessibility, effectiveness, acceptability, return on investment and quality; Best practices for delivering and receiving childbirth education; Parent knowledge of evidence-based birth and breastfeeding practices.
- Jennifer A. Vanderlaan, Chair
- Susan Givens
- Leslie Arnott
- Jeannette Crenshaw
- Barbara Hotelling
- Judy Lothian
- Penny Simkin
- Kate Levett
- Joyce K. Edmonds
Diversity + Outreach
Diversity and inclusion are strategic priorities for Lamaze International. This committee has been established to doing something meaningful and transformative with community-led action and leadership with the goal of building a diverse Lamaze membership that is a reflection of the communities we wish to serve.
- Tara Owens Shuler, Chair
- LaToya Murray-Johnson, Member
- Tara Shuler, Member
- Kate Luxion, Member
- Taiwo Ajao, Member
- Robin Pitts, Member
- Chama Woydak, Member
- Ngozi Tibbs, Board Liaison
- Mary Duke, Board Liaison
Advocacy + Collaboration
Advocacy and collaboration have long been strategic priorities for Lamaze International. This committee has been established to focus on advocating for safe and healthy birth practices through access to evidence-based childbirth education for all expecting parents on local, national and international levels.
- Tonya Daniel, Chair
- Meghan Bardwell, Member
- Michelle Becker, Member
- Liz DeMaere, Member
- Sujata Gami, Member
- Melissa Gonzalez, Member
- Catherine McWherter, Member
- Sarah Paksima, Member
- Lesley Pascuzzi, Member
- Blake Slusser, Member
- Crystal Sada, Member
- Sherri Wilkerson, Member
- Jill Wodnick, Member
- Brenda Kirkpatrick, Board Liaison
International Committee
- Liz DeMaere, Chair
- Elena Carrillo, Member
- Marjaana Siivola, Member
- Nancy Bonilla, Member
- Megha Khanduja, Member
- Zuzana Nadova, Member
- Naseera Hoorzook, Member
- Teresa Navarro, Board Liasion
Continuing Education Committee
- Meghan Bardwell, Chair
- Andrea Lythgoe, Member
- Deborah Woolley, Member
- Renece Waller-Wise, Member
- Angela Hammett, Member