Christopher Bjork, PhD
Christopher Bjork earned his B.A. and his M.A. in liberal studies from Wesleyan University. He completed his PhD in educational anthropology at Stanford University. Certified to teach both elementary and secondary school, he has worked as a classroom teacher in Japan and the United States.
His research interests include international comparative education, educational reform, teacher education, and youth sports. He is the author of the book Indonesian Education, and editor or coeditor of many other books, including Japanese Education in an Era of Globalization, Education and Training in Japan, Educational Decentralization, and Taking Teaching Seriously. His most recent book, High Stakes Schooling, was published by the University of Chicago Press.
Caryn Halle
"The Vassar Haiti Project has been a huge part of my life and that of my family since almost the beginning of the project when it was a bunch of friends and a few students looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of this remote village in Haiti through art and handcraft sales. Journeys to “Ayiti” with the project have provided me the opportunity to witness the beauty and inspiration of the land that has been illustrated so vividly and uniquely by each of our artists, as well as to see first hand just how the project has made a difference in the lives of the people in our village. In the last few years in particular, I have also come to realize that it is not just the future of Chermaitre and of Haiti but also of the students at Vassar and of the community at large which is being so positively impacted by this project. Watching our students develop strong leadership skills, as they conceive of initiatives, plan their implementation and become incredible human beings and citizens of the world, ready to tackle 21st century problems with confidence and grace, has been a real privilege. I am so grateful to be part of a project that continues to grow and expand and attract an incredibly capable cadre of students and community members who will push the project to new levels of outreach and action!"
Jackie Eiting
"I am thrilled to be participating as both a Board Member and volunteer with Vassar Haiti Project. I am an Owner and Partner in a small consulting firm and have been a Management Consultant for over 35 years. My career has focused on Leadership Development and Building Culture in both the profit and not for profit sectors. It has been especially rewarding to be able to contribute my skills and experience to the student volunteers and leaders for VHP. Though I am deeply committed to and proud of the work that VHP has accomplished in Chermaitre and surrounding communities in Haiti it is working with and partnering with the students that brings me the most joy.
"My current focus is building this Board especially in the arena of fundraising. We have a great Board of people committed to the sustainability and expansion of this incredibly valuable organization. I think we are all united in our stand that what Lila and Andrew have built and nurtured is an amazing model for development In Haiti and developing global leaders and deserves support to grow and flourish. "
Daniel Katz, M.D.
Growing up in Youngstown, Ohio with a doctor father and artist mother, the appreciation of art and medicine was part of his family culture. With this background, Dan was immediately attracted to VHP when he met Lila at an art sale in 2011.
“After my initial introduction to Lila and Andrew, I was asked to serve on the VHP medical advisory board, and helped in the early stages of the creation of the Fierville-Chermaitre medical clinic. Subsequently, I had the honor of travelling twice to Haiti to work alongside VHP’s Haitian partners at the clinic, helping care for the people of Chermaitre and its surrounding villages. It is through this lens, an inspirational yet gut-wrenching perspective, that I was forever connected to the beauty and overwhelming need of this remarkable, glorious, and majestic land and people, so palpably portrayed in the art. Once smitten, the glow is part of your soul and the drive to help in any way possible is relentless.”
As a board member, Dan hopes to guide more medical initiatives, including working to bring solar power to help modernize our medical clinic. He acts as an ambassador for VHP by introducing new friends and colleagues to VHP’s mission and by filling the walls of his home with Haitian art for all to enjoy. Dan is looking forward to working with the VHP students and other board members alongside our partners in Haiti, to help our Haitian villages gain the modernization and skills needed to sustain and improve their lives in the years to come.
Candice Lowe Swift
Candice Lowe-Swift is an Associate Professor of Anthropology, Africana Studies and International Studies at Vassar College, where she has worked since 2004. She teaches courses on the Indian Ocean, Cultural Anthropology, Community-based Research Methods, the Anthropology of Food, and Globalization. She has served as Chair of Anthropology, Director of the Multidisciplinary Learning-Living Community on Food, and occupied the position of Liaison to President for Race and Inclusion from 2016-2018. In the latter role, in the fall of 2017, Candice and Interim President, Jon Chenette, became Co-Principal Investigators on a Mellon Foundation proposal, The Engaged Pluralism Initiative (EPI), to develop mechanisms for learning about, and acting upon, the challenges faced by first generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students on Vassar's campus. Upon the successful funding of that proposal, Candice served as a director of EPI. In 2018, President Bradley appointed Candice as Special Advisor on Inclusion and Engaged Pluralism, and embedded her into the senior team of administrators at Vassar College. In 2019, working with a number of students, administrators and faculty,
Candice initiated and co-founded Summer Immersion in the Liberal Arts-- a summer bridge program designed primarily to support a greater sense of belonging and expanded opportunities for students from marginalized backgrounds. She initiated and directed this program in the summers of 2019 and 2020. Although Candice stepped down from the roles of EPI Director, Summer Immersions Director, and Special Advisor in December of 2020, these efforts continue to have an influence on the Vassar community. Among other projects, she is currently working with co-editor Eréndira Rueda (Sociology), on an edited volume that highlights the work of belonging and inclusive pedagogy in a number of institutional contexts. Candice has often called the VHP an inspiring and ideal model of engaged pluralism that she aspired to generate in EPI. She is excited to contribute to the mission of the VHP and to support the outstanding work of Lila and Andrew Meade!
Andrew Meade, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
"Participating with the Vassar Haiti Project is in so many ways a dream come true.”
“Living and attending school in Haiti in the 1970’s gave me the opportunity to get to know the land, the people, and their glorious art. Despite the poverty, the political turmoil, the environmental devastation, and lack for years of any kind of governmental infrastructure, the dignity and spirit of the Haitian people remains powerfully strong, vibrant and free. It is this vibrant spirit which translates so colorfully and creatively into art, which is one of that country’s few remaining viable exports.”
“I consider it a privilege to be engaged in this work. One of the greatest thrills has been the great and growing numbers of people, including dozens of Vassar students, faculty, staff, and administrators, and folks from the Hudson Valley and beyond, who have requested the opportunity to participate either as a member or a partner of this project.”
Andrew Meade is the Director of International Services at Vassar College.
Lila Meade, Co-Founder & Executive Director
“In 2001, Andrew had a ‘little idea’ of supporting a school in Haiti which he took to the Dean of the College, Colton Johnson. This seed has blossomed into the Vassar Haiti Project today.
"By buying the artwork from Haiti and supporting the livelihood of artists, the project has blossomed into a family and partnership with students and community members. Vassar students have reached out way beyond the walls of the college (and themselves!) towards making a ‘concrete’ difference in Haiti. And then, they take what they learn and put it to use in the world when they graduate. What a joy and privilege it is to work with students of such passion, integrity and insight. They keep pushing the project (and me!) towards new levels!
"What was planted years ago has now become a virtual forest! I have grown to love Haiti through its incredible art, culture and spirit. This project has taught me much about what is truly rich in life. I dedicate my work in this project to my mother, Lily, who spent her early childhood in Haiti and who taught me how to love, respect and care for others.”
Sahara Pradhan ’15
As a Vassar student and alumna, Sahara has been closely involved with VHP for almost a decade. As a student, she served as co-director of the Education initiative and VP for outreach, and co-president in her final year at Vassar. She has continued to remain involved with the project as a facilitator at VHP’s bi-annual leadership retreats.
Sahara is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in International Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her research focuses broadly on development, neoliberal education reforms, entrepreneurship education, and the role that technology plays in education. Sahara is also an educational evaluator and has most recently worked as an Evaluation Associate for the Collaborative for Educational Services in Northampton, MA. She is also Managing Editor for the journal, Comparative Education Review. She holds an M.Ed. in International Education from UMass Amherst and a B.A. from Vassar College in Political Science and Educational Studies.
David Schwartz
David grew up in New York City and moved to the mid-Hudson Valley in 1997. He joined the Vassar Haiti Project as a volunteer in its’ first year, 2001. David organizes the annual VHP auction, helps out at the various sales, and enjoys working with the students.
"From its inception, I've had enormous respect for this project, it's truly a virtuous circle. By buying Haitian art, we create a source of income for Haitian artists. The profits go back to Haiti to support our various local initiatives, the Vassar and Poughkeepsie communities become engaged, and the Vassar students learn to run the whole thing, gaining empathy, competence and confidence along the way. The project is big enough to make a difference and small enough to create a real community."
David has made his career in business, finance and investing. Other interests include local history, historic preservation and ecosystem and habitat sustainability. In addition to VHP, David currently serves on the Boards of the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie and the Hudson chapter of Mensa International.
Jerry Wonda
Jerry ‘ Wonda’ Duplessisis a dynamic, Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum super music producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is one of the most successful, highly regarded and musically adept producers to emerge from the hip-hop era since the early 1990’s. Born and raised in Haiti, Jerry has built a stellar music career including 3 Grammy Awards, over 16 Grammy nominations, a publishing catalogue of 300+ titles, and 300+ million single and album copies sold. Jerry has scored 10 films and documentaries, and produced songs for feature films including the Golden Globe-nominated “Million Voices” for Hotel Rwanda.
Jerry serves as a Governor of the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy (the Grammy’s). He is also a Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti, recognized for advocating, promoting and supporting the country and its people globally on projects for humanitarian relief, education, health, sustainable business and community development.
In addition to his many award-winning music accolades over the past 30 years, Jerry has developed a large portfolio of business ventures and investments, including founding one of New York City’s most iconic and long-standing music recording studios, Platinum Sound Recording Studios, in the heart of TriBeCa. The self-taught musician has produced hits in every genre of music including hip hop, pop, r&b, reggae, world and rock. He has worked with musical greats including The Fugees, Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Shakira, Melissa Etheridge, Carlos Santana, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Mick Jagger, Bono, Eric Clapton, John Legend, Michael Jackson, and Justin Bieber, among many others.
Jerry’s global vision continues to inspire. He is the creator of the One World Project, the co-founder of WeThePlanet, and is a speaker at United Nations events. He is a stalwart in the New Jersey State and Newark community where he has worked on youth arts and entrepreneur initiatives, for which he was awarded the Impact Award by Rutgers University and honored at many other events, including the Creole Image Honors Awards. Jerry is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Newark Symphony Hall. Jerry supports charitable causes related to clean water, mental health, and pediatric brain tumor research.