The National Council of Alpha Epsilon Phi is elected at each national convention for a two-year term. These seven volunteers are the governing body of the organization and are responsible for ensuring the sorority continues to fulfill its mission. Council members may serve in the same position for two bienniums and may not serve more than 12 consecutive years.
The 2011-2013 National Council was elected in June 2011 at the sorority’s 40th Biennial Convention at the Renaissance Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio.
National President
Leslie Klaidman
Phi Iota Chapter, University of Hartford
Concord, MA
nationalpresident@aephi.org
Leslie assumes the presidency after serving six terms on National Council, three terms as vice president-chapter administration, one term as vice president-programming and one term as vice president- chapter operations. She is the second generation of Klaidmans to serve on National Council and as national president - a first in AEPhi history. Her mother, Lynna Taylor Klaidman, served as national president from 1995 to 1999. This mother-daughter team is attending their 20th consecutive AEPhi summer function together.
Leslie earned her bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in sociology from the University of Hartford where she served Phi Iota Chapter as president, recruitment chair, new member educator and editor. She was inducted into Order of Omega and was active in her campus Panhellenic and IFSC.
Named both the “Greek Woman of the Year” and the “Best Sorority President” her senior year, Leslie was also awarded one of ten “Dean’s Leadership Awards” and was a runner-up for Alpha Epsilon Phi’s Blanche Z. Greenberger Award. As a collegian, Leslie was also a student orientation advisor, active in the Program Council and was appointed to the ethics committee of the Student Association.
Following graduation, Leslie became advisor to Alpha Chi Chapter, and was awarded the Leslie Shiffman Outstanding Advisor Award at the 1999 Convention. In 1993, Leslie also began serving as a province director for Eta, Phi Iota and Beta Beta Chapters.
As the Manager of Customer Accounting for American Tower Corporation, Leslie oversees a department of 35 employees. She was named the American Tower Corporation 2004 “All American,” the highest award her company can bestow on an employee. At home in Concord, MA, Leslie is the president of the Spillway Condominium Association and enjoys spending time with friends, making people laugh, listening to music and watching reality TV shows
Vice President
Chapter Administration
Deborah Friedman
Phi Sigma Chapter, Wayne State University
Oak Park, MI
vp-chapteradministration@aephi.org
Returning to Council as vice president-chapter administration, Debbie is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit. She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in accounting. She went on to earn her MBA, also at Wayne State.
As an undergraduate member of Phi Sigma Chapter, she served as chapter secretary, treasurer and president. She continued her active involvement on the alumnae level having served as chapter advisor and province director to both Phi Sigma Chapter and Pi Chapter at the University of Michigan. In addition, Debbie has been treasurer of the Alpha Epsilon Phi Foundation and a finance specialist.
Having served on National Council since 2003, Debbie has held the positions of vice president-finance for two terms and vice president-operations for one term. She continues to be a member of the AEPhi Michigan Alumnae Association as well as the house corporation president for Epsilon Chapter at Tulane University and Pi Chapter.
Debbie is employed by General Motors in Detroit where she is currently working in the Real Estate Department managing Lease Administraion Services.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her nephews, Kevin and Zachary. She also finds time to work with the family’s business (Kif’s Collectibles) by attending science fiction conventions all over the U.S. and Europe.
Vice President
Finance
Sally Strauss Lang
Psi Chapter, Washington University
St. Louis, MO
vp-finance@aephi.org
Sally is a graduate of Washington University where she was an active member of Psi Chapter having served as both philanthropy and alumnae chair. She also served as secretary and vice president of membership development for the campus Panhellenic and was elected Mid-American Panhellenic Council Association (MAPCA - now AFLV-Central) Central Area Vice President during her senior year.
In 1985, Sally was the collegiate recipient of the Susan Rudd Cohen Award for Jewish Communal Service. After graduating with a double major in Jewish studies and political science, Sally attended New York University where she received a master’s degree in public administration.
As a graduate student, Sally was advisor to Zeta Chapter at New York University, and traveled for AEPhi, primarily working with colonies. She has also served as a province director, national advisor to new Panhellenics, NPC first alternate delegate, nominating committee director, director of Jewish programming and President of the Alpha Epsilon Phi Foundation. Sally was a member of the task force on restructuring, as well as a part of both of AEPhi’s most recent strategic planning initiatives.
Sally served on National Council from 1993-2001 as vice president-collegiate chapters for two bienniums, vice president-communication and vice president-alumnae each for one biennium. She returned to National Council in 2007 as vice president–collegiate programming and is completing a term as vice president-alumnae.
Professionally, Sally serves as Director of Community Relations at the St. Louis Jewish Community Center. She is active in her community as a member of National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah and her synagogue’s Youth Committee.
Sally and her husband, Joe, are the proud parents of Jeremy and Ethan.
Vice President
Membership
Robin Solow
Phi Xi Chapter, Fairleigh Dickinson University
New York City, NY
vp-membership@aephi.org
New to National Council, Robin Solow is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University with a bachelor of arts in sociology. Robin served Phi Xi Chapter in a number of capacities including new member educator, vice president, treasurer and recruitment chair. She was also active in the Inter-Greek Council where she was both secretary and president. She was recognized as "Most Outstanding Greek Female" her senior year and was a recipient of an Alpha Epsilon Phi Foundation scholarship. She was also busy in non-Greek areas including being student government vice president, an orientation leader, a resident assistant and yearbook editor.
While pursuing a master's in higher education administration from New York University she began her alumnae involvement by working with Zeta Chapter at NYU. She went on to serve as advisor to Phi Xi and Zeta Chapters, a membership specialist and a member of the nominating committee. During the 2009-2011 biennium she served as a team captain and on the organizational structure task force.
Robin is currently the Director of Human Resources for Polo Ralph Lauren and lives in New York City with her poodle Stoli. In her free time, Robin enjoys volunteering, reality TV, the beach and the New York Giants.
Vice President
Chapter Operations
Shari Lieberfarb Schwartz
Epsilon Theta Chapter, American University
Montville, NJ
vp-chapteroperations@aephi.org
Shari Schwartz returns to National Council after having served 3 years as vice president-membership. A graduate of American University in Washington, DC, Shari earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and education. As an undergraduate, Shair held numerous positions in her chapter including president, treasurer, and standards board chair.
Shari then received her master's of social work in clinical mental health with a concentraion on children, adolescents and families from Washington University in St. Louis. Shari was awarded an Alpha Epsilon Phi Foundation scholarship for graduate school and a scholarship to participate in the College March for the Living. Prior to assuming the position of vice president-membership in 2008, Shari served as a team captain and membership specialist.
After receiving her MSW, Shari moved to Boston and worked as a clinician with children in a residential setting and then became a program coordinator and event planner at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters (JBBBS) in Boston.
In January 2011, Shari, her husband Louis, and daughter Elissa moved to Montville, New Jersey. Shari is a stay at home mom and loves every second of it. She enjoys spending time with family and friends in her free time, as well as traveling and going to the beach.
Vice President
Chapter Programming
Marianne Resslar
Phi Sigma Chapter, Wayne State University
Phoenix, AZ
vp-chapterprogramming@aephi.org
Marianne joined Phi Sigma Chapter at Wayne State University in Detroit while pursuing a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. As a collegian, Marianne was active in both her chapter and Panhellenic. She served Phi Sigma as vice president-new member education and president. She was also Panhellenic vice president of recruitment and president.
While continuing at Wayne State working on a master's degree in biomedical engineering, she was the recipient of the Alpha Epsilon Phi Foundation's Judith Resnick Scholarship (presented to a member pursuing a post graduate degree in the hard sciences). Marianne served many years as Phi Sigma's chapter advisor until assuming the position of team captain in 2003. She has continued to serve as a team captain as well as working on several special projects and committees including the nominating committee and the organizational structure task force.
Marianne is Mom to Alexandra and Zachary and holds a PhD in biomedical engineering (also from Wayne State). Although originally from Michigan, Marianne and her family now live in the Phoenix, Arizona area where she works in research and development for a body armor company. Marianne is currently developing female body armor and a K9 armor system.
When not working, being a mom or volunteering for AEPhi, Marianne enjoys traveling, reading, and doing genealogy research.
Vice President
Alumnae
Sharon Block Raphael
Epsilon Theta Chapter, American University
Arlington, VA
vp-alumnae@aephi.org
A graduate of American University where she earned a bachelor of arts in psychology, Sharon brings to National Council a variety of both undergraduate and alumnae experiences. As a member of Epsilon Theta Chapter, Sharon served as ritualist, assistant new member educator, spirit and sunshine chair, alumnae chair, formal chair, Greek Week chair, and Junior Panhellenic delegate.
After graduation, Sharon worked as an event planner in New York City for a year before returning to DC and earning a certificate in event management from George Washington University. Upon her return to DC, Sharon began her alumnae involvement serving as an advisor for Alpha Mu Chapter at the University of Maryland. She went on to serve as a finance specialist, membership specialist, team captain, alumnae agent director and a member of the nominating committee. Sharon comes to National Council from her position as director of alumnae groups and a member of the alumnae experience task force. She continues to serve as house corporation president for Kappa Chapter at Cornell Univeristy and the new formed house corporation at George Washington University.
Sharon is an accunt executive for Hayes and Associates where she is responsible for all aspects of special event planning. She, husband Ross and son Benji live in Arlington, Virginia. Sharon enjoys spending time with friends and family, attending Tot Shabbat on Saturdays, going to the beach and visiting the many museums in DC.
Past National President
Jamie Gray Light
Psi Chapter, Washington University
Beachwood, OH
pastnationalpresident@aephi.org
Jamie graduated from Washington University in St. Louis where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and business. Jamie just finished serving 2 terms as national president and returns to National Council as an ex-officio member, without vote, during the biennium following her incumbency as stated in the National Constitution.
As an undergraduate member of Psi Chapter, Jamie was actively involved in both the chapter and the campus Panhellenic. She served as AEPhi’s recruitment chair, assistant social chair and spirit chair and as Panhellenic president and faculty relations chair. She was a member of Order of Omega and the Central Area Vice President of the Mid-American Panhellenic Council Association (MAPCA). She received MAPCA’s Outstanding Officer Award, Washington University’s Greek Woman of the Year Award, Washington University’s Ethan A.H. Shepley Outstanding Senior Award and AEPhi’s Blanche Z. Greenberger Award.
After completing a master’s degree in college student personnel at Bowling Green State University, Jamie went to work in student affairs at Baldwin-Wallace College. There she worked as the director of the Center for Alcohol and Related Issues Education, the director of Community Outreach, the director of Greek Life and as an admission counselor for the undergraduate evening/weekend program.
As an alumna, Jamie served as a province director for Nu, Phi Rho and Phi Sigma Chapters, two terms on the nominating committee, as director of Second Avenue, as a member of AEPhi’s NPC delegation and as director of Second Avenue Program Development.
Jamie, her husband, Benjamin, and daughter, Hannah, live in Beachwood, Ohio. Jamie is active at her synagogue where she has served on the Board of Trustees and chaired the arts education initiative. She also volunteers at Hannah’s elementary school. In her free time, Jamie enjoys knitting, crafting, traveling and spending time with family and friends.