About Us

We are one of UNA-USA’s earliest chapters. Our audience includes Americans dedicated to supporting the work of the UN, including civil servants, teachers, and students interested in international relations and careers.

Members engage with the United Nations in New York and beyond:

UN General Assembly
Global Engagement Summit
Global conferences
Educational outreach
Model UN
Young Professionals Program

We normally hold four public outreach events each year:

United Nations Day in October
Human Rights Day in December
International Women’s Day in March
Annual Meeting/Earth Day in April/May

Marcia
Brewster

PRESIDENT

Marcia M. Brewster is a UNA-USA leader, former UN senior officer, and international development expert with 35+ years of experience advancing water resources, sustainable development, and gender equality – including 14 years living and working in Asia. At the UN, she led water and sanitation agendas for major global conferences and managed the Interagency Task Force on Gender and Water, coordinating 23 UN and non-UN entities. She has evaluated programs for the World Bank, published extensively, and served on numerous boards. She holds an MSc in Development Economics from Georgetown.

Demetrios
Mihailidis

VICE PRESIDENT, EDUCATION

Demetrios “Mr. M” Mihailidis is a retired educator who taught in the Bronx, Mount Vernon, and at Syracuse University. He founded the United Nations Club at Mount Vernon High School and has been recognized for contributions to human rights and education. He has published research and participated in UNESCO projects in West Africa and South Korea. He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in History from New York University and remains committed to global education and human rights.

Nikolina Gelmanovski

VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE

Nikolina Gelmanovski is a Strategic Advisor and Technical Program Consultant with 15+ years of experience across systems innovation, technology governance, and global resilience. As a Canadian National Defence Advisor, she leads C5I, Geospatial, AI, and Peace Support Modernization supporting Canada, NATO, and Allied partners – receiving the 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal at the Canadian Mission to the UN in New York. Her career spans intergovernmental, academic, and Fortune Global 500 environments. She holds an MBA and BA in Computational Media from the University of Toronto.

Victor
Petenkemani

TREASURER

Professor Victor Petenkemani is Dean of Mercy University’s School of Business, where he teaches economics, international business, and corporate finance. His research focuses on asset pricing, impact investing, and risk management. An entrepreneur, investor, and advisor, he previously held strategy and finance roles with Delta Air Lines, Houlihan Lokey, BlackRock, and Caisse des Dépôts. He holds an MBA in Finance and MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, plus degrees in accounting and economics.

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Thellenza
Krasniqi

SECRETARY

Thellenza Arifi Krasniqi is a legal and human rights expert with more than 24 years of international and New York experience advancing human rights, access to justice, gender equality, and the rule of law. She is Founder and Executive Director of the Caring Human Rights Center and General Editor of Smit & Herzog on the Law of the European Union for LexisNexis. Her career includes legal and institutional reform work in Kosovo, including advising Parliament. She holds an LLM from Pace University and an MA from the Universities of Bologna and Sarajevo.

Mezaun
Arnone

EDUCATION CHAIR

Mezaun Arnone is an award-winning educator, art therapist, and arts leader with 11 years of experience in education. She has taught STREAM, classical music appreciation, and art across elementary grade levels. She founded Art of Valor, NY, providing therapeutic art programs for military veterans, and leads Eko ni Agbara, a global arts education initiative serving children in Africa. She also serves on arts boards and is an exhibited visual artist. Mezaun holds an MS in Psychology and a BA in English.

Nicole
Benjamin

PARTNERSHIPS CHAIR

Nicole Benjamin is an advocate leader with experience in government relations, strategic planning, community engagement, nonprofit management, social and legal services. She serves as Assistant Executive Director of Quality Improvement and Compliance at The Arc Westchester, overseeing advocacy, compliance, and staff development. She has also worked in government, including as a Legislative Aide for the City of Yonkers and with the NYC Department of Health. Nicole holds a JD and LLM from Touro, an MSW from Fordham, and a BA from Yale.

Nicole
Grieco-Butterfield

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR

Nicole Grieco Butterfield is a writer, educator, and healthy relationships advocate with more than 30 years of experience working with youth. A former teacher and administrator, she specialized in student-centered, experiential education focused on language and literature. She tutors and guides through college and secondary school admissions while researching, writing, and speaking about healthy relationships. She is a graduate of Wesleyan, Sarah Lawrence, and Middlebury College.

Colleen
Gardephe

programs co-chair

Colleen Gardephe is a writer and editor with more than 25 years of experience specializing in health, parenting, and education. She coordinates an Emerging Adults Justice Initiative in New Rochelle City Court and previously served as Director of Communications for Family Services of Westchester, overseeing 50 social service programs. She was also Managing Director of My Brother’s Keeper New Rochelle, where she created more than 40 programs for young people. Colleen holds degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Pennsylvania and University of Missouri.

Connie
Jones-Hairston

programs co-chair

Connie Jones-Hairston is a social worker, doctoral student in Social Welfare at CUNY Graduate Center, and Program Director of the White Plains Community Youth Court. With over 25 years of legal experience with the U.S. Department of Justice, she focuses on youth development, diversion, advocacy, and social justice. Connie previously served as a Social Work Field Placement Coordinator and Adjunct at Fordham University. She holds a Master of Science, a Master of Public Administration, and Master of Social Work.

Rosemary
Uzzo

ADVOCACY CO-CHAIR

Dr. Rosemary J. Uzzo is a lifelong educator and international advocate for peace whose career spans teaching, curriculum development, administration, and international consulting. She has served on advisory boards in China and Ghana and worked internationally in El Salvador, Australia, Italy, and China. A longtime supporter of the United Nations, she organized “Voice of Peace,” an international art and performance exhibition at UN Headquarters in 2015. She received the International Peace Ambassador Award in 2024 and remains active in education, equity, and community advocacy.

Andy
Laub

ADVOCACY CO-CHAIR

Andy D. Laub is a professional in international affairs, diplomacy, political campaign management, and public-sector administration. He serves as a Senior Clerk at the Westchester County Board of Elections and previously worked as Director of Constituent Services for the NY State Senate. His experience includes congressional campaigns, local government, international relations, nonprofit advocacy, and leadership development. Andy has worked with the American Center for Strategic and International Affairs and the IDEOS Institute, with expertise in policy, research, crisis management, and public relations.

Rebecca
Snyder

Communications co-chair

Rebecca Snyder works at the intersection of human rights, global health, and community impact. Her international development experience includes supporting refugee and asylum-seeking communities in Hong Kong and conducting research in Thailand on globalization’s impacts on women. She also supported global health initiatives with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance and the UN Special Envoy for Malaria. Rebecca currently serves as Director of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding Westchester, leading partnerships that expand food access and support hunger-relief programs. Her work centers on dignity, health equity, and food security.

Marika
Adam

communications co-chair

Marika Adam is a communications and media professional with experience in content production, social media, and event marketing across New York, Paris, and international settings. She has worked with the World Federation of United Nations Associations and the United Nations Association of Westchester, creating digital content and supporting global conferences and community initiatives. A graduate of the Institut Catholique de Paris with a degree in Communications, Marika is passionate about storytelling, multimedia production, and international affairs.

Alison
Christmas

NOMINATIONS CHAIR

Alison Christmas serves as Clinical Placement Coordinator at Mercy University’s School of Nursing, managing student and faculty placements and ensuring compliance with clinical guidelines. Previously, she supported clinical administration at Mercy University and Columbia University Medical Center, including accreditation, credentialing, international sponsorships, and medical practice operations. Alison holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a marketing focus from Mercy University and mentors through iMentor NYC.

C. Michele
Shivers

board member

C. Michele Shivers is a dynamic educator, advocate, and community leader advancing equity through education, civic engagement, and global awareness. Michele empowers women through workshops, speaking engagements, and leadership development. She chaired UNA-USA Westchester’s 2026 Nominating Committee and serves as Committee Co-Chair of the Book Club for the UNA-USA Women’s Affinity Group. Michele holds a Master of Science in Teaching (MST) from Fordham University.

Angela
Matthews

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CO-CHAIR

Angela Mathews is a youth justice and legal professional committed to systemic reform, restorative justice, and community impact. She has supported more than 150 juvenile cases through the White Plains Community Youth Court and has helped mentor young people through its peer-led justice model. Angela also contributes to statewide youth justice policy through the New York State Youth Justice Institute Peer Advisory Council and works as a paralegal at Finkelstein & Partners. She holds a BS in Biological Sciences from the University at Buffalo.

Matthew
Viskewich

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CO-CHAIR

Matthew Viskewich is an international affairs professional focused on finance, economic policy, technology, and global cooperation. He is an incoming Master of International Affairs candidate at Columbia SIPA, following a degree in International Relations from Mercy University. His experience includes leadership with National Model UN, legislative and foreign policy research, and founding an AI-focused technology venture. He is particularly interested in how technology and data-driven approaches are shaping global decision-making, security, and international cooperation.

Raina
Kadavil

board member

Raina Kadavil is a Philanthropy Manager at Mastercard and has led communications and Model UN initiatives with UNA-USA. She is CEO of Urban Refuge, a nonprofit mapping aid for refugees and immigrants, and Philanthropy Chair of Mastercard’s Women’s Leadership Network. She holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. Raina founded the Boston University UNA-USA chapter and its first professional foreign affairs journal, and she is a published author and researcher. Her work has received recognition from the Coca-Cola Foundation, Zonta International, Walt Disney Company, and Claes Nobel.