The American Swiss Foundation's mailing address has been updated. Please save the following address for all future correspondence:
American Swiss Foundation, c/o CBIZ, 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017.
AMERICAN SWISS FOUNDATION Staff
Staff
Vanessa E. Beary, Ed.D. was appointed Executive Director of ASF in 2023. A 2016 Young Leaders Conference alumna, she first joined the Foundation in 2018. In her role, Vanessa collaborates closely with the Foundation's Co-Chairs Robert J. Giuffra, Jr. and Markus U. Diethelm, as well as the Board of Directors, to strengthen relations between the United States and Switzerland through person-to-person diplomacy.
Vanessa's expertise spans international education, development, and diplomacy. Before joining ASF, she served as Senior Advisor for Youth Entrepreneurship at the U.S. Department of State and taught as an Adjunct Professor at American University's Kogod School of Business. She began her career at the U.S. Department of Defense, where her work in Iraq earned her the Outstanding Civilian Service Award, the Arm's third-highest public honor for civilians. Vanessa conducted her dissertation fieldwork in Khujand, Tajikistan as a Fulbright Fellow, and while there, enjoyed teaching at the Tajik State University of Commerce and Trade.
Vanessa holds both an Ed.D. and Ed.M. from Harvard University, an M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge, and a B.A. with honors from Brown University.
Manager of Programs and communications
Sarah serves as the Programs & Communications Manager, where she manages the development and expectation of strategic communication efforts and key programs aimed at enhancing Swiss-American relations. Previously, Sarah worked in event marketing at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where she led the management of event technology platforms and played a pivotal role in shaping the audience strategy for the Chamber’s flagship events.
Sarah holds an MA in Global Affairs & Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA in International Affairs from Sweet Briar College, reflecting her strong dedication to international relations.
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Christina serves as ASF’s Office Assistant, bringing a strong background in administration, event coordination, and organizational support. Prior to joining ASF, she was an Executive Assistant at the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, where she managed logistics, supported executive leadership, assisted with clergy assistance, and contributed to high-profile initiatives such as the National Policy Summit. Before that, she spent nearly two years at The Leadership Institute, first as a Regional Field Coordinator, overseeing outreach and event coordination across California, Texas, and New Mexico, and earlier as a Field Representative in California. Christina also worked as an Office Manager at the Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston, where she provided executive support and managed day-to-day operations.
Christina was born and raised in the great state of Texas and earned her B.A. in Mass Communication with an emphasis in public relations and advertising from Sam Houston State University.
As Operations Assistant, Evan supports the foundation by making financial reports, assisting with the database transition, supporting the Young Leaders Conference logistics, and other operational tasks. Previously, Evan interned for the ASF for two summers and supported various events throughout the years. Before ASF, Evan interned for Heritage Brazil, a high-end Brazilian Design furniture company, where he created a database and revised their social media marketing plan.
Evan is majoring in International Business and B2B Marketing and minoring in International Studies at Siena College.