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
Dr. Vanessa Beary was appointed executive director of the American Swiss Foundation in 2023. Dr. Beary, who participated in the 2016 Young Leaders Conference hosted by Syngenta in Basel, began working for the Foundation in 2018.
As executive director, Dr. Beary works together with the Foundation’s Co-Chairs, Robert J. Giuffra, Jr., and Markus U. Diethelm, and the Foundation’s Board of Directors to strengthen the longstanding friendship between the United States and Switzerland.
Dr. Beary's background is in international education, development, and diplomacy. Before joining the Foundation, she served as a Senior Advisor for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Office of Commercial and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and as an Adjunct Professor at American University’s Kogod School of Business. She began her career working for the U.S. Department of Defense and received the Outstanding Civilian Service Award, the third highest public honor that the Army can grant to a civilian, for her work in Iraq.
Dr. Beary holds an Ed.D. from Harvard University, an M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge, and a B.A. with honors from Brown University. She currently serves on the Board of the Harvard Alumni Association.
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.
Communications & programs coordinator
Bella is the Communications & Programs Coordinator at the American Swiss Foundation, where she plays a key role in fostering U.S.-Swiss relations. She coordinates the Foundation's communications efforts, focusing on fostering dialogue, promoting cultural diplomacy, and enhancing network engagement. In addition to her communications responsibilities, Bella supports the planning and executing of impactful events to advance the Foundation's mission.
Bella holds an M.A. in European Public Policy from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a B.A. in International Relations from Bowdoin College.
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.