We have dedicated board members who play a crucial role in providing strategic resources to power Safer Society's success. The board contributes their time, expertise, and resources to shape the future of the organization, driving positive change in communities around the world.
William (Bill) Sessions
President
Bill is a Middlebury College graduate with a law degree from George Washington University. He served as Addison County (VT) Public Defender for five years. He practiced law in Middlebury and taught at Vermont Law School for over 15 years, focusing on civil rights and criminal defense. In 1995 Bill was nominated by President Clinton and confirmed by the U. S. Senate to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the District of Vermont. He continues to serve as a senior federal judge. During his tenure, he served on the United States Sentencing Commission for 11 years, first as vice chair, then was elevated to chair by President Obama.
Georgia Cumming
Vice President
Georgia F. Cumming is the co-author of the book Supervision of the Sex Offender, which focuses on community management, risk assessment, and treatment of sex offenders. The book, co-authored with Maureen Buell and Robert J. McGrath, provides practical advice and best practices based on the authors' extensive experience in the field. The second edition, published in 2005, covers a wide range of topics, including relapse prevention supervision strategies, risk assessment instruments, family reunification readiness, effective treatment programs, and legal aspects related to sex offender behavior.
Georgia F. Cumming's work has contributed to the understanding and management of sex offenders, providing valuable insights for case workers and professionals in the field of corrections and rehabilitation.
Barry Fetterolf
Secretary
Barry Fetterolf spent most of his 40-year publishing career in the academic book publishing industry. He began at Random House-Alfred Knopf in sales but was soon promoted to the position of executive editor in the college book division. He served as an editor-in-chief at McGraw Hill and a publisher at Harcourt Brace and later joined an independent group of academic publishing professionals in establishing an internet company publishing academic training courses on-line. He then went back to the corporate world to establish Lahaska Press, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Company, that published textbooks and professional books for graduate-level counseling and psychotherapy courses. Now in partial retirement, he represents authors in their negotiations with large publishers and spends time gardening and fly fishing.
Jean Rosenberg
Treasurer
Jean Rosenberg worked with Fay Honey Knopp for over ten years in the early days of Safer Society on research and advocacy for treatment for sexual assault perpetrators and victims, as well as prevention of sexual aggression. With a PhD in economics, she earlier taught economics at the University of Vermont and Middlebury College, and subsequently taught conflict resolution and peer mediation.
Rosenberg has lived and supported many aspects of community resilience in Middlebury, Vermont for over 50 years.
Michael Shank
Member
Dr. Michael Shank is the Director of Engagement at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, a group of international cities committed to achieving aggressive long-term carbon reduction goals and a partner of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Related to this work, Michael is also coauthoring a book for Island Press on environmental justice leadership in America. Michael’s professional career includes leading press and/or policy shops at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Climate Nexus (clients included the United Nations, Vatican City, The White House, and Fortune 500 Companies), U.S. Congress, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Institute for Economics and Peace, Biodiversity Northwest, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and more.
Michael’s academic career includes a Ph.D. from George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and is focused on climate conflict. Michael is adjunct faculty at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs, where he teaches graduate courses on Sustainable Development, Power and Politics and Climate and Security. Michael also serves as adjunct faculty and advisory board member at GMU's Carter School, where he teaches graduate courses on Writing for Policy and Practice and Communicating Conflict, and is a Visiting Scholar at the Carter School’s Program on Urban Peacebuilding.
Sarah Louer
Member
Sarah Louer, LCSW, LICSW, is a dedicated clinical social worker and human rights advocate based in New York. She serves as the Director of Clinical Services for Mountain Lake Services – Essex County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc., where she is committed to supporting individuals in need. With a Master of Social Work (MSW) and dual licensure, Louer brings a wealth of expertise to her role, focusing on empowering and assisting those facing domestic violence and other challenging situations.
Her professional dedication is complemented by her role as a board member at WOMENSAFE INC., an agency devoted to helping women and children escape domestic violence. Louer's commitment to social work and advocacy is evident in her active involvement in various organizations and her efforts to make a positive impact on the lives of those she serves.
