ABOUT LISA

Lisa, her son Nachman, dog Ceba, mother Vivien, and husband Jeff

Lisa is a mother, a caregiver, a community advocate, and a leader.

She currently works as a higher education consultant. She previously served as the Director of the Office of Community-Engaged Learning at Vassar College, where she worked on programs that connect the college to the community, build capacity for local organizations, and support first-generation students.

Lisa was born in India.  Her father was in the Indian army, and her mother was a teacher. Lisa received her B.A. from the University of Delhi, and then won a Rhodes Scholarship, with funding that allowed her to study at the University of Oxford. She earned her PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology, returned to India to work in the non-profit sector, and later went to teach at the University of Birmingham, England.

Lisa and her husband moved to Poughkeepsie in 2004 to be closer to her husband’s family.  In Poughkeepsie, she volunteered at the Arthur S. May Elementary School PTA. She led the campaign to save Arthur S. May from closure, and was elected to Arlington Central School District’s Board of Education.  She managed Inferno, a boys’ team with the Town of Poughkeepsie Soccer Club, and organized the Columbus Day tournament.  In 2016, she co-organized the Poughkeepsie Women’s March Across the Hudson.  She has worked extensively with local non-profits, and has served on the Impact Council of the Dutchess-Orange United Way, the After-School Working Group of the Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet, and the board of Finish Strong.  She volunteers at the gardens at the Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Sites to grow vegetables for Dutchess Outreach and organizes the Poughkeepsie Repair Cafe. 

Lisa is an active listener and a creative problem solver who values common sense, collaboration and care. Her service to the community has been recognized by the Barrett Art Center and by the  Real Skill Network in Poughkeepsie, which honored her with the Rosa Parks “Community Icon” Award.

She is honored to be endorsed by organizations whose values are aligned with hers. Please click on the logos below to learn more about these organizations.