Philanthropy New York is proud to announce that staff members Kristen Ruff and Beeta Jahedi have been promoted, respectively, to Director of Member Services and Assistant Director of Learning Services.
In her new role as Director of Member Services, Kristen Ruff will work with Philanthropy New York’s Executive Team to create and evaluate an annual program strategy for learning and community building and will continue to provide key support to our members through professional peer networks, membership-related initiatives and member research; lead PNY’s leadership development programming for young professionals; and coordinate our knowledge management work, for which she serves on the technology steering committee for the national regional association Knowledge Management Initiative.
Prior to joining Philanthropy New York in 2007, Kristen coordinated the public education and humanitarian aid programs at MADRE, an international women’s human rights organization. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies from Wellesley College. While at Wellesley, she was a National Science Foundation Research Assistant at the Center for Research on Women, focusing on an evaluation of a collaborative higher education support program for lower income women in the greater Boston area. Kristen has volunteered for several nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
As the Assistant Director of Learning Services, Beeta Jahedi is responsible for implementation of the organization’s programming strategy and leads the creation and management of Philanthropy New York’s program series and events. Beeta fosters engagement with members and colleague organizations to create content-rich and cutting edge programs. Beeta coordinates the logistics, technology and communications for Philanthropy New York events, including: event-related resources, distance learning offerings, program-related Web content and registration.
Beeta joined Philanthropy New York in 2010, and brings programming, event and research experience to the organization, having worked with a variety of nonprofits. Beeta is on the Screening Committee for the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, serves as Secretary of the Junior Board of Directors of Girls Incorporated of New York City and on the Steering Committee for the Emerging Leaders Network for the National Council for Research on Women. She received her M.P.A. in Public and Nonprofit Management and Administration from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University and received her Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies from Bard College at Simon's Rock.