Staff

Ian H. Moncaster is currently the President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Puget Sound. Prior to joining the World Affairs Council, Ian spent over 10 years living and working overseas in a variety of sectors including international relief and development, foreign policy, and diplomatic relations.

In 1993, Ian moved to the United States and rejoined CARE, spending the next eight years in organizational and fiscal management. While based in CARE's headquarters in Atlanta, he provided management backstopping and oversaw strategic planning for CARE's operations in South Asia and became part of a management triumvirate overseeing CARE's major gifts operations. In 1997, Ian moved to Seattle with CARE, with responsibilities in public education, fundraising and social corporate responsibility. Most recently, he joined the World Affairs Council in 2001 as President and CEO to promote international understanding and discussion in the Puget Sound area.

Autumn Lerner joined the World Affairs Council in February 2006. Autumn previously held the position of Director of the International Visitor Program and Chief Operating Officer before becoming Vice President in charge of public program development in October 2009.

Originally from rural northern California, Autumn is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in European History and spent a semester abroad in Moscow, Russia. Autumn received a master’s degree in Russian, East European, and Central Asian International Studies from the Jackson School at the University of Washington.

Autumn returned to Moscow in the summer of 2001 to study and volunteer at a rehabilitation center for Russian orphans. Prior to joining the Council, Autumn spent three years directing international leadership programs and handcrafted tours to Russia and the former Soviet States. She loves to travel and has traveled extensively through Russia, Europe, the Trans Caucasus, and Latin America. In June 2009 she spent a month on a professional exchange across Europe as an American Memorial Marshall Fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. Next on her travel list? Indonesia, Italy, Turkey, and Brazil.

Autumn is passionate about international education, women's leadership, girl’s empowerment, youth leadership, mentoring, communication, and connecting people around the globe. She is a board member for both the Center for Women and Democracy and the City of Seattle Sister Cities Council, and is a proud “Big Sister” with Big Brothers Big Sisters of King County. In addition, outside of the Council, Autumn loves to explore Seattle, hike in urban settings, dance (almost any kind), read, eat good food, and spend time with friends and family.

Autumn brings to the Council a belief that leadership sets the tone and that anything is possible with pure intention.

Elaine Chang
Strategic Advisor

Elaine Chang is the Strategic Advisor at the World Affairs Council. Prior to joining the Council, she spent eleven years in higher education administration at the University of Washington’s Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs. She was Assistant Dean of the Evans School for eight years, and then launched the Marc Lindenberg Center for Humanitarian Action, International Development and Global Citizenship in 2002. In these roles, she worked closely with the World Affairs Council to develop university-wide educational programs and public education events related to global issues affecting the developing world.

Before joining UW, Elaine spent one academic year living and teaching in Pecs, Hungary as a Soros Foundation-funded Civic Education Project lecturer at Janus Pannonius University. From 1983 to 1985, she was a manager and curator of the “China: 7,000 Years of Discovery” traveling exhibition in Seattle, Atlanta and Boston, one of the earliest and largest cultural exchange activities between China and the U.S. after the normalization of relations between the two nations. She has also worked in the tourism industry in China and Alaska, as a translator on board the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, and as an environmental program manager for King County.

Julie Kageler is the Finance Director at the World Affairs Council. Since earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University, an accounting concentration from the University of Washington and passing the CPA exam, Julie has worked primarily in the nonprofit sector. She started her career in larger health care organizations--SeaMar Community Health Center and Providence Hospice of Seattle. For the past ten years Julie has worked and consulted in a finance capacity for a number of small nonprofit organizations in Seattle and New York. She joined the Council in July of 2007.

Julie feels strongly about applying her skills and experience to organizations, like the Council, toward which she feels a commitment to the mission. Along with her half-time work as Finance Director at the Council, Julie works with organizations involved in eliminating hunger, providing healthcare to children, creating global issues curriculum, and mobilizing philanthropy in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Jillian serves Program Assistant in the Global Classroom program as well as Executive Assistant to the President at the World Affairs Council. Jillian received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Western Washington University in June of 2008. In January of 2009 Jillian joined the World Affairs Council as a Global Classroom intern for six months. Her passion for both domestic and international educational development issues naturally drew her to the Global Classroom program, and she is very excited to be a part of the World Affairs Council team.

Jillian enjoys working with youth of all ages and has spent some of her free time tutoring elementary and middle school students, developing recreational programs at a family support center, and working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound. Jillian also enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities, music, exploring new cities and cultures, cooking (and of course eating!) good food, dancing, and spending time with friends and family.

Bipasana Joshee
Database and Office Manager

Bipasana Sakya Joshee is the Database and Office Manager for the World Affairs Council. Having grown up in New York, Kathmandu, Nepal and spending almost a decade at an American boarding school in India, her life experiences naturally draw her to the work of the Council. She was raised with a deep connection to multiple cultures, surrounded by other global citizens and is excited about promoting a similar atmosphere through her role with the Council.

She has a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Knox College in Illinois and a master's degree in Gender and Cultural Studies from Simmons College in Boston. Her commitment to human rights has led her to gain extensive administrative experience at a number of organizations working with various vulnerable populations, particularly with women.

Bipasana has friends and family spread out over the globe and is eternally grateful to Facebook, Skype and other internet technologies for helping her stay connected with the intricacies of their lives. She is new to Seattle and enjoys exploring the city.

Alyse Cato
Community Events Coordinator

Alyse Cato is the Community Events Coordinator for the World Affairs Council. She has a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Foreign Language and International Affairs (FLIA) from the University of Puget Sound (UPS). While in school, she spent a semester abroad in Dijon, France studying French. It was during her travels that she developed a deep love for learning about other cultures and lifestyles. She joined the Council in November of 2008 as a Community Programs intern. In May of 2009 she spent 3 months in a contract position as Special Assistant to the President before taking her current position.

Along with traveling, Alyse enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities, football (Seahawks!), trying new foods, dancing, singing, and spending time with her friends and family. She hopes to do more traveling in the future to further her knowledge of communities and cultures across the globe.

Tese Neighbor
Senior Director of Professional Development

Tese Wintz Neighbor has traveled extensively around the world, but her heart and soul remain in Asia. Tese lived in China from 1981-1983 working in Beijing as the English editor for China Pictorial magazine as well as teaching English at Beijing University. She then was based in Hong Kong from 1983-1985, setting up bicycle tours as well as traveling extensively throughout the PRC and other parts of Asia as a tour director/lecturer and free-lance writer for the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Far Eastern Economic Review.

Tese holds a Masters degree in China Regional Studies from the Henry Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. She has worked as an adjunct Asian history instructor at Seattle-area colleges and currently teaches an intensive East Asia Seminar class for the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia, based at the University of Washington. Since 1999 she has worked as the Director of Professional Development for the World Affairs Council's Global Classroom Program.

Laura Adriance
Director of Professional Development

Laura serves as Director of Professional Development for the World Affairs Council’s Global Classroom program. Laura has worked as an educator in a variety of settings. She has taught elementary school in both New York and Washington. She has worked with future teachers in the University of Washington’s teacher education program. And, as part of her Peace Corps service, she conducted professional development for teachers in rural Namibia.

Laura grew up in New Jersey and earned her bachelors degree at Drew University, with one semester spent studying abroad in Cannes, France. She holds a Masters degree in elementary education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a PhD in education from the University of Washington.

Given her own experiences as a classroom teacher, Laura is particularly passionate about supporting teachers in their efforts to help students learn about the world beyond our borders and truly become global citizens.

Kristen Comer
Director, International Visitors Program

Kristen Comer joined the World Affairs Council as Director of the International Visitors Program in December of 2009. Previously, she has served as Executive Director of Washington Ceasefire, a small state-wide non-profit focused on reducing gun violence. As Executive Director, she managed all parts of the organization, including public relations, communications, finance, policy work, board management, fundraising, etc. In addition to her work on gun control policy, she has worked with students on conflict resolution projects in New York public schools and worked with youth and teachers at the Metrocenter YMCA Seattle Rotary Education Center.

Kristen is passionate about international relations, issues related to environmental sustainability and resource management, youth leadership, global trade and energy policy. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mukdahan, Thailand and completed a human rights apprenticeship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She earned her B.A. in Education from Western Washington University and her M.A. in International Education and Development Policy from Columbia University.

Lauren Opstad
Program Officer, International Visitors Program

Lauren currently serves as a Program Officer for the International Visitor Program. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Gonzaga University in International Relations and religious studies, spending a year abroad in Florence, Italy where she studied, savored Italian cuisine and traveled throughout Europe. During this time abroad, Lauren developed a love for foreign cultures, people, and the exchange of ideas and experiences. Following graduation, she studied Spanish in Guatemala where she was again amazed by the local culture and warmth of the people. In addition to travel, Lauren enjoys running, reading (anything but science fiction), exploring Seattle and taming the beast some call ‘cooking’.

Lauren joined the Council in September 2009 and worked as an intern for three months before being hired as a Program Officer. She looks forward to her work with the IVP team and is especially excited for youth programming. Lauren also hopes to continue her travels whenever possible, and would eventually like to go to graduate school for International Development and Public Policy.

Rachel Moshier
Program Officer, International Visitor Program

Rachel Moshier began her experience with the World Affairs Council as a Community Programs intern. In addition to her experience here at the Council, Rachel brings experience in community service, program development, and outdoor education. She has also juggled logistics, marketing, and finances at the Tacoma Farmers Market.

Rachel earned a B.A. in International Political Economy from the University of Puget Sound. During her undergraduate work she participated in the Pacific Rim Program, traveling to nine Asian countries to study the economics, politics, religion, and philosophy of the region. She looks forward to the challenges and rewards of working to put together strong programming for our visitors.