Cathleen S. Fisher, Ph.D.
Executive Director

Cathleen S. Fisher joined American Friends as Executive Director in 2008. From 2002-2006, she was Deputy Director at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS), The Johns Hopkins University, where she was centrally involved in management of all operations and programs in support of the Institute’s mission. Before joining AICGS, Fisher served for ten years as a Senior Associate at the Henry L. Stimson Center, a nonprofit public policy institute in Washington, D.C. focusing on international and national security issues. Dr. Fisher holds a Ph.D. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, an M.A. in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from George Mason University’s School of Public Administration. Contact Cathleen.

Deirdre Kelly
Senior Program Director

Deirdre Kelly joined the U.S. Liaison Office of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in 1998. She is responsible for promotional activities in the United States, the annual selection and orientation meetings of the German Chancellor Fellowship, and event planning for academic, scientific, and professional meetings. Prior to joining American Friends, she worked in event planning for the American Bankers Association and the International Women’s Forum. A native of Chicago, Deirdre has a B.A. in communications from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Steve, a health care policy journalist, and their infant son. Contact Deirdre.

Virginia Page Barth
Program Director

Virginia Page Barth joined the staff of American Friends of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation on April 1, 2008 as program director. Virginia brings with her a background in government relations and experience on Capitol Hill, as well as in the fundraising arena. She began her love for the German culture in an international business program in Hannover in the summer of 1990. She is originally from Greenville, South Carolina and earned a B.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her son. Contact Virginia.