Amy Upjohn

Amy Upjohn will join the board of trustees at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation in January, replacing long-time trustee Ronda Stryker.

Stryker has been a Community Foundation trustee since 1997 and has served as board vice chairperson and as a member of many committees including Audit, Finance, Community Investment and Governance. In addition, she served as a member of the Community Foundation's LGBT Equality Fund Advisory Committee.

"It has been a privilege and honor to serve Kalamazoo County through the Community Foundation board," says Stryker. "I look forward to watching the Community Foundation continue to grow under strong leadership and increase community connections from its new home."

Stryker, the recipient of the 2013 YWCA Lifetime Woman of Achievement Award, also serves as a trustee for Kalamazoo College, Spelman College, Pathfinder International, Greenleaf Trust, Stryker Corporation and Harvard Medical School. She developed the Stryker Institute for Leadership Development in 2001 at her alma mater, the University of Northern Colorado.

Upjohn, who currently serves on the Community Foundation’s Community Investment Committee, also serves as a trustee at Kalamazoo College, on the Lakeside for Children board, Lakeside for Children Foundation, and the Sherman Lake YMCA advisory board.

"For me personally, the legacy to give back in Kalamazoo is strong, particularly at the Community Foundation," says Upjohn. "I believe the Community Foundation is one of the most important community institutions in greater Kalamazoo and I’m honored to be asked and thrilled with the opportunity to serve."

Upjohn holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Vermont and a master’s degree in education from Lesley University, Cambridge, Mass. She taught at the Gagie School and has been assistant director of the Annual Fund at Kalamazoo College. Previous board service includes the YWCA of Kalamazoo, Greater Kalamazoo United Way (now the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region), Sherman Lake YMCA, and Heritage Community of Kalamazoo.

According to President/CEO Carrie Pickett-Erway, "We’ve been so fortunate to benefit all these years from Ronda’s leadership and community insights, and are looking forward to Amy’s increased involvement as she joins our board while continuing her service on the Community Investment Committee."

Board chairperson Si Johnson and vice chairperson Frank Sardone have been reappointed to their posts. Other trustees include James Escamilla, Barbara James, Hon. Carolyn Williams, and Dr. Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran. Non-trustee members of the board include Pickett-Erway as secretary-treasurer and Sue Bos, executive assistant to the CEO and Performance Excellence manager, as recording secretary.