Renée Amory Ketcham - President
A life-long francophile and Board member since 2005, Renée brings a passion for French language and culture to the Alliance Française of Greenwich. As President of our Alliance with Co-President Gail Covney, Renée is, in addition, responsible for the Cultural Offerings. She is also Chairman of the Executive Board of Focus on French Cinema, our annual festival of films from around the French speaking world that she helped launch in 2005. Renée also serves on the Executive Board of Federation of Alliance Française in the United States that oversees the over 100 chapters in the U.S. She received an M.S. from Georgetown University in French Language and Linguistics and lives in Greenwich, CT with her husband Bill Ketcham and has two children, Elizabeth Amory Ketcham and Saunders Carhart Ketcham.
Gail Covney - Co-President
Gail Covney earned her B.A. in French Language and was a French teacher at the Stanwich School for 20 years. Raised in a household where French was spoken, she has a strong affinity for French language and culture. Gail is Co-President of the Alliance Française of Greenwich, overseeing the Education program. She's been integral to the Focus on French Cinema festival since its 2005 inception. Living in Greenwich, Gail actively contributes to the local francophone community.
Fereshteh Priou - Treasurer
Fereshteh serves as the Treasurer of the Alliance Française of Greenwich. She has also been leading the literary Proust Group since 2007. Fereshteh has an MBA from the George Washington University and holds a CPA. She has experience working for multinational companies and teaching at the University of Connecticut, Stamford Campus. A native of Iran, Fereshteh met her French husband Michel in US and they moved to Paris where she learned French. She has lived with her family in the Greenwich area for the past 35 years.
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Our Board
Jean-Louis Gerin - honorary board member
James Beard Award-winning Chef Jean-Louis Gerin, born in the French Alps, discovered his passion at Michelin three-star Auberge du Père Bise. Graduating from l’Ecole Hôtelière de Thonon Les Bains, he refined his skills in Grand Classic French tradition. After collaborating with Guy Savoy in Paris, he opened Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1985.
Miguel Garcia-Colon
Miguel Garcia Colon, the visionary Director of Byram Shubert Library, seamlessly intertwines his passion for literature with a commitment to fostering community connections. Fluent in French, he extends a warm welcome to the Francophone community, enriching the library's cultural tapestry and creating a truly inclusive space for diverse linguistic expressions.
Catherine Ladnier
Catherine Ladnier, a proud alumna of Mills College in Oakland, California, is an enthusiastic World War II historian with a focus on her Creole ancestry. Currently based in her native Los Angeles, she explores the intricacies of history, emphasizing her commitment to her roots and community engagement. Catherine's involvement extends beyond her historical pursuits, reflecting a profound dedication to the rich tapestry of American heritage.
"The Board of the Alliance Française of Greenwich is devoted to our mission and we welcome everyone to join us and celebrate our vibrant cultural and linguistic community."
- Renée Amory Ketcham
President
Claire Négrin
Born in Cannes, Claire grew up immersed in the vibrant Mediterranean culture and lifestyle. She came to America with her family 30 years ago and settled in Greenwich CT in 2017. A graduate of Nice University in English and Italian, she also holds a certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine Arts from NY University. On a regular basis, she leads Café Crème group conversation and organizes art tours.
Sylviane Leibowitz Ely
Sylviane was born in Courbevoie, France. She studied in Paris and came to the United States in 1973 after marrying her American husband, with whom she has two sons. She joined the Alliance Française of Greenwich to be with people who share her love for the French language and culture. After being seduced by the cultural activities, she joined as a Board Member in 2009 and leads La Table Française.
Viviane Ponslet
Since retiring from her translation and teaching career, Viviane has studied “Livelong learners” and philosophy. She is an organizing member of reading meetings at the Greenwich and Westchester Alliance Françaises as well as a member of the Proust Focus Group. She is passionate about jazz and Argentinian ballet and tango dances that she learned during an internship in Buenos Aires.
Anne Kern - honorary board member
Anne M. Kern is Associate Professor of Cinema Studies at Purchase College, State University of New York. She received her Ph.D. in Film Studies and Comparative Literature from Yale University, and has published on European and American cinema, surrealism and psychoanalysis in venues ranging from Cinema Journal to Le Monde. Her recent essay on three early Renoir films appeared in A Companion to Jean Renoir, edited by Alastair Phillips and Ginette Vincendeau (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013). In 2014, Dr. Kern was a jury member for the Festival du Film Francophone d’Angoulême.
Quoc-Bao Nguyen
Bao is a multifaceted artist and technologist whose passion for art and science converge in his innovative exploration of AI-driven creativity. A staunch advocate for bridging traditional and digital art forms, Bao's work is a personal reflection of his emotions and artistic vision. He is a frequent attendee of art and technology conferences, where he shares his insights and continues to push the boundaries of creative expression.
Wenling Wang - honorary board member
Wenling is the author of the book “Path to Immortality” (2023), which explores the highest human potential, the knowledge of immortality according to the ancient Taoist, Yogic, Tantric and Buddhist scriptures. Wenling was a Managing Director at Bank of New York Mellon, and before, a manager at Bridgewater Associates.
Sharon L. Lazar
Blessed with a Parisian mother who met her future American husband dancing on the streets of Paris on Bastille Day, Sharon’s French family connections have nurtured her love of the French language and culture since she was a child. At Dartmouth College, she majored in French Language and Literature. She spent several semesters studying and working as a teaching assistant in Lyon and Toulouse and then worked at a French lycée in Nantes while traveling throughout France on weekends. She taught French and Math both in her Greenwich homeschooling business and at Darien’s Middlesex Middle School. A long-time member of Greenwich’s Alliance Française, she is thrilled to partake in fulfilling their mission.
