Since its founding, UFS has been governed by an independent Board comprised of individuals dedicated to the Quaker values, founding philosophies, and spirit at the foundation of United Friends School. Our Trustees include original school founders, alumni, and current parents, caregivers, community members, and members of the Religious Society of Friends. The Board meets online on the second Thursdays of September, October, November, January, February, April, May, and June. Following are the UFS Board of Trustees’ profiles:
Mateen Afzal joined the Board in January 2023, serving on the Development Committee. An alumni in the early days of UFS and a parent of three children, Leannah, 22′ graduate, Inayat, 8th grade, Hanna, 2nd Grade. With twenty years of business experience in the family manufacturing company, Mateen has managed various business functions including, HR, Finance, and Operations. Mateen stewards his family foundation where he works to enable the work of Non-profits in areas of food insecurity, education, disaster relief, and human advocacy. Lover of the outdoors, an avid runner and hiker.
Colleen Lutz Clemens became a member of the Board in 2018 and serves on the Committee for Community and Social Justice. Colleen served on the Mission Statement Committee. Her child began attending UFS at three years old. She is a lifelong educator and learner who has taught in several educational settings since 1996. She is now an English professor at Kutztown University where she is also the Director of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is the co-host of a podcast focused on social justice and loves to read anything she can get her hands on.
Leslie Erhardt
Terri Hamer joined the Board in 2016 and serves on the Finance Committee. Terri was previously the Business Manager at UFS and was on the Safety Committee and the Property Committee. She currently works as the CFO of a private school in Berkeley, CA. Keeping the continued connection to UFS through the board is an important role for Terri. To her, this school is a special place for children to grow and learn. Terri has a BA in Non-Profit Management from UMASS and an MBA from Suffolk University. Terri and her husband live in CA. Her husband, Sean, is the Head of a private school in CA. Her son lives in DC and is a graduate of Howard University; and her daughter attends PACE University in upstate NY. As a family, the Hamers love to travel and enjoy visiting new places and learning new cultures.
Mary Hanisch
Roger Sternfeld
Brenda Stokes joined the Board in 2020 and serves on the Quaker Life Committee. She is a member of Richland Friends Meeting and is their representative to United Friends School. A retired school teacher, Brenda taught 2nd, 4th and 5th grades in the Denver Public School System. She and her husband Allen moved to Green Lane from Denver, Colorado in 2018. “I’m very impressed with UFS’s reputation and approach to learning. It’s so important to provide a flexible, stimulating environment where every student can thrive intellectually while providing a safe, loving community where they can be themselves and grow emotionally.”
Kris Thompson joined the Board in 2017. He is clerk of the Quaker Life Committee and previously served on the Mission Statement Committee, the Enrollment Task Force, and the UFS Quakerism Night Committee. Kris is the parent of a current UFS student, a UFS graduate, and one George School alum. Kris and his wife, Janet, are members of Richland Friends Meeting. The Quaker community and the SPICES (the Quaker Testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship) are what drew the family to Quakerism and reinforced the values of a Quaker education.
Bob Wirtshafter joined the Board in 1994. Bob is the clerk of the Finance Committee and serves on the Pandemic Response Task Force. He has also served on the Advancement, Compensation, Capital Campaign, and Auction Committees, and as Treasurer of the Board. Bob and his wife, Angela moved to Chatham, Massachusetts in 2014. They are members of South Yarmouth Friends Meeting. He is the father of Hannah and Adam, alumni of UFS. Bob is a full-time house daddy, soccer player and school volunteer who, in his spare time, runs his own energy and environmental consulting company.
Mark was the Recording Clerk of the Board and served on the Health and Safety Advisory Committee, he brought a strong commitment to Quaker values and a belief in the value of a quality education, as well as a lifelong love of learning. He is the son of the late Wayne Helman, who was a devoted friend of United Friends School. Mark lived in Perkasie and was a member of Gwynedd Friends Meeting.