Empowering community based interventions with proven track records

Patricia Bartlett is a licensed clinical social worker and received her masters in social work in 1973 from Boston University. She has worked in the Duke Infectious Diseases Clinic (AIDS) since 1988 and concurrently spends approximately six months out of the year at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania working with the HIV/AIDS research group, assisting with outreach to community organizations and individuals, focusing on HIV-infected persons.  At both Duke and KCMC she facilitates outreach education trainings, works with individuals and groups as Peer Mentors, and assists in facilitating regular and special Community Advisory Board meetings.

Christina Dideriksen is a consultant for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS). She writes on the intersections of human rights and health as impacted by sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Christina is Co-Editor of Equal Eyes, an LGBTIQ resource for activists, communities, and families. She also works with the The American Board of Anesthesiology and the Duke University School of Medicine Standardized Patient program helping medical students, doctors, and nurses to better engage with patient populations. She holds a Master's degree in Arts—Acting  (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and a Master's degree of Science—Global Health (Duke University). 

Claire Fefer graduated from Duke University with a degree in mathematics and French. She is currently an investment manager for DUMAC, Duke's investment management company, and focuses on private investments. She has served on GCC’s Board since it was founded in 2008.

Lisa Berberian Fernandez received her Bachelors of Science in Marketing with a concentration in Psychology from SUNY Oswego in 1988. She is a Reiki Master and EEM practitioner. She has worked in the pharmaceutical industry since 1992. Lisa has volunteered and worked in HIV/AIDS since 1989.  She has served with many organizations including Boy Scouts, NC Clean Water association, DART, The Peru Project and most recently GCC.  She marries her experience in business with her commitment to community. Her efforts benefit organizations involved with youth, the arts, literacy, HIV/AIDS, the environment, and those that promote diversity and empowerment. She particularly enjoys fund-raising, event planning, education and mentoring. Lisa is married with two sons who have embraced her life of activism fully and distinguish themselves in scholastics, arts and performance. 

Katherine Leib was born and raised in Durham, NC and in 2013 she received her J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law.  She also holds a master's degree from Duke University and a B.A. from the University of Miami.  Additionally, Katherine is certified to teach English as a second language through Duke University Continuing Studies.  Katherine has taught ESL courses for Durham Technical Community College and El Centro Hispano in Durham. Having previously worked with Blood: Water Mission in Franklin, TN and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, she is excited to be a part of GCC.

Gordon Lipscomb is a licensed clinical social worker, who joined the ID Clinic in 1992, and where he now works part-time on the AIDS Education Training Center practice transformation grant.  He also works part-time at the Northern Outreach Clinic in Henderson, NC, where he provides mental health services to people living with HIV.  He has master’s degrees in social work (UNC-Chapel Hill) and in English as a Foreign Language (Southern Illinois University-Carbondale).  

Cindy Mahoney of Chapel Hill, NC, comes to us with vast knowledge and experience from the non-profit sector. Cindy has a master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida and holds a certificate in Non-Profit Management from the Duke University Office of Continuing Studies. Her previous areas of interest with non-profits include animal rescue organizations, both public and private educational programs and programs which offer assistance to persons living with HIV. She is a past board president of the Emerson Waldorf School and is currently active with Paws4Ever, The Stitches Doll Project and Global Connections for Change.

Alice Ratliff is a native North Carolinian, has a B.A. in economics from Duke University, an M.A. from the University of North Carolina and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. After graduating from law school, she practiced law with the North Carolina Legal Assistance Program in Durham. In 1987 she joined the faculty at the UNC School of Law and is currently a Clinical Professor of Law. She has served for many years on the Community Advisory Board for the Duke AIDS Research and Treatment Center.

Michael Stewart currently is an Assistant Vice President (Manager) at Credit Suisse. He holds a BA from Howard University, a MS from Capella University, and has done Master’s studies at George Washington University. He has been a long standing member of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for the Duke AIDS Research and Treatment Center.

Carolyn Kent founded Global Connections for Change in 2008 after graduating from Duke University with a major in International Comparative Studies, a Global Health Certificate, and a minor in Spanish. From serving as a Municipal Development Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala to being selected as a ProInspire Fellow for National 4-H Council in 2013, Carolyn has dedicated her career to the non-profit sector and is passionate about service, community, and social entrepreneurship.