Meet our Board

Whitney Guhin grew up in Jamestown, Rhode Island but has been living in Metuchen with her “zoo” (husband, four kids, two cats, and dog) since 2014.  After graduating from Brown University with a concentration in Education Studies, she was a K - 8th grade Special Education teacher and leader in the Bronx and Brooklyn (during which time she received her Masters of the Science of Teaching from Pace University).  She is now a “professional volunteer” for the Metuchen schools and the President of the MEF. Whitney loves reading, rainbows, and helping events, like the school Book Swaps and Book Fairs, run efficiently and joyfully!

Todd Ryder was born and raised in Metuchen, and eventually found himself moving back in 2020 after having attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where he met his wonderful wife, Kim. At home, he has two kids (Colin and Elizabeth), as well as two dogs and a cat. Professionally, he is an Associate Director at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he leads teams through drug development. Aside from the being the Vice President of the MEF, he has been a volunteer EMT with Metuchen Emergency Medical Services for many years, and is happy to serve the town he loves!

Amy Dees was born and raised in Oceanside, California but has been living in Metuchen since 2015 with her husband and three boys. Amy loves painting, running, and reading. She currently teaches math at Metuchen High School. 

Colleen has lived in Metuchen since 2003. She has been an MEF Trustee since 2015 and Treasurer since 2016. Prior to stepping out of the corporate world to focus on raising her children, she was an actuary for Munich Reinsurance. She enjoys volunteering her time and knowledge for MEF and other organizations, especially if it involves Quickbooks and Excel spreadsheets. In her spare time, she loves to travel and visit family.

Mary Early Brosnan and her family were very fortunate to move to Metuchen in 1987. Mary was an active member of the League of Women Voters (1988 to 2000). She was elected to the Metuchen Board of Education and appointed to the Middlesex Educational Services Commission (1992 to 1995). She is the Metuchen Education Foundation’s Recording Secretary and has served on the Fundraising and Scholarship Committees. She is retired from Union College of Union County, New Jersey, and now spends as much time as she can with her grandchildren in Massachusetts.

Rachael is a seasoned fundraising executive and trusted philanthropic advisor with over two decades of experience driving transformational giving and campaign success across the nonprofit sector. Her expertise spans the full development spectrum, from restructuring advancement offices and designing data-informed fundraising strategies to securing major and principal gifts and building sustainable, high-impact programs. Rachael has been living in Metuchen for almost 20 years with her husband (a lifelong Metuchenite), two teenagers, and dog. 

Alfred M. Barron (or simply ‘Al’) and his wife Janis, have lived in the Boro since 1986 along with their son, Alex who graduated from Metuchen High School in 2009. Al retired in 2018 following a 33-year career with Johnson & Johnson as a research biostatistician. He currently serves on the Scholarship, Grants and Science Fair Committees. And except for his time serving on the Metuchen Board of Education (1999-2005), and an idle year, he has been a member of the MEF since 1997. During the Summer and Fall, Al and Janis enjoy time at their summer home in Southwest Harbor, Maine, where they enjoy a bit of cooler weather and the beauty of Acadia National Park.  Al enjoys hiking, travel and reading, and staying abreast of current events. 

Carla Cole has lived in Metuchen for over a decade with her family and has been deeply involved in the community. She enjoys cooking, exercising, traveling, and writing. With expertise in leadership and professional coaching, business analysis and project management, Carla contributes her skills to the Metuchen Education Foundation through chairing the annual Edgar Middle School Science Fair, managing social media presence and supporting other enrichment initiatives.

Jaclyn moved to Metuchen in 2012 and has four children making their way through our amazing schools.  Before being promoted to full-time Mom, she graduated from Brandeis University with a major in Health, Science, Society, and Policy and worked as a program manager for Maimonides Medical Center.  She enjoys volunteering at our local schools as an Edgar PTO and MEF board member, cooking for her ravenous family, travel, and pilates.

Carol Gaffney is a founding Trustee and past president of the Metuchen Education Foundation, where she continues to help champion innovative educational programs. A painter and photographer with a Master’s degree in Art Education, Carol has shared her passion for the arts as the Art Teacher at Moss School for the past 25 years. Her professional background also includes museum development and special events at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University. Carol is the proud parent of three Metuchen High School graduates.

Kathy Glutz joined the MEF in 2017 following her retirement as the principal of Edgar Middle School. A Rutgers University graduate and long-time educator, Ms. Glutz began her tenure in the Metuchen Public Schools in September, 1981. While at Rutgers, she was a two-time captain of the Rutgers Women’s Basketball Team where she earned Hall of Fame honors. She has two adult daughters who went through the Metuchen Schools. Since her retirement, Ms. Glutz has returned to coaching as the Varsity Girls Basketball Coach at MHS.

A lifelong resident of Metuchen, Laura Hale has a deep-rooted commitment to her community and its future. Having grown up in Metuchen, she understands firsthand the importance of strong local connections and dedicated support for our schools. Laura’s journey with the Metuchen community extends beyond her personal roots; she has dedicated many years to shaping the educational experience for local students. As a former teacher in town, she personally experienced the transformative impact of the Metuchen Education Foundation (MEF), receiving a grant for her classroom that enriched her students' learning environment. With her extensive ties to Metuchen and her unwavering dedication to its schools, Laura is committed to ensuring that our community continues to thrive and inspire future generations (including her own two school-aged children!). 

For more than 20 years John Holl has been covering the beer industry as a reporter and editor. He is the co-owner and editor of All About Beer. On-air he hosts the Drink Beer, Think Beer podcast, the BYO Nano Podcast, and co-hosts Steal This Beer. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and on NPR. He is the author of several books including Dishing up New Jersey. In 2019, John was "enthroned" by the Knights of The Brewer's Fork of Belgium, descendants of the ancient brewer's guild. Since 2018, John has lived in Metuchen with his wife, school-aged daughter, and dog.

Anne Childers Lackland has been a Metuchen Education Foundation Trustee since 2008. She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Grant Committee. Anne has 3 grown children, all of whom attended the Metuchen schools K-12 prior to attending college. Anne fully supports the mission of the MEF – to support and enhance the Metuchen public schools – and cherishes the opportunity to give back to the schools and this wonderful community.

Rob Strauss was born and raised in Metuchen, and is proud to still call it home today. Recently retired after more than 25 years of teaching 2nd grade at Campbell School, Rob remains deeply connected to the community that shaped him. A lifelong lover of music, classic cars, and, most of all, his incredible family, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, who are active in dance and theater. Retirement has opened the door for Rob to volunteer more throughout Metuchen and stay involved with the local schools — this time as a parent.

Paul Stofa was born and raised in Metuchen, graduating from Edgar Middle School and Metuchen High School.  He later attended Rutgers University -Cook College and then, Seton Hall Law School, where he met his future wife, Jaime.  They have three children and one furry puppy named Marley.  Paul serves as a government attorney, focusing on environmental and energy issues.  Paul enjoys gardening, music, and volunteering with Metuchen Soccer Club, Metuchen Baseball & Softball, and Buddy Ball.