WHO WE ARE
The World Affairs Council of Tacoma (WACT) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to promote public understanding of world affairs and to enhance the ability of its members to engage in a global community.
We feature guest speakers such as diplomats, academics, business professionals, and journalists. Speakers provide the opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful discussions about world affairs.

Our Team
Meet the World Affairs Council of Tacoma Leadership Team

Cindy Schaarschmidt
President & Executive Committee
Cindy Schaarschmidt has been working in international education for over 15 years and currently serves as the Executive Director of International Education at Pierce College District. Originally from Germany, she first arrived in the U.S. as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant. Her academic and professional journey has also taken her to Guatemala, the U.K., Russia, and Spain. Cindy delights in learning new languages and is often spotted cycling around Tacoma and Pierce County.

Mariam Anderson
Treasurer & Executive Committee
Mariam is a yoga instructor and personal fitness coach. Her professional background is in business development and event planning. She is from the Republic of Georgia and has lived in Tacoma since 1999. Mariam has been a long-term volunteer for the Tacoma Sister Cities International and WAC Tacoma. She enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, and spending time with her husband, son, and cat.

Amy Pettigrew
Executive Board Member
Amy is a Development Associate at Upaya Social Ventures, a nonprofit dedicated to investing in and supporting early-stage companies that create dignified jobs for people living in extreme poverty in India. With nearly a decade of experience in international development and advocacy, she has championed programs and policies aimed at addressing global poverty and hunger, demonstrating her deep commitment to impactful change. Amy enjoys spending time with her husband and two golden retrievers taking canoe trips and hikes. She also loves using rainy PNW days as an excuse to stay in with a good book.
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Arthur DeLong
Vice President & Executive Committee
Arthur DeLong is a partner at Eisenhower Carlson, LLC, where his practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, and securities transactions. He is a longtime board member of the Tacoma World Affairs Council, and lives in the North End of Tacoma with his wife and two children. Arthur enjoys living in the Pacific Northwest, with all the region has to offer.

John Lucas
Executive Committee
John Lucas is a Professor of Political Science at Pierce College. He received his Ph.D. from Indiana University, and his research focused on Nigerian politics.

Brian Dirks
Marketing, Communications & Executive Committee
Brian is retired after a successful, 40-year career in communications. His extensive portfolio of non-profit experience also includes leadership positions within PTA groups and the Everett-based Hands for Peacemaking Foundation (where he currently serves as president). He was staff liaison to several non-profits during his 11 years with the office of former Lt. Governor Brad Owen. He is an outdoor sports enthusiast, and enjoys spending time with his wife Dee, three adult children and four grandchildren.
Our Board Members
Debbie Bingham
Tacoma Sister Cities Coordinator
Community & Economic Development, City of Tacoma
Iuliia Didkivska
Health Promotion Technician
Tacoma Pierce County Health Department
Mary Hanneman, Ph.D.
Professor, Modern East Asia
School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Tacoma
Sam Kaplan
Director, Center of Excellence Global Trade & Supply Chain Management Highline College
Faaluaina Pritchard
Executive Director,
Asia Pacific Cultural Center
Ex Officio Board Members:
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Ken Brown
Department Chair, Social Studies
Bellarmine Preparatory School
Brian Ebersole
Former mayor, City of Tacoma
Former president, Bates Technical College
Greg Hansch
SVP, Relationship Manager
Tacoma Commercial Banking
Shariah Mae Olomua
Attorney,
Eisenhower Carlson LLC
J. David Snow
Director of Campaigns and Planned Giving, Wesley Community Foundation
Michael A. Fowler*
Senior Trade Consultant,
World Trade Center Tacoma
Ruth Elizabeth Willis*
The Republic of Seychelles Consulate USA
Zhiyan (Juliet) Cao
Associate Dean and Associate Professor, Milgard School of Business, University of Washington, Tacoma
Patrick Erwin
Director of Global Education Tacoma Public Schools
Syed K. Jamal
Founder and CEO,
Branta
Clare Petrich
Chair, Tacoma Sister Cities
Owner, Petrich Marine Dock
Joan Waldrop
Retired Project Manager
Marc McDonald
Retired
Dr. Lin Zhou*
President, Bates Technical College
*Ex-Officio Board Members