August 31, 2011:  Concordia College announced the hiring of Ellen Clarke de Saint Phalle as its new director of community relations.

Ms. de Saint Phalle is a longtime resident of Bronxville who has served in a number of community-related positions, including as a director of the Friends of the Bronxville Public Library and as a trustee on the Bronxville School Board.  She has also served as co-chair of the women's auxiliary board of St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and on the board of trustees of the Children's Storefront School in New York City.

In addition to her extensive community service, she has served as a member of the Wellesley Development and Outreach Council, which helps guide the fund-raising and outreach activities of Wellesley College, and has also held positions at William Morrow and Random House publishing companies.

Among other things, Ms. de Saint Phalle will manage the Business Breakfasts at Concordia program, which features leaders in business, government, and media who discuss topics that influence the world.  She will also oversee the popular Books & Coffee program that offers community members, students, and faculty the opportunity to discuss topical books with their authors or expert reviewers.

In addition, she will also manage the Jacobson Global Lecture Series, a program that complements the college's ongoing effort to integrate global perspectives into its curricular and co-curricular programs.  Since its inception, this program has featured a number of distinguished speakers from diverse international fields who have enlightened the community on timely global topics.

On her hiring, Ms. de Saint Phalle stated, "I am delighted at this opportunity to contribute to Concordia.  As a Bronxville resident for 17 years, I know how lucky we are to have the college in our backyard.  In my myriad volunteer positions, I have come to know Concordia as a valuable partner, eager and willing to extend itself to the greater Bronxville community.  The partnership is unique and in no small measure one of the reasons our village is special."

Ms. de Saint Phalle is a graduate of Wellesley College and holds a master of fine arts degree in writing from Sarah Lawrence College.

Pictured here:  New Concordia College Director of Community Relations Ellen Clarke de Saint Phalle.

Photo by Flladi Kulla