Eric G. John
A 1977 AFS student on the summer program to Brazil, Eric G. John returned to a career in the diplomatic service as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand. Also serving in the Embassies of Korea and Vietnam, Ambassador John has had a significant impact on US relations with the Southeast Asian region. He has gone from learning Portugese in Brazil to learning Korean and Vietnamese. Ambassador John continues to support the work of AFS, click here for more information on Ambassador John’s work with the YES program in Thailand.
Anthony Boccaccio
An AFS Returnee, Anthony Boccaccio began his photographic career with National Geographic Magazine at the age of 21. He opened his own studio in 1972 shooting in over 30 countries. His clients include Time, Newsweek, IBM, Apple Computer, Fortune, CBS Records, Hewlett Packard, and many more.
Lee Bollinger
An AFS student to Brazil in 1963, Lee Bollinger today is the 19th president of Columbia University. He first served as a law clerk for Judge Wilfred Feinberg on the United States Supreme Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and for Chief Justice Warren Burger on the United States Supreme Court.
Beatrice Ask
Beatrice Ask, one of Sweden’s most powerful political women was an AFS Exchange Student to the U.S. in 1974. After graduation in Sweden she attended college and campaigned for office. She worked her way up to Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament), Minister of Education and is now Minister for Justice.
Andrea JungChairman and Chief Executive Officer
Avon Products, Inc.
Andrea Jung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avon Products, is responsible for developing and executing all of the company’s long-term growth strategies, launching new brand initiatives, developing earnings opportunities for women worldwide, and defining Avon as the premier direct seller of beauty products.
Ms. Jung was appointed CEO in 1999 and elected Chairman in 2001. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since January 1998.
Prior to her current role, Ms. Jung was President and Chief Operating Officer, with full P&L responsibility for Avon’s business units worldwide. From 1996 to 1998, she ascended to senior level positions within Avon’s product marketing group, where she oversaw research and development, market research, strategic planning, joint ventures and alliances.
Ms. Jung joined the company in January 1994 as President, Product Marketing Group, Avon U.S.
Before joining Avon, Ms. Jung was Executive Vice President at Neiman Marcus from 1991 to 1993, responsible for accessories, cosmetics and women’s, intimate and children’s apparel. Prior to that, she was Senior Vice President, General Merchandising Manager, at I. Magnin from 1987 to 1991.
In 2008, Ms. Jung was appointed Chair of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations, (WFDSA). She became the first woman elected chair of the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association in March 2001, a role she held until early 2005. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the General Electric Company and Apple and is a member of the New York Presbyterian Hospital Board of Trustees and the Catalyst Board of Directors.
In 2008, Ms. Jung was ranked #19 on the Forbes list of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women”, and #6 on Fortune magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” list, which she has been on since the list’s inception. In addition, she has been ranked on The Wall Street Journal’s “50 Women to Watch,” since 2004, and was one of only 18 executives included in U.S News & World Report’s “America’s Best Leaders 2007.” Ms. Jung is a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University and is fluent in Chinese (Mandarin).