Paula Angell, Treasurer
I took a circuitous route to my current career as a Geriatric Social Worker. I graduated with a BA in Human Biology from Brown University in 1978. My original dream of being a doctor was set aside for the excitement of living in New York City and learningto be on my own. For thirteen years I held a variety of sales and marketing positions for IBM in New York, Paris and Washington DC.
In my mid-thirties I was delighted to become a mom! A one-year leave of absence turned into an “early retirement”and a wonderful thirteen year discovery of being an at-home mom with two very entertaining children. I also got involved with a variety of non-profits concerning the public schools, my church and the public library.
At age 48, with the help of my incredibly supportive husband, I finally “scratched the itch” that had been building almost since giving up my initial medical aspirations. I began a four year quest to earn my MSW and became a licensed social worker in 2009.
My interest in “This is My Face” and my passion for working with elders was inspired by my especially close relationships with my grandparents, great-aunts and uncles. Many of them had the gift of time and they shared their journeys of immigration, poverty, and hard work with me. They built strong family and community relationships and they taught me the importance of love and hope and of caring for each other. Their memories continue to motivate and nourish me.
Joan Hill, Communications and Web
I'm a soon-to-be 51 year old woman who is also a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend, and a freelance photographer, graphic and web designer. I am enjoying growing older and wiser, as well as happier and and more content, as I navigate my way through the latter part of my life with the support of my family and dear friends.
As a teenager and young woman I struggled with a classic set of fears and feelings of inadequacies about my appearance that I am no longer willing to hold onto. I do see and feel the time passing, but I do not feel sad that my face and body are changing, because when I recall how dearly and deeply I have loved older relatives and friends, despite their years, or their wrinkles, or their love handles, I know that my jowls will not be my defining feature.
Instead, I hope to be happy and appreciated becasue of my zest for adventure and connection, my creativity and compassion, my willingness to give of my time, my talents and my love to others, and a willingness to be who and what I truly am!
Karen Masterson, Founder
In my almost 50 years, I have been a granddaughter, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, wife, mother, and friend. My grandmothers and aunts have all passed so I am no longer a granddaughter or niece and not sure how much longer I can claim the title of daughter. I have volunteered my time to organizations concerned about hunger, social justice, the environment, and the sorry state of our food system.
I have raised three wonderful children and devoted years to making play dough, forts, cookies, and homemade soup. I have been happily married to the same man for almost 23 years and as we bear witness to each other’s aging selves, I am more in love today than ever before.
The things that feed my soul now are the same as those that have fed me for the past 40 years….a good book, my garden, knitting, going for a walk, and messing about in my kitchen. I am a business owner, dog lover, and eternal optimist. I believe that getting older shouldn’t mean panicking about what I’m losing but rather about embracing the opportunities that come with this gift of time.
I started This Is My Face because I am outraged that beautiful, capable, intelligent women are being distracted by the idea that they should be focusing more on what they look like, rather than leading our culture with wisdom and kindness.
I believe that at this time, right now, we need to gather our energy to say “Enough!” Enough about what I look like as I get older. Enough about the size of my breasts or the wrinkles on my face or the color of my hair. I care deeply about what is happening on our planet and the plight of girls and women around the globe. I want to joyfully use whatever time I am gifted with to contribute to a more compassionate existence for us all.
Janice Miller
Janice is currently Senior Program Manager in the Corporate Learning Division of Harvard Business Publishing where she develops and manages the delivery of customized online learning programs for emerging leaders with clients around the world. Prior to joining Harvard Business Publishing, she was the Director of Publications at Management Sciences for Health and was responsible for creating and publishing a portfolio of learning products to improve the management and leadership capacity of health managers worldwide.
Janice brings more than 20 years’ experience in for-profit and nonprofit management which has included long- and short-term assignments in Cambodia, Kenya, the Philippines, Rwanda, Thailand, and Turkey. She holds a B.A. in French and an M.S. in Management. She lives in Holliston, Massachusetts with her 11-year-old son.