Meet The Board

Jay was recently elected Treasurer of the Shepherd’s Center and has been a driver for the organization since 2017. He retired after 40+ years in accounting, controller and financial director positions in human rights and environmental organizations in the DC area and NYC. Jay graduated from Virginia Tech and Emory University and now resides in Arlington.  He enjoys biking, hiking, travel and attempts to keep up with his 2 adult(?) children who live on opposite coasts (in the US). Occasionally he gives tours of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.

Jan spent most of her career as a regulatory manager for the US Environmental Protection Agency. For the last 30 years she has been active with McLean non-profits: McLean Community Center Governing Board (member for 9 years, Chair for 3), McLean Rotary Club (member for 10 years, President 1 year, Treasurer 7 years, founder and chair of the McLean Chocolate Festival), McLean Citizens Association (chair of the Education Committee for 10 years), and English Empowerment Center (currently teach two ESL classes at the Lewinsville Retirement Residence and one at Homestretch). She has an MA and Ph.D. from Georgetown University in American History, an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a BS from Kent State University in Secondary Education. Her husband Irv is also a volunteer with the Shepherd’s Center. They have two children and one granddaughter who live in the area.

Vickie chairs our Client Assessment and Advocacy Committee, which considers whether prospective clients meet eligibility requirements.  The Committee also assists current and prospective clients access community resources.

She is happily retired following a non-profit career in which she worked as a right hand to CEOs in the areas of board and staff development and planning and allocations.

Vickie has a BA from Duke University and an MA in Social Work Administration from the University of Chicago.

She splits her time between McLean, where she has lived 32 years, and Selbyville, DE.  Her hobbies include bicycling, travel, and gardening.

Carol is a long time resident of Virginia, currently residing Great Falls. She was born in Washington D.C. and lived in a suburb of Chicago for 12 years before returning to the area to attend the University of Maryland. She studied Education at UM and earned her BA from LaSalle University in Health Services Management. Carol taught preschool for 7 years, managed an Infant & Toddler Center for 3 years and was the head of school for Merritt Academy in Fairfax for 10 years. Carol also worked for Sunrise Senior Living for 20 years in Operations, with a focus on developing programs for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. Carol retired in January 2016 and her passion for improving the quality of life for senior citizens led her to become involved with the Shepherd’s Center. She is thrilled to be on the SCMAFC Board and looks forward to contributing to the amazing work the organization does. When she isn’t volunteering, Carol and her husband spend as much time as they can with their three grandchildren who live in McLean.

France Vareilles began volunteering for Shepherd’s Center as a driver since January 2024.  She was born in Paris, moving to New York with her family at the age of ten. She went back and forth to France to ultimately complete French high school in Paris. She then transitioned to American schools, attending State University of New York in Purchase, NY. France followed her undergraduate degree by earning an MBA from Columbia University Graduate Business School.   After working in New York City for 10 years, she moved to Arlington in 1986.    She joined Federal Prison Industries in the U.S. Department of Justice, where she stayed for the balance of her career. As the General Manager for Clothing & Textiles, she managed a business inside the Federal Government, ultimately employing 5,500 inmates in 31 federal prisons producing many items for the Defense Department. This program provides inmates a structured work environment that improves their success in re-entering the work force after their release.  Now retired, France is a new grandmother who is active playing pickleball, skiing, doing yoga and volunteering. She and her husband are avid travelers.

Mary Highsmith has lived in the Northern Virginia area for most of her life. She graduated from The George Washington University in 1970 with a BA in Russian Language and Literature. She had a career in the Federal Government, retiring from the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2003. She is active in volunteer work, especially with Knox Presbyterian Church in Falls Church as an elder and the Receipts Treasurer, and with the Shepherd’s Center of McLean, Arlington, and Falls Church as a driver, coordinator, and board member. In this latter capacity, Mary hopes to help seniors whom we serve to believe that they have a network of helpers who are looking out for them.

Michael has extensive experience working with the federal government on environmental issues. He served as the energy advisor to two EPA administrators before leaving government work in 1974 to co-found a consulting company specializing in energy and environmental issues. During his career, he served on the Board of Temple Rodef Shalom, primarily acting as head of the Administrative Committee supervising the clerical staff. After retiring, Michael has served as secretary for an “empty-nester” book club group within Temple Rodef Shalom. He has also been active in the Chain Bridge Forest homeowners association. In addition to his volunteer work, Michael has been heavily involved in grandparenting his local grandchildren and traveling with family (including a 50th wedding anniversary trip to Disney World). He likes to stay active with swimming and biking.