SARATOGA COUNTY — Wellspring, the domestic violence and sexual assault services resource for Saratoga County residents, welcomes Cerri Banks and Margaret Smith Cassier to their board of directors.
Cerri Banks is the dean of students and vice president for student affairs at Skidmore College. She received her Ph.D. in cultural foundations of education and a certificate of advanced women’s studies from Syracuse University. She specializes in sociology of education, cultural studies, multicultural education, and qualitative research.
Banks has an extensive background in higher education and has won an array of honors, awards and scholarships over the course of her career. Her book, Black Women Undergraduates Cultural Capital and College Success, documents the academic and social success of black women undergraduates as they negotiate dominant education and social discourses about their schooling lives.
Margaret Smith Cassier is the president and owner of Airosmith Development, Inc., a certified woman-owned-business founded in 2004 that specializes in site acquisition and engineering for commercial wireless providers, broadband companies, utility and government entities. In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, Airosmith Development was awarded the designation as one of Inc 5000’s fastest growing companies in the United States.
Smith Cassier is a strong supporter of organizations that advocate for the advancement of women and children. She began her career as an adult educator, which included the development and facilitation of GED and workforce development educational programs. She experienced firsthand the incredible benefits organizations such as Wellspring offer the local community.
Wellspring’s executive board of directors consists of President Erica Fuller, Vice President Karen Sosler, Treasurer John Pecora and Secretary David Cumming. Additional board members include Jake Behuniak, Stephanie Collins, Andi Dolinsky, Giovanna D’Orazio, Dean Kolligian, Tom Meaney, Kevin Ronayne, Margaret Roohan and Linda Toohey.
Wellspring’s mission is to support survivors and engage the community to end relationship and sexual abuse. Each year, Wellspring’s crisis intervention and survivor services support more than 1,000 clients—providing safe housing to adults and children either fleeing or homeless because of domestic violence, as well as comprehensive support in the form of counseling, legal advocacy, and case management. Wellspring staff provides prevention and education programs to school-aged youth, as well as training and education programs for parents, faith-based congregations and professional organizations.
For more information, visit www.wellspringcares.org, call 518-583-0280, or reach their hotline at 518-584-8188.
