Serving Cloverdale, Geyserville, Healdsburg, and Windsor
Founded in 1881, AAUW promotes equity for all women and girls, lifelong education and positive societal change. Membership is open to people who hold an associate degree (AA, AS), or higher, and also to students working toward a degree. There are no barriers to full participation in our organization based on gender, race, religion or creed, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability or class. Click here to learn more about the Healdsburg Branch.
Betsy Hafner Michael Baker, MD
Retired International Trade Attorney Retired Rear Admiral
Ukraine is more than just a conflict zone. Our speakers will discuss Ukraine’s deep economic ties to the U.S. and the world, its crucial position in the European political landscape, and the intertwined military and humanitarian challenges it faces during this ongoing crisis.
Betsy Hafner is a retired international trade attorney and a recently retired U.S. Deputy Assistant Trade Representative for Russia and Eurasia, where Russia and Ukraine were her main countries of responsibility. Betsy is also a member of our local AAUW chapter and AAUW volunteer high school future prep coordinator.
Michael Baker, MD is recently retired from a 40-year career in general, vascular, and trauma surgery. He also served 30 years in the uniform of his country and retired with the rank of Rear Admiral. He had experience in operational medicine, combat deployment, medical intelligence, and strategic planning.
He teaches history, political science and military affairs for the Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI) Programs at UC Berkeley, Dominican University, Cal State East Bay and is on the Board of Governors of Commonwealth Club World Affairs. He also teaches Advanced Trauma Life Support at military bases around the world and has gone on 5 medical training tours to Ukraine’s war-torn regions. In 2023 he taught a well-received Healdsburg AAUW Forum course over Zoom on the Use and Misuse of America’s Military.
Monday May 12, from 11:30 to 1:30 pm at Healdsburg’s Abel De Luna Community Center 1557 Healdsburg Avenue. Bring your own “brown bag” lunch if you like. The presentation will begin at noon and be followed by a brief update re: AAUW chapter activities.
Please RSVP to Celeste Plaister at celesteplaister@gmail.com so we have an idea of how many will be joining us.
We encourage you to bring guests!
Michelle Regan, Speaker Series Chair
Thank you for supporting the AAUW Speaker Series. This is our last speaker presentation prior to summer break. We will resume in October 2025.