Board of Directors
The people behind the scenes
Discover the dedicated Board of Directors at Alliance Française Reno, leading our mission with passion and expertise.
M. Josette Marsh
President
Josette Marsh joined the board of directors of the Alliance Française of Hawaii since 2003 and continues to serve as ts president.
She was elected to the board of directors of the Federation of Alliances Françaises USA in 2010, and has served two terms as its president. Because she wanted to improve her overall command of the French language and learn more about French history and literature,
Josette enrolled in the University of Hawaii, Manoa to pursue her Masters in French which she earned in 2011. In 2020, she was elected to the board of directors of the Fondation des Alliances Françaises based in Paris.
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Misha Pascal
Treasurer
After being away from the Reno/ Tahoe region for so long as a child and ultimately growing up in the Bay Area, Misha Pascal returned to attend the University of Nevada, Reno. And never left.
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28 years later, he continues to raise his two young boys with his lovely wife.
After receiving two degrees: one in economics and another in mechanical engineering, Misha works as a pricing specialist for NV Energy.
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His love for France comes from his family where his father and mother, both native speakers, raised him surrounded by the culture and the language.
Being part of the Alliance allows him to continue his journey of being part of France, with the ability to share that experience with his children.
Mavis Helaine Lepage Leathley
Secretary
My interest in France began years ago when I started to trace my family tree. Even when studying Norwegian in Norway, I explored the geography, culture, and history of France as well as traveling there often and with my husband after we were married.
I was happy when I joined the French Club in Reno as I was able to meet wonderful people who gave me opportunities to practice my French. I know being on the Board of Northern Nevada Alliance Française, I will have many interesting experiences that I cannot wait to share with the members.
Roswitha Kima Smale
Director
Born and raised in Germany to Estonian parents, Roswitha is a multi-lingual world traveler and philanthropist who now lives in Nevada and spends part of the year in Southern France.
With a Master’s degree in Anthropology and a PhD in Communication, Roswitha’s career included teaching at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver in both fields. As a communication consultant she worked on many health-related projects, served on and chaired several major boards in the Healthcare field in Denver. She is currently on the boards of the Nevada Museum of Art, Desert X in Palm Springs and the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia.
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France has been a focal point for Roswitha and her husband especially after they purchased a house there 39 years ago.
Now a widow, Roswitha continues to spend as much time as she can in her « magical » hilltop village in Southern France.
After moving to Reno she was delighted to join a vibrant chapter of the Alliance Française. She loves the broad range of available programs as well as the congenial French speaking members.
Discover the dedicated Board of Directors at Alliance Française Reno, leading our mission with passion and expertise.