Executive Biographies

President

MICHAEL MULGREW was elected President of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in July 2009, effective August 1. Prior to his current position, Michael was elected Vice President for Career and Technical Education (CTE) High Schools in 2005 and became the union’s Chief Operating Officer in 2008.

Secretary

MICHAEL MENDEL is secretary of the UFT. He is a product of the New York City school system, having attended PS 91 in Brooklyn, JHS 61 in Crown Heights, and Wingate HS. After that he attended Brooklyn College and then earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration from New York University.

Assistant Secretary

ROBERT ASTROWSKY, is assistant secretary of the UFT. He was born and raised in Brooklyn where he attended public schools including Brooklyn Technical HS. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Long Island University and his master’s from Hunter College.

Treasurer

MELVYN AARONSON is treasurer of the UFT. He has been actively involved in union affairs for more than 46 years, working with Al Shanker as one of the leaders of the strike in 1960 that established the UFT.

Assistant Treasurer

MONA ROMAIN is assistant treasurer of the UFT and has served as an elected trustee on the board of the Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York since 1998.

VP of Elementary Schools

KAREN ALFORD is vice president of elementary schools. Karen’s teaching career began in 1992 at PS 156, District 23, in Oceanhill-Brownsville, Brooklyn, the same community in which she was raised. She quickly became active in the union and was elected chapter leader before she was tenured.

VP of Junior High and Intermediate Schools

RICHARD FARKAS is vice president of junior high and intermediate schools. He grew up in Brooklyn during the 1950s

VP of Academic High Schools

LEO CASEY is vice president of academic high schools. Leo taught social studies at Clara Barton HS for 15 years before becoming a full-time UFT special representative, where he worked closely with previous high school vice presidents. He was elected to his present position in October 2007.

VP of Career and Technical High Schools

STERLING ROBERSON is vice president of career and technical schools. Sterling has devoted his entire public school career to ensuring that New York City’s students receive a quality academic education with practical skills, in a healthy and safe learning environment. He brings this lifelong commitment to the post as Vice President for Career and Technical Education (CTE), to which he was elected in September 2009.

VP of Special Education

CARMEN ALVAREZ is vice president for special education. Since her election to the post in 1990, she has been a key voice in the UFT’s efforts to improve education for children with disabilities.

VP of Education Issues

AMINDA GENTILE is vice president for education issues and she is also the director of the UFT Teacher Center, a professional development network providing research-driven, school-based support to schools and districts at more than 350 sites throughout New York City.