For the term June 1, 2017 through May 31, 2019
Executive Board
President: Roberta Brown
Vice President: Weam Namou
Secretary: Laura Hedgecock
Treasurer: Cindy Hampel
Past President: Carl Anthony
Honorary Director: Kim Geralds
Honorary Director: Maureen McGerty
New Membership Chair, Historian, and Acting Program Chair: Iris Underwood
Joyce Harlukowicz, Membership Chair
Robin Gaines, Michigan Book and Author Chair
Directors
Maureen McGerty
Kim Geralds
BOARD MEMBER PROFILES
Executive Board
President: Roberta Brown is a writer and musician. Her work has been published in local newspapers, Peninsula Poets, online at the Michigander’s Post, and in the upcoming fall edition of Selected Writings from the Michigander’s Post, Vol. 3, 2015 – 2016. She also plays oboe, piano, guitar, and bass guitar; her most recent performances have been at the Onyx Restaurant in Royal Oak, Cliff Bell’s in Detroit, and every Sunday at Woodside Bible Church, either in the orchestra or on the praise team.
Vice President: Weam Namou has authored twelve books, most recently her memoir series about how her experiences in a four-year spiritual program deepened her commitment to writing, to her family, and to herself.
For 10 years, she has been a journalist for the Chaldean News and is a reporter and ambassador of Arab America. Namou has been a columnist for several newspapers in the tri-county area, and her poetry has appeared in national and international publications. She has been interviewed on radio and film, and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award form E’Rootha in 2012. She has lectured widely and recently presented at a Writer’s Digest workshop.
Secretary: Laura Hedgecock is an author, freelance writer, speaker, and blogger passionate about helping others tell their personal and family stories. Her books (so far) include Memories of Me: A Complete Guide to Telling and Sharing the Stories of Your Life ( Cedar Fort, 2014) and Blogging for Family History. She blogs at TreasureChestofMemories.com and serves as the organizing President of GeneaBloggersTRIBE, a community of over 3,300 family history bloggers. Laura is currently working on a YA fantasy series.
Treasurer: Cindy Hampel 
has earned awards for investigative journalism and feature writing. She has reported for daily newspapers, served in corporate media relations, and consulted on editorial projects for nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Cindy lives with her family in Royal Oak, Michigan.
DWW Historian: Iris Lee Underwood 
is a graduate of Oakland University, a past president of DWW, and former Writer in Residence at the Troy Public Library. Her publication credits include The MacGuffin, Farming Magazine, Michigan Gardener, edibleWOW, Michigan Out-of-Doors, Woods-N-Water News, Rotarian, Metro Parent, Quilter’s World, The Oakland Press, Romeo Observer, Tri-City Times, Eccentric and Observer papers, Detroit News, Royal Oak Tribune, Grand Rapids Press, and the Appaliachian News Express in Pikesville, Kentucky. Iris owns Yule Love it Lavender Farm in Leonard, Michigan.
Directors
Maureen McGerty 
is an editorial manager specializing in scientific, academic, and medical science publishing for a local university. She has been published in dailies and magazines, and has worked as a public relations specialist in the health care industry. A past president of DWW (2007-2011) and former press relations chair, she enthusiastically supports the literary arts. Maureen is developing a memoir based on her grandparents’ immigration to the United States.
Kim Geralds