New Board Chair Named for Howard Brown Health Center

For immediate release
Contact: Chuck Benya
VP & Chief Development Officer
773-388-8793

New Board Chair Named for Howard Brown Health Center 

CHICAGO – Dec.22, 2010 – Karma Israelsen of Chicago will become chair of the Howard Brown Health Center’s Board of Directors on Jan. 1, 2011. Isreaelsen’s election is part of the Responsible Transition Plan announced by the Board on Dec. 6.

The plan is designed to transition the oversight of the organization from the current Board to new members of the community. It is intended to renew and refresh Howard Brown’s membership, increase its ties to the community, and ensure long-term stability of Howard Brown and its services to the community.

Also as part of the transition plan, several board members are ending their board service as of Dec. 31. They are Board Chairman Mark Andrews, Randy Talcott, Laura Angelucci, Charles Katzenmeyer, Janet Henderson, Steve Phelps and Brett Stortz. Other current board members, who have served prior to Jan. 1 of 2010, will leave the board at the end of the fiscal year, June 30 2011.

Israelsen is currently the Vice President of Regulatory Operations & Compliance for Career Education Corporation where she oversees the regulatory operations for the University (American Intercontinental University and Art & Design campuses) and Culinary Strategic Business Units.  In her role, she is a trust partner that provides sound guidance, expert solutions and operational support.

Prior to coming to Career Education Corporation, Karma spent several years in the hotel industry. She managed the room operations for groups like the International Olympic Committee and NBC during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and coordinated and hosted several events and stays for the President of the United States, the Sundance Film Festival and many of the NBA teams.

She joined the Board of Directors in July and previously had supported Howard Brown’s programs. “I’ve admired the work of Howard Brown for some time, and am honored to serve as Board chair during this important time for the organization’s future,” said Israelsen.

“The staff and I enthusiastically welcome Karma as our new Board Chair and look forward to working with her to move Howard Brown Health Center forward,” said Jamal M. Edwards, President & CEO.     

About Howard Brown Health Center
Founded in 1974, Howard Brown is now one of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning and allies (LGBTQA) organizations. The agency serves more than 36,000 adults and youth each year in its diverse health and social service delivery system focused around seven major programmatic divisions: primary medical care, behavioral health, research, HIV/STD prevention, youth services, elder services, and community initiatives. Howard Brown is a multi-site operation based in Chicago and includes a main health and research center in the Uptown neighborhood TRIAD Health practice at Illinois Masonic Hospital, the Broadway Youth Center, and three Brown Elephant resale shops in Chicago and Oak Park. For information, visit www.HowardBrown.org or call (773) 388-1600.