Barbara Stewart

Eric Ehst will be the Southeast Valley Branch of AAUW’s (American Association of University Women) guest speaker on Monday, October 16, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. in the Oakwood Country Club Ballroom.

Eric Ehst is proud to be the Executive Director of Neighbors Who Care, a nationally-respected nonprofit organization providing volunteer services to allow the homebound elderly the dignity and independence of living in their own homes. Since joining the organization in January 2012, he has become a leading advocate for innovative practices to find cost-effective, community-based solutions to allow our rapidly-growing senior population to successfully “age-in-place.”

Eric has a distinguished history of civic service and nonprofit management. He has served as an officer or board member for multiple local organizations, including the Valley Citizens’ League, Arizona Advocacy Network, Arizona Conservation Alliance and Arizona Editorial Forum. He has also served on the Arizona boards of respected national organizations, such as the League of Women Voters and the National Organization for Women, where he became the first male state president in the organization’s history. He is currently the President of the Arizona Advocacy Foundation. Eric served for three years as Executive Director of the Clean Elections Institute, becoming a nationally-recognized expert on Arizona election law and the initiative and referendum (ballot proposition) process. Prior to joining NWC, he served as the election administrator and lead trainer at the southwest regional polling site for the 2011 South Sudan Independence Referendum, performing a major function in the democratic process leading to the peaceful creation of the world’s newest independent nation.

In every election since 2002, Eric has created and traveled around the state giving an acclaimed nonpartisan presentation providing voters with an unbiased explanation of each of that year’s ballot measures, including their origin, backers and potential consequences. He has also contributed to the nonpartisan voter guides produced and distributed by the Arizona Advocacy Network and the League of Women Voters.

Prior to turning full time to civic service, Eric, an Air Force veteran, had a successful 25-year career as an aerospace engineer, designing and testing jet engines for both military and civilian applications. He ran, unsuccessfully, for a seat in Congress from Arizona’s CD4 in 1998.

Since 1881, The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches and 600 college/university institutional partners. AAUW is one of the world’s largest sources of funding for graduate women. The AAUW invites all who hold an associate or higher degree from an accredited college or university to join.

For further information on this program or membership, go to http://southeastvalley-az.aauw.net.