Board of Directors and Officers

Xenia Woyevodsky,  President

Ms. Woyevodsky has extensive professional experience in the areas of international education, health, humanitarian activities and culture.  She served as international consultant at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and worked on the UN “Year of the Child.”  As Executive Director/CEO of the Tolstoy Foundation, Inc., founded in l939 in New York City by Alexandra Tolstoy, youngest daughter of Leo Tolstoy, she expanded the Foundation's activities in the Russian Federation through the establishment of viable working partnerships with federal and regional agencies, like-minded organizations, academic institutions and museum/estate centers to support educational activities and to raise cultural awareness.  Russian-American joint projects included semester abroad exchange programs for the empowerment of disadvantaged children and a ground-breaking exhibit in Moscow on the life and work of Alexandra Lvovna Tolstoy, sponsored by two major museums, the Ministry of Culture and the American Embassy.  As Director of the “Consortium of Russian-American Parishes and Organizations,” she established a pilot summer program at the L.N. Museum/Estate at Yasnaya Polyana in Tula with a grant from the Russian Ministry of Education.  

Co-Founder of the Firebird Foundation. Currently, Ms. Jacobsen is completing her graduate studies at the Harvard Business School, where she has served as Co-Chair of the International Business Development Club and Women’s Business Conference. Prior to MBA program, she worked as a Finance Director of a U.S.-based investment company conducting business in Asia and Europe. Ms. Jacobsen is a Certified Public Accountant with auditing and tax work experience. She has been an organizer and fundraiser for various charitable events in Russia and the U.S., as well as a member of the international women’s organization “Vital Voices” with the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

Serge Lopoukhine, Secretary

Vice President of Purchasing for major pharmaceutical corporation (retired).  Former Vice President and Treasurer of The Tolstoy Foundation, Inc. in Valley Cottage, N.Y. (1995-2002).  Actively involved in the Russian-American community through church and other charitable projects.

Gregory G. Gagarin

President of Knorr Brake Corporation (retired).  International consultant in marketing, management and engineering.  Member of the Governing Board of the Russian Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.

Advisory Board

H.E. Yuri V. Ushakov

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Washington, D.C.

The Honorable Jack Matlock

U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union from l987 to 1991. Professor and Author of numerous articles and books on Russian literature, history and U.S.-Russian relations.

The Honorable James W. Symington

Attorney. Former Congressman from Missouri. Served as Director of the Library of Congress Leadership Program. Currently Chairman, Russian-American Cultural Cooperation Foundation.

Ronald Coopersmith

International Consultant.

Natalia Antonova

Television journalist, author and host of programs on Russian Federal Television “Petersburg Channel 5.”

Anastasia Lopoukhine

Member of the Executive Committee of “Consortium of Russian- American Parishes and Organizations,” assisting disadvantaged children in Russia.

Selene Obolensky

President of the Obolensky-Saltykoff Foundation benefiting the boarding school for special-needs children at “Berezichi” in Kaluga, Russia.

Ludmilla Obolensky-Flam

President of “Books for Russia” Committee, author and formerly with Voice of America.

Olga Sergeyevna Ryan

Instructor/Adjunct Professor of Russian studies. Taught at various universities, including Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and The American University. For over 19 years served as guide/docent at Hillwood Museum, specializing in Russian decorative arts and Faberge.

Raisa Scriabine

President, Scriabine Foundation. Also serves on the board of a number of non profit organizations including: the Faberge Arts Foundation, the Russian Childrens’ Welfare Society, Classika-Synetic Theatre. She is the grand-niece of composer A. Scriabine.

Alexey Steele

Russian-born Los Angeles artist. Son of renowned Russian painter, Leonid Steele. Graduate of the Surikov Art Institute of the Soviet Academy of Arts in Moscow, training under internationally acclaimed artist, Illia Glazunov.

Stephen Strickland

President, Strickland Associates. Former President “National Peace Foundation” and member of the U.N. Foundation.

Alex Terentiev

Member of Executive Committee, “Friends of Vladimir Andreyev”

Vladimir Illich Tolstoy

Director, State Museum/Estate of L.N. Tolstoy in Yasnaya Polyana

Tatiana Trubetzkoy

Russian-born artist

Nicholas von Rintelin

Attorney in Munich, Germany. As direct descendant of Alexander Pushkin, he is involved in major international projects honoring Russia’s great poet and writer.