President
Carolyn Goodrich

Carolyn Goodrich has been a weaver at the Saunderstown Weaving School for the past 15 years. In the past, she started and operated a　service/employment business for 5 years, later started and operated a gourmet food/cheese/ beer/wine/ luncheon store for 10 years,. She was one the first sales people in the cellular industry in both Boston area and Florida. In 1993 she obtained her MSW and has worked as a psychotherapist with various age groups for the past 27 years.

Secretary
Cathy English

Cathy English has been a weaver at the Saunderstown Weaving School for the past 18 years. Cathy recently retired from the University of Rhode Island where she was a Professor and the Chairperson of the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences. While Cathy likes all handwoven items, she seems to be drawn to weaving wall hangings. She is also just starting to learn tapestry weaving.

Vice President
Leslie Mahler

Leslie is a lifelong knitter who learned to knit from her mother.  She moved to Boulder, Colorado and went to buy yarn at a local store called Shuttles, Spindles, and Skeins.  Little did she know that purchasing yarn there would lead to spinning and weaving classes and the eventual purchase of her own spinning wheel and looms.  Leslie loves discovering how different fibers and colors combine in weaving patterns to create art.

Treasurer

Elizabeth Hill

After a lifelong desire to learn how to weave, I found my way to the Saunderstown Weaving School where Norma Smayda inspired and taught me to weave. I have always had an interest in the fiber arts. My grandmother's handwoven treasures and my travels as a child exposed me to the beautiful textiles from different parts of the world. I eventually settled down in South County, married, raised my 2 boys, became active in and worked in various community organizations and social groups, and most recently, opened my own small natural foods business with my husband. But always, I continue to explore weaving.

Program Chair

Michele O’Donnell

I’ve wanted to weave from early on, and finally started in 2001 after marriage, family and establishing my career in research within the pharmaceutical industry.  When my sons started high school, I started at Saunderstown Weaving School on Monday nights.  It was there I met Cathy English and numerous other weavers that have become good friends, and influenced and fueled my interest in weaving. I was active in both Handweavers Guild of CT and Weavers Guild of RI  as a Workshop co-chair, HGA CT state rep and WGRI NEWs representative. With this experience, I’m looking forward to helping grow the Rhode Island Weaving Center within our community and state.

Sarah Saulson

Sarah Saulson has been weaving since childhood.  She is a graduate of Wellesley College and was also a student in the School of Art at Syracuse University, where she subsequently taught Textiles classes for 15 years.  She has taught all ages to weave and has had the privilege of working with traditional weavers in Ghana, India and Guatemala.  Sarah now lives in Providence and maintains a studio at Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket.  Learn more about Sarah at www.sarahsaulson.com