Board of Trustees
Elizabeth Ann Corley
President & Founding Director
Elizabeth Ann Corley is a niece of Ann B. Zekauskas. She is the daughter of Ann’s younger and beloved sister, Elizabeth Zekauskas Corley, known affectionately as Betty, and the author Edwin Corley. Elizabeth grew up with her two brothers in both upstate New York and on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. After her parents’ passing, Ann became Elizabeth’s legal guardian, and so she moved to New York City, where she attended the Nightingale-Bamford School and spent summers working with Ann in the studio and helping at the family farm on Long Island. The experiences of living with Ann and working with her family growing and harvesting fruits and vegetables have given her a lifelong appreciation of how food does have the ability to transform lives.
After high school, Elizabeth returned to the south to attend Tulane University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. She holds a Juris Doctorate from Pace University School of Law where she was an editor on Pace Environmental Law Review. She is admitted to practice law in New York State, New York Federal Courts, and the United States Supreme Court. She has worked for more than 25 years as a trial attorney for law firms and corporations in the areas of commercial litigation, environmental law, and medical malpractice defense. Elizabeth is a member of the New York State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers. She serves as a judge on the annual Pace National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition and is a volunteer and foster for the Putnam County Humane Society.
Elizabeth lives in the New York Hudson Valley with her husband, Peter, an industrial organizational psychologist; their daughters, Grace and Amelia; and three rescue cats: Abby, Duncan, and Ruby. It is Elizabeth’s great honor to serve as President and Founding Director of the Ann B. Zekauskas Family Foundation and to fulfill her aunt’s legacy of empowering others through food awareness, access and education.
John F. Akscin
Vice President & Treasurer
John is passionate about executing the legacy of his aunt, Ann B. Zekauskas. Raised on a family farm on Eastern Long Island, New York, he understands the value of fresh produce, berries, and fruits. His mom, Nell Zekauskas Akscin, was Ann’s older sister, and as a Registered Nurse, imparted the importance of good nutrition and proper food preparation to her children.
After graduating from St. Louis University, John spent more than 45 years in healthcare management, including 15 years in federal policy advocacy. John is one of the nation’s foremost experts in Medicare. He is renowned for his expertise in federal legislative and regulatory issues affecting health care providers, patients, and care givers. In 1985, John worked with a group of cancer physicians to pioneer the concept of independent cancer treatment centers which are prevalent today. It is this experience that allows John to use his expertise to carry on Ann’s mission to advocate, collaborate, and educate stakeholders in food and nutrition.
In addition to his role with his family’s foundation, John serves on the board of directors of the Confera Group, a medical conference organization. He is past president of the Specialty and Biotech Distributors Association of America. John is Grand Knight of his local Knights of Columbus Council. John serves on a number of national advisory boards focused on public policy in health care. He published several articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. He also served on the board of directors of the Illinois Chapter of the American Cancer Society.
John received his management education at St. Louis University. He has been a regular guest speaker at industry conferences and corporate meetings, and served as guest faculty member at St. Louis University, Indiana University, University of Alabama, Birmingham, and the University of Miami, Florida. John is semi-retired, and while he enjoys living at the Lake of The Ozarks in central Missouri with his wife, Susan, and tiny yorkie, Havie, he will always be a “New Yorker.”
Susan Chernesky Koger
Secretary & Director of Engagement
Susan is a grandniece of Ann B. Zekauskas. She grew up in the Zekauskas family’s original home in Kingston, Pennsylvania, next door to her grandmother, Blanche Zekauskas Chernesky, who was Ann’s eldest sister. Susan credits her grandmother; her parents, John and Mary Ann Chernesky; and her many beloved aunts, especially Ann, with imparting a love for cooking and for gathering loved ones around a table of beautiful food.
Susan has more than 20 years of experience in non-profit and association management and development. She graduated with honors from La Salle University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English/Writing. She holds a Master of Science in Communication Management and a professional certification in editing from Temple University.
Susan serves on the Board of Limited Jurisdiction at Saint Mary Interparochial School, a K-8 national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, located within Independence National Historical Park. She lives in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia with her husband, Matt, a high school math teacher and academic coach; their son, John Matthew, a student at Saint Mary and competitive rower; and a rescued flame-point-Siamese cat called Lila.
Susan serves as a Democratic committeeperson for the City of Philadelphia and volunteers with the Friends of Moyamensing Point, a local pocket park. She enjoys cooking; hosting friends and family; urban gardening; playing Mahjong with her amazing neighbors; hiking; travelling; and any time spent by water.