Press Release: Monte Monash Elected Chair of DC Public Library Board of Trustees; Karma Cottman re-elected Vice-Chair

News Release — DC Public Library

For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2021

Media Contact:

George Williams, Media Relations Manager

(Washington, D.C.) – At last night’s DC Public Library Board of Trustees meeting, Monte Monash was elected chair of the DC Public Board of Trustees. Karma Cottman was re-elected Vice-Chair.

The DC Public Library Board of Trustees is composed of nine unpaid District residents from Wards around the city who set policy for the library system. The mayor appoints board members. The D.C. City Council confirms them for a maximum of two five-year terms. The Chair and Vice-Chair will hold their offices for two years or until successors are elected.

Monte Monash is the founder and president of Monash Advisory Group, LLC, a consulting practice that provides strategic planning and public relations services to engineering and construction companies in the infrastructure space. Prior to opening her firm, Monte was an executive in the Office of Government Relations for Parsons Corporation, a Fortune 500 firm that provides planning, engineering and construction management services worldwide. Monte is a native Washingtonian and long-time community volunteer. Her advocacy roles include vice-chair of the Board of Directors for Friendship Place, founding member of Women in Infrastructure, National Advisory Committee for Best Friends Foundation and former treasurer of the District of Columbia’s Commission for Women. Monte has a B.A. in American Studies and Arts Policy from Mount Vernon College in Washington, D.C.

Karma Cottman joined the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCCADV), as Executive Director in 2010. As the membership agency for the 12 primary purpose domestic violence agencies in the District, DCCADV provides leadership to all Washington, DC Community sectors to respond effectively to the needs of domestic violence survivors and their children. The coalition works to strengthen city-wide domestic violence prevention and intervention efforts. Ms. Cottman currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African Community, Board of the National Teen Dating Violence Hotline, Washington, D.C. Fatality Review Board, and the Policy Partnership for Communities of Color.

The current members of the Board of Trustees are Shanel O. Anthony; Karma Cottman, Vice-chair; Gregory M. McCarthy; Monte Monash, chair; Victor A. Reinoso; Antonio (Tony) Williams and C. Brian Williams. For more information on the Board of Trustees, including their meeting schedule and committee structure, visit dclibrary.org/about/boardoftrustees

#