Board of Directors

Board members serve as ambassadors for Stewart Park, helping to strengthen community connections, inspire philanthropy, and guide strategic initiatives.

The Board of Directors of Friends of Stewart Park provides leadership, vision, and oversight to ensure the long-term vitality of one of our community’s most treasured parks.

Current Board Members

Diana Riesman – Chair
Board President Diana Riesman is actively involved in all aspects of FSP's day to day operations, including fundraising, event planning, and community outreach. Diana became a board member in 2011 and stepped into the Board Chair role in 2016. She serves on all FSP's board committees. Riesman is also Executive Director and Co-Founder of Wharton Studio Museum (WSM), a local nonprofit working to preserve and celebrate Ithaca’s and the region’s movie history, which is partnered with Friends of Stewart in developing the historic Wharton Studio Building, a former silent movie production studio, into the Wharton Studio and Café, featuring exhibits on the history of the studio and the park. Before moving to Ithaca, Riesman spent more than a decade in the movie business in NYC and L.A. and as a producer at KCRW, an NPR affiliate in Santa Monica, CA.

Claude Rosen - Treasurer
Claude was born and raised in Ithaca and spent much of his childhood in Stewart Park, where he currently spends a great deal of time with his two children. Claude leads strategic operations at Third Derivative, RMI’s startup accelerator program for climate technology companies. In his role, he oversees strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, continuous improvement, data and technology products, investment fund operations, and all administrative functions. Claude joined the FSP board in 2024.

Molly Hajjar
Molly has over 30 years of clinical and community-based experience as an Recreational Therapist, with much of her career affiliated with non-profit organizations, utilizing adaptive outdoor recreation and sports programs to support full participation and inclusion throughout the life-span. She recently taught at Ithaca College as a part time faculty in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies and worked with the non profit, Bike Walk Tompkins, providing education and advocacy to facilitate biking and walking throughout the city and county. Molly also serves as the volunteer training coordinator for Greek Peak Adaptive Snowsports. Molly joined the FSP board in 2025.

For questions related to the Board of Directors, contact Meloney McMurry at

Andy Monroe - Vice-Chair & Treasurer
Andy Monroe has served on the FSP board for over nine years and has a special interest in the Accessible playground, as playgrounds is where he tended to meet other local families when he first moved to Ithaca. He says, “Given the number of families that are coming and going in our area, having great playgrounds is a huge asset to the community.” He hopes to identify opportunities to better leverage the waterfront for all residents with FSP. Monroe’s background is in Technology & Entrepreneurship.

Andrew Epstein - Secretary

Andrew Epstein is a relatively recent transplant to Ithaca by way of Philadelphia (Go Birds!) and other parts of the East Coast. A health economist by training, he tries to make a daily visit to Stewart Park with his loyal canine sidekick, Tilly. Andrew joined the FSP Board in September 2024 and was recently elected to serve as Secretary.

Rick Hedrick
Rick founded the Plantsmen Nursery in Ithaca, which he operated for fourteen years before moving on to serve as the lead horticultural consultant for New Songdo City, a $50 billion planned metropolis in South Korea. After completing the Songdo City project, Rick founded shrubbucket.com, an online store for plants, pots, fertilizers, and other accessories. Rick is a 4th generation horticulturist from Lyons New York, and has served on a number of local boards, including the Ithaca Children’s Garden. Rick joined the FSP board in 2025.

Haley Weiss
Haley Weiss is the Assistant Dean of Alumni Affairs and Development at Cornell University’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, where she leads alumni engagement and fundraising initiatives to advance the School’s mission. She brings extensive experience in relationship-building, strategic development, and community partnerships, and is passionate about fostering connections that strengthen local institutions. A longtime Ithaca resident, Haley is eager to contribute her skills and energy to the Friends of Stewart Park board, supporting its mission to preserve and enhance the park as a vibrant community resource for all.