OUR TEAM
FOUNDER
Kenneth J. Herrmann, Jr. (April 13, 1943-November 2, 2014), often quoted saying, "Choose Happy”, served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at the College at Brockport-SUNY for nearly 40 years.
As a Vietnam veteran (1968-1969) who was awarded a Bronze Star for Service, Ken returned to Danang in 1998 which led to the development of the Brockport Vietnam Program from 1998-2014. Ken’s vision has led to more than 200 American students attending the program and over 30,000 individuals and families have been positively impacted through direct aid administered by the Fund and through student service efforts.
Ken served as the President of the Da Nang Project (Danang/Quang Nam Fund, Inc), from 2001 to 2014. Ken’s mission- "turn tears into smiles" continues to be the guiding mantra for the Da Nang Project.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Susan L Herrmann is the Executive Director of The Danang Project (f.k.a The Danang Quang Nam Fund, Inc) and the widow of the Fund’s creator, Kenneth J. Herrmann, Jr. Susan earned a Ph.D in Human and Organizations Systems from Fielding Graduate University in 2017 and has been a professional social worker since 1993.
Her dissertation, Explorations in Global Consciousness: From Emergence Toward Integration focused on the sustained transformative
impact of the Brockport Vietnam Program on post sojourners who served as volunteers for the Fund.
She has served on the Board of Directors since 2006 and was elected Executive Director in 2013. Together, with the larger Board membership and partners in Vietnam, she hopes to lead the Fund’s efforts toward scholarship funds for Vietnamese students to attend college in the USA, and continued relief efforts for the poorest of the poor in Danang.
The Fund serves such projects as the Danang City Social Welfare Center, the Danang City Orphan Center, the Thanh Tam Special School, aid to poor rural families, and natural disaster relief. Please consider making a donation to decrease the burdens related to dioxin exposure.
PRESIDENT
Christopher Clinton, LCSW, has been on the board of directors for the Da Nang Project since 2014 and has served as the President of the Board since 2017. He is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked as a clinical therapist, researcher and advocate for children and families in a variety of settings since 1998.
Christopher started teaching in the Social Work Division at Keuka College in 2012, is currently an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the college and served as the Field Director of the Social Work division from 2015-2019. Over the past 5 years he has focused on the transformational impact on students’ personal and professional growth when participating in international service learning and worked tirelessly to develop interprofessional, critical service learning opportunities for college students in the Dominican Republic and Vietnam.
Christopher’s philosophy is predicated on addressing the institutional mechanisms of oppression while using a strengths-based approach when working with individuals and families. Additionally, Christopher has extensive research and clinical experience working with children with autism, their educators and family members at the University of Rochester from 2010-2014.
James F Lachman- Jim is a maters level social worker and combines this knowledge with his experience as a Viet Nam was veteran by supporting veterans in his local community of Sweden, N.Y. As a young U.S. Marine, Mr. Lachman served in Viet Nam during 1968 and 1969 and has a total of thirteen years active duty and one year reserve duty in the Marine Corps.
He has also served in the New York State Air National Guard for ten years and as an aviation hydraulic mechanic on several types Marine Corps Aircraft. Mr. Lachman is currently a life member of the American. He has served both as a Veterans Treatment Court Mentor, and a Veteran Compeer volunteer. He has been involved as an elder and volunteer in men’s work with the Mankind Project since 1999.
The Mankind Project is a global organization of men called to reclaim the sacred masculine through action, initiation, and service. After 27 years at Eastman Kodak, Mr. Lachman completed his Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at SUNY Brockport in 2014 and his Master’s in Social Work at UB in 2015. During his time at SUNY Brockport Mr. Lachman participated as a student in the Brockport-Viet Nam Study Abroad Program and remains connected with the program as a dedicated board member.
He and his wife Bernice have hosted several gatherings at their home and at SUNY Brockport for students who have attended or will attend the Viet Nam Study Abroad Program.
Bernice Lachman is a retired army veteran who has served 20 years in the Army Reserves (1977-1997) serving as an instructor for the Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Academy.
Ms. Lachman is a life member of the American Legion and has also participated in several community forums regarding Women Military Veterans. She has been a volunteer at the VA in Batavia, NY She has a B.S. Degree in Women and Gender Studies and is currently working on her M. A. with a concentration in Geriatric Studies.
Ms. Lachman is enjoying being a world traveler. She has made numerous trips to Viet Nam in conjunction with the SUNY Brockport Study Abroad Program and The Da Nang Project. She is the treasurer for The Da Nang Project.
Robert R. Gosende resides in Guilderland, NY. Mr. Gosende served for thirty-six years in the Foreign Service of the United States in the U.S. Information Agency and the Department of State before joining SUNY in December of 1998. Mr. Gosende's overseas experience includes tours of duty as a Cultural Affairs Officer in Libya, Somalia, and Poland and as Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs in South Africa and in the Russian Federation.
He served as President Clinton's Special Envoy for Somalia, with the personal rank of Ambassador, at the height of the security and humanitarian crisis in that country in 1992-93. On tours of duty in Washington, D.C., he served as the Associate Director of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Information Agency and as that Agency's Deputy Director and Director for Sub-Saharan African Affairs. During 1994 he was Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, directing the U.S. Government's education and public affairs activities in support of the first multi-racial elections held in South Africa in April of that year.
As SUNY’s Senior International Officer, Mr. Gosende was responsible for overseeing international programs across SUNY’s sixty-four campus system. Under his leadership the Office of International Programs, which he founded, established overseas branches in Turkey, the Russian Federation, Poland and Mexico where The State University has developed dual diploma programs which now enable over 2,000 State University and international university students to complete their undergraduate study jointly and receive their degrees from both institutions. He was Diplomat in Residence and Special Assistant to the President for Internationalization at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY during the 2012/13 academic year. He served as the John W. Ryan Fellow in Public Diplomacy and Visiting Professor in the School of Education at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, 2010-2012. From 1998 – 2010 he was Associate Vice Chancellor and Senior International Office at SUNY’s System Administration.
Robert is currently working with colleges and universities across the U.S. advising on international education activities and programs. The Da Nang Project is honored and blessed to have Robert on the board of directors sharing his wisdom and passion for international diplomacy and inspiring the project to fearlessly continue to build social capital and connection one relationship at a time.
