Our Team

President

Jeffrey Boone is an intellectual property attorney specializing in the development of new pharmaceuticals. A serious student of the French language, he has been continuously enrolled in classes at Alliance Française since 2009 and leads the Cercle de Lecture. He has served on several committees and board positions and is currently President of the Alliance. In his spare time, Jeffrey also enjoys rock climbing, woodworking, and French cooking.Description

Vice President

When I retired, I had a major regret: Not paying attention during five years of French, while attending elementary and junior high school. In January 2014, I attended Meramec Community College, taking French 101. That June, I joined Alliance Française de St. Louis and began taking classes here.  For the first few years, it was just group classes.  Then, I continued attending a class but added a private session.  A few years ago, I began taking two private sessions each week and ceased attending group classes.  I have traveled internationally since 1993, visiting 45 countries.  My first trip to Paris was in 1994…I fell in love with the city and the culture.  Now, I visit Paris twice each year, typically in the spring and again in the late summer. I’ve served on our board for the past three years and would like to continue doing so.

Vice President & Former President

Is a current vice-president and past president of the AF de St. Louis, he has served twelve years as Treasurer. He has been an active member of the AF for nearly 50 years. He enjoys traveling to France as often as possible, taking classes with the terrific teachers at the AF, and participating in our Cercle de Lecture. David is a Registered Investment Advisor and Chartered Financial Analyst with offices in Clayton. He is also an active tennis player and plays on and manages two senior men's hardball teams.

Chairman & Former President

I have had the honor and pleasure of serving as the Chair of the Development Committee of the Board of Directors and, previously, as the President of the Alliance Française de St. Louis.

During this time I have been particularly focused on fully funding the capital campaign to purchase and renovate our new building, on all of our subsequent successful annual fund drives, and on the recent establishment of the Estelle Brabant Powers Endowment for Excellence in Teaching Award. 

I was President of Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois, an institution whose roots go back to the 18th century Enlightenment in France. Previously in Paris I served as Vice President of the American University of Paris as well as other American universities.   My Ph.D. from Washington University is in 18th century French Literature. I grew up in St. Louis and graduated from MICDS.

Treasurer

Mr. Wagner is a retired legal executive with over 35 years of experience in advising boards of directors and senior management on a broad range of legal and business matters, with particular expertise in the areas of securities law and corporate governance.   In his most recent role, he served as Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Wagner’s legal career also includes serving as in-house counsel for Peabody Energy Corporation, Bank of America, Goodrich Corporation and Bank One Corporation, as an attorney with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Arent Fox LLP and as special counsel to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

He currently serves on the boards of the Alliance Française de St. Louis and the Saint Louis Science Center, and previously served as Chair of the Society for Corporate Governance and as Vice President and a member of the board of the Academy of Science of Saint Louis.Description

Secretary

Brian grew up in St. Louis and began studying French in 7thgrade. In 1983, he completed his B.A. in French and Economics, summa cum laude, followed by a Ph.D. in Economics in 1987. Brian served as a Senior Economist, International Finance Teacher, and spent over three decades in tax economics and consulting.  After retiring in 2020, he rediscovered and deepened his passion for French that has accompanied him since childhood.

Brian is a happily married father of three adult children. He enjoys hiking, music, theater and travel, especially to visit his kids and relatives in Ireland and France.

Has been a member of the Alliance Française de St. Louis since 2007. An "avid Francophile and aspiring Francophone," he has served on the board and executive committee from 2011 to 2017.  He rejoined the board in 2020 and has served as recording secretary for the last several years. He has also served on the finance committee and the building committee.  David is a retired electrical engineer.  He is currently taking classes at the B2 level.  His involvement is due to a keen interest in the continued health and vitality of the Alliance Française de St. Louis.

Marylou spent 40 years in commercial real estate finance and risk management. Today, she enjoys reading, traveling and studying French and Italian.

Charles E. “Chuck” Jones has been a lifelong student of the French language. His formal training began in junior high school and culminated with a full academic year of study at the University of Bordeaux in France. After working for a manufacturing company focusing on markets in Africa and the Middle East, Chuck returned to his hometown of St Louis and pursued a 30-plus year career in municipal finance. He holds a BA degree from the University of Colorado and a MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He and his wife, Carol Ann, live in Kirkwood.

Megan Selck is a nonprofit professional with a career dedicated to mission-driven work across healthcare, human services, and youth development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Elmhurst University and a Master of Arts from Gonzaga University. Throughout her career, Megan has focused on strengthening organizations through relationship-building, community engagement, and strategic philanthropy. She has supported impactful work in a variety of nonprofit sectors, including Scouting, and most recently serves as the Director of Philanthropic Engagement at the APA of Missouri.

Deeply committed to civic involvement, Megan serves on several boards and committees, including the Alliance Française, the Alpha Phi House Corporation Board, and the Bomber Bash Committee at John Burroughs School. She is also the Blood Drive Coordinator at St. Paul, and an active member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and PEO. Megan lives in Waterloo, Illinois, with her husband, two children, two dogs, and a horse. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and reading.

Grew up in St. Louis, studying French at Clayton HS and in college. She has studied at the Alliance “for more years than she can count with many excellent teachers.” Before retiring, her professional experience was in educational theatre and video production. She claims to “continue driving Isabelle crazy” while participating in classes and other opportunities provided at the Alliance.

    A longtime resident of St. Louis, MO, Pat Cosgrove has benefited from the many French-related activities the region offers. Since her retirement in 2018, she has enjoyed devoting more time to her francophile pursuits.

    As the current president of La Société Française de St. Louis, and now a board member of the Alliance Française de St. Louis, she is eager to share her enthusiasm by helping to cultivate and promote interest in the French language and francophone culture.

    She spends her anglophone moments walking her dog, gardening with native plants, and attending concerts.