Vote in the 2026 Board of Directors Election

Candidates for the 2026 Board of Directors Election

Steven J. Berkowitz is the current Chairman of the Board of the NIH Federal Credit Union. He has previously served as NIHFCU Board Treasurer and Secretary, and he has chaired the Executive Committee, the Asset Liability Management Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. He has participated on numerous additional committees over his 35 years as an NIHFCU Board member. Mr. Berkowitz is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland. Mr. Berkowitz supported the National Institutes of Health for over 41 years. He has received many NIH and IC Directors Awards and Awards of Merit, including the Secretary of DHHS’ Distinguished Service Award. In 2025, Mr. Berkowitz received the notable MD|DC Credit Union Association’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

Don Christoferson has served on the NIHFCU’s Board in multiple leadership roles, including Vice Chair, and Secretary, and currently serves as Treasurer. He is also the Chair of the Asset Liability Management Committee. With expertise in financial management, business process improvement, and human resources, he provides strategic guidance to help shape NIHFCU’s financial and organizational policies. During his NIH career that included Executive Officer of the National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute and Deputy Executive Officer of the National Cancer Institute, Mr. Christoferson received numerous awards such as the US Public Health Service Special Recognition Award, NIH Director’s Award, and the Senior Executive Service Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. Mr. Christoferson is dedicated to community service, volunteering with the AARP Tax-Aide Program to assist elderly and low-income families.

Ann Fitzpatrick has been a member of the NIHFCU Board since 2017. She has served as Board Secretary for the past six years. She served as a volunteer on the Asset and Liability Management Committee from 2014 to 2025 and has served on the IT Steering Committee since 2017. She has been a member of NIHFCU for over 30 years. She has worked for the NIH for over 35 years. She worked in the NCI Office of Budget and Finance for 22 years and has been the Budget Officer at NHGRI for the past 15 years. She currently serves on many trans-NIH wide committees and participates as a mentor in both the NHGRI Mentorship and NIH Budget Mentorship programs. She is excited about the NIHFCU Strategic Plan moving forward. Ms. Fitzpatrick graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in sociology from the University of Maryland.

Sarah Porter has 15+ years of leadership with the federal scientific & research community, and the NIH. She is currently VP at Kelly Government Solutions, leading a 75-person team responsible for delivering scientific and operational solutions to federal agencies. Sarah has a strong record of business transformation, including directing the integration of three government contracting businesses, designing new organizational structures, and implementing enterprise technology systems, efficiency, and long-term growth. Sarah has managed multi-billion-dollar federal programs and advised C-suite leaders on strategic planning, financial stewardship, and governance. Sarah holds an MBA from Texas A&M, is a certified Project Management Professional and SHRM-SCP, and serves on the Board of BioHealth Innovation, Inc.

Vivie Yen holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources from the University of Maryland University College and a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from the University of Maryland. In addition to her degrees, Ms. Yen holds certification from SHRM and HRCI. With over 15 years of experience in Human Resources across corporate and nonprofit organizations, she is known for building trusted partnerships with mid- and senior-level leaders to deliver practical, people-centered solutions. Ms. Yen’s expertise also extends to adding business value through collaborative problem-solving, clear communication, and sound judgment with a leadership style that inspires confidence and supports organizational goals. Ms. Yen has been an NIHFCU member for many years and serves on the Montgomery County Society of Human Resources BOD as Membership Director.