AFPC-USA Remembers Pat Drew, a Trailblazer in Counseling and Resilience
Patricia "Pat" Drew, a devoted counselor and senior executive coach, passed away on April 22, 2023, at the age of 78. Her remarkable career and unwavering dedication to helping others thrive in challenging work environments will forever leave an indelible mark on the field of psychotherapy and the lives of countless individuals she touched.
Pat Drew
Raised in Atherton, California, Pat ventured to Bronxville, New York in 1983, where she established herself as an esteemed member of the community. An accomplished musician and psychotherapist, Pat immersed herself in various passions, demonstrating her love for music as a student of renowned pianist Max Barros. Her piano skills resonated through the halls of The Reformed Church of Bronxville, where she frequently performed preludes and hosted well-attended annual recitals.
Pat's commitment to her family was unwavering, and she leaves behind a cherished legacy. She is survived by her beloved husband, Thatcher Drew, her son Jonathan, her daughter Kimberly, her daughter-in-law Sara, her grandchildren Teddy and Otto, and her brother Jim Fink. Pat was predeceased by her brother Bill Fink, but their memories will forever live on in the hearts of those who loved her.
Professionally, Pat made significant contributions to the field of counseling and resilience. During her 21-year tenure at The New York Times, she spearheaded pioneering employee assistance programs, specifically designed to support correspondents navigating war zones, hostage situations, and other challenging assignments. Her expertise in helping individuals develop resilience and manage career transitions led her to extend her services to esteemed organizations such as CNN, Getty Images, McClatchy News, Committee to Protect Journalists, Global Journalists Security, and more. Last year, she held a training program titled “Building Resilience”—which explored the challenges the pandemic posed to journalists and newsrooms and what tools can be used to build resilience and strength—for the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA).
Pat Drew (far left) attended AFPC-USA’s 2022 Foreign Press Awards ceremony.
Recognized for her groundbreaking work, Pat became a sought-after senior consultant and faculty member. She served on the faculty for the "Managing Global Account Certification" at Columbia Business School and the Sulzberger News Media Executive Leadership Program at Columbia Journalism School. Her insights on journalists and trauma made a lasting impact, as she presented at the esteemed Harvard Nieman Foundation Symposium.
Pat's educational background further solidified her expertise. She held master's degrees in Psychology, Social Work, and European History, reflecting her multidisciplinary approach to counseling. Throughout her career, she served as a sociologist at the Outpatient Clinic of New York State Psychiatric Institute, an Instructor at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and an Associate Professor of Social Work at New York University.
In the face of loss, Pat's family encourages friends and community members to honor her memory by making donations to Feeding Westchester, an organization dedicated to combating hunger in the local community.
Alan Herrera is the Editorial Supervisor for the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA), where he oversees the organization’s media platform, foreignpress.org. He previously served as AFPC-USA’s General Secretary from 2019 to 2021 and as its Treasurer until early 2022.
Alan is an editor and reporter who has worked on interviews with such individuals as former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci; Maria Fernanda Espinosa, the former President of the United Nations General Assembly; and Mariangela Zappia, the former Permanent Representative to Italy for the U.N. and current Italian Ambassador to the United States.
Alan has spent his career managing teams as well as commissioning, writing, and editing pieces on subjects like sustainable trade, financial markets, climate change, artificial intelligence, threats to the global information environment, and domestic and international politics. Alan began his career writing film criticism for fun and later worked as the Editor on the content team for Star Trek actor and activist George Takei, where he oversaw the writing team and championed progressive policy initatives, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ rights advocacy.