Patricia J. Matson

Joined the amfAR board in December 1998 and was elected a vice chairman in April 2002. Serves on executive and board development committees. Expertise in strategic communications.

Since March 2001, Ms. Matson has been a consultant to The Walt Disney Co. Prior to her role as consultant, she was the senior vice president for communications for ABC, Inc., as well as the company’s chief spokesperson. She joined

ABC Television as director of news information in Washington, D.C., and after several promotions was named a corporate officer of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., in 1986. Prior to joining ABC, she served as press secretary and administrative aide to U.S. Representative John Y. McCollister; as press assistant and speech writer at the White House (1973–1977); and as press secretary to the Republican Senatorial Committee. She has received the Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications, as well as the University of Nebraska’s Alumni Achievement Award.

Senior Vice President, Communications, ABC, Inc. (emerita); currently, consultant to The Walt Disney Co. She and her husband, Edward Gottesman, live in New York City and London.