Governance

List of 8 members.

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  Jennifer Rao 

  Head of School

  Bio

  Jenny Rao grew up in Mexico City, daughter of a Mexican mother and a British/American father. Feeling the absence of role models for women in Mexico at the time, Jenny decided to attend college in the United States. From researching schools without a college counselor, to translating her teachers' recommendations into English, to taking SAT's without ever having seen a practice test, Jenny overcame the challenges and ultimately was accepted at Bates College in Maine.

  
  

  Upon arriving, she signed up for the debate team in order to learn to think faster on her feet in English. In her senior year, she represented Bates at the World Parliamentary Debating Competition in Greece. This is a metaphor for Jenny's approach to her professional life: set a goal, determine what steps are necessary to accomplish it, and then raise the bar even higher to further challenge herself to achieve an ever-greater goal. 

  
  

  Upon graduation from Bates with a degree in Economics, Jenny joined Cambridge Associates, a consulting firm, in Boston. During her three years as a consulting associate, she honed her strategic and analytical skills. The world of finance, however, did not fulfill her deeper self, and she returned to teaching, as she had taught classical ballet in Mexico City.

  
  

  Although she loved her years in the classroom, teaching Spanish at a K - 9th grade day and boarding school for boys in the Boston area, she discovered that she missed the strategic and analytical pieces in her consulting job. She enrolled in and completed a masters degree in Private School Leadership at the Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University.

  
  

  Before arriving at Emma Willard School in July 2017, Jenny was the director of academic affairs at Garrison Forest, where she has combined classroom teaching (English, Spanish, and Geography), with administrative work. Jenny is now the 17th Head of School at Emma Willard.

  
  

  An advocate for nurturing the qualities of leadership in high school students, Jenny models good citizenry by her commitment to education and she serves on the board of the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). She also is on the board of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce.
• 

  Virginia Arbour 

  Chief Financial Officer

  Bio

  Virginia Arbour received her B.A. in Accounting with a minor in Law from Siena College. She came to Emma with 35 years of experience in administration and financial practices. Virginia was the CFO of The Community Hospice and Community Hospice Foundation where she was responsible for leading the organization in planning and strategic development and managing the overall financial operations of the corporation's $40 million budget. Virginia also provided direct oversight for The Community Hospice Foundation's approximately $32 million investment portfolio and the foundation business to ensure adherence to corporate policy and strategic planning.
  
  Virginia has been a member of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State, for both the Finance and Regulatory Committee. She has received recognition for her work in both Finance and Hospice from the Business Review, as well as the Community Hospice Board of Trustees. In 2015, Virginia became a member of the Board of Trustees for Maria College. She and her husband Gary live in Latham.
• 

  Ann Dejnozka 

  Head of Advancement

  Bio

  Ann is a professional fundraiser with 25 years of experience serving organizations in the Capital Region. She has managed many elements of philanthropy programs, including Annual Fund, Leadership Gift programs, Capital Campaigns, Planned Giving programs, volunteer programs and special events.  Her work in Development began in 1994 serving on the Advancement team at her alma mater, Siena College, and then in 1999, transitioning to Albany Medical Center, serving as Associate Vice President of the Capital Campaign. After completing that campaign, in 2005, Ann joined the team at Skidmore College, and for 13 years served as Executive Director of Family Leadership Giving, overseeing Philanthropy, Volunteerism and Communication programs for Skidmore parents. In July of 2018, Ann became Head of Advancement at Emma Willard School in Troy, NY. She is an active volunteer in the community, having served as a member of the Board of Associate Trustees at Siena College, a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and with the American Cancer Society, SaratogaArtsFest  and St. Clement’s Regional Catholic School. She is a proud graduate of the Leadership Saratoga Program, Class of 2016, and is honored to represent her class as a member of the Alumni Board.  Ann received her BS in Accounting from Siena College and MA in Organizational Communication from University at Albany. She resides in Saratoga Springs with her husband, Mark, and their two young children.
• 

  Christine Gilmore 

  Head of Institutional Equity and Inclusion

  Bio

  Christine Gilmore is our inaugural Head of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and educational leader, Christine most recently served in the role of Director of Alumnae and Parent Relations at Chatham Hall in Chatham, Virginia. Christine holds a BA from Oglethorpe University and has completed coursework toward a master’s in teaching at Notre Dame of Maryland University. She has been trained at the Leadership Institute for Educators of Color at Kingswood Oxford School and is a certified diversity trainer from the National Coalition Building Institute. Christine lives on-campus with her daughter and two cats.
• 

  Meredith Legg 

  Associate Head of School

  Bio

  Assistant Head of School Meredith Legg, PhD, has been at Emma Willard School since 2010. Her roles at the school have included teaching physics and engineering, directing academic technology, developing curriculum innovation, and serving as Academic Dean. Meredith holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University and a PhD in Civil Engineering from Cornell University. Before coming to Emma Willard, Meredith worked as a structural engineer. She lives in Troy with her husband Ryan and two children.
• 

  Shelley Maher 

  Dean of Students, Varsity Lacrosse Coach

  Bio

  Shelley Maher has been at Emma Willard School since 2013. In her role, she oversees student life, health and wellness, and athletic activities. She also coaches lacrosse and has been instrumental in the development of the pickleball program at Emma Willard. A native of Australia, she earned her Bachelor of Education, Graduate of Sport Management, and Master of Sport Management from Deakin University near Melbourne. Before coming to Emma Willard School, Shelley managed the Participation and Equity for Health Unit at the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, which focuses on promoting health and preventing chronic disease. She has been an active lacrosse player and coach, including serving in various levels of leadership both in Australia and internationally. She served as board director for the Federation of International Lacrosse from 2008 to 2017 and was honored with a Lifetime Achiever Award by World Lacrosse in 2019. Ms. Maher loves spending time with her yellow lab, Jaxson.
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  Kristen Mariotti 

  Head of Enrollment Management

  Bio

  Kristen Mariotti, Head of Enrollment Management, has over 20 years of experience in the field of admissions and enrollment management, most recently at the Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Ms. Mariotti received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University and completed a graduate level teaching certification at Prescott College in Arizona with a focus on multicultural education. Ms. Mariotti has also obtained certification from the Association of Independent Admissions Professionals (AISAP) as an enrollment and admissions professional. Ms. Mariotti lives in the Troy area with her husband Chris and their West Highland Terrier, Bella.
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  Lucas Meyers 

  Chief Communications Officer

  Bio

  Chief Communications Officer Luke Meyers has 20 years of experience in the field of communications and marketing, most recently at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. He began his career in non-profit healthcare communications before spending several years leading market research and strategy for agency clients and then moving on to higher education. Mr. Meyers holds a BA in Communication and Media Studies from SUNY Geneseo and is a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society. He resides in the Town of Saratoga with his spouse Alyssa and their two daughters, two dogs, two cats, and a large flock of pet chickens.