From Memberanda, Spring 2012 

Following our first-ever Call for Nominations process, six members of the independent school admission community were chosen by the SSAT Board to serve as the Class of 2018. "We were faced with some very tough decisions," stated Board Chair Jim Power (Upper Canada College, ON), "Each and every candidate had something unique to offer The Enrollment Management Association . The process was very successful, and we look forward to working with the new members." New trustees will be participating in an orientation and onboarding session at The Enrollment Management Association’s offices May 8-9.

Please join us in welcoming to the Board:

Rhonda Auguste has served as the first Executive Director of the Wight Foundation, Inc. since June 1987. Prior to this, Rhonda directed the minority recruitment program at St. Paul’s School (NH) and was a corporate giving officer at the Equitable Foundation in New York City. Like the students she serves, Ms. Auguste earned a scholarship from a public school in Harlem to attend The Spence School (NY). After Spence, she attended Harvard University, where she majored in Sociology and Afro-American Studies. Rhonda also earned an MA in General Professions in Education from Seton Hall University. Rhonda currently serves on the Advisory Boards of the National Partnership for Educational Access and The Independent School Placement Alliance. She previously served on the boards of The Spence School (NY), St. Philip’s Academy (NJ), New Jersey SEEDS, and the Independent Teaching Project.

Daniel Babior has been the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Marin Academy (CA) since 2001. Initially hired to teach photography and visual arts at Marin in 1988, Dan has served in various other capacities, including Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair, Academic Dean, and Junior Class Dean. Dan graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School, has a BA in Photography from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and an MFA in Photography from the Rhode Island School of Design. He served on the Board of Trustees at the Prospect Sierra School (CA) from 2004-2007.

Michael Gary was appointed Director of Admissions at Phillips Exeter Academy in July 2002. He received a BA from Trinity College (CT) and an EdM from Harvard University. Before joining Exeter, Michael served for six years as Director of Admissions at The Peddie School (NJ), where he also taught Economics. Prior to this, he served as Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Multicultural Affairs at Pomfret School (CT). Before starting his academic career, Michael spent three years in the marketing department of Aetna Life and Casualty and at KGA Advertising Agency as an account executive. Michael is on the Board of Trustees at Pomfret School and on the Board of Fellows at Trinity College. He is a former board member of TABS.

Kathy Hanson joined Marts & Lundy as a senior consultant in 2008, bringing nearly 20 years’ experience at independent schools. In 2011, she was named leader of the Schools Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, Kathy was at Baylor School (TN) as Assistant Head/Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs, where she directed development, admissions and financial aid, alumni relations, parent relations, communications, marketing and summer programs. Prior to that, Kathy served as Director of Institutional Advancement at The Fessenden School (MA) from 1994-1999. Her nationally-known expertise in marketing led NAIS to select Kathy as editor of The NAIS Handbook on Marketing Independent Schools (published 2011). Kathy received her BS from the University of New Hampshire and resides in Chattanooga,Tennessee.

Fran Ryan is Assistant Headmaster at Rumsey Hall School (CT), a co-ed junior boarding school, where he has been responsible for secondary school counseling and placement for sixteen years, working with over 800 families. He lives on campus and still performs the private school "triple threat," acting as classroom teacher, crew coach, and dorm parent. Fran is a graduate of Phillips Academy (MA) and Connecticut College. He completed graduate work in American Studies at Wesleyan University and is now an MBA student at the University of Connecticut. He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship, where he studied and consulted with the Japanese Ministry of Education.

Marcia Prewitt Spiller is Head of The Children’s School (GA), a position she has held since 1990. In July, she will assume the position of Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at Woodward Academy (GA). Marcia conducts seminars and workshops on diversity, multi-cultural curriculum, and teacher training. She serves on the board of SAIS and also works with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and SAIS to accredit independent schools in the southern U.S. and Latin America. Marcia served on the Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA) board of directors and most recently as the chair of the board of NAIS. She is a graduate of Fisk University (TN) and received her graduate degree from Georgia State University.

The open nominations process will continue this fall with the selection of additional Board members to replace those leaving the board next year.

The Enrollment Management Association Executive Director Heather Hoerle emphasized, "This open nomination process was a prime example of The Enrollment Management Association’s new commitment to inclusion and transparency with our membership. Thanks to all our nominators. We had an incredibly strong applicant pool, and I am thrilled to welcome our six newest Board members."