Judges

Jan Abernathy is the Chief Communications & Strategy Officer at The Browning School, a trustee of Grace Church School (NY) and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and a faculty member of the CASE Academy. She has presented at a variety of international and regional conference. President of New York City Independent Schools Communications Professionals, Jan has also written about school communications and governance for publications including Independent School Magazine and Connections Quarterly. Her consulting firm, Jan Abernathy Strategic Communications, works with educational institutions and non-profits.

Founder & Principal

Penny Abrahams, Founder & Principal of Penny Abrahams Consulting, specializes in marketing, communications, and constituent engagement for private and independent schools. She brings over 20 years of experience as a school administrator and consultant, including more than 15 years as a department head with Independent School Management (ISM) and multiple terms as a school Trustee. Having advised over 100 schools worldwide, Penny helps mission-driven leaders connect strategy to daily practice across every touchpoint with families, donors, and alumni. She also serves as Director of Marketing for LeadTeam Partners, connecting private school leaders with vetted K-12 consultants.

Advancement Consultant

Barbara is one of the most sought-after and highly respected advancement consultants in the country. After twenty years in independent schools as a director, she started her consulting business in 2017. Her passion for philanthropy and its powerful impact on schools is unlimited. She helps professionals and volunteers develop the skill and confidence that expand their capacity and joy for this important work.

Senior Director of Communications and Strategic Institutional Marketing

Deborah Baum is the Senior Director of Communications and Strategic Institutional Marketing at The Bryn Mawr School, an all-girls PK-12 school in Baltimore, Maryland. She previously worked in communications and media relations roles at Gilman School, The Rhode Island Foundation, and Brown University. Deb also has a background in journalism, having spent three years as a news writer for WBZ-TV in Boston as well as serving on the staff of 60 Minutes II and The Early Show in New York City. Deb holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology from Colgate University

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Brooke Blumberg is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at McDonogh School, a PK-12 coed and five-day boarding school in Owings Mills, Maryland. Previously, she served as Director of Marketing and Communications at Gilman School, an all-boys PK-12 school in Baltimore, Maryland, for 11 years. Before entering independent school marketing, she​ spent close to a decade in the corporate world, holding various marketing roles at McCormick & Company. B​r​ooke holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and international business from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland.

Director of Advancement

John Boyer is the Director of Advancement at Porter-Gaud School. He previously served as Director of Development at Oak Hill School and Assistant Head of School for Advancement at The Pine School, setting institutional giving records at both. His work at Pine earned two InspirED Brilliance Awards, and he brings extensive experience in high-impact print and video marketing for independent schools while speaking nationally on advancement topics. John holds a Master of Professional Studies from The George Washington University and a B.A. magna cum laude from The University of the South (Sewanee).

Photographer

Michael Branscom has specialized in photography and video for independent schools across the US for over 20 years. With a degree in journalism, a zest for creative collaboration, and an unobtrusive approach, he has a unique ability to connect with students, faculty, and leadership to show the full potential of people and their schools. Recently the drone has played a major role in the visual diversity of his fundraising, marketing and recruitment projects.

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Director of Marketing

Angela Brown is a creative and data-driven marketing leader with a passion for helping mission-driven tech companies grow. As Head of Marketing at Halda.AI, she's building the brand from the ground up—crafting strategy, sharpening messaging, and driving demand in the higher ed enrollment space. Angela brings more than 10 years of experience leading marketing teams across tech, education, and professional services. She's known for developing smart, scalable strategies that connect with real people and get real results. Whether she's launching a new product, rolling out a campaign, or refreshing a brand, she brings energy, insight, and a strong focus on impact.

Head of Communications and Marketing

Kyle Bueschlen is the Head of Communications and Marketing at Nanjing International School, a leading PK-12 IB World School in China. Kyle has 15+ years of in-house Marcom experience working in healthcare, agency PR, and now international education. A seasoned strategic marketing leader, he has developed and led transformational branding initiatives, campaigns, communications, and websites for schools. Kyle has been a featured speaker at Finalsite Marcom workshops and won multiple industry awards for his work, the latest being two Gold InspireED Brilliance Awards for the NIS Website Homepage and Redesign (2023). He holds a master's degree in Communication from Purdue University.

Director of Marketing & Communications

Julia is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Edmund Burke School in Washington, DC, where she also co-advises the student newspaper and the Jewish affinity group and has taught math in the high school. She previously served as Director of External Relations at a dance education organization. She holds an AB from Princeton University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.

Director of Marketing and Communications

Alyce Callison is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Benchmark School in Media, Pennsylvania, serving students with learning differences such as dyslexia and ADHD. In this role, Alyce has led an award-winning full-scale visual and messaging rebranding campaign and also manages all day-to-day marketing and communications initiatives. Alyce is passionate about reading and free access to information, and as such serves as the Vice President of the Board of Trustees of her local library. Alyce holds BAs in English and Communications from Rutgers University.

Creative Director

Madison Carr is a brand strategist & designer with a decade of experience in crafting compelling & effective identities. She helps schools understand and amplify who they are and creates designs that push their brand forward.

Owner

Tara Claeys is the founder of Design TLC, a digital marketing agency specializing in WordPress websites and marketing for small schools and education-focused nonprofits. With decades of experience in marketing, design, and technology, Tara brings both professional expertise and a parent's perspective to helping schools strengthen their online presence.

Director of Communications and Marketing

Chris Clark is a communications and marketing leader with more than a decade of experience at world-renowned international schools. Currently the Director of Communications and Marketing at ICS Addis, Chris has expertise in strategic communication, digital marketing, community building, and brand recognition. Chris has led and contributed to award-winning school marketing projects, inspired audiences through presentations at international conferences, and collaborated with school marketing professionals in four continents. Chris spent nine years working in communications and marketing at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) and has an MSc in International Marketing as well as a BA in Journalism & Mass Communication.

Director of Communications

Liza Cohen is the Director of Communications at Dana Hall School, a role she has held since 2006, so she can remember (barely!) a school communications landscape that did not include social media. She oversees all print and digital communications, brand strategy, and public relations in support of the school's mission. Prior to her time at Dana Hall, Liza held writing and communications positions at Children's Hospital Boston and WGBH. She has a B.A. from Tufts University.

School Story Architect & Strategist

Emily Cretella is a School Story Architect & Strategist with 20+ years of experience helping independent schools and education organizations tell powerful stories that attract dream families, increase inquiries and enrollment, strengthen communities, and grow school influence. As the founder of CursiveContent.com and SchoolStorytellers.com and creator of the Master School Story Framework, Emily has partnered with more than 75 schools across 25 states and five countries to clarify their positioning and strengthen long-term enrollment success. Prior to focusing exclusively on schools, Emily served as the Director of Strategy at a Connecticut marketing agency, leading high-impact campaigns for clients ranging from nonprofits to Fortune 500 brands.

Director of Advancement

In her role as Director of Advancement, Nicole is responsible for developing a comprehensive growth strategy, including student recruitment, market growth, and enhancing the customer experience. She has more than 15 years' experience across several independent schools in Australia, in marketing, admissions, community engagement, fundraising, alumni, and customer experience. Nicole believes education is ultimately defined by people. This passion led to recognition for best-practice within the education industry as speaker at four conferences. She has led award-winning identity projects, a school rebrand and innovative campaigns to ensure a school's brand was not just a promise, but a promise delivered.

Director of Marketing & Communications

Barb Doyle is Director of Marketing and Communications at Renbrook School in West Hartford, CT. She holds deep experience in independent school leadership and higher education and leads the School's brand strategy, enrollment marketing, storytelling, digital communications, website strategy, and cross-departmental collaboration. Barb also serves as Chair of the Commission on School Advancement for the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, providing statewide leadership for marketing, communications, enrollment, and development professionals. She is an early adopter of AI and presents at conferences and in professional learning communities on the safe and effective use of AI in school marketing and communications.

Owner

Rebecca is passionate about capturing compelling, high-impact images of the learning environment. For over 15 years, she has worked with independent schools, colleges, universities and education publications across the United States. Rebecca's training as a photojournalist instilled in her a keen sense of observation and the ability to capture impactful, story-telling moments. Rebecca prides herself on being a proactive, enthusiastic and flexible team player. She engages with her clients to understand their marketing goals and unique culture so that she can translate that to a library of photographs that are versatile, strategic and unique. Based in Washington D.C., available nationwide.

Chief Strategist and Head of StoryScape

With over three decades of experience across large agencies and boutique firms, Barbara has collaborated with clients spanning various industries. Before dedicating the last ten years to education marketing, her most fulfilling role had been working with mission-driven organizations, serving as Global Director of Marketing for 1% for the Planet, a non-profit founded by Patagonia. Aligning the personal with professional sets the stage for where she is today. As a Loomis Chaffee and Rumsey Hall alumna, Barbara's career has come full circle—having branded over 50 independent schools from coast to coast rooted in the very institutions that shaped her.

Co-Founder and Marketing Strategist

Utilizing over two decades of expertise in digital strategy, messaging creation, and content development, Laurie builds sustainable and measurable marketing programs for independent schools and camps. She is a creative thinker who is passionate about driving results through key account marketing approaches to elevate awareness and sustain brand loyalty. Laurie co-founded Thrive Hive in 2024 with Miriam Stein, both former marketing and enrollment professionals at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, respectively. Laurie also runs Elevate Marketing Strategy, founded in 2021. She is a frequent conference presenter including AISAP, EMA, Prizmah, AIMS, Niche and others.

Director of Marketing, Communications, and Strategic Initiatives

I serve as Director of Communications, Marketing, and Strategic Initiatives at Oakwood School, a 1st-8th independent school in Annandale, Virginia. In this role, I oversee internal and external communications, marketing strategy, website content, and the school-wide initiatives and events that bring our community together. My work blends creative storytelling with strategic thinking, and I love finding new ways to connect with families, students, and the broader Oakwood community. I bring a thoughtful, detail-oriented perspective to everything I do, and I'm excited to bring that same lens to evaluating this year's InspirEd Brilliance Awards submissions.

Vice President for Communications and Marketing

Shawna Gallagher Vega, APR serves as Vice President for Communications and Marketing at New York City's Xavier High School, where she has worked since 2015. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Boston College and earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2013. In addition to serving as a judge for the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards, she has spoken at multiple CASE-NAIS conferences as well as the New York State Association of Independent Schools' Advancement and Communications Conference.

Director of Marketing & Enrollment Management

There is no "I" in team, and there is no "Y" in Rudi! Rudi Gesch is the Director of Marketing and Enrollment Management at Sheboygan Christian School in Sheboygan, WI. Rudi previously worked as the Marketing Director of Timothy Christian Schools in the suburbs of Chicago and the Director of Marketing and Enrollment at Eastern Christian School in the NJ/NYC Metro area. For the last 15+ years, Rudi has been blessed to be able to do what he loves- use his creative gifts and analytical eye to help grow the profile and the enrollment of three great Private Christian Schools. Rudi lives in Sheboygan, WI with his wife Stephanie and 3 children.

Assistant Director of Communications

Jonathan Gilbert is the Assistant Director of Communications at Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Jonathan joined Holy Ghost in 2024 and prior to that he worked at The Agnes Irwin School as well as the University of Pennsylvania. Jonathan oversees all the photography and video content at Holy Ghost, as well as managing social media and the website. Jonathan holds a B.A in journalism from Temple University.

Director of Communications

Jeff oversees communications at Carlthorp School in a role that combines his writing, editing, and media experience with his passion for education. With a background in journalism, he has previously worked in communications at Geffen Academy at UCLA and Crossroads School. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jeff graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in political science. He has written two children's books: Feel Like Eggs? and Heather and the Magic Weather Feather. In his free time, Jeff enjoys playing basketball, hanging out with his three brothers, and exploring LA with his wife and children.

Independent Consultant / Trustee Director

Andrea has worked in the education sector for over 20 years, across public and private universities, for-profit education providers and a media agency. She recently completed her doctorate with Anglia Ruskin University, UK, and now works as an Independent Consultant alongside serving as a Trustee Director for the Institute of Risk Management Education Foundation. Previously, Andrea was Chief Marketing Officer for Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur. Before Malaysia, she was Marketing Director for Cambridge Education Group, leading global marketing and strategic development of the Group's academic brands: CATS International Schools, Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts (CSVPA), and ONCAMPUS International Foundation centres.

Creative Director and Brand Strategist

Emily Hajjar leads creative strategy at Creosote Affects, bringing 16 years of branding experience to leading independent schools across admissions, advancement, and institutional brand positioning. She helps school leaders do the hard work of branding—turning research into action, pairing strategy with creativity and developing communications that are both emotional and effective. Her work spans messaging, editorial strategy, visual direction, and digital and print planning for schools including Delbarton School, The Meadowbrook School of Weston, The Masters School, Sage Hill School, Pomfret School, Old Trail School, Episcopal High School, Donna Klein Jewish Academy, Bank Street School for Children, and many more.

Executive Creative Director

Michael Ho is the Executive Creative Director at Rhodes Branding, an agency serving K–12 school districts, charter schools, and CTE programs nationwide. Michael leads the agency's creative direction, blending strategic storytelling with award-winning design. His leadership has elevated the visual presence of education brands nationwide.

Director of Marketing and Communications

Meghan D. Hodgin is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, New Jersey. With over 10 years of experience in school marketing and communications, she has led successful initiatives in rebranding, website redesign, and market research, enhancing the school's visibility and engagement. With a master's degree in integrated marketing communication and a bachelor's degree in journalism, she has earned national and international marketing awards and has presented at various national conferences on topics like admissions-marketing partnerships and lead nurturing.

Director, Editorial & Internal Communications

Allyson Irish is an award-winning communications professional with more than 30 years of experience ranging from journalism and executive messaging to crisis management and magazine production. For more than 20 years she has focused on the education industry. Allyson is the director of editorial & internal communications and editor of Andover magazine at Phillips Academy Andover (MA) one of the nation's oldest private independent high schools. Allyson is a native of New England and lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. She is also a certified tea sommelier whose business Teally creates custom tea experiences.

Senior Business Manager of North American Operations

My name is Kristen Jackson and I am from St. Louis, Missouri. I am currently the Senior Business Manager of North American Operations for Enquiry Tracker and have served in this role for the past 2 years. Prior to that, I was the Director of Enrollment for a high school in St. Louis, which is also my alma mater. I also have experience with recruiting at the collegiate level. I earned my BA in English-Journalism from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo and a MEd in Secondary School Counseling from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. I am the mom to 2 athletic boys and 2 adorable cats.

Executive Compliance Officer

Rachael holds a BA in English, MA in Journalism, and has worked in TV news and academic counseling. Since joining The Alexander Dawson School, an EC-8 independent school in Las Vegas, she has served in various roles, including program manager, executive communications officer, and currently as executive compliance officer. She's published in NAIS and Lambert Academic Publishing, and also judges for CASE's Circle of Excellence Awards. Rachael has won two Bronze Brilliance Awards for Dawson's Education Blog. Outside work, she enjoys traveling, TV, and time with her husband, puppy, and three sons, all students at The Alexander Dawson School.

Director of Marketing at Upland Country Day School in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and former founder and Director of Multimedia at a creative agency. An avid consumer of great design and thoughtful creative work, with a passion for storytelling, brand building, and bringing meaningful ideas to life.

Director of Communications and Marketing

Deanna Taylor Luna is a communications and marketing professional based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she serves as the Director of Communications and Marketing at The Bright School. With extensive experience in independent school communications, Deanna has worked at two other Chattanooga-area schools. She specializes in shaping each school's narrative and sharing achievements and initiatives with students, families and alumni. She has previously been a speaker at the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS) conference, the Social Media for Schools retreat and the Finalsite users' conference. Originally from North Carolina, Deanna has proudly called Chattanooga home for more than twenty-five years.

Director of Marketing & Communications

Kara brings 15 years of communications leadership in the independent school sector, currently overseeing strategic communications at UTS. She is an active CAIS Peer Review Team member and led UTS's 2025 CAIS accreditation visit. Prior to UTS, she held communications roles at The York School and Robbins Hebrew Academy. For nearly 20 years, she has served her community, including a decade as chair and vice chair of the High Park Nature Centre. A Brilliance Awards judge since 2019, Kara now serves on the Advisory Board. She holds a BA (Honours) in Communications and an MA in Japanese Studies.

Independent Education Consultant

Nija Majmudar Meyer is a strategic enrollment, marketing, and communications leader who spent the past decade at Woodward Academy, a PK–12 independent school with the largest enrollment in the continental U.S. She oversaw admissions, financial aid, strategic marketing, and communications, advancing institutional positioning, family experience, and financial sustainability. A respected voice in independent school education, Nija frequently presents at conferences. Her 2025 “Marketing Magic” workshop was named a Top Five “Best of Thrive” session at NAIS. She is an Enrollment Management Association Rising Star Award recipient and E3n trustee. Previously, she held marketing and consulting roles with Fortune 500 companies.

Creative Director

Kelly McMurray is the founder & creative director at 2communiqué, a content strategy and creative design firm. She founded the firm in 1999 to focus on strategy and design with a narrative lens. Working primarily with clients in the education sector, the firm advises their clients on how to connect and engage with the communities through brand storytelling.

Managing Director

Jesse Meadow is the Managing Director of Schoolcraft Digital, a next-level digital marketing agency serving K-12 private schools across the country. With a background in independent school admissions, student life, and marketing, Jesse brings a practical understanding of both the challenges schools face and the families they are trying to reach. Today, he helps school leaders strengthen enrollment marketing, make better use of data, and adopt tools like AI that can save time, improve communication, and make already-busy teams more effective.

Marketing and Communications Director

Chris Miller is the Marketing and Communications Director at Trinity Episcopal School, a K-8 independent school located in uptown Charlotte, NC. Chris joined Trinity in August 2021, transitioning from a two-decade career in radio news in which he won numerous awards for reporting on local government. Chris holds a BA in Communications from Queens University of Charlotte.

Group Director of Marketing & Admissions

David Milner is Director of Marketing & Admissions at Sedbergh School and plays a leading role in the growth and development of the Sedbergh Schools Group. With extensive experience across independent education, David specialises in marketing, pupil recruitment, international development and strategic growth. His work has taken him around the world, building partnerships and promoting British education across key international markets. A former Chair of AMCIS and experienced school governor, David is passionate about the power of education, strong school communities and creating opportunities for young people. He brings energy, creativity and a distinctly entrepreneurial approach to education.

Owner/Creative Director

Joe Monzo launched Monzo Media Productions in 2016 with a passion for telling meaningful stories through video. While his early work focused on corporate clients, he shifted his focus in 2018 to independent schools. Having spent his entire K–12 education in independent schools (Woodlynde School and Delaware Valley Friends School), Joe will love your target audience as much as you do. He understands how to translate a school's mission and values into compelling, strategic stories that resonate with prospective families. Today, Joe partners with schools to create video content that goes beyond looking good—it drives engagement, supports admissions and advancement goals, and brings a school's community to life. Clients often say he's easy to work with, thoughtful in his approach, and strategic about ensuring each video connects with the right audience on a deeper level—with purpose and impact.

Director of Communications

Rachel Naggar is the Director of Communications at Kent Place School, an all-girls K-12 independent school in New Jersey. She brings more than 25 years of experience to her position, which she began in 2003. Before KPS, she ran the marketing department at the American Program Bureau, a global lecture and entertainment agency, and worked in alumnae relations at Brandeis University. Rachel has won numerous InspirED School Marketers Brilliant Awards, CASE Accolades, and Circle of Excellence Awards. She's an advisor emeritus for Blackbaud K–12's product advisory board and a member of the Dana Hall School Alumnae Council.

Director of Marketing and Communications

Jaime Nelson leads The Riviera Ridge School's Marketing & Communication Department, managing learning management systems, and overseeing the development of brand and marketing initiatives. With a BA in Organizational Communications, a minor in Human Resource Management, and a Master's degree in Education, Jaime began her career as a Marketing Specialist prior to her work in education. Jaime is a skilled writer, copy editor, webmaster and helps in the collaboration of technology infrastructure. As a member of the Administrative Team, she has worked side by side with the Advancement Department for the last 14 years as well as supporting important PR initiatives.

Founder and President

Dana Nelson-Isaacs brings more than 25 years of experience helping schools thrive by strengthening enrollment strategy, communications, and community engagement. Known for her thoughtful insight and candid, collaborative style, she works across all levels of leadership to solve complex challenges with clarity and heart.She launched her consulting practice in 2013 after holding key roles in enrollment and marketing, and today is a trusted expert in market research, enrollment feasibility, and strategic enrollment management. Dana has led professional networks, facilitated national workshops, and created The Assembly, her signature mastermind for school leaders. She also offers executive coaching to individuals and teams.Dana lives in Northern California with her husband, a physics teacher, and their high-school-aged daughter.

Founder/CEO

Proud to lead the Multi Award-Winning Global Digital Agency, CREATING THE BEST WEBSITES for the world's leading schools. Simon's purpose is #InspiringSchools to share their story, and leading Interactive Schools on a mission to unlock the magic of every school, one story at a time. Simon is invited to speak around the world on #ContentStrategy, School Marketing and Website UI/UX - and has written many playbooks on delivering MarComms success 100% of the time! A creative maverick, #FutureSchool thinker, and school MarComms Tech Innovator. Simon has pioneered the new game-changing SprX Technology: delivering Intentional Omni-Channel Personalization to schools across the globe.

Director of Marketing and Communications

Stephanie Orfanakis is the director of marketing and communications at Rowland Hall. She enjoys strategic communications and all things design related. Stephanie brings 20 years of experience in visual communications to her current role and continues to expand her knowledge of best practices in communications, marketing, and technologies.

Principal

Shelly believes your brand is one of your organization's most powerful assets, and you must steward it accordingly. Years of experience in nonprofit education consulting and corporate management have led her to understand that success—with a marketing program or in an organization—requires that every community member believe in the same overarching purpose and feel inspired to contribute their unique talents toward the larger vision. Shelly holds a dual BA in psychology and educational studies from Emory University and studied learning and organizational change at Northwestern University.

Matt Plager works as a member of both the Admission and Alumni & Development offices at The Bement School in Deerfield, MA, enjoying the unique opportunity to engage with both future and former Bement families. He also acts as Bement's in-house photographer. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, exploring the Pioneer Valley through the lens of his camera, cheering on his favorite sports teams, and spending time with his family on Martha's Vineyard.

Creative Director, Principal

Joseph Prichard is the Creative Director and a founding partner of Kilter, a Los Angeles based design & branding studio focused on elevating organizations with a positive social impact. For two decades, Joe's partnered with nonprofits, schools, and cultural institutions to deliver measurable, meaningful results. Before starting Kilter, Joe served as an Associate Creative Director at Distinc_ and Director of Creative Services at CalArts. He holds a BFA in film from USC and an MFA in graphic design from CalArts. When he's not solving problems for clients, he's chasing big ideas, untangling complex systems, and celebrating happy accidents.

President

We are leading experts in how education decisions are made online. From ChatGPT to Google to social media to streaming TV—wherever parents are researching and living, you will find LFM clients.

Director of Video

Brandan Roberts is the director of video for McCallie School, a boarding school for boys in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he is focused on telling stories through video in unique and unpredictable wasy.

Brand Strategist

How far is it from Boone, NC, to Greensboro, NC? If you're Sarah Sams, it's a few thousand miles, covering 38 countries (and counting) with her husband and daughter. After earning her B.S. in Journalism from Appalachian State, Sarah invested her creative writing efforts in data-driven education marketing — working with schools in Japan, Uganda, Senegal, and Romania before landing back “home” in NC. Now, she helps independent and faith-based schools across the U.S. pursue goals that contribute to healthy enrollment. Tassel® has five areas of focus: AI solutions, digital marketing, school websites, Age-and-Stage® message workshops, and academic and athletic branding.

Director of Marketing and Communications

Kerry Shea leads a four-person Marketing and Communication Team at Greenhill School. Widely recognized for her expertise in marketing, she loves creating strategies and plans and then collaborating with her team to bring those visions to life. She regularly draws on her experience with companies like IBM and DuPont and her network of committed and talented peer school colleagues as she tackles the challenges of marketing independent schools. Kerry holds degrees from College of the Holy Cross and Yale University. More recently, she is proud that her team has earned multiple InspirED Brilliance Awards.

Director of Marketing and Communications

As Director of Marketing and Communications at Pacific Ridge School, Gigi Theberge leads marketing and communications strategy to strengthen the school's brand, build community, and support enrollment. She brings more than two decades of experience across agency, corporate, hospitality, and mission-driven organizations. Her career includes work with national brands and leadership roles in luxury hospitality and at San Diego Humane Society, where she directed marketing, communications, education, and crisis response. In 2026, Pacific Ridge School's marketing and communications team earned the InspirED Brilliance Gold Award in social media. Gigi holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University.

Director of Marketing and Communications

Tiffany Truong has served as director of marketing and communications at Noble and Greenough School since August 2023, returning after an earlier tenure from 2010 to 2014. She previously spent nearly nine years as director of marketing and communications at La Jolla Country Day School, a PreK–12 independent school in San Diego. Tiffany has led initiatives shaping brand identity, messaging, and strategic planning. She holds a bachelor's degree in public relations from Suffolk University, an Integrated Marketing 360 certificate from Cornell University, and a PRSA Reputation Management certificate, and has judged the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards.

Nishel is an award-winning sales and marketing professional specializing in the Independent and International School sector for more than a decade. Originally from the UK, she has experience at girls & co-ed schools, day & boarding, and across UK & IB curriculums in the UK, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Nishel is leading the Parent Engagement and Professional Learning & Development initiatives at UNIS Hanoi, where she co-chairs the largest education conference in Vietnam. Experienced in a variety of sectors, Nishel started her career in investment banking, followed by publishing, then helped to launch the luxury brand, Moshino, in India.

Senior Managing Director

In his professional life, Mike balances his time between consulting and serving as the Executive Director of the Association of Independent Michigan Schools. He is a Senior Managing Director at Gowan Group, a full-service consultancy to independent schools based in Connecticut. Before becoming a consultant, Mike worked in independent day schools for 30 years, as a teacher, coach, dean of students, division director and for eleven years as head of school. Mike also maintains his own consulting brand, Knuckleball Consulting. Mike's consulting work has focused on enrollment strategy, strategic planning, governance and leadership searches.

Co-Founder and Strategic Director

Dr. David Willows is Co-founder and Strategic Director at [YELLOW CAR], a training and consulting firm designed to help schools stand out. Between 2005 and 2022, he was Director of Advancement at the International School of Brussels, Belgium. David is widely regarded as one of the most innovative practitioners in the field, helping to shape and define the future of Advancement in schools. He was recently listed as one of the world's Top 10 Global Education Influencers. An author and regular keynote speaker & trainer at international events around the world, David is passionate about helping schools advance in ways that are relevant for today's educational landscape.

Head of Marketing, Admissions, & Development

Tom Wood FRSA is Head of Marketing, Admissions & Development at St Mary's School, Hampstead, where he won the AMCIS Impact Award 2025 for Strategic Marketing. In October 2026, he will join King's School Rochester as Director of Relationships & Growth. Tom is a Foundation Governor of Cranbrook School and Deputy Chair of Marketing at Proms at St Jude's, a music and literary festival in London. He studied Music at The University of Oxford and King's College London. A recipient of two InspirED School Marketers Brilliance Awards, he is delighted to join the judging panel for 2026.