Lisa Damour, PhD

Lisa Damour, PhD is the author of three New York Times best-sellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, which have been translated into 23 languages. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Damour authored the monthly Adolescence column for The New York Times, is a regular contributor to CBS News, and created Untangling 10to20, a digital library of premium content to support teens and those who care for them. She maintains a clinical practice and speaks around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being. Damour also works with industry leaders on topics related to adolescent mental health and was a consultant to Pixar on the film Inside Out 2.

Jonathan Haidt, PhD

Jonathan Haidt, PhD is a social psychologist at New York University's Stern School of Business. He received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and taught for 16 years at the University of Virginia. In his most recent book, The Anxious Generation, he brings to light the "great rewiring of childhood" in which play-based childhood has been replaced by phone-based childhood. Haidt continues to push reforms to put an end to the youth mental health crisis through his public health campaign, The Anxious Generation. Haidt also is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, and of The New York Times best-sellers The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, and The Coddling of the American Mind (co-authored with Greg Lukianoff). He was chosen by Prospect magazine as one of the world's "Top 50 Thinkers."

Tina Payne Bryson, PhD

Tina Payne Bryson, PhD is the New York Times best-selling author of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline, which are both co-authored with Dan Siegel. She and Siegel also wrote The Yes Brain and The Power of Showing Up, and Bryson is the author of The Bottom Line for Baby. Her new book, co-authored with Georgie Wisen-Vincent, is The Way of Play. Bryson is the founder and executive director of The Center for Connection. She speaks to parents, educators, and clinicians all over the world. She also consults with schools, businesses, and other organizations, including the Nike Sport Research Lab, where she is project director for Mental and Emotional Performance. Bryson earned her PhD from the University of Southern California, where her research explored attachment science, childrearing theory, and the emerging field of interpersonal neurobiology.

David Yeager, PhD

David Yeager, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and the co-founder of the Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute. He is best known for his research on powerful interventions that influence adolescent behaviors such as motivation, engagement, healthy eating, bullying, stress, mental health, and more. He is the author of the bestselling book 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People: A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation―and Making Your Own Life Easier. His research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, CNN, Fox News, and more. Clarivate Web of Science ranks Yeager as one of the top 0.1% most-influential psychologists in the world over the past decade. Prior to his career as a scientist, he was a middle school teacher and a basketball coach. He earned his PhD and MA at Stanford University and his BA and MEd at the University of Notre Dame.

Laurie Santos, PhD

Laurie Santos, PhD is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast. Santos is an expert on the science of happiness. Her Yale course, Psychology and the Good Life, teaches students how the science of psychology can provide important hints about how to make wiser choices and live a life that's happier and more fulfilling. Her course recently became Yale's most popular course in over 300 years, with almost one of four students at Yale enrolled. Her course has been featured in The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, GQ Magazine, Slate and O! Magazine. A winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching, she was recently voted as one of Popular Science Magazine's "Brilliant 10" young minds and was named in Time Magazine as a "Leading Campus Celebrity." Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, has over 100 million downloads.

Shefali Tsabary, PhD

Shefali Tsabary, PhD (known as Dr. Shefali) received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Columbia University. Specializing in the integration of Western psychology and Eastern philosophy, she brings together the best of both worlds. She is an expert in family dynamics and personal development, and has written seven books, three of which are The New York Times best-sellers, including: The Conscious Parent, A Radical Awakening and The Parenting Map. She has been hailed by Oprah as "revolutionary" and the "best child expert" she has interviewed in her career. With over 2.5 million followers across her social media platforms and appearances on podcasts and forums, from Oprah's networks, Tedx, Masters of Scale, Dalai Lama Center, Kellogg Business School, Wisdom 2.0, to innumerable conferences all over the world, Dr. Shefali's message has transformed millions of lives. She also hosts the top-ranking podcast Parenting & You.

Debra Wilson

Debra Wilson began her tenure as president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in August 2023. Previously, she served as president of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). Her SAIS role followed 19 years at NAIS, as assistant director of regulatory affairs and later as general counsel. She has served on several independent school and educational nonprofit boards and co-authored the NAIS Trustee Handbook (10th & 11th editions). Wilson received a BA from Sewanee: The University of the South and a JD from the University of South Carolina.

James P. Honan

James P. Honan is a senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is also a faculty member at the Harvard Kennedy School and serves on the faculty executive committee of Harvard's Advanced Leadership Initiative. Honan has served as a consultant on strategic planning, governance, and resource allocation to colleges, universities, schools, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. He holds a BA from Marist University, an MA from George Washington University, and an EdM and EdD from Harvard University.

Meghan Davison

Meghan Davison serves as executive vice president at CCS Fundraising. With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit consultation and campaign management, she has advanced projects with aggregate fundraising targets exceeding $1 billion. Davison leverages her expertise of the philanthropic landscape to foster strategic partnerships with education institutions across the central U.S. and is passionate about leveraging innovation and analysis to drive tailored solutions. She specializes in strategic planning, major gift program management, data analytics, and campaign communication.

Bob Weston

Bob Weston serves as senior vice president and independent schools practice lead at CCS Fundraising, with three decades in the independent school sector. An educator, administrator, and advancement professional, Weston has directed transformative fundraising initiatives—from $5 million to over $100 million—and advised on strategic planning, endowment growth, and donor engagement. His expertise and understanding of independent school values have elevated philanthropic outcomes and advanced institutional missions nationwide.

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski is a partner at Greenwich Leadership Partners with decades of experience in financial services, nonprofit board service, strategic planning, organization design, enterprise risk management, and independent school leadership. Within her 12-year tenure as a trustee at the Latin School of Chicago, she served as board chair, treasurer, and chair of the finance committee. Currently, she co-chairs Latin's Senior Advisory Council and serves on the boards of the Independent School Chairperson's Association and High Jump Chicago.

Stephanie Rogen

Stephanie Rogen, principal and founder of Greenwich Leadership Partners, is a consultant, coach, and facilitator to educational and nonprofit boards and leaders. Rogen works with nonprofits ranging from Columbia University to The White House Project and Northwell Health and is a guest lecturer at the UPenn Graduate School of Education. She is a trustee for College Unbound and has served on the boards of the HTH Graduate School of Education, Blair Academy, St. Luke's School, Year Up, and the Greenwich United Way.

Amada Torres

Amada Torres is the vice president of studies, insights, and research at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) where she researches and reports on market and socioeconomic trends, governance and leadership, community well-being, diversity, and other studies of interest to NAIS schools. As a contributor to the NAIS Trendbook, she speaks on issues and trends related to independent education, financial sustainability, admissions and marketing, and advocacy. Torres serves as a trustee of Keys School, Tessa International School, and the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals.

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski is a partner at Greenwich Leadership Partners with decades of experience in financial services, nonprofit board service, strategic planning, organization design, enterprise risk management, and independent school leadership. Within her 12-year tenure as a trustee at the Latin School of Chicago, she served as board chair, treasurer, and chair of the finance committee. Currently, she co-chairs Latin's Senior Advisory Council and serves on the boards of the Independent School Chairperson's Association and High Jump Chicago.

Stephanie Rogen

Stephanie Rogen, principal and founder of Greenwich Leadership Partners, is a consultant, coach, and facilitator to educational and nonprofit boards and leaders. Rogen works with nonprofits ranging from Columbia University to The White House Project and Northwell Health and is a guest lecturer at the UPenn Graduate School of Education. She is a trustee for College Unbound and has served on the boards of the HTH Graduate School of Education, Blair Academy, St. Luke's School, Year Up, and the Greenwich United Way.

Megan Mann

Megan Mann launched Approach in 2024, drawing on over 17 years working in the legal, nonprofit and education sectors. Her work focuses on administrative and governance leadership levels as well as faculty professional development. Previously the general counsel and vice president of legal education and support at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), she managed intricate legal, crisis, and risk management matters, providing valuable consultation and educational support to member schools. She is an independent school alum, parent, and trustee.

Greg Bamford

Greg Bamford is a co-founder and partner of Leadership+Design. Previously he was associate head of school for strategy and innovation at Charles Wright Academy and head of school at Watershed School. In addition, Bamford recently completed two terms on the board of his alma mater, The Overlake School. He brings a strategic lens to leadership development, innovation, and change management. Bamford has been a speaker at conferences, and his writing has appeared in publications such as Independent School, Net Assets, and The Yield.

Lynn Wendell

Lynn Wendell has worked as a consultant for well over 150 independent schools and nonprofits. She served as a trustee at three independent schools and as board chair at San Francisco University High School. In addition, she is currently co-chair of the program committee and on the executive committee of Independent Schools Chairpersons Association (ISCA). She has served on nonprofit boards, board committees, and advisory councils.

Antonio Viva

Antonio Viva is a partner at Leadership+Design. He is a seasoned educator, experience designer, strategic advisor, and nonprofit leader. He served as the head of school at Walnut Hill School for the Arts for 12 years. He also served as senior research and design associate for the Education Development Center, Inc. where he worked on national school design projects. Previously, he was the executive director of Artisans Asylum in Boston, MA, one of the oldest and largest makerspaces in the US. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Union College in English and Education respectively.

Anne-Marie Balzano

Anne-Marie Balzano, EdD is Mission & Data’s governance and strategic planning practice lead, partnering with independent school boards and heads to strengthen governance, lead strategic planning, and support long-term sustainability. A former head of school, associate professor, and director of leadership and governance at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), she brings a multi-layered perspective to the complexities of school leadership. Balzano is a regular faculty presenter for NAIS, working with new and aspiring heads on effective governance and strong board–head partnerships, and she serves as a trustee at The Buckley School (CA).

James P. Honan

James P. Honan is a senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a faculty member at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he also serves on the faculty executive committee of Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative. He has consulted on strategic planning, governance, and resource allocation for colleges, universities, schools, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. Honan holds a BA from Marist University, an MA from George Washington University, and an EdM and EdD from Harvard University.

Donna Harris

Donna Harris, EdD has served as president of Minnehaha Academy (MN), a PK–12 Christian school, since 2009. She began her career as a teacher in public schools before moving into independent school administration. Harris is an adjunct professor at Baylor University in the School Leadership Program and has served as a trustee and board chair for ISACS as well as on several nonprofit and independent school boards. Her leadership was instrumental in guiding Minnehaha Academy through the aftermath of a deadly gas explosion in 2017; under the banner "Together We Rise," she led a rebuilding and restorative effort completed in August 2019.

Bernie Noe

Bernie Noe is the co-founder of The Leader Network, which partners with independent school leaders, boards, nonprofit executives, and mission-driven organizations to strengthen leadership at every level. He previously served as head of school at Lakeside School (WA) and held leadership roles at Sidwell Friends School (D.C.). Noe served on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) board of trustees and served as the founding board chair of Global Online Academy. He has also served on the board of School Year Abroad and currently serves on the board of Rainier Scholars.

Mike Flanagan

Mike Flanagan is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of E3n, an organization formed from the merger of The Educational Records Bureau (ERB) and the Enrollment Management Association (EMA). His 30 years of leadership experience in nonprofit associations and educational technology include serving as CEO of the Mastery Transcript Consortium, CEO of School and Student Services by NAIS, and co-founder and EVP of Client Services at Intrepid Learning Solutions.

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski is a partner at Greenwich Leadership Partners with decades of experience in financial services, nonprofit board service, strategic planning, organization design, enterprise risk management, and independent school leadership. Within her 12-year tenure as a trustee at the Latin School of Chicago, she served as board chair, treasurer, and chair of the finance committee. Currently, she co-chairs Latin's Senior Advisory Council and serves on the boards of the Independent School Chairperson's Association and High Jump Chicago.

Stephanie Rogen

Stephanie Rogen, principal and founder of Greenwich Leadership Partners, is a consultant, coach, and facilitator to educational and nonprofit boards and leaders. Rogen works with nonprofits ranging from Columbia University to The White House Project and Northwell Health and is a guest lecturer at the UPenn Graduate School of Education. She is a trustee for College Unbound and has served on the boards of the HTH Graduate School of Education, Blair Academy, St. Luke's School, Year Up, and the Greenwich United Way.

Kristin Smith

Kristin Smith is a partner in the Houston and Minneapolis offices of Fisher & Phillips LLP and co-chair of the firm's education industry group. Her practice focuses exclusively on independent and private schools, assisting them with student and employee discipline, contracts, handbooks and policies, LGBTQ issues, board governance and training, discrimination claims and EEOC charges, training and development, family court entanglements, and investigations, litigation, arbitration, and mediation.

Debra Wilson

Debra Wilson began her tenure as president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in August 2023. Previously, she served as president of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). Her SAIS role followed 19 years at NAIS, as assistant director of regulatory affairs and later as general counsel. She has served on several independent school and educational nonprofit boards and co-authored the NAIS Trustee Handbook (10^th & 11^th editions). Wilson received a BA from Sewanee: The University of the South and a JD from the University of South Carolina.

Lynn Wendell

Lynn Wendell has worked as a consultant for more than 150 independent schools and nonprofits. She served as a trustee at three independent schools and as board chair at San Francisco University High School. In addition, she is currently co-chair of the program committee and on the executive committee of Independent Schools Chairpersons Association (ISCA). She has served on nonprofit boards, board committees, and advisory councils.

Brooke Carroll, PhD

Brooke Carroll, PhD is the principal consultant and coach at Acies Strategies, supporting small schools and nonprofits in leadership development, board development, and strategic thinking and planning. She holds a doctorate in educational psychology and has 30 years of experience leading schools and nonprofits, is an ICF-certified leadership coach, and has served on eight boards. Prior to consulting and coaching, she was head of school for nine years at Seneca Academy (MD) and authored Governing the Small School.

Lisa Damour, PhD

Lisa Damour, PhD is the author of three New York Times best-sellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, which have been translated into 23 languages. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Damour authored the monthly Adolescence column for The New York Times, is a regular contributor to CBS News, and created Untangling 10to20, a digital library of premium content to support teens and those who care for them. She maintains a clinical practice and speaks around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being. Damour also works with industry leaders on topics related to adolescent mental health and was a consultant to Pixar on the film Inside Out 2.

Jonathan Haidt, PhD

Jonathan Haidt, PhD is a social psychologist at New York University's Stern School of Business. He received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and taught for 16 years at the University of Virginia. In his most recent book, The Anxious Generation, he brings to light the "great rewiring of childhood" in which play-based childhood has been replaced by phone-based childhood. Haidt continues to push reforms to put an end to the youth mental health crisis through his public health campaign, The Anxious Generation. Haidt also is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, and of The New York Times best-sellers The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, and The Coddling of the American Mind (co-authored with Greg Lukianoff). He was chosen by Prospect magazine as one of the world's "Top 50 Thinkers."

Tina Payne Bryson, PhD

Tina Payne Bryson, PhD is the New York Times best-selling author of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline, which are both co-authored with Dan Siegel. She and Siegel also wrote The Yes Brain and The Power of Showing Up, and Bryson is the author of The Bottom Line for Baby. Her new book, co-authored with Georgie Wisen-Vincent, is The Way of Play. Bryson is the founder and executive director of The Center for Connection. She speaks to parents, educators, and clinicians all over the world. She also consults with schools, businesses, and other organizations, including the Nike Sport Research Lab, where she is project director for Mental and Emotional Performance. Bryson earned her PhD from the University of Southern California, where her research explored attachment science, childrearing theory, and the emerging field of interpersonal neurobiology.

David Yeager, PhD

David Yeager, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and the co-founder of the Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute. He is best known for his research on powerful interventions that influence adolescent behaviors such as motivation, engagement, healthy eating, bullying, stress, mental health, and more. He is the author of the bestselling book 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People: A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation―and Making Your Own Life Easier. His research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, CNN, Fox News, and more. Clarivate Web of Science ranks Yeager as one of the top 0.1% most-influential psychologists in the world over the past decade. Prior to his career as a scientist, he was a middle school teacher and a basketball coach. He earned his PhD and MA at Stanford University and his BA and MEd at the University of Notre Dame.

Laurie Santos, PhD

Laurie Santos, PhD is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast. Santos is an expert on the science of happiness. Her Yale course, Psychology and the Good Life, teaches students how the science of psychology can provide important hints about how to make wiser choices and live a life that's happier and more fulfilling. Her course recently became Yale's most popular course in over 300 years, with almost one of four students at Yale enrolled. Her course has been featured in The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, GQ Magazine, Slate and O! Magazine. A winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching, she was recently voted as one of Popular Science Magazine's "Brilliant 10" young minds and was named in Time Magazine as a "Leading Campus Celebrity." Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, has over 100 million downloads.

Shefali Tsabary, PhD

Shefali Tsabary, PhD (known as Dr. Shefali) received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Columbia University. Specializing in the integration of Western psychology and Eastern philosophy, she brings together the best of both worlds. She is an expert in family dynamics and personal development, and has written seven books, three of which are The New York Times best-sellers, including: The Conscious Parent, A Radical Awakening and The Parenting Map. She has been hailed by Oprah as "revolutionary" and the "best child expert" she has interviewed in her career. With over 2.5 million followers across her social media platforms and appearances on podcasts and forums, from Oprah's networks, Tedx, Masters of Scale, Dalai Lama Center, Kellogg Business School, Wisdom 2.0, to innumerable conferences all over the world, Dr. Shefali's message has transformed millions of lives. She also hosts the top-ranking podcast Parenting & You.