Connection to Emerson School
Former student

When did you join the Emerson community?
1987

Day job
Lawyer at Hooper Hathaway, P.C.

Education
BA in History at Kalamazoo College
JD at Emory University

What wows you about Emerson?
The quality and commitment of the teachers.

Why do you serve on the Board of Trustees?
My experience as a student at Emerson was magnificent and I’m honored to have the opportunity to help guide Emerson into the future.

What would surprise people about you?
I’m skilled at sharpening Japanese knives with a traditional waterstone.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
Time travel—to know the future and to change the past could allow me to fix just about anything.

What do you do when you’re not working or at a BOT meeting?
I enjoy playing music, cooking, drinking and collecting wine, watching the Tigers, and traveling with my wife.

Who/what inspires you?
Perfection.

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
Alternated between neurosurgeon, astronaut, and professional basketball player.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Pistachio

How many children do you have?
One

When did you join the Emerson community?
2013

Day job
Professor from Practice, University of Michigan Law School,
Partner, Paul Hastings LLP

Education
BA, JD, University of Michigan
LL.M, Columbia University

What wows you about Emerson?
The energy of our school is fantastic! Walking the halls is always an amazing experience to see all the collaboration going on, the thirst for learning and the overall positive vibes of students faculty and administration. What a great place and how lucky our children are to be here!!

Why do you serve on the Board of Trustees?
I serve on the Board to hopefully contribute some ideas from my experiences as both an educator and student in a variety of contexts and cultures in our global society. I believe that it is important that our children get a good grounding in both fundamentals and a “global” view of the world….

What would surprise people about you?
Not sure…..but perhaps that while I have always had a career in law in mind, I also wanted to write the great American novel….ala F. Scott Fitzgerald. I’m still working that one!!

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
I would have the super power to need no sleep so I could continue on with whatever I was doing at the time of normal shut off!! Imagine all the things we could do if we could just keep doing them!!

What do you do when you’re not working or at a BOT meeting?
Up north sailing and watching sunsets and traveling the world!

Who/what inspires you?
I am inspired by our children who amaze me with their sophistication at an early age, by those who face challenges and never give up, and those who wear a smile on their face!

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
FBI agent or Marine Biologist

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Peppermint stick, it’s the best!

Anything else you would like Emerson families to know about you?
I am a third generation Ann Arborite and while I managed to get away for 20 years, my heart was always in AA!

How many children do you have?
Three

When did you join the Emerson community?
2011

Day Job
Vice-President Strategy & Insights at Carhartt

Education
B.A., in Political Science at The University of Michigan
M.B.A., Michigan State University

What wows you about Emerson?
It’s truly a supportive and challenging environment where every child is nurtured and is able to thrive.

Why do you serve on the Board of Trustees?
I want to give back to the community that has given so much to our family. Offering my time, my business experience, and ideas with other Board members is a privilege.

What would surprise people about you?
I could listen to Frank Sinatra all day long

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
The ability to time travel

What do you do when you’re not working or at a BOT meeting?
I love to be outside… coaching soccer, playing soccer, spending time at Lake Michigan, going skiing in good snow.

Who/what inspires you?
Teachers. The dedication, energy & effort that our teachers contribute each and every day is inspiring.

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
An astronaut

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate peanut butter

Anything else you would like Emerson families to know about you?
We have 5-year-old twin boys that have made our days shorter, our nights longer, our home even happier and our hearts filled with even more love.

How many children do you have?
Two

When did you join the Emerson community?
2003

Day Job
Director of Development, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at UM

Education
B.A. in history, Middlebury College

What wows you about Emerson?
I love that each student is deeply cared for by the fabulous faculty and staff.

Why do you serve on the Board of Trustees?
I serve on the Board to give back to a very special place. I will always be grateful for the supportive and creative learning environment that Andy and Dana were privileged to be a part of, and that helped shape their perspectives.

What would surprise people about you?
I am an enthusiastic birder—who doesn’t make enough time to foster her hobby!

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
To be in two places (or more) at one time, so I could do all the things I want to do!

What do you do when you’re not working or at a BOT meeting?
I enjoy sharing meals with friends, hiking, and getting lost in a good book.

Who/what inspires you?
I am inspired by people (of all ages) who work hard to overcome challenges.

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
A professional downhill ski racer.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Fresh Basil (yes, I’m an ice cream snob!)

How many children do you have?
Three

When did you join the Emerson community?
1994

Day job
Retired. Twenty six years as an independent school educator, the last 10 as Head of School of Greenhills School. Sixteen years as Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor.

Education
B.A., Bowdoin College
M.A.L.S., Wesleyan University
Ed.M., Harvard University

What wows you about Emerson?
Over its more than forty year history Emerson has creatively adapted to changing circumstances and has served its families well.

Why do you serve on the Board of Trustees?
I believe that strong communities need educational options to serve all students’ learning and social styles, and that access to those options should be as open as possible.

What would surprise people about you?
I once worked in the same restaurant as Rachel Ray. (She was not yet born, but her mother to be worked there at the time.)

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
To have every one of my golf shots go straight and just the right distance.

What do you do when you’re not working or at a BOT meeting?
Exercise, spend time at the family cottage on the Leelanau Peninsula, visit with our seven grandchildren.

Who/what inspires you?
Nelson Mandela

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
Center fielder for the New York Yankees.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Butter pecan

How many children do you have?
Two

When did you join the Emerson community?
2009

Day job
Parent ++

Education
BS in Business at Miami University (Ohio)
JD at University of Detroit Mercy

What wows you about Emerson?
The wow factor at Emerson is a combination of the respect shown for the student voice and development of those students not only academically, but as young people and future leaders. The idea that children are fundamentally good, trustworthy and of value permeates everything that is done at Emerson and the vibe is one of support and excellence. What a cool learning environment!

Why do you serve on the Board of Trustees?
I serve on the Board of Trustees to have the opportunity to give back to the educational community that my children are a part of and continue the good work for children of the next generation.

What would surprise people about you?
I love to capture images with my camera, be it a sunset or a smile!

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
The genie powers in “I Dream of Jeannie” would come in really handy most days! I’m not sure it’s an “official” super power, but it sounds super to me!

What do you do when you’re not working or at a BOT meeting?
I’m usually driving these days with my dog, Mia.

Who/what inspires you?
I am inspired by people who give more of themselves that seemingly possible, be it a volunteer coach or Mother Theresa.

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
A professional water skier – those shows, those tricks!

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Black cherry

How many children do you have?
Two

When did you join the Emerson community?
2011

Day job
Quality Project Manager at IHA

Education
B.S.I.E., Northwestern University
M.B.A., University of Michigan

What wows you about Emerson?
The enthusiasm and creativity of all the students, teachers and staff!

Why do you serve on the Board of Trustees?
I have been volunteering at Emerson since our first year of enrollment. This is a way I can contribute to the school at another level.

What would surprise people about you?
My heritage is Greek and Lebanese even though I don’t have the typical dark coloring – usually people never guess correctly. I love to watch sports.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
The ability to read minds so I could always be one step ahead

What do you do when you’re not working or at a BOT meeting?
I really enjoy attending theater, musical theater and dance productions. I also love to play tennis.

Who/what inspires you?
Great dancers and dance performances, beautiful sunsets, and art are all very inspiring to me.

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
A ballerina

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate salted caramel

Anything else you would like Emerson families to know about you?
One of my mantras is “It is all in your attitude”. Thanks to my dad, these words are always in my head. Anything can be conquered with a positive outlook and good attitude.

How many children do you have?
Three

When did you join the Emerson community?
2013

Day job
Director, gTech and Ann Arbor Site Director at Google

Education
BA in English, University of Michigan
MBA, Duke University

What wows you about Emerson?
The quality of the teachers and their commitment to the work they do.

Why do you serve on the Board of Trustees?
I want Emerson School to be the very best possible school it can be, for my children and for yours.

What would surprise people about you?
I’m a dual citizen of the United States and St. Vincent & the Grenadines (and an experienced spear fisherman).

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
The ability to time travel – I am passionate about learning and find learning from experience my preferred mode.

What do you do when you’re not working or at a BOT meeting?
Spending time with my family or backpacking in the mountains with my friends (or attending U of M sporting events).

Who/what inspires you?
Nature and the curiosity of children.

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
An Imagineer at Disney World

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip

Anything else you would like Emerson families to know about you?
Life’s too short to not look for the good in the world (and people) around you.

How many children do you have?
Four

When did you join the Emerson community?
2004

Day Job
Former Project Manager at Zingerman’s Cornman Farms, in culinary school at Schoolcraft College

Education
BA in Psychobiology, Wellesley College, minor in Elementary Education.
MA in Literacy and Language Development, Boston College.

What wows you about Emerson?
My children are truly excited to get to school every day, and they are in tears on the last day of the year.  Students feel how much they are valued as individuals and it makes all the difference!

Why do you serve on the Board of Trustees?
I feel so lucky that my children have experienced Emerson School.  Being a trustee gives me the opportunity to serve Emerson to ensure that we stay true to the original inspiring mission while adapting thoughtfully to future challenges.

What would surprise people about you?
I am a beekeeper!  It’s a hobby I acquired in conjunction with my passion for gardening. I love the adrenaline rush when I open the hive and see how all the thousands of bees work together to gather pollen and create honey.

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
I would love to have the power to change the length of a day.  Some days I would like to end early, and others need to be extended. Imagine what I could get done in a 28 hour day!

What do you do when you’re not working or at a BOT meeting?
I am a music junkie! I have studied voice and performed for the last 20 years in various genres.  As a child and young adult, I played piano, viola and french horn, and in my adulthood have taught myself guitar & ukulele.

Who/what inspires you?
I am inspired by others who love to learn like I do, and from those who are full of fiery passion and dedication to their craft.

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?
A surgeon

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Zingerman’s Creamery John do ‘Ya? (dark chocolate & hazelnut)

Anything else you would like Emerson families to know about you?
The hustle and controlled chaos of a restaurant kitchen makes me giddy.