Kotryna was first introduced to ASSIST as a scholar at Miss Porter’s School in 2011. Since then, her finance skills and passion for the life-changing impact of international education have brought her back to the organization. Kotryna is an Investment Banking Vice President at Baird, where she works on the Equity Capital Markets team and advises management teams…

Jill Thompson joined the Andover faculty in 2004 and the admission team in 2005, becoming director of admission in 2015 and interim dean of admission & financial aid for the 2019-2020 academic year. Externally, Thompson is responsible for managing many of the admission office’s outward-facing partnerships, including those with international organizations. She also serves as vice…

Jefferson Burnett is a strategic advisor to independent school heads and board chairs. He was formerly a vice president at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) where he led its global education, government relations, environmental and financial sustainability, advocacy, and accreditation work over his 30 year tenure. Jefferson was a governance and leadership resource for NAIS and the liaison to the association’s Board Governance Committee.He also served…

John Kazickas brings both an international perspective and a passion for supporting education and the arts to the ASSIST Board. John attended Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT, before attending The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI where he received a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering in 1980. In 1981, John began his career working…

Mirella began her relationship with ASSIST as a Scholar at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA. Today, she’s an accomplished businesswoman whose background in finance makes her a valuable asset to the ASSIST Investment Subcommittee. Mirella attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA, where she graduated with a B.S. in Accounting in 2001. She…

Kate Meenan-Waugh has enjoyed nearly 40 years working in education as a teacher and administrator, specializing in global history and the creation of programs to expand global education. Her experience as a year-long exchange student in high school affirmed to her the value of experiential education as a means of personal growth and intellectual and…

In ASSIST, Louisa has found an important home for her many talents by serving on the Governance Committee, Messaging and Host Family Task Forces, and as co-chair of the Admissions Advisory Council. Louisa’s background in teaching and in leading independent schools, and her service as a board member at multiple independent schools and school associations…

Andrew has dedicated his career to service within independent schools, leading top schools across the country through critical inflection points and propelling their growth. Serving in a variety of roles, including Head of School, Executive Director, Trustee, Senior Dean, Dean of Admissions, and teacher, Andrew brings a unique perspective to his role as an Executive…

A former ASSIST Scholar, Uli brings personal experience with international exchange to the ASSIST Board. He serves on the Executive and on the Development and Alumni Relations Committees, and his insight and contributions have been instrumental in building an ASSIST presence in Germany. Uli spent his ASSIST year at Deerfield Academy in MA in 1983/84,…