Leadership

Joined Board: 2020

Committee: Horizons Committee

Emily is majority owner and advisory board chair of The Latimer Corporation, a communication skills coaching and training firm, which she co-founded with her husband Dean. Previously, Emily enjoyed a nearly 20-year teaching career with stops at Choate Rosemary Hall, Kingswood Oxford, and Deerfield Academy. She spent 15 of those years at Choate where she taught, advised, lived in dorms, and served as director of Choate’s Prefect Program and as chair of its Faculty Governance Committee. Emily earned her M.A. in History from Yale, her B.A. in American Studies and Art History from Wellesley, and spent her middle and high school years at Kingswood Oxford. Emily and Dean are active in the Wallingford community, including their local YMCA, the Spanish Community of Wallingford, and the Wallingford Public Library. Emily and Dean have two children, Zachary ’25, and Kate ’30.

Co-Vice President

Joined Board: 2023

Committees: Executive, Human Resources (Chair)

Mike has worked in the energy industry for over 20 years and develops, manages, and invests in energy infrastructure and related businesses. His work experience is in identifying solutions that balance policy objectives with commercial and physical realities while trying to address the interests of stakeholders. Mike has a B.S. from Cornell University, an M.S. in Finance from London Business School, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. He is also an advisor to EarthSpark International. Mike lives in North Haven with his wife, Lauren, and has two children at Foote: Will ’27 and Ben ’30.

Board Member since 2025

Committee: Human Resources Committee

Maria Casasnovas has been a proud Foote School parent for nearly a decade. She is the mother of Sofia Caliendo ’26 and Mateo Caliendo ’28, and a dedicated volunteer in various roles at the school, including Chair of the Vision and Hearing Screening Committee, Grade Representative, and member of Mosaic. Maria holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Economics from Universidad de Montevideo in Uruguay and University of Auckland in New Zealand, where she was awarded a prestigious full scholarship by the New Zealand government. Maria specializes in antitrust and anti-competitive practices, with a diverse background spanning the public sector, academia, and private industry. She has served as a Senior Economist for Uruguay’s Antidumping Authority within the Secretary of Industry, worked as a Research Economist at the University of Chicago on the team of Nobel Laureate Professor James Heckman, and held economist positions at Compass-Lexecon in Chicago and New York.

Joined Board: 2021

Committee: Advancement Committee

Ron is a dedicated member of the Educational Equity Council in New Haven, bringing a rich tapestry of experiences from across the educational sector. Starting as a middle school math teacher, Mr. Coleman spent six transformative years in New Haven Public School leading classroom instruction for over 300 students, instilling a love for the key role numbers and operations play in the development of young minds to be able to think critically and act decisively. This foundation paved the way for a two-year tenure as a Program Director at Teach For America (Connecticut), where Ron championed internal teacher development and external hiring initiatives to ensure all STEM classrooms in New Haven were filled by a quality educator. Ron continued this commitment to fostering the next generation of educators as the Educator Recruitment and Development specialist at the Texas Education Agency in Austin, Texas. Ron helped scale the Grow Your Own initiative from 32 to 400 districts reshaping the educational landscape for small and rural districts and setting new benchmarks for excellence. Currently, Ron serves as the co-founder and Executive Director of New Haven Counts, where he leads the strategy and fundraising efforts for inclusive, high-quality academic and athletic support for New Haven students. Ron remains a lifelong learner, always eager to absorb, innovate, and inspire. He has a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, a master's in Education from Southern Connecticut State University and will receive a master's in Business Administration from Yale School of Management in the Spring of 2025.

Joined Board 2025

Committee: Human Resources Committee

Ian Crichton is a practicing attorney whose work focuses primarily on complex litigation and advising clients in the management of litigation risk. Ian has practiced in a wide array of substantive areas, including cases centered on antitrust, contracts, business torts, securities, intellectual property, and constitutional law. He began his career in the Washington, D.C., office of Boies, Schiller and Flexner, before eventually leaving to pursue a PhD. In recent years, he has worked with other former BigLaw attorneys at a small firm based in Austin, Texas. 

Ian lives in New Haven with his wife, Katja, who is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Yale and their daughter Ronja '33. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002 and 2003 (B.S. and Master of Public Policy), Stanford Law School in 2006 (J.D.), and Yale University in 2019 (Ph.D. in political science with a focus in American government, quantitative methods, and political economy). He has served as Associate Managing Editor of the Stanford Law Review, as a teaching fellow for courses in quantitative methods and game theory, and as a parent volunteer on the Human Resources Committee of the Foote Board of Trustees.

Board Member Since 2024

Committee: Advancement Committee

Courtney has worked in the biotechnology industry for over 25 years and specializes in the commercialization of novel treatments for rare, life-threatening diseases. Courtney currently serves as Chief Commercial Officer at Abcuro, a small, clinical-stage biotech company based in Newton, MA. She recently served as Chief Commercial Officer for Durham, NC-based, Priovant Therapeutics. Courtney previously spent 15 years working with New Haven-based companies, Biohaven  Pharmaceuticals and Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and eight years on international assignments living in Chile and Mexico with Genzyme Corporation. Courtney received her Bachelor of Arts in  Sociology/Anthropology from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She resides in North Haven with her husband, Rodrigo Frias, and children Sofia (‘30) and Maximiliano (Hopkins School ‘26).

Joined Board 2025

Committees:  Asset Management Committee and Advancement Committee

Niall lives in Branford with his wife Liz and their three children, Charlie, Hank, and Ellen. Charlie ’19 and Hank ’21 both graduated from Foote and Ellen ’28 currently attends Foote.

Niall founded and runs Totoket Capital, a private global investment fund; he oversees all aspects of the investment management process. Prior to that, Niall worked for 19 years at Bridgewater Associates, a global hedge fund and investment firm based in Westport, CT. At Bridgewater, Niall was a Senior Investment Associate and an equity owner in the firm.

Niall graduated with a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996, majoring in Diplomatic History. He previously served on the Board of Trustees at the Hopkins School for nine years through 2024 and was Treasurer for the last eight years. Niall continues to serve on the Hopkins Endowment Investment Committee as a non-board member. Niall has also served on the board of the Pine Orchard Association for nine years, including five years as Treasurer. He has also previously served on the boards of the New Haven Historical Society and Branford Youth Lacrosse.

Board Member Since 2024

Will Gilyard serves as the Head of Student and Academic Life at Choate Rosemary Hall, his alma mater, where he returned in 2020 after more than two decades of leadership in independent schools. A lifelong educator, Will is passionate about creating school communities where students feel challenged, supported, and deeply connected.

Beyond his work at Choate, Will served as core faculty for the Interschool Leadership Institute (ILI), a nationally recognized leadership program that supports BIPOC educators in independent schools, from 2013 through 2024. He also co-leads the Residential and Student Life Institute for The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) and serves on the organization's Professional Learning Advisory Committee, helping to shape professional development for boarding school educators across the country.

Before returning to Choate, Will served as Dean of Students at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, Connecticut. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Williams College and a Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Joseph.

Will lives in Wallingford, Connecticut, with his wife, Afton, an ALP/Enrichment teacher in the Stratford Public Schools, and their two sons, William (14) and Maxwell (12).

Joined Board in 2026

COMMITTEE: ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE

Avery is a Foote alumna and parent of two Foote graduates. Avery has been active on the Foote School Alumni Council and is active in the New Haven community.

Joined Board 2025

Committee: Human Resources Committee

Christine Kim is a community organizer and food justice activist with a prior career in data-driven international environmental policy. She earned her bachelor's degree in Political Science and Ethnicity, Race, & Migration and a master's in International Relations, both from Yale. Christine is the co-founder of aapiNHV, an intergenerational pan-Asian collective amplifying Asian American and Pacific Islander voices in New Haven and beyond, and is active in AAPI political advocacy across Connecticut. She serves as Board Chair of CitySeed, a New Haven nonprofit working toward an equitable local food system, and sits on the boards of the New Haven Urban Resources Initiative, and the Connecticut Collective for Women and Girls. In 2026, she was elected Alder for Ward 7, representing the Downtown and East Rock neighborhoods on New Haven's Board of Alders. At the Foote School, Christine has served as a PTC volunteer and Treasurer, co-moderator of the Parents for Children of Color Affinity Group, a member of Families for DEIJ, and an Admissions ambassador. She lives in East Rock with her husband, Doug Kysar, and their children, Zora '28 and Wells '31.

President

Board Member Since 2024

Committee: Executive

Alex Kleiner ’00 is a New Haven native and resides downtown with his wife Alexandra Daum and their three children, Teddy ’32, Samantha ’36, and Elizabeth. He has spent most of his professional career as a technology investor and currently serves as a Partner at private equity firm Rubicon Technology Partners. At Rubicon, Alex manages investments in software companies and provides strategic and financial oversight as a member of the Board of Directors of numerous Rubicon-owned businesses. Previously, Alex worked in a similar capacity at Vector Capital in San Francisco, OpenView Venture Partners in Boston, and Merrill Lynch in New York. He has served in leadership roles on the boards of several other local nonprofits, including New Haven Reads, Leila Day Nurseries, and the Eli Whitney Museum. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts in History (cum laude, from Yale University) and a Master of Business Administration with Distinction from the Harvard Business School.

Board Member Since 2024

Committee: Executive

Elizabeth Lasater is a Foote parent with two children currently in the school and two alumni. She is a devoted volunteer for the PTC and supporter of Foote’s sports teams. Elizabeth served on the Board of the United Way of Greater New Haven and was Founding Chair of the organization's Women's Initiative. A long-time community-builder in New Haven, she has helped plan and host countless civic events, including public art installations, city-wide scavenger hunts, and networking fundraisers. She worked as a physical therapist with specialties in orthopedics and vestibular rehabilitation before stepping away to raise a family. She holds a bachelor’s from UMass Amherst and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York Medical College.

Board Member Since 2024

Committee:  Asset Management Committee

Dan Levy is a Partner at Rubicon Technology Partners, where he has led investments in enterprise  software companies since joining the firm in 2015. He sits on the boards of companies that provide mission-critical software solutions ranging from non-profit and association member management to manufacturing configuration to supply chain distribution. A seasoned investment professional in the private equity world, Dan has partnered with more than 30 founders and executive teams to build technology, healthcare, and consumer-retail companies across a range of geographies across North America, New  Zealand, Australia, and Europe. Dan has longstanding ties to the New Haven community, having received  his B.A. from Yale University and helping move Rubicon’s east coast office to New Haven in 2020. Dan lives in New Haven with his wife, Liz Tan Levy, and their three daughters. Two of their children are currently at Foote and their third daughter will be enrolling in Kindergarten this fall. Liz and Dan consider it a privilege to be of service to their children's schools and daycares.

Joined Board: 2020

Committee:  Advancement Committee

Jennifer R. Lucarelli graduated from Yale University in 1995 and thereafter received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in 1999. After a clerkship, she entered private practice in 2000. Jennifer was named a Partner at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney, et al, in 2010 as a result of her compassionate and dedicated representation of victims suffering from mesothelioma cancer. Over the course of her career, Jennifer has represented thousands of victims of mesothelioma and has personally recovered millions of dollars in settlements on behalf of deserving clients and families.  

Jennifer’s service to The Foote School community commenced in 2019; she was named co-president of the Parent Teacher Committee. She has since served in this capacity, conducting oversight and acting as committee event chair, and as a Foote Board Trustee. In 2023, Jennifer was nominated to be Community Building Committee Chair.  

Jennifer resides in Orange with her son, Levi Chase ’26. Jennifer volunteers as a coach for Little League Baseball and Derby Basketball.  

Joined Board 2025

Committee: Asset Management Committee

John Oster is a Foote alum who lives in New Haven with his wife Andrea and their children Maya ’34, Marcus, and Simone.  Foote holds a special place in John’s heart and was one of the main reasons that he and Andrea moved from Brooklyn to New Haven in 2021. 

John currently works as an attorney at American Express in its Litigation & Investigations group. Previously, John served as an attorney at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he handled enforcement and litigation matters until 2025. Earlier in his career, he was a litigator at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Friedman Kaplan LLP and served as a law clerk to a federal district court judge. John graduated from Stanford University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and received a J.D. from NYU Law School in 2011.

Board Member Since 2024

Committee: Horizons Committee

Karin Ouchida is a geriatrician at New York Presbyterian Hospital providing holistic, patient-centered care to older adults across multiple clinical settings. She has been actively involved in medical education and curriculum development for more than 15 years and serves as the Program Director of the Geriatrics Fellowship and the Medical Director of the Geriatrics House Call Program at Weill Cornell Medical College. Karin also serves as an advisor to Wisebird, an innovative digital brand aimed at bringing evidence-based, user-friendly information to older adults and the people who care for them. Karin received her bachelor of arts in Human Biology and Psychology from Stanford University and her doctor of medicine from the University of California at San Diego. Karin resides in Branford with her husband Jack and their three children: Cordelia ’24, George ’24, and Lucy ’28.

Treasurer

Joined Board: 2019

Committees: Executive Committee and Asset Management Committee 

Geert Rouwenhorst is a professor of Finance at the Yale School of Management, where he has taught investments and corporate finance since 1990 and served as a Deputy Dean. Born in The Netherlands, he studied Economics and Law at Erasmus University in Rotterdam before receiving his PhD from the University of Rochester. He co-edited The Origins of Value and The Great Mirror of Folly: Finance, Culture, and the Crash of 1720, and is a founding partner of SummerHaven, an investment management firm specializing in commodities. An avid collector of historical financial documents, he has traveled home to collect interest on bonds issued as far back as 1648. He previously served as Treasurer of the New Haven Preservation Trust and the Children's Preschool. He lives in East Rock with his wife Bernadette and daughter Alexandra ‘25.

Co-Vice President

Joined Board: 2023

CommitteeS: Executive Committee and Advancement Committee

Jessie Royce Hill is the Dean of Admissions for St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, a PK-12 day school in Washington, DC. She served for a decade as the dean of two of Yale’s undergraduate colleges, advising and teaching while living in residence with her family. For eight years she was associate director of undergraduate admissions at Yale. She continues to teach writing and is also an independent college consultant.  Jessie holds a B.A. in European History from Barnard College and a M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Jessie is the mother of daughters Lily ‘20 and Ada ‘23. She now resides in Washington, D.C.

Secretary

Joined Board 2025

CommitteeS: Executive Committee and Horizons Committee

Amy Terry Sheehan is an attorney with a legal consulting practice. She also co-founded and manages East Rock Golf LLC, a company that develops golf destinations along with her husband Colin Sheehan. A graduate of Yale University and Columbia Law School, Amy has practiced law for the past 20 years. She was a general litigator at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She practiced in-house focusing on data privacy cybersecurity law and has handled pro bono asylum cases. 

Prior to her legal career, Amy worked in sports journalism and earned Sports Emmy awards. She has served on the Rutgers University Cybersecurity Law Board and the Yale Lacrosse Association Board and is an Associate Fellow for Yale’s Jonathan Edwards College. Amy lives in Hamden with her husband Colin, and their three daughters, Lucia ’23, Annabel ’26 and Caroline ’31. Amy has volunteered as a Foote parent for more than 10 years with the PTC, Admissions and committees such as the Community Building Committee and MOSAIC committee.

Board Member Since 2024

Committee: Asset Management Committee

Che Tiernan is the owner of BILT LLC, a boutique construction company that designs, builds, and remodels high-end homes, historical houses, and commercial properties in the New Haven area. Founded in 2011, BILT also completes an array of projects that enhance life in the New Haven area, such as building tree houses and coffee shops, renovating theaters, remolding student dormitories, and  developing innovative container housing. Che previously served on the Board of Directors at Leila Day  Nurseries as the head of the Building and Grounds Committee. Along with his daughter, Che has helped to develop the Foote School’s chicken program, which encourages participation in outdoor education, animal appreciation, and food origin stories. Che (’89), Jesenia Knipping and their children, Cadel ’27  and Sophia ’30 live in Orange with the dog Tennessee Tango, a dozen or so chickens, and usually 50,000 bees. Che earned his B.S. from Wagner College.

Board Member Since 2021

Committee: Advancement Committee

Brett Weiss is a Senior Partner with The Chartis Group — a leading healthcare advisory and analytics firm focused on helping healthcare organizations navigate complex challenges related to strategy, performance, technology, and transformation. A frequent industry speaker, Brett offers a dynamic understanding of healthcare IT, trends, and technologies available to address the challenges of a volatile market. He has extensive experience analyzing current-state business processes and aligning clients' goals with technology solutions to support operational modernization. Brett earned his B.A. in international business from the University of Arizona and lives in Madison, CT with his wife, Melissa, and their two daughters, Avery ’28 and Elle ’30.