Leadership

Bo spearheads initiatives to drive continuous learning, creativity, and innovation, ensuring its adaptability and growth is ever-evolving. Before coming to Mount Vernon in 2013, Bo directed educational innovation at Unboundary, expanding the firm’s practice to include educational consulting following his 16 years as a Principal at Westminster. Bo’s dedication to driving meaningful change and significance in education is evident in his innovative approach.

Kirsten oversees all aspects of the admissions process, including recruitment, selection, and enrollment strategies, to attract and admit a diverse and qualified student body. Kirsten brings over two decades of experience in admissions, having served as the Director of Admissions at Atlanta Girls’ School for over 11 years before joining Mount Vernon in 2012. With her wealth of knowledge and expertise, Kirsten ensures a seamless and welcoming experience for prospective students and their families.

As CFO, Courtney oversees the financial operations and strategies for the School, managing financial planning, reporting, risk management, and investment decisions to ensure fiscal health. Courtney also oversees Mount Vernon’s operations and technology teams. With nearly a decade of experience at the Coca-Cola Company before joining Mount Vernon in 2019, Courtney brings a wealth of knowledge in finance and accounting to her role. As a proud parent of two Mount Vernon Mustangs, she understands firsthand the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all students.

Dr. Lee is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering a culture where all individuals feel valued, seen, and heard. Before joining Mount Vernon in 2021, Dr. Lee held leadership positions at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire and St. Mark’s School in Massachusetts, where she played instrumental roles in student support and residential life. Her dissertation explored faculty-student relationships, reflecting her commitment to understanding and enhancing the student experience. At Mount Vernon, Dr. Lee leads efforts to promote equity and inclusion across the school community. Through her leadership, she works tirelessly to create a culture of belonging where every individual can thrive.

Michele is responsible for developing and executing marketing and communications strategies to enhance brand awareness for the School, MVSO, and Mount Vernon Ventures. With over two decades of marketing experience, Michele excels in team leadership and crafting impactful campaigns. Before coming to Mount Vernon in 2021, Michele was Chief Marketing Officer at GreenPrint, a public benefit company, where she focused on driving triple-bottom-line results for people, planet, and profit. At Mount Vernon, Michele also oversees internal and external communications ensuring consistency in messaging, managing media relations, and enhancing the School’s reputation and brand image.

Matt is responsible for creating and nurturing a positive, engaging, and inclusive environment for employees while also ensuring that stakeholders have meaningful interactions and experiences with the organization. With 10+ years in education, arts, and leadership, Matt fosters a culture of creativity and collaboration. As a SHRM-certified professional, he leads talent acquisition and development. Matt designs engaging experiences for stakeholders, aligning them with Mount Vernon’s mission. Committed to preparing students for the future, he prioritizes people and impact, ensuring excellence in every aspect of the school community.

Denise leads the strategic planning and execution of fundraising initiatives and donor relations. Working closely with alumni, parents, and community members, Denise and her team successfully solicit donations and steward contributions to achieve the School’s annual MVFund and Capital Campaign goals. With over 20 years of experience, she brings a wealth of expertise and dedication to Mount Vernon.

Dr. Santi oversees Mount Vernon’s IT, Educational Technology, and Registrar teams. Her role is to guide these teams in a strategic effort to discover and support emerging, sustainable, and innovative technology for the school. She began her career as a high school English educator, teaching students and teachers for over 15 years, before moving into various curricular and leadership roles in school administration. Her classroom background provides a distinct lens for influencing technology and keeps the student experience at the forefront of all decision making. Through her collaboration with all members of the MV family, Dr. Santi advocates a futures-thinking and regenerative approach to exploring and supporting technology. Mount Vernon seeks to provide experiences that are meaningful to self an impactful for others for all members of our community, and even in technology’s ever-evolving state, we pursue innovation that champions our purpose and commitment.

Russ Malsnee has served as the Director of Security at the Mount Vernon School since the fall of 2020. For the past 17 years, Russ has held a security leadership role with private schools in Atlanta. He is passionate about creating a safe and inclusive learning environment where faculty, staff, and students can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.

Russ graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration. Russ is a Board Certified Protection Professional in Security Management and is a licensed Personal Protection Specialist. Throughout his security journey, Russ has dedicated himself to continuous training for safety and security, conflict resolution, and tactical training.

With extensive experience in both international and domestic education, Trish is a dynamic leader known for her deep knowledge of best practices. She excels in developing key support services and instructional programs and is highly effective as a mentor, delivering impactful professional development. Trish is dedicated to shaping organizational culture and leading during times of transformational change.

With her strong educational background and commitment to inclusive learning environments, Leah is dedicated to providing exceptional experiences for Middle School students. Leah holds dual Master’s Degrees in Music Education from the University of Georgia and Middle School Education and Administration from Johns Hopkins University. Before joining Mount Vernon in 2021, Leah served at Savannah Country Day School as a Middle School Academic Coach and Director of Cultural Competency and Inclusion.

Shelley oversees both Mount Vernon Preschool and Lower School. Her dedication to Mount Vernon’s mission and vision is matched by her passion for inspiring educators and leaders in school transformation. Shelley’s expertise has been recognized on various platforms, as she has presented at prestigious conferences such as NAIS, SAIS, Project Zero, FUSE, and Traverse. With her commitment to excellence and innovation, Shelley is shaping the Lower Campus community at Mount Vernon into a hub of creativity and learning. Shelley holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Ole Miss and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.