Alumnae Panelists Working Toward Equality

The Alumnae Council Diversity and Inclusion Committee is excited to invite all alumnae to attend Courageous Conversations with Foxcroft Women: Working Toward Equality, a panel roundtable discussion featuring six of our incredible alumnae and six current Foxcroft students. Come sit with us as the panelists talk through the importance of personal identity, and how Foxcroft has shaped each of our identities through the decades. Sylvia Ellison '83, Yee Yip '84, Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams '92, Nikia Bergan '93, Natalie Wiltshire '95, and Averill Hovey '97 will all discuss the impact on their lives beyond Foxcroft.
Sylvia Ellison ’83
 
Ms. Ellison is a senior education development professional with experience in implementing education, country-wide education, and workforce development programs in crisis and conflict-affected countries. She has directed the design and implementation of education/teacher training and employability activities, technology programs, and child labor and anti-human trafficking prevention activities with an emphasis on private sector engagement, the evaluation of public education and private sector partnerships, and organizational development. Ms. Ellison holds degrees from Harvard University and Hollins University and has lived and/or worked in various places all over the world, including Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. She speaks fluent French and has studied Arabic and Spanish.
 
Yee Yip ’84
 
Ms. Yip has over twenty years of experience in the construction industry. She is a graduate of Columbia University's Barnard College in Architecture, and is the owner of her own firm, Zen Construction Consulting, providing building code consulting and research services. A resident of New York’s Midtown West area, Ms. Yip is a mother to two teenage sons, with whom she enjoys sharing her love of travel, tennis, skiing, and good food! She is a nature and fitness enthusiast and enjoys running along the Hudson River and the greenery and foliage of Central Park.
 
 
Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams ’92
 
Dr. Johnson-Williams holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master of Education in Secondary Education from The George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and French from Wellesley College. A native Memphian, she is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in her hometown. Prior to returning to Memphis, Dr. Johnson-Williams was an assistant professor in the College of Human Resources and Education at West Virginia University. She currently serves as board chair for Girls Inc. of Memphis, an organization committed to girls being strong, smart, and bold, and whose after-school and summer programming she participated in as a girl. Additionally, she serves as board chair for Whole Child Strategies Inc., a funding intermediary that supports neighborhood level networks and promotes improved social outcomes. She is also board secretary for the ACE (adverse childhood experiences) Awareness Foundation, an operating foundation educating Greater Memphis about adverse childhood experiences, supporting families in creating safe and supportive environments for children, and changing policies and practices to prevent and mitigate ACEs.

Nikia Bergan
’93
 
Ms. Bergan is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Accounts at the Advisory Board Company, a global research, consulting, and technology firm helping hospital and health system executives to better serve their patients and communities. Ms. Bergan manages an organization dedicated to holistically serving and strategically partnering with some of the largest, most progressive health systems across the country. Originally from Middleburg, Ms. Bergan is the daughter of two former, long-time Foxcroft teachers and grew up on Foxcroft campus. She went on to receive her BA from Harvard University and is currently living in Washington, DC, with her husband and three children. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis competitively.
 
 
Natalie Wiltshire ’95
 
Ms. Wiltshire is Chief Operating Officer for KIPP Philadelphia Public Schools (KPPS), a charter network serving close to 2,000 students. She is responsible for design, implementation, and efficiency improvements for all areas of operations. In addition to the operations team, Natalie manages finance, human resources, compliance, technology and the KIPP Through College teams for KPPS. Prior to joining KPPS, Natalie was the Director of New York Operations for Achievement First, overseeing school operations for seven academies in Brooklyn, NY. Before that, she served as the founding Director of School Operations for Achievement First Crown Heights Charter School. Natalie earned her BA in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania and her MA in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University’s Teachers College. Natalie and her husband, Larry, have two sons, Hayden (age 11) and Mason (age 6). Natalie is a proud member of the Foxcroft School Board of Trustees.
 
Averill Hovey ’97
 
Ms. Hovey is a practicing Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a deep interest and passion for Art Therapy. Ms Hovey currently lives in Boulder, CO, with her wife, stepson, and many pets. She works with various populations in private practice, while also providing mental health support for a local school district and a low-income housing authority. She is also a member of faculty at Naropa University, where she teaches in the Art Therapy Department of the Graduate School of Counseling. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, the arts, gardening and the outdoors. She volunteers at the Colorado Horse Rescue.
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.