The Board of Trustees determines school policy, which is implemented by the Head of School, the administration, teachers and staff. The Board also has responsibility for the financial health of the school. All Board members are volunteers. Many are from the Brown School community; however, some are not, and their perspective is also highly valued.
Board Member Since: 2020
Position: Secretary
Committees: Executive, Strategic Planning
Charles has worked in advertising for nearly 20 years with a focus on strategic communications. He has worked for clients on international, national and regional campaigns. He brings this perspective to the Brown School Board with the goal of promoting the school and the benefits it offers to its students, families, and the community.
Charles attended Brown School before going on to Niskayuna Central Schools and Syracuse University where he earn a bachelor’s degree with concentrations in Advertising and Political Science. Charles has children that have and currently attend the school.
Board Member Since: 2022
Position: Chair
Committees: All
Weston is a principal mechanical engineer at GE Research in Niskayuna, NY, specializing in mechatronics and machine design for healthcare applications. He received his undergraduate degree from Bucknell University, and his masters and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.
Weston and his wife Andie are parents to three Brown School students, who started in nursery and pre-K.
Board Member Since: 2022
Position: Treasurer
Committees: Executive, Finance (Chair)
Kris has nearly 20 years of experience in financial operations and systems, primarily supporting software companies as they grow and scale. He's a CPA (inactive) and Siena College graduate ('04). He is the proud parent of two daughters who both attended Brown School.
Board Member Since: 2022
Committees: Development
Phil had a financial planning practice in the area for 30 years before retiring in 2020. He is a past president of the former regional chapter of Institute of Certified Financial Planners and for many years was a regular on CNBC, often speaking about his specialty Education Planning. Before becoming a Certified Financial Planner, Phil worked at Union College, as a project director for the New York State Bicentennial Commission, and as head of the communications office at the University at Albany.
Phil is a graduate of Lake Forest College and earned a master's degree from the University of Rhode Island.
His granddaughters Skyler and Rileigh attended The Brown School.
Board Member Since 2023
Committees: DEI (Chair), Facilities
David was born and raised in China. He came to the U.S. to pursue advanced study in 1997. He obtained a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering from George Washington University in 2001. He has since worked on research and development of advanced sensors and microsystems at multiple companies.
Dr. Lin is currently employed as a Principal Engineer at General Electric Aerospace Research, Niskayuna. He is passionate about innovations that bring positive impact to people's lives. David lives in Latham with his wife, an applied mathematician at GE Research, and their 14-year-old son, who attended Brown School.
Board Member Since 2022
Committees: Finance
Kari has more than 20 years of experience in finance. She has worked for large manufacturers in the Albany area in the finance department. Currently she is the Assistant Controller at Latham Pool. Prior to Latham Pool, Kari spent 12 years at Momentive Performance Materials, where she held the title of Global Controller. She has an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Southern New Hampshire University and a master’s degree in Accounting from Syracuse University. Kari participates is the treasurer for PTA of the elementary school where her two younger children attend.
Kari came to know Brown through a friend who has family connections to the school.
Board Member Since 2022
Committees: Development (Chair)
Marna graduated from Gettysburg College where she majored in psychology and graduated with her Master of Science from Miami University (OH) in Higher Education Administration. She has over 20 years experience as a fundraiser, currently serving as the Chief Development Officer for American Camp Association. She lives in Niskayuna, NY, with her family. Her children attended both Brown School and its summer camp. Marna is a graduate of an independent school and believes strongly in the academic excellence afforded at Brown School.
Board Member Since 2020
Position: Vice-Chair
Office/Committees: Facilities (Chair)
Dino graduated from the University of Buffalo in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and worked for an international Heavy Civil contractor in Buffalo, and Boston where he was involved in the renovation of a powerhouse along the Niagara River and construction of a portion of the Central Artery Tunnel, more commonly referred to as “the Big Dig.” During this tenure, Dino held various positions from field engineer, to shift supervisor to project manager. In 2001 he moved back home to be closer to family where spent 21 years working for AJS Masonry as its COO before leaving in 2022 to pursue other ventures. Dino currently works for Enfield Enterprises out of Springfield, MA in their NY office focusing primarily on Government work at the Knolls and Kesselring Naval Nuclear sites.
Dino has strong family connections to the school.
Board Member Since 2022
Committees: Trusteeship (Chair), Development
Tina is an attorney and was a member of the Albany law firm of O’Connell and Aronowitz for many years, where she focused her practice on civil litigation. She is currently the Executive Director of the Federal Court Bar Association for the Northern District of New York and serves as the President of the Schenectady County Public Library Board of Trustees and the Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees for SUNY Schenectady. She received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Providence College and her J.D. from Albany Law School.
Tina, and her husband, Hon. Vincent W. Versaci, are the proud parents of three children who each attended Brown School from nursery through 8th Grade. Their daughters continued on to Emma Willard School and are now at Colgate University and Cornell University. Their son is a sophomore at Christian Brothers Academy. Both Tina and Vince have been actively involved in Brown School since their oldest daughter enrolled in 2004, having served in leadership roles on the Board of Trustees and the Gala and fundraising auctions, and assisting with the theatre productions, ski club and many other activities.
Board Member Since 2022
Committees: Strategic Planning (Chair)
Michael is a quality engineer for the GE Renewables Onshore Wind Turbine business. Prior to working at GE, Michael held process engineering and quality leadership roles at Momentive and Saint Gobain. He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Chemical Engineering and from the University of the South with a Chemistry degree.Michael is the proud parent of two alumni from Brown School. Both started nursery at Brown School and graduated as 8th graders.
