About
School Leadership
Head of School
Shannon Baudo
Before assuming the role of Head of School at AC, Shannon served as the Assistant Head of School and Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid, leading AC’s admissions efforts. She comes to us from The Gunnery School in Connecticut where she served as the Director of Admissions, Associate Director of Admissions, and Director of International Enrollment. Shannon earned a BA at Hamilton College and has also served as Assistant Director of Admissions at Canterbury School and as a Head Lacrosse Coach and Assistant Soccer Coach at Stevens Institute of Technology.Leadership Team
For information about marketing or communications or for media inquiries, please contact Tamara Stout at tstout@allendalecolumbia.org
Board of Trustees
As outlined by the National Association of Independent Schools, the primary duty of any independent school board is to safeguard the school's mission.
As stewards of our institution's mission and values, the Board of Trustees at Allendale Columbia School not only collaborates with the Head of School to develop long-range plans, provide leadership in raising non-tuition revenue, administer the school’s endowment, and promote the school within the community, but also ensures prudent financial management as good fiduciaries. A key aspect of the Board’s role involves hiring, supporting, and evaluating the Head of School, empowering the Head of School with operational leadership to pursue the school's objectives.
The Board convenes regularly throughout the academic year. Committees, such as Finance, Audit, Investment, Development, Enrollment, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, play pivotal roles in guiding institutional planning and resource management for the school's continued growth and success.
Becky Wehle
(CHAIR) Becky and her family have been involved with AC for five generations, with children Henry ‘20 and Elizabeth ‘22 Nicosia the latest to attend AC. Becky is the President and CEO of Genesee Country Village and Museum, the largest living history museum in New York State, and she was a GCV&M Board member for 18 years before joining the staff in 2016. Prior to that, Becky worked in the University of Rochester's Advancement Office for more than 15 years and most recently as the Executive Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship. She now serves as Chair of AC’s Board of Trustees and as a board member for the Reynolds Library Board. Becky has a B.A. in Political Science from Middlebury College.
Ari Baum
Ari Baum is the Associate Head of School at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he has also served as Dean of Students and continues to teach Economics and coach Girls Ice Hockey. He spent 25 formative summers at Camp Seneca Lake, owned and operated by the JCC of Rochester, serving as Associate Director and Program Director. Ari holds a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Columbia University. He has also served on the Board of Trustees at the Princeton Friends School. Ari’s connection to Allendale Columbia stems from his deep ties to the Rochester community and his long friendship with Head of School Shannon Baudo and her family. He lives on The Hill School campus with his wife, Jenny, and their son, Asher.
Lindsy Bennage
(VICE CHAIR) The Allendale Columbia community has played a pivotal part of Lindsy and her family’s lives for nearly 40 years. As an AC lifer ’04, she and her husband Matt are proud parents of Olivia ’33 and Emilia ’36. Lindsy credits her foundation and time at Allendale for much of where she is and who she is today. Currently, as the Talent Sourcing and Learning Director for Wegmans Food Markets, she works to provide vision, drive strategy, and ensure efficiency through quality processes to source, hire, and onboard talent while driving organizational growth and employee success at Wegmans in all areas. Working there since 2001, she has experience in different areas of operations, leadership, human resources, and learning and development. Lindsy holds both an M.S. and B.A from Saint John Fisher University. She is also a planning committee member for the Ryan Callahan Foundation, supporting families battling pediatric cancer in our community.
Francis Clement
Francis is a financial services professional who runs his New York based practice, Clement Wealth Management, assisting clients in 22 states. Francis graduated from the University of Rochester in 1997 with a BA in Economics. Francis is also involved in several organizations within the Rochester Area: Black Women’s Leadership Council lead sponsor at Xerox Corporation, Black Physician’s Network of Greater Rochester, U of R George Eastman Circle, board member of the University of Rochester Network Leadership Cabinet, devoted member and trustee of the Church of Love Faith Center, Co-chair of the African American Giving Initiative, and Board of Directors and Advancement Committee chair for the Rochester Area Community Foundation. Francis and his wife live in Fairport with their three children, including Haven ’29 and Hala ’32.
Abib Tejan Conteh Jr.
Tejan (or “TJ”) grew up in the Rochester area and resides in Brighton with his wife, Rebecca, and their daughters: Aliyana, Laila, and Gabriella. TJ attended Allendale Columbia, beginning in third grade, then proceeded through Lower, Middle, and Upper School and graduated as a proud member of the AC Class of 1996. He attended and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Williams College and a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law; he is a practicing attorney, licensed in New York and the District of Columbia.TJ holds the role of Director, Assistant General Counsel at Constellation Brands, Inc., a leading international producer and marketer of high-end beverage alcohol products with headquarters in Rochester. TJ provides legal advice and expertise to develop contracts to authorize Constellation’s operations, transactions, and issue management in multiple business areas, including construction and engineering, real estate, transportation and logistics, and financial services.
David Dworkin
(TREASURER) David is the Managing Partner of LLD Enterprises and Partner at JADD Management, a commercial real estate company, where he performs a wide range of asset management, acquisitions, and development functions. He holds an M.S from New York University and a B.A. from Syracuse University. David is a co-owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and serves as vice-chairman of Kelty Hearts football club, which is based in the Village of Kelty in Fife, Scotland. David is actively involved in several foundations and organizations in the local community, including the John F. Wegman Foundation, the Rochester KeyBank Advisory Board, and Greater Rochester Enterprise. He and his wife Wendy are parents to Arabella and Spencer ’21.
Katie Garrett
Dr. Garrett lives in Lexington, KY where she is an equine veterinarian focusing on diagnostic imaging. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University. Katie is active in the American Association of Equine Practitioners, serving in many capacities, including as President in 2024. She is also a member of the Council on Education for the American Veterinary Medical Association. Katie is an Allendale Columbia “lifer,” (Class of 1995) as well as a third-generation AC alum.
Josephine Gumaer
(VICE CHAIR/SECRETARY) Dodie is currently Managing Director and Wealth Advisor at First Republic Investment Management in New York City. Prior to joining First Republic, she spent nine years at U.S. Trust Company and previously worked at Citibank, where she graduated from the Citibank Institute for Global Finance, M & T Bank, and Bankers Trust. Active in her local community, Ms. Gumaer is a Trustee of the Hartley House, which provides social and educational services to the Hell’s Kitchen community. She previously served on the Boards of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The Seeing Eye guide dog school in Morristown, NJ. Ms. Gumaer received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Economy from Wheaton College and is a graduate of the American Bar Association’s National Trust School.
Rita Hoard
Rita currently lives in New York City with her husband and two teenage children. She is active in the the New York City Independent School community while working as a consultant in clinical trials. After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1992 with a B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Psychology, Rita moved to New York City to pursue basic research at Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After several years in the laboratory, she completed her MBA in a joint program between Baruch College and Mt. Sinai Medical Center. Rita has served on the board of the largest chapter of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society.
Amy Leibeck
Amy Leibeck is an equine veterinarian and owner of Genesee Valley Equine Clinic. A lifelong resident of the Rochester area, Amy grew up in Scottsville and is a graduate of Wheatland-Chili Central School District.
She earned her undergraduate degree from State University of New York at Potsdam before beginning her professional career in education, teaching at Manlius Pebble Hill School, an independent NAIS-affiliated school in DeWitt, New York. She later pursued her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Having benefited from exceptional instruction at every stage of her academic journey, Amy has maintained a lifelong commitment to education. She views service on the Board of Trustees at Allendale Columbia School as an opportunity to give back to the educational institutions and mentors who shaped her path.
Her daughter, Riley, is a proud member of Allendale Columbia’s Class of 2020, and their family remains deeply connected to the school community.
Ken (Gilbert) McCurdy
Ken retired as Chair and CEO of Rochester’s iconic McCurdy & Company department store and later from its graphic arts subsidiary, Lazer, Inc. He also served on the board of Midtown Holdings, owner of Midtown Plaza. He was active on the Writers & Books board for more than twenty years and was a member of the Wealth Strategies Advisory Board of Canandaigua National Bank. Ken is a Life Board of Governors member at University of Rochester Medical Center, annual fundraiser for his Williams College class, a frequent AC Forum judge, and annual presenter of the Williams Cup Award. He also supported the purchases of AC’s international houses. Ken’s daughter Kate is a 2005 AC alumna, and he is a graduate of Pittsford High School with a BA from Williams College in English Literature and an MBA in Marketing Management from the Wharton School.
Elizabeth Murray
An honored spokesperson for children’s wellness, Dr. Murray is an Assistant Professor and attending physician in the Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester. Elizabeth was named a Spokesperson of the American Academy of Pediatrics and can be found regularly on Good Day Rochester, WXXI’s Connections with Evan Dawson, and the People Magazine Health Squad. Elizabeth completed an MBA at the U of R’s Simon Business School before getting her medical degree from the University of New England. She and husband James are the proud parents of two current AC students.
Bridgette Rivers
Bridgette is an Offering Manager / Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt at Global Solutions Business Group Xerox Corporation. She is also a returning member of Allendale Columbia School’s Board of Trustees and is a graduate of the Class of 1981. In addition to her previous terms on the AC Board, she has served as the vice president and president of the school’s Alumni Association. She is currently the chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee. Bridgette has a Masters in Business Administration from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Vassar College.
Marie Timpani
Marie has lived in Rochester since 1989. She graduated from Aquinas Institute and attended SUNY Geneseo for her undergraduate degree. In 2016, Marie graduated from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester, completing the Executive MBA program. She is currently the Senior Director of Information Technology at the United Way of Rochester and the Finger Lakes. Marie and her husband have two children who are Allendale Columbia “lifers,” ’23 and ’25.
Jeff Wynn
Jeff Wynn is a District Sales Manager for the Infectious Disease and Vaccines division of Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Company. Jeff has been instrumental in crafting and implementing J & J’s diversity, equity and inclusion mission of fostering an inclusive and responsive work environment. Jeff has served on several committees including chair of the culture team, the DEI committee and co-chair of the employee resource group African Ancestry Leadership Council. Jeff is also involved in the local initiative, Exploring Racism Group, which provides leaders in the Rochester community with training on issues of race. Additionally, Jeff is a real estate broker with Howard Hanna Realtors and has a passion for teaching the pursuit of homeownership and financial literacy to people in marginalized communities. Jeff serves on the board of New Life Ministries Inc. and has volunteer affiliations with Rochester City Ballet and Pathstone Corp. Jeff and his wife Jill have two daughters who are Allendale Columbia alumni, Jordan ’18 and Jocelyn ’22. Jeff holds a BA degree in Economics from the University at Buffalo.
At Allendale Columbia, we prepare students for the world they will inherit. In our trusting and responsive environment, students 18 months through grade 12 grow in confidence and develop scholastic independence.
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