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
List of 8 members.
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 Museum Association of New York. Becky has a B.A. in Political Science from Middlebury College.
Ann Balderston
Ann just can’t get enough of AC, and the feeling is mutual! In addition to parenting three AC “lifers”, Sarah Quinn ‘04, Maggie ‘07, and John ‘10, with husband William (Biv), Ann has served as a Trustee from 1996-2005 (2002-2004 as Chair) and again from 2009-2013. She then returned to the Board in 2019, as Co-Chair, to help spearhead the drive to remain independent, and she continued to serve as Chair of the Board until 2023. She has worked for Young and Rubicam in New York City, as Assistant Director of Admission at Sweet Briar College, and Director of Transfer Admission at the University of Rochester. She has also volunteered as Director of the Rochester Female Charitable Society and for the Bivona Capital Campaign. Ann currently splits her time between Rochester and her family’s ranch in Wyoming.
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.
Ralph Dandrea
An entrepreneur, social scientist, problem solver, and lifelong learner, Ralph Dandrea founded ITX Corp. to help clients solve complex technology problems, with a foundation based on uplifting organizational culture or workability. Ralph and ITX are avid supporters of the Rochester community and beyond. He has been an active board member of the Venture Jobs Foundation since 2013. A lover of the arts, Ralph has served on the board of Beth Morrison Projects, a national organization at the forefront of musical and theatrical innovation. He and his wife, Colleen, support a number of nonprofits in the arts and human services, including the Bivona Child Advocacy Center. They reside in Pittsford, NY, with their three teenage daughters Isabelle, Gianna ‘22, and Natalia ’24.
David Dworkin
(TREASURER) Most commonly known as co-owner of the Rochester Rhinos since 2016 and the NBA’s Sacramento Kings since 2013, David works as Managing Partner of LLD Enterprises and Partner at JADD Management, a commercial real estate company with a portfolio in excess of $250M, where he oversees a wide range of management, development, and brokerage functions. He holds an M.S from New York University and a B.A. from Syracuse. David serves on the Rochester KeyBank Advisory Board, the New York State Board of Real Estate, the New York State Commercial Association of Realtors (NYSCAR) board, and Greater Rochester Enterprise. He has been actively involved in a number of foundations and organizations in the local community. He and wife Wendy are parents to Arabella and Spencer ’21.
Josephine Gumaer
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.
Colby Hunter
Dr. Hunter is an Associate Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at UR and a board certified Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Recognized with numerous accolades, she is the Highland Hospital Medical Staff President, OB/GYN Clerkship Director for UR’s med school, OB/GYN Clinical Site Director for RIT Physician Assistant students at Highland, and Director of Highland Women's Health at Culver Road. Colby graduated from Williams College with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics Academic Scholars and Leaders program. She is the parent of AC students Carter ’25 and Ainsley ’29.
Amy Leibeck
(VICE-CHAIR) Growing up in a big family with lots of pets, Amy naturally became a veterinarian and owner/partner of Genesee Valley Equine Clinic. After graduating from Wheatland Chili, Amy lived as an exchange student and worked on a farm in the Netherlands for a year before earning a B.A. in Biology, Chemistry, and Secondary Education. She taught at Manlius Pebble Hill School for three years before getting her DVM from Cornell’s New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Leibeck teaches and serves on the Veterinary Technician Advisory Board at Medaille College. Amy served as a PACK Liaison while daughter Riley ’20 attended AC. She is involved with the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American and Finger LakesVeterinary Medical Associations, and Genesee Valley Riding and Driving Club.
Ken (Gilbert) McCurdy
(SECRETARY) 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.
Stephen Polozie
Steve serves as General Counsel and Vice President for Lewis Tree Service, a Rochester-based outdoor services contractor with several thousand employees engaged throughout the eastern U.S. Steve is a recent honoree for the Rochester Business Journal’s General Counsel Awards, and he volunteers regularly with a variety of youth-oriented non-profits in addition to Allendale Columbia, including the Monroe Community College Foundation, the Pittsford Crew Club for middle and high school students, and YEA! Young Entrepreneurs Academy, as well as Elevate Rochester (formerly the Rochester Area Business Ethics Foundation). A Rochester native, Steve received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and his Juris Doctor Degree from the Northwestern University School of Law. In his proudest role, Steve is dad to Kai ’23.
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 for its 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.
Kristin Rorapaugh
Kristin graduated from RIT with a BFA in Graphic Design and worked as an Art Director and Systems Manager at Rochester advertising agencies. While taking time off of work to raise her family, Kristin enjoyed being involved with her children’s schools. She designed newsletters and reading incentive programs and served as an AC PACK Liaison, Vice President, President, and Special Events Coordinator. She volunteered as the designer of the Purse for Change auction for the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley for three years and later served on their Board. Kristin was the Merchandising Coordinator for Pittsford Crew and served on their Board when her son was a rower. Kristin lives in Pittsford with her husband, Eric, and sons Magnus (Pittsford Mendon ’18) and Gunnar (AC ’22).
Jim Stathopoulos
Jim leads Ajay Glass & Mirror Co., Inc., one of the top 20 glazing contractors in the United States, as its Chief Executive Officer, and is Principal at PER Engineering. He chairs the board for the Architectural Glass & Metal Certification Council and is a board member of the National Glass Association, in addition to other professional committees. In the community, Jim is active in the Greek Orthodox Church, including as president and past president and past treasurer of the Rochester Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation’s Parish Council. Jim received his B.S. from Clarkson and M.S. from George Washington University in Civil & Environmental Engineering. He has three children, Ellie ‘21, Rita, and Peter.
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 Director of Information Technology & Informatics at Mosaic Health and also partnered with a West Coast accelerator to launch a start-up studio in Rochester. Marie and her husband have two children who are Allendale Columbia “lifers,” Salvatore ’23 and Victoria ’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 in nursery through grade 12 grow in confidence and develop scholastic independence.
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