2023 Institute for Administrative Assistants | Speakers

Lisa Edenfield has worked in the independent school education industry for over twenty years. Serving in a leadership role, she has worked alongside heads of schools, chief financial officers, business managers, and trustees. Over the years, Lisa has developed several different workshops, tutorials, and training sessions, as well as served on several committees. She is currently the executive assistant to the head of school and board of trustees at Cape Henry Collegiate in Virginia Beach.

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Dr. Rob Evans is a clinical and organizational psychologist and the former executive director of the Human Relations Service. A former high school and pre-school teacher, and for many years a child and family therapist, he has consulted in more than 1,700 schools throughout the U.S. and internationally. His interests have focused on change and resistance to change in schools and organizations, on the challenges of leading innovation, and on changes in American families and their impact on schools. He is currently concentrating on ways to improve collegiality and candor among educators and to promote realistic dialogue about accountability. Dr. Evans is the author of many articles and three books: Seven Secrets of the Savvy School Leader: A Guide to Surviving and Thriving, The Human Side of School Change, and Family Matters: How Schools Can Cope with the Crisis in Childrearing.

Jessy Molina is a nationally recognized trainer and facilitator on issues of diversity, equity, and social justice. Most recently, Jessy served as the director of diversity, equity, and social justice at Friends School of Baltimore. She has supported people to connect with one another and make social change through her work with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in San Francisco, the John Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities at Stanford, Quality Education as a Constitutional Right, and Welcoming America. Prior to working at Friends, Jessy served as the director of diversity and inclusion at Garrison Forest School. Jessy is an experienced facilitator and has developed a model of facilitated dialogue that builds understanding and connection between people and communities who are divided by tension, conflict, and misunderstanding. Jessy also trains others to facilitate courageous conversations and equity seminars and serves as a mentor for trainers and facilitators in the Baltimore/Washington D.C region. Jessy graduated from Harvard College and Yale Law School.

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Julie Russell is the executive assistant to the head of school and board of trustees at Ensworth School in Nashville, TN. She has been in the role for five years. During her tenure, Julie has endured maneuvering successfully through COVID, working/organizing with national search firms for new division heads, and working with the board through a new head of school transition.

Amber Stockham, SPHR holds B.A. degrees in social sciences and psychology from Bard College and brings 20 years of experience in human resources to her role at NBOA. Amber has worked in a variety of industries, including education, social services, and manufacturing, and prior to joining NBOA, Amber served as the director of human resources at Miss Hall’s School. Amber was a key member of the school’s compensation, evaluation, and benefits task force and, in coordination with school counsel, represented her school in legal proceedings. Her strong working relationship with the school’s legal counsel led Amber to bring her extensive experience in talent acquisition and legal compliance to a volunteer position as a recruitment consultant for the Berkshire County (MA) District Attorney Transition Team. Her experience with organizational planning, compensation, and benefits system construction and risk assessment also brought her to serve in a volunteer capacity as finance committee chair of Captivated Health and on the board of the New England Educators Insurance Association.

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Dr. Michael Thompson is a consultant, author, and psychologist specializing in children and families. He is the supervising psychologist for The Belmont Hill School and has worked in more than 700 schools across the U.S. as well as in schools in Central America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Dr. Thompson is the author or co-author of several books, includingNew York Times bestseller, Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys, as well as Best Friends/Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children and The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Achieve Success in School and in Life. A dedicated speaker and traveler, he has appeared on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC 20/20, CBS 60 Minutes, and Good Morning America. He also wrote, narrated, and hosted a two-hour PBS documentary entitled Raising Cain.

Debra joined the SAIS staff in July 2019. She grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from the Williams School, an independent school located on the campus of Connecticut College. Debra received her B.A. in English from Sewanee, The University of the South, and her J.D. from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. She previously served as general counsel for NAIS for 19 years. Before joining the NAIS staff, Debra was a tax litigator at the Department of Justice. Her past and current board service includes EMA-The Enrollment Management Association, GEBG-Global Education Benchmark Group, MISBO-Mid-South Independent School Business Officers, and NNSP-National Network of School Partnerships. She is an avid reader, photographer, and cook who loves to be outdoors.