 | Shana Bernstein, PhDShana is a Clinical Associate Professor of Legal Studies and American Studies at Northwestern University. She specializes in U.S. History, particularly comparative race and ethnicity and social reform movements. Before joining Northwestern University’s faculty, she was Associate Professor of History at Southwestern University in Texas. She is a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians and has won fellowships from the Mellon Foundation and the Huntington Library, among other institutions. Her first book, Bridges of Reform: Interracial Civil Rights Activism in Twentieth-Century Los Angeles (Oxford University Press, 2011), reinterprets U.S. civil rights activism by revealing its roots in the interracial efforts of Mexican, Jewish, African, and Japanese Americans in mid-century Los Angeles. Shana received her B.A. from UC Berkeley, and her Ph.D. from Stanford University. |
 | George GainesGeorge retired in 2019 after a 40 year career in which he practiced law and served in senior positions in the investment management and investment banking industries. Over the years he has supported a number of independent schools including previously serving on the board (and for two years as board Chair) of Baker; being the founding board President for five years of Wolcott College Prep, a high school in Chicago for bright students with learning differences; and serving on the board (including three years as board President) of Monica Ros School in Ojai, California. George received his high school degree from The Lawrenceville School, his B.A. from UC Berkeley and his J.D. from the University of Virginia. |
 | Stephanie HentzStephanie is the Director of Special Education at Niles West High School, District 219. In this role, her work focuses on meeting the needs of diverse learners, with a particular interest in decreasing the racial and disability predictors of educational achievement. Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and began her career as a School Social Worker. She earned her B.A. from Northwestern University, her Masters in Social Work from the Jane Addams College at University of Illinois Chicago, and her Masters in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago. |
 | Hilde KaiserHilde is a wellness facilitator and the founder of The Poetic Field LLC. Her professional passion is to create opportunities for cultivating wisdom. She has numerous fitness certifications, including a black belt in the Nia technique, as well as certifications in primal vinyasa and daring to rest yoga nidra (expected completion 2023). She studied earth medicine and circle and discussion ethics for many years with author Pixie Lighthorse. Hilde previously served on the Baker board 2010-2013 and her work included serving as board liaison to the BPO to support the planning and execution of positive community experiences. She and her spouse Bill Michalski live in Evanston and are proud parents of Baker alumn Karl Michalski (Baker ’19). She received a BA in English at Texas A&M University and an MA in English Literature at The University of Chicago. |
 | Roel Mason-VivitRoel is the Director of Education for North Lawndale for the Steans Family Foundation. Prior to SFF, Roel served as the Director of Partnerships for the Midwest Region for EL Education, a national education non-profit that offers resources and professional learning in K-12 curriculum and school design. Before his work at EL, Roel co-founded and co-led Polaris Charter Academy located in West Humboldt Park. Over his ten years with Polaris as Director of Academics, Roel led the growth of the school with his co-founders from its start-up as a K-2 school in 2007 to becoming a full K-8 school recognized as an EL Education credentialed mentor school. Roel was a classroom teacher for grades 4-8 and was a recipient of the Golden Apple Award for teaching. Roel earned both his Bachelor of Arts in English and his Master of Science in Elementary Education from Northwestern University and received his certification in Administration and Supervision through New Leaders and in Advanced Education Leadership through the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is completing his Doctorate in Education in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education |
 | Mohamed NurMohamed is Finance Director at Wolters Kluwer and spent the last 18 years working in finance with diverse companies. During his finance leadership, he led various global projects from financial strategy, business integration to organizational transformation. Mohamed received a B.B.A in Finance and Economics in from University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. |
 | Ken PowersKen Powers is the President of Titobi Ventures (TVI) a firm that invests in small businesses and focuses on unlocking value through commercial excellence and operational improvement. Prior to founding TVI, Ken was responsible for the development and commercialization of infusion pump technology at Baxter and led the integration efforts for several clinical software company acquisitions. He has more than 15 years of experience in the Healthcare and Industrial sectors. Through his career Ken has advanced through a series of roles in general management, global finance, and commercial operations. Ken earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Strategy from the University of Michigan. He lives in Evanston with his wife Allison and two kids, Sydney and Julian who all keep him quite busy and entertained. |
 | Elizabeth PowleyElizabeth is the Director of Grants Management at the MacArthur Foundation. She leads the team responsible for equitable and effective grant operations that advance the Foundation’s strategy and impact. Previously, Elizabeth worked in the field of human rights and international development with a focus on gender and post-conflict reconstruction. A former high school teacher, Elizabeth received a BA in History from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa and an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University’s School of International Service in Washington, DC. |
 | Kim Ptak, EdDKim currently serves as the Director of Operations for Glenbrook High School District 225. In this role, Kim leads all financial and facilities efforts, including budgeting, bidding, risk management, strategic planning, construction, accounts payable, and food and transportation services. Prior to employment at Glenbrook, Kim worked at Arthur Andersen as the Director of Finance and Operations. Kim has her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northern Illinois University. |
 | Rhiannon E. SchmiegRhiannon spent 25 years practicing law in the areas of employment, litigation, and compliance, with 15 of those years serving as in-house counsel in the financial services industry and industrial sectors. As a lawyer, Rhiannon focused on problem-solving and identifying creative and practical, business-oriented solutions. She managed complex litigation and class actions, advised human resources regarding sensitive employee relations issues, managed teams, and led operational excellence efforts in legal departments. During her legal career, Rhiannon provided pro bono services to a non-profit organization supporting the homeless for 10 years and took a break from legal practice in order to teach at a private high school in Mexico. Rhiannon received a B.S. from Stanford University and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Rhiannon looks forward to her daughter graduating with the Baker Class of 2022-23. |
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