About
Board of Trustees
Churchill School and Center Board of Trustees
Cynthia Wainwright, President
Cynthia C. Wainwright is President of The Churchill School and Center as well as The Bridge, Inc., a citywide mental health agency. She also serves on the boards of Roundabout Theatre Company, the Children’s Museum of the Arts and the Historic House Trust of New York City.
Cynthia retired as Deputy Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at JPMorgan Chase in 2001. She was Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Chemical/Chase Manhattan banks from 1989 to 1998. She previously held a variety of other managerial positions at Chemical Bank.
From 1969 to 1979, Cynthia worked in New York City and State governments. Her last position was as deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction.
Cynthia attended Sarah Lawrence College and earned an MBA from Columbia Business School. She is married to Stephen Berger. Their daughter, Robin, graduated from Churchill in 2006.
Cynthia retired as Deputy Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at JPMorgan Chase in 2001. She was Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Chemical/Chase Manhattan banks from 1989 to 1998. She previously held a variety of other managerial positions at Chemical Bank.
From 1969 to 1979, Cynthia worked in New York City and State governments. Her last position was as deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction.
Cynthia attended Sarah Lawrence College and earned an MBA from Columbia Business School. She is married to Stephen Berger. Their daughter, Robin, graduated from Churchill in 2006.
Maryl Hosking, Secretary
Maryl is a homemaker and has a healing practice as a Reiki Master/Teacher. In addition to her volunteer work at both of her children’s schools, she has been an active participant in her husband’s medical foundation. She also has a passion for work involving women’s empowerment. Maryl has enjoyed a successful career in the arts, primarily as an Exhibition Coordinator, and has worked for several world class museums and art institutions. Her outside interests include mystical art and stand up paddle boarding. Maryl’s son Jarred attended Churchill until 2018.
John Lyons
Peter Rodney
Peter Rodney has held management and leadership positions in the field of nursing and healthcare. In May 2021, he was instated as Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services and Operations at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, where he previously served as Sr. Director for Perioperative Services.
In his current role, Peter is responsible for managing the nursing, care management, social work, pharmacy, and respiratory departments and the day to day operations of the hospital. His goal is to continue to innovate and raise the bar in the quality of orthopedic care that the hospital provides.
Peter has also served in the military and was deployed to Kuwait during the Desert Storm Operations before he transitioned to healthcare.
Peter’s wife, Rhonda also works in the healthcare industry as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Their son, Kobe Rodney was a student of Churchill from 2nd grade to 12th grade and a member of Class 2021. Kobe is now a freshman at Howard University majoring in Pre-Med and is a member of the university’s basketball team. Peter and Rhonda also have a daughter, Ryann, who at Trevor Day School. Whether she also plans to pursue a degree or a career in healthcare like her parents and brother, time will tell.
Andy Springer
Kim van Doorn
She has a master of business administration from Fordham University, a master of science in Industrial Management from Stony Brook University, and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Stony Brook University. She holds a Certified Regulatory Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation from the FINRA Institute at the Wharton School. Kim is beginning her third term as a Trustee at the Churchill School. She is the mother of a 20 year old daughter and a native New Yorker.
Lauri Kien Kotcher, Vice President
Raul Pineda, Treasurer
Raul Pineda is an Institutional Consulting Director at Graystone Consulting and a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, where he has worked since 1998. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Raul worked at the JPMorgan Private Bank based in New York. He also worked from 1988 to 1995 at Interacciones Casa de Bolsa in Mexico. Raul graduated from Harvard Business School in 1997 with an MBA. He also holds a BA from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico. In addition to serving as a trustee here at Churchill, Raul also serves on the board of the Browning School, the Marymount School, and Highbridge Voices. Raul has also served on the board of Ballet Hispanico, and was the treasurer of the West Side Montessori School 2007-2013. Raul loves reading, running, and tennis and resides in New York and East Hampton with his wife, Mayalen, and their three children. Their son Raul is in the Churchill Class of 2021.
David Mack
David Mack is a lawyer, investor, and company director. His daughter Amelia is in the Churchill Class of 2022. David grew up in Sydney, Australia before moving to New York in 2000 - he is not a fan of New York winters. During his time in New York he has worked at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Perry Capital LLC and Drivetrain LLC in the areas of finance and restructuring. He is married to Robin Michaelson (former Churchill PA Secretary and Trustee) and lives in Brooklyn with their two daughters and two cats.
John Rolander
John Rolander currently has one daughter here at Churchill - Lily, who is in the Churchill Class of 2024. His daughter Liza, graduated in 2019. Churchill has made such a difference in all of their lives, and John is pleased to serve on the Board and do his best to support the school. John is a business strategy consultant at Incandescent, a boutique consulting firm. He holds a BA in psychology from Yale, a Masters of Divinity from Harvard, and an MBA from Columbia. John is also a member of Churchill’s Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee and leads the Strategic Planning subcommittee of the Board. The committee is currently focused on issues including how to measure and monitor students' academic progress over the arc of their school years and how to help build a stronger, more connected community at Churchill. John's wife, Susie, is an educator. She teaches literacy at Bank Street College and brings her passion for children's literature to Churchill’s school library and their daughters' classrooms. John loves yoga and long distance running. He and Susie's daughters were adopted from Taiwan.
Norma Diana Stanton
Norma is a screenwriter who made the jump to completely focus on writing due to the pandemic when her management position became obsolete.
Through dramedies, Norma uses laughter to discuss topics that are often perceived as heavy, painful, or cause friction. Although her work frequently highlights issues around mental health, her aim is for everyone to have a feel of healing through watching her series, hoping most will feel seen and heard.
Through dramedies, Norma uses laughter to discuss topics that are often perceived as heavy, painful, or cause friction. Although her work frequently highlights issues around mental health, her aim is for everyone to have a feel of healing through watching her series, hoping most will feel seen and heard.
Ultimately, the characters created by Norma should be known for their human traits rather than their physical outer trades, sexual orientation, or any other label that we place on ourselves.
Norma currently has one of her films optioned at Farlane Media and is in development for her college dramedy "NOMAD."
"After serving on Churchill’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee as well as the Philanthropy Committee and serving as a class parent for several years, it's my pleasure to serve on the Board. I'm excited to assist in executing the vision to continue to build a more connected community at Churchill,” Norma said.
Norma’s son Carter is in Churchill’s Class of 2027. Carter has attended Churchill since Kindergarten.
Sharon Pearson, Vice President
Sharon Pearson is a Managing Director and Head of Investor and External Relations at PJT Partners, based in New York. Prior to joining PJT Partners, Ms. Pearson worked at Morgan Stanley for 15 years in Equity Research, most recently serving as a Managing Director. She was the Associate Director of North America Equity Research for five years. Previously, Ms. Pearson was the Senior Equity Research Analyst covering Specialty Retail at Morgan Stanley for ten years. Prior to that, she spent five years in Equity Research at Montgomery Securities in San Francisco, CA. Ms. Pearson serves on the Board of Trustees at Churchill School and Center, New York, where she is a member of the Executive and Finance Committees. She received her BA from York University, England and spent her junior year abroad at University of California, Berkeley. Her son Michael graduated from Churchill in 2018.
Jesse Friedman
Jesse Friedman is a Senior Vice President, Corporate Client Group Director and Certified Financial Planner at Morgan Stanley. He joined his business partner in 2001, four weeks after graduating from Brandeis University with a double major in economics and political science and a minor in international business. He is the primary day-to-day contact for clients and their other advisors, including attorneys, accountants and family office directors. He is also responsible for managing the financial planning process for existing clients and developing customized solutions for new ones, while leading the other team members in a concerted effort to help ensure that client needs are met efficiently and effectively.
Jesse grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, where he attended high school with his future wife Melissa. They now reside in Sutton Place with their sons Elijah and Zachary. Eli has thrived at Churchill since joining its Kindergarten class, and will be graduating high school in 2030. Zach, who is two years younger than Eli, happily attends PS 59.
Outside of work, Jesse enjoys traveling and tennis, and is a passionate fan of the New York Rangers and New York Giants. He is an active member of the Sutton Area Community, the Brandeis University Alumni Association and Central Synagogue.
Jesse grew up in Westfield, New Jersey, where he attended high school with his future wife Melissa. They now reside in Sutton Place with their sons Elijah and Zachary. Eli has thrived at Churchill since joining its Kindergarten class, and will be graduating high school in 2030. Zach, who is two years younger than Eli, happily attends PS 59.
Outside of work, Jesse enjoys traveling and tennis, and is a passionate fan of the New York Rangers and New York Giants. He is an active member of the Sutton Area Community, the Brandeis University Alumni Association and Central Synagogue.
Chadwick Roberson
Chadwick Roberson is the President of Pivotal Advisors. He works closely with the firm’s CEO and CIO, to set the firm’s investment strategy and is also responsible for overseeing trading operations for Pivotal. Chadwick also leads the firm's day-to-day operations and serves on the investment committee.
Chadwick began his professional career at J.P. Morgan working with wealthy families in the Private Bank, before moving to the Sales & Trading division where he helped institutional middle market clients with their foreign currency exposure. Chadwick later went on to The New York Life Insurance Company and subsequently to Momentum Advisors where he focused on financial planning and investment management for wealthy families and institutions before joining Pivotal Advisors. Chadwick is an Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor with over a decade of financial services and investment advisory experience.
A native of Dallas, TX, Chadwick received his bachelor’s degree in Finance & Economics from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Chadwick is a devoted husband and a proud father of two young sons, Caleb and Carter. Caleb has excelled at Churchill since joining its Kindergarten class and will be part of the graduating class of 2034. Outside of work, Chadwick enjoys traveling, playing golf, and spending time with his family. Chadwick is also committed to making time to serve his community through his membership in the Wall Street Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc and with the New York Urban League where he serves as Treasurer for the Board of Directors. He also serves on the Advisory Board for Healthy Places By Design.
Ben Schippers
Ben Schippers graduated from Churchill in '96. Following high school, he attended Bates College, where he studied history and education.
Ben co-founded his first company shortly after graduation, which was acquired four years later. He is currently the CEO of HappyFunCorp, an award-winning product engineering company, co-founder of TezLab, and co-chairs Brooklyn Roasting Company.
Ben is considered to be one of the top product architects in New York City and the broader technology sector. He has years of experience building some of the greatest startups and working with leading brands. His work has garnered such titles from Apple as ‘app of the year,’ he is a contributor to TechCrunch and has been featured in Inc. Business Insider, Forbes, and The New York Times.
Ben resides in Brooklyn with his wife, two children, two cats, and beta fish (Sweeshan).
Ben co-founded his first company shortly after graduation, which was acquired four years later. He is currently the CEO of HappyFunCorp, an award-winning product engineering company, co-founder of TezLab, and co-chairs Brooklyn Roasting Company.
Ben is considered to be one of the top product architects in New York City and the broader technology sector. He has years of experience building some of the greatest startups and working with leading brands. His work has garnered such titles from Apple as ‘app of the year,’ he is a contributor to TechCrunch and has been featured in Inc. Business Insider, Forbes, and The New York Times.
Ben resides in Brooklyn with his wife, two children, two cats, and beta fish (Sweeshan).
Greg Williamson
Greg Williamson is a real estate investor and residential real estate broker. Additionally, Greg produces live concerts across the country including “Love Rocks NYC,” the annual benefit concert for God’s Love We Deliver which feeds New Yorkers who are unable to cook or shop for themselves. To date, the Love Rocks NYC concert has raised over six million dollars for God’s Love We Deliver. Greg and his wife Katy are also actively involved in Tulane University and Central Synagogue. They reside on the Upper West Side with their twin boys Charlie and Sidney and their dog, Henry. Greg is an alum of Churchill and graduated in 1991.
The Churchill School and Center, a K-12 coeducational college preparatory day school in New York City, is dedicated to working collaboratively with students, educators, and families to help children with language-based learning disabilities realize their full potential. Work Here
