Alumni Council

Raised in Houston, Texas, Brian graduated from Westchester High School in 1984.  Following graduation from Vanderbilt University (BA in Political Science), he went to the Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana to teach, coach, and serve as a dormitory parent.  In 1989, Brian left his intern year at Culver for The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia.  At Westminster, Brian taught both middle school and upper school, coached multiples sports, began a student government, and acted as a grade level dean in the high school.  He also took a sabbatical during those years to attend Columbia University, in New York City, to earn his Masters of Arts in Private School Leadership through the Klingenstein Institute.   

Because of his desire to encourage young people, he devoted many summers to The Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana, serving as the Director of the Boys’ Summer School.  As Director, he was responsible for the overall organization of five hundred students and a faculty of two hundred members.  While serving as a unit counselor, he was responsible for overseeing the academic, social, emotional, and physical aspects of up to eight junior high and high school students in a boys’ naval company. 

In 1997, Brian moved to help open up the high school at Wesleyan School, in Norcross, Georgia, right outside of Atlanta.  He was the founding high school principal and assisted in designing everything from the curriculum to the diplomas.  Later, he was appointed as Assistant Headmaster for External Affairs and served in that position for seven years while continuing to coach cross country and leading the school to 7 state championships during his 11 years of coaching.  As Assistant Headmaster, he oversaw the Communications, Alumni, and Admissions Offices as well as Christian Life, Missions, and Technology.  Brian began his doctoral work at Vanderbilt University during this time completing it in May of 2011 with a doctorate of education in organizational leadership and policy.   

In 2010, Brian was named the fifth Head of School of Brookstone School and worked at the school until the summer of 2015 when he took on the position of Executive Director of CESA.   

In 2015, Brian moved to Whitefield Academy as the Assistant Head of School for External Affairs.  He is married to Holle and is a father of two beautiful girls, Sara and Blaire.

Jane is currently a Major Gift Officer at Le Moyne College, her undergraduate alma mater, in Syracuse, New York. Jane has twenty-five years’ experience in higher education, educational testing and executive training. She has worked for several universities, including New York University and Teachers College, Columbia University. Jane worked in varied areas of student development before moving to academic administration. She has published in the fields of education and psychology and has presented workshops on international education, higher education policy, intercultural competence and women’s leadership and mentorship. She is the editor and principal contributor to The International Student’s Survival Guide to Living in NYC, 3rd Edition.. While living in Hong Kong, China, she was the Asia representative for a major educational testing company, and worked with international students wishing to study in the U.S. She also conducted research in Chinese schools and in intercultural psychology. Jane has been an executive trainer with major U.S. corporations and Executive MBA programs.

Jane holds a B.A. in Romance Languages from LeMoyne College and an M.A. in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University with additional coursework in counseling and clinical psychology and independent school leadership.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Joanne graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University in February 2020 with a Master of Arts in English Education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northeastern University in 2017. As an experienced digital marketing and communications professional and published writer, Joanne is currently employed as a Marketing Coordinator at Therapy Source, Inc.

Joanne has held digital marketing and communications roles as a Copywriter at Digital Natives Group, a Content Writer at the Marketing and Enrollment Communications Department at Mercy College, and a Communications Specialist at the Office of Enrollment Services at Teachers College, Columbia University. Joanne has also previously held editorial and administrative roles at WebMD/Medscape, Northeastern University, Writopia Lab, and Sekas Law Group, LLC.

As an award-winning academic scholar and educational researcher, Joanne has presented at fourteen academic research conferences nationally and globally, including at Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California at Berkeley, Columbia University, Northwestern University, the Northeastern Educational Research Association (NERA) Annual Conference, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention, and the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference.

With over three years of combined K-12 classroom teaching experience, Joanne is a certified teacher of elementary and secondary English Language Arts. She has held full-time teaching positions and writing center consultancies at prestigious secondary school placements, including at Stuyvesant High School, Bergen County Academies, Pride Academy Charter School, and the New York City Department of Education.

If you've had the pleasure of reading the novel Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, you might find it remarkably akin to Kay’s family history and the driving force behind her life’s journey. As a second-generation Korean Japanese, she was born and raised in Tokyo long before K culture became a sensation. She embraced a multicultural upbringing while attending international schools from Kindergarten to Twelfth Grade. Presently, she has the honor of giving back to her alma mater, humbly serving as an early childhood and elementary school teacher, bringing with her over two decades of valuable teaching experience.

One of Kay’s greatest joys lies in illuminating the lives of young children, their caregivers, parents, and families. Embracing the importance of racial, cultural, and sexual diversity, she took it upon herself to self-publish a children's picture book that celebrates these unique identities, striving to instill inclusivity and understanding from a tender age, fostering a generation of empathetic and open-minded individuals.

Education has been the heart and soul of her path. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Linguistics and a Secondary English teaching certificate in 1990 from the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo. Driven by a desire to delve deeper into her own ancestral roots and culture, she moved to Seoul where she successfully completed a Master of Arts in English Linguistics from Yonsei University in 1995. In 2006, she obtained her second Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, alongside a New York State Elementary teaching certificate, honing her teaching methodologies to better inspire and empower young minds.

Dr. Jeffrey Putman currently serves as the Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. In this role, he provides overall coordination of services for students and serves as the Chief Student Affairs Officer and deputy Chief Academic Officer. In addition, Dr. Putman also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Putman previously served as Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students (2013-2017) and as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (2006-2013) at SUNY Downstate. Prior to coming to Downstate, Dr. Putman served from 1996–2006 in multiple Student Affairs roles at Purchase College, SUNY, including as Interim Dean of Students and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs & Ombudsperson.

In addition to his role at Downstate, Dr. Putman serves in leadership roles as Regional Director and Regional Historian for Region II, and a member of the Board of Directors for NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education; as Past-President of the SUNY Council of Chief Student Affairs Officers (served as President from 2019- 2021); as President Emeritus of the Purchase College Alumni Association Inc.; as a Past-President of the Teachers College, Columbia University Alumni Council and Alumni Association; and as Doctoral Campus Liaison and member of the Executive Committee of the SUNY Chief Academic Officers Association.

Dr. Putman earned his Doctor of Education in Higher & Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2011. He also holds a Master of Education and Master  of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Purchase College, The State University of New York. He was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education Kappa Chapter at Teachers College, Columbia University in December 1998.

Dr. Putman is a recipient of the Pillar of the Student Affairs Profession Award from the NASPA Foundation (2020), the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean from Region II of NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (2019), the Outstanding Contribution to the Student Personnel Profession Award from the College Student Personnel Association of New York State (2017), the Mid-Level Student Affairs Professional Award from Region II of NASPA (2007), and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service (2001). He was also awarded inaugural Resiliency Award for Leadership from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in May 2023, the Teachers College, Columbia University Alumni Award for Outstanding Service from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2021 and was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) National Medical Honor Society by the SUNY Downstate Eta Chapter in March 2022 and into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in May 2023.

It is important to offer back to help others succeed, whether it is in the field of education, the arts, volunteering, or mentoring.  There is a sincere joy when others meet goals due to mentorships or instruction.  Talking with former students has been very impactful to Dr. Campbell over her career who has worked in all levels of education from teacher to curriculum administrator to school administrator on to Deputy Superintendent in an urban school district and also as a University Professor.  She also worked in private business as a Professor for Gallup University and is a licensed Strengths Coach.

She has volunteered her services to numerous non-profit organizations throughout her career such as mentoring programs for youth to facilitating internships for perspective teachers and artists, to starting arts organizations and serving on numerous boards, from the National Endowment for the Arts grant review committees, Western States Arts Federation Board, Chair of the Wyoming Arts Commission, State Liaison for the Milken Family Foundation, Governor appointed Crisis Commission, Chair of a County Red Cross Board, and national Political Campaigns to name some of them.

Over her career she has been recognized by many organizations, naming just a few: the Kennedy Center for the Arts, Arts Administrator Award; Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award; Wyoming Governors Award for the Arts; United States National Guard Boss of the Year Award. 

When asked about her skills she often is described as an innovative, self-starting professional who has extremely creative ideas and can fully concentrate on issues to fruition.  She has experience in all aspects of Public Administration.  Dr. Campbell has published books on School Safety and Security and Managing Marginal Staff and illustrated and wrote a children’s book.  She has served as an online instructor for twenty years.  After earning her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University her roles increased in responsibility.  She is recognized for enhancing the skills and capabilities of others through coaching and presenting developmental programs.  She has been noted as highly skilled in the following areas: 

Dr. Campbell earned degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, NY, Doctorate in Educational Administration: Bank Street College & Parson’s School of Design (2 MS), New York City, NY, Masters of Science, Supervision with Emphasis in Art; South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD Bachelor of Arts, Fine Art and Art Education.  

Finally, Dr. Campbell has lived in SW Utah for 14 years and has never run into another Columbia graduate out here in the west.  Teachers College, Columbia University is one of the finest educational institutions, indeed one of the first in the country.  There is a need for more of our western citizens to recognize that fact and join us eventually as alumni of Teachers College. 

Kimberly is a 2010 graduate of Teachers College with a master’s in elementary education. She has been on the Regional and Affinity Group Committee for the past few years and is excited to step into this leadership role.

She lives in San Diego, CA, and she works as a teacher for an Oregan-based private school that serves homeschool students. Her previous experience includes working for both public and charter schools, having held leadership and classroom teaching positions.

In her current role, she works with homeschool students by providing personalized curriculum solutions. In previous roles, she worked with English language learners in Queens and was later principal of a K–8th grade charter school in San Diego, where she also served as professional development coordinator and literacy instructional coach. In between these positions, she was a founding fifth-grade teacher at a prominent San Diego project-based learning school.

Her educational passions include nurturing voice, choice, and agency in teacher professional development.

Jia Liu has in-depth understanding and practice on the mainstream international curriculum in K-12,  with more than ten years' experience in international curriculum economics teaching, college counseling, and curriculum design. She practices and lives life-long learning, growth mindset and positive education. She has guided students who are successfully admitted into The University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, Cornell University, Northwestern University, Rice University, New York University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Toronto, University of Hong Kong, etc. 

 Being a life-long learner herself, she has gained the Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership, the Certificate in School Management and Leadership, the Instructional Leadership Certificate and Certificate in Creating Effective Home and School Partnerships for Student Success from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She also obtained the College Advising Certificate from Teachers College, Columbia University, the Certificate in College Admissions and Career Planning from UC Berkeley and the School Counselor Leadership Certificate from ACT. She will complete the International Professional Certificate in School Leadership from School of Continuing Education in Tsinghua University and UCL in 2024.

 As a member of International ACAC, ChinaICAC and Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy Committee for Life and Career Education, Jia Liu mentors many young counselors and strives to guide more and more Chinese students to prepare and thrive in higher education all over the world.

Hanya (Vera) Shao, a proud alumna of the Teachers College's Psychological Counseling Program, is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of New York. She earned her B.A. in Applied Psychology from New York University and both an Ed.M. and an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from the Teachers College. Currently, she holds the position of Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Supervisor at Kensington Wellness, a community-focused private practice. There, she provides accessible care to individuals grappling with various psychological challenges and mentors the upcoming generation of mental health practitioners.

Beyond her clinical role, Vera is involved in research and community advocacy. She collaborates with the Columbia Intelligent and Connected Systems Laboratory, and her work has been published and awarded in the fields of AIoT and Mental Wellness. She also plays an active role in the New York Coalition for Asian Mental Health and group therapy communities.

In her leisure time, Vera is an aspiring squash player and is set to compete in her first league this year.

Carmine Gibaldi

John Battles
Marion Boultbee
Irene Buchman
Diana Clark*
Joyce B. Cowin
Susan Diamond
Joseph Dionne
Delores Friedman
Philip Geiger
David Gomez
Jonathan Hughes
Claude Mayberry
Andre McKenzie
Patrick McGuire
John Nolan
Frances O'Connell Rust
Jeffrey Putman
Ellen Saxl*
Christopher Scott
Sonya Shapiro*
Susan Smyth
Elizabeth Stern
Charles D.W. Thompson
Adam Vane
Alice Wilder
Anna Bell Washburn*
Robert Weintraub
Dorothy White*

*-Deceased