Board of Trustees

We are grateful to our Trustees who give freely of their time and experience to help ensure MA is continually innovating while fulfilling its mission to students, families, and the community.

The Board plans for the future of the school, and ensures that Marin Academy has financial and leadership resources to achieve its strategic plans. The Board is composed of representatives of the Marin Academy community and other community leaders who bring specific skills and perspectives to the deliberations involved in setting strategic policy and planning for Marin Academy. Board members do not serve to represent particular agendas or factions, nor does the Board have any involvement in the day-to-day operations of the School.

2022-2023 MA Board of Trustees

Paul Levitan, Board Chair

Paul and his wife, Lauren Cooks Levitan, are residents of Mill Valley, and are the parents of Joshua ’25, Jonathan ’20 and Jacqueline ’16. Paul received his BA from Wesleyan University and his MBA from the Stanford GSB, where he served as Vice Chair of its Management Board. Paul has spent his career in the food business, leading his company, Galaxy Desserts, from inception to acquisition. He currently consults and advises entrepreneurial companies. Paul previously served on the Marin Academy Board from 2013-2020, and as a Trustee at Marin Horizon School.

Lisa Hauswirth, Vice Chair

Travis Brownley, Head of School

Rachel Kernodle, Faculty

Marisa Gomez, Faculty

Jason Lee '07

Lorri Hamilton Durbin

Scott Mollett '99

Ed Sarti

Sigurd Strack

Tad Buchanan

Florencia Parada

Florencia was born in El Salvador and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Jesuit’s Central American University (UCA) in San Salvador. She moved to Marin in 1998, and her daughter Francesca graduated from MA in 2017. Florencia has consistently been involved in community engagement for the past 20 years. In 2005 she was the “Volunteer of the Year” recipient for the Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center. She was the Spanish MC for the State-wide Parent Voices “Stand for Children Day” in Sacramento from 07-09. She is an alumni of the San Rafael Leadership Institute sponsored by the Latino Chambers of Commerce, and was the recipient of the 2012-13 Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award from the Marin County Human Rights Commission for her advocacy and leadership work with low-income and immigrant families. Florencia is currently working at the Marin Community Clinics as the Community Outreach Manager.

Emily Brakebill

A native San Franciscan, Emily lives in San Francisco with her three kids, Benji, Sydney (Class of ’22) and Kelsey (Class of ’25). Emily is a Founding Partner, Head of Investor Relations and COO at HMI Capital where she has been from its inception in 2009. HMI is an investment management firm with a long-term perspective seeking to invest in the highest-quality growth businesses globally. Prior to HMI, Emily spent four years at a credit opportunity fund and previously held positions at other specialty finance, investment and technology businesses. Emily received an A.B. with highest honors from Stanford University and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School. Previously, Emily served for seven years on the National Board of Directors (including a three-year stint as Board Chair) for the non-profit Kesem.

Marie Lyons, Vice Chair

Mandy Tachiki, Vice Chair

Robert Brown, Vice Chair

Robert and his wife Kirstin Hoefer live in Belvedere with their three children Cole, Georgia ('21), and Sarah ('23). Since receiving his BS and MS in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, Robert has spent his entire career in the consumer products industry and is currently a partner at Encore Consumer Capital, a private equity investment firm which he co-founded. A California native, Robert enjoys running the trails of Marin County and spending time paddling and sailing on San Francisco Bay.

Erica Hunt, MAPA President

Sara Byrne

Ari Blum '94

David Corey

Jessica Eisler

Spencer Wang

David Riley

Ali Rezaian '89

Brighid Dwyer '97

Brighid (she/her) graduated from Marin Academy in 1997 and was a member of the swim team and MAs first water polo team. She went on to swim at UCLA, compete in the 2000 US Olympic Trials, and graduate with a degree in Sociology. After a brief career in athletics, she earned her MA and PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Michigan. Brighid has been been advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in athletics and higher education for more than 20 years. She has held positions at the NCAA, the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles, Delaware County Community College, UCLA, University of Michigan, and Villanova University. Presently she serves as Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at Princeton University. Brighid still swims several times per week and can’t wait to dive into the new MA pool.

Christina Kosmowski

Christina lives in Kentfield with her husband, Eron, and daughters Anja ’23 and Ali ’25. She received her undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University, where she was also captain of the varsity soccer team. Christina is currently CEO of LogicMonitor and holds board positions at Rapid7 (NASDAQ:RPD) and at the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. She previously served as chief customer officer at Slack and Salesforce, and was a founding partner of Operator Collective LP. In her spare time, Christina enjoys traveling with her family and continuing to pursue her love of soccer—through volunteering with Marin FC and playing in multiple women’s leagues in the Bay Area.

Isaura Resendiz

Isaura lives in Novato with her husband Arturo and son Cesar ‘23. Isaura has been working for North Marin Community Services, a non-profit community service agency for more than 20 years and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. She assists some of the most vulnerable families to strengthen relationships, reduce barriers to care, connect them with critical resources, and participate in wraparound team meetings. Her support and effective case management has allowed many families in Marin to overcome personal crises and family emergencies. These interventions have created family stability and self-sufficiency.

While her days are filled with difficult stories of challenging circumstances, Isaura receives each family with an open-heart and her full attention, treating each family or individual with the utmost dignity, compassion and respect.

Isaura has also done contract work for Children & Family Services, and in 2015 became certified as a Visitation Supervisor through Marin County’s Superior Court.

Voices of MA

"I have also thought in recent years how amazing it was that more than twenty years before it became commonplace, MA had its first Director of Diversity and Inclusion—wow, that is impressive! MA had a lot of foresight in this area which I think speaks to why I was drawn to it."

—Brighid Dwyer '97, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Princeton University