Board of Trustees

Catherine Cloudman serves as a strategic advisor to public, private, and nonprofit organizations. She recently joined the Board of Directors of Kforce, a publicly traded national staffing firm. She served as Chief Financial Officer at Village Fertility Pharmacy (Village), a national specialty pharmacy for patients undergoing fertility treatment. Upon her retirement, she served on the board of the private equity backed Company until March of 2020. Prior to Village, she was a founder and the Chief Financial Officer of Apothecary by Design (ABD), a multisite national specialty pharmacy and former parent company of Village. 

In addition to her executive leadership experience in the healthcare industry, she has provided consulting services to a wide range of companies since her early career at KPMG to present. Ms. Cloudman serves on the board of three privately held companies including an IT services firm, a seventh-generation family-owned manufacturing company, and a community bank. She has served on the boards of numerous nonprofits. She has a dual degree in accounting and advertising from Syracuse University and an MBA from Boston College. She resides in South Portland, Maine, with her husband and three children.

Tim Soley was born in Baltimore, MD, and was raised in Camden. He received a BA from Wesleyan University in 1984 and established the commercial real estate management company East Brown Cow Management in 1989, where he is currently the President and CEO. Passionate about clean energy, he has been striving to bring about the highest energy efficiency standards through updating and maintaining East Brown Cow’s buildings and supporting clean energy initiatives in local communities. Tim serves on several committees of the nonprofit organization The Opportunity Alliance as well as on the boards of E2Tech and Elmet. Tim lives in Cape Elizabeth with his wife, Maria. They have two sons, Max ’19 and Jacob ’15.

Christopher R. Smith, a native New Yorker, graduated from the Buckley School in New York and Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He received an A.B. from Harvard College in 1995 and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 1998. Following law school, Chris served as a clerk to Judge Howard D. McKibben, then Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, before moving to Maine in 1999. A partner at Verrill Dana, LLP, in Portland, Chris serves as corporate counsel to business and nonprofit clients, representing them in mergers and acquisitions, board governance, shareholder relations, and other compliance and transactional matters. A former chair of the Business Law Section of the Maine State Bar Association and member of Phillips Academy’s Alumni Council, Chris also has served on the boards of several area organizations, including Victoria Mansion, a national historic landmark in Portland; Prouts Neck Country Club; Maine Historical Society; and the Institute for Family-Owned Business. Chris and his wife, Anne, live in Scarborough and have two children, Eugenia '28 and Alden.

Abukar Adan ’13 is a journalist based in New York City. He's currently producing Chameleon, an investigative podcast about a multinational scam in the film industry. Before that, Abukar was a public radio reporter in Maine and in Florida. He's also worked in television news and feature writing and his work has appeared on NPR, BBC, and Huffington Post. Abukar grew up in Portland, ME, and received a BA in political science and education from Colby College. 

Katherine Armstrong ’04 is an Executive Director with Russell Reynolds Associates, the executive search and advisory firm, where she leads the firm’s global Arts & Culture practice. Based in Boston, she specializes in working with cultural, educational, and social impact organizations. Prior to joining Russell Reynolds Associates, Katherine was with Dunleavy & Associates in Philadelphia where she specialized in providing professional services to nonprofit organizations, leading engagements focused on strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Katherine grew up in Scarborough and attended Waynflete from kindergarten through senior year. She received her BA in art history from Bowdoin College. She and her husband, Alexander Martin, live in Cambridge, MA.

Krista Maywalt Aronson is Associate Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Psychology at Bates College. Her academic research focuses on illuminating how people come to understand complex social constructs like race and ethnicity, appropriate ways to discuss these topics with children, and the effective use of picture books to enhance intercultural relationships and self-understanding during childhood. In addition to her administrative role at Bates, Krista also directs The Diverse BookFinder and is an evaluator for the New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE). Originally from Rochester, NY, Krista lives in Falmouth with her husband David ’97 and daughters Sophia ’20 and Hope '33.

Kate Burnham, a native of Maine, grew up in Topsham and is a graduate of Mt. Ararat High School. She received a B.A. in Communication and an M.A. in Marketing and Advertising from the University of Hartford. Kate spent a majority of her career at L.L. Bean in various positions including as a Visual Merchandising Coordinator in Retail Store Communications, a Print Production Manager in Marketing and Advertising and later as a Senior Product Developer in Men’s and Women’s Apparel before becoming a full-time mom. 

Kate’s involvement with Waynflete began as a classroom volunteer and she has held various positions within the Parents Association: Class Parent, Parent Volunteer Coordinator, Parent Event Coordinator, and Co-Chair of the Social Committee. She was a member of the Waynflete Capital Campaign Design Committee, the Executive Committee for the Campaign for Waynflete and Co-Chair of the school auction, Wintertide. She is currently a member of the Waynflete Leadership Gift Committee and Chair of the Advancement Committee.

Outside of Waynflete, Kate is a member of the L.L. Bean Family Events Committee and at the Ladies Adventure Club of Maine, she is a Co-Leader, Advisory Board Member, and Trip Leader. Kate and her husband, Nate Clark, live in Cumberland with their daughter Eliza ‘21, dog Hazel, and their son Andrew ’18 when he is home from college.

Maria Garcia Canning, the parent of two alumnae, has served as a Class Parent, Parent Fund Class Agent, and on the Senior Gift Campaign Committee. She currently serves on the board of the Boothbay Land Trust and recently completed her term on the board of Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SSTS). Maria immigrated to the U.S. from Portugal in the 1970s with her family to pursue economic and educational opportunities, later earning a BA in International Relations with a concentration in Latin American Studies from Boston University. For many years, she worked in Cambridge, MA, for Associates for International Research (AIRINC) as a compensation analyst. After moving to Maine, she joined Diversified Communications in a business development role, helping to explore opportunities in Brazil. More recently, Maria is pursuing new passions at Maine College of Art, painting in her home studio, and using her personal experiences as an immigrant to support Portland refugees as they navigate the process of seeking asylum.

Brandon Cohen ‘99 grew up in Falmouth, Maine and is a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, MA. An entrepreneur at heart he started his professional career as the owner of a small marina and snowmobile business in Western Maine. After several years Brandon transitioned into his first role in employee benefits as a sales executive in New York, NY with a national insurance carrier. Eventually missing Maine, Brandon returned and went on to be the Director of the Sales Team for Maine's largest health insurance carrier. Throughout Brandon's various roles he has always had a true passion for relationships and helping organizations achieve their goals. Brandon is currently the President and Owner of Head Light Benefit Group, an employee benefits brokerage and advisory firm. Through his work he has advised businesses of all sizes from local to national brand names throughout the United States. Brandon currently serves on the board of directors for Riding to The Top in Windham, an organization dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of children and adults with disabilities through equine activities and therapies. He is also one year short of being a “lifer” having attended Waynflete beginning in first grade. Brandon lives in Cumberland with his wife and two boys.

Ben Devine was born in Portland, Maine. He received his A.B. from Bowdoin College (1983); his J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law (1987); and his M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University (2010). Ben is a founding partner at the commercial real estate firm Great Island Development in Boston, Massachusetts and is a private equity investor at Devine Capital LLC. He currently serves on the Boards of the Maine College of Art; University of Maine School of Law; The Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts; and is a member of the Urban Land Institute (Silver Council). Ben lives in Falmouth with his wife, Sheila, and their daughters Grace '20 and Maeve '22.

Dale MacLachlan Lewis graduated from The Loomis Chaffee School. She holds degrees from the University of Chicago, the University of New Hampshire, and the Maine College of Art. Dale worked in Human Resources following graduate school. Dale and her husband Rich then moved to Maine in 1983. They have resided in Yarmouth since 1985 where Dale has her studio. She’s taught in MECA’s Continuing Studies Program and worked in graphic design. Dale and Rich are parents of lifer alumni Elizabeth (‘11), William (’16) and Callum (’16). Dale’s volunteer experience at Waynflete has included participating as a class parent and in class/grade assistance, auctions, the Arts Committee, the Book Fair, Spring Fling, and the Annual Fund. A founder of Monday Books, Dale led the program for ten years. Dale and Rich chaired the Senior Gift in 2016.

Edward Li grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Princeton Day School in Princeton, NJ.  He received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Master in Public Health from the University of New England.  He is currently Director of Health Economics and Outcomes Research at Sandoz, Inc.  Previously, he spent 15 years working in academia, most recently as a full tenured professor where he fulfilled various service roles such as chair of the college faculty assembly and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association.  Ed lives in Scarborough with his wife, Kin, and are the parents of twins: Kaleb ’28 and Elijah ’28.

Colin March grew up in Falmouth, received his bachelor’s from American University in 2003 and master’s from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in 2005. He lived in London for nine years working for Morgan Stanley and Citibank, serving clients throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In 2015 he moved to Houston with his family, before returning to Maine in 2019, more than 20 years after he first left. Colin is now a commercial lender at TD Bank in Portland, where he covers a range of clients, including private schools, non-profits, manufacturing companies, and real estate investors. He volunteers on several committees with United Way of Greater Portland and is passionate about community service. During the course or his life, he has studied, worked or volunteered in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Italy, Lebanon and England. Colin and his wife, Roberta, live in Falmouth with their son, Luca ’27 and have a daughter, Isabella, who is a college student in Texas. 

Jed Porta ‘99 began working for his parents at Migis Lodge at age 12 and grew up gaining experience in all facets of the operation before attending and graduating from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. He has been the General Manager at Migis Lodge since 2009 and is also a Managing Partner for Migis Hotel Group, which owns and/or operates seven properties across Maine and Massachusetts. Jed was a “lifer” at Waynflete starting in EC in 1984 and attending through his senior year.

Justin Schair ‘01 is a partner at Matrix Private Capital Group, a private equity and asset management firm based in New York, and heads the Casco Passage entities, which are business and real estate holding companies.

A Maine native, his work spans business, journalism, and politics. He has led reform-centric campaigns and political organizations, including serving as finance director for U.S. Senator Angus King. Prior to his work in investment management, Justin served as the U.S. Press Officer for Concern Worldwide, an international humanitarian relief and development organization with operations throughout the world. He serves on the boards of the University of New England and the Emanuel and Pauline Lerner Foundation.

Justin is a graduate of Hofstra University where he holds a BA in journalism and received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Justin is a member of the class of 2001. He and his wife, Payal, have a daughter, Emilia.

Elonide Semmes has been helping organizations tell their stories in memorable and distinctive ways for nearly forty years. She founded Right Hat, a branding design firm in 2002 to specifically help organizations that deliver a service, not just a product. Her women-owned business has been recognized for creating brands using a compelling mix of a provocative voice and fresh design. She likes nothing more than helping groups see their brand in a new light. Elonide is also a recognized global leader in legal services marketing. She is one of only 40 people to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for the International Legal Marketing Association (LMA), where she recently co-led the LMA’s task force on artificial intelligence. She is a frequent speaker on the subject. Elonide was inducted as a fellow in the College of Law Practice Management in 2010 and is currently the President-Elect of the College. Elonide spent 20 years in Portland, Maine, before deciding to escape to New Orleans to avoid shoveling snow. Three of her four children attended Waynflete.

Deborah Sampson Shinn and her daughter (Waynflete ’13) moved to Portland more than fifteen years ago, drawn by family summers in the area. She graduated from Middlebury College and received an M.A. from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. Deborah was involved with the Waynflete Parents Association (president 2009-10), served as head of the school’s Arts Committee, and has been active in various fundraising activities throughout the years. She has a strong background in museum work, having served for many years as curator at Cooper-Hewitt, the Smithsonian’s Design Museum. She has also worked at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Museum of the City of New York. Deborah received two Presidential Design Awards. She was also an adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City and continues to teach and tutor students as a volunteer at Portland Adult Education. 

Khalilah Ummah ‘04 grew up in Litchfield, ME, and started at Waynflete in sixth grade. She went on to Tufts University where she played basketball and double majored in Psychology and Child Development. After receiving her BA, she attended Harvard Graduate School of Education to get her Ed.M. She worked as a financial aid advisor in Boston after graduation to support Boston students with the financial aid process. She later moved to Washington, DC, and took on a role as Program Manager for a nonprofit where students were able to start their own businesses while also receiving college access and readiness support. After four years in that position, Khalilah worked with middle school students in an afterschool program. She was the Center Director at a middle school in DC and ran the mentor and academic program during the school year and a five-week summer program. Khalilah currently works for the School District of Philadelphia as a College and Career Readiness Coordinator. She works with high school students to provide college and career exposure opportunities and support for post-secondary success. Khalilah is also the JV head coach and Varsity assistant coach for the girls' basketball teams. Outside of work, Khalilah enjoys traveling, eating, spending time with family, and getting lost in a good mystery.

Warren Valdmanis is a Partner at Two Sigma Impact, the social impact fund under the broader Two Sigma umbrella. Previously, he spent over 14 years working in Bain Capital’s private equity business and also helped launch their first social impact fund. During his tenure with Bain Capital Private Equity, Warren spent five years in Asia and Australia where he helped to extend the Asia Fund’s capabilities and opened the Bain Capital Sydney office. Prior to joining Bain Capital, he was a Manager at Bain & Company covering a wide variety of industries across Bain Capital’s North American, European, and South African operations. Warren received a BA cum laude in Economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He also serves on the Boston Advisory Board of the Posse Foundation, an organization that helps highly capable individuals from non-traditional backgrounds gain entry into competitive colleges. He lives in Maine with his wife, Kristin, and their four children: Lizzie ’23, Ian ’25, Anna ’28, and Teddy ’30.

Geoff Wagg was appointed Head of School at Waynflete in 2013. He grew up in Montreal, Quebec and graduated from Phillips Academy. He received his B.A. from Connecticut College and his Ed.M. from Teachers College, Columbia University. Geoff has served in a variety of administrative posts including Head of Upper School at The Episcopal Academy outside of Philadelphia for ten years. Earlier, Geoff served as the Director of Technology and Department Chair at The Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, and was a History Teacher and Technology Coordinator at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, New York.

He started his career teaching history at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire. Early in his career, Geoff focused on helping schools find appropriate ways to integrate emerging technologies into their programs. He served for many years on the National Association of Independent School’s 21st Century Curriculum/Technology Task Force. More recently, Geoff has turned his attention to faculty professional growth and evaluation. He helped launch the Folio Collaborative, conducted research on the topic during his Klingenstein Head of School Fellowship in 2016, and has spoken at regional and national conferences. Geoff sits on the boards of the Association of Independent Schools in New England and the Independent Schools Association of Northern New England. He and his wife, Alice Starr Wagg, have three children, Henry ’22, Emily ’20, and Nick ’18.