Board of Directors

Ann Hriciga, board chair since May 2018, has been associated with WMS since her older daughter started kindergarten. As her two daughters, both WMS graduates, pursue very different career paths as adults, she constantly sees links to the education and values they experienced at WMS.

Ann left DuPont after a career that included management assignments in technology, manufacturing and marketing. A strong supporter of STEAM education, Ann has a Bachelor of Science (Michigan State University) and Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley) in chemistry.

Anna has served on the board since May 2012. She has served as chair and has been vice chair since 2018. She attended WMS as a child and is a parent of three WMS alumni and one current WMS middle school student. A graduate of Haverford College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and the University of Washington, where she received her M.D. Anna is a non-practicing family physician and is currently a homemaker. Anna has enjoyed coaching Odyssey of the Mind and gardening at WMS.

Calissa Brown, current board secretary, serves as corporate counsel and assistant secretary for DuPont. She is lead counsel on the company’s periodic filings, disclosure obligations, investor relations communications, corporate restructurings and various governance issues. Calissa leads the Corporate & Securities practice group and is secretary to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Her daughter started in the “twos” classroom at WMS in 1996, graduating from sixth grade in 2006. Calissa, her husband Allan, and their daughter continue to maintain close ties to the extended WMS community.

Paul Sakaguchi served on WMS's board from 2005 to 2010 and rejoined the board in 2012. He is the parent of an alumna who attended WMS from age 3 through sixth grade

A graduate of Rutgers University (B.A. in Computer Science), Villanova University (M.S. in Computer Science) and the University of Delaware (M.B.A. with a concentration in finance) Paul is an equity systems analyst at DuPont Capital Management.

Israel Floyd has a bachelor's degree in economics, an M.B.A. in finance and a law degree, along with years of experience in law and business, both domestically and internationally. He is an experienced member of nonprofit boards, including serving as WMS’s Board chair when his children attended the school. Since then, Israel has continued his association with WMS and his commitment to WMS's success.

 Rick was elected to the Board in April 2019. He and his family have been part of the WMS community since 2003. His daughters, Ava (2010), and Adele (2012), graduated from WMS. Every day he sees the value of a WMS education reflected in their successes. Rick is currently Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Interdigital, Inc., a wireless technology company headquartered in Wilmington. Prior to Interdigital, Rick worked in the life sciences industry for more than 25 years and has a deep experience in leadership and legal strategy. Rick is a graduate of Colgate University and Duke University School of Law.

Lisa Hastings-Sheppard has worked in higher education since 1997, when she began teaching English at Delaware Technical Community College. Since 2006, she has served in various marketing and communication roles at the college. Having spent years as a local climate change educator for The Climate Reality Project, Lisa's volunteer work has been focused on environmental issues. Lisa and her husband, David, are the parents of a WMS Lower Elementary student.

Stephanie has been part of the WMS community for eight years. A graduate of Widener University, with a bachelor’s degree in management, Stephanie enjoys involvement and giving back to the community. Within WMS, she has chaired WMS's annual auction and assisted with other various activities. Outside of WMS, Stephanie served as president of her neighborhood homeowners' association and has introduced philanthropic programs and initiatives at her place of employment.

Mayura Simon and her family have been a part of the WMS community since 2012 after moving to Wilmington from Atlanta. Her daughter graduated from WMS in 2013, and her son is currently in the middle school program.

Mayura is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science and a minor in Art History. She is currently employed by one of the big four financial services firms as an Information Technology program leader where she also serves on steering groups focused on people engagement and diversity.

Mayura's passion for Montessori education was fostered even before having children herself. She is an active part of the WMS community and co-chaired the annual fund for three years before joining the WMS Board. As an avid supporter of the arts, she has also served as a volunteer with First State Ballet Theatre and Cab Calloway School of the Arts.

Susie Ventresca, a former WMS parent, joined the board in May 2012. She is the parent of two WMS alumnae. A graduate of the University of Delaware in chemical engineering, she works as a supply chain planner with Dow AgroSciences. For several years, Susie was in charge of the Sunday School program at her church. She coached Odyssey of the Mind at WMS and has been active in Cub Scout Pack 1313 based at WMS, serving on the planning/leadership committee and as a pack leader.

Zehra is a long-time member of WMS community, joining the WMS Board in February 2014. She is the parent of two WMS alumnae and a WMS middle school student. 

A graduate of the University of Karachi, Pakistan, with a bachelor's degree in political science, she volunteers extensively.  Zehra is an active member of the WMS community. Along with serving on the Board, she has coordinated WMS book fairs and served as chair of the WMS Diversity Committee. She is a founding member and executive director of the Delaware Valley Speakers Bureau, a regional interfaith organization working to build bridges between different faiths and groups by education.