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 the vice chair since May 2018. She attended WMS as a child and is a parent of two WMS alumni and two current WMS middle school students. A graduate of Haverford College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in biology, and the University of Washington, where, 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. Paul is an alumni parent. His daughter started at WMS in preschool when she was 3 years old and graduated from the program in sixth grade. 

Paul earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from Rutgers University, a master's degree in computer science from Villanova University and an M.B.A. from the University of Delaware 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, and 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 WMS. Since then, Israel has continued his association with WMS and his commitment to WMS's success.

Rick and his family have been a part of WMS since 2003. His daughters, Ava and Adele graduated in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Every day he sees the value of a WMS education reflected in their successes. Rick is a life sciences lawyer with over 25 years’ experience in leadership and legal strategy roles for pharmaceutical and other healthcare companies. As a former general counsel, he has broad experience in commercial legal matters. A graduate of Colgate University and Duke University School of Law, Rick is currently an independent legal consultant.

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.

Sharon attended WMS from 1968 to 1970, and her daughter is a recent graduate (2016). She was co-chair of the WMS annual fund for three years. A graduate of Goldey-Beacom College with a bachelor's degree in accounting, Sharon spent 27 years in retail management and administration as Vice President of Operations for Miller’s Furniture Industries. Currently she is the Vice President and COO of The Miller Group, where she is responsible for all development and long-term planning for their inventory of commercial real estate.

A graduate of Widener University with a bachelor's degree in management, Stephanie enjoys giving back to the community. Her son has been a student at WMS from Primary through fifth grade. During this time, she has served on the board, chaired the annual auction and assisted with other various activities. Outside WMS, Stephanie served as president of her neighborhood's home owners 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 they moved to Wilmington from Atlanta in 2012. Her daughter graduated from WMS in 2013, and her son is currently in the Upper Elementary program. Mayura is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor's degree 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 and also serves on steering groups focused on people engagement and diversity. 

Mayura has a passion for Montessori education that was fostered even before having children herself. She is an active part of the WMS community and has co-chaired the annual fund for three years. As an avid supporter of the arts, she also volunteers 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. She is the parent of two WMS alumnae and a current WMS Upper Elementary student. A graduate of the University of Karachi, Pakistan, with a bachelor's degree in political science, she volunteers extensively. An active member of the WMS community, 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. Zehra currently serves as co-chair on the outreach committee of Circle of Hands, a local non-profit organization dedicated to developing intercultural and interfaith understanding.