Ann Rubenstein Tisch - The Founder and President

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Ms. Rubenstein began a 19-year career in broadcast journalism at WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas. She then moved to WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later joined NBC Network News as a National Correspondent. At NBC, Ms. Rubenstein worked on several magazine shows, covering political, medical, and human interest stories. She also served as a substitute anchor on the “Today Show” and “NBC at Sunrise.”

As a National Correspondent, Ms. Rubenstein developed a strong interest in educational issues. After covering dozens of education stories for the network, as well as reading and studying data on single-gender education, she conceived the idea of an all-girls public school. In 1996, with the help of the Center for Educational Innovation and the unanimous approval of the New York City Board of Education, Ms. Tisch turned her idea into a reality.

Ms. Tisch serves as a Trustee on the Board of Washington University, her alma mater. She also serves on the Dean’s Council of The New York University Tisch School for the Arts and the Advisory Board of the Center for Educational Innovation. She is currently consulting with school districts and parent groups across the country about creating schools similar to The Young Women’s Leadership School. Link to articles about Ann.

The Board of Directors

YWL Network Staff

Administration

Autumn Bush, Staff Assistant
ABush@ywlnetwork.org

Suzann Dunaway, Associate Director of Development
Sdunaway@ywlnetwork.org

Susan Karp, Chief Development Officer
SKarp@ywlnetwork.org

Joshua Solomon, Acting Executive Director
JSolomon@YWLNetwork.org

Alexandra Vega, Office Manager/Bookkeeper
AVega@YWLNetwork.org

Sarah Wendt, Senior Development Officer
SWendt@YWLNetwork.org

YWL Girls Schools Staff

Kathleen Ponze, Director of Education
KPonze@YWLNetwork.org

Polly Lagana, Director of Programs
PLagana@YWLNetwork.org

Sarah Boldin, Associate Director of Education
SBoldin@YWLNetwork.org

Tara Goulet, Associate Director of Programs
TGoulet@YWLNetwork.org

CollegeBound Initiative Staff

Jon Roure, Director ofCollegeBound Initiative
jroure@collegeboundinitiative.org

Rob Robinson, Associate Director, CollegeBound Initiative 
rrobinson@collegeboundinitiative.org

Cori Miner Roden, Alumni and Partnerships Manager,CollegeBound Initiative
cminer@collegeboundinitiative.org

Christopher Farmer, Director of College Counseling CollegeBound
Initiative, The Young Women’s Leadership School, East Harlem
cfarmer@collegeboundinitiative.org

Robert Gordon, Director of College Counseling CollegeBound
Initiative, Global Studies High School (Brooklyn)
rgordon@collegeboundinitiative.org

Savitri Hiralall, Director of College Counseling CollegeBound Initiative
Williamsburg Preparatory School (Brooklyn)
shiralall@collegeboundinitiative.org

Elisabeth Medina, Director of College Counseling CollegeBound Initiative
Juan Morel Campos Secondary School (Brooklyn)
emedina@collegeboundinitiative.org

Sachiel Mondesir, Director of CollegeBound Initiative Counseling
School for International Studies (Brooklyn)
smondesir@collegeboundinitiative.org

Carmen M. Peña, Director of College CounselingCollegeBound Initiative
East Side Community High School (Manhattan)
cpena@collegeboundinitiative.org

Dion Reid, Director of College CounselingCollegeBound Initiative
Health Opportunities High School (Bronx)
dreid@collegeboundinitiative.org

Emery Sykes, Director of College CounselingCollegeBound Initiative
Amistad High School (New Haven, CT)
esykes@collegeboundinitiative.com

Sonia Szymanski, Director of College Counseling,CollegeBound Initiative
The Young Women’s Leadership School at Rhodes (Philadelphia, PA)
sszymanski@collegeboundinitiative.com

Camille Wallace, Director of College CounselingCollegeBound Initiative
The Young Women’s Leadership School, Queens (Jamaica)
cwallace@collegeboundinitiative.com