The Seneca Academy Board of Trustees is comprised of between five and fifteen individuals who provide oversight and strategic thinking for the school. Board members serve an initial one-year term. If reelected, Trustees then serve a three-year term. Trustees can be reelected two more times for a total of ten years.
Rhonda L. Anderson-Speight has served on the Seneca Academy Board since July 2014. She is a Senior Business Manager at Axim Global Strategies, LLC in Gaithersburg, MD. She is a native Washingtonian and graduated from Duke Ellington School for the Arts and Howard University with a B.A. as well as a J.D. She is also currently on the Board of the World Dance Theater, Inc. Rhonda enjoys reading, dance, swimming, and relaxing.
John DeMarchi joined the Seneca Academy Board in July 2015. He is currently Head of School at Evergreen School, a preschool through 3rd grade Montessori school located in Silver Spring, MD. He previously served as Associate Head of School at The Woods Academy in Bethesda, MD. Prior to The Woods, he was a founding teacher and division coordinator at Concordia International School Shanghai. In addition to spending time with his family, John enjoys cycling and the outdoors.
Ryan Landoll joined the Seneca Academy Board in October 2020. He holds a BS in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a MS and PhD in Child Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami, and a MHPE from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He is a dual board-certified psychologist who currently serves as an Assistant Dean in Student Affairs at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Ryan is an avid distance runner who lives in Germantown, MD with his wife and their three children, who are all current Seneca Academy students.
Zachary Lipp joined the Seneca Academy Board in August 2018. He holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Indiana University, and a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. He is a trial lawyer and partner at Wingfield, Ginsburg & Lipp, P.C., based in the heart of the District, where his firm has been serving the community for over 40 years in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Zachary lives with his family in the Kentlands and in his free time he enjoys playing golf and traveling.
Ginny McDonald (Trustee Emeritus) has served on the Seneca Academy Board since November 2005. Her son attended Seneca Academy from the year our building opened when he was in kindergarten through his 8th grade year (making him the first on our longevity board!). Ginny has also served the Parents Association in a variety of positions including Chair. She is currently the Tutoring Supervisor for the Treatment and Learning Center. In her free time, Ginny enjoys reading and visiting with friends and family.
Gary McPherson joined the Seneca Academy Board in September 2018. He holds a BS in Psychology and Business Management with a minor in financial planning. Gary is the Sr. Managing Partner of McPherson Financial Partners, LLC. Gary is also involved in several nonprofit organizations that assist youth with financial literacy. Prior to his financial services experience, Gary spent several years working with professional athletes at a small Washington, DC sports agency. Gary lives in Gaithersburg, MD with his wife and their two children. Gary enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and watching sports.
Jim Nagel (Treasurer) joined the Seneca Academy Board in September 2018. He is an Associate General Counsel at Freddie Mac in McLean, VA and is also a CPA. Jim received his BS in Accounting from the University of Illinois and his law degree from George Washington University. In his free time, Jim enjoys traveling with his family and volunteering.
Shannon Ryan has served on the Seneca Academy Board since July 2015. She is currently the Director of Development at Capitol Hill Day School in Washington, DC. Shannon left a corporate position for independent school fundraising in 2008, and looks forward to sharing that experience with the Seneca Board and community. Shannon is a product of independent schools herself: she graduated from The Bullis School before leaving the east coast for perfect weather and scenic views at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Loves include cooking, skiing, cheering on the Nationals, and exploring all that DC has to offer.
Jennifer Serenyi (Chair) has served on the Seneca Academy Board since July 2014. She is the mother of three former Seneca Academy students. Jennifer received her BA from Wake Forest University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Goucher College. Most of her professional career has been spent in education. In her free time she enjoys reading, cooking, travel, and time with family.
Jodi Thurmond (Trustee Emeritus) is the Founding Head of Seneca Academy and has served as a Trustee since the beginning of the School in 1983. She holds a B.A. in History and Political Science and a M.Ed. in Reading. She is currently retired although she is an active wife, daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother (of four adorable grandchildren). Jodi has formerly served as a teacher of students in preschool through college, educational administrator, curriculum developer, and teacher trainer. She is a global citizen as she started kindergarten in Panama and finished high school in Germany. Jodi’s hobbies are travel, reading, and visiting grandchildren.
Jenny Whichard joined the Seneca Academy Board in July 2016. She is the Assistant Head of Middle School and the Director of SummerEdge and After School programs at McLean School in Potomac, Maryland. She has been in independent school education for 17 years, which contributed to her interest in Seneca Academy. In addition, Jenny has been a consultant for camps looking to expand and develop academic based programs. In her free time Jenny enjoys being outside with her two daughters, cooking, or reading.
Carolyn Wolff joined the Seneca Academy Board in October 2020. She has a PhD in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and BA and MA degrees in Economics from Boston University. Carolyn is a Senior Economist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration where she is responsible for microeconomic analyses of FDA programs and policies. She has three children (two of whom are current Seneca Academy students) and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and dancing.
