Professional Bio
Ayanna Hill-Gill, affectionately known as Yanni, is an accomplished educator and leader with
extensive experience in independent schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Dickinson
College, where she majored in Biology and Chemistry with a concentration in Ecology and
Sustainable Development. She also holds an Ed.M. from Teachers College, Columbia
University, with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. Yanni has received numerous
honors and awards throughout her career, including being named an EE FORD NAIS Aspiring
Heads Fellow and a Joseph Klingenstein Fellow.
Yanni has held several leadership positions in independent schools, including serving as Head
of School at Purnell School in New Jersey and Atlanta Girls' School in Georgia- where she was
actively involved in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, having integrated
anti-bias work into school culture and curriculum and increasing the diversity of student and staff
populations.
Yanni works with individual school leaders as an executive coach and, as President of ADVIS,
works with Boards of schools on governance and best practices. Yanni has served on various
national and local boards, including the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools, The Association
of Boarding Schools (TABS), and the Emory University Visiting Board of Trustees. She is a
member of the International Women’s Forum and an active member of Kiwanis International.
extensive experience in independent schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Dickinson
College, where she majored in Biology and Chemistry with a concentration in Ecology and
Sustainable Development. She also holds an Ed.M. from Teachers College, Columbia
University, with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. Yanni has received numerous
honors and awards throughout her career, including being named an EE FORD NAIS Aspiring
Heads Fellow and a Joseph Klingenstein Fellow.
Yanni has held several leadership positions in independent schools, including serving as Head
of School at Purnell School in New Jersey and Atlanta Girls' School in Georgia- where she was
actively involved in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, having integrated
anti-bias work into school culture and curriculum and increasing the diversity of student and staff
populations.
Yanni works with individual school leaders as an executive coach and, as President of ADVIS,
works with Boards of schools on governance and best practices. Yanni has served on various
national and local boards, including the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools, The Association
of Boarding Schools (TABS), and the Emory University Visiting Board of Trustees. She is a
member of the International Women’s Forum and an active member of Kiwanis International.
School/Organization
ADVIS
Association
ADVIS