Trusteeship 101: Essentials for New and Returning Independent School Trustees

Ayanna Hill-Gill, affectionately known as Yanni, is the President of ADVIS-Advancing Independent Schools . Prior, Yanni served a total of 14 years as a Head of School at Atlanta Girls' School and Purnell School, an all girls boarding school in New Jersey. Yanni holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Dickinson College and a master’s degree from Columbia University Teacher’s College with an emphasis on Private School Leadership. She has been a yearlong Klingenstein Fellow and an EE Ford Fellow for NAIS’ Aspiring Heads Program. Prior to her tenure at Purnell, Yanni worked at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden building their community outreach program and developing curriculum for children's educational programs. In 1992, Yanni lived in Costa Rica while studying sustainable development and conducting independent research in water quality. It was these two experiences that led Yanni to teach, particularly science. As a graduate of an all-girls’ school in Philadelphia, Yanni has committed her career creating opportunities for girls, students of color, and young women to discover their voices, achieve success, and become leaders in the fields of their choice.

Yanni served as a Board member of Cool Girls, Chisholm Leadership Academy, and the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools. She serves locally as a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Village Project, an all-girls’ school for refugees in Decatur, GA. Yanni served as the President of AAAIS (Atlanta Areas Association of Independent School) and a member of Emory's Board of Visitors. She is proud to be a member of the 100 Black Women Mecca Chapter, a member of Kiwanis, and an alumna of Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2017.

During her tenure in New Jersey, Yanni has served as a Trustee on the Board of Rutgers Prep School in New Brunswick, NJ, Far Hills Country Day School in Far Hills, NJ, Link Community School in Newark, NJ, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), and Willowwood Arboretum.