Left to right: Christina Powers, Advancement Associate for Development; Carol Bahruth, Advancement Associate for Data Management and Online/Blended Learning; Anita Jones, Administrative Assistant for Advancement; Tammy Reilly, Advancement Associate for Admissions; Mary Lou Hudak, Administrative Assistant for Advancement; and Liz Vinogradov, Director of Advancement.
Advancement at PDS combines the work of admissions, development, communications, marketing and data management into a cohesive working unit.
At the center of our advancement work are the students and their families. Our purpose is to ensure that they – and those who work with them – are supported through robust, coordinated initiatives focused on advancing the work of the school.
As we get going as a team we will update you through this blog. We will shine a spotlight on people and programs at the school and bring you news on the latest school initiatives and faculty/staff leadership. You’ll be able to find information here about the work of admissions, development and communications, as well as initiatives in community engagement – both internal and external.
For starters, we are most happy to report to you at this time that we are migrating to an integrated data management system (under the direction and leadership of Carol Bahruth) that includes integration with a brand new website. The new website will include customized dashboards for all school constituents and updated website content, visuals and functionality. Please bear with us as we retire our old website and place the lion’s share of our energy into building a new website experience.
To introduce our team, below are short biographical notes on each member. Meanwhile, please note advancement and school events listed on the sidebar to the right.
Liz Vinogradov
Director of Advancement
Meet the Team!
Carol Bahruth, Advancement Associate for Data Management and Online/Blended Learning
Carol began her association with PDS in 2003 when her son, Charlie, started in the pre-kindergarten. She is now Mom to Charlie (grade 10) and Lillie (grade 4). She served a two-year term (2009–2011) as a PDS trustee and began working at PDS in 2011 as director of enrollment and marketing. Prior to PDS, Carol developed software user interfaces and blended learning programs at IBM, reaching the level of senior software engineer. Carol holds a bachelor degree in English and education from SUNY at Albany, an M.S. in technical communication from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, master’s certificates in multimedia and instructional design from Rochester Institute of Technology and in project management from The George Washington University. She has produced many papers and conference presentations from 1987 to 2013.
What have you enjoyed most about your work so far at PDS and what are you looking forward to in your new position?
The most fun I’ve had is meeting all of the families who are experiencing their “moment of truth” in looking for a school that is the right fit for their child(ren). We share so many common beliefs about what education can be and we have become friends. I cherish every family I have had the privilege of helping join the PDS community.
In my new position, I’ll have a chance to dust off my programming skills to help PDS consolidate several disparate databases into one and create user-friendly dashboards for all students, parents, teachers, staff and trustees. This is something that will improve all of our experiences with the information we need in our various roles. After the migration, I will take a lead role in developing online and blended learning programs for all disciplines, especially language learning.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
Like my grandfather, I am ambidextrous. Makes painting a room so much easier!
Mary Lou Hudak, Administrative Assistant for Advancement
Mary Lou attended SUNY Ulster and joined the development office in 2000, supporting the work of the development office and working on annual development events such as the auction, commencement, grandparents’ day and new parent orientations and receptions. Mary Lou also supports the work of the business office and will expand some of her work there in her new position.
What have you enjoyed most about your work so far at PDS and what are you looking forward to in your new position?
I have enjoyed working on all the different PDS fundraisers, especially the auctions, and getting to know all the different auction chairs who volunteered. I am looking forward to meeting more parents as I will get to see and interact with more people in this new position. I am also looking forward to being at more events, both at PDS and in the community as part of the advancement team.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
In 1987 I entered a shifter go kart race against 5 men…I won the race and set the track record for quickest lap which still stands today!
Anita Jones, Administrative Assistant for Advancement
Anita came to PDS almost 19 years ago as diversity and outreach coordinator, arriving with many years of teaching experience and five years of admissions work in Philadelphia area independent schools. As an education major at Temple University, she always believed that the future is best viewed through the eyes of a child. As a parent, she experienced firsthand, through her sons, the results of an independent school education, and believed that the entire family is part of the school, not just the student. Among Anita’s new duties are community liaison, ensuring a more robust presence of PDS in the larger community and coordinating outside rentals of PDS facilities.
What have you enjoyed most about your work so far at PDS and what are you looking forward to in your new position?
Because of my experience as the PDS receptionist I extend a welcome to new families, answering what they often consider a minor question, helping them negotiate the unknown and sharing in their comfort as they watch their children flourish in our educational environment.
In the new position I will still be at the front desk, working more directly with admissions, in addition to providing assistance to the entire advancement team, especially in our larger community engagement. Bus forms, textbook orders through districts, campus Notary Public, and my voice on the phone will continue to be the same. I also look forward to returning to my own favorite high school activity: I will provide support to our students working with the yearbook.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
As a quilter, I have had my creations hung in museums, various galleries and private collections – but most importantly in the homes of my children.
Christina Powers, Advancement Associate for Development
Christina is responsible for day-to-day activities of the school’s advancement efforts, including annual fundraising and advancement events, volunteer management, community relations and marketing. Christina has been employed at PDS for five years. She has managed the school’s website, social media, communications, public relations, after-school enrichment program and directed and coordinated community events such as Poughkeepsie Mini Maker Faire, Canstruction® JR Hudson Valley and fundraising auctions/galas. Before joining PDS, Christina was executive director of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), a global, standard-setting association and advocate for outsourcing executives and organizations. In this position she oversaw all facets of business operations, including the deployment of large global educational events in the United States, Europe, India and China; the creation of a certification program adopted by Fortune 100 companies/executives, and management of corporate membership and sponsorship. Christina holds a BA. in communication from SUNY Buffalo and a master’s in public administration from Marist College.
What have you enjoyed most about your work so far at PDS and what are you looking forward to in your new position?
I’ve loved that my job has been so eclectic and given me the opportunity to work alongside all vital segments of the community – parents, students, faculty and administration. I am thankful that I am able to do good work in a place that has a strong positive impact on the lives of children, including my daughter, Anastasia (grade 9), and son, Aydin (grade 7), who have both been at PDS since pre-k.
I am passionate about Poughkeepsie Day School and am excited that my new position will allow me to concentrate my efforts on building an even stronger school community and program for our students and families, as well as provide me greater opportunity to share the magic that we have at our school with the greater community.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I am associate producer of a full-length feature film that is about to be released in New York and Los Angeles.
Tammy Reilly, Advancement Associate for Admissions
Tammy attended SUNY New Paltz and Marist College and started working at PDS as a part-time librarian after her daughter, Ashlee (Class of ’07), entered PDS in 3rd grade. (Ashlee went on to earn a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s from the New School for Social Research.) Tammy transitioned to working full time at PDS as the admissions assistant in 2002. She has been part of and instrumental in a range of admissions processes and initiatives, including shepherding our international students through the admissions process and coordinating their transition to their new school and host families. As a result, she brings an invaluable depth of knowledge about PDS, children and families to her new position. .Tammy loves the outdoors, cooking and swimming – read below to see how far she takes that!
What have you enjoyed most about your work so far at PDS and what are you looking forward to in your new position?
I love meeting new people and working with them to find the right school for their child/children. I love to solve problems. I love working with children and their families.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I once swam across the Hudson River from Highland to Poughkeepsie for a fundraiser!
Liz Vinogradov, Director of Advancement
Liz joined PDS in 1980, initially to work with the French students (children of French IBM families temporarily assigned here) who made up half of the pre-k that year. Before coming to PDS, she began her teaching career in the Greater Montreal public schools. She subsequently taught French, Russian, history and humanities in PDS’s middle and high schools, eventually taking on responsibilities as head of high school. She served as head of school for 18 months during the search for current head of school Josie Holford and returned to head the high school, then the full upper school (middle and high schools). Periodically, she combined administrative duties with teaching history and Russian literature in the high school. Recently, she was asked by Josie to consider the restructuring of development, admissions, data management, marketing and communications into a single Advancement department and team, which is now in place. Liz has three children, all of whom graduated from PDS, and a granddaughter who attended PDS until her move to Ohio. She graduated from McGill University with a bachelor’s degree in education.
What have you enjoyed most about your work so far at PDS and what are you looking forward to in your new position?
I have loved every opportunity given me at PDS over these last 35 years! My first love is working directly with kids, and I am grateful that I was able to continue that periodically through my administrative years. In my new position, I am looking forward to new challenges, and to supporting this great team in their work. I am also looking forward to implementing new and integrated strategies for supporting our school’s amazing programs and mission.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
Through one of my maternal clans, I know close to 1700 cousins who live on all continents except Antarctica. Our common languages are English, French, Russian, German, Italian and Spanish. Makes for lively polyglot reunions!