Lauren Wackerle Hardison '12, President 

Lauren grew up in Arlington, VA, and attended Potomac from grades seven through twelve. Following Potomac, she majored in Political Science at Yale, graduating with Distinction in 2016.

At Yale, Lauren was a four-year member of the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse team, served for seven semesters as an editor of the Yale Historical Review, and completed summer internships in the US Senate and with the House Foreign Affairs Committee. After graduation, she joined Morgan Stanley in New York in the Global Capital Markets Division and also served as President of the firm’s Fresh Air Fund. She later returned to the DC area and is now a Vice President in the Financial Sponsors and Leveraged Finance group at MidCap Financial.

Lauren is excited about the opportunity to reconnect with Potomac classmates and graduates as a dedicated member of the AGC.

Stephen Gavula '01, Vice President

Steve grew up in McLean, VA, and was a Potomac lifer along with his younger brother, Dan ’03. After Potomac, Steve attended Vanderbilt University, where he earned his degree in Economics and Human & Organizational Development.

Steve is currently the Founder and CEO of Costa Tequila, LLC, a national liquor supplier with headquarters in Vero Beach, FL. He is responsible for strategy and oversight across all business facets, including production, distribution, supply chain logistics, marketing, and sales. Prior to his current role, Steve spent 16 years working on Wall Street in the Fixed Income trading divisions of three different banks, focusing on Mortgage-Backed Securities and Interest Rate Derivative products.

Steve lives in Bethesda, MD, with his wife, Courtney, and their two children, Stephen, a Potomac kindergartner, and Valentina.

Lele Chappell '07, Secretary

Lele grew up in McLean, VA, and graduated from Potomac as a lifer in 2007. Her three younger sisters also attended Potomac: Lissie '09, Mariah '12, and Helena '14.

Lele attended Southern Methodist University, where she majored in Psychology and Spanish. During her time there, she joined a sorority, played club lacrosse, and studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. She later earned an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. Lele began her career in healthcare PR and has since held roles in marketing, product strategy, and finance at JP Morgan Chase in New York City.

She lives in DC and leads debit card strategy and operations at Chase. 

Sartaj Ajrawat ’02

Sartaj Ajrawat ’02 is a Maryland-based product marketing and strategy leader focused on AI, analytics, and emerging technology. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, he has built his career helping organizations translate complex ideas into meaningful business outcomes through storytelling, research, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.

Sartaj attended The Potomac School from fourth grade through twelfth grade and credits Potomac with helping shape his curiosity, critical thinking skills, and ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. He especially enjoyed his time with Eric Waples and Dr. Brown in the history department and fondly remembers rehearsing poetry and public speaking with Cynthia Ivorian Jones in middle school.

Sartaj is excited to serve on the Alumni Governing Council and looks forward to helping alumni stay connected to the broader Potomac community. He is especially passionate about showcasing the lasting value of a Potomac education to current and prospective families and supporting meaningful opportunities for alumni engagement and mentorship.

Charlotte Gerchick Alton '12

Charlotte grew up in McLean, VA, on Potomac School Road, where many of her neighbors were Potomac faculty. She graduated from Potomac in 2012 as a lifer, as did her older brother, Adam ’09. After Potomac, Charlotte attended Tulane University and then went on to earn her J.D. from Washington and Lee University.

Charlotte has been a practicing lawyer since 2020, first serving as a family law attorney for the firm Blankingship & Keith and later as a regulatory affairs attorney for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Charlotte currently resides in Belle Haven with her husband, daughter, and chocolate lab.

Michael Amann '04

Mike graduated from Potomac in 2004 and was the graduation speaker for his class. He grew up in McLean, VA, and was a Potomac lifer along with his older sister, Stephanie Amann Kapsis ’01. After Potomac, Mike earned a B.B.A. from The George Washington University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Today, Mike is a Principal at Commerce Properties, specializing in the acquisition, management, and leasing of industrial and retail real estate in the DC area. Commerce Properties is an owner/operator with expertise in the development and management of large facilities and provides security personnel and superintendents.

Mike lives in Arlington, VA, with his wife, Alison, and their two children, Tommy and Abby. Mike’s closest friends remain those from his years at Potomac, and he looks forward to contributing to the Potomac community as a member of the AGC.

Shannon Gopaul Balser '01

Shannon grew up in Washington, DC, and attended Potomac along with her brothers, Spencer '08 and Brandon '05. After Potomac, she graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in Economics and American Studies, earned a Master's in Public Health from Howard University, and is now completing a Doctorate in Public Health at Tulane University.

Shannon serves as the Chronic Disease Division Chief for the DC Department of Health overseeing program strategy, development, and implementation. She also serves as the Chronic Disease Director for the District of Columbia. Shannon has 20 years of experience dedicated to improving health outcomes, holding leadership roles in hospital, university, international development, and private-sector settings.

Her passion for public health is deeply rooted in addressing the needs of the underserved, from measuring the impact of the HIV pandemic on seasonal workers in Mozambique to tackling the health inequities that plague the residents of DC’s Wards 7 and 8.

Shannon lives in DC with her husband, their daughter, who is a third grader at Potomac, and their son.

Kathleen Smith Barnard '11

Kathleen attended Potomac's Upper School along with her younger brother, Peter '15. Following Potomac, she majored in Economics at Bowdoin College and played on the Women's Soccer Team. Kathleen graduated magna cum laude and earned the Top Female Scholar-Athlete Award. She later received her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Kathleen started her career at Procter & Gamble before joining Bain & Company and moving back to DC after business school. She currently works for Brightwheel, a childcare and early childhood education management software company, and lives in Arlington with her husband, Rob.

Ki Christmas Bullock '03

Ki Christmas Bullock ’03 grew up in Maryland and attended Potomac from seventh through twelfth grade. After graduation, Ki attended the University of Maryland, where she earned her degree in Accounting and later her master’s degree.

Following graduation, Ki worked as an accountant for United Healthcare before joining the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer. In that role, she has served in both Rome, Italy, and Ankara, Turkey.

In July 2026, Ki and her family will return to the Washington, DC area, where her children will attend Potomac.

Brittany Carroll '07

Brittany Carroll ’07 grew up in Washington, DC, and attended Potomac from fourth through twelfth grade. She went on to earn her B.A. in International Studies and Political Science from Elon University, completed a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Taiwan, and returned to Washington, DC, to earn her master’s degree in International Affairs from American University.

A Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow, Brittany spent a decade as a Foreign Service Officer, serving in Guyana, China, and Iraq and supporting multilateral summits and conferences around the world. She now leads event operations at the Library of Congress, where she channels her expertise in logistics and large-scale programming into one of the country’s most iconic institutions. She also serves on Washington, DC’s Medicaid Advisory Committee and writes about caregiving and family legacy.

Potomac instilled in Brittany a curiosity about the world and a deep appreciation for community, values that carried her through a decade of diplomacy and continue to shape how she works and leads. She is thrilled to bring that same energy to the Alumni Governing Council and looks forward to reconnecting with fellow Potomac alumni. She lives in the Washington, DC area.

India Cutler '17

India grew up just a brisk 20-minute walk from Potomac, where she and her sisters kept a beloved family tradition of trekking to school on snow-delay mornings, their boots dusted in fresh powder. A lifer who embraced every opportunity, India captained the Varsity Girls Lacrosse team, played Varsity Soccer, excelled in Speech & Debate, and co-led the X-Alliance club.

India went on to Dartmouth College, where she double-majored in Government and Geography. On campus, she was a tour guide, a Political Economy Independent Research Fellow, and an avid hiker and yogi.

After graduation, India shifted her focus from international relations to the fast-paced world of technology and corporate strategy. She began her career with L.E.K. Consulting in Boston, then moved to New York City, where she enjoyed exploring restaurants and matcha well out of her price range. She now lives in San Francisco with her partner and their two-year-old dog, Polo, and serves as Chief of Staff at a Series C travel software company. India looks forward to bringing her strategic mindset—and lifelong Potomac spirit—to the Alumni Governing Council.

Malcolm Dilley '07

Malcolm attended The Potomac School and was a lifer, graduating in 2007. Some of his favorite Potomac memories include May Day, the Third Grade Fifty Nifty States Project, many wonderful teachers, and his years on the tennis team. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in 2011 with a B.A. in Fine Arts.

Malcolm's career has centered around hospitality, philanthropy, and real estate, with a focus on creating exceptional client experiences. He began his career at the National Gallery of Art in Philanthropy and Special Events before moving into hospitality sales and event management. Today, he leads his own real estate practice serving clients throughout the greater Washington region. He is also active in the community through leadership roles with the National Gallery of Art Circle Committee and the Georgetown House Tour.

A lifelong Washingtonian, Malcolm lives in Georgetown, just a few blocks from where he grew up. Outside of work, he enjoys tennis, paddle tennis, riding and training horses, and spending time with family and friends. He is excited to serve on the Alumni Governing Council and remain connected to the Potomac community.

Claire Figel DiTando '13

Claire was born and raised in Washington, DC, and spent four fantastic years in Potomac's Upper School. As a Panther, Claire was a 12-season athlete, playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, and served on the Senior Athletic Committee (SAC) during her senior year.

After Potomac, Claire attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, where she was involved in Student Government and the University Admissions Office. She graduated with distinction as a double major in Political Science and Spanish and took her interest in politics and international affairs back to Washington, DC.

Claire worked on the professional staffs of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for over seven years. During that time, she also earned her Master's in Security Studies from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service. She now works at Amazon Web Services (AWS) on the Global Executive Relations Team in Arlington, VA.

Dan Doty '00

Dan attended The Potomac School from grades one to twelve. Following Potomac, he graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in History, a minor in Political Science, and a certificate in Markets and Management. While at Duke, Dan also played on the Men's Lacrosse Team.

Dan currently serves as President of Rushmark Properties, a real estate development and investment firm headquartered in Falls Church, VA. Prior to his time at Rushmark, Dan worked in commercial real estate in Manhattan for 17 years, most recently with Tishman Speyer, where he was responsible for commercial development in New York City. Before Tishman Speyer, Dan was a Managing Director at Hines Interests, responsible for development and acquisitions.

He resides in McLean, VA, with his wife, also a Potomac alumna, and their three children, who all attend Potomac.

Rich Ellis '97

Rich Ellis ’97 grew up in McLean, VA, and graduated from Potomac as a lifer. His brother, Jason, was also a Potomac lifer. Following Potomac, Rich received a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. T

oday, Rich is a Senior Vice President at BXP, the largest publicly traded office REIT in the country. In his current role, he oversees the company’s residential platform on a national basis. He has been with BXP for 19 years, during which time he has been directly responsible for the acquisition and development of projects totaling more than 3,000 residential units and 5 million square feet of development.

Rich lives in Arlington, VA, with his wife, Kim, and their three children.

Jacob Jackson '27

Jacob has been at The Potomac School since 6th grade and currently serves as the Senior Class President, having served in student government since 9th grade. He is a member of SERC (Science, Engineering, and Research Concentration) where he is pursuing research in intelligent data storage and retrieval. He is also a member of Potomac's Speech and Debate team, where he competes nationally in Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu.

Outside of school, Jacob works part time as a Software Engineer at Cyberspatial and maintains Microdiff, an algorithm used by products from Microsoft, Google, and the Las Vegas Sphere, with the goal of making data systems as fast and efficient as possible. In his free time, he takes walks, programs, and watches sitcoms.

Sam Kim '27

Sam serves as the Student Body President at The Potomac School, and has been a part of the Student Government Association since 10th grade. In his other leadership positions, he is a captain of the football team, serves on the Senior Athletic Committee, and is a leader of the Fellowship of Christian Universities and Schools(FOCUS) club. Sam is also very involved with the robotics program at Potomac, as his team won the Virginia State Championship and competed in the World Championships.

Outside of Potomac, Sam is a participant in the Congressional Award Program, one of the nation's top award programs established by Congress for young Americans that includes goal-setting in public service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration. In service to the community, he is a volunteer with the Capital Area Food Bank to help provide hunger relief to families in need.

Sam is also developing a research project with the University of Pittsburgh that focuses on creating a portable and affordable wheelchair attachment that autonomously enables stair ascent and descent. Passionate about STEM, Sam one day hopes to serve his country and help those in need through engineering and science.

AJ Kuhn '13

AJ Kuhn ’13 grew up in McLean, Virginia, and was a lifer at Potomac, along with his older brother, Edwin ’11. After Potomac, AJ attended Virginia Tech, where he studied Construction Management and Real Estate, followed by a master’s degree in Data Analytics for Urban Infrastructure from New York University.

AJ began his career as a project engineer at HITT before transitioning into infrastructure and capital projects advisory at Deloitte. He is now at a boutique investment bank focused on M&A advisory for engineering and construction companies.

AJ lives in New York City but enjoys getting outdoors as much as possible, an appreciation he traces back to Potomac science class trips to the ponds and Pimmit Run. He looks forward to reconnecting with fellow alumni and learning from perspectives that extend beyond his own circles.

Anna Laws '14

Anna Laws ’14 grew up in McLean, VA, and attended The Potomac School from seventh through twelfth grade alongside her younger brother, Preston ’15. She then attended William & Mary, where she majored in Public Health and Spanish.

After graduating, Anna moved to Peru to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small, remote village in the Andes Mountains. Following her service, she earned her Master of Public Health from Emory University, focusing on global food systems and climate change.

Anna now works for The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, where she supports the organization’s work advancing the commercial insurance industry and strengthening partnerships across the sector.

Ryan Lehrman '14

Ryan Lehrman ’14 grew up in Washington, DC, and is a proud graduate of The Potomac School. He attended Emory University, where he studied History and Economics and spent a semester abroad at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

After graduating, Ryan moved to Los Angeles to work in talent representation and global brand strategy at William Morris Endeavor and THE·TEAM, spending seven years booking tours for top-tier musical talent. Now back in the Washington, DC area, he serves as a Booking Specialist in Public Programming at the National Geographic Society, helping prepare for the upcoming launch of the new Museum of Exploration at Base Camp.

The interests Ryan developed at Potomac through varsity soccer and tennis, The Magnificent Seven, Model Congress, and international travel heavily influenced his path. He is excited to join the Alumni Governing Council to support regional events and career networking initiatives, helping fellow alumni feel that same lifelong warmth and sense of belonging.

Amelia Mazloom '18

Amelia grew up in Arlington, VA, and was a lifer at Potomac, serving as Senior Class President and Baccalaureate speaker.

Currently, she is Vice President of Investor Relations at ICR Inc., one of North America's largest independent communications and advisory firms. She specializes in developing compelling investor narratives and managing financial communications for clients across the REIT and Business & Professional Services sectors. Since joining ICR in 2022, Amelia has led initiatives to enhance client service offerings through innovative AI solutions and spearheaded the firm’s involvement with the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI). In recognition of her contributions to the field, she was named to NIRI's 2025 Class of Rising Leaders Under 40.

Amelia holds a B.A. from Boston College with a double major in Perspectives and Psychology and a concentration in Finance. Outside of the office, she is an avid skier who enjoys both resort and backcountry terrain. She remains dedicated to philanthropy, having founded a legacy fundraising gala for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that has raised over $500,000 to date.

Gabriel Miller '16

Gabriel grew up in Washington, DC, and attended Potomac from grades seven through twelve. He graduated from High Point University with a B.A. in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship.

Currently, Gabriel is an Associate at Miller Walker Retail Real Estate, a boutique firm specializing in retail and restaurant brokerage throughout the Washington, DC region. In his role, he advises both landlords and tenants on strategy and leasing, while also leading the production of custom marketing campaigns, demographic reports, and immersive Matterport virtual tours that bring spaces to life. Prior to joining Miller Walker, Gabriel gained hands-on experience through internships with several prominent firms, including JBG Smith, Kettler, Brick Lane, and Garrison Investment Group in New York City.

Gabriel is actively involved in the local business community as a member of Dupont Main Street, where he supports efforts to promote and strengthen one of DC’s most vibrant commercial corridors. Outside of work, he enjoys attending live concerts, playing soccer, and experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes.

Gillian Price '15

Gillian grew up in McLean, VA, and was a lifer at The Potomac School. Her twin sister, Maddie ’15, and her brother, Stuart ’09, also attended Potomac. After graduation, Gillian continued her education at Tufts University, where she earned a B.A. in International Relations and Chinese Language.

Currently residing in Boston, MA, Gillian works as a Senior Consultant at Vantage Partners, a boutique management consulting firm. In her role, she focuses on helping clients address their unique negotiation, influence, and collaboration challenges.

Claire Robertson '04

Claire grew up in Bethesda, MD, and was a Potomac lifer, varsity lacrosse and field hockey captain, and Senior Class President for the Class of 2004. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and her M.A. in Government from Georgetown University. After college, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine.

Today, Claire works on democracy, human rights, and governance issues abroad and locally, and has lived in Northeast DC for more than a decade.

Griffith Roberts Roth '06

Griffith is from McLean, VA, and was a lifer at Potomac alongside her sister, Blythe Roberts McNerney ’10. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from Bucknell University and later studied at the New York School of Interior Design. Griffith joined forces with her sister and launched their namesake interior design firm, Griffith Blythe Interiors, after working with interior designers in both Manhattan and Washington, DC. In addition to their design services, Griffith and her sister co-founded Gatopard, a curated fine linens and home decor company offering thoughtfully sourced pieces that reflect their signature style.

Griffith lives in Washington, DC. with her husband, James, and their three children, Porter, Harrison, and Charlotte. She serves on the Advisory Committee at Metropolitan Nursery School and is an active member of the Washington Winter Show. In her free time, Griffith enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her family.

JP Young '15 

JP Young is a consultant in the Data & Services division of Mastercard, where he focuses on providing analytical insights to his clients. Previously, he worked as a real estate analyst for Peaceable Street Capital and participates in the Potomac School Real Estate Alumni Association.

A lifer at Potomac, JP was a member of the Varsity Football, Wrestling, and Lacrosse teams and participated in the robotics program. After Potomac, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor's degrees in Economics and Finance.

Sarah Murphy Starr '99, Board of Trustee Liaison

As an alumna, Sarah  is very active in the Potomac School community. Prior to becoming a trustee, Sarah was a co-chair of the 2023 record-setting Scholarship Auction, served as class reunion chair in 2013-14 and 2003-04, and was a member of the Alumni Governing Council from 2016 to 2020 and from 2004 to 2005. In addition, she was an annual giving volunteer from 2018 to 2022 and served as an inaugural Blair Society volunteer and a Parent Association representative. Sarah received her Bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and Communication Studies and French from the University of Richmond. She resides in Washington, DC, with her husband, Shooter, and their two children.