The Board of Directors of Wakefield Country Day School is a dedicated group of professionals who work to ensure the school is managed well and runs smoothly.
Carrie Conway
May, 2027
Carrie Conway is the Senior Vice President of Impact Programs at Good360, a nonprofit organization that connects companies with surplus goods to communities in need. She has more than 25 years of experience in international development, including seven years living and working in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, and Sudan.
Carrie holds a Master of Arts in International Development from Clark University and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Vermont. She is based in Front Royal, Virginia, where she lives with her husband and daughter, Davis, a student at Wakefield Country Day School.
Robert Dickey
May, 2027
Rob Dickey graduated from WCDS in 1983 and has prior experience serving as a Chairman of the Board. He has remained committed to WCDS's successes, dedicating his time and efforts to supporting students and the school's many programs that have grown and evolved since his own graduation. Encouraging the next generation of WCDS student scholars, he recently established the Audra Dickey scholarship, named in honor of his beloved late wife and prominent member of the InsideNova/Rappahannock News team. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Mary Washington and resides locally, often returning to campus to support the school's fundraising events or watch a game in support of WCDS Athletics!
John Elmore, Head of School
Ex Officio Member
John Elmore's career spans more than three decades in independent schools. He served as Head of School at the O'Neal School in North Carolina for eleven years before coming to WCDS in 2024. Mr. Elmore started his career as a science and mathematics teacher at the Hewitt School in New York City before becoming Director of College Counseling, the same role he held at University Liggett School in Michigan. He has held several key leadership roles including Head of Upper School and Assistant Head of School at Trinity School of Midland, Texas, and Head of Upper School and Director of Studies at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, Connecticut. John holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Grinnell College in Iowa and a master's degree in religion and ethics from Yale University.
Tom Griffin, Chair
May, 2028
Tom Griffin is a 1995 graduate of Wakefield Country Day School and the father of a Wakefield Alumnus and a current Wakefield Student. Mr. Griffin currently serves as the Director for the Office of Financial Policy and Audit Resolution at the U.S. Department of Energy. In this role, he manages CFO’s Financial Policy and Audit Resolution functions with the overall objective of improving DOE business operations. Prior to joining DOE, Mr. Griffin worked for the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Commerce, where he led inspections of overseas Foreign Commercial Service posts and program evaluations of domestic Commerce programs. He has also served as a Risk Management Analyst for the Transportation Security Administration, an analyst for the American Petroleum Institute, and an Economic Research Analyst for the Federal Trade Commission. Mr. Griffin studied and interned in Milan, Italy, and has organized multiple trips to Italy for Wakefield. He holds a B.A. in Honors from Virginia Tech, an M.A. from George Mason University, and an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina, where he was awarded the Darla Moore Fellowship.
Matthew Mills
May, 2028
Matt Mills is a partner at the law firm of ArentFox Schiff where he advises clients in the entertainment, television, and consumer products (fashion and consumer electronics) industries on trademark, copyright, and marketing/advertising law matters. Matt is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Matt and his husband Joshua live in Castleton with their two children, both of whom attends WCDS.
Alex Shafran, Vice Chair
May, 2028
Alex Shafran is a proud 2008 graduate of Wakefield Country Day School, which he attended from kindergarten through 12th grade. He then graduated from the University of Richmond, studying Mathematical Economics and Computer Science. Alex has spent the majority of his professional career with WillowTree, a mobile app development startup in Charlottesville, VA, which was originally founded by another WCDS alumnus (Tobias Dengel). Alex joined WillowTree as an early employee and helped it grow into a global organization.
Alex currently lives in Charlottesville with his wife Sarah. In his free time, he enjoys running, woodworking, and golf.
John Vanderzon
May, 2027
John Vanderzon is a 1984 graduate of Wakefield Country Day School and a former Treasurer and Vice Chairman of the Board. He is the Chief Technology Officer of Sun Management, where he focuses on developing innovative IT solutions and bringing emerging technologies to market. In his role, John works closely with clients to understand evolving challenges and deliver creative, effective solutions. He holds a degree in engineering from Virginia Tech and has been actively involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for more than 30 years as a dedicated mentor.
Mark Zimmer
May, 2027
Mark Zimmer is a 1995 graduate of Wakefield Country Day School. He retired from the U.S. Department of State after a 23-year career as a Foreign Service Officer, serving mostly in Asia and Africa. He worked as a Deputy Program Manager at a government contractor before joining the Department of State. He earned a bachelor's in International Relations from the College of William and Mary and completed a master's degree at the National Defense University's Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. He and his wife Susie live in Warrenton and have seven children between them.