Board of Trustees

Executive Committee

List of 5 members.

Brad Busatto '88, Chair, P '16, '25
Bio
A Sewickley Academy lifer, Brad is now President of Industry Terminal & Salvage (ITS), a company started by his father that is a leading cargo carrier on inland waterways nationwide, offering barge, terminal, marine, and industrial services. He purchased ITS in 2006, launching an extensive expansion plan.

He is also President of Energy Insight Technologies, a boutique firm offering patented energy-saving and efficiency technologies, and a past President of The Edgeworth Club board.

As Chair, Brad serves on all board committees. He previously held the role of Vice Chair and led the Advancement Committee as Chair for several years, significantly growing the Academy’s EITC program.

Brad met his wife, Marne, while earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management at the University of Denver. They have two daughters, Kate ’16 and Brooke ‘25.
Lisa Hernandez, Vice Chair
Bio
Lisa Hernandez serves as the Vice President of People and Culture at Robert Morris University, where she oversees the offices of Human Resources, Campus Culture, Title IX, and Campus Wellness. She previously held the positions of Chief Human Resources Officer and Title IX Coordinator at Robert Morris.

Before transitioning to higher education, Lisa was a civil rights litigator, spending 13 years as a Senior Trial Attorney with the Pittsburgh office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Before that, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Gary Lancaster of the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Honorable Joseph Moschetta and Janet Moschetta-Bell, both of the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. She began her career as a litigator for the labor and employment group at Reed Smith.

In addition to serving as Vice Chair, Lisa chairs the Advancement Committee.

Lisa earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a Juris Doctor, both from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Robert Morris University.
Divya Thadani, Secretary, P '31, '34
Bio
Divya is the Chief of Staff to the CEO at BlueScope Steel. Prior to this, she served as BlueScope's Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, where she worked with leadership to set the enterprise strategy and lead transformation efforts.

Before joining BlueScope, Divya held dual roles as General Manager of PPG Services and Paintzen (an online paint service company acquired by PPG in 2018) and Head of Strategy for PPG’s U.S. and Canada Architectural Coatings business.

Previous to joining PPG in Pittsburgh, Divya spent 13 years in various roles at J.M. Huber Corporation, a privately owned $2B company specializing in engineered materials and specialty chemicals. She also worked in strategy consulting at KPMG, LLP, and the Mitchell Madison Group.

In addition to her role as Treasurer, Divya is a member of the Committee on Trustees and the Finance and Audit Committee.

Divya holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and international relations from the College of Wooster and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

She lives in Sewickley with her husband, Barry, and two sons, Narayan ‘31 and Neel ‘34. The family enjoys bicycling together.
Dennis Zeitler, Treasurer, P '25
Bio
Dennis began his career working in finance by creating a computerized accounting system for Pittsburgh’s iconic Isaly Company. He then joined the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Pittsburgh before moving to MSA Safety as Manager of Financial Services, where he rose through the ranks over 37 years and eventually retired as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer. While with MSA, Dennis performed a variety of responsibilities with a particular focus on the company’s global business development, investor relations, and corporate strategy.

Though his career led him to travel extensively and globally, Dennis has always been active in the local community, having served as Director of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Treasurer of the Pittsburgh Pension Fund Group and Economics Club of Pittsburgh, and Chairman of the Regional Learning Alliance as well as the Butler County Community Development. He was also the Treasurer of the National Kidney Foundation located in New York.

As Treasurer of the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees, Dennis serves as the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and is a member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. He previously held the role of Chair from 2023 through 2026, leading the Academy through a transformative period.

Dennis attended St. Vincent College for economics and earned an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

He has four children and four grandchildren. His youngest daughter, Chiara, graduated from the Academy in 2025.
Jane Kirkland, Officer-at-Large
Bio
Jane Kirkland is currently the Head of Asset Manager Regulatory Communications at Broadridge, a financial technology partner powering investing, corporate governance, and communications. Jane has also held positions as a Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company and previously led Kirkland Partners, LLC, a consulting practice focused on strategy, organization, and post-acquisition integration for private equity-backed companies and financial services firms.

She has performed engagements with more than 25 portfolio companies at several leading private equity firms and has served major financial institutions. Jane brings to bear her experience as an operating executive and a partner at a top-tier consulting firm to help companies sharpen strategies and drive execution against operating plans.

Jane started her career as a Senior Software Engineer in the Defense and Information Systems Division at Lockheed Sanders. After attending business school, she spent 11 years at McKinsey & Company, where she was a partner in the Cleveland/Pittsburgh office and a leader in the Strategy and Financial Institutions Practices. Jane concluded her career at McKinsey serving as Director of Knowledge Management.

From 2014 to 2023, Jane was a Senior Vice President at State Street Corporation, which is a leader in asset servicing and management. Jane ran the asset servicing business for mid-sized U.S. asset managers and ran the strategy function for State Street’s largest business.

Jane has been active on several boards and is currently a member of the Business Practice Advisory Board at Strategic Management Review. She previously served on the Executive Committee of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and chaired the board of the Kamin (formerly Carnegie) Science Center.

In addition to serving as Officer-at-Large, Jane chairs the Endowment Committee and is a member of the Advancement Committee.

She earned an MBA with Highest Distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, a Master of Science in computer science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from Smith College.

Jane and her husband live in Sewickley and have three children.

Members

List of 9 members.

Ashley Birtwell '00, Head of School, P '35, '38
Bio
In 2021, Dr. Ashley (Brown ’00) Birtwell became the first female Head of School at Sewickley Academy in its 185-year legacy. Under her leadership, Sewickley Academy has committed to a focus on academic excellence, enhancing campus facilities by investing approximately $15 million in improvements, including state-of-the-art computer science and robotics spaces, and fundraising to be able to deliver innovative programming for students and professional development for faculty and staff.

With an extensive academic background, Dr. Birtwell has taught classes in power and negotiation, managerial psychology, and leadership at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her research, which centers on the role of emotions in interpersonal negotiations and international leadership, has earned recognition in prominent media outlets such as The New York Times and The Atlantic, as well as in esteemed academic journals, including Psychological Science. She has been a regular presenter at the Annual Conference for the Academy of Management and a guest lecturer at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Returning to her alma mater as a Trustee and subsequently assuming the role of Head of School, Dr. Birtwell is a summa cum laude, Phi Theta Kappa, graduate of Middlebury College, where she majored in economics and minored in mathematics. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from the Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and a PhD in Organizational Behavior from the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Residing in Sewickley with her husband, Ryan, and two young children, Dr. Birtwell enjoys being active in the community and spending time outdoors with her family.
Richard Donahue, P’34, ’36, ’37, ’40
Bio
Richard is a Senior Vice President at Federated Hermes Inc., where he leads teams across financial planning and analysis for the global sales force, corporate budgeting, reporting, M&A, and Investor Relations.

Previously, Richard served as a Finance Manager on Nike's Gross Revenue and Margin Management team, overseeing financial planning and analysis for global footwear and apparel, while supporting earnings release preparations and strategic long-term planning for the Global Tennis Division. He serves on the boards of the Federated Investors Trust Company and Capital Foundry LLC.

Richard is a member of the Finance and Audit Committee.

Richard holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston College and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

He resides in Sewickley with his wife, Erin, and their four children, Henry ‘34, Mark ‘36, Paige ‘37, and Tyler ‘40.
Dave Hammel, P ’33, ‘35
Bio
Professionally, Dave brings over a decade of experience in operations leadership at PITT OHIO, an established transportation and logistics provider. Currently serving as Vice President of Operations, Dave supports the strategic initiatives of PITT OHIO and its subsidiary businesses.

Dave is a member of the Advancement Committee and the Committee on Trustees.

His academic background lies in understanding human behavior and organizational dynamics. Dave earned his degree from John Carroll University, where he majored in organizational psychology and minored in business.

Having called Sewickley home for the last ten years, Dave and his family have come to appreciate the area's history, traditions, and strong sense of community. Outside of work, Dave and his wife, Elizabeth, keep busy. They enjoy outdoor activities, love to explore new destinations through travel, and like to remain engaged in the community. They have two children, Olivia '33 and Miles '35.
Robert James '85
Bio
A leader in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as corporate strategy, Robert currently serves as the Director of the Office of Inclusion and Engagement at the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business. Previously, he was the Chief Diversity and Strategic Growth Officer at CGT Staffing and the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Allegheny Health Network/Highmark Health. Also, while at Highmark, he served as Supplier Diversity Program Director, during which the program received the Procurement Leaders Americas Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Award.

Robert has also worked as a practicing lawyer for more than 20 years, general counsel for a physicians’ practice, and as an advisor with the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Robert is a board member of the Three Rivers Chapter of the National Association for Corporate Directors, the Riverside Center for Innovation, the Pittsburgh Opera, and the Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation. He also served on Pennsylvania’s Advisory Council for Diversity, Inclusion, and Small Business Opportunities during Governor Wolf’s administration.

He has received DiversityPlus Magazine’s Top 30 Champion of Diversity Award and the New Pittsburgh Courier’s Men of Excellence Award, among others. He has completed Northwestern University’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) certificate program, Highmark Health’s Higher Mark leadership development program, and the Executive Leadership Academy through Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business/The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI).

Robert is a Sewickley Academy “lifer,” who earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston College before completing a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He later pursued a dual MBA and Master of Health Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
Sonia Khanna, P ‘30, ’32
Bio
Sonia is a wealth management licensed professional with multiple years of experience in financial planning, portfolio management, client relationship management, and investment planning. She is currently an Investment Management Consultant at Fidelity Investments, focusing on conducting annual reviews and financial planning for clients in the Fidelity Advisory Services Model.

Prior to her work at Fidelity, Sonia was a Financial Services Consultant at Thakar Financial LLC/Raymond James, an independent wealth management firm with $225 million in assets under management, with a focus on physicians and nonprofits.

Sonia is a member of the Advancement Committee.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University, in New Delhi, India. She then completed an MBA with a concentration in finance at ICFAI Business School in Hyderabad, India.

Sonia lives in Moon Township with her spouse, Dr. Gunjan Khanna, and their children, Daksh ’30 and Garv ’32.
Pallavi Golla ('02) Patil, P ‘34, ‘36
Bio
Pallavi is a consultant and EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) implementer, guiding middle-market organizations to grow strong, healthy, and mission-aligned businesses. With expertise in operations, finance, marketing, and team leadership, Pallavi has built and led companies ranging in size from 15 to 100 employees.

She began her career as an investor for hedge funds in New York and Los Angeles. As an entrepreneur, she founded a California-based wine company and an activewear brand in Pittsburgh known for its innovative bamboo-cotton textiles. Her work has been featured in several publications, including Forbes, Parents, and Vogue.

Pallavi is a member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee.

She holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the New York University Stern School of Business and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Pallavi resides in Upper St. Clair with her husband, Mukul, and their two children, Vyan '34 and Kalyan '36.
Peter Schramm '10
Bio
Pete is passionate about bringing people together. He is an entrepreneur, engineer, motivator, TED speaker, author, and experienced leader who grew up working on his family’s farm in Butler.

Pete began his professional career at Lockheed Martin, where he held roles as a proposal analyst, environmental sustainability engineer, supervisor, supplier quality engineer, and manufacturing engineer.

He led an effort to design and implement Florida’s largest solar carport in 2017. In 2018, Pete went to MTEQ (now QinetiQ), where he led a team of more than 100 engineers and scientists, managing a $30M+ portfolio of programs, to build robots for the U.S. Army that “keep the good guys safe from far away.”

Pete is now growing his own business, Latitude, a software platform that helps medium and large companies increase internal engagement, amplify retention, and attract the talent they need.

He serves on the Advancement Committee.

As a Sewickley Academy student, Pete was active on the basketball and track teams, participated in many clubs, and enjoyed pottery and stone carving. He went on to study mechanical engineering, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he continued to play basketball and track, and started a golf team.

Pete stays balanced and active playing basketball, hiking, cycling, doing farm work, and traveling the globe.
Stephanie Sciullo
Bio
Stephanie serves as President, MSA Americas for MSA Safety Inc. (NYSE: MSA), the leading global manufacturer of safety products and solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures. She is responsible for overseeing MSA’s business interests in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. She is a member of MSA’s executive leadership team.

Stephanie most recently served as MSA’s Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Social Responsibility & Public Affairs. As President, MSA Americas, she continues to act as executive sponsor and spokesperson for the company’s corporate social responsibility programs.

Locally, Stephanie serves on the boards of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Sewickley Academy, Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc., and the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, a division of the Allegheny Conference for Community Development.

Prior to MSA, Stephanie practiced law with Reed Smith, LLP. She has previously served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University law schools, teaching a course she developed based on the unique role of in-house counsel.

Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and is an alumna of Harvard Business School’s General Management Program. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in politics, philosophy, and economics from the University of Pittsburgh.
Rodney Smith, P '20, '23
Bio
Rodney is currently the CEO of AEM, a global provider of environmental monitoring solutions
to help communities and organizations deal with escalating environmental risks.

Previously, he served as President of several divisions within Thermo Fisher Scientific,
including four years leading its global Environmental & Process Instruments division
from its Shanghai, China, headquarters. His early career was shaped by roles with
Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), Latona Associates (private equity), and Krone
Global, where he served as CFO.

Rodney has also served as an independent director on the board of PharmaJet Inc. and
as an advisory board member at the McGowan Institute within UPMC and the University
of Pittsburgh, as well as several start-up companies.

Rodney serves as chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee.

He attended Cornell University, earning a bachelor’s degree in operations research and
industrial engineering and a Master of Engineering. He also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Rodney lives in Sewickley Heights with his wife, Kristene, and has two children, Kylie ’20 and Garrett ’23.