Board of Trustees

Exterior shot of Anna Julia Cooper middle school building.

Anna Julia Cooper School is guided by a dedicated Board of Trustees that safeguards our mission, values, and financial health. Since our founding, Board members have offered more than governance—they mentor and tutor students, volunteer on campus, and champion AJC in the wider community. Members bring professional expertise across accounting and finance, law, real estate, education, nonprofit and business management, health care, communications, and advocacy. They are essential to the community of support that makes AJC a place where students and families thrive.

Board of Trustees 2025-2026

Officers

Fleet Wallace

Chair, Managing Principal, McCann Realty Partners

Billy Peebles

Vice Chair, Educational Consultant

Michael Maruca

Head of School

Betsy Fauntleroy

Secretary, Community Volunteer

Brent Winn

Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, Medalist Diversified REIT

Trustees

Gussie Bannard

Former Head, St. Catherine’s School

Richard Bennett

Physician

Lauren Brown

Former Elementary Teacher, Collegiate School

Mary Desch

Former Director of Graduate Support, Anna Julia Cooper School

Sydney Gottwald

Community Volunteer

Paul Habenicht

Entrepreneur and Founder, VetEvolve

Shelton Horsley

Senior Client Portfolio Manager, Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC

Jill Hunter

Ex Officio,  former Head of Lower School, Collegiate School

Charles Kleindienst

President, Nerds to Go

Mark O’Neil

Director, Carmax

Malcolm Randolph

Senior Vice President, Colliers

Julie Rautio

Founding Partner, Capital Results

Garrett Sawyer

CEO, Sawyer HR Consulting 

William “Mo” Shumate

Former President, M & R Constructors

Greg Trepp

Former Chief Executive Officer, Hamilton Beach Brands

Meg Walker

Community Volunteer

Mike Walker

Ex Officio, Consultant

Elizabeth Wallace

Community Volunteer

Directors Emeriti

John Stanchina