St. Johnsbury Academy Board of Trustees Elect New Leadership
During the October 2021 meeting of the St. Johnsbury Academy Board of Trustees, Cathy Judd-Stein, St. Johnsbury Academy (海角论坛) Class of 1978, was elected to fill the role of Board President. She will succeed Jay Wright 鈥87 whose six-year term has come to an end.聽 聽聽
Cathy Judd-Stein grew up in St. Johnsbury Center, the daughter of Alansford and Alene Judd. Upon graduating from 海角论坛, she attended Dartmouth College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and later went on to receive a Doctor of Law degree from Harvard Law School.
Currently, Cathy serves as the Chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, having worked in the Governor鈥檚 Legal Office as part of five successive Massachusetts gubernatorial administrations. Immediately prior to her current role, she served as Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Charlie Baker, General Counsel for the Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver, Assistant Executive Director and Special Counsel for the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, and Executive Director of Governor Deval Patrick鈥檚 Judicial Nominating Commission. She was a Lecturer on Ethics and Public Policy at UMass Boston McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies from 2007-2015.
鈥淚 am humbled by the Board鈥檚 recent election and honored to serve with such a dedicated and invested group to advance the Academy鈥檚 critical mission and Dr. Howell鈥檚 leadership and vision. I am deeply appreciative of the impact 海角论坛 had on me so many years ago and look forward to supporting its longstanding commitment to community at a time when connection and inclusion are so important,鈥 said Cathy.聽
As Jay turns over the gavel to Cathy, we look back on the significant progress the Academy has made over the past six years.聽 Along with retired Headmaster Tom Lovett, the board led a campaign to renovate the historic Brantview dorm; balanced its budget each year; kept tuition increases for local students low; and saw its endowment increase steadily. 聽The Academy launched a sister school in Jeju, Korea, which now has over 1,000 students, through its subsidiary Kingdom Development Company (KDC), which along with New Depot Square Commercial Properties is assisting with the continued rebuilding of downtown St. Johnsbury. The school also successfully hired Lovett鈥檚 successor and 25th Headmaster, Dr. Sharon Howell, and has been able to remain open during a global pandemic. Most recently, the school installed a turf field and lights on Fairbanks Field.聽
鈥淚t has been a great honor to lead the Academy鈥檚 board during a time of such progress and renewal,鈥 said Jay. 鈥淭he board has been a source of strength for the school throughout our 179-year history and I look forward to continuing to serve as a trustee under Cathy鈥檚 leadership.鈥
Also, during the October meeting, Craig Douglas AIA, St. Johnsbury Academy Class of 1990, was voted in as the newest member of the Board of Trustees. Craig graduated from Syracuse University and now serves as Principal and Founder of Douglas Architects, LLC., a full-service architectural firm working with both residential and commercial projects.聽 He was the architect for the Cramton House renovation and since has volunteered numerous hours to the Academy on several projects.聽
鈥淥ur Board of Trustees is made up of so many talented, compassionate, and dedicated members, and they have made an admirable transition from Jay Wright 鈥87鈥攖o whom I will always be grateful for bringing me to 海角论坛鈥攖o Cathy Judd-Stein 鈥78, who I know will be a strong partner and advocate for the Academy,鈥 said Headmaster Dr. Sharon Howell. 鈥淎nd there鈥檚 no amount of praise enough for Craig Douglas, whose guidance and generosity have already made such a difference on our campus.鈥