Welcome

Board of Trustees

    • UPLAND_20210119_071

Comprised of Esteemed Alumni, Current and Past Parents as well as Community Visionaries, Upland Country Day School's Board of Trustees offer a diverse range of perspectives in order to strategically execute the mission and principles of The Upland Way.

List of 7 items.

  • William "Bill" W. Wylie, Jr.

    President

    Bill Wylie, is the father of Stuart ‘95 and Peyton ‘99. He is a lifelong Chester County resident. Bill attended the University of Delaware, earning a B.S. in Finance. He has spent his entire career as a registered investment advisor. Bill served as an Upland Trustee when Stuart and Peyton were in school, rejoining the Board in 2016. Bill asserts that Upland Country Day is a unique educational institution providing an excellent academic and values-based education in an attentive, safe, small school environment. He is pleased to be able to contribute to an institution that has been so prominent in the life of his family.

  • Ambrose Carr

    Ambrose and his wife, Elizabeth, are current Upland parents to Maisie '24 and Libby '28.  Ambrose is a partner in the firm of Prosperian Wealth Management. He is a retirement specialist.  Ambrose and his family live in Wilmington.

  • Anthony J. Drexel Cadwalader, '79

    Journalist and Community Volunteer

    Tony is an alumni of Upland and a graduate of Lake Forest College. He currently resides in Unionville and has been involved in many of Upland’s Alumni activities including Winter Weekend and the Phone-­-a-­-thon. Tony is currently president of Drexel Media Company LLC, an Internet publishing and new media company. He is a former award-­-winning journalist with The Kennett Paper and The Daily Local News. He has worked with the Chesapeake Publishing and the Journal Register Company, where he rose to become editor as well as head of advertising design. Prior to that he was in real estate in New York City, converting residential apartment buildings to condominium and co-­-op entities, and later with Emlen-­-Wheeler/Prudential Fox-­- Roach outside Philadelphia doing residential and commercial sales.

    Tony is currently on the executive committee of the Drexel Family Initiative at Drexel University, which seeks to provide scholarship opportunities for financially disadvantaged students who have shown a commitment and spirit of giving back to their community. A cancer survivor, he has done charitable work with the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life and is a supporter of Shine, a group affiliated with The Cancer Program of The Chester County Hospital and Health System. Additionally, he has actively helped launch or financially supported many social and non-­-profit organizations, such as the Young Friends of the Brandywine and the Brandywine Conservancy, the Buck & Doe Trust, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and, the Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia.

  • Pattie Morgan Miller

    Pattie has worked in the Technology Sector for leading cyber security and data management firms including, RSA Security, Symantec, Pivotal Software, Veritas and most recently Cohesity.  She received her BS in Math/Computer Science from the University of Richmond and earned a MS in Systems Engineering from Widener University.  Her husband, Jake, has a farming and landscaping business and is starting a whiskey distillery.  Their daughter, Ashley ‘14, started at Upland in the 1stgrade.  After graduation matriculated to Lawrenceville ‘17 and is currently a junior at UVM.   Pattie has been active in many community causes specifically in the area of preservation, the environment, open space and education. She has held board seats for the Kennett library, S.A.V.E., the Junior League of Wilmington and her alma mater, Sanford School. She and Jake live in Toughkenamon.  
     

  • David Harrington

    Treasurer
    CEO, Seamark Capital

    David Harrington is a native of Wilmington, Delaware and is currently an Upland Trustee and Board Treasurer. He is the head of the finance committee and served on the search committee for Head of School. He is the parent of three Upland grads, Andrew, Lindsay and Ian. David is a managing partner and founder of Seamark Capital in Chadds Ford, which is a long/short equity fund. He graduated from the Salisbury School and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Lawrence University.

  • Daphne Neilson Jonas

    Daphne Neilson Jonas proudly has three little girls at Upland - Perry ‘29, Nell '32, and Beazie '34. Daphne grew up just down the road from Upland and happily moved back to the area with her family in the spring of 2020. Daphne spent the bulk of her professional career working in public health, specializing in maternal-child health. Daphne is a St. George’s School alumna who then earned a B.A. from Brown University in Community Health. After Brown, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing, focusing on public policy research and leadership. She went on to earn her Master’s in the Executive Program from Drexel University’s School of Public Health. Daphne is thrilled to be back in Pennsylvania with her family, and both she and her husband are enthusiastic about their future here and their daughters’ futures at Upland.

  • Matt Bedwell

    Matt entered Upland the fall of his 6th-grade year and graduated as a 9th grader in the class of 1995. After Upland, he went on to The Hill School, where he graduated in ‘98 and afterward spent a year at Choate Rosemary Hall as a post-graduate in the class of ‘99. After Choate, Matt attended the University of Connecticut, where he majored in Business and played Varsity Men’s Ice Hockey. After graduating, he went into the world of general contracting. Currently the President of Provident Homes Corp and Bedwell Custom Builders, Matt has also been an active member of the community. Previously the VP of Chester County Builders Association and the Chairman of Birmingham Township Historical Commission, Matt is now a board member of the Chester County Skating Club and serves on the Club’s Hockey Committee. Additionally, he has served the youth sports community as an ice hockey coach and soccer coach. Though not currently active, Matt is also a realtor.
     
    Matt’s son, Tanner, is a member of Upland’s Class of 2029, and his nephew, Hayden Danks, is a member of Upland’s Class of 2031. Matt’s mother, Cindy Sullivan Bedwell, is an alumna of Upland and graduated in the class of 1973.

List of 7 items.

  • E. Bradford "Brad" DuPont, Jr.

    Brad is a former history teacher and the current boys' lacrosse coach at Tower Hill School. He previously worked in the Alumni and Development Office also at Tower Hill.   He received his B.A. from Williams College and an M.A. in history from the University of Delaware. Brad is on the Board of Directors for Centreville Layton School.
     
    Brad lives in Chadds Ford and is the father of Upland alum, Scott '13.

  • Julie Gardner

    Julie is a past parent of Aidan Young ’20 who sadly passed away when he was 11 years old. She is a graduate of Garrison Forest and Georgetown University and has a Master of Social Work degree. She worked for La Comunidad Hispana in Kennett Square for several years as an operation manager and then became the Executive Director of S.A.V.E. She has also served on the Fairville Friends School Board and has recently returned as a Trustee there. She moved to Germany for several years where she began working with dog training and has recently become certified in that field. Her mother Nina Gardner served as a Trustee for one term while her grandson was attending Upland. Julie lives in London Grove Township.

  • J. Charles Gerbron, Jr. '95

    A 1995 graduate of Upland Country Day School, Charlie is a partner in the law firm of MacElree Harvey, Ltd. where he focuses his practice on litigation and land use related matters. Before beginning his legal career, Charlie taught English and history and coached soccer, hockey, and lacrosse at Upland from 2003-2005. Charlie has been an active member of the Upland Alumni Association for many years and has served as the Association’s President since 2014. Charlie is a graduate of The Lawrenceville School, Georgetown University, and the Villanova School of Law. He lives in Kennett Square with his wife Meredith '97 and their three daughters, Charlotte '29, Caroline '32, and Georgie.
     
     

  • Steven Friedemann

    Owner, Meander Fin Creative Studio

    Steve and his wife, Melissa Watson, became Upland parents in 2012; Eliza and Henry '22; Naomi '24, and Simon '27.  Steve owns Meander Fin Creative Studio in Hockessin, DE. Meander Fin Creative Studio is a full-service graphic design and branding firm that was founded by Steve in 2007. Steve graduated from the University of Delaware in 2000.

    Steve has also done some pro bono work for the Marketing Department and currently serves on the Buildings and Grounds Committee and Enrollment Committee.

  • Mary Pat Fralick

    Former Principal, Vitalize Consulting

    Mary Pat is a former parent with three children who graduated from the School in 2007, 2011, and 2016. She also sits on the Development Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee and the Enrollment Management Committee. Mary Pat has served as a trustee of the School since 2003 with roles as both an officer and committee chair. She has been part of the Upland community since 1999 and has been very active in the Parents’ Association during her entire tenure at the school. Mary Pat has recently retired after a successful career in the Healthcare IT industry. She was a co-founder and COO of Elumen Solutions in 1989, which was acquired by CTG in 1999. In 2002, she co-founded Vitalize Consulting Solutions, where she served as CEO, CFO and COO until the company was purchased by SAIC. Mary Pat holds an MBA from St. Joseph's University and a BA from Rutgers University, where she majored in economics.

  • Elizabeth Vannote

    Lizzie Vannote lives on a farm just stones throw from Upland her husband, Burl ‘97, and daughter, Liza ‘33. Lizzie is a Principal at Brown Advisory where she provides tailored advice to individuals and charitable organizations to help them achieve their financial, estate planning and philanthropic objectives. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Boston University School of Law, Lizzie asserts that the most formative years of her education were those spent from kindergarten through eighth grade at a progressive independent day school in rural New Hampshire. Lizzie also serves as a member of the board of the Buck and Doe Trust and a Trustee of the Cheshire Land Preservation Fund.

  • William "Bill" Wilson


    Bill Wilson, father of Molly '05 and Abigail '08, served Upland as the combined Admissions and Business Director from 1994 to 2005. Before Upland, he was the Business Manager, Director of Admissions, and a math and economics teacher at Friends School in Mullica Hill. Bill currently works for Mitchell, Sinkler & Starr in Philadelphia.
     
    The Wilson's live in Mendenhall, Pa. and enjoy spending free time with family, working on their farm, boating and fly fishing. 
     
    Former:
    Trustee - Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS)
    Clerk –Friends Committee on Education
    Treasurer – Friends Education Fund
    Member - Pennsbury Twp Open Space Committee
     
    Current Member:
    CFA Institute
    Philadelphia Securities Association
    Philadelphia Estate Planning Council
    Finance Committee - Friends Council on Education
     
     
     
     
     

List of 8 items.

  • Luke Bowen

    A 1998 graduate of Upland, Luke is the Co-Founder of Evil Genius Beer Company. Started in 2011, Evil Genius is now. one of the top 200 breweries by volume in the US. 

    Luke has Co-Authored Academic Research Papers which have been published Internationally on Advertising Strategy, Market Research Best Practices, and Corporate Social Responsibility. He regularly speaks and lectures in the Business School at Villanova University. 

    In 2019, the Philadelphia Business Journal named Luke one of Philadelphia’s 40under40. He is also a member of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, The Brewers Association, The National Beer Wholesalers Association, and The Union League of Philadelphia.

    Luke holds an MBA with honors from Villanova University.

  • Phoebe Driscoll Fisher, M.D.

    Phoebe is a pediatric anesthesiologist at A.I. duPont for Children.  She earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Bryn Mawr College and her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania.  Phoebe completed her surgical internship at Georgetown University Hospital and her fellowship in pediatric anesthesia at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  
     
    Her philanthropic work focuses heavily on land preservation.  She has served on the board of both the Cheshire Hunt Conservancy and S.A.V.E.  Phoebe has supported Upland in countless ways from chairing auctions to organizing Paperchase fundraisers, and hosting several Finnish exchange students.  
     
    She is also an active member of the Chester County horse community.
     
    Phoebe is the mother of former Upland students Jack and Lydia ’12, Phoebe ’19,  and Oliver 
    "Busby" who attended Upland until 2    nd grade.  She is married to Rush, '76.  Phoebe and Rush reside in Unionville.

  • Michael C. Goeller

    Mike and his wife, Janice, have three children who graduated from Upland:  Meredith (Gerbron) ‘97, Michael ’00, and Matthew ‘04.  Meredith, Matthew, and their son-in-law, Charlie Gerbron ‘97, also taught for several years at Upland.  Mike was a member of Upland’s Board of Trustees from 1992 to 2002.

    Mike and Janice have six granddaughters, five of whom (Ava, Lila, and Cecilia Goeller and Charlotte, and Caroline Gerbron) are currently students at Upland.

    Mike is a graduate of the University of Delaware (BA), Dickinson School of Law (JD), and Temple Law School (LLM).  He is General Counsel, Vice-President, and an owner of Hatzel & Buehler, Inc., an electrical construction company with 19 offices throughout the east and mid-west.
     

  • David Hoffman, M.D.

    David Hoffman, M.D. 
    David has been a Board-Certified family physician since 1993.  He and his wife, Carol, are co-owners of Paradocx Vineyard in Landenberg.  David completed his undergraduate in biology at Bucknell University. He attended Jefferson Medical College and completed his residency at the Medical Center of Delaware.  He is a member of the Pennsylvania Wine Marketing & Research Board and a previous board member of the Pennsylvania Wine Association. Dave is the father of David '20 and Wyatt '23.  He also hosted Finnish exchange students, Nestori Leinonen '20 and Severi Leinonen '22. 

  • Rodman Moorhead

    Rodman Moorhead is a Portfolio Manager on the Multi-Cap Equity team at Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. Prior to joining Tocqueville, he spent four years at Bourgeon Capital Management as a Senior Research Analyst. He holds a B.A. degree in Painting from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University. He also is an alum of The Taft School. In the spring of 2020, Roddy and his wife Brooke moved their family from New York City to Chester County. Their son Quinn is in Upland’s Class of ‘30, and Chase is in the Class of '34. The Moorheads have long ties to Upland: Roddy’s mother, Alice Kerr Moorhead, was in the class of 1954 at Upland, and her mother played a large role in the School’s establishment.

  • Mary Jean "MJ" Stenz

    MJ is currently a Kindergarten teacher in the Coatesville Area School District.  She is a former principal Caln Elementry School.  She earned a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Teaching from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in Education from Penn State.  An alum of Upland, MJ's daughter Taylor '15 is also an Upland graduate.  MJ lives in Kennett Square with her husband, Mark.

  • Peter C. Thayer

    Head of School, St. Anne's Episcopal School

    Peter has more than 36 years experience working in independent schools. He is currently the Head of School at St. Anne’s Episcopal School, a Pre-K through 8th grade independent day school in Middletown, Delaware. Previously he served as the Head of Middle School at Lancaster Country Day School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Admissions Director at Kent Denver School in Englewood, Colorado and as an English teacher and college guidance counselor at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Thayer attended Episcopal Academy, then located in Merion, Pennsylvania. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Williams College and a Master of Arts in English from Middlebury College Bread Loaf School. He and his wife, Francie, have three grown children, each involved in independent school education.

  • Nancy Wood

    Nancy is an Upland alum, daughter of an alum, and granddaughter of a founder (Nancy Penn-Smith Hannum). She is also a parent of Oram ‘21 and Averell ‘23. A lifelong resident of Unionville, PA, Nancy graduated from The Lawrenceville School in 1996 and then Gettysburg College in 2000. After living abroad, she returned home. In 2004 she married Crosby Wood (who in his childhood attended PreK at Upland for a little while). Together they manage New Heritage Properties, a real estate investment company that they founded in 2007. Nancy has been active in the community for many years and is always willing to open their home "Brooklawn" to support causes such as open space and other organizations that protect the country way of life. She is excited to continue the family tradition at Upland.