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GPS Welcomes New Members to Board of Trustees

Six board members also complete their service
GPS welcomes four new members to its Board of Trustees as Clay Watson assumes the role of Board Chair, replacing Becca Stimson ’73, Ph.D., who will remain on the Board. Other changes to the executive committee see Kerri Martin Bartlett ’75 become Vice Chair and Amy Arrowsmith assume the role of Secretary. 

Leaving the Board this year are Danna Bailey ’89, Charlie Brock, Johnel Angel Evans ’92, Holly Lynch Harwell ’84, Michelle Ruest, and Mary Moncure Watson ’74; we thank them for their service to our school.

We are also grateful to the four new board members, who are listed below with their bios.

Laurel H. Carney ’79 | After graduating from GPS, Laurel H. Carney '79 earned an S.B. in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by an M.S. and PhD., also in electrical engineering, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As an undergraduate, she got involved in biomedical research on hearing, a research focus that she continued as a faculty member at Boston University, Syracuse University, and currently at the University of Rochester, where she has taught and run a laboratory since 2007. She is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and of the American Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering. She was the recipient of the Margaret Rawling Lupton Service, Notable Alumna, and Alumna of the Year (2019) awards. Carney currently lives in Geneva, New York, with her husband, David.

Andrea Saul Nosbusch ’00 | A GPS alumnae, Andrea Saul Nosbusch '00 is the Director of Policy Communications for the Facebook company. Previously, she served as Vice President of Communications for both Instacart and LeanIn.Org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women achieve their ambitions. Prior to her time in the private sector, Nosbusch served in many political roles, including National Press Secretary for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, Communications Director for Senator Orrin Hatch, and Director of Media Affairs for Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. Nosbusch graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University and was a part of the GPS state-winning tennis team and also won the state tournament in tennis for doubles. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, David, daughter Ellie, and dog Bogey.

Ashley Moore Palmer ’99 | A native Tennessean, Ashley Moore Palmer '99 is a State Court Judge in Cobb County, Georgia, where she has served since her appointment in June 2021. Palmer received both her undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University and began her legal career as an associate in a large Atlanta law firm, specializing in both bankruptcy litigation and securities, corporate and fiduciary litigation. In 2009, Palmer transitioned to government service, serving as an Assistant Public Defender, an Assistant County Attorney, and a Senior Assistant County Attorney. She resides in Cobb County, Georgia, with her husband, Robert, and their three children. Palmer serves on the Cobb Chamber DE&I Council, the Board of the Housing Authority of Cobb County, the GABWA Foundation Board, and the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division/High School Mock Trial State Finals Planning Board. She also serves as PTA Co-President and on the Parent Advisory Council at her son’s elementary school. In addition, Palmer chairs the State Bar of Georgia’s Local and Voluntary Bars Committee and is a proud member of both the Leadership Georgia Class of 2020-21 and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Along with her husband, Palmer serves as a small group facilitator at her church. Despite her Georgia residency, Palmer remains committed to her alma mater, having previously served on the GPS Alum Advisory Council, the GPS Young Alumnae Council, and as a member of the Head of School Search Committee.

Stephen Thomas | Stephen Thomas is the Founder and Portfolio Manager of Webs Creek Capital, a Dallas-based energy focused investment firm. Prior to founding Webs Creek, he was a Co-Founder and Partner at Brenham Capital Management. Thomas began his career in New York, New York, at Pritchard Capital Partners, an energy-focused investment bank. He was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and graduated from Auburn University with a B.A. in political science.  He is also a Co-Founder and Advisory Committee member of STREAM Foundation, a nonprofit targeting the increase of asset management roles and senior management positions for underrepresented groups. Thomas lives in Dallas with his wife, Ellis ’05, and their three children, Brown, Wells, and Johnny. Thomas serves as a Director of West Dallas Community School and Chairman of the Endowment Committee at GPS.
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