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Alumnae to Return to GPS for Women’s History Month Panel
Six GPS graduates will share their career trajectories and offer advice to current students
In honor of Women’s History Month, five GPS alumnae are slated to return to campus on March 1 for a day of celebration. To kick things off, current GPS students will gather in the Frierson Theatre for a panel discussion to hear about each graduate’s time at GPS as well as what they are doing now. From there, they will break out into groups for lunch, with students able to select the alumna whose career most closely aligns with their interests for a more informal and intimate discussion. After lunch, alumnae will visit classes for continued conversation.
The lineup for the event features
Porché Warren Adams, DO ’07 | OB-GYN
Hailing from the Class of 2007, Porché Warren Adams attended Furman University, where she studied biology before receiving her master’s degree in public health from Mercer University and her Doctor of Osteopathy from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She graduated residency in 2023 from UT College of Medicine- Chattanooga and is an OB-GYN. Her areas of interest are adolescent health and gynecology, minority health, public health, and sex education and prevention. Her practice is Women’s Health Services in Chattanooga. She is a member of the GPS Black Alumnae Council.
Colonel Dion Roland Flynn ’91 | Commander of the 94th Mission Support Group on Robins Air Force Base
Colonel Dion Roland Flynn ’91 attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she received her commission as an officer into the Air Force in 1995. Her first assignment? A weapon systems test manager for high-speed rocket sleds at the 846th Test Squadron on Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Twenty-five years of public service in both civilian and military positions followed, earning Flynn the rank of colonel. Today she serves as Commander of the 94th Mission Support Group on Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. In her role, she is responsible for the leadership and management of agile combat support squadrons, flights, and staff agencies for a wing that consists of 8 C-130H3 aircraft and more than 2,100 traditional Air Force Reservists, Air Reserve Technicians, Active Guard Reservists, federal civil service employees, and host base contractors.
Andrea Saul Nosbusch ’00 | Vice President of Public Affairs for Meta, Inc.
Andrea Saul Nosbusch ’00 is Vice President of Public Affairs for Meta, Inc. Prior to her current position with Meta, she ran global communications for Instagram. She also previously served as Vice President of Communications for both Instacart and LeanIn.Org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women achieve their ambitions, and was National Press Secretary for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. Andrea graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University. While at GPS, she was a part of the GPS state-winning tennis team and won the state tournament in tennis for doubles. She serves on the GPS Board of Trustees.
Ashley Moore Palmer ’99 | State Court Judge, Cobb County, Georgia
Hon. Ashley Moore Palmer ’99 is a State Court Judge in Cobb County, Georgia, where she has served since her appointment in June 2021. Ashley received both her undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University. She chairs the State Bar of Georgia's Local and Voluntary Bars Committee and serves on the Cobb Chamber DE&I Council, the GABWA Foundation Board, and the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division/High School Mock Trial State Finals Planning Board. Despite her Georgia residency, she 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. She’s currently a member of the GPS Board of Trustees, serving as an at-large member on the Executive Committee.
Lily Ryan ’07 | Environmental Integration Project Manager at The Walt Disney Company
Lily Ryan graduated from the University of Georgia in 2011 with a BBA in marketing and a BA in German. Her career at Disney began on the Disney College Program in 2008, and she has enjoyed an extensive career across the Walt Disney World Resort. She started as a lifeguard and made her way through roles across both parks and resorts before starting her current role as a Project Manager with the Environmental Sustainability Line of Business. She completed her MBA at Bellevue University in 2021 through the Disney Aspire program. In her time with Disney, Lily has been selected as a facilitator for Disney Traditions, is a two-time Walt Disney World Ambassador Semi-Finalist, and was named a Walt Disney Legacy Award Recipient in 2022.
Melody Shekari, JD ’06 | Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Chattanooga
Melody Shekari serves as the Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga. She has extensive experience managing teams, working with notable stakeholders, and advocating for policy issues. Most recently, she worked as an attorney and consultant at her eponymous firm, Shekari Law PLLC, where she consulted with local officials and worked on federal grant applications. Her leadership experience includes managing her law office, with over 800 clients served in five years, and running a large organization at the University of Southern California. Melody earned a Bachelor of Science in managerial economics from Bentley University, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California.
