Mr. Reed is now serving as Managing Director of the John M Belk Endowment in August. Prior to this new role, Mr. Reed served as the Head of School at Charlotte Country Day from of July 2009 to June 2021. Among his accomplishments at Country Day, he led efforts to substantially increase the school’s endowment which now sits around 64 million dollars. Enrollment and demand for the school also grew under his leadership while maintaining a 97% re-enrollment rate. Mr. Reed presided over a 50+ million-dollar annual budget and led construction or renovation of eight buildings; five of which were new. In order to pay for those buildings, Mr. Reed led the ForeFront Capital Campaign, a 54 million-dollar campaign that yielded support of over 100 million dollars.

Prior to Mr. Reed’s arrival at Country Day, he served as the Assistant Head of School at St. John’s in Houston. Mr. Reed’s prior roles at St. John’s have included teacher, coach, dean of students, and interim director of advancement. A native of Montana, Mr. Reed received his undergraduate degree from the University of Houston, a master’s degree in educational administration/independent school leadership from Columbia University, and an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Lees-McRae College. Mr. Reed was a world class high jumper from 1986–1993, where he competed on the international track and field circuit.

Mr. Reed currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the following organizations: New Republic Bank, Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), Foundation for the Carolinas, The Good Fellows Club, and Atrium Health (formerly Carolinas HealthCare System). He is also a member of the highly regarded Headmasters Association and the National Merit Scholarship Advisory Council. Mr. Reed is a field professor and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Klingenstein Center, Columbia University, as well as the Board of Advisors for Carney, Sandoe & Associates. In addition, Mr. Reed serves on the North Carolina Banking Commission.

A member of Prep's Contingent XII, Jackson Collins, Ed.D., served as Prep's Director of Counseling before assuming his current role as Executive Director. He came to us from The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, where he most recently served as the Upper School Dean of Students and Associate Head of the Upper School. A member of the Upper School Admission Committee, Jackson also chaired the Upper School History Department. Prior to Shipley, he worked at The Episcopal Academy where he served as Upper School Form Dean, history teacher, and basketball coach. Jackson began his professional independent school career at his alma mater, Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn, where he was the Coordinator of Interscholastic Athletics.

Jackson graduated from Amherst College and earned a Masters in Education Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College Columbia University and an Ed.D. in Education Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Jackson serves on the Board of Managers for the Oakwood Friends School and on the Board of Directors of LEADERSHIP Philadelphia. He also founded and operates Nine Nickels, a nonprofit organization inspired by his grandmother to promote socioeconomic progress through education and opportunity. 

Brandon is Practice Leader, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Consulting Practice, Search & Consulting Services and also supports CSA’s Head of School, Key Administrator, Catholic Schools, and Diversity Leadership Search Practices.

Brandon has been instrumental in growing CS&A’s DEIB Search and Consulting Practices. He has worked with dozens of independent schools, colleges and universities, and education organizations, running retained searches for DEIB practitioners and leading consulting engagements around implicit bias, equitable hiring, BIPOC faculty and staff retention, and other topics.

Thanks to financial assistance from New Jersey SEEDS, a nonprofit organization that places high-achieving students from low-income families at selective day and boarding schools across the country, Brandon and his three younger brothers were able to attend The Hill School (PA). At the predominantly white boarding school, Brandon served as the first Black All-School President and, seven years following his high school graduation, would return to his alma mater to assume the dual roles of Director of Inclusion and Diversity and Student Activities Coordinator. While at The Hill School, Brandon was also Director of Student Activities, Class Dean, and Assistant Director of College Advising.

Brandon has also been an online course facilitator in school culture and inclusivity for Global Online Academy, Dean of Student Advisement for the New Jersey SEEDS program helping high-achieving students from low-income families, and served as Admissions Counselor and Multicultural Recruiter for Rider University.

Before joining CS&A, Brandon served as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at The Shipley School (PA) where he led the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and programs that sustained an inclusive school community and curriculum and fulfilled the School’s diversity and inclusion goals. Working closely with school administrators, he directed recruitment and retention initiatives to broaden the diversity of the student body and among faculty and staff.

Brandon has presented at the NAIS People of Color Conference, as well as the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, and Southern Association of Independent Schools conferences. He is a well-known thought leader and is consistently invited to serve on panels, lead workshops, and speak on topics of equitable hiring and retention, diversity and equity strategic planning, curriculum design, climate assessments, and board governance. Other conference attendance includes National SEED Project seminars, the NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute, the NAIS Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Design Lab, and the 6th World Congress on Positive Psychology.

Heather is the Chief Talent Officer, Search & Consulting Services, and a Consultant. In addition to conducting retained searches, Heather plays a major role in the recruitment of diverse candidates for our Leadership Search Practice, chairs the CS&A Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Steering Committee, and is excited to partner with consultants on the DEIB consulting team.

Prior to Carney Sandoe, Heather served for 15 years as Director of Multiculturalism and Community Development at Milton Academy (MA). In her role at Milton, Heather drove diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives, oversaw the expansion of student orientation and affinity programs, doubled the faculty of color percentage through her outreach and hiring work, refined critical policies, partnered with human resources, and facilitated faculty/staff development workshops. Heather also served as Director of Student Multicultural Programs and a counselor while at Milton.

Prior to Milton, Heather served as Senior Assistant Director of Youth Education Programs at Brown University, where she established a wide range of youth programs connecting the university to the Providence community to recognize and remove barriers for a more diverse and inclusive culture. Her work included training and supporting staff as well as mentoring and counseling youth. She has been a case manager at a non-profit for youth services, a program coordinator for the Graduate Assembly and Women’s Resource Center at the University of California, Berkeley, and taught at a number of schools, including St. Paul’s School (NH) and St. Barnabas College (South Africa).

Heather has been a workshop leader and facilitator with NAIS, CTAIS, AISNE, and numerous schools, and panelist for the Harvard and St. Paul’s alumni associations. Her volunteer work includes involvement with numerous organizations including AISNE, NEASC, CTAIS, NAIS, Chestnut Hill School, and BAGLY.

Dr. Liza (LIE-zuh) Talusan (taLUS-ahn) is an educator, speaker, leader, writer, leadership coach and parent. With over 25 years of experience in PreK-graduate education, Liza is an engaging facilitator in conversations about diversity, anti-racism, bias, privilege and power and creates environments that allow for people to discuss these difficult topics openly. Through her direct work with organizational leaders, staff, students, teachers, and communities, Liza empowers individuals to create a more inclusive organization, environment, community and team. 

Dr. Talusan has been invited to more than 350 organizations across the country and internationally to deliver keynote addresses and facilitate dialogue groups, training workshops, to develop strategic planning, support change management, and empower leaders. Having achieved her Professional Certified Coaching (PCC) level credentials, Liza helps clients set and achieve goals by tapping into what it means to lead a goal-centered life. Additionally, Liza is certified in the Intercultural Development Inventory, a tested assessment to guide teams in developing greater cross-cultural capacity and determining pre-and-post DEI outcomes.

Liza is the recipient of numerous awards including "Best 40 Under 40"; NASPA Region I Mid-Level Professional Award; NASPA APIKC VIP Award; Asian Women for Health's Peer Leader Award; Promise in Action Mentoring Nominee; Network for Equity, Excellence in Education Award; the REAPA (AERA) Dissertation of the Year Award; the Harriet Buescher Lawrence Prize from Connecticut College; The Early Career Award (REAPA); the YMCA Leadership Award; and a number of institutional grants. 

• Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Child Development from Connecticut College
• Masters of Arts in Higher Education Administration from New York University
• Ph.D. in Higher Education from University of Massachusetts Boston
• Certificate in Human Resources, Stonehill College
• PCC Coaching Credentials, ICF Certified Coach, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching

Liza's cumulative research interests include the experiences of historically underrepresented and excluded populations; Asian American and Pacific Islander issues; socialization to graduate programs; navigating academic parenthood; cross-racial solidarity movements; recognizing and reducing unconscious bias; and the impact of federal financial aid policies. Liza's dissertation, "The Formation of Scholars: Critical Narratives of Asian American and Pacific Islander Doctoral Students in Higher Education" is available on ProQuest. Her new book “The Identity Conscious Educator: Building habits and skills for more inclusive schools” is published by Solution Tree Press and available at all bookstores.

A graduate of West Charlotte High School and UNC Charlotte, Ms. Sherrill brings nearly 30 years of experience in public and independent schools. She is currently the Head of School at Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“It has been my life’s goal to lead a K-8 school and align my passion for challenging and nurturing students with my deep commitment to equity and inclusion and a sense of belonging for all,” said Ms. Sherrill, whose education career began as a teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She also spent 15 years at Charlotte Country Day School as Educational Technology Director and Diversity Coordinator.

Ms. Sherrill joined Trinity from The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, PA, where she is Head of Middle School. In that role since 2017, Ms. Sherrill oversaw the learning experience for nearly 300 students and more than 60 faculty. She worked to make classrooms more inclusive, provide leadership development opportunities for faculty, and improve parent engagement and communication.

Before The Episcopal Academy, Ms. Sherrill was Director of Diversity and Inclusion at William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, and at Charlotte Country Day School, she established diversity programs and implemented leading practices in school technology. Ms. Sherrill taught at Chantilly Visual and Performing Arts School (now Chantilly Montessori School) in Charlotte and then in public and independent schools in Los Angeles and San Fernando, CA. She received her bachelor’s degree in education/early childhood education from UNC Charlotte in 1994, and her Master of Education from Pepperdine University in 1997.

CRISSY CACERES, Brooklyn Friends Head of School
Coming soon

Oman Frame (DJ)
Oman Frame is a passionate educator, diversity leader, and social justice advocate with over 27 years of experience. He is currently the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at the Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia, and a high school faculty member.

Oman is a gifted motivator and educator who combines real-world topics with academic rigor to make learning personally meaningful for his students. He is also a skilled curriculum developer, creating curricula that ignites, motivates, and inspires people of all ages to understand the effects of oppression on underserved communities and inspire social justice commitment.

Oman is a sought-after speaker and consultant, delivering keynotes and program content at the bell hooks Institute, Georgia Gwinnett College, and various schools and corporate institutions. He is also a co-author of the book Let's Get Real: Exploring Race, Class, and Gender in the Classroom, a text that guides creating a curriculum rooted in social justice.

Oman's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends beyond the classroom. He is a community resource, serving as a consultant to various entities in the country. He is also an active member of the National Association of Independent Schools People of Color conference, the National Middle School Association Conference, and the Southern Association of Independent Schools conference.

Oman's work has been recognized with numerous awards, including being featured in Ned Hollowell's Positively ADD: Real Success Stories to Inspire Your Dreams and being named an 11 Alive News Class Act Teacher and an ION television everyday hero.

Outside of his professional work, Oman is a loving husband and father and an active Star Wars fan and DJ.