Board of Trustees

List of 10 members.

• 

  Jerry Aubin 

  Bio

  Jerry Aubin is CEO of BountyJobs, a venture-backed company that provides software used by employers to manage and collaborate with their outside recruiting agencies. Prior to BountyJobs, he was the lead product manager for the launch of the eBay Motors Local Market. Jerry has worked his entire career in the technology industry with previous experience at companies ranging from small startups to bluechip management consultants. Jerry is married to Kerry Joyce and they have been part of the Headwaters community for 8 years with two boys, Parker and Wesley, who started out at the Springs Campus and are now both loving their middle school experience on the River Campus.
• 

  Adam Battani 

  Bio

  Adam Battani is an attorney at Dwyer Murphy Calvert, LLP, a business law firm providing
  legal services to leading entrepreneurs, private companies and private equity, venture capital and
  strategic investors. Adam has practiced law for over 25 years in a variety of law firm and
  business settings, including large national law firms, small transactional boutiques and general
  counsel roles for both an early stage company and a publicly traded enterprise software
  company. His wife, Kristy, is an artist and attorney and she provided legal counsel to the school
  in connection with its name change and re-branding. Adam and Kristy have a daughter, Bryn,
  who attended Headwaters (Rio Campus) in ninth grade and will be finishing high school in 2019
  at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Michigan.
• 

  Allan Cole 

  Bio

  Allan Cole is Deputy to the President for Societal Challenges and Opportunities at The University of Texas at Austin. He also serves as Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work and as Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Dell Medical School. His research and teaching interests include chronic illness, health humanities, and mental health. Allan is the author or editor of 11 books. His latest work is Counseling Persons with Parkinson’s Disease (Oxford University Press, 2021). He is married to Tracey Cole, and they are the parents of two daughters, Meredith (who attends Headwaters) and Holly. Allan enjoys writing, running, and boating on Lake Travis.
• 

  Cheline Jaidar 

  Bio

  Cheline Jaidar leads the Talent Acquisition, Development + Research team for the Apple Design Group.. During the past 17 years, she’s collaborated with Apple’s top executives to build world class creative groups within the Design, Marketing Communications, iTunes and Executive Search teams. In her role developing + nurturing a thriving international creative community and leading one of the top in-house search groups, she’s explorer, ambassador, mentor, problem-solver, peace-keeper and philosopher. Prior to Apple, Cheline helped build creative teams at Gap, uncovered executive talent at Korn/Ferry International and provided advocacy at New Beginnings/Seattle (shelter/services for survivors of domestic violence). Whenever possible, Cheline, 4 yr old daughter Georgina and 9 yr old dog Paco can be found out on the trail looking for rocks, in downward dog or building new worlds with magna-tiles.
• 

  Tracy Manier 

  Bio

  Tracy Manier is the Vice President for Enrollment Management at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX.  She has worked at St. Edward’s since 1997 and was instrumental in the university’s enrollment growth plan during her 17-year tenure as Dean of Admission. Tracy has expertise in the areas of financial aid leveraging, student search, direct marketing, brand awareness, staff development and mentorship, and strategic planning. She has served on the faculty at the Admission College Counseling Institute, the Advisory Board of St. Mary’s Cathedral School, and on the Board of Directors for the National Catholic College Admission Association (NCCAA) where she served a Presidential cycle from 2018-21.  She has published several op-eds on the subject of selecting the right college and navigating the college admission mania. She is also a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling and the Texas Association of College Admission Counseling.

  Tracy is passionate about social justice issues, especially relating to higher education, and serves on the President’s Council for a Respectful and Inclusive Campus at St. Edward’s.  Tracy has also served as an adjunct faculty member at St. Edward’s from 1998-2004, teaching a survey course in literature.  She obtained her B.A. in English and Philosophy from Trinity University and M.A. in English from The Pennsylvania State University.  Tracy is also a 2012 graduate of the Harvard Institute for Educational Management and a participant in the 2015 Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Senior Leadership Academy Class.
• 

  Melanie Meador 

  Bio

  Melanie Meador is the VP of Accounts and Operations for Quantified Communications, whose mission is to cultivate great communicators at every level. She brings over 15 years of experience from Deloitte, Dell, and IBM to develop and deliver executive communication consulting and coaching, AI-based SaaS client solutions and manages company operations. She is a strategic advisor for Crafted Leadership, a leadership development consultancy she helped start in 2016. Her wife Cathy is an organizational development consultant and EQ coach. Her son Henry is a student on the Creek Campus. As a family, they spend time together traveling, cooking, and playing games.

   
• 

  Sean Murphy 

  Bio

  Sean Murphy has been in independent schools his whole life. He began his career as an English teacher and soccer coach at Albuquerque Academy. After fifteen years he went on to Oldfields School. There he started his family with his wife Katrina. They have two daughters, Helen (21 years old) and Jacqueline (20). Sean then became Head of Palmer Trinity School in Miami, Florida for nine years. Most recently he served as Head of St. Andrew's school here in Austin for eight years. He has devoted a total of 36 years working in independent schools, and is delighted to be a part of Headwaters.
• 

  Taina Palombo-Price 

  Bio

  Taina Palombo-Price leads product marketing for Austin-based technology company BountyJobs. She's a veteran technology marketer with experience including financial technology, human resources, and recruiting technology. Taina has worked with non-profit organizations for 15+ years, including running energy efficiency initiatives for low-income communities in her native New York City and leading youth-based community development projects with AMIGOS de las Americas in Latin America. Taina and her husband, Nate, co-parent a wild 3-year-old named Kiki and two cat-like Shih Tzus named Mr. Meatballs and Barçelona.
• 

  Jessica Rio 

  Bio

  Jessica Rio has over 20 years of experience in public policy, budgeting and debt management. She is a Certified Public Accountant and is the County Executive over Planning and Budget at Travis County where she oversees the County’s $1.1 billion budget, strategic planning, and economic development, among other responsibilities. Jessica has two daughters that keep her busy. Her oldest daughter, Paulina, attends high school at Headwaters. Outside of work, she enjoys watching her kids play sports, listening to live music, and exploring new places.
• 

  Magdalena Vial 

  Bio

  Magdalena joins us from The New Philanthropists. She brings 15 years of experience in non-profit board leadership, specializing in strategic planning and financials. She works as a technology leader, developing teams and scaling software product offerings. She hopes to contribute to deepening Headwaters’ roots in the Austin community. In her free time, Magdalena enjoys playing soccer and golf, and exploring the world. Her favorite way to spend her time though, is when she’s being referred to as Tía by her nieces and nephews, especially when it’s on an ice cream outing.