Meet Our Board of Trustees
Emily H. Cowles
 Chair, Executive Committee; Governance-Trusteeship Committee; Strategic Plan Operational Planning Committee Term: 2017-2021 Education: Emily graduated from the University of Kentucky, B.A. in 2000, and from The Capital Law School, J.D., in 2003. Employer: Emily is a partner with the law firm, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, and specializes in the areas of banking, real estate, corporate and business transactions, and equine. She is an avid volunteer in the local community and for Sayre School. Parent: Emily is married to Joe Ruel Cowles '95 and has two boys at Sayre, Walt '24 and Charlie '29. |
Anthany Beatty, Jr. Community Outreach Committee Term: 2021-2025 Education: Anthany graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Business Administration in 2003. He earned a Master of Business Administration from University of Phoenix in 2006. Employer: Anthany is the recruiting coordinator for the Lexington Police Department. He’s also President of ABJR, LLC, a partner with two molecular & genetic medical testing laboratories based in Houston, TX and Alpharetta, GA. |
DeShana Collett Governance & Trusteeship Committee Term: 2019-2023 Education: DeShana graduated from the University of Kentucky, with a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education, Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, a Master in Science in Physician Assistant Studies, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Employer: DeShana is the Associate Professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Kentucky. She also continues to practice clinically in Family Medicine. Parent: DeShana and her husband Shawn are parents to Zander '22 and Braeden '25. They also have a daughter named DeStinie. |
John Farris Secretary, Executive Committee; Investment Committee; Finance Committee; Strategic Plan Operational Planning Committee Term: 2020–2024 Education: John received a fellowship to study economics and finance at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, where he was awarded a Master's Degree. Before attending Princeton, John studied economics and philosophy at Centre College from which he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Employer: John is the Founder and President of LandFund Partners. He is also the Founder and Managing Partner of Commonwealth Economics. John also currently acts as Senior Investment Advisor to the Centre College Endowment. Parent: John and his wife Rebecca are current parents to Natalie '27 and Addie '23. |
Tiffany Fleming Governance & Trusteeship Committee Term: 2022-2026 Education: Tiffany received her Bachelor in History from the University of Kentucky in 2004 and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kentucky's College of Law in 2007. Employment: She is an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and serves as the office’s Civil Chief. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Secretariat Center and participates on the Advisory Council for the Family Resource Center at Mary Todd Elementary. In addition, Tiffany volunteers as a CASA advocate for children in Kentucky’s foster care system. Parent: Tiffany and her husband Drew are parents to Robert “Hoot” in the class of 2033. |
Jennie Garlington Community Outreach Committee Term: 2017-2021, 2021-2025 Education: Jennie graduated for Georgia State University with a Bachelor's Degree. Employer: As an accomplished television producer, Jennie parlayed her passion for the environment into her career. From 1994 to 2001, she served as an associate producer at CNN Environment Unit's EARTH MATTERS. Currently, she is the Executive Producer and Host of Eco Sense for Living, a television show she created to showcase cutting-edge environmental issues like 'nature-deficit disorder' and a wide range of subjects from energy-efficient lifestyles to green jobs. Parent: Jennie and her husband Peek are parents to Anna '19, Hope '22, Peek, Sara '26, McCoy '29, and Jane '31. |
Hannah Goodman Goodlett '05 Community Outreach Committee; Head of School Support Committee Term: 2020-2024 Education: Hannah graduated from Transylvania University in 2010. Employer: Hannah joined Transylvania’s Board of Regents in 2017. She has served on the Mt. Brilliant Family Foundation Board and HGG and Children LLC Board since 2010. Alumni and parent: Hannah graduated from Sayre in 2005. She is married to Will Goodlett and their son, James Robert Goodlett, is in the class of 2036. |
Brian Graves '92 Finance Committee Term: 2019-2023 Alumni and Parent: Brian is a Sayre lifer, graduating in the class of 1992. Brian and his wife Leslie are current parents to Will '20, Cat '22, and Carson '26. |
Kathryn R. Hill Community Outreach Committee Term: 2018-2022, 2022-2026 Education: Kathryn graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1998. Employer: Kathryn is a sales representative with Abbvie Inc. She is an active participant with the Sayre Parents Association. Parent: Kathryn is married to Jamie Hill, and they have one child Sally Rose '28. |
Cheryl Johnston Community Outreach Committee; Board liaison, Sayre Parents Association Term: 2016-2020, 2020-2024 Education: Cheryl is a graduate of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Employer: Cheryl is the President and Founder of CMI Properties. She has maintained a Kentucky Real Estate License for over three decades. Parent: Cheryl and her husband Ron have two children, Thomas '29 and Jack '25. |
Anne Kenan Community Outreach Committee Term: 2022-2026 Education: Anne graduated from the University of Vermont in 1995. Employer: Anne serves on the board of the Perrin Family Foundation and Elhapa Foundation. She is also co-founder and trustee of the Southern Reconstruction Fund, a social impact fund dedicated to strengthening the resilience of the American South by transforming undercapitalized communities into beacons of health, equity, and prosperity for all. Parent: Anne and her husband, David Perrin, are parents to Rhese ’25, Bodin ’27, and June ’29. |
Greg Leveridge '98 Finance Committee Term: 2022-2026 Education: Greg is a graduate of Sewanee, class of 2002. Employer: Greg is a co-founder, principal broker, and partner of Block + Lot Real Estate. Alumni and parent: Greg graduated from Sayre in 1998 as a lifer. Greg has two children at Sayre, Davis '31 and Juliet '27. |
Tyler Mainous '91 Finance Committee Term: 2022-2026 Alumni and Parent: Tyler is a Sayre lifer, graduating in the class of 1991. Tyler and his wife Krista are current parents to Graham '28 and Channing '30. |
Joe Palumbo '94 Community Outreach Committee; Board liaison, President of Sayre Alumni Association Term: 2020-2024 Education: Joe is a graduate of the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business. Employer: Joe is President of Palumbo Properties, lumber and land development company. Alumni and parent: Joe graduated from Sayre in 1994. Joe and his wife Jennifer have two children, Anna '23 and John '25. |
Anne Pittman Community Outreach Committee; Head of School Support Committee Term: 2020-2024 Education: Anne holds a M.B.A From Washington University, M.D. Washington University. Employer: Anne is an Allergist who completed training in Internal Medicine and Allergy-Immunology at Washington University. She was a member of UK Medical faculty for 18 years in HC administration, in addition to a busy allergy practice. Anne is an avid volunteer of Sayre. Parent: Anne and Tom Pittman are the parents of Brigid Pittman '16. |
Griggs Powell '90 Community Outreach Committee; Head of School Support Committee Term: 2018-2022, 2022-2026 Education: Griggs graduated with a B.A. in Communication from Auburn University and a Master in Sports Management from the University of Kentucky. Employer: Griggs is a partner at Promotional Products Plus, LLC and Madd Merch LTD. Parent: Griggs attended Sayre from 1986-88. He and his wife Molly have three children, Maddie '23, Eli, and Gus. |
Langdon Shoop '93 Treasurer; Finance Committee Term: 2017-2021, 2021-2025 Education: Langdon received a B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1997. Employer: Langdon is the Chief Strategy Officer at Citizen’s Guaranty Bank. Alumni: Langdon graduated from Sayre in 1993. He is married to Jaclyn St. Clair Shoop '08. |
Tom Stephens '94 Vice Chair; Chair, Governance & Trusteeship Committee Term: 2021-2025 Education: Tom is a graduate of Sayre School, Class of 1994. He graduated from Tulane University in 1998 and Loyola School of Law in 2002. Employer: He is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Association of Health Plans. Parent: Tom is married to Leigh Powers, and they have a daughter Lizzie '27. |
Michael Thornberry Chair; Chair, Executive Committee; Governance & Trusteeship Committee; Head of School Support Committee Term: 2020-2024 Education: Michael graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science Employer: Michael is the Vice President of Powell Valley Millwork, a volume manufacturer of interior trim products. He worked for several years in Washington, D.C. before returning home to join his family in business. Parent: Michael and his wife Abbie have three children, James ’34, Ellie ’36, and Cate ’38. |