Institutional Governance, Administration, and Support

Each of Relay’s programs has the support of Relay’s national administrative office. Relay is governed by: the board of trustees, who are responsible for oversight of the institution; the president, who is responsible for the overall health and direction of the institution; and the executive team, who are responsible for academics, accreditation, assessment, student services, and faculty; human resources, operations, and finances of the institution; external affairs and development; institutional projects and culture; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and legal affairs. View our leadership team here.

 

Board of Trustees

Relay Graduate School of Education (Relay) is a single 501(c)(3) nonprofit with one Board of

Trustees as its governing body. The members of the Board of Trustees bring to the governance of Relay rich and diverse experiences in a wealth of areas, including leading in prominent positions at other institutions of higher education; training and supporting both novice and veteran teachers; closing the opportunity gap for students in historically marginalized communities; leading complex organizations, both nonprofit and for-profit; and fundraising. The members of the Board of Trustees, each experienced and accomplished in their individual fields, possess the skills necessary to effectively oversee a leading graduate school of education.

 

The Board is comprised of six standing committees:

• Executive Committee: The Executive Committee acts in place of the Board between Board meetings, as delegated by the Board and prescribed in the By-Laws and consistent with the law, except that it may not appoint or remove Trustees or Officers and may not amend, repeal, or modify the By-Laws or charter.

• Committee on Trustees: The Committee on Trustees is responsible for the overall composition of the Board of Trustees and for monitoring the implementation of the approved policies and procedures as the Board conducts its business.

• Finance Committee: The Finance Committee is responsible for determining and recommending the most advantageous allocation of financial resources, and for overseeing general business operations, including the annual budget process and budgets, financial policies and procedures, internal audit practices, tuition and fee determinations, long-range financial planning, and application of restricted funds.

• Audit and Compensation Committee: The Audit and Compensation Committee recommends independent auditors for appointment by the Board of Trustees, and reviews with the auditors: (a) the scope of the audit; (b) the audited financial statements and reports of the auditors; (c) the adequacy of the internal accounting procedures and records; and (d) the quality and adequacy of the accounting staff.

• Academic and Student Affairs Committee: The Academic and Student Affairs Committee is responsible for the oversight of the professional/academic programs, practices, and policies of the Graduate School, including academic standards and faculty appointments, student policies, and student life.

• External Affairs Committee: The External Affairs Committee is responsible for providing guidance on marketing, communications, and fundraising strategies, and helping to make connections to prospective partners and/or donors.

 

The Board of Trustees meets at least quarterly. At these meetings, Relay’s President and other members of the executive team bring all relevant issues and updates to the Board. The full Board and its committees discuss issues as appropriate. View our Board members here.

 

Executive Team 

Relay’s Board of Trustees entrusts the stewardship of the organization to the members of the Executive team. As such, the Executive team is tasked with oversight of the organization’s daily operation and academic programs. Relay’s Executive team leads in service to Relay’s mission and vision. Below you will find information on the roles and responsibilities of each Executive team member.

• President (Chief Executive): As president, Dr. Mayme Hostetter serves as the Chief Executive of Relay Graduate School of Education. She is charged by the board with the responsibility of setting strategic vision and ensuring the overall health and direction of the institution. 

• Provost, Teacher Preparation: In her role as Provost, Teacher Preparation, Dr. Maya Weatherton leads Relay and the Teacher Prep team to key institutional milestones, maintaining outstanding institutional performance and recognition, faculty performance, and staff experience. Dr. Weatherton graduated from Paul Quinn College, earned her Masters in Educational Administration from Texas Southern University, and is part of the prestigious Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program. Dr. Weatherton holds her PhD in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies (HELPS).

• Chief Professional Learning Officer: In her role as Chief Professional Learning Officer, Dr. Shavonne Gibson leads the Professional Education team at Relay. Dr. Gibson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rochester, a master’s degree in Secondary Education-Social Studies from Long Island University, second master’s degree in Educational Leadership from George Mason University, and her doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University.

• Chief Operating Officer: As Chief Operating Officer, Jessica Smith leads the people, technology, and legal teams at Relay. In her role, she serves as a culture and change leader creating radical spaces of belonging, setting the vision for infrastructure at Relay, and supporting and operationalizing key strategic priorities. Jessica holds a BA from the University of Miami, and a JD from Emory University.

• Chief Strategy Officer: As Chief Strategy Officer, Anne McCarley is responsible for the institution’s revenue and external relations through the leadership of teams charged with partnerships, development, government affairs, policy, marketing, and communications. McCarley earned an MA in English from Northwestern University and a BA in English from the University of Notre Dame.

• Chief Transformation Officer: As Chief Transformation Officer, Akilah Rosado is charged with developing Relay’s strategic plan in service to organizational sustainability. She integrates equity-centered practice to ensure Relay’s systems, structures, policies, and practices are mission aligned. Ms. Rosado is an anti-racist practitioner, strategist, and educator who approaches interrupting systems of oppression through strategic design and implementation. She is currently a doctoral candidate whose scholarship is focused on Black women in higher education leadership. She received her undergraduate degree from SUNY Purchase and holds a Master of Science and a Master of Philosophy in Public Policy and Management from Milano, at the New School.

• Chief Financial Officer: In his role as Chief Financial Officer, Derek Richey is responsible for both the overall financial operations and stewardship as well as ensuring resources are planned for and optimized toward organizational goals, strategies, and priorities. Derek has a bachelor’s degree from Wabash College and master’s degrees in business administration and education leadership from London Business School and the University of Missouri, respectively.

 

Relay Senior Leaders 

Relay Senior Leaders (RSL) work with their Executive team leaders to support the implementation of Relay’s key strategic priorities. The RSL team is also responsible for voicing the opportunities, challenges, and other considerations that they see within their teams to inform strategic decisions. 

 

Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation

The Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation is charged with developing policies and programs that enable all in our community to learn and contribute to the world. Our priorities are shaped by Relay’s mission:
 

Our mission is to ensure that all students are taught by outstanding educators.

 

Relay’s teacher programming is committed to excellent teaching and the personal and intellectual growth of its students in a diverse academic community. The Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation strives to support faculty and students by removing barriers to faculty and student success and ensuring that academic affairs and student affairs are working together to provide high-quality learning environments for our students. In addition, the Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation oversees all academic components of the program, including curriculum, instruction, assessment, advising, certification/licensure support, and referral services for students with disabilities.

 

The Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation provides accurate, up-to-date information to faculty and students regarding Relay degree requirements, course registration, state certification/licensure, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations; works in partnership with Relay faculty, administration, and staff, as well as leaders from students’ placement PK–12 schools and organizations; and works with students to support their development in the classroom.

 

The provost of teacher preparation is responsible for providing visionary leadership for teaching and learning programs and is responsible for program evaluation and general academic policy development and implementation.

Vice Provost, Teacher Preparation 

The vice provost of teacher preparation is responsible for implementing the institution’s strategic vision for teacher preparation. The vice provost of teacher preparation ensures the vitality and educational effectiveness of all present and future degree-granting and certification/licensure programs and curriculum, sets goals and objectives within the scope of teacher preparation aligned to Relay’s institutional strategic plan, and sets the vision for assessing and meeting the graduate and certification/licensure programmatic needs of Relay students. 

 

In addition to ensuring the success of academic programs, promoting exceptional teaching and learning at Relay, assessment of student learning and advancement of student success, academic personnel decisions, program and curriculum development, and the encouragement and improvement of all teacher preparation programs, the vice provost of teacher preparation provides strategic and operational leadership for all graduate and certification/licensure teacher preparation programs and faculty development. You can reach the Office of the Vice Provost of Teacher Preparation by emailing [email protected].  

 

Vice President, Academic Compliance

The vice president of academic compliance serves the institution by providing leadership, guidance, communication, and collaboration in the realms of accreditation, assessment, state authorization and regulation, federal requirement compliance, and educator preparation certification oversight. The vice president of academic compliance is responsible for setting the strategic direction for and leading the institution’s academic compliance functions. The Academic Compliance team focuses on achieving and maintaining the institution’s higher education authorizations, educator preparation program provider approvals, certification/licensure compliance, institutional and programmatic accreditation, and quality assurance through assessment. The vice president of academic compliance and the Academic Compliance team members collaborate with all teams to ensure clear articulation of the ways the faculty members, staff, and leadership embody and achieve the institution’s values, vision, mission, and strategic objectives.

 

Vice President, Data and Research

The vice president of data and research provides insights into Relay’s impact on teacher and school leader preparation and facilitates a culture of continuous improvement to ensure that Relay provides high-quality preparation to teachers and school leaders. Through purposeful organization, robust analysis, and clear communication of data, the vice provost of data and research at Relay supports our institutional commitment to continuous improvement of our programs. This is accomplished by collecting critical data from students, faculty, staff, school leaders, alumni, and partners while also advancing research on teacher preparation through collaborative partnerships with research experts.  

 

Vice President, Student Affairs and Student Services

The vice president of student affairs and student services leads the Student Affairs and Student Services team. The vice president collaborates with faculty, staff, and students to create an environment that is safe, inclusive, and responsive to students’ needs with the goal of providing a meaningful experience for all Relay students and alumni. Specifically, the vice president oversees a variety of services, programs, and activities created to support and encourage the sociocultural, intellectual, and personal development of Relay’s students and alumni. You can reach the Student Affairs and Student Services team by emailing [email protected].