The Shady Side Academy Board of Visitors (BOV) was founded in 2001 with a desire to revitalize and strengthen the Academy's bond with alumni across the globe. The BOV exists to serve as ambassadors for SSA, to communicate and promote the school's mission, and to offer expertise to the president, Board of Trustees and administration on important topics. Comprised entirely of alumni who are leaders in various fields, members are strongly committed to maintaining and enhancing the values and resources that make the Academy a center for academic excellence.

BOV co-chairs Linda LaMagna '83 and Tom Worrall '87 planned a robust agenda and led the annual spring meeting on April 27, 2018, on the Senior School campus. The morning session involved updates from school administrators on enrollment, finance and student culture, and a visit to Senior School assembly, where BOV members Bart Griffith '93, Kerry Hannon '78, Remington Jackson '08 and Andy Mathieson '74 participated in a Q&A panel on stage, sharing their career advice and SSA memories with students. After lunch with students and faculty, the BOV joined the Board of Trustees (BOT) for a sneak peek tour of the new McIlroy Center for Science and Innovation. The joint BOV/BOT afternoon session included a student Q&A panel, initial discussion of a future master plan for athletics, and an update and discussion on the presidential search process. After a long day of meetings, all in attendance were invited to Eastover to join President Tom Cangiano for a reception to celebrate a successful day.

BOV members present included: Linda LaMagna '83 (co-chair) and Tom Worrall '87 (co-chair), Fred Parkin '59, Bill Wallace '66, Andy Mathieson '74, Doug Mancosh '76, Kerry Hannon '78, Catherine Vodrey '81, Alex Howson '82, Margaret Hazlett '84, Dan Haas '84, Michele Lieber '86 (by phone), Ryan Ruskin '86, Bart Griffith '93, Abhishek Mehta '01 and Remington Jackson '08.

In conjunction with the Board of Visitors meeting, the SSA Spring Downtown Luncheon was held on April 26, 2018, at The Duquesne Club. The Alumni Association was delighted to welcome BOV member Kerry Hannon '78 as this season's featured speaker. Kerry is a best-selling author and nationally recognized expert and strategist on career transitions, personal finance and retirement. She has authored 12 books and is a columnist for The New York Times. In a format new to the downtown lunch series, Kerry sat down with her brother, then SSA board chair Mike Hannon '74, for a conversation about finding passion in careers.

Watch a video of Kerry and Mike's chat on YouTube.

View downtown lunch photos: