Board of Trustees
Preserving and strengthening the TJ tradition for the next generation of exceptional students lies at the heart of our work as trustees.
Message from the President
It is a true privilege to serve as President of the Board of Trustees of Thomas Jefferson School. Since my graduation in 1983, TJ has long held a meaningful place in my life. During my years here, where I had the honor of serving as President of the Student Council, I experienced firsthand the kind of education and community that make this School so special. At a time in life when we were still finding our way, and my classmates and I were still learning who we were and who we hoped to become, TJ was there for us, and for so many others. It challenged us, supported us, and quietly shaped us in ways that endure long after we leave campus. That experience is not unique to my class. It is part of a tradition that has defined TJ for generations: a place where young people are truly known, where they are expected to grow, and where they are given the tools and the confidence to do so. Independent schools today face a complex and changing landscape: economic pressures, cultural shifts, and an evolving educational environment. We do not turn away from these realities. Instead, we meet them with confidence in the enduring strength of this institution: in its people, its values, and its culture of excellence. TJ has navigated change before, and it will do so again, with clarity of purpose and a steady commitment to becoming even better. Those challenges are real.The future of TJ depends on all of us. The engagement and generosity of our alumni, families, and friends make a lasting difference in the life of the School. Our support sustains the experience that defines TJ and ensures that future students will have the same opportunity to grow with confidence, to be challenged with purpose, and to discover their own path. TJ gave me more than an education; it gave me direction, confidence, and a set of values that have stayed with me throughout my life, as it has for so many who have walked through the doors of the Main Building. It is an honor to give back in this role and to help guide the School forward, so that it may continue to be, for generations to come, the place that was there for us when we needed it most. |  Thomas J. Ellis ’83President, Board of Trustees Thomas Jefferson School School Leadership We are fortunate to have strong leadership in our Head of School, Jane Roth, herself an alumna and a long-serving member of the TJ community as both faculty member and administrator. The Board works in close and active partnership with Jane, and we deeply value her vision, her dedication, and her unwavering commitment to the School’s mission. Together, we are focused on ensuring that TJ remains true to its founding principles while thoughtfully embracing the opportunities and challenges of the future. |
Board of Trustees
Thomas Jefferson School is governed by a Board of Trustees whose members bring experience from education, science, law, technology, business, the arts, and public service.
Many first came to TJ as students or parents. Together, they bring both a deep connection to the School and perspectives shaped by lives and careers well beyond campus.
After TJ, Henry attended Harvard University, earning a degree in anthropology, followed by a fellowship at the American University in Cairo. His career later took him from global sourcing at Target to Apple, where he works in London as an Inclusion & Diversity Community Advisor. |
Christine is Chief Legal Officer at Beam Therapeutics and has more than two decades of leadership experience in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. She earned a BS in chemistry from Yale, a PhD in organic chemistry from MIT, and a JD from Columbia Law School. |
Amanda is Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and a specialist in hematology and oncology. A Yale and Washington University graduate, she has held leadership roles in patient safety and clinical research. Her sons graduated from TJ in 2023 and 2025. |
Tom is a trial lawyer with Nolan Law Group in Chicago and has more than 15 years of experience serving on independent school boards. His earlier board leadership included ten years as Chair of the Roycemore School Board of Trustees, where he helped guide a campus relocation, leadership searches, and strategic planning. |
Zack has worked in economic development at the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, focusing on business attraction, retention, and expansion projects for both the City and County of St. Louis. He has bachelor's degrees in Economics, Political Science, and International Studies from the University of Missouri and an MBA from Saint Louis University. Outside of work, he serves on the boards of Peter & Paul Community Services and the St. Louis Curling Club. Though not a TJ graduate, he is a lifelong supporter of the St. Louis community and helps promote TJ as an asset to the region. |
At TJ, David co-founded the all-school play and ran an unreliable dial-up ISP from the second floor of Main Building. He went on to study computer science and engineering at Swarthmore College and is now a Senior Staff Software Engineer working on Google Search. |
Chino came to TJ as an eighth-grade five-day boarder and founded the school newspaper, The Declaration. He later earned degrees from Bowdoin College and Boston University and built a career in treasury management and shared services with organizations including Deloitte, Reuters, Limited Brands, and Peabody Energy. |
Erich has spent two decades in project and program management, strategic analysis, and software development. After living and working around the world, he returned to St. Louis and has since pursued several entrepreneurial ventures. In 2020, he was named one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. |
Edward studied mathematics and economics at Stanford before building a career as a designer, developer, and entrepreneur. He co-founded Inedible Software, whose apps reached more than 13 million downloads, and later helped launch a venture-backed location-sharing company. In recent years, he has devoted himself to a career in art. |
Greg studied media studies at Pomona College and has worked in the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. As a video editor, videographer, and motion graphics artist at AV Squad, he designs and animates work for film and television marketing campaigns. |
Lucinda has worked in public relations, public affairs, marketing, development, and nonprofit board leadership. Her son graduated from TJ in 2022 and attends the University of Pennsylvania. She chairs the Board’s Advancement Committee. |
Laurie is Professor and Chair of Biology at Saint Louis University. Her work spans virology, immunobiology, academic governance, and faculty development, following postdoctoral research at Washington University School of Medicine. Her son graduated from TJ in 2017. |
Art was a member of TJ’s first seventh-grade class. After graduating in 1987, he studied psychology at the University of Chicago and worked in biomedical research at its Pritzker School of Medicine. His career later included the golf industry, and since 2005 he has worked in real estate in the St. Louis area. |
Irv has more than 40 years of experience in international trade and public policy and served as Chairman of the United States International Trade Commission. He studied history at Brown University, international relations at Johns Hopkins SAIS, and law at George Washington University. |
