Meet Our Team

Mary Carrasco
Director of Institutional Advancement
Phone: 202-537-8126
E-mail: carrascom@sidwell.edu

Mary K. Carrasco joined Sidwell Friends as Director of Institutional Advancement in June 2012. Mary has broad experience in the world of advancement and is widely recognized in the field as a leader in independent school development programs. Before coming to Sidwell, she served for five years as the Assistant Head of School for External Affairs and Chief Development Officer at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania. She had previously served as the school’s Director of Capital Programs for eight years. Mary has also worked in advancement at Georgetown University, Aiglon College: The British International School of Switzerland, the Community Foundation of Greater Washington, Maret School, and the Virginia Tech Alumni Association. She holds a degree in communications from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.

Sandra Ayala
Office Manager
Phone: 202-537-8119
E-mail: ayalas@sidwell.edu

Before coming to Sidwell Friends, Sandra worked for five years at a nonprofit organization that assisted those in the Washington, D.C., area with a number of social services. An Arlington, Virginia, native, Sandra is passionate about helping others in need. She is currently enrolled at the University of Maryland University College, where she is studying business administration.

Andrea Briones
Stewardship Coordinator
Phone: 202-537-8126
E-mail: brionesm@sidwell.edu

Andrea joined the Institutional Advancement Office as Office Manager and Advancement Services Coordinator in August 2012 and was promoted to Stewardship Coordinator in January 2013. While attending the Catholic University of America, she interned for the Advancement Office of the Pontifical North American College (PNAC). After earning her bachelor’s degree in politics, Andrea joined PNAC full time as the Executive Assistant, a position she held for three years.

Darya Bullock
Data Coordinator
Phone: 202-537-8128
E-mail: bullockd@sidwell.edu

Darya joined Sidwell Friends School in March 2013 as the Data Coordinator. She is a native of Washington, D.C. Prior to her arrival at SFS, she interned for the General Services Administration (GSA), an independent agency of the United States government. In May 2012, Darya graduated from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, with a BS in criminal justice.

Sharon W. Gibson
Director of Parent Annual Giving
Phone: 202-537-8147
E-mail: gibsons@sidwell.edu

Sharon returned to Sidwell Friends in June 2011. Previously at the school from September 2006 to September 2007, Sharon was the Associate Director of Strategic Giving and worked to complete the school’s Call Us Friends campaign. After the campaign ended, Sharon became a Major Gifts Officer at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. In addition, Sharon brings her experience working in the Annual Funds for Harvard Law School and Georgetown Law School, as well as in foundation and government giving for The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sharon got her start in fundraising as a volunteer Senior Class Gift Agent at Harvard College, where she received her AB with honors in philosophy. She also holds an MA from the Bard Graduate School in the studies of the decorative arts, design, and culture. Sharon is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and currently resides in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and two children.

Jessie Jacobson
Director of Special Events
Phone: 202-537-8442
E-mail: jacobsonj@sidwell.edu

Jessie joined Sidwell Friends School in September 2011 as Assistant Director of Special Events and was promoted to her current position in September 2012. Prior to her arrival at SFS, she served as the Program Coordinator at Starlight Children’s Foundation in Los Angeles, where she coordinated events for seriously ill children and their families and also managed the volunteer program. Jessie graduated cum laude from American University with a bachelor’s degree in public communication and a minor in art history. In 2012, she earned her certification in event management from George Washington University.

Martha M. Membrino
Director of Publications, Editor of the Alumni Magazine
Phone: 202-537-8444
E-mail: membrinom@sidwell.edu

Martha Manning Membrino joined the Office of Institutional Advancement on July 1, 2008. Prior to her arrival, she served on the staff of National Cathedral School for five years, most recently as director of communications, newspaper advisor, and senior projects coordinator. She has lived in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Joe, since 1981, and has held positions as communications director at the National Peace Academy Campaign, deputy director of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and executive director of the Woman’s National Democratic Club. During her time at home with her two children, Anna ’07 and Michael ’09, she worked as a freelance publications manager, writer, and editor. Martha has completed programs in nonprofit management and publications management at New York University and George Washington University, respectively, and earned her BS and MA from Ohio University in speech and language pathology. She worked for nine years as a clinical supervisor and university instructor at Dartmouth, University of Maine, and California State University/East Bay.

Lauren Pauer
Assistant Director of Publications
Phone: 202-537-8137
E-mail: pauerl@sidwell.edu

Lauren joined Sidwell Friends School in May 2010 as the Assistant Director of Publications. In 2011 she was also named the Assistant Editor of the Alumni Magazine. Prior to her arrival at SFS, she worked for three years as the Communications and Media Relations Coordinator at the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, a national nonprofit organization and professional association. She graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University with degrees in journalism and political science and has written for several newspapers and university alumni magazines.

Caitlin Phillips
Prospect Information Coordinator
Phone: 202-537-8439
E-mail: phillipsc@sidwell.edu

Caitlin joined the Institutional Advancement Office in January 2013 as the Prospect Information Coordinator. A Virginian for most of her life, Caitlin graduated cum laude from the College of William and Mary with a BA in American Studies in 2009. Following this, she spent time working as a paralegal in Richmond before deciding to pursue a master’s degree in gender studies at the University College of London, which she completed in November 2012.

Melissa Prather
Director of Development
Phone: 202-537-8126
E-mail: pratherm@sidwell.edu

Melissa joined the Institutional Advancement Office at Sidwell Friends School in April 2013 as Director of Development. Melissa started her development career in 1998 at The Holton-Arms School, where she served for three and a half years as the Director of Annual Giving and then the Interim Campaign Director. Melissa went on to serve as Director of Development for BlackRock Center for the Arts, The Ivymount School, and Christ Episcopal School. In January 2009, Melissa returned to Holton-Arms to serve as the Director of Leadership Giving. She holds a degree in sociology and African-American studies from the University of Maryland.

Nora Saunders
Alumni Relations Coordinator
Phone: 202-537-8441
E-mail: saundersn@sidwell.edu

Nora joined the Institutional Advancement Office in October 2012 as the Alumni Relations Coordinator. Prior to Sidwell Friends, she worked at the Corporate Executive Board doing best practice research for HR functions at large corporations. Nora attended Davidson College, where she graduated with a BS in psychology and a concentration in mathematics. Following Davidson, she completed a one-year master's of management studies program at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.

Chris Schwing
Director of Advancement Services
Phone: 202-537-8127
E-mail: schwingc@sidwell.edu

Chris joined the Institutional Advancement Office in April 2013 as the Director of Advancement Services. Prior to her arrival, she spent seven years as Director of Development Services at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana. She has had a varied career in data management, information services, and advancement, having previously worked for the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida; Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California; and Belterra Casino, Resort, and Spa in Florence, Indiana.

Elizabeth Souder
Director of Alumni Annual Giving
Phone: 202-537-8443
E-mail: soudere@sidwell.edu

Elizabeth joined the Institutional Advancement Office at Sidwell Friends School in November 2010 as Assistant Director of the Annual Funds. She was promoted to her current position in September 2012. Prior to coming to Sidwell, she worked in development for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Elizabeth grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her BA in communications with a minor in art history.

Maria Taylor
Director of Alumni Relations
Phone: 202-537-8129
E-mail: taylorma@sidwell.edu

Maria has nearly 20 years of experience working in independent schools. Before joining the staff of Sidwell Friends School in August 2006, Maria was the Director of Alumni Relations at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. She also worked in admissions in New England boarding schools for nine years, including at her alma mater, Lawrence Academy, where she serves on their Board of Visitors. In addition to admissions, she also taught ESL and directed the Lawrence Academy International Summer School. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Saint Michael’s College.

Jancy Shetterly Tonken
Senior Data Coordinator
Phone: 202-537-8132
E-mail: tonkenj@sidwell.edu

A longtime member of our community, Jancy Shetterly Tonken is a former Sidwell Friends parent and the wife of veteran English teacher Neal Tonken. Her son, J.D., graduated from Sidwell in 1996; two days later, Jancy and Neal were married. She is a graduate of St. Mary's College of Maryland, where she earned her BA in art education. After teaching art in Montgomery County Public Schools, Jancy worked for several years in the corporate world before coming to Sidwell in 1993. She enjoys playing the piano, hiking in the woods with her yellow lab, Chance, and sailing with her husband.