Getting to Know the Chairs

Getting to know. . . Megan Lum Mehalko ’83, Chair, Laurel School Board of Trustees, and Maia Hunt-Ledford Rucker ’97, President, Laurel School Alumnae Association, who started their three-year terms this summer and who were both members of the Green Team!

Megan (MM) entered Laurel in the Seventh Grade, completed her undergraduate degree at Bucknell University and earned her JD from Case Western Reserve University. She is the Co-Chair, Corporate and Securities Practice Group at Benesch, where she advises public companies on corporate governance issues and securities law issues and where she is the sole woman on the firm’s executive committee. Megan served a term on the Alumnae Board, including co-chairing Alumnae Weekend, before joining the Board of Trustees in 2018. There she served most recently as the Vice Chair.

Reflecting on the difference between her own Laurel days and those of her daughter, Kristen, Class of 2015, Megan says,

I think STEM was a much more significant component of Kristen’s Laurel education than mine. Plus, she had the Butler Campus and all of the amazing programming that it provides. That said, the Laurel traditions continue and we both cherish many of them together!

Megan Lum Mehalko ’83, Chair, Laurel Board of Trustees

Maia (MR) entered Laurel in the Ninth Grade, attended Ohio Northern University, graduated from Wilberforce University and received her master’s in speech language pathology from Cleveland State University. She is a speech-language pathologist for Arbor Rehabilitation and Healthcare Services. Maia was in the middle of her second consecutive term on the Alumnae Board, co-chairing Alumnae Weekend four times, when invited to serve as its next President. She also recently completed two years as the President of the Laurel School Parents Association.

The mother of two current Laurel students—Sidney ’22 and Sophie ’25— she can often be found cheering on her girls on the volleyball court. Maia notes,

While most Laurel traditions remain the same [from her own Laurel days], and the academic rigor continues to be topnotch, my girls have so many more opportunities than I did to reinforce their competency of a subject through experiential learning.

Maia Hunt-Ledford Rucker ’97, President, Laurel Alumnae Association

FAVORITE CLASS AT LAUREL AND WHY?

MM—I had many favorite classes and teachers. I loved French class with Madame André!

MR—I loved my Sculpture class. Creating art through clay was relaxing, fun, and a welcome break from my other academic demands.

MOST SURPRISING THING YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF/OR SKILL THAT YOU DEVELOPED AT LAUREL THAT YOU HAVE CARRIED WITH YOU EVER SINCE?

MM—Laurel encouraged us to aspire to great things and I learned that I was surprisingly ambitious. I developed a determination to achieve success in my future career.

MR—Prior to attending Laurel I was extremely shy. However, at Laurel I found my voice and I developed the confidence to assert myself, and to express my opinions with respect for others.

PROUDEST LAUREL MOMENT?

MM—Definitely the day my daughter graduated from Laurel. One of my favorite pictures is the two of us at her graduation showing off our Laurel rings.

MR—I have many proud Laurel moments! As a student, one of my proudest moments was singing a duet of “Silent Night” in German at the conclusion of the Winter Choral Concert with my classmate Mary Campbell Nir. However, as a Laurel mom, I am most proud when my babies are proud of themselves for mastering a difficult concept, taking a risk, or standing up for what they believe in.

WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT YOUR NEW LEADERSHIP ROLES?

MM—COVID has been an interesting time for private schools and schools generally. We have to be strategic in how we view and adapt the school experience post-pandemic. We’ve learned a lot about our resources, especially the Butler Campus, and it will be exciting to further develop the learning opportunities it provides.

MR—I am most excited about continuing to connect and engage alumnae with the school.

THINK BACK TO 1983 AND 1997—DID YOU ENVISION YOURSELVES AS EVER BEING INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY IN LEADERSHIP, AT LAUREL? WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU'D BE DOING IN 2021?

MM—I’m not sure I ever thought that I would be Chair of the Board of Trustees at Laurel or otherwise involved at Laurel, but I always knew I would be in leadership roles in my future. Laurel taught us to be leaders!

MR—I never thought that I would be involved in any capacity with the school as an alumna! My 18-year-old self was very unsure of how she would make her mark in this world and was unsure about the direction of her future beyond undergraduate studies. However, life has taught me the immense value of a Laurel education beyond the classroom. Laurel is truly for a lifetime!

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAUREL TO EXPLORE/FOCUS ON IN THE NEXT YEAR? OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS?

MM—I think the Butler Campus is a tremendous asset and hope we can continue to use it to make Laurel more unique. Enrollment will be a continued focus with the changing demographics in Northeast Ohio and the competition among the other private schools available to families.

MR—Growing the conversation around representation and equity.

WHEN YOU "GOT THE CALL" (TO SERVE AS CHAIR AND PRESIDENT RESPECTIVELY) WHY DID YOU SAY YES?

MM—I have a circle of high school friends from Laurel, and we stay in touch and get together as often as we can. Through them, I have always maintained my connection to Laurel. When my daughter went to Laurel—and truly had an amazing experience—I was impressed. I was proud to be asked to be a part of an institution that had such a positive impact on me (as a student, a friend and as a mother).

MR—I said yes because I am incredibly grateful for my Laurel experience and I want to model for my daughters the importance of service through action. Volunteerism is important to help strengthen the Laurel community.

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT MANY DON'T KNOW (AND YOU ARE WILLING TO SHARE!)

MM—I am an avid Cleveland sports fan, especially the Browns! Even my clients know not to bother me during a Browns game.

MR—I love a great adventure! Exploring a new country, white water rafting, zip lining, etc. I also love all things Marvel Entertainment!

ROLE MODELS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR GIRLS—WHO ARE/WERE YOUR ROLE MODELS?

MM—My mother was an important role model for me. As a successful working mother when I was in Middle and Upper School, she showed me how I could have a career and a family, too!

MR—My role model is my mother—in the face of extreme adversity she has always remained resilient and open to using her transferable skills to reinvent herself if necessary to persevere.

YOU BOTH HAVE VERY FULL WORK LIVES. "BALANCE" GETS A BAD RAP—SO WHAT DO YOU DO TO RECHARGE?

MM—I love to read. I spend time with family and friends. I take my dog, Cooper, for long walks.

MR—Between my daughters’ and my own demanding schedules, I am still trying to create space in my life to relax and to allow myself to recharge! My daughters are my constant motivation to forge full speed ahead. I’ll recharge in 2025 when my youngest daughter graduates!

DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL MOTTO/MANTRA? IF SO, WHAT IS IT?

MM—Carpe Diem. It has been my motto ever since learning it in Latin class at Laurel!

MR—In moments when I need a bit of extra fortitude I always reflect on/ remember two things: Am I as strong as my ancestors? Knowing all of the adversity that they had to overcome, I then remember that a setback is a setup for a comeback!

2021/2022 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Megan Lum Mehalko ’83; Chair, Board of Trustees Carey Jaros ’96; Vice Chair & Chair Elect Susan Shons Luria ’85; Secretary Bethany Bryant; Treasurer; Zara Azhar Kristine Bryan ’80 Gausia Chowdhury ’02 Alisa Taylor Cowen ’72 Anne Dalton ’63 Karen McCartan DeSantis ’79 Erica Markum Dennings ’81 Megan Embrescia ’95 Natalie Linsalata Greene ’06 April Hawkins '83 Elizabeth Horvitz Margaret Schumann Ippolito Kathleen Jeavons ’81 Michael Anne Johnson ’64 Jack Koch Anita Lee ’88 Lynne Megerian Chaundra King Monday ’95 Brian Robbins Brian Rubenstein Beth Sheeler Kim Simpson ’90 Laurence Talley Suzanne Schulze Taylor ’81

2021/2022 ALUMNAE BOARD MEMBERS

Maia Hunt-Ledford Rucker ’97, President Amanda Royan ’04, Vice President Sara Hollabaugh Serbanoiu ’13, Secretary; Janet Abbey ’83 Susan Opatrny Althans ’80 Rose Babington ’04 Jennifer Beeson Gregory ’88 Amber Davis Dumas ’02 Katie Gerber Doonan ’81 Shanika Ranasinghe Esparaz ’05 Rosemary Mudry ’02 Meredith Stewart Reimer ’95 Chelsea Robbins ’11 Nichelle Dickerson Shaw ’86 Neeti Sundaresh ’95 Amy Goodman Weller ’78 Signe Wrolstad-Forbes ’71 Keli Zehnder ’83