Meet the SPARK Campaign Co-chairs

The SPARK Campaign is fueled by people—the Park faculty and staff who bring the vision guiding SPARK to life each day, the hundreds of Park community members who have already made a gift to the campaign to support this work, and the campaign volunteers who guide our engagement strategy and inspire generosity. At the helm of our volunteer network are our campaign co-chairs.

JAMIE AND ASHLEY HARMON Jamie and Ashley are parents to Hazel ’26 and Hugh ’28. With respective professional backgrounds rooted in math and the arts, Jamie and Ashley were first drawn to SPARK by the plans for a new Lower Division STEAM Corridor and later inspired to engage as volunteers. They bring many years of successful volunteer fundraising experience to the leadership of the campaign.

HAROLD AND LESLEY MILLER Harold and Lesley are parents to Laila ’26. They bring decades of experience in teaching, educational policy, and school administration to their leadership of The SPARK Campaign. Lesley is a member of Park’s Board of Trustees.

“As Park approaches the impactful work of this capital campaign, we do so at a time when the School has an unparalleled commitment to inclusivity. We are excited about how this campaign structure will provide more equitable access to our school leadership, and for the many ways in which the campaign initiatives will foster a deeper sense of belonging and optimal academic excellence for ALL of our children!”

PETE AND JULIA LLOYD JOHANNSEN ’93 Pete and Julia are parents to Oscar ’24, Marshall ’27, and Linda Rose ’29. A proud member of Park’s Class of 1993, Julia is a member of Park’s Board of Trustees and founder of The Impact Collective, which she launched in 2020 to address the racial wealth gap. Pete is a photographer and long-tenured teacher.

“SPARK is not just about funding; it’s about creating a community where all community members know they belong. The success of this campaign will be measured not only by the dollars raised, but also by how each of us feels as we work together to reach the goal, and how much a part of the effort we feel at the finish line.”

INCLUSIVITY PROMISE: SPARK will be co-chaired by a group of racially and socioeconomically diverse Park leaders. SUSANNA WHITAKER WATERS ’99 Susanna is a highly engaged Park alumna and established independent school leader. She is the Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs at Brooks School. Her current graduate work at Columbia University Teachers College focuses on reimagining educational spaces in support of student learning —exactly what The SPARK Campaign aspires to achieve!

“Park prepared me for, and very literally introduced me to, the broader world. The community helped me to forge relationships that still enrich my life today. As an alumna, I feel strongly about giving back to the school that gave so much to me, in hopes of ensuring the same for students of today and tomorrow. SPARK will help the school to realize its goals of equitably supporting diverse learners and building state of the art facilities to support its mission. Please join me in giving!”