Swati has been closely associated with The Washington Market School since 2017 as the proud parent of two WMS alumni. Over the years, Swati has observed firsthand the wide range of programs that WMS uses to provide world-leading education to children in their formative years, and to bring together the wider community of pioneering educators and parents. She feels fortunate that WMS has shaped her children’s early education. Swati joined the Board of Trustees in 2020.

Swati grew up in India, where she received her Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Institute of Management Technology. She has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry with leadership roles in Enterprise Risk Management, including interactions with Risk Committees of Boards at some of the world’s largest financial institutions. Her most recent role was the Head of Enterprise Risk Framework at BNY Mellon. Previously, Swati was Global Enterprise Risk Leader at GE Capital after prior Risk Management roles spanning customer underwriting and portfolio management. Also, as part of GE's Corporate Leadership Program, she worked in 20+ countries across various GE businesses and is a recipient of the Chairman’s Leadership Award at GE.

Since the early 2000s, John has been an active member of The Washington Market School community. John is the father of three WMS alumni, and was a member of the school’s Capital Campaign for the Duane Street site expansion. John’s admiration for the school’s mission and its unique contributions to the Tribeca community led him to join the Board of Trustees in 2011.

Born and raised in Manhattan’s East Village, John is the product of NYC public schools, including Stuyvesant High School. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Williams College and Law degree from Harvard Law School. John’s professional experience includes Corporate and Securities Law at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, International Securities and M&A at Goldman Sachs, and Associate Counsel for Equities and Prime Brokerage at Jane Street - Counsel. John opened his private practice firm, Berton Law, in 2011, where he focuses on startups, small companies, and individual entrepreneurs.

In addition to serving on the WMS Board of Trustees, John also serves as Trustee & treasurer for two international human rights advocacy groups: the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, and Justice Trust, which focuses on rights abuses in Myanmar.

Melissa is the mother of three WMS alumni. Her appreciation for the wonderful WMS community for families with young children led her to joining the Board of Trustees in 2022.

Melissa has a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and Law degree from Stanford Law School. She moved to New York City after law school to serve as a Judicial Clerk and subsequently practiced law in Manhattan for twelve years. Melissa then changed course and took a job in development at Columbia Journalism School. In the summer of 2022, she left Columbia and published her debut novel for middle grade readers (8-12 year olds). She is now writing full time.

Oz joined The Washington Market School’s Board of Trustees in 1993 and has served as Board Chair for over 20 years. As the father of two WMS alumni, Oz and his wife were drawn to the warm and supportive culture that the school provided to the community at large. They realized the school’s gifts included an enormous amount of help with parenting and insights into child development. Serving on the Board for the last 30 years has been one of the more rewarding experiences of his life.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Westport, Connecticut, Oz returned to New York City for law school. He has practiced law for nearly 50 years in various capacities. After earning his Law degree at Fordham University School of Law in 1973, he began his career at the Legal Aid Society of New York Civil Division. Upon moving to Soho in 1975, Oz opened his own storefront law office in a neighborhood that was facing radical change. He started out representing tenants, largely in the arts community, who had migrated to live and work in Soho. He was then, and remains today, an advocate for the protection of tenants’ rights. Over the years, Oz has specialized in representation in all areas of real estate, both residential and commercial, in the greater New York area.

Lisa Hofer joined The Washington Market School Board of Trustees in 2015 and is the proud mother of two WMS graduates.

Lisa is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and Northwestern University. She spent her professional career working in television, mainly at the BBC raising co-production financing for fiction and non-fiction programming - bringing the best of the BBC's dramas, comedies, documentaries and children's programming to the US market. Today, Lisa focuses on non-profit governance and fundraising for a variety of organizations in children's heath and arts education. She has chaired the Head of School Compensation Committee and the Head of School Search Committee; and serves on the Finance Committee.

John cares deeply about The Washington Market School and the neighborhood; he has lived here in Tribeca his whole life, and is a WMS alumnus and parent. His deep appreciation for the school’s longevity and meaningful contribution to the neighborhood and its children led him to join The WMS Board of Trustees in 2016.

John is an immigration attorney and works with children and families in removal proceedings. He helps his clients avoid deportation and qualify for temporary and permanent legal status in the United States. John has a Bachelor’s Degree from Grinnell College and Law degree from CUNY School of Law. He also completed language studies in Guatemala.

Sheila is the retired Founding Director of Beginnings Nursery School (founded in 1983), a Reggio inspired preschool in the Gramercy Park area of New York City. Since her retirement in 2011, Sheila has returned to her interest in art and photography and now works as a mixed-media collage artist. In the last three years she has been teaching private mixed-media classes in person and on Zoom. Sheila is a member of the New York Artist’s Circle and the Hudson Valley Artists Group.