Leading the Way
Welcome to the Board!
SYA is pleased to announce the addition of two trustees to its governing body: Dennis Manning IT’12P and Ted Ramsey ES’81, pictured from left to right. Each brings a passion for and a high level of commitment to the SYA mission.
Dennis manning it'12p
Dennis spent 22 years as the head of member school Norfolk Academy (Virginia) before retiring in 2023. He studied at Wake Forest University for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. Besides bringing critical independent school experience to the board, Dennis also brings the perspective of being a parent. His daughter Mary Heath is a member of the Class of SYA Italy 2012.
When asked why he is passionate about study abroad, he said, “At this point in human history (its current challenges too vast to enumerate), what greater gift could we bestow upon children than to help them feel like they are citizens of an international community? Helping children develop, advance and deepen their understanding and love of their fellow man or woman has never had more currency or urgency. Attempting to understand unfamiliar cultures, languages, religions and ethnicities might at first seem daunting, but seeing human diversity as an invitation to explore, to learn, to create relationships and advance understanding is a surer path to universal empathy and world peace.”
ted ramsey es'81
Ted attended SYA Spain as a junior from St. Stephen's Episcopal School (Texas). His undergraduate and graduate education took him to the University of Texas, University of Arizona and the University of Denver. Ted uses his legal, financial and interpersonal skills to enhance the value of his family’s businesses and led the family to embrace a multi-generational vision of family success; assets that he will bring to SYA as a board member.
When asked how living abroad changed or informed him, he said, “I have been fortunate to live abroad as a student at SYA Spain from 1980-1981 and as a student in Madrid from 1983-1984. I spent two years in Honduras as a Peace Corps Volunteer working in adult literacy from 1988-1990. All of these experiences impacted me profoundly. Having the opportunity to be immersed in foreign cultures prompted me to reflect on my own values and acculturation and engendered greater understanding and empathy for others. My early career as an immigration attorney and later as a fourth-grade teacher in a mostly Spanish-speaking classroom grew out of my experiences of living abroad and learning Spanish. I continue to volunteer for activities that serve the Spanish-speaking community.”