Meet Our New Board Members

The LFC Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome its newest members, Ross Allen, Quentin Calder, Victoria Ghanem, Jake Kahn and Pierre Lorieau, whose three-year terms will start on July 1, 2024. The Board is also pleased to announce that current Board member Brigitte Ozzello will be the new Chair of the Board. She will begin her two-year term on July 1, 2024. As Virginie Ott-Bono finishes her term as Chair and transitions to her one-year position as Past-chair, we thank her for her leadership and hard work over the last several years on behalf of the school.

Learn more about our new board members below. We also encourage you to read about the purpose of the Board of Trustees and keep up with the minutes of their meetings.

---

Ross Allen

Joined the LFC: 2021

Children at LFC: 2 (rising Kindergartener and 2nd grader)

Nationality: American

Occupation: Executive Vice President, ARCO/Murray

Past LFC Volunteerism: Facilities Committee, General Contractor for the LFC Préau

Interesting Fact: 

I grew up in a very small town in rural Indiana, far different from the city of Chicago. I’ll be the first to say, I was initially intimidated by the school. It was different from anything I’ve experienced. Over the past three years, I’ve come to love this difference. It’s been amazing for [my wife] Stephanie and I to see how much our girls have grown and how comfortable and happy they are at the Lycée.

Motivation for Joining the Board:

I wanted to be involved in the school in a way that utilized my background. I was fortunate to be able to do this by joining the Facilities Committee in 2023. It’s been a great experience for me as it’s helped me understand the inner workings of the school, as well as meet so many other members of the community. At the end of the day, I’m passionate about doing anything and everything to make the place my girls have (and will) call their second home.

Quentin Calder

Joined the LFC: 2016

Children at LFC: 2 (rising 7th graders)

Nationality: American

Occupation: Director of Reporting and Insights, United Healthcare

Past LFC Volunteerism: Soirée & Lycée French Market Co-chair, DEI and Marketing Committees

Interesting Fact: 

The first Soirée Ryan and I attended when my kids were in Petite (2016) has a special place in my heart, as it was where we met many of the people we are closest with today. We were at a transitional time in our lives where we were seeking new friendships with other parents and, while we didn't go into the night with those expectations, it happened, and I couldn't be more delighted.

Motivation for Joining the Board:

Witnessing the transformative power of the Lycée firsthand, its contribution to developing our children in ways that uniquely prepare them for an increasingly global society, I'm deeply committed to the power of educating students with an international lens. The academic excellence, coupled with a nurturing environment, has not only shaped our daughters' educational journey but has also, truly, enriched our entire family's experience.

Victoria Ghanem

Joined the LFC: 2016

Children at LFC: 3 (rising 2nd and 6th graders)

Nationality: Ukrainian-American

Occupational Background: Lawyer

Past LFC Volunteerism: Annual Campaign Co-chair, Development Committee

Interesting Fact: 

It was obvious to us very early on that the academically rigorous bilingual education and the unique community of the Lycée was the right fit for our family. I grew up in a bilingual household since I moved to the United States from Ukraine at the age of 10. My husband, Hakim, is Belgian-Moroccan and comes from a household where at least 4 languages were spoken at any time. 

Motivation for Joining the Board:

My husband and I chose the Lycée because we wanted our children to thrive in a multilingual and culturally diverse community that resonates deeply with our own backgrounds. This school has been instrumental in supporting our family’s mission, and I wanted to give back to a community that has enriched not only the lives of our children, but of our whole family. Through volunteering on the Annual Campaign and Development Committee, I have had the invaluable opportunity to connect with more members of our community. I’m honored to join the Board to further contribute my skills and experience, supporting the school’s mission and fostering its continued growth and success.

Jake Kahn

Joined the LFC: 2010

Children at LFC: 3 (rising 7th, 10th and 12th graders)

Nationality: American

Occupation: Partner, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP

Past LFC Volunteerism: Parent chaperone

Interesting Fact:

When our children were younger, I jumped at the chance to help as a parent chaperone on field trips and at swim classes. I don’t miss the bus rides, but I miss contributing to my kids’ experience and their classmates’ experience at the school. 

Motivation for Joining the Board:

I am interested in joining the Board to give back to a place that has been such a large part of our lives. As an attorney who represents individuals and businesses in litigation, I am trained to help my clients work through difficult problems. That includes developing strategies to achieve an overall goal and assessing the potential risks and benefits of each decision on the path toward that goal. I am hopeful that these same skills will be a resource to the Board and to the school community overall.

Pierre Lorieau

Joined the LFC: 2021

Children at LFC: 2 (rising Jr.-K and 5th grader)

Nationality: Canadian

Occupation: Chief Legal Officer & Head of Government Affairs and Communications, Lactalis USA.

Past LFC Volunteerism: Development Committee

Interesting Fact:

My paternal grandparents were French émigrés who came to Alberta (an English part of Canada) in 1920. I was raised in a French-speaking household before moving to NYC in 1990. My father, who was born in Canada, was a militant supporter of French language and culture. As a result, a strong identification with all things French was passed down to my siblings and me, and now to our children.

Motivation for Joining the Board:

Emilie and I are delighted to watch our children develop and thrive in LFC’s diverse and inclusive bilingual environment. I am happy to join the school’s Board of Trustees to help build an even better future for the school, its teachers and students, and the community it serves.