Admission Ambassadors

We know that finding the right school for your children can be a challenge, and we want to make the process a little easier for you. That's why our admission ambassadors are here to help.

Admission ambassadors are volunteers from our community who are happy to connect with you to share their Rowland Hall experiences. These ambassadors aren't admission representatives, employees, or salespeople; they're real members of our community who want to answer your questions to help you decide if Rowland Hall would be a good fit for your child(ren). Conversations with admission ambassadors are private, personal, and do not affect admission results.

We invite you to read a bit about our ambassadors, find someone you connect with, reach out to them, and start making meaningful relationships within the Rowland Hall community.

Our Ambassadors

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Melanie Bates

City of Residence: Salt Lake City

Students: Kaitlyn (class of 2022), Lauren (class of 2024), and Lila (grade 11)

Students’ Interests: AP classes, basketball, dance, soccer, Student Council, theatre, volleyball

Prior School: Monte Cassino

Biography: We moved to Salt Lake City in 2014 from Tulsa, Oklahoma. We have three girls, and this is their 11th year attending Rowland Hall. Currently, we have two graduates and a 11th grader. All three girls play a variety of sports, as well as participate in several academic groups.

What We Love About Rowland Hall: We love the incredible sense of community that Rowland Hall provides. There are lots of opportunities for parents and students to get involved. The teachers and faculty are amazing—they truly have taken the time to get to know each of our girls and have made learning fun and interactive. We also love the way Rowland Hall fosters an environment that is supportive of all kids.

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Erin Bean

City of Residence: Salt Lake City

Students: Marin (grade 10), Tom (grade 7), and Rose (grade 4)

Students’ Interests: Art, music, soccer, theatre

Biography: My husband and I have three kids at Rowland Hall. Our oldest joined the Beginning School in 2012; at the time, she was our only child. We didn't expect to stay beyond 4PreK, but here we are, 12 years and two younger siblings later, with no plans to leave!

What I Love About Rowland Hall: I love knowing that my kids aren’t just being drilled with facts they’ll forget in a few years. They're learning how to think about problems, how to push through tricky concepts, and about how disparate concepts—like math and social studies, or poetry and physical science—are actually interrelated.

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Gina Miller

City of Residence: Salt Lake City

Students: Reece (class of 2023) and Kiri (grade 12)

Students’ Interests: Anime Club, art, creative writing, SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance), theatre

Biography: My family has been at Rowland Hall for 17 years! My oldest child, Reece, started in 2PreK and graduated in 2023. My youngest child, Kiri, started in 3PreK and is now in 12th grade.

What I Love About Rowland Hall: I love many things about Rowland Hall—the teachers, the community, the inclusive environment of the school. I love that Rowland Hall offers a well-rounded academic program focused on the whole child. I love hearing about all of the discussions held in class and seeing my children grow as critical thinkers. I’m so glad that they are getting a level of education that I didn’t get growing up.

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Jenna and Steve Pagoaga

City of Residence: Millcreek

Students: Ollie (grade 4), William (grade 8)

Students' Interests: Dungeons & Dragons Club, world studies/history, improv/comedy, athletics (basketball/baseball)

Biography: Our family of four is all Utah-born and -raised, and we reside in East Millcreek. We have two children, and both are currently at Rowland Hall. William started in 4PreK and is currently in eighth grade, while Oliver started in 2PreK and is currently in fourth grade. Jenna is an alum of Rowland Hall (a proud Lifer who attended from 4PreK through 12th grade) and a member of the McCarthey Campus Home & School Association.

What We Love About Rowland Hall: We love Rowland Hall for its close-knit and very diverse community that provides an incredible environment for our children and family to learn and grow. The faculty and staff of Rowland Hall are second to none. We are pleased every day to see how excited our children are to go to school, see their friends, and learn new things.

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Manisha Shah

City of Residence: Park City

Students: Aiden (class of 2025) and Zach (grade 6)

Students’ Interests: Chess Club, debate, soccer, STEM, Tech Club, Ultimate Frisbee

Biography: My husband and I moved to Park City from South Florida in 2003. We were looking for a change in our lifestyle and decided to move out West. We enjoy outdoor adventures, traveling, and family time playing games. Our eldest was at Rowland Hall from kindergarten to twelfth grade, and it was an obvious choice for us to send our youngest here when he was ready for kindergarten.

What We Love About Rowland Hall: We have loved the experience with teachers our children have had. The relationships they have had with them and the support received have been the key to their love of learning in and outside of the classroom.

Contact Manisha

A mother and her three daughters smile together outdoors in a fall landscape.

Jeanna Tachiki Ryan

City of Residence: Salt Lake City

Students: Sabrina (grade 7), Elliana (grade 4), and Stevie (grade 1)

Students’ Interests: Chamber, debate, volleyball, basketball, Asian Affinity group, Banana Splits, Maker Night, Irish dance, ukulele, gymnastics

Biography: I have three daughters at Rowland Hall. Our oldest began 4PreK in 2017, our middle child began 4PreK in 2019, and our youngest began 3PreK in 2021. Currently, our oldest is in the Middle School, and our other two children are in the Lower School.

What I Love About Rowland Hall: We are incredibly grateful for Rowland Hall and our school community. I love that although my three daughters are very different, they all enjoy attending Rowland Hall because they feel like they belong and matter. Rowland Hall creates an environment that not only nurtures their individuality but also helps them thrive. As an alum, I sincerely appreciate how well Rowland Hall prepared me—not just for college but for cultivating a lifelong love of learning, building meaningful relationships, and developing the resilience to adapt to challenges.

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Smiling family of four posing on a stone path with lush greenery and a rustic wall behind them.

Alexis Swaringer

City of Residence: Park City

Students: Mason (grade 4) and Connor (grade 3)

Students’ Interests: Soccer and football

Biography: We moved to Park City in 2015 from Grapevine, Texas. We have two boys, Mason and Connor, and this is our fifth year at Rowland Hall. 

What I Love About Rowland Hall: There are many reasons why we love Rowland Hall: education, teacher/staff support, inclusive environment, parent community, and parent involvement. Our boys are excited to go to school every day and come home talking about the learning/discussion topics throughout the day. As a parent, I feel Rowland Hall has many opportunities to get involved depending on commitment level. The last two years I have been lucky enough to serve on the Home & School Association board and have witnessed the positive atmosphere on campus.

Contact Alexis 

Smiling family of three posing in a sunlit field with autumn foliage.

Kate Sandfoss

City of Residence: Salt Lake City

Student: Weston (grade 1)

Student’s Interests: Art, basketball, skiing, riding his bike, reading, and dance parties

Biography: We are a family of three who found our home in Salt Lake City in 2019, after moving from Kentucky. Weston started at Rowland Hall in the 3PreK program, a special moment for me as I'm a Lifer (K–12). I enjoy being an active volunteer at Rowland Hall and have served as a room representative, event volunteer, and on the Rowland Hall Alumni Board. When not busy with work and school, we love skiing, paddleboarding, family movie nights, and cheering on Michigan football.

What I Love About Rowland Hall: I am incredibly impressed with the way Rowland Hall has nurtured our son's love of learning. He comes home excited to share “games” that have taught him math, reading, and writing skills. But it’s not just academics. The school’s emphasis on social-emotional intelligence has helped him develop self-awareness, empathy, kindness, and strong friendships. We’re grateful for the supportive environment that's allowing him to thrive.

Contact Kate 

Five people stand barefoot on a beach at sunset, posing closely together with soft pink and purple sky in the background.

Zachary Smith

City of Residence: Salt Lake City

Students: Zander (class of 2019), Ozzie (class of 2022), and Zakrie (class of 2024)

Students’ Interests: Soccer, basketball, music, social justice, creative writing, entrepreneurship, and community service

Biography: My wife Janelle and I have been part of the Rowland Hall community since 2006. All three of our children are proud Lifers, having started in Beginning School and graduated from Rowland Hall. After graduation, they attended the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!), Loyola University Chicago, and Occidental College in Los Angeles. I’ve had the honor of serving on the Board of Trustees and am a strong supporter of Rowland Hall’s vision to develop people the world needs. My career has been in banking and investment management for over 25 years, with a focus on economic inclusion and community impact.

What I Love About Rowland Hall: I deeply value Rowland Hall’s commitment to academic excellence, inclusion, and character development. Our children each found their own path here, supported by exceptional teachers and a strong community that encourages individuality and purpose. Rowland Hall doesn’t just prepare students for college—it prepares them for a lifetime of thoughtful leadership and engagement.

Contact Zachary

You Belong at Rowland Hall