Leadership

We rely upon a strong tradition of leadership to ensure Oakland Catholic High School continually meets its mission of providing a Christ-centered, top tier education to the young women that attend the school. The focus of every leader at Oakland Catholic High School, from the President and Principal to the Board of Directors, is to continually enhance the opportunities provided so that every student can expand her knowledge, reach her potential and become an agent of change.

Background

Kelly is a proud product of Catholic education. She attended Cathedral School through 8th grade and graduated from Greensburg Central Catholic High School, both in the Diocese of Greensburg. Her Catholic education continued at Gannon University in Erie earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communications-English and Marketing and then received a Masters degree in Education from Seton Hill University in Greensburg. After a career in sales and marketing, she has dedicated the past 20 years to Catholic education serving in the Dioceses of Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and Richmond - as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

More About Kelly

Western PA has always been considered home but Kelly and her husband have also lived in Connecticut and Virginia. She's happy to be back in Pittsburgh with her son and daughter, as well as her and her husband's immediate and extended families. Kelly is a lifelong fan of the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. In addition to cheering on her favorite teams, she enjoys traveling, walking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Nikki Powell, Principal

Background

As Principal, Nikki mines her fifteen years of education experience daily. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, Nikki is a proud product of Catholic education having attended from elementary school through graduate school. Her time at Saint Mary's, an all-women's college, fueled her passion for all-girls education. At John Carroll University, she earned her Masters in Education and Education Specialist Degree. Nikki is also a Certified School Psychologist and holds her Administrative II Principal PK-12 certification.

Oakland Catholic Career

Nikki joined the Oakland Catholic community in 2016 as Assistant Principal. During her tenure, she spearheaded numerous initiatives to foster a supportive, productive environment for both students and teachers. Among them are the Fiat Mentoring program that pairs freshmen with senior mentors, Measure of Academic Performance (MAP) testing for 9th and 10th graders, and an increased focus on mental health and wellness.

Nikki was appointed Acting Principal in August 2021 and has been promoted to Principal by the Diocese of Pittsburgh in July 2022. Through her leadership, Nikki aims to enrich the strong, supportive, and collaborative culture among the faculty and staff, and to foster the growth of Oakland Catholic High School, its faith tradition and its lasting impression on the greater community.

More About Nikki

Board of Directors, 2023-24

Chair

Kelly McDonnell
Community Volunteer

Greater Pittsburgh Area

Vice Chair

Sabrina Saunders Mosby
President & Chief Executive Officer
Vibrant Pittsburgh

Secretary

John W. Lewis, Esq.
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Metz Lewis Law Firm

Treasurer

Thomas H. Ayoob, III, Esq.
Owner & Lawyer
Thomas H. Ayoob III & Associates, LLC

Board Members
Members of the Corporation

Board Members

Michael Anselmo
Executive Vice President of PNC Financial Services & Corporate Banking Market Leader of Western and Central Pennsylvania

Molly Cecere
Vice President of Enrollment Management and Corporate Partnerships, Carlow University

Tracey DeAngelo
Chief Marketing Officer, Post-Gazette & President, Post-Gazette Charities

William Garrison
Partner, Garrison Hughes Advertising

Kelly Lazzara
President, Oakland Catholic High School

Peter P. Leone, Jr.
Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual

Joe Massaro
Chief Strategy Officer, BEAM Collaborative

Kelley Cooper Miller, Esq.
Partner, Reed Smith LLC

Ayisha A. Morgan-Lee, Ed D
Founder, CEO and Artistic Director, Hill Dance Academy Theatre

Rhodora Freyvogel Noethling
Founder, Educational Coaching Center

Jennifer Pannill
Head of Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding, Covestro LLC

Nikki Powell
Principal, Oakland Catholic High School

Christina (Tina) Richard
Previous Co-Owner & Operations Manager, Bethel Park Rapid Wash L.P. and Energy Logistics Corporation, now part of a private equity group Mr. Magic

Robyn Shepherd
Head of Corporate Engagement, Bridgewater Associates

Concetta Silvaggio
Managing Partner at Willman & Silvaggio LLP