Board of Trustees

Advancement Chair

Elected to Board: 2019

Occupation: CEO & Co-founder XML Financial Group

School Affiliation: P'21, '24

Professional Background: Brett Bernstein is the CEO and Co-founder of XML Financial Group. He manages the operations of the firm, including the firm’s M&A strategy. Brett is an active financial advisor assisting clients with his holistic approach to goal-setting and problem-solving. Prior to co-founding XML, he was a Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, where he was designated Producing Sales Manager for a complex that managed over $5 billion in assets. XML has been a Focus Financial partner firm since 2016.

Brett is a serial entrepreneur actively investing in many start-up companies and has led his firm in acquiring three wealth management firms. This entrepreneurial spirit has led Brett to be active at the Bullis School as an Entrepreneur in Resident as well as volunteering at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business as an Advisor and Subject Matter Expert. Additionally, Brett volunteers his time to the Bullis School’s entrepreneurial program, sponsoring the Capstone Entrepreneurial Shark Tank competition.

Brett received a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. He continued his education at Georgetown University and Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership Program. He earned his CFP® certification in 2003.

Brett has served on various non-profit organization boards in numerous leadership positions. Over the past nine years has served as the Board Chair of So What Else, a local, grassroots charity helping at-risk youth with after-school and summer programs. In Brett’s free time, he enjoys spending time at Bethany Beach, Delaware, with his wife, two teenage daughters, and two dogs.

Buildings and Grounds Chair

Elected to Board: 2017

School Affiliation: P'22

Professional Background: Born and raised in Germany, Livia holds a German law degree from the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich. Prior to having a family, she worked in the cross-border leasing division of Siemens Financial Services in Munich and the Automotive Mergers and Acquisitions division of Citibank in London.

Livia has volunteered in schools ever since her son started at the Manor Montessori School where she helped with various school events. At Bullis, she has served as Parents Association (PA) Lower School coordinator, the PA vice president, the Bullis Gala database coordinator, the PA president, a member of the Head Search Committee, and co-chair of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee. She now serves on the Board as the Buildings & Grounds chair.

Elected to Board: 2022

Occupation: Chief, NIH Clinical Center's Department of Perioperative Medicine

School Affiliation: Class of 1977; P'25

Professional Background: Drew is chief of the NIH Clinical Center's Department of Perioperative Medicine. His current interests include developing pain therapies using gene therapy; targeting pain pathways with selective agonists, toxins, or fusion proteins; and improving the diagnosis of disease states using proteomic and genomic techniques.

He has written widely in books and medical journals on such topics as advances in cancer pain management, gene therapy for pain, and neurosurgical intervention approaches to pain relief. He is board certified in anesthesiology and fellowship-trained in pain management.

Drew is a member of the American Medical Association and is on the editorial advisory board of Open Pain Journal.

Ex Officio/Alumni Chair

Elected to Board: 2020

Occupation: Director of Business Services at the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Washington, DC Center

School Affiliation: Ex-officio, Class of 2014; Chair of Alumni Board

Professional Background: Paul is the Director of Business Services at the Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington, D.C. Under the banner of Texas A&M University, the Bush School’s new D.C. Center opened in the summer of 2020. In his current role, Paul oversees all aspects of the Bush School D.C.’s business operations, managing the Information Technology, Human Resources, Facilities, Operations and Administrative Service Departments, as well as the Business Office. A member of the Bush School D.C. Senior Leadership Team, Paul works with the executive leadership in both Washington, DC and College Station, Texas to craft the long-term strategic goals of the institution. Previously, Paul served as the Director of Governance, Facilities and Operations at the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security in Washington, D.C.

Paul currently serves on the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Alumni Board at the University of Maryland, College Park. He also serves on the Young Professionals Council of the First Tee of Greater Washington. Paul earned a B.A. in Government and Politics with a Minor and History from the University of Maryland, College Park. While at Maryland, Paul served on the University Senate’s Committee on Student Conduct. 

Elected to Board: 2019

Occupation: President and CEO/Founder, The Midtown Group—one of the best staffing firms in the nation.

School Affiliation: P'21, '23

Professional Background: Helen opened her company in 1989— just months after the start of her career in the staffing industry following her 1988 graduation from the University of Florida (UF). In 2008, she was accepted as a member of the prestigious Young Presidents’ Organization and served on the executive team as her chapter’s membership chair, making her the chapter’s first female chairperson. Helen was also chosen as a member of The Committee of 200 (C200), a membership organization of the world’s most successful women entrepreneurs and corporate innovators.

A dedicated member of the UF Foundation, Ms. Moreau is also a member of the State University System (SUS) Undergraduate Dean’s Council for the College of Journalism and Communications. In 2015, she was inducted into the Gator100, honoring the fastest-growing, Gator-owned or Gator-led businesses in the world.

Helen is a fierce champion for women around the world. In 2007 and 2008, she was awarded “Board Member of the Year” for her involvement with Rachael’s Women’s Center, helping local women in DC step up and out of homelessness. She was also a member of the Zonta Club, empowering women across the nation through service and advocacy. In addition, she serves as Vice Chair of the Studio Samuel Foundation, ensuring vulnerable girls in Ethiopia overcome endless obstacles to complete their education. Helen’s involvement guarantees each girl will receive healthcare in addition to the life skills she learns while attending Studio Samuel.

Elected to Board: 2019

Occupation: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and co-founder of Bethesda Counseling Associates

School Affiliation: P'10, '11, '24

Professional Background: As a psychotherapist, Susan has worked with adults and adolescents in her private practice for over 14 years. She specializes in relationship counseling, parenting, and anxiety management. She has also provided counseling services at the Montgomery County Commission for Women and in private and public school settings.

Susan earned a B.A. in Economics from Tufts University, an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a Masters in Clinical Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.  

Susan has been an active member of the Bullis community since 2001. From 2003-2006 she served as a Classroom Parent Representative, and from 2006-2008 she was the Bullis Representative to the Parents Council of Washington, as well as a member of the Parents Association Board. She currently chairs the Bullis Parent Connections committee, which hosts multiple parent networking events by grade throughout the school year.

Elected to Board: 2022

Occupation: Co-founder, The Sandi Group Global Holdings (TSG GH)

School Affiliation: P'25, '32

Professional Background: Emine is a transformative global visionary leader, strategic and futuristic planner, entrepreneur, philanthropist, mentor, education advocate, and advisor on women's leadership and mental health. She is an international executive with comprehensive experience in international business. Her expertise includes building corporate value, managing projects, and identifying and implementing strategies to sustain global growth for international companies in Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Middle East and Europe. She enjoys working with multi-billion-dollar companies in the private sector, U.S. Government Departments of State and Justice, Fema, and others.

Emine received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business, and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University, Carey Business School. She also has certifications in reiki, yoga, pilates, and coaching. She lives in Potomac, Maryland, and is a proud wife, daughter, sister, friend, and mother of two Bullis students.

Elected to Board: June 2018

Occupation: Executive Neuroscience Account Specialist for Allergan, an Abbvie Company

School Affiliation: P'24

Professional Background: Muriel earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Frostburg State University. Over the past 30 years, she has worked in the Healthcare Industry as a pharmaceutical sales representative for various Fortune 500 companies. Muriel's active volunteerism began in 1982, when she joined the Illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, whose Motto is "Service To All Mankind." She has been a power source for organizations she believes in ever since. She has added her enthusiasm, energy, drive, and can-do spirit as a Member of the Bullis Parents Association (PA) Board for the past six years, currently Co-Chairperson for New Families and Committee Member of Advancement for Bullis. She also served as the 6th - 8th grade Bullis Fund Ambassador.

Elected to Board: 2009

Occupation: Nurse practitioner

School Affiliation: Class of 1983; husband Kevin Vasco '84; P'20, '21