A graduate of Middlebury College with a BA in environmental studies, Grace grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and trained as an instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School. She worked at the Aspen Art Museum as development director, managing fundraising and assisting with the design and construction process for the museum’s new building that opened in 2014. She then served as development director at Challenge Aspen. Grace began working at Aspen Country Day School as executive assistant to the head of school in November 2018. She moved into the director of operations role in January 2022.
Favorite ACDS core value?
Respect. Respect for ourselves, each other, our campus, and the natural world. It’s such a great place from which to launch into everything we do during our time at ACDS and everything our students do beyond the ACDS journey.
Favorite place on campus?
Anywhere outside. We are so lucky to be learning together in this beautiful setting, and I love the chance meetings with students and teachers as I walk around campus.
Three guests for a dinner party?
My two grandfathers, and then separately (because it would be weird to have them together), Queen Elizabeth II. She has witnessed so much of what’s happened in the world in the past almost-century, and she had to take on a big role at such a young age. But I’d want it to be more casual, so she could say more than she’s allowed as a royal—you know, the Queen Unplugged.
Something that’s gone out of style that you miss?
Boredom—being okay with being bored. I feel that we’re so over scheduled and stimulated now, that there is a loss of the opportunity for spontaneous creativity.
Most interesting job before this?
I taught sailing to teenagers in the Caribbean for a couple of summers; we island hopped for three weeks at a time on 50-foot sloops. Being a captain was a great confidence builder for me, and the experience honed my communication skills. It was such a fun job in a gorgeous place, and I loved seeing how proud my students were when they learned to manage the boat on their own. To top it all off, I met my husband there.
