Ayanna Hill-Gill

Ayanna Hill-Gill is affectionately known as Yanni. Prior to joining AGS in 2014, Yanni worked at Purnell School, a boarding school for girls in New Jersey, where she was the Head of School since 2007.

Yanni holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Dickinson College and a master’s degree from Columbia University Teacher’s College with an emphasis on Private School Leadership. She has been a yearlong Klingenstein Fellow and an EE Ford Fellow for NAIS’ Aspiring Heads Program. Prior to her tenure at Purnell, Yanni worked at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden building their community outreach program and developing curriculum for children’s educational programs. In 1992, Yanni lived in Costa Rica while studying sustainable development and conducting independent research in water quality. It was these two experiences that led Yanni to teaching, particularly science.

Yanni currently serves on the Board of the Heads’ Network and the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools. She serves locally as a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Village Project, an all girls’ school for refugees in Decatur, GA. Yanni is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2017, and a Trustee on Emory University’s Board of Visitors this fall. As a graduate of an all girls’ school in Philadelphia, Yanni has committed her career to creating opportunities for girls and young women to discover their voices, achieve success and become leaders in the fields of their choice.

Education:
Masters of Education in Organization Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University
Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry, Dickinson College