Executive Board

Kristi Pilarski Barrows '95

Post Mercy Education: 

• Community College of Baltimore County, Essex; Associates Degree in General Studies 

Personal Life: I currently work for the Baltimore County Police Department as an Office Assistant for the Internal Affairs Division. I am a proud wife of a Calvert Hall graduate who is currently an EMT for Baltimore County Fire Department. Together, we have two wonderful future Mercy girls, Bailey, 5, and Mary Elizabeth, 19 months. I volunteer at Bailey’s school, St. Joseph’s Fullerton, when time allows and I love to craft on the side for fun! 

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board?  I have always been chosen as the most school-spirited person during my years at Mercy and prior to that at St. Michael’s the Archangel. I feel like it’s time for me to show that school spirit and join the board to help Mercy and Mercy Girls. Mercy is a wonderful school and I love being part of it! 

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event: Currently, my favorite event with Mercy is the Breakfast with the Easter Bunny; however, I have enjoyed the Magic Mile Family Fun Walk at the annual 5K as well as attending Field Day. 

Favorite Mercy Memory:  Winning the flame award freshman year for helping lead our freshman class as the costume capatin for Field Day was a highlight for me.  Sophomore year, I was proud of making the JV Cheerleading squad as assistant captain. Junior year, I enjoyed making the newspaper while dancing with my prom date at the junior prom. Senior year, I enjoyed being on the Senior Prom committee.  

Brooke Burghardt '13

Post Mercy Education: 

• Washington College 2017; Major in Business Administration with concentration in Global Business, Minor in Economics and Dance. 
• Currently gearing up to start my MBA at Loyola University. 

Personal Life: Brooke currently resides in Linthicum, Maryland. She works for the Department of Defense and teaches Dance in Mount Airy multiple nights a week. She is also studying to get her certification with the Royal Academy of Dance. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family in Bethany Beach! 

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board? I chose to be on the Alumnae Board because Mercy is one of my passions. While I was a student at Mercy I served in multiple leadership roles. I enjoyed listening to my fellow classmates and shaping the Mercy community. I hope that being part of the Alumnae Board will allow me to make a impact on current Mercy alumnae and future alumnae of Mercy High School.  

Favorite Alum Event: I am fairly new to alumnae events but I am looking forward to our networking happy hours and the annual 5K.  

Favorite Mercy Memory: Winning Field Day Dance 3 years in a row as captain!

Lauren Calva '10 

Post Mercy Education: 

• Towson University, Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications with a Minor in Electronic Media and Film

Personal Life: I currently work at St. Ursula School (which I also attended) as the Advancement Director. I love being able to see our 8th graders graduate and move on to Mercy! My mom, my two aunts, and my cousin all went to Mercy and I am so happy we were able to experience the magic of Mercy! 

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board?  I loved my time at Mercy and I truly didn’t want it to end. Joining the Board has allowed me to keep my connection with the Mercy community. Being able to reach out to other alums and keep them in contact with Mercy is an awesome feeling.  

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event: I was able to volunteer at the Easter Bunny Breakfast this year and had a blast! I had so much fun flipping pancakes and watching the kids meet the Easter Bunny. 

Favorite Mercy Memory: My favorite Mercy memory would have to be Field Day...of course! Unfortunately, my class never won, but I remember always having a great time staying after school to work on costumes, songs, and exercise and dance routines. I also had the opportunity to be a judge and it was just so fun being a spectator and seeing the event from a different point of view. 

Bio coming soon!

Shanna Edmond '95, P'20

Post Mercy Education: 

• Lincoln University; Bachelor’s Degree in Biology 
• Loyola University; Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction  

Personal Life: I currently serve as an Education Program Specialist in the Title I- Program Improvement Office at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).  I provide technical assistance and financial management for the implementation of the federally funded Title I, Part A grant for several local school systems. In addition, I work diligently in the area of school improvement in an effort to leverage the academic playing field for all students in Maryland. My daughter, Sanaa, is a rising Senior at Mercy High School and my daughter, Sydney, is a rising Junior at Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore County.  Outside of work and family life, I find meaning in mentoring young ladies who have overcome challenges in their lives. I am also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board?  I enjoy connecting with other Board members who support Mercy through their time and talents. We are a dynamic group of ladies that bring so many different perspectives to our mission.

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event: Mercy’s Garnet Gala was an exceptional event that allowed for the Mercy community to celebrate in a grand way while raising funds for tuition assistance for the current students of Mercy.

Favorite Mercy memory: My favorite Mercy memory will always be experiencing all of the hard work, creativity, and commitment that it takes to pull off a successful Field Day. I am elated that I had the opportunity to see my daughter’s Junior class win Field Day 2019! 

Merrie Goodlander '08

Post Mercy Education: 

• Saint Joseph’s University, Haub School of Business; B.S. Marketing, Art History

Personal Life: My husband and I live in Wilmington, Delaware where I work as a marketer. I am a private consultant focusing on small, woman-owned businesses, and I also work as a corporate event planner in the insurance industry. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling both locally and abroad, gardening, and volunteering in a variety of service projects. 

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board?  Mercy is a second home to me and I enjoy every opportunity to remain active in this special community. I view the Alumnae Executive Board as a way to not just stay involved but retain future generations of alumnae in our Circle of Mercy.  

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event: The Garnet Gala! It's fun to plan and fun to attend.

Favorite Mercy Memory: I cherish many memories from my years at Mercy, but one that is particularly meaningful to me is free periods spent in the Religion Center. My friends and I would sink into the oversized chairs while some of our favorite teachers dispensed wisdom and chatted with us. We weren’t always catching up on our studies there, but we were getting an education! 

Sally Gordon Hechter ‘85 

Post Mercy Education: 

• Towson University; B.S. Mass Communications 1989

Personal Life: I am a Realtor with Cummings & Co. Realtors and have been a licensed realtor for 14 years. I have been married for 26 years and my husband and I have two sons. My community service has included being a core founding couple of Spark Family Ministry, a member of the core team for the Annual Fish Fry, a committee member for Faith Fest, and a Parish Corporator at St. Mark Catholic Church in Fallston, Maryland.  I have also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity as well as whatever our sons have been involved in including Scouts, school, and athletic teams. 

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board? I appreciate the education my parents afforded me and the influence Mercy High School has had in my life. I hope that I can help the Mercy community provide positive and impactful impressions on our Mercy sisters.   

Favorite Mercy Alumnae event: The Alumnae Induction Breakfast is a unique opportunity for Alumnae to share with “about to become Alumnae” just how much Mercy High School means to us throughout our lives!   

Favorite Mercy memory: Field Day was such an exciting time. I actually think I enjoyed the preparations for Field Day more than the event itself because the event meant the excitement and craziness was over! Rehearsals that lasted late into the night both at Mercy and at classmates’ homes were so uniting. The smiles, the laughs, the tears, the aches, and the pains were all part of a terrific educational opportunity!   

Shelby Jones '09 

Post Mercy Education:

• Towson University; Bachelor of Science in Gerontology
• Towson University; Master of Science in Health Science with a concentration in Health Administration 

Personal Life: After walking the halls of Mercy High, I set sights on working within the healthcare industry with a specific focus on working with older adults as I completed my degree in Gerontology. Currently, I’m lucky enough to work at my alma mater, Towson University, at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – an organization for those ages 50 and older who are looking for ways to enrich their lives in retirement. I reside in Towson with my husband, Jack, and our three fur babies – Captain, Dakota, and Fitz. I volunteer regularly with The Red Devils, a local non-profit breast cancer organization and sing with the Towson University Choral Society.  

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board? This year, I set a goal to get more involved. Initially, I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. Mercy has always held a spot in my heart and I thought that joining the Alumnae Executive Board would be a great way to give back to a place that gave me so much.

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event: I don’t think I can pick a favorite, but the Alumnae Happy Hour Tours are a great, casual way to meet other alums and to reconnect with people you may not have kept in touch with from your own class.  

Favorite Mercy Memory: Field Day!  

Maura Hilgartner Kadan '95

Post Mercy Education: 

• BS, Health and Physical Education, Roanoke College
• BSN, Nursing, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
• MSN, Health Systems Management, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing 

Personal Life: After working as an oncology nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital, I started at Personal Genome Diagnostics in 2013 and am currently the Director of Clinical Outreach and Education.  I have 2 sons, Doug, 9, and Leo, 5, with whom I spend most of my time outside of work alongside my husband Chris and our dog, Chief. 

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board? Mercy shaped me to be the woman I am today.  I was taught to use my voice, to lead, and to serve others.  I want young women to have a similar experience through Mercy so they recognize the impact they can have and the positive change they can be in the world around us.  I serve on the Board to engage with other alumnae, bring them back to the place we all started, and support the mission we all want to carry out.   

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event: I love participating in Career Day and mock interviews with students.  Being able to interact with passionate young women with BIG dreams is a refreshing reminder of  my passions and my potential impact in the professional world.  The opportunity to mentor young women is rewarding and helps to build bridges between the Mercy generations.  

Favorite Mercy Memory: I loved using my free periods to play volleyball, pickleball, badminton, or some other made up game in the gym with my friends. We were very close with the Physical Education department teachers, Ms. Hueston, Ms. Marion, and Ms. Jackson, who didn’t mind us being around and being ourselves.  We spent a lot of time in that wing.  

Morgan Kalb '11 

Post Mercy Education: 

• Stevenson University; Bachelors of Science in Nursing. 

Personal Life: I have been working as a Registered Nurse at Mercy Medical Center for 2 years. I started in Orthopedics caring for patients post-operatively after joint replacements. As of February, I now work in Labor and Delivery, an area which has always been a passion of mine.  

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board? I choose to be part of the Alumnae Board to work with fellow alumnae in providing care and hospitality for past, current, and future Mercy Girls. I had an incredible experience attending Mercy and want each and every girl to have the same. My mom and I are also the first ever mother daughter duo on the board!

Favorite Mercy  Alumnae Event: My favorite event is the annual 5K. I love being active and this gives everyone in our community an opportunity to support the school and be active with their friends and family. 

Favorite Mercy Memory: My favorite Mercy memory was winning field day Junior and Senior year!  

Bio coming soon!

Ruthie Stalter LeCompte '87

Post Mercy Education: 

• Mount St Mary’s University; Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice  

Personal Life:  I have been employed at T. Rowe Price since 1993 and am currently an IT Manager.  My husband and I have been married for 15 years.

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board?  Sr. Mary Anne Smith  approached me several years ago about joining the board and I saw being involved as a chance to contribute to the school community and continue to show my Mercy pride.

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event:  The school and board put so much work into the Gala and to be able to enjoy the fruits of that labor is a wonderful experience!  I’ve also been part of the annual 5k since the inaugural race and it gets better every year. 

Favorite Mercy Memory: I have many fond memories of my years at Mercy.  Field Day really stands out because it was an event that everyone in the class participated in and we had a lot of fun participating in it.

Cait McKay '11 

Post Mercy Education: 

• Towson University May 2015; Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Sociology  

Personal Life: I live in Baltimore City and work for myself as a Myers-Briggs Practitioner and Coach. I use this tool to help individuals recognize their “true self," so they can fully appreciate themselves and other people. If I’m not spending time with the amazing family and friends in my life I am probably practicing yoga, reading a book, designing floral arrangements, substitute teaching at Mercy, taking pictures of my two cats, serving breakfast at My Sister’s Place, traveling or watching some sort of live entertainment.  

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board?   
Mercy played an important role in shaping the woman I am today. I love having the opportunity to stay connected with other Mercy alumnae and continuing to share in the camaraderie of being a Mercy Girl. The work we do ultimately goes back to Mercy Girls past and present, whom I am proud to support in whatever way I can. 

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event:
I love the Alumnae Happy Hour Tour. It’s a great way to stay connected and catch up with Mercy alumnae in a casual environment. 

Favorite Mercy Memory:  
My favorite Mercy memory is being Field Day exercise captain for my class. I loved creating the routines each year with my best friend(still to this day), Amy Manger '11, designing the costumes, getting my class excited, and being connected to each other in such a fun way! 

Kelechi Nina Mezu '07 

Post Mercy Education: 

• Towson University; BS, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics
• University of Maryland University College; MS, Biotechnology: Bioinformatics Concentration

Personal Life: I have lived in Rockville, MD for the past three years. Currently, I work as a Project Lead/Bioinformatics Analyst for Axle Informatics, LLC., a software company that develops web applications and pipelines for various labs at the NIH. In my free time, I participate in Women Who Code and other tech meetups in the DC Metro area geared towards women and POC in the tech space.

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board?  I am excited to be a part of the Alumnae Executive Board to contribute to our amazing community and help plan many more events that our Alumnae could attend!

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event: When I was a student, Field Day was by far my favorite event. Today as an Alum, my favorite is the Garnet Gala.

Favorite Mercy Memory: My all-time favorite Mercy memory is from freshman year when I participated in Mme Adller's annual International Assembly. It was so exciting to see students display their heritage proudly and also teach the school about different cultures. The best performance (I’m biased lol!) was from my friend Jordaane Lee '07 and her family with their African Dance Troupe. 

Hanna Ramsburg '10 

Post Mercy Education: 

• York College of Pennsylvania; Bachelors of Science in Nursing 2014 
• University of Pennsylvania; Masters of Science in Nursing, Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner 2017 

Personal Life: I am currently working as a Nurse Practitioner at Drexel University College of Medicine in the Drexel Neuroscience Institute and enjoying living in Philadelphia.  

Favorite Mercy Alumnae Event: Garnet Gala 

Favorite Mercy Memory: My favorite Mercy memory is laughing everyday with the girls at my lunch table, who have become lifelong friends.  

Bio coming soon!

Ja’Nai Keith Streat ‘97 

Post Mercy Education: 

• Trinity Washington University; Bachelor of International Studies 2001

• University of Baltimore; Master of Public Administration 2008

Personal Life: I have built a career in public service, for the past 11 years I have worked for Maryland State government.  For 10 years, I have worked at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development in various roles; currently serving as the Senior Housing Policy Analyst, in the Office of the Secretary, managing the Department’s $300 million dollars in Community Planning and Development Formula grant programs received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and directing and coordinating policy research for the Department.  

I own a consulting business Keith Streat Solutions, LLC providing event planning and fundraising services to clientele in the public and private sector.  

I am also a licensed life insurance agent.  

I am married to my wonderful husband Jonathan whom I met through a dear friend and fellow Mercy alum, and I have two bonus children Caleb and Riley.  

Why do you choose to be a member of the Alumnae Executive Board?  I choose to be a member of the Alumnae executive board because I believe that diversity and inclusion play an important role in the strength of an institution.   

Favorite Mercy Alumnae event: My favorite Mercy Alumnae event is class reunion.   

Favorite Mercy memory: My favorite Mercy memory is receiving my school ring.