Meet our Team

CHRIS PRYOR

President & Founder

As a life-long educator, strategist and thought leader, Chris Pryor is in his third decade of independent school leadership. A graduate of Kent School in Kent, CT and Roanoke College, Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Roanoke College and a dual master’s degree in Educational Administration and Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has held leadership positions at independent schools such as Harbor Country Day, The Independence School, Hackley, Rye Country Day and Tuxedo Park School and was actively involved with NYSAIS. A skilled communicator and visionary practitioner, Chris has led his schools through strategic and long-range plans, marketing and image projects, programmatic paradigm shifts, enrollment challenges and community divides. He brings a wealth of practical, theoretical and consultant experience to the table; is a stickler for data and detail and will make an otherwise arduous task seem like a ton of fun.

Over the years Chris has consulted with trustees, faculty, parents, students, alumni, admissions and development offices. He is a well-known speaker on topics such as social media, marketing, admissions training, crisis management, professional development and board training. He is a talented storyteller, as he learned early on that sharing the school’s story with all its constituents is one way to be as inclusive as possible. The same is true in marketing but specifics are critical.

With Gowan Group, Chris realizes his vision for an educational consulting organization that serves the needs of independent schools on every front–from Admission and Enrollment Management to Advancement and Fundraising, and from Strategic Planning to Leadership Development. To accomplish this, Chris has assembled a stellar group of nationally renowned consultants that have the passion, experience, expertise, and resources to help independent schools turn every challenge into a growth opportunity.

MIKE VACHOW

Managing Director

Mike has served independent day schools for 30 years.  During 11 years of headship and, later, as a consultant, Mike’s abilities as an expert communicator and as a leader of school culture have helped him drive lasting change in schools.  The roots of those abilities lie in Mike’s origins as a classroom teacher, advisor and coach.  Mike began his independent school career at the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans as a middle and high school English teacher and high school baseball coach.  He took on his first administrative roles there, as the Summer Session Director and Middle School Dean of Students but continued teaching English.  In 2001 Mike became the Upper School Division Director at Lake Forest Country Day School in the far northern suburbs of Chicago, and carried a section of middle school English.  Mike’s 19 years of teaching assure his colleagues and clients that he is committed to making the classroom the epicenter of all school efforts, a seeming foregone conclusion until one encounters the many schools that stray from this vision.

Mike was appointed Head of Forsyth School, in St. Louis, in 2007.  During his decade of headship there, Mike tripled the size of the school’s endowment, acquired contiguous properties that resulted in a 30% expansion of the school’s footprint, and fostered and endowed three academic programs that will enhance the learning experiences of Forsyth students for generations to come.  During this time, Mike continued growing as a leader by serving on and later chairing the board of the Independent Schools of St. Louis, leading accreditation teams and serving on the ISACS Accreditation Review Committee, and mentoring new heads through the ISACS New Heads Network.  Mike began a consulting practice in 2017 but took a year’s sojourn to serve as Interim Head at Peoria Academy before continuing to support school clients in leadership searches, mentoring, enrollment strategy and governance.  A talented writer and speaker, Mike regularly publishes thought pieces and presents at conferences. He has a BA from the University of Michigan and an MA from Middlebury College. He serves on the board at Kairos Academies, St. Louis’s newest charter school and indulges his Rolling Stone fantasy by writing live music reviews for KDHX, St. Louis’s powerhouse community radio station.

J.P. Watson

Managing Director

Having grown up in a family of teachers and doctors and spending summers at his family’s day camp, J.P. Watson has been involved directly and indirectly with teaching; coaching; program leadership; wellness; leadership development; school, small business and non-profit management since his early teen years.

As a former Biology teacher, coach and program leader, Department Head, Division Head, Accreditation Team Leader, Associate and Assistant Head, as well as Head of School, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to each engagement with schools, businesses and non-profits. Drawing on the wisdom of those who have shaped his career, J.P. approaches challenges as opportunities for organizational growth and development.

Passionate about mission and vision alignment, he has helped school after school strengthen its path toward alignment and becoming the best manifestation of its mission. Working with iconic leaders within the independent school world for the last 20 years, J.P. has built a network of experiences and people with whom he has consulted to develop unique and individualized approaches to common challenges faced by schools, businesses and non-profits. 

J.P. earned his AB in Biology with a concentration in World Literature from Middlebury College and a MS of Biomedical Science from University of South Carolina School of Medicine. J.P. was also a Peabody Fellow at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody Professional Institute for Independent School Leadership. 

allison agliata

Managing Director

As a passionate people person and born leader, Dr. Allison Agliata has spent her career focused on working with individuals, teams, and organizations to improve their interpersonal dynamics, harness their productivity, and develop a positive corporate culture.  Allison's work focuses on connectivity, emotional intelligence and assertive communication to strengthen professional relationships.  Her goal is to create more effective teams, which promotes a sense of community, improves office morale, increases revenue, and spills over to better people skills for a more satisfying life.  

Along with her PhD in Clinical Psychology, Allison holds a certification in Advanced Educational Leadership from Harvard University, and is board certified in Executive Coaching from the Institute of Life Coaching.  With a background in education administration, mental health, and military leadership, she has a wide range of expertise related to developing strong managements skill, team building, and strategic planning.  

Dr. Agliata's teaching and speaking career began in 1998 with a joint project between the school system and sheriff's department where she found her passion for working with children and the adults that educate them to make sound decisions that put them all on a trajectory for greatness.  Her commitment to this field has lead to numerous featured articles and chapters, guest speaking opportunities, and interviews.  As a Gowan Group consultant, she brings an energetic and engaging atmosphere that inspires schools to push themselves to the next level.

John Pryor

Senior Research Scientist

John Pryor is a higher education professional with over 25 years of experience in using research findings to help improve the college experience. John presents frequently on current trends and innovation in higher education. He has published many articles, monographs, white papers, and opinion pieces in higher education publications, including the Journal of College Student Development and The Chronicle of Higher Education. His TEDxUCLA talk (“How To Make College Better, And Why We Need To”) looks at the need to increase the connection between what is learned inside the classroom and how that is applied outside the classroom.

Most recently, John held a Senior Research Scientist position with Gallup, where he led their higher education research. For eight years prior to that John was the director of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP), the largest study of higher education in the country and the managing director of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, where CIRP is housed. Before directing CIRP, John was the director of Student Affairs Planning, Evaluation, and Research at Dartmouth College. John currently serves on the steering committee of the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, and he is a member of the Data Analysis Research Network, a research and advisory group of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. A graduate of St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH and Dartmouth College, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Psychology from The University of Virginia.

RObert Rytter

Creative Director

Robert Rytter, our creative director, has more than 30 years of experience developing and executing strategic marketing campaigns for colleges and universities. An advocate of integrated one-to-one marketing, Robert promotes targeted marketing efforts in all mediums: collateral materials, website and interactive design, public relations and advertising. Robert graduated from MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) with a degree in painting; he has served on the faculty there as an instructor of advanced graphic design.

Robert also attended the MLA program at the Johns Hopkins University and the business program at Loyola College. He has been a guest lecturer for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the University of Maryland. His work has been recognized by the American Institute of Graphic Arts, CASE, Communication Arts, the New York Art Directors Club, the Type Directors Club of New York, the University & College Designers Association, the Washington Art Directors Club, Graphis and Print, among others.

Dr. Christine Herring

Inclusive Leadership Director

Dr. Christine Herring is a highly experienced diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) practitioner, consultant, and educator with almost 30 years of experience working with organizations to promote DEIB values for the growth and development of their workforce. Dr. Herring is committed to creating culturally safe work environments that are fair, equitable, and informed by a global perspective.

As a skilled relationship builder, Dr. Herring works closely with her clients to create effective strategies for integrating DEIB principles into their organizational practices. She tailors each approach to fit the unique brand, mission, and goals of the client, ensuring that the outcomes are aligned with their specific needs.

With a background in language, literacy, and culture as a researcher and educator, Dr. Herring has a deep understanding of how to design interactive exercises and conversation starters that promote awareness, learning, and reflection. Her thought leadership and strategic planning experience enable her to create results-oriented programs that encourage growth while promoting equity and a sense of belonging.

Dr. Herring's strength is helping organizations build the capacity to have difficult conversations and navigate uncomfortable situations by making the complicated simple. Her approach ultimately inspires growth, fostering equitable and just outcomes. She believes that "if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change."

Dr. Herring is a passionate advocate for children, and her service on the boards of Trying Together and Allies for Children is a testament to her commitment to improving the lives of young people in the Pittsburgh region. Her dedication to children extends to her personal life as well - as a mother of three grown daughters and grandmother to one granddaughter, she has firsthand experience of the joys and challenges of raising a family and understands the importance of providing children with the love, support, and resources they need to thrive.

Dr. Herring’s personal and professional life is closely intertwined with her husband, Chuck, who serves as her business partner and best friend. Together, they share a strong commitment to creating a more inclusive world for all.

brad brown

aDMISSIONS POD LEADER

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Brad Brown has lived and studied around the globe, from British Columbia to Madrid. A strong communicator with a passion for people, Brad has strategically led admissions and enrollment initiatives throughout his 24-year career in education. In 2001, he began his time in admissions at his alma mater, The Walker School in Marietta, as Assistant Director of Admissions before being selected as the second Director of Admissions in the school’s history in 2012. In 2016, Brad joined the leadership team at Trinity School in Atlanta as the Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management. Brad has also developed an array of other professional skills, having served the independent school community in various roles that include Spanish teacher, soccer coach, and Director of Multicultural Affairs.

 From 2019–2021, Brad chaired the Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools Admission Directors Group. Since 2020, he has served a member of the Board of Directors for the Murphy-Harpst Children’s Centers, an organization providing a safe and nurturing environment where severely abused and neglected children and teenagers can thrive.

 Brad holds a Master of Arts in Second Language Instruction from Bennington College in Vermont and a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Culture and Civilization from Furman University. In 2022, he earned a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University. Brad is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Christian Leadership from the Dallas Theological Seminary.

jamie herold

eMPOWERED LEADERS’ JOURNEY POD LEADER

As a long-time educator, school leader, and design innovator, Jamie Herold is fueled by curiosity, courage, and a desire to be a source of good in the world. Purpose-driven and passionate, Jamie strives to create and nurture educational programs and experiences that foster compassion and community.

Throughout her career, Jamie has worked in public, charter, and independent schools across the country in a wide variety of roles, including as a grade level teacher, dual language educator, instructional coach, department head, Head of School, Chief Academic Officer, and strategic leadership consultant. Jamie has a passion for learning, both personally and professionally, which manifests itself in carefully planned and deeply engaging programs of learning that honor the potential in each community stakeholder.

As a born leader and lifelong learner, Jamie espouses a people-first approach to her work and demonstrates a keen understanding that relationships with self and others are fundamental to impact and growth, both individually and organizationally. As such, Jamie is deeply interested in and committed to social emotional learning (SEL) as the foundation for effective, responsive, and innovative school communities. In alignment with this core focus on SEL, Jamie has become a certified social emotional learning facilitator and she has received advanced training in SEL-centered practice through Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.

Jamie’s entrepreneurial spirit and zest for creativity have shaped her career, inspiring her to lead teams in starting numerous new schools and educational programs. She enjoys the challenge of working with school stakeholders to define core beliefs and community identity and then designing bespoke curriculum and programming in service of the mission and vision of the organization. Under Jamie’s leadership, her schools have experienced hypergrowth while also nourishing the kind of positive school culture and discourse that ensures organizational continuity.

As a mother of three and devoted educator, Jamie understands the power and impact of excellence in education. Although her career has taken her in a variety of directions and across industries, with work in strategic leadership in education and healthcare, Jamie remains a teacher at heart. In all engagements with individuals and organizations, Jamie notices the opportunities for growth and teaches into the innate human desire for connection.

Paul Baly

Director of Placement

When Paul landed his first job at a Boarding School, he was inspired by the way in which Independent Schools invest in student’s overall development, utilizing relationships to help children thrive. Serving in senior leadership and teaching roles in day, boarding, rural, suburban, and metropolitan schools ranging from 200 to 1300 students, Paul has worked for the past 25 years in Independent Schools. Most recently Paul served as the Middle School Director at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in Manhattan and prior to that as the Middle School Head at the Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood, NJ. He prides himself on building sustainable teams and rich, student-centered educational programs. Regardless of the school, market, or challenge, Paul has worked closely with advancement teams to measurably improve enrollment and advancement outcomes through increased marketing, branding, and communications strategies and partnered with Boards to lead effective strategic planning processes. 

It was Paul’s work as the Middle School Head at two K-8 schools where he found his passion for the process of connecting students and families with independent schools. Having helped counsel families with children in kindergarten, middle, and high school as well as college admissions processes, Paul believes that the admissions' process itself is a profound educational experience, not only a means to an end. When a family reflects on its values, a child’s unique talents and passions, and the various and distinct school characteristics, their child has the best opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Throughout his career, Paul leveraged his extensive knowledge of independent schools along with his experience working with children and families to help place students in some of the most competitive and dynamic schools in the New York City area. 

Paul holds an undergraduate degree from Roanoke College, a Masters in English from the University of South Carolina, and a Masters Degree in Private School Leadership from Columbia University. Paul's three children have all attended Independent Schools.