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Board of Trustees

The Ursuline Academy of New Orleans Board of Trustees was formed in 2000 following a corporate restructuring of its original school board as governed by the Ursuline Sisters of the New Orleans Community. Following a set of guidelines and re-organization standards sent from the Ursuline Central Province, Ursuline Academy established a new governance system.

Ursuline Academy Board of Trustees 2010–2011

Eugene A. Priestley Board Chair

Mr. Priestley is the Organizational Capability Advisor with Chevron Exploration and Production Inc. in Covington, Louisiana. A native New Orleanian, Mr. Priestley holds a B.A. in Physics from Xavier University, a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a MBA, both from Tulane University. Eugene is actively involved in making a difference in his community and in the lives of children, and therefore is involved with charities such as the United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area, Raintree Children and Family Services, Family Services for the Greater New Orleans Area, the Greater New Orleans Nonprofit Knowledge Works, and the Louisiana State University’s College of Engineering’s Office of Diversity Advisory Board. He has one daughter who is in the fourth grade at Ursuline Academy.

Deborah Augustine Elam Vice Chair

Ms. Elam, a native of New Orleans and an Ursuline graduate of 1979, is Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at GE in Fairfield, CT. Ms. Elam holds a B.A. in Sociology from Louisiana State University and a Masters of Public Administration at Southern University in Baton Rouge. She holds leadership roles in GE’s African American Forum and the GE Women’s Network. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) – an organization of the top African Americans in Corporate America and the National Black MBA Association. Outside of work, Deborah is on the Board of Advisors of Working Mother Magazine Multicultural Women’s Initiative. She is also a member of The Links, Incorporated; Fairfield County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and Jack and Jill of America. Ms. Elam resides in Stamford, CT with her husband and two daughters.

Denis H. McDonald Secretary

Mr. McDonald, who received a B.A. from Tulane University, served as President of Mac Dee Textiles for 23 years and retired from Merrill Lynch after 10 years. He has devoted his time to numerous non-profit boards in New Orleans and continues to work on recovery efforts within the city.

Madeleine simmons blessey

Mrs. Blessey is an Ursuline Academy graduate of 1959 and a graduate of Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York. Mrs. Blessy has a commitment to community involvement and has served on the board of directors for the Council of the Arts for Children, YWCA, the Children’s Bureau and Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR), to name a few. She ahas also served on the board of trustees for Metairie Park Country Day.

Terrence (Terry) L. Brennan

Mr. Brennan is head of the Construction Department of Deutsch, Kerrigan, and Stiles. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State University and J.D. from the University of Kansas. Mr. Brennan is a noted author, speaker and presenter, and has taught courses at both Tulane and Loyola.  A member of the American Bar Association, he currently sits on the Forum Committee of the Construction Industry Section of Public Contract Law.  Previously, he served as Louisiana’s State Liaison and Vice-Chair of the Construction Contracts Committee, Construction Division. He is also a member of the New Orleans Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, and the local, state and national chapters of the American Institute of Architects.  Mr. Brennan has also been named one of “The Best Lawyers in America” List and Top 50 of “Louisiana Super Lawyers” List.

Kerry Leftwich Coleman

Ms. Coleman is an Ursuline Academy graduate of 1966 and a graduate of Loyola University. She is a certified public accountant and received her Master’s degree in accounting from the University of New Orleans. She currently serves as the Chair of The Ursuline Academy BOT Finance Committee.

Brother louis Couvillon, SC

Bro. Couvillon has served as a teacher, counselor and campus minister in secondary education for over 40 years. He holds a B.S. in secondary education, a M.A. in religious studies and a M.Div. Bro. Couvillon has served on the board of directors for Brother Martin and Catholic High School, Baton Rouge. He has also served as Superior for the Brothers’ communities for 20 years.

M. Marc Ehrhardt

Mr. Ehrhardt is a public relations executive at The Ehrhardt Group. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago. Marc was named to New Orleans CityBusiness’ “Power Generation 2000,” as one of the top 40 New Orleans business professionals under the age of 40. He served on the board of the Young Leadership Council in New Orleans and led the inaugural “One Book, One New Orleans” citywide reading and literacy awareness initiative. Marc currently serves on the board of directors for the Press Club of New Orleans. He has one daughter who is in kindergarten at Ursuline Academy.

Ann Valentino Fuselier

After graduating from Ursuline Academy in 1963, Ann received her Bachelor of Science Degree from LSU in 1967.  Ann has served New Orleans’ philanthropic community for many years.  She is a member of the Junior League of New Orleans, the Military and Hospitalier Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, and has served as Board Emeritus of Hermann Grima Gallier Historic House (member for 10 years), as well as a past board member of LSU Health and Sciences Center’s Department of Psychiatry, and Board of Governors of Women’s Guild of the New Opera Guild.  Most recently, Ann chaired the YA-YA Aspiration Young Artists fundraiser 2011.  Ann is married to Dr. Harold A. Fuselier, is the mother of four sons, and has five grandchildren.

Sister Margaret Ann Moser, O.S.U.

Sister Moser is the President of Ursuline Academy of Dallas. Her experience in education has included serving as an elementary school teacher, associate director of religious education, and principal of two elementary schools. She has also been a member of various school boards including Springfield College in Illinois, Ursuline Academy of New Orleans, Duchene Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas, St. Alcuin Montessori in Dallas, Texas, and St. Joseph Village Board of Directors in Coppell, Texas.

Sister Madonna O’Hara, O.S.U.

Presently the Director of Sponsorship for the ministries of the Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province, Sr. O’Hara has experience with Ursuline education and Ursuline Provincial Team. She has served as the member of a school board and has worked with strategic planning, capital campaigns, mission effectiveness and justice issues.

Christel Capdevielle Slaughter

Christel Capdevielle Slaughter, an Ursuline graduate of 1972, is a partner in SSA Consultants, a nationally known organizational development firm. Ms. Slaughter has a PhD in Management from LSU and also sits on the Board of Trustees of the Federal Reserve Branch Board of New Orleans and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.