AlumnaE Association

Sydnee Wilson Ruff, 2004 is the Business Manager at Lillie May Carroll Jackson School, a public charter school in Baltimore City serving girls in grades 5-8. Prior to joining the team at Lillie May, Sydnee worked in communications and community affairs for various city agencies and non- profits, including the Office of the State’s Attorney, the Office of the Mayor, the Department of Public Works, and Health Care for the Homeless.  She holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Boston University.

In 2018, Sydnee launched Ruby Slipper Catering and Events, a catering company specializing in creative fare for intimate events.

Ever committed to making Baltimore a more beautiful and equitable place, Sydnee serves the City’s youth and marginalized through her church, Heritage United Church of Christ, and her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.  In addition to her work with the RPCS Alumnae Board, Sydnee volunteers on the RPCS Parents’ Association, and is a current co-chair of the Holiday Fair.    

Sydnee resides in Baltimore with her husband, Malcolm, and their three children, Sage (a sixth grader at RPCS), Ray, and Ella.

Carol Dixon Croxton, 1998, graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 2002 with a B.S. in Marketing and a certificate in African-American studies. She received an M.B.A. from Loyola University Maryland in 2009. Professionally, Carol has worked in various marketing roles for retail, government and healthcare organizations. She is currently the Marketing Director for an independent orthopedic group with practice locations in Maryland, DC and northern Virginia. Personally, Carol has served in various volunteer roles at RPCS over time including a previous term on the Alumnae Board from 2005 to 2008. She is a past RPCS Trustee, having served on the Board from 2008 to 2017. Carol enjoys volunteering with Stocks In the Future, a local non-profit dedicated to bringing financial education to middle school students in under-served areas. She is a member of the Baltimore Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service organization. Carol and her husband Brandon (Gilman, 1996) live in Owings Mills with their son and daughter.

After graduating from RPCS, Maya Tasher Barron went on to study at American University, subsequently earning a degree in French Pastry from nearby professional culinary school L’Academie de Cuisine.  After spending a number of years working as a pastry chef in Washington, D.C., Maya returned to Baltimore to earn her B.A. in Biological Science from UMBC and is now Assistant Director of Principal Gifts at Johns Hopkins University.  She lives in Baltimore with her husband Alex, who is an Upper School English teacher at Boys Latin, and her twin preschoolers, who are as equally energetic as they are adorable.  Maya still keeps in touch with her close friends from RPCS and enjoys meeting up with them for delicious meals and fun family play dates.

Kelly Donovan-Mazzulli is a member of the Class of 1994. She graduated from Loyola College in 1998 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Sociology and also holds a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Kelly is a full-time attorney who represents children in the foster care systems of Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Cecil County.  In addition to her law career, Kelly is the owner of the Valley Swim & Tennis Club in Towson. A life-long resident of Baltimore, Kelly lives in Towson with her daughters Mary, Class of 2023 and Maggie, Class of 2024.

Cary Zink Kassouf, RPCS Class of 1995, earned a B.S. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Emory University.  She then performed her post-doctoral training and served as a Research Fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health.  In 2012, Cary became an Investigator in the Clinical Sciences Division at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, a research institute affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine, bringing her back to the Baltimore area.  There she ran a clinical research lab focused on identifying biomarkers for mental illness using genetics and functional brain imaging.  Throughout her scientific career, Cary has been the recipient of multiple research and teaching awards.  She has presented her work nationally and internationally, and her research has been published in high profile journals and highlighted in several media venues.  In addition to running a lab, Cary was involved in various administrative and strategic planning activities at the Lieber Institute, and she decided to hone in on these aspects of biomedical research.  In 2018, Cary enthusiastically joined the Baltimore Research and Education Foundation (BREF) as the Deputy Executive Director before becoming the Executive Director later that year.  BREF is focused on improving the health and well-being of Veterans by facilitating and managing transformative biomedical research and education activities within the Veterans Affairs (VA) Maryland Health Care System, as well as at VA Medical Centers in Virginia and West Virginia. When she is not wearing her BREF Executive Director hat, Cary enjoys spending time with her family and keeping up with her very active four- and seven-year-old boys, who both attended RPCS’s day care and preschool programs!

Courtney Pippen, 1992, graduated from the College of Wooster in 1996. She also holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the American University School of Public Affairs. After working in academic medical research, she moved into health policy and has worked in various capacities for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. When not working or volunteering, you can find her enjoying life in Washington, DC with her dog, Bailey.

Liza Freeze Ebeling, RPCS Class of 1978, graduated with a degree in Economics from Trinity College.  After college, she was the Director of an art gallery specializing in 20thCentury Masters.  Post children, she went to work for her husband, managing his medical practice.  Liza and Jim have two adult sons, Tyler and Harrison, both graduates of Gilman like their Dad.

Now retired, Liza finds mentoring inner-city girls at the William Pinderhughes Elementary and Middle Schools in West Baltimore a most rewarding experience. In addition, she serves on the Vestry and School Boards of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Ruxton and enjoys her experience on the RPCS Alumnae Association Board.