The role of the Board of Trustees is to ensure that the Academy fulfills its mission while at all times supporting and sharing our Catholic faith. Each Director serves a three-year renewable term and draws on personal experience to advise the Academy administration on all matters.
While employees and parents of current students cannot serve on the Board, they are encouraged to serve on our Board Committees. There are several Board Committees in which they can participate including
Enrollment, Growth and Development Committee, Mission Assessment Committee, Building and Grounds Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee.
If you would like to contact the Board of Trustees orvolunteer for a committee please email Lenae Guarna at [email protected].
Board of Trustees
Lenae Guarna has been the Board Chairsperson since St. Saviour Elementary School became St. Saviour Catholic Academy in 2012. She has been a parishioner of St. Saviour since 1997 and accepted prior pastor Fr. Daniel Murphy’s invitation to the inaugural Academy Board. Prior to her involvement with SSCA, she has served on the Development Committee of the Berkeley Carroll School and the Prospect Park Alliance. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Cultural Foundation and as Co-Chair of the inaugural Hālāwai Film Festival.
She lives in Park Slope with her husband, Nick, and they have three adult daughters. She holds a B.S. from New York University and a J.D. from Fordham University.
Pam Hamingson has been a Board member since St Saviour Elementary School became St Saviour Catholic Academy in 2012. Pam holds a degree in Literature and Secondary Education from SUNY Geneseo. Currently, Pam is employed by a fintech provider that focuses on compliance and risk for financial institutions. She is the proud parent of three SSCA alum!
Gregory Arte has been a Board member since 2020. A native of the West Coast, he earned his Bachelors in Secondary Education from the University of Portland. He moved to NYC in 2007 as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and was placed at Nativity Mission Center where he worked for 5 years. He earned his Masters in Literacy Education (grades 5-12) from Fordham University. He is continuing his education at St. John's University in School Building Leadership. For 14 years, he was a teacher and ultimately principal at Nativity model Catholic middle schools, including Brooklyn Jesuit Prep in East Flatbush. As an educator, he was invited to join the Board and serves as the Board’s secretary and the Personnel Committee chair. He currently works as a 5th grade English teacher and dean of students at The Allen-Stevenson School. He continues to work at Nativity Catholic schools during the summer months by directing the summer camp for St. Ignatius School (Bronx) in Lake Placid, NY.
Monique Jenkins has been a member of the St. Saviour Catholic Academy Board of Trustees since 2020 and has served on multiple committees. She is the parent of a 2012 graduate of Saint Saviour Elementary School and parent of a 2016 graduate of Saint Saviour Catholic Academy. Prior to her involvement as a Board of Trustees member, she was involved in and volunteered at the school’s Breakfast with Santa and Sports Day events. Monique also served as Co Administrator and Den Leader for the Saint Saviour Parish Cub Scout Pack 412 and Boy Scout Troop 14 from which her son earned his Eagle Scout. She is the past President of a national nursing organization focused on the care of the pediatric surgical patient.
She currently lives in Park Slope with her husband, Bernard, and they have two adult children. She holds a PhD from CUNY The Graduate Center and her MSN from SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
Henry Matthews was born in Park Slope, Brooklyn and has lived in the family home his entire life. His ancestors immigrated to the United States from Ireland, Germany and French Canada over 100 years ago, settling in what was then known as South Brooklyn. Henry and his wife Eileen have been parishioners of Saint Saviour Roman Catholic Church since 2002, and their son Hal Matthews attended Saint Saviour Catholic Academy for 12 years, from Nursery though 8th grade, graduating in 2023. He is currently a Sophomore at Xaverian High School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
Henry graduated from Holy Family Elementary School on 14 th Street (closed 1978) and Xaverian High School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Literature from the State University of New York, College at Purchase, and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from the Gabelli Graduate School of Business at Fordham University. Currently a Policy Manager and Senior Vice President at Citibank NA, Henry and his team manage a complex portfolio of documents across the credit risk spectrum. Formally credit trained at the Citicorp Institute for Global Finance, Henry has been a credit risk manager for over 40 years, and has held the coveted title of Senior Credit Officer for the last 25 years.
Henry is a member of The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of the City of Brooklyn, The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of the City of New York, Our Lady of Knock Knights of Columbus Council 17580 (4th Degree Member) in Breezy Point New York, and The Notre Dame Club of Staten Island. Professional memberships include the Risk Management Association, and the Capital Markets Credit Analysts Society. Henry is a strong and vocal advocate of the importance of a Catholic education in supporting the spiritual and academic development of our children at all educational levels.
Veracelle Vega Hansen has served on the Board of Trustees for Saint Saviour Catholic Academy since 2022. Her involvement with SSCA includes serving as co-Parent Teacher Association President from 2013 - 2019 and Auction Chair from 2015 - 2018. She has been a parishioner of St. Saviour since 2005.
She lives in DUMBO with her husband, Christopher. Their three children are all proud graduates of SSCA. She holds a B.A from Syracuse University and an MPA from Villanova University.