Imagine yourself here

Sarah Edwards joined Walker’s in the fall of 2022 in the role of Financial Aid Specialist. Sarah has held leadership roles in secondary school admission and financial aid for the past 23 years. In 2009, Sarah founded a consulting firm to support independent schools implement mission-aligned financial aid policies. She served as Director of Admission and Financial Aid at The Derryfield School in Manchester, New Hampshire and previously led the Admission and Financial Aid Department for Boston University Academy in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy, Sarah earned a B.A. from Syracuse University, magna cum laude. She has taught English in Fukuyama, Japan before beginning her career in independent schools. Sarah just completed her term on the SAU 16 public school board in Exeter, New Hampshire. Sarah lives with her husband, Adam, and two teenage sons in Exeter, New Hampshire, where she enjoys mountain biking and other outdoor adventures.

Hillary joined the Walker’s Admission team in the summer of 2025, bringing with her a deep commitment to education and a personal connection to the school. A proud Walker’s alumna, Hillary knew the time was right to return to her alma mater and pursue her long-held passion for supporting students and families through their educational journeys. Hillary holds a Bachelor of Arts from Union College and a Master of Arts from New York University. Prior to joining Walker’s, she spent many years working in the public school systems of the Upper East Side of Manhattan and West Hartford, Connecticut, where she pursued a specialization in Special Education with a dedicated focus on addressing unique educational needs of students with disabilities and learning differences. Her background in education has equipped her with a strong foundation in student support and a keen understanding of diverse learning needs. As a student at Walker’s, Hillary was both a day and boarding student and served as captain of the varsity tennis and varsity soccer teams, embodying Walker’s values of leadership, perseverance, and teamwork. Off campus, Hillary enjoys cheering on her children at hockey games and going on long runs with the family’s golden retriever, Gordie. She lives in nearby West Hartford with her husband, their four children, and Gordie. 

Amy received her Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University and her Juris Doctor from Boston University. She worked as an attorney in a general practice in Hartford for several years before taking a position as a full-time parent caring for her three children. She is committed to volunteering in her community, served as co-board chair of Horizons at The Ethel Walker School, is involved in local politics, and serves on a mental health board. Amy was the president of The Ethel Walker School Parent Association and served on the School’s board of trustees when her daughters Georgia ’16, and Holly ’18 were students at Walker’s. Her work in the Admission Office has been a seamless transition due to her deep affection for Walker’s and her involvement over the years. Amy lives in Avon with her family.

Gianna Russillo graduated from Boston University where she majored in anthropology with a concentration in health and medicine and worked for the Admissions Office. She previously worked in the Admission Office at the Forman School. Gianna grew up in the independent school world, both as a faculty kid on a boarding school campus and as a graduate. In her free time, you can find Gianna out for a run, taste-testing any and all desserts, or hiking all over New England!