About
Leadership
Get to Know Our DirectorA Profile & the Search
Rob Hereford is the 12th Director of Peabody Demonstration School and University School of Nashville. His demonstrated leadership, coupled with his warmth, clarity, and deep commitment to collaboration, reflects the Board of Trustees' highest aspirations for this role. He brings a proven ability to nurture strong school communities, a steady hand in times of transition, and an inspiring vision for USN’s future — including advancing our already exceptional programs in athletics and the arts to stand alongside our academic distinction.
Between the Board's September 2025 announcement and his first official day at USN on July 1, 2026, Mr. Hereford spent significant time getting to know the USN community by attending master planning sessions, fundraising events, and meetings with the Administrative Team. He joined USN with more than three decades of experience in independent schools, having served as a teacher, coach, department chair, academic dean, division head, and head of school. Most recently, he led Metairie Park Country Day School in New Orleans, a coeducational PK-12 school of 750 students. Prior to that, he served as Head of School at Laguna Blanca School in Santa Barbara, California, and earlier held leadership roles at Fort Worth Country Day School and Metairie Park Country Day. Rob began his career at Episcopal High School in Houston.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hereford has been known as an approachable and steady leader. Students describe him as eager to listen and open to new ideas. Faculty and staff appreciate his collaborative spirit and his commitment to ensuring they have the resources and voice to succeed. He has successfully guided multimillion-dollar fundraising campaigns and has led important work in shaping and successfully executing strategic plans and accreditation processes. Twice stepping into schools following interim leadership, Mr. Hereford has built a reputation for rebuilding trust and strengthening community.
A native of Selma, Alabama, and a proud Vanderbilt University alumnus, Mr. Hereford holds a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from Vanderbilt, a master’s degree in history from the University of Georgia, and a master’s degree in Private School Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
School LeadershipBoard of Trustees
The USN Board of Trustees serves to fulfill the Mission of USN:University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
USN Board of Trustees Members
List of 4 items.
-
Executive Committee
President: Alex Jahangir
Vice President: Erin Zagnoev
Co-Secretaries: Kristin Wilson and Robert Perry '03
Treasurer: Jim Rieniets -
Board Members
Aole Ansari
McLean Barbieri ’97
Marcya Carter-Sheats
Chris Chamberlain ’85
Vinh Duong
Richard Ewing IV ’83
Reagan Farr
Benjamin Goldberg ’98
Shanna Singh Hughey
Tonia Klein
Christopher Mixon
Sneha Oakley ’94
Will Radford
Jennifer Russell
Divya Shroff
David Spigel ’88
Kelly Unger
Naima Walker Fierce
Matthew Wolf ’99 -
Emeritus Members
Teri Doochin Kasselberg '73
Ann FundisFrank GarrisonJohn Hassenfeld '75Mike Shmerling '73
Raymond Zimmerman -
Ex Officio Members
Juliet Douglas, Interim DirectorKim Kikkawa and Amy Tidwell, 2025-2026 USNA Co-PresidentsBeth and Jason Wolf, 2025-2026 Annual Fund Co-ChairsKayla Miller '10, 2025-2026 Vice President, PDS/USN Alumni AssociationMarte Beaty, 2025-2026 Faculty Representative
USN Administrative Team
List of 15 members.
1915 to presentPDS/USN Directors
- Dr. Richard Thomas Alexander
1915 – 1924 - Dr. William Henry Yarbrough
1924 – 1937 - Dr. John Edwin Windrow
1937 – 1947 - Dr. T. Ross Fink
1947 – 1951 - Dr. William Knox McCharen
1951 – 1968 - L. Edward Pratt
1968 – 1977 - Harold Snedcof
1977 – 1978 - Heber Rogers*
1978 – 1979 - Harvey B. Sperling
1979 – 1990 - Kay Simmons*
1990 – 1991 - Edward R. Costello
1991 – 1999 - Dr. Jean Gray Litterer*
1999 – 2000 - Dr. Vincent W. Durnan Jr.
2000 – 2022 - Amani Reed
2022 – 2025 - Dr. Chai Reddy**
January 7, 2025 – March 30, 2025 - Juliet Douglas*
March 31, 2025 – June 30, 2026 - Robert Hereford
July 1, 2026 – Present
*Interim Director
**Acting Head of School
Contact USN
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.