Maryann Hedaa is the Founder and Managing Director of The Hunts Point Alliance for Children.  In 2004, Maryann founded St. Ignatius School for Girls. She was named Principal of St. Ignatius School in 2005 and integrated the boys’ and girls’ programs. Maryann is not new to Hunts Point.  In 1979, she served as the Environmental Education Coordinator for the Bronx Frontier Development Corporation.

Also in 1979, she founded URBAN ADVENTURES, an adapted Outward Bound Program for inner city youth.  She was the Executive Director of the program for six years.  During that time, she developed the Project Discovery Program at South Bronx High School.  This youth leadership program currently exists in several New York City High Schools.

Maryann has taught in the MBA Program, the  Executive MBA Program and the Institute for Not for Profit Management at Columbia Business School.  In addition to her teaching, she served as Director for The Institute for Not for Profit Management and the Assistant Dean of Executive Education.  Her area of expertise is leadership development, with a focus on how to sustain high levels of commitment and motivation in challenging work environments.

Maryann earned a BA in History from St. John’s University, an MA and MS from St. Mary’s College in Ethics and Psychology, an MS from Columbia Business School and an STL in Social Ethics from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. She currently is a member of the Board of Directors for both the Children’s Law Center and the Shakespeare Society.