Board of Trustees
Leadership
Chris DeWitt – Chair of the Board
Chris is a corporate attorney with more than a decade of experience advising businesses on corporate structure, commercial and transactional matters. She currently serves as in-house counsel at QXO, Inc. (previously Beacon Building Products), responsible for corporate governance, securities law compliance, and enterprise risk management. Prior to that, she owned a sole practice, Narratis PLLC, representing small, women-owned businesses on a variety of transactional and general commercial matters. Early in her career, Chris worked at two, large Washington, D.C. law firms, Sher Blackwell LLP and Shaw Pittman LLP, representing clients in IPOs and other public offerings, venture capital transactions, mergers & acquisitions, and general corporate law matters.
Chris served as the Board Chair of the Loudoun Coalition of Women and Girls at its inception, leading the non-profit’s launch and operationalization.
Chris is passionate about LSAS’s mission, because she has witnessed the transformative power of its genuinely inclusive, curiosity-driven academic environment first-hand in her own child.
Aiden Akers – Board Secretary
Aiden Akers is a proud LSAS alumnus and former member of Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, Aiden brings a deep appreciation for advanced learning and transformative experiences.
After graduating from LSAS, Aiden’s adventurous nature led him to become the youngest member, later, the leader, of a small expedition that backpacked through Utah’s Green River corridor and the rugged Jacobs Chair region. With no phones, and only what they could carry on their backs, the experience stripped life down to the essentials. Profound and life-changing, that clarity helped shape Aiden’s next bold decision declining a scholarship to Wake Forest University to co-found a sports technology startup. As COO, he helped develop computer-vision and machine-learning tools designed to support position-specific hockey training, blending innovation, athletics, and entrepreneurship.
Deeply grateful for the impact LSAS had on his own development, Aiden is committed to ensuring future students have access to the same transformative opportunities and supportive community that shaped his path.
Mark DeWitt – Board Member
Mark DeWitt brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in law, compliance, and governance to the Board. He currently serves as Chief Legal Officer for GardaWorld Federal Services, where he oversees legal, compliance, and risk management.
Throughout his career, Mark has held senior legal roles in both private practice and corporate settings, including at the firms Booz Allen Hamilton and Constellis. His work has focused on guiding organizations through complex regulatory environments, building strong governance frameworks, and fostering collaboration across diverse stakeholders.
Mark holds a B.S. in Finance and International Business from Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America. He has served on multiple non-profit boards and industry associations, including leadership roles with the International Stability Operations Association based in Washington, D.C., and the International Code of Conduct Association based in Geneva, Switzerland, which he helped develop and launch in 2013.
As a board member, Mark is committed to supporting the school’s mission of academic excellence coupled with an inclusive community. He values education as the foundation for opportunity and is dedicated to helping the school community thrive through sound governance, thoughtful stewardship, and a focus on student success.
Rollie Lal - Board Member
Dr. Rollie Lal is a Professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, where she teaches graduate courses on Transnational Security, the Security Capstone, and Security and Religion. She is also co-chair of the Global Affairs and Religion Network (GARNET). Her research focuses on organized crime, terrorism, religious extremism, human rights, China, South Asia, and other areas. Previously she was Associate Professor at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies. Dr. Lal also served as Assistant Professor at the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School in Gent, Belgium and St. Petersburg, Russia, where she taught MBA courses on international business management and risk analysis. From 2002-06 she was a political scientist at RAND, where she performed research and analysis on a wide spectrum of economic and security issues. She is the author of several books, including Terrorist Criminal Enterprises, Understanding China and India, Central Asia and Its Asian Neighbors, Iran's Political, Demographic, and Economic Vulnerabilities, and The Muslim World After 9/11. She was a correspondent for the Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun in the 1990s and has published articles in other newspapers including The Financial Times and The New York Times. Dr. Lal received her Ph.D. in International Relations and her M.A. in Strategic Studies and International Economics from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and her B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland at College Park.
Dr. Lal’s daughter is a high school student at LSAS who is planning a career in electrical engineering. They love the exceptional teaching and individualized attention that LSAS provides.
Meghan Marinos – Board Member
Meghan Marinos is an educational leader with experience across special education, online and in-person school administration, accreditation, admissions, and strategic planning. Based in Leesburg, Virginia, she has focused her career on strengthening school culture, elevating instructional practices, and supporting organizational growth.
Her work includes leadership roles at The Aurora School, ICL Academy, and Fusion Academy, where she contributed to increased enrollment, high parent satisfaction, and the development of new programs and campuses. Known for a collaborative approach and clear communication, she specializes in building cohesive teams, designing effective systems, and supporting both student outcomes and operational efficiency. Her expertise spans curriculum development, teacher coaching, accreditation processes, and program design.
Meghan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Communication Studies from West Virginia University.
As someone who believes strongly that education is not a one-size-fits-all, Meghan is passionate about LSAS’s model of rigor without pressure. Students receive a deeper understanding of the curriculum and graduate well prepared for college level work.
Jasper Zeng – Board Member
Jasper Zeng is a dedicated father of two daughters attending LSAS, where he actively supports initiatives that build lasting financial strength and also foster a nurturing environment where students thrive. Since taking early retirement in 2019, he has devoted his time to community service, volunteering with organizations such as Reston Strong and Reston Remakery, and co-founding the Northern Virginia Badminton Club (NVBC) in 2014 to promote and advocate for the sport within the local community. With over two decades of experience in software engineering across the telecommunications, hospitality, and real estate sectors, Mr. Zeng holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelor of Economics in Business from Wuhan University.
Mr. Zeng is inspired by the quote, “It is not our abilities that show what we truly are, it is our choices.” - Professor Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets). He believes the values of courage, kindness/love, and integrity best embody this philosophy - qualities he sees deeply cultivated within the LSAS community. For this reason, he places his full trust in LSAS to guide his daughters’ education and personal growth.