By Julia Eng (III)
After working for almost ten years at the Basking Ridge campus, Mrs. Schifano is leaving Pingry. Before joining the school, she received her B.A. at Villanova University and shortly thereafter began working at a talent agency with newscasters, producers, and even the “Real Housewives” media franchise.
She originally heard about an opening at Pingry through her sister-in-law, an alumnus, and began working with the community in 2011. During the 2020-2021 school year, Mrs. Schifano served as the Director of Middle and Upper School Admission and Director of Financial Aid, working alongside Ms. Sheila Ramirez at the Lower School. Her goal was to make the admissions process as exciting and seamless as possible, often asking herself, “How do we make it interesting for both the students and the families?” In addition, Mrs. Schifano is the Form III Dean, planning events for freshmen students and helping them navigate their first year of high school.
When asked about what she’ll miss most about Pingry, Mrs. Schifano said, “I’m going to miss… working with people who are happy to be here. It’s exciting being able to enjoy what you do.” To her, the experience is incredibly rewarding. Additionally, she enjoys watching kids grow and learn at school. “It’s amazing to watch the students transform.”
Mrs. Schifano is looking forward to the next chapter in her life, which includes working for her family business and stepping back into the business world. When asked about what message she wanted to leave the Pingry community with, she said, “Be open to change… The more open you are, the more opportunities unveil themselves to you. Just know they’re out there, you just have to set [doubt] aside and trust what you think.”
We thank Mrs. Schifano for her work at Pingry and wish her the best of luck!