The Board is committed to helping University School of the Lowcountry to grow and flourish and be successful over the long term. The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) states, “The board is the guardian of the school’s mission. It is the board’s responsibility to ensure that the mission is relevant and vital to the community it serves and to monitor the success of the school in fulfilling its mission.”
Emily Carlile
Emily’s love of learning and how people learn kept her coming back to school time and time again. She first earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in political science and history, then a master’s degree from Ashland University in American history and government, and finally a Master’s in Education in Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Emily spent the majority of her early career as a social studies educator focused on learning design and teaching, building curriculum grounded in learning science for all kinds of learners. That background eventually led her to a software company that leverages student voice intelligence to support student success and persistence, where she has spent the past several years helping colleges and universities listen to and act on what their students are telling them.
Along with her husband and daughter, she calls Charleston, South Carolina home. She continues to ask lots of questions, mostly in the kitchen, where she cooks and bakes constantly. She spends her leisure time writing film reviews, finding any form of exercise she can, chasing a toddler, and hunting down the best meals Charleston has to offer.
Ruth Checketts, Secretary
After growing up in North Carolina, Ruth moved across the country to attend Brigham Young University, where she earned not only a BA in international studies but also a JD. After stops in several other states, she was happy to return to one of the Carolinas. In 2017, Ruth moved to Charleston for a dream job that combined her love for teaching/training and law. Ruth has served in many service and leadership roles in her church, work, and community. She is passionate about the importance of fostering good citizens and is proud to support USL in its incredible work in this area.
Peggy Courtney
Peggy Kirk Courtney, a native of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, graduated from Ashley High School. She then received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and a registered nurse degree from Methodist Hospital University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Peggy worked at Le Bonheur’s Children’s Hospital and The Med Neonatal ICU and Pediatric ICU in Memphis until her first child was born, after which she returned to Mount Pleasant. Desiring a more flexible work schedule as a new parent, she worked as a legal nurse consultant and medical case manager.
Peggy and her husband, Lawrence Courtney, an architect for the City of Charleston, have raised five sons in Mount Pleasant. When their youngest son joined the third grade class at USL, Peggy absolutely fell in love with the school. And so did Will, who graduated from USL in 2021. His only complaints were that the school days were too short and the summers too long. To say that USL gave him a true love of learning is an understatement.
USL not only meets each child’s academic needs, but also provides them with a high degree of emotional intelligence and an innate understanding of how to navigate the world as an adult. Peggy sees serving on USL Board as a great opportunity and honor to give back to a school that consistently gives so much to the students and community at large.
Cailey Davis
Cailey grew up in Athens, Georgia. After graduating from Brigham Young University in accountancy, she earned her master’s at University of Georgia in tax accounting. While studying in Georgia, she volunteered with VITA (IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) to help underprivileged community members file their taxes pro bono. She and her husband now live in Charleston, where she works for Forvis Mazars, an international public accounting firm. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, at the end of 2025. Though she has no prior personal ties to USL, Cailey is drawn to the school because of its unique mission to provide students with both academic rigor and life experience. She looks forward to working with the school in the years to come.
Eric Doesburg, Treasurer
His early engagement in science, engineering and technology brought him to Clemson University (Go Tigers!), where he received a bachelor of cience in Mechanical Engineering (’90). After several years traveling around the world solving customers’ problems as an Application Engineer, he returned to school and earned a Masters in International Business (MIBS ’96, German Track) at the University of South Carolina. Along the way (and with the help and patience from many kind individuals) he has learned (with varying degrees of proficiency) to speak German, Polish, French and Kannada.
Along with his wife, he now calls Charleston, South Carolina home. He continues to travel, be intellectually curious and asks lots of questions. He has two sons who both attended USL and are now in University in Dublin and London. He would love to still be playing lacrosse and spends his leisure time kayaking, cycling, wood working, taking photos and trying to keep up with his two boys as they have their own international adventures.
Judy Hubbard
Judy is a native Floridian and a graduate of the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Education. After graduation, she relocated to South Carolina’s Lowcountry, which she has proudly called home ever since.
Following a distinguished career teaching at Laing Middle School and Cario Middle School, Judy retired from the classroom but remained passionate about education.
She joined the University School of the Lowcountry (USL) as an Office Assistant, where she found great fulfillment in supporting the school’s mission and becoming part of its close-knit community of students, families, and staff.
After retiring once again, Judy enjoys spending time with her family (son Justin and his family and daughter Cary and her family), five grandchildren, and friends. She also loves traveling, gardening, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors. Judy is honored to return to USL in a new capacity as a member of the Board, where she looks forward to supporting the school’s mission and future growth.
Mary Johnston
Mary grew up in Hyde Park, home to the University of Chicago. She received her bachelor’s in English from Brigham Young University and her master’s from Middlebury College. She taught English for fourteen years at various schools in New England. For half that many years she ran community service programs and designed curriculum that integrated community service with literature. When Mary became a mom, she started an editing and tutoring business, Wordworks, and later added a personal history business, Tell Your Stories. Her husband, John Zardus, teaches biology at The Citadel. They are the parents of Sierra, who attended USL, and Jenna. Mary is delighted to support USL because of its civic engagement and deep commitment to experiential education.
Mary B. Johnston
Mary grew up in Hyde Park, home to the University of Chicago. She received her bachelor’s in English from Brigham Young University, and her master’s from Middlebury College. She taught English for fourteen years at various schools in New England. For half that many years, she ran community service programs and designed curriculum that integrated community service with literature. When Mary became a mom, she started an editing and tutoring business, Wordworks, and later added a personal history business, Tell Your Stories. Her husband, John Zardus, teaches biology at The Citadel. They are the parents of Sierra, who attended USL, and Jenna. Mary is delighted to support USL because of its civic engagement and deep commitment to experiential education.
Gisele Woodward, Chair
Born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Gisele attended Babson College in Boston, where she majored in accounting. She earned a master’s in social work at Boston College. In 2006, she and her family moved to the Lowcountry. Their youngest son started in third grade and graduated from USL in 2021; he was one of the first two students to join the Ten Years Society at USL. Their oldest daughter attended USL from eighth to twelfth grade.
Gisele and her husband, Mark, strongly believe that USL fostered their children’s inquisitiveness and independence. Embracing USL’s philosophy that “the world is their classroom,” their children now travel extensively.
