About Us

Rob Birdsell is a veteran Catholic school educator, having started his career teaching in Jesuit high schools. He led the Cristo Rey Network’s national expansion as CEO and was a founder and director of the Drexel Fund, a venture philanthropy fund focused on making grants to expand school choice. Rob also brings international Catholic education experience to the organization, having been one of the founders and executive vice presidents of Amerigo Education. He continues to support Amerigo as Senior Advisor.

Rob is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a Fellow of the Aspen Institute. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and received his MBA is from the Lubar School at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Rob has taught courses at DePaul University and Loyola University Chicago. In addition to his serving on the Board of the Drexel Fund, he currently serves on the Board of Loyola Press and has been a Board Member at Alain Locke Charter School, the Jesuit Virtual Learning Academy, and was a Commissioner for the American Center for School Choice’s Commission on Faith-based Schools.

Pat is the Chief Academic Officer for Hudson Global Scholars and its network of schools. Previously, she spent 12 years in leadership roles at Connections Education (Pearson Online and Blended Learning) as Chief Academic Officer and head of Curriculum and Instruction. In addition, she was the Vice President of Education and Learning Innovation for Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore, MD; the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Catapult Learning; and the Executive Director of Education at eSylvan, where she led a team that developed 25,000 online lessons in reading and mathematics. She also supervised reading and language arts curriculum for Baltimore County Public Schools and served as a speech-language pathologist within K–12 schools.

Pat was awarded honors at the 2019 Zaentz Early Education Innovation Challenge at Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2015, the United States Distance Learning Association – International Distance Learning Awards recognized her for Outstanding Leadership by an Individual in the Field of Distance Learning and for Best Practices in Distance Learning Program (Connections Education Professional Learning Model).

Pat holds a PhD in K–12 Educational Leadership from Walden University School of Education, and Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University. She serves on numerous boards and educational association committees, including the Towson University Foundation Board, the Port Discovery Children’s Museum Board in Baltimore, MD, and the Alliance for Virtual Learning where she led the development and implementation of the Alliance’s summer 2020 Virtual Teaching Academy for teachers and school leaders across the globe.

Ryan Hunt is a seasoned business development professional with deep expertise at the intersection of technology and education. In his current role, he proudly partners with Catholic schools and dioceses to implement online learning solutions that expand access and enhance student success. Previously, he honed his technology-forward sales expertise at Micro Center, leading a department and earning national recognition for top Apple product performance. He also oversaw a 23-location retail portfolio for Dyson through MarketSource, leading training, relationship building, and team motivation to maximize results. A graduate of Wake Forest University with a BA in History and English, Ryan blends a people-first leadership style with a strategic approach to ed‑tech sales—making him a dynamic leader in advancing Catholic education through innovation.

Emily Adolph is an experienced account manager and education partner dedicated to supporting Catholic schools, dioceses, and faith-based learning communities. She works closely with school leaders to provide flexible online and blended learning solutions that help students remain academically successful while honoring the mission and values of Catholic education.

With a strong background in education, online learning, educational technology, and client relationship management, Emily is known for her thoughtful, relationship-centered approach. She supports schools with course planning, credit recovery, and staffing support, helping administrators navigate challenges with clarity, responsiveness, and care. Her experience in sales and business development across multiple industries allows her to build trusted partnerships and deliver tailored solutions that meet each school’s unique needs.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Fairmont State University. Her academic foundation in human development, communication, and relationship-building informs her work and strengthens her ability to advocate for students, families, and educators. Emily is passionate about using online learning as a meaningful tool to expand access, support student success, and strengthen Catholic education communities.

Father Michael Murray, OSFS, is a Delaware native with degrees in psychology, divinity, and educational administration from De Sales University, De Sales School of Theology, and George Washington University. He spent 12 years in secondary school leadership in Wilmington and Philadelphia before serving in various ministries with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, focusing on Salesian spirituality. Appointed parochial vicar of St. John Neumann in 2022 and later parish administrator, Father Murray is also an accomplished railroad photojournalist. Over four decades, his work has appeared in numerous industry publications, and he has coauthored two books with Morning Sun Books on the Pennsylvania Railroad and SEPTA.