Anita Hilson has 19 years of experience in independent schools, primarily in Admissions. She served as Director of Admissions at McDonogh School for nine years and created and managed McDonogh's first alumni mentoring program, McDonogh Connect. As Director of Admissions, she was instrumental in increasing diversity outreach efforts and strengthening relationships with feeder schools and other community organizations. Additionally, she guided McDonogh through the economic crisis that began in 2008, delivering a fully enrolled school at the start of each school year. Anita currently serves as Executive Director of Open Door, a firm that provides before and after care to children in the Baltimore metropolitan area. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Duke University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia. She and her husband Bob have two adult daughters who attended McDonogh School and the Baltimore School for the Arts.