Meet Our Board of Directors

Adam Ruedig, Chair

Adam Ruedig is a financial advisor with The Ruedig Group at UBS in Concord and Portsmouth, Prior to his career as a financial advisor Adam worked as an architect in New York and Boston. In addition to the Reaching Higher NH board, Adam serves on the Board of the Portsmouth Housing Authority. He has served on the boards of 3S Artspace and Red River Theater. Adam is a graduate of New Hampshire public schools and currently has two children in the Portsmouth public school system.

Elizabeth Lahey, Vice Chair

Elizabeth Lahey is an attorney in Concord. She has been practicing for over 10 years in both the private and public sector. In addition to the Reaching Higher NH board, Elizabeth serves on the board for 603 Legal Aid and the advisory council for the New Hampshire Endowment for Health Race and Equity series. Elizabeth is a graduate of Laconia High School, Kent State University, and UNH School of Law. She and her wife currently have a child in the public school system.

Misty Crompton

Misty Crompton is a dedicated grade 7 social studies teacher of 22 years who lives with her family in New Boston, NH.  As a middle school educator in Derry she has served in many additional roles over the years including Team Leader, History Club advisor, Junior Oratorical organizer and Podcast Club leader. A former adjunct instructor with Southern New Hampshire University, she currently serves on the board of the Derry Education Association, RISE of Peace for Education, and is a member of the education committee with Racial Unity Team of New Hampshire.  

Committed to the promise of public education, Misty has also served in various roles with the National Education Association of New Hampshire such as volunteering with education-related committees, serving as a representative for their national assembly and working with their Leaders for Just Schools program.  In 2020, she was the recipient of the Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical Award through the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to enhance the work of Leaders for Just Schools throughout the state.

Heidi Crumrine

Heidi Crumrine is an English and reading teacher at Concord High School. She has been teaching for 19 years, including three years in the New York City Public Schools. She is the 2018 NH Teacher of the Year.

She has a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire, an M.A.T. in English education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an M.Ed. in reading instruction from Grand Canyon University. Heidi’s writing is published in the “Today’s Teacher” column in the Concord Monitor, as well as on Education Post, Heinemann and various education blogs. Heidi derives great joy in engaging with the students in front of her who she knows they are the best hope for the future.

Ashley Major

Ashley Major is a CPA and is currently the Assistant Vice President of Finance at Saint Anselm College. Prior to that she spent 10 years at a regional accounting firm where she performed audit, tax and consulting engagements with a diverse background of clients including several non-profits throughout NH. She has also served on several non-profit boards of directors and committees of boards. She currently resides in southern NH with her husband and dog where she enjoys ever changing hobbies which have included quilting, reading, running and shopping.

Dr. Lowell Matthews

Dr. Lowell Chris Matthews joined SNHU in 2012 and serves as associate professor of Business Administration & Management, founder of Project AIM, and director of the University Honors Program at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).  As director of Project AIM, he leads the initiative in creating a pathway for incarcerated learners to receive a college degree. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Delaware, a Master of Business Administration from Roosevelt University and a Doctorate of Business Administration from Argosy University.  

Prior to Matthews’ time at SNHU, he served as director of fundraising events for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and as an adjunct professor at Roosevelt University. His research interests include organizational culture, global leadership practices, and social justice and equity. His current research involves exploring post-secondary learning opportunities for youth that chose not to attend college. In his role as faculty member at SNHU he is known for his experiential class delivery and project-based learning. In addition, each semester he hosts Study Break with Dr. Matthews, serves as the advisor to the Men’s Volleyball Club and is a member of the SNHU choir. He also serves in leadership roles for several national professional and nonprofit organizations including the Endowment for Health, World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, and the Racial Unity Team. He volunteers locally with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Manchester and is the 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award recipient.

Selma Naccach-Hoff

Selma Naccach-Hoff is a Manchester native who is a highly respected, long-time English teacher and department head at Manchester High School Central. She served on the committee helping to define an “adequate education” as directed by the New Hampshire courts; on committees to design competency assessments and guidelines for work study practices for New Hampshire schools; and on the committee to establish English Language Arts competencies for the City of Manchester. In addition, Selma has served her greater community as Chair of the Elliot Health System Board of Directors, Chair of the VNA of Manchester and Southern NH Board of Directors, and is a member of the UNH-Manchester Advisory Board, as well as the Manchester Historic Association Board of Directors.

Emeritus Members

Pawn Nitichan

Pawn Nitichan is the Executive Director of City Year New Hampshire and a Vice President of City Year Inc. With Nitichan’s leadership and her commitment to helping students, corps members, and staff succeed, City Year New Hampshire has more than tripled its service capacity and developed a widely recognized culture of idealism. The organization consistently provides high-quality service to kids and communities as reflected in numerous awards including ten Best of City Year Awards, City Year National’s highest recognition, as well as a Corporate Fund’s Dunfey Award. Among Nitichan’s community and professional commitments, she serves on the boards of New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Manchester Proud, as well as the Governor’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council.

Tom Rath

Tom Rath is one of the most notable Republican strategists and advisers in the state. Tom served as the Chairman of the election campaigns of New Hampshire’s former U.S. Senators, Warren Rudman, and Judd Gregg and he actively assisted in the U.S. Senate process that confirmed David Souter as Supreme Court Justice. He was appointed as New Hampshire attorney general in 1978 and later founded Rath, Young, and Pignatelli to provide guidance on legislative and public policy issues.

Alan Reische

Alan Reische is a retired partner with Sheehan Phinney in Manchester. He has been a director of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, a trustee of NHPR, a director with the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits and a director and former chair of New Hampshire Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Alan and his wife Joan have been the 2008 recipients of the NH Charitable Foundation’s Lifetime of Service Award. Alan also has served as a member of Governor Lynch’s Live Free and Start-Up Committee and previously chaired the subcommittee for revisions to and updating of New Hampshire’s securities law. He is a current member of the Board of Directors of City Year NH, and continues to serve on the Governance Committee for NHPR.