Leading the Way: Meet the 2026–2027 Presidents Council

At Kent Place, leadership begins long before a student holds an official title. From their earliest years on campus, students are encouraged to discover their strengths, find their voices, and develop their own approaches to leadership. As they move through Primary, Middle, and Upper School, opportunities to lead grow alongside them — in the classroom, through clubs and athletics, and within the broader school community.

In the Upper School, the Presidents Council brings together the presidents of the school’s student committees and the senior class president. Together, these eight leaders are the pulse of the student body, collaborating across their respective areas to strengthen the Upper School experience.

Members of the 2026–2027 Presidents Council are Mira Emany ’27, Judiciary Committee President; Amel Jean-Baptiste ’27, Student Affairs Committee President; Emerson (Emmie) Kimball ’27, Social Committee President; Mira Lalani ’27, Senate President; Kendi Littletree ’27, Arts Committee President; Priyana Manglani ’27, Community Service Committee President; Pranavi Raina ’27, Athletic Association President; and Vivienne Vengroff ’27, Senior Class President.

The girls recently came together for a leadership summit, at which they developed a theme to help guide their work and the Upper School community over the course of the year. The result: “Building Sisterhood: Encouraging Authenticity, Supporting with Kindness, Giving Respect, Leaving a Legacy.”

Read on to learn more about the eight student leaders who are bringing this year’s theme — and the work of the Presidents Council — to life.

Mira Emany ’27

• Position on Presidents Council: Judiciary Committee President
• Years at KPS: 7
• Other Activities: Captain of Varsity Lacrosse (committed to playing lacrosse at Dartmouth); Varsity Soccer; Environmental Club leader; Green Key senior mentor; Peer Ed leader
• What are you most excited about for this year’s Presidents Council? To work with the amazing people in the group and be involved behind the scenes in all the traditions, events, and memories that I love so much. I get to be involved in creating these events for the rest of the school, and I’m so excited to do that!
• What advice do you have for underclasswomen who aspire to be school leaders? Try to make connections with everyone, not just your friends. To be able to lead, you need to be able to understand the broader community’s opinions and how your role will impact them. Make as many friends, meet as many people, and make as many connections as you possibly can. Then you’ll be set to lead.

Amel Jean-Baptiste ’27

• Position on Presidents Council: Student Affairs Committee President
• Years at KPS: 4
• Other Activities: Co-President of the French Club and a member of GEMS (Girls Exploring Medical Sciences) and JSA (Junior State of America). Outside of school, I teach at a children’s STEM center and volunteer at a group home for women with developmental disabilities.
• What are you most excited about for this year’s Presidents Council? The opportunity to strengthen connections across all divisions. Through KPS traditions, events, and community-building initiatives, I hope to inspire greater participation and school spirit while helping every student feel more connected to our community.
• What advice do you have for underclasswomen who aspire to be school leaders? Pursue what genuinely interests you and use your strengths to make a positive impact. Leadership is most effective when it comes from authenticity. If you’re passionate about something and willing to put in the work, others will recognize your dedication and trust you to lead.

Emerson (Emmie) Kimball ’27

• Position on Presidents Council: Social Committee President
• Years at KPS: 7
• Other Activities: I’m NREMT certified, a lifeguard, and a babysitter, and I love reading! 
• Share a reflection from last week’s Leadership Summit. Each committee is a mosaic of all of its committee members; everyone’s perspectives and participation are necessary.
• What advice do you have for underclasswomen who aspire to be school leaders? Keep running and fighting for the positions you want, and learn to be flexible and approachable.

Mira Lalani ’27

• Position on Presidents Council: Senate President
• Years at KPS: 7 
• Other Activities: Varsity Tennis Captain; Co-President of V.O.I.C.E. (Valuing Outreach in Community Engagement); President of GLAM’D (Girls Learn and Make a Difference); published bioethics researcher; reproductive endocrinology shadowing at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center; founder of a literacy program through my volunteer work
• What’s one of your goals for your leadership position this year? To make sure student voice is more than just an idea. I want the Senate to be a place where students feel comfortable bringing forward ideas, concerns, and even small things that could make everyday life at KPS better. Most important, I want us to turn those conversations into action and implement changes that last beyond this year.
• What advice do you have for underclasswomen who aspire to be school leaders? Don’t wait until you have a title to start leading. Some of the best leadership happens when you notice something that could be better and decide to do something about it. Speak up, ask questions, listen to people who see things differently, and don’t be afraid to start small. If you care about something, people will notice.

Kendi Littletree ’27

• Position on Presidents Council: Arts Committee President
• Years at KPS: 7
• Other Activities: Upper School musical; SOCAPA (School of Creative & Performing Arts); Co-President of Arts & Improv Club; Green Key member; Visual Arts Center of New Jersey volunteer; lifeguard
• What are you most excited about for this year’s Presidents Council? To collaborate with the other members. I got super lucky because the group is really motivated and innovative, and some of them are my closest friends. I think making decisions or coming up with ideas will be a lot of fun! 
• What advice do you have for underclasswomen who aspire to be school leaders? Stay persistent. Don’t think of school elections as popularity contests. As you and your grade mature, people will begin to view candidates not just as friends but as students who can make meaningful changes to the school or a committee. I ran for Arts Committee vice president three times and lost twice before finally winning, so don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away. And have fun with your speech and take risks. I always tried to make mine memorable, no matter how ridiculous!

Priyana Manglani ’27

• Position on Presidents Council: Community Service Committee President
• Years at KPS: 4
• Other Activities: Research intern at Columbia University’s Stem Cell Initiative; Ethics Bowl; Bioethics Scholar; Children’s Hope India Chapter 3 leader; President of GEMS (Girls Exploring Medical Sciences); Varsity Squash; Mock Trial
• What are you most excited about for this year’s Presidents Council? I’m looking forward to seeing how all of our different passions and personalities blend to create a model of leaders whom other students can look to for guidance. I also find comfort in knowing that I can rely on my fellow council members to support my leadership journey, and I’ll do the same for them. Most of all, I can’t wait for the fun traditions like dressing up in costumes to represent our respective committees.
• What advice do you have for underclasswomen who aspire to be school leaders? Try every single time. By making a speech at every election and preparing yourself to put in the effort, you’re giving yourself the best chance to gain a leadership position in, say, a committee. Even if an election isn’t successful, know that your hard work was still worthwhile. During the process, you’re learning and embracing the qualities necessary to be a leader: resilience, commitment, and passion.

Pranavi Raina ’27

• Position on Presidents Council: Athletic Association President
• Years at KPS: 4
• Other Activities: Varsity Volleyball Captain; Club Volleyball; Co-President of GEMS (Girls Exploring Medical Sciences); Co-President of CLIF (Crime Lab, Investigation, and Forensics Club)
• What are you most excited about for this year’s Presidents Council? To work with this welcoming group of girls who I have the privilege of getting closer with and learning from.
• What advice do you have for underclasswomen who aspire to be school leaders? Try everything, even if you’re not totally interested in it at first. Go to that random club, apply for a new position, and run for that committee — you never know what you’ll find to love!

Vivienne Vengroff ’27

• Position on Presidents Council: Senior Class President
• Years at KPS: 4
• Other Activities: I’m super involved in theater and acting, both inside and outside of school.
• What’s one of your goals for your leadership position this year? As Senior Class President, I really hope to build a strong and positive community during the college-application process. I’ve already started some initiatives with my vice president and secretary to accomplish this, such as a Polaroid wall of memories and “pump-up buddies” to celebrate after college deadlines.
• What advice do you have for underclasswomen who aspire to be school leaders? Keep trying! I lost elections my freshman, sophomore, and junior years. There’s this idea that “popularity” matters. Don’t pay attention to that. Once you get older, that idea doesn’t mean anything; we all work together to make our school better.