Dawn Vermilya’s professional path has been shaped by a desire to serve and a commitment to continuous learning across disciplines and cultures. She began her career as an industrial engineer with General Motors before joining the Peace Corps, where she taught mathematics in The Gambia. She remained there to support a USAID-funded agricultural research project, deepening her understanding of community-based development and institutional capacity building.
Seeking a stronger foundation in development finance, Dawn earned her MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and went on to join the World Bank as a financial analyst. There, she contributed to the financial sustainability of urban and rural water supply and wastewater treatment projects throughout China, working alongside government counterparts and multidisciplinary teams to advance long-term infrastructure solutions.
In 2002, Dawn co-founded Daystar Academy, a Chinese-English bilingual, character-based school in Beijing. She served as its director for the school’s first ten years, helping to shape its mission, governance, and educational philosophy. She regards this chapter as one of profound learning—partnering with educators, families, and students to build an institution rooted in academic excellence, character development, and service. Dawn currently serves on the education-related boards and advisory boards of Daystar Academy, Ivy Education Group, and the Mona Foundation. In these roles, she seeks to contribute thoughtful governance, sound financial stewardship, and the empowerment of grassroots communities.