Mencie Y. Hairston, M.Ed., Founder & Executive Director, established High Bridge Foundation, Inc. with her husband, Dr. Ernest E. Hairston, in February, 2012. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of the Philippines and her Master of Arts degree in Education of the Deaf from Gallaudet University.  She earned her educational degrees through a combination of hard work and scholarships.

Mrs. Hairston is involved in various educational and community outreach initiatives.  She co-founded Mabuhay, Inc., a Filipino-American community organization in Prince George’s County, Maryland in 1985 and serves on its Board of Trustees.  She served on the Scholarship Committee of the Asian American Studies Program at the University of Maryland, the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, and the Board of Directors of Discovering Deaf Worlds.    Mrs. Hairston is an artist and exhibits her works locally.