Castilleja Full Circle Spring 2026

Full Circle

CASTILLEJA

Our Bright and Connected Future

Dear Castilleja Community,

As I near the close of my first year at Castilleja, I am especially excited to share one more first with all of you—my first letter in Full Circle. As an alumna of a girls’ school myself, I know how much I love seeing the magazine arrive in my mailbox, and I’m delighted to be part of preparing this publication for all of you.

COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT At this point in time, I find that I’m of two minds. On one level, Castilleja feels like a home I have always known, and then on another, it feels like a world I will continue to discover for years to come. In both cases, I remain completely enamored. I see the familiar energy of learning in a girls’ school setting playing out in new ways with Upper School students who are building actual prosthetics in an ACE Org and Middle School students who are truly invigorated by National History Day. Across both divisions, what distinguishes Castilleja from so many other excellent schools is our students’ impressive capacity to collaborate and support each other—even as they do their very best to reach their own potential.

TRADITIONS AND CONNECTIONS Through alumnae events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City, I know those connections remain strong long after graduation. In the pages of this magazine, you’ll see an expanded section about Reunion/Alum Day and stories from alums who’ve gone into fields that didn’t really exist when they graduated. You’ll also find updates about daily life. At a recent conference for the National Association of Independent Schools, I was reminded that traditions are an important part of the broader independent school culture, but they are especially strong in girls’ schools. This is why I selected three alumnae to serve on the Casti Village Task Force that has helped us preserve the rituals that define us as we move into Casti Village. We are excited for this new adventure as a community and for a bright future on our updated campus.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE Finally, as we contemplate Castilleja’s bright future, I want to share one other exciting process that everyone in our community will be asked to contribute to: the creation of a new strategic plan. The question I am asked more than any other centers around my vision for Castilleja. Of course, as a product of a girls’ school, I’m very opinionated and more than ready to share my thoughts. However, I realize that this school is precious to all of us, and that’s why I want to invite you all into co-creating Castilleja’s next chapter with me. In particular, be on the lookout for a survey. When you applied to Castilleja, many of you were asked to share your hopes and dreams for your futures. Now I’m eager for you to share your hopes and dreams for Castilleja. I know that as an invested and caring community, we are always going to be better together.

Sincerely,

Dr. Betty Noel-Pierre Castilleja Head of School

On A Positive Note

NEWLY APPOINTED CEO OF TED LOGAN MCCLURE DAVDA ’04 USES POSITIVITY, CURIOSITY, AND A SENSE OF ADVENTURE TO GUIDE HER CAREER AND OUTLOOK ON LIFE

“Happy Wednesday!” Logan McClure Davda ’04 says with a smile on a recent Zoom call.

It’s an upbeat place to start. In fact, she answered the phone the same way during her time working for the Obama Foundation, and President Obama, who was on the other end of the line, started to chuckle and asked her whether she was always that positive. Those who know Logan will attest that she is.

This past October, when the longtime head of TED Chris Anderson named Logan as the next CEO, the news sparked a conversation at a faculty lunch table here on campus. “How many of our alums are now working in fields that didn’t really exist when they graduated from Castilleja?” one teacher asked another when they contemplated this leadership role in the realm of new media. Technically, TED was founded in the 1980s, but its model and scale didn’t begin to take shape until several decades later.

Logan is surprised by the question when it is posed to her and offers a completely different perspective. “Of course, there were TED Talks when I was at Castilleja,” she says. “We called them Senior Speeches.” Given the way Logan begins conversations, it comes as no surprise that her senior speech, as she describes it, “was essentially a list of little things in life that bring me joy.”

Now married and a mother of young children, Logan has established a career guided by that signature positivity as well as her inherent curiosity and sense of adventure. She graduated with a degree in political science from Stanford and her first job was also with TED, working with its Fellows program. From there, she moved into tech working at Palantir, then into the nonprofit space with the Obama Foundation. Of this varied and unexpected path, she says, “It might not make sense to the outside observer…but each step was connected by the questions I was asking along the way, what I wanted to learn and what I was most curious about.”

When thinking about where she developed that curiosity and desire to keep learning, she says that Castilleja was foundational. “Ms. McKeeHA taught me how to find the key ideas in everything I read. What to highlight, underline…and always color-coded!” she says enthusiastically. “And in English class, Ms. Büchmann made it so much fun to craft an argument while dissecting a novel. It was more like an investigative journalism class than a literature class and really showed me the excitement of intellectual curiosity.”

When thinking about how these experiences still shape her life today, Logan says, “It all contributes to my core belief in the goodness of people. When you stay curious and humble, you can enter new spaces, see the best in everyone, and stay open to

what they can teach you.” This outlook is something she relies on every day in her new role at TED, whose mission she finds more compelling than ever for two reasons. “First, in our fractured and politicized media landscape, finding trustworthy, unexpected, inspirational information has become so difficult. And second, with the growing isolation that people are facing around the world, sharing our stories and deeply connecting with others really motivates me.”

Thinking back to her own “TED Talk” as a senior, she remembers a few of the items from the list of things that gave her joy at that time in her life. “The smell of a freshly opened can of tennis balls. Wint-O-Green LifeSavers. And there’s this one spot on 280–driving south from San Francisco at night, you can’t see any cars in front of you or behind you…it’s pitch black on a wide open road.” She admits that one of the best parts about getting older is that her list only gets longer. Thinking of her husband and children, she adds, “each morning, our kids climb in bed with us for ten minutes, and it’s the best way to start the day.”

Rituals and traditions like this one occupy a lot of space in the growing list of things that bring Logan joy. “I learned about the power of rituals from my parents. They invented a lot of traditions, and I think that was about creating our family unit.” Logan’s mother, Chirstina Hansen McClure ’71, also went to Castilleja, and traditions were a big part of Logan’s life. She explains, “Even before I was a student, when I was a little kid, my mom and grandma were still helping with sewing projects for Banquet, so that tradition kept all of us connected to the community.”

Some of the items on her list, however, defy all explanation. “I love the post office!” she exclaims, and adds, “I know I’m probably part of the less than one percent of people who would ever say that, but I mean it.”

As she closes the Zoom call, Logan says, “Talking about Castilleja was the highlight of my day.” Given her personal worldview and her professional sphere, this is really an accomplishment for Castilleja.

Advances in Learning

FROM BUILDING STUDENT-LED PROGRAMS AT CASTILLEJA TO LAUNCHING NEW LEARNING EXPERIENCES AS VICE PROVOST AT HARVARD, TIFFANY WONG ’07 HARNESSES EDUCATION TO DRIVE REAL-WORLD CHANGE

If you ask Tiffany Wong ’07 what she wanted to be when she was little, she’ll readily say, “Pediatric Oncologist.” Creating classes for global online learning platforms was neither on her radar nor on the roster of available careers when she graduated.

And yet for the past 13 years, Tiffany has been an Instructional Design Lead of courses for HarvardX, a nonprofit provider of free online classes accessible to anyone around the globe. Although this career didn’t exist when Tiffany was in school, it is here on the Circle that she developed a passion for education and the courage to tackle the unknown.

For these lessons, she credits her history teachers Peggy McKeeHA and Jeannine MarstonHA and community service coordinator Karen TobeyHA. Tiffany, who earned her BA in History and Asian Studies from UC Berkeley and her MEd in International Education Policy from Harvard, says, “Taking Ms. Marston’s history course at Casti really gave me the confidence to pursue history in college and to really think about how to use primary sources when teaching history in the courses I created.”

At Castilleja, Tiffany was busy innovating and serving the community around her, so it’s no wonder she chose to devote her life’s work to a brand-new, mission-driven profession. As a middle schooler, Tiffany built an arts curriculum and taught elementary school kids in East Palo Alto. In high school, she volunteered at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, co-founded the Red Cross Club with her sister Bonnie Wong ’08, a fellow Castilleja alumna, and was one of the founding members of Gatorbotics. Then, after college, she taught in a village in China that was still recovering from the devastating Sichuan earthquake. “We got a really good understanding of the difficulties and challenges that the rural students, mostly ethnic minorities, face in China,” says Tiffany. “But I wanted to better understand, from a policy level, the barriers that educators and teachers face.”

That’s why, in graduate school, she delved into qualitative and quantitative research and helped design content for classes that would be accessible by thousands of people worldwide—an unchartered territory at the time. “We didn’t know how people learned online and how it would be at scale for 50,000 learners,” she says. Castilleja was once again there to guide her: Tiffany consulted with Ms. Marston about how she used Massive Open Online Courses with her own students at Castilleja.

Now at The Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning at Harvard, Tiffany designs content and launches learning experiences that make a difference in the lives of people around the world. These include a Child Protection course, for which she tapped into experts like UNICEF and which has drawn nearly 300,000 learners from 98 countries, from a police officer in India to a psychiatrist in Turkey. “A lot of people found this course useful in different ways and were able to apply it in their careers and daily lives. [It] tangibly improved the lives of children at risk around the world,” she says.

She also teaches through her art. Tiffany depicts trailblazing women in watercolor and posts them on her Instagram channel, called Women Creating Change, along with their biographies and achievements. Teachers nationwide often use her posts for educational activities. “I wanted to do something positive, so I started a spreadsheet and started painting a woman a day. It was really cool to learn about all these women who are doing amazing things, which I knew from my time at Casti already,” says Tiffany, remembering seeing Madeleine Albright speak at the school.

Looking back, Tiffany credits Castilleja for equipping her with the tools and the passion to do meaningful work. “The teachers at Castilleja showed me the power of education and inspired me to be an educator,” she says.

“Women Creating Change” Illustrations by Tiffany Wong ’07

Lauren SchryverHA, Paula Wu ’07, Tiffany Wong ’07, and Jeannine MarstonHA on campus in 2017.

A Journey in Big Tech

WORKING IN THE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING FIELD OF AI, SANDHYA “SANDY” PILLALAMARRI BANERJEE ’05 EXPLORES THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE DON’T KNOW AND CONTINUES TO LEARN ALONG THE WAY

Sandhya “Sandy” Pillalamarri Banerjee ’05 has spearheaded marketing teams at the world’s leading tech companies, from Facebook to Anthropic. Yet when she looks at her career trajectory, she admits it’s been anything but linear.

“What I wanted to be when I grew up changed a lot over time,” says Sandy, who was Anthropic’s first marketing hire and is now the Head of Revenue and Developer Marketing. That’s the takeaway she wants to share: you don’t always know what your professional path will turn out to be. You might end up working in a field that doesn’t even exist yet.

As a child, Sandy wanted to be an astronaut and “explore new frontiers,” she says. At Castilleja, she became interested in biology. She ultimately majored in economics with a minor in marketing psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and went on to get an MBA at Wharton. After consulting for clients from banking to healthcare, it’s marketing and technology that ultimately won her over. Now, Sandy explores new frontiers every day. “The world looks so different than when I graduated from high school. I never predicted this is where I would be now,” she says.

A few years back, while leading marketing at a search engine startup in Silicon Valley, Sandy started using an early version of OpenAI’s models and testing the first version of Anthropic’s Claude AI. That’s when she saw the awe-inspiring capability of artificial intelligence.

“I remember trying Claude and feeling excited about its possibilities,” says Sandy. Back when she was a student at Castilleja, she learned to make her voice heard, and this lesson was about to come in handy again. “Castilleja taught me to have confidence in clearly raising my hand. It fostered the environment of ‘You must speak your mind, and if sometimes you get it wrong, that’s okay,’” she remembers. “So I met with the Anthropic leadership and said, ‘I think I can help you. I know a lot about the market and positioning.’” Since then, Sandy has been engaged in all types of marketing at Anthropic, from hiring and training staff to leading new teams. “Big tech is a journey,” she says. “Right now I’m focused on customer stories and campaigns to help businesses understand the technology and adopt it successfully.”

Sandy fondly remembers her Castilleja teachers and activities—from science classes with Mr. Matthew Peck and Ms. Judith WagnerHA to French with Ms. Aurélie Bordet, who inspired her to study abroad in

Paris; yet it’s the habits of mind she cultivated here that have had the most profound impact. Castilleja gave Sandy a strong set of skills that have carried into her career: teamwork through lacrosse and volleyball, critical thinking from STEM, writing and analysis in humanities. “A lot of what I learned at Castilleja is to ask the right questions, so we can better navigate the dichotomy between what we know and what we don’t know, which is often the bigger part of the puzzle,” explains Sandy. “I learned to interrogate content and deeply engage with it.”

“Castilleja taught me to have confidence in clearly raising my hand. It fostered the environment of ‘You must speak your mind, and if sometimes you get it wrong, that’s okay.’” — SANDY PILLALAMARRI BANERJEE ’05

These skills help her explore artificial intelligence today. “We don’t fully understand what these models will be capable of in the future. And we have to communicate to the market with real care and humility and approach it with a sense of questioning,” she says. “It’s a very interesting experience to work in a field that is constantly evolving. How do you make decisions using the knowledge of what’s come before you while operating in a new and changing environment?”

“Artificial intelligence will transform the workplace, and we must be ready. Don’t focus on the role and the title,” she says. Instead, ask yourself, “What do I want to learn and what kind of person do I want to be? Follow what pulls you and what you’re great at.”

UPPER SCHOOL VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE (clockwise from top left): Sabrina

Wallgren ’27, Katrina Huang ’26, Ava Kwok ’26, and Anaïs Boulanger ’27

Reunion/Alum Day

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, we welcomed over 150 alums and their guests back to campus. The alumnae bonded over shared memories and met with many current and former faculty, including Honorary Alums—those who’ve given Castilleja a decade or longer of service.

Save the Date!

Reunion/Alum Day is September 26, 2026. While we welcome ALL alumnae back to the Circle, we will especially celebrate graduation years ending in 1 and 6.

The festivities began poolside with the Lockey Gathering, where alumnae celebrating a reunion of 50 years or more enjoyed a conversation with our new Head of School Dr. Betty Noel-Pierre, while others, including our Honorary Alums, gathered in the lobby and in Alum Court to get reacquainted. All alums then made their way to the Chapel Theater for the day’s symposium, featuring a student dance video and welcome remarks from Liz Babb ’82, Director of Alumnae Engagement. Our alum panel, Charlotte Lamm ’20, Anisha Bhalla ’06, and Anne CameronHA, joined Dr. Noel-Pierre on stage to help the audience get to know her for the first time. The group proceeded with a lively discussion of the joys and steady relevance of girls’ schools in today’s world. There was a bit of audience participation, too! We voted with green and red placards when asked to weigh in on a series of important questions, including: “West Coast Beaches vs. East Coast Beaches?” and “Girls’ schools vs. co-ed schools?” (Which would you have picked?)

The day wrapped up with a party in the Dining Room, where connections continued and those celebrating milestones could find their ovals, quilts, and flags. Then, many headed on to their milestone off-campus events, while others celebrated together over intimate dinners in and around Palo Alto.

2025 Reunion by the Numbers

150

ALUMS AND HONORARY ALUMS ATTENDED

25% MORE ALUMS ATTENDED THAN LAST YEAR

Castilleja Alumnae Awards

38 GRADUATION YEARS REPRESENTED (1969-2021)

The Distinguished Alumna Award honors a Castilleja alumna who has achieved exceptional distinction in her professional life or through significant contributions to her field or community. The recipients exemplify how a Castilleja education empowers an individual to lead boldly and shape the world around her through ambition, intellect, and impact.

The Outstanding Service Award honors an alumna who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the school and whose dedication has benefited the Castilleja community in significant and meaningful ways.

Castilleja’s Alum Athletic Hall of Fame Award, established in 2024, honors impactful alumnae, coaches, and administrators who meaningfully advance their sport and inspire our community through athletic excellence and sportsmanship. The recipient has exhibited the highest caliber of athletic accomplishments during their time at Castilleja and/or through subsequent athletic endeavors.

The Castilleja Cup Award is given to the class with the most giving participation during Reunion/Alum Day period (July through September).

How the Award Nomination Process Works

All alumnae can nominate a fellow alumna, as long as that alumna is marking a milestone graduation year at the upcoming Reunion/Alum Day. Once all the nominations are in, the Alum Awards Committee of the Alumnae Board reviews the nominees. The Board and the Committee then vote on potential recipients. The awards are an opportunity for Castilleja graduates to celebrate each other’s accomplishments, explains Liz Babb ’82, Director of Alumnae Engagement. “From an alum’s point of view, it’s a way of high fiving one another. For the school, it’s a way of celebrating that the mission and our values carry forward.”

Update your profile on Casti Connect!

Stay connected with Casti alums. It’s a whole new Circle! alum.castilleja.org

2015

GRADUATION CLASS WITH THE MOST ATTENDEES

Alumnae Award Winners 2025

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD Presented by 2004’s recipient Joanna Busza ’90

Dr. Pamela Silver ’70 is a pioneering biologist and bioengineer, currently the Elliot T. and Onie H. Adams Professor of Biochemistry and Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School and a founding core faculty member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. After earning her BA in Chemistry from UC Santa Cruz and PhD in Biochemistry from UCLA, she completed postdoctoral research at Harvard as an American Cancer Society Fellow and held faculty positions at Princeton, Dana-Farber, and Harvard. In 2004 she co-founded Harvard’s Department of Systems Biology and established the Silver Lab, shaping the field of synthetic biology. She was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2023.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD Presented by 2024’s recipient Dr. Heather Allen PangHA ’84 P’17

Anjelika Deogirikar Grossman ’00 has demonstrated a longstanding dedication to the school as both a professional and a volunteer leader. She earned her BS in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University and an MPP from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. Anjelika returned to Castilleja as Director of Experiential Learning and Global Education from 2017 through 2021; served as President of the Castilleja Alumnae Board; and has acted as a class representative for 25 years. She is also a member of the Margarita Espinosa Society, which recognizes over 20 years of consistent giving.

ALUM ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME AWARD Presented by Anne Flatland Macdonald ’80

Celia “Cece” Herron Waters ’70, a standout multi-sport athlete at Castilleja, became the California State Champion during her senior year and went on to make history as Princeton University’s first female diver in 1970–71, helping women’s swimming and diving gain varsity status during the early days of Title IX. She competed in the 1972 Olympic diving trials and went to the Soviet Union to represent the U.S. in 1973 in an international diving meet. Her trailblazing role opened doors for future generations of female athletes at Princeton and beyond.

CASTILLEJA CUP AWARD

The Class of 1990 received the Castilleja Cup Award this year, reprising their showing in 2015, when they were also the proud bearers of the Cup. The fundraising lead from last year, the Class of 2004 (also double winners!) presented the Cup to the ’90s in attendance, and the class celebrated with the Cup at their off-campus event that evening. The gauntlet has been thrown down for classes ending in 1 and 6 for next September!

BEYOND THE CIRCLE

Words of Wisdom

THIS YEAR’S BEYOND THE CIRCLE BROUGHT TOGETHER CASTILLEJA ALUMS AND PARENTS ALIKE TO SHARE THEIR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEYS

For decades, Castilleja has organized creative ways for Upper School students to learn about different careers. Some alums will remember traveling off campus for Sophomore Career Day. Others will remember the annual C-STEAM symposium that brought tech leaders to campus. A few years ago, Beyond the Circle was launched to invite professionals from a wide array of fields to campus, and more recently that event has taken another new twist. Through one of the most exciting new partnerships on campus, Director of Leadership and Community Partnerships Becca Winslow and Director of Alumnae Engagement Liz Babb ’82 joined forces to draw an unprecedented number of alums to campus to present on everything from law to clean energy to music to restorative justice mediation.

In the days leading up to Beyond the Circle this year, students had the opportunity to reflect on the biographies of career experts and the skills each speaker uses to be successful in their jobs. This review informed their decisions as they chose which sessions they would like to attend. In addition, career coach Jenny Cu ’96 led a resume writing workshop session. “You have about six to seven seconds for someone to scan your resume,” she explained. Students also worked on their own “bios” and short introductions, since part of the day includes structured networking sessions, where students practice introducing themselves.

THE CASTILLEJA NETWORK “Careers are not linear,” Ms. Winslow told students while preparing them for the event. “Often, different paths only make sense when you look back at it. I am encouraging you to stay curious, keep an open mind, and talk to as many different

career professionals as you can. You have a large and supportive network here at Castilleja, and that’s one of the real gifts of this school.”

Tene Cage ’97, MD, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Stanford University, offered a glimpse into a day in the life of a neurosurgeon and showed X-rays and MRIs to the students, then asked, “Where would you put this screw?” holding up a titanium screw for spinal fusion above a model spine. The students crowded around and peppered her with questions, from how to choose a college major to what music she likes listening to in the operating room to help her focus. (It’s reggae.)

“It’s a very exhilarating profession, and you have to be willing to take on that risk and responsibility,” Tene said. She also talked about the various career paths in her field. “Neurosurgery isn’t just one thing. It can be the patient care, it can be the basic science, it can be the devices. It’s really important to stay flexible and open and to bring your whole self into what you do.”

THE POWER OF LISTENING Cynthia Arballo ’95, a translator, interpreter, and educator, spoke about linguistic power dynamics, the importance of listening, and the various jobs available in education. “You don’t have to be in a classroom setting to be an educator. You can branch out and travel around the world if you want to.” She then guided students in a simultaneous translation exercise: in pairs, they excitedly translated a passage from Romeo and Juliet from Shakespearian to contemporary English.

ENVISIONING THE FUTURE Students also heard from two alumnae sisters: founder advisor and leadership coach Anne Given ’07 and skin cancer surgeon and cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Katie Given ’05. Both have made career pivots and shared an inspiring personal story. Anne relied on her startup experience and integrative health training to help her sister Katie ideate and launch Given Dermatology Institute, where she performs Mohs surgery in various practice settings.

“The uncertainty and perceived risk of failure were daunting,” said Katie, who had a busy start to her career: she holds an MD, PhD, and MBA and previously practiced in hospitals and large healthcare systems. Katie ultimately slowed down, reconnected with her values, and launched her business, discovering a better balance with how I show up professionally and personally.” Katie, who is also raising a family and makes time for a monthly dinner with former Castilleja classmates, encourages students to “go study abroad. Take an art class. Do the thing that doesn’t necessarily feel directly supportive of your journey. Innovation often happens at the intersection of different fields and experiences.”

THE STRENGTH OF CONNECTIONS “Having gone to an all-girl middle school and high school, I’ve always been surrounded by women; I love supporting women,” said Anne, who works primarily with female clients. She shared what she described as a mindset of possibility. “Just because you don’t see something or it doesn’t exist yet, doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Have goals and keep moving towards them, but don’t get tunnel vision. And make room for joy and creativity. Nourish your community and your relationships.”

This event, with so many alums and several current and past parents presenting, is not just an opportunity for students to learn about different careers. It’s also a real-life reminder of the power of women supporting women and the strength of the connections between our students and the alum community they will eventually join.

We thank the following alumnae and community members for making the 2026 Beyond the Circle event so impactful and memorable for our students:

• Cynthia Harrison Arballo ’95, Interpreter and Educator, Palo Alto Unified School District

• Belkis Boyacigiller ’01, Chef-Founder, Bi Nevi Deli

• Lori Burrows Warren ’88, Realtor, Compass

• Tene Cage ’97, MD, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Stanford University

• Kristy Cisco ’91, Communications/Records Supervisor, Atherton Police Department

• Jenny Cu ’96, Executive Recruiter and Coach

• Caroline Debs ’14, User Experience Researcher, DoorDash

• Anne Given ’07, Personal and Professional Coach and Consultant

• Katie Given ’05, MD, PhD, MBA, Mohs Surgeon and Dermatologist, Founder and CEO, Given Dermatology Institute

• Anne Kornblut P’31, Vice President of Content, Meta

• Kate McCarthy ’96, Retired/Self-Employed, Previously Meta

• Virginia Harris Milner ’09, Corporate Associate, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

• Jacqueline Nguyen ’02, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, San Mateo Medical Center

• Deena Shakir, Partner, Lux Capital

• Jessica Speiser P’28, Vice President, Santa Clara County Board of Education

• Kirsten Stasio ’05, CEO, Nevada Clean Energy Fund

• Tess Thorman ’06, Senior Research Associate, Public Policy Institute of California

• Emily Glenn Tucker ’99, PhD, Psychologist, Private Practice

• Tyler Webster, PsyD, Associate Athletic Director, Counseling & Sport Psychology, Santa Clara University

Tene Cage ’97

Kate McCarthy ’96

Virginia Milner ’09

The Write Stuff

LEARNING TO WRITE—FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW

Castilleja alumnae credit their time around the Circle for a long and varied list of skills and experiences, but there is one they all tend to agree on: Castilleja’s teachers taught them how to write, and regardless of the fields they went into later in life, that skill was something they have relied on heavily.

Teaching writing, as it turns out, isn’t a simple task, because crafting a strong piece asks the writer to pull on several capacities at the same time. Knowing this, and recognizing that we are all living in a world where large-language models can and do write, the English Department decided to spend this year closely defining all of the especially human skills that a good writer needs to possess by working together to answer one short question: “Why do we write?” Their answer, true to the writing process itself, is always a work in progress, but this is the workshopped draft they’re ready to share.

“When alums come back to visit, over and over, I hear that they feel so well prepared by our program. They emphasize that we guided them to care about ideas, which prepares them for more than just writing a five-paragraph essay. When they experience a different environment, they see that they can write with confidence and think for themselves. This sets them apart.”

— MATT CALLAHAN, FACULTY AND ENGLISH DEPARTMENT LEAD

Why Do We Write? FROM THE CASTILLEJA ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

At Castilleja, we believe the purpose of writing instruction is to cultivate writers and readers who can distill the complexity of human experience and recognize literature as fuel, tonic, balm, and rallying cry. We challenge students to develop unique critical voices and a passion for deliberate, meaningful expression, while also nurturing them as attentive listeners who create space for others’ perspectives and transform that listening into insight. Through strong critical and analytical skills, they become clear, confident, and persuasive writers with a deep social conscience, able to communicate and collaborate effectively, engage critically with the world, and imagine radical new futures. Ultimately, Castilleja writers are empowered to articulate their ideas with clarity and confidence in the service of deeper understanding.

THE ONE TIME-TESTED RULE OF GOOD WRITING—SHOW, DON’T TELL—MIGHT BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO UNDERSTAND HOW CASTILLEJA’S ENGLISH TEACHERS ARE ACCOMPLISHING THESE GOALS. HERE ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THEY ARE WORKING ON ACROSS THE DIVISIONS AND GRADE LEVELS.

Marcella Ramirez - 6th Grade English

Marcella Ramirez’s English class starts the exact same way every day—with a free write. “They begin with ten minutes, and I know that at first this feels like forever to them, but by the spring they’re trying to talk me into doubling that.” Through this daily practice, Ms. Ramirez wants her students to learn to write just for the sake of writing, not for an audience and not for a grade, just to build a habit of using words to convey their thoughts. “After they’re used to it, I begin to introduce prompts; then I invite them to share their work; and then they begin to ask each other questions and offer suggestions.” Almost spontaneously, a writers’ workshop takes shape, and the students are experimenting with different genres and applying new strategies as they express their opinions and interpret texts. “The students are leading the conversations about what their writing is meant to accomplish, and this provides a foundation and internal motivation to become better writers,” says Ms. Ramirez.

Katrina Morales - 7th Grade English

“In 7th grade, we dig deeper into the details of how writing mechanics, formatting, punctuation, and the use of literary devices impact the audience’s understanding of a writer’s message. I want my students to think about how their choices as writers impact their readers,” explains Katrina Morales. In the Casti For Social Good unit, that audience of readers extends beyond Ms. Morales to include other members of the professional community at Castilleja. Students work in groups and begin by interviewing community members to identify something within the community that can be improved. Examples include increasing connections across divisions or improving assessment schedules. Eventually, the group writes a pitch to help listeners understand the importance of the problem they are trying to solve and support the solution that they have created. “This project is an equal balance of collaboration, writing, and public speaking. Students have to work together to finalize their scripts, and they choose their words so carefully. You can see them internalizing the fact that every word matters,” Ms. Morales says.

Annie Robertson - 8th Grade English

One of the texts 8th grade students read in Annie Robertson’s class is When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka, a work of historical fiction that follows a family living in Berkeley, before, during, and after being forced into internment camps during World War II. For the writing project that accompanies this book, Ms. Robertson asks students to create a “fantasy rebellion” of their own, putting themselves in the shoes of an activist. Through this process, they research types of resistance, and their writing should carve a path for the main characters to reach freedom. “Students can choose the genre they use, and I want them to sense that the empathy that they feel toward the characters in books can become something they rely on to shape the world around them.” This practice with defining a point of view and accomplishing a goal through their writing becomes a bridge to the analytical, critical, and persuasive writing they will be exploring throughout their Upper School classes.

Christina GwinHA - 9th Grade English Questioning Foundations

“We write to learn what we think and work through ideas. That’s why arriving at the closing paragraph can be so interesting. You don’t always know where you are going to land until you get there,” says Christina GwinHA. The 9th grade English curriculum takes into account that students are making a transition to Upper School, and most of the work they do throughout the year is analytical with a focus on writing for an audience and forming a persuasive argument. However, the final assignment is something Ms. Gwin calls a “mini-memoir.”

After reading five different short autobiographical pieces, the students select one of them to pull an opening and closing phrase from and they write the middle writing from their own life experience. “It’s a very structured and tight piece, really an exercise in learning that less is often more,” says Ms. Gwin. “I was struck by how much care they put into this piece, distilling their thoughts about a moment in time. It was a powerful final assignment, to close with a reflection about everything they had learned over the course of the year.”

Valerie RossHA - 9th Grade English Questioning Foundations

Building foundational thinking and writing skills, this course seeks to continue to prepare students for writing across disciplines. “We practice deep and close analysis because I want students to think about how language conveys meaning,” Dr. Ross says. “Then in their writing, they work to craft persuasive arguments that are rooted in thoughtful interaction with the texts.” While studying The Odyssey, in one assignment, students are offered three different translations of a given passage and then craft an analysis arguing for the one that they believe best expresses Homer’s themes and perspective. “Their choices and arguments are so original and refreshing,” says Dr. Ross, adding, “If you think about Bloom’s Taxonomy of cognitive skills within this assignment, students prove their comprehension skills with a nuanced understanding. Then, they practice analysis through comparison and contrast; evaluation by justifying their choices; and they finally create a sound argument to persuade the readers. This gives them incredible confidence in their abilities moving forward.”

Cam Kaplan - 10th Grade English Identity

Throughout the year, 10th grade students explore genres and the expectations that surround them through close reading, critical analysis, and creative writing. With some examples they review familiar expectations; for example, by reading Macbeth, they identify elements that readers have come to anticipate when reading a tragedy. While studying the short story, on the other hand, Cam Kaplan invites students to consider how the conventions of that genre are challenged in Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl.” “The piece has characters, but it doesn’t really have character development. And it has drive, but it doesn’t really have a plot. We talk about which characters we learn about and how reading it makes us feel, which is a different way of thinking about a short story,” Mr. Kaplan explains. The students then write a piece of their own that engages in thinking about how they can recreate on the page the experience of getting advice from someone (a coach, parent, teacher, etc.). “They learn a lot about tone and diction and about how the words a character chooses can tell you about that person’s life.”

Jessie Ewald - 11th Grade Advanced Topics: American Voices

“Literature students usually encounter critical theory for the first time late in their undergraduate classes or in graduate seminars, but at Castilleja, we invite them to engage with this type of analysis starting in 11th grade,” says Jessie Ewald. She knows it’s ambitious, but they are up to the challenge as they develop their critical thinking, and practice persuasive writing, and begin to see themselves as scholars. After reading The Namesake, Ms. Ewald asks students to apply a critical theory to the work. “One person might use feminist theory and another might use post-colonial theory and use that lens to allow the students to read in a way that feels authentic to them. Writing is innately human because it is a product of thought and ideally, it’s also a product of struggle. When my students work through this type of analysis, the struggle becomes a form of self-discovery, and that is the most important lesson I hope to teach them about why we all write—we write in order to know ourselves.”

Kay Barrett - 12th Grade Advanced Topics Senior Seminar: Afrofuturism

“Afrofuturism is one of my areas of study for my PhD at Stanford, and it is notoriously hard to define, so I like to invite the students into that ongoing process,” Kay Barrett explains. One early project she asks students to pull a working definition of Afrofuturism from one of her lectures or a research paper on the topic to find a way to expand on it by analyzing a text like Ryan Cooglar’s Black Panther or The Evening and the Morning and the Night by Octavia Butler. "Throughout this assignment,” Ms. Barrett says, “I want the students to build from existing ideas to make them more expansive and join the scholarly conversation. Over time, we develop new ideas about a genre and a theoretical lens that reimagines the past, present, and future through black cultural perspective, often thinking about the intersection between race, tech, and society in science fiction and fantasy.”

Matt Callahan - 12th Grade

Advanced Topics Senior Seminar: Monsters

“Castilleja’s English department has a strong history of developing students’ capacity for literary scholarship. That work, while strong and engaging, is mostly written for me. Now, I’m asking my students to think about their audience,” says Matt Callahan. In this senior elective, students read classic works that feature monsters—including Beowulf, Frankenstein, and Dracula — and apply the scholar Jeffrey Jerome Cohen’s theoretical framework of Monster Culture. “After this experience, I am now training them to interpret themes and characters. Because our students are such strong close readers, when they are given a theory like this as a tool, they can apply it to reveal the anxieties that these texts express." After students move through this process of applying a theory to someone else’s work, Mr. Callahan asks his students to write their own monster narratives to explore the fears and anxieties they see in the world around them. “By learning so much about theory and always remaining aware of their audience, they bring a sense of purpose to this culminating creative assignment,” he explains.

Sabrina Wallgren ’27

Partners in Biology

LONGTIME BIOLOGY TEACHER ELAINE MIDDLEMANHA AND NEW BIOLOGY HONORS

TEACHER JAIMIE WANG CREATE A POWERHOUSE IN CASTILLEJA SCIENCE

A PERFECT PAIR From the classroom to the gym, mentorship and collaboration are the essential elements of a Castilleja education, for our students and for our teachers. So when Jaimie Wang joined Castilleja faculty to teach 11th grade Biology Honors in the fall of 2024, she was paired up with Elaine MiddlemanHA as her mentor. Dr. Middleman, who’s taught at Castilleja for over 15 years, had developed that curriculum throughout her tenure and was now ready to pass the torch on to her new colleague.

Ultimately, this partnership benefited both teachers, as well as their students.

Dr. Middleman and Ms. Wang would meet weekly to go over activities and unit plans, be it about evolution, cellular respiration, or DNA. Their collaboration extended beyond the classroom, too: they also co-advised the Upper School StemX enrichment and led a Senior Advisory together. (When Dr. Middleman went on sabbatical in the spring of 2025, Ms. Wang took on both activities solo.)

THE INSIDE TRACK “I was excited to do whatever I could to make the first year easier for Jaimie,” explains Dr. Middleman. In addition to sharing her deep institutional knowledge and inviting curriculum revisions, she also explained the school’s traditions for her new colleague, from Grandparents and Special Friends Day to the fact that the juniors will be talking about Ringing. A lot.

“It felt great because Jaimie was totally open to working with the existing curriculum and gave me feedback about it,” says Dr. Middleman. “She was coming in with more recent training in terms of pedagogy. It was also an opportunity for me to pick her brain. I think teachers can always learn something from other teachers.”

For example, for an interactive activity during the cellular structures and functions unit, Ms. Wang brought in candy to help the students review the structures by visually representing the cells with Nerd Clusters, Red Vines, and marshmallows.

Ms. Wang, whose specialty is ecology, also suggested expanding the animals unit in Biology and Biology Honors. Dr. Middleman was fully on board.

CONTINUED COLLABORATION “Elaine’s mentorship definitely played a huge role in my being able to transition so easily, having the resources and the materials prepared and having her here as well,” says Ms. Wang. “It allowed me to focus on getting to know the students and learning the culture of the school.” This prep work also enabled her to later support Deborah Moniot, a science teacher who replaced Dr. Middleman during sabbatical.

This year, Dr. Middleman and Ms. Wang are continuing to collaborate as thought partners. Both are linear thinkers who love to make connections between concepts and exchange ideas. They even chose to have their work desks nearby.

IT’S IN THE DNA “We’re mostly bouncing ideas off of each other, finding ways we can both change things in the classroom to make it a better experience for the students,” says Ms. Wang. “We work well together.”

“Like the two strands of complementary DNA!” jokes Dr. Middleman. Ms. Wang nods. “Just like our joint costume for Halloween!”

Get to Know Katina Ballantyne

Q&A

with Castilleja’s Upper School Dean of Students

Favorite part about working with Upper School students?

Their humor and sense of justice. Teenagers are often at the forefront of social justice movements, and I like how they keep me laughing and keep me on my toes.

Which of the 5Cs do you feel you identify with most?

(Conscience, Courtesy, Character, Charity, and Courage)

Character, I think about it a lot in my role. I hope I can help students continue to reflect on and live their values.

Favorite Casti lunch? Noodle bar.

Most recent book you have read and what you thought about it?

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I loved that it reminded me of how far women have come.

A life lesson that you hope to share with students?

It takes time, but identifying what your own instincts are versus external pressures and then learning to trust those instincts.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee all the way.

Do you have any pets?

Two cats that are indoors cats, and five outdoor cats that came with our house. Obviously, no mice.

Something you plan to learn more about in the next year?

The impact of AI, specifically on young women.

Who is one of your heroes?

My grandmothers, because they both led lives that are so different from the life I have been able to lead. They both broke barriers. As matriarchs, they kept their families together through really difficult events, and I admire their resilience.

Tell us about a teacher who made a big impression on you?

My 9th grade English teacher, Miss Kemp. She was really silly, and she showed me that it was okay to be silly at school, not a message that women always receive.

What is a perfect weekend morning for you?

Walking to Cafe Zoe with my daughter and my husband.

What was your favorite subject in school?

English and history. One of my history teachers incorporated psychology into the class, and that helped me see history as a living and breathing subject and taught me how to think about how to break cycles. I loved English because I began to see novels as a way to truly escape and live in another person’s life.

What is a goal you’re hoping to achieve in the next 5 years?

To grow in my role and support and improve the development of the current programs at Castilleja while beginning to incorporate some of my own ideas for student life events.

Your superpower? Connecting people.

More About Katina

Something we might not know about you?

I speak French, and I can understand Haitian Creole.

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird, but not by choice. I have a new baby.

Share a favorite hobby? Metalsmithing. My husband decided I needed a hobby, so he signed me up for classes, and I love it.

What is the best surprise about working at a girls’ school?

There is quiet confidence that I see everywhere in this school that I didn’t see as much in co-ed spaces. And I also enjoy working with more women.

Katina Ballantyne holds a BA in Political Science and French from the University of Texas at Austin and an MEd from Johns Hopkins. She comes to Castilleja from the Ravenswood School District, where she oversaw grants and strategic projects. Prior to that, she taught history at Menlo School and was also an advisor, lead of the Mental Health Task Force, and site director for Peninsula Bridge. Ms. Ballantyne believes every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and celebrated, which drives her to work in education and support environments where all kids can thrive. In her free time, she likes to cook, read, hike, make jewelry, and spend time with family and friends.

Language in the Making

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECT BRINGS TOGETHER MANDARIN, BOURN LAB/STEM, AND LIBRARY SERVICES

Eighth grade Chinese 2 students let their language skills and imaginations shine when they built a miniature city during the spring semester. Led by Middle School Mandarin teacher Hwai LinHA and science and Bourn Lab teacher Sarah BarnumHA, the students designed tiny buildings—from a bookshop to a pet store—and assembled the components into a city. Not just any city, though: they had to incorporate sustainable or Feng Shui elements and present the project to classmates entirely in Mandarin Chinese.

Over the course of several lessons, the students worked with a 3D printer and laser cutter, as well as crafting materials like a glue gun and paint. They wrote detailed descriptions of their concepts (all in Mandarin Chinese, of course) and researched Feng Shui with the guidance of Castilleja’s Director of Library Services Tasha Bergson-MichelsonHA

This collaboration, now in its sixth year, is an example of Castilleja’s interdisciplinary approach to pedagogy. In this case, students practice vocabulary in a foreign language while getting swept away into the captivating world of miniatures and making.

Kristen L. ’30 built a convenience store. “I’m going to have a living wall where they’re growing produce, so I’m making cabbages,” she said while molding tiny cruciferous leaves out of clay.

Nina H. ’30 and Caileigh W. ’30 designed a cookie shop and a milk shop, with popsicle stick shelves and a cow pasture in the back. Their establishments share a wall and support the local economy—another sustainable feature.

“After you buy a cookie, you can go over to the milk shop and buy milk,” explained Nina. “Our shops are both solar powered: they use renewable energy, and instead of lights in the cookie shop, there is a long window.”

“It’s challenging because we’re using a lot of new vocabulary,” said Caileigh.

“And it’s fun because we get to apply what we’re learning to actual projects and design our own shops and our own little city the way we want it,” Nina added.

Someone else built a coffee shop, with tiny paper boba cups and coffee containers made of cork and painted with shiny paint. There’s also a park with benches perched on green wool fleece, where friends can do Tai Chi together, another 8th grader explained.

In the midst of the building, the learning, and the laughter, Ms. Lin walked between the desks and conversed with students in Mandarin about their progress.

“It definitely increased their engagement, and they can transfer the skills they learned from other classes into the making process,” said Ms. Lin. “I’m so proud of them because they can really talk about their ideas and their designs in Mandarin. This is what we practice in the language classroom, and it’s totally different from just learning how to ask for directions.”

Ms. Barnum, who guided the STEM side of the city project, relishes this collaboration. “It’s nice when the projects in the Bourn Lab are really meaty on both sides,” said Ms. Barnum. “It’s open-ended in terms of creativity. They’re learning words to describe things, and it really melds the language and the making.”

Sports: A Classroom for Life

CASTILLEJA’S DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

SARA SHAUGHNESSY PUTS PEOPLE FIRST

Castilleja’s Director of Athletics Sara Shaughnessy views sport as a classroom for life. “You can learn things during a season of sports that you can’t learn anywhere else,” says Ms. Shaughnessy, who holds a BS in Science Kinesiology from San Francisco State and an MA in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco. Before joining Castilleja, she had a 13-year tenure at the International School of San Francisco, seven of those as Director of Athletics.

FAMILY CONNECTIONS Ms. Shaughnessy knew early on she wanted a career in youth sports and education. Her dad coached her baseball team and her great uncle was a professional football announcer. Even her 85-year-old grandmother still sends group family texts with football trivia. “Sport was a huge part of dinner table conversation and how we connected as a family,” Ms. Shaughnessy says. One of her earliest memories is running in a jogathon in elementary school, with relatives, friends, and neighbors pledging 25 cents for every lap. She ran so many laps that she won the entire jogathon.

Since then, Ms. Shaughnessy has coached track and field and volleyball, working with players ranging from beginners to Junior National Championship teams. “As a coach, you have so much power to influence someone’s day, and I really want to be a positive contributor,” says Ms. Shaughnessy. “My type of leadership is people first, processes second, and the results will take care of themselves if those two things are good.”

CAPTAIN’S COUNCIL Since joining Castilleja in the fall, Ms. Shaughnessy introduced Captain’s Council lunches: a gathering of team captains to discuss leadership and team logistics and learn from guest speakers. She also launched midseason team check-in meetings, where Upper School athletic teams reflect on their growth.

“At Castilleja, there’s a genuine commitment to giving a place for student voice, reflection, and growth. We like to win, but I also really enjoy the ability to collaborate and belong within that growth,”

– SARA SHAUGHNESSY

TEAM CULTURE “In coaching, the magic ratio is six to one: six positive contacts to one constructive one,” she tells the soccer team at their recent lunchtime check-in, as the players sit in a circle while enjoying pizza and sharing feedback. When asked to describe the team culture on a piece of paper, the players write descriptors like ambitious, respectful, trusting, supportive, collaborative, hard-working, optimistic, fun.

“I feel like I’ve built relationships and I heard voices that I don’t always get to hear on the field. Their energy is contagious!”

Ms. Shaughnessy says about these touchpoints with the studentathletes. “Castilleja deeply aligns with what my values are as a woman. There’s a genuine commitment to giving a place for student voice, reflection, and growth. We like to win, but I also really enjoy the ability to collaborate and belong within that growth,” she says.

VEGGIE TALES Ms. Shaughnessy is grateful for the camaraderie among her colleagues and the coaches. As someone who turns to fruits and vegetables for refueling and teaches others to do the same, she also gives a nod to the Castilleja dining room staff for the abundance of fresh produce. “Both my sons are berry monsters,” she jokes. “We go through tubs and tubs of berries a week.”

Looking ahead, she wants to continue building the athletics program starting early in the Middle School. “Our retention is so high as a school. It’s a gift to have students for that long and to be able to see them grow and develop,” she says.

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ROCK OUT WITH MUSIC TEACHER (AND BAY AREA JAZZ LEGEND)

JOSH THURSTON-MILGROMHA

On a Wednesday morning, over a dozen student musicians are gathered in the music room. A bassist’s amplifier is buzzing, two piano players are rehearsing a chord progression, and five guitarists—with picks in hands—are practicing their chops in unison. The drummer and the tambourine player are ready. Four vocalists by the mic stands glance at each other and take a breath.

“Let’s give it a shot!” says music teacher Josh Thurston-MilgromHA, who goes by Mr. T-M. He counts the band in and they launch into “Come Together” by The Beatles. “Main riff!” he says, pointing at the guitar section.

The Middle School Rock Band, an 8th grade elective, has been rocking out at Castilleja for the past five years. It follows the 6th grade ukulele and the 7th grade guitar class sequence, where students learn theory, vocals, strumming, and listening, laying the foundation for playing in a band.

Every instrument is welcome here: guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, vocals; they’ve even had electric violin and flute. “We start off all together just to ease into it and build confidence and rapport,” later breaking off into smaller groups as needed, explains Mr. T-M, who also plays bass in the Bay Area musical collective Jazz Mafia, records, and teaches in the Stanford Music Department.

They always do a tune by The Beatles and one by Bob Marley, as well as “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. “That’s like Rock Band 101,” explains Mr. T-M. “Not only is that riff iconic, but the drums are also ridiculously simple.” Their repertoire also includes women rockers, such as Joan Jett and Janis Joplin, and student-selected pieces. At the end of the year, the band performs in the Spring Concert and Edupalooza.

The Middle School Rock Band has become such a fundamental part of the students’ experience that they’ve formed an Upper School offshoot, an enrichment which Mr. T-M advises. They rehearse weekly and perform at school events.

As a child, Mr. T-M played classical music, but often hid in the back of the band room, hoping the teacher wouldn’t notice his errors.

ROCK ON

Eventually, his father said: “If you’re going to quit piano, you still have to play an instrument” and found him a guitar teacher. That changed everything. “The dude was in an alternative rock band in San Francisco. He was really cool and he became my hero,” Mr. T-M remembers. The first song he learned was the “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” cover by Guns N’ Roses. “All I did was play that song over and over again, until my family was so sick of me. It just felt so good to strum those three chords and sing.”

“Obviously, music lights up your whole brain, teaches teamwork, and creates beauty in the world.” — JOSH THURSTON-MILGROM

He wants students to experience the joy of playing live music and collaborating with their friends. “Making music in the moment creates an energy that moves people, maybe even more than they consciously realize. Sometimes singing the right song can change the world,” he says.

“Obviously, music lights up your whole brain, teaches teamwork, and creates beauty in the world,” says Mr. T-M. But it’s more than that. He uses the phrase “jazz perfect” to explain the growth mindset he tries to foster in his students. “‘Jazz perfect’ means you put it all out there, you didn’t hold anything back. You gave it everything you have, with your whole heart and all your skills, not leaving any meat on the bone,” he says. “Successful music making isn’t about avoiding mistakes. It’s about rocking out.”

Depolarizing Democracy

DIGITAL MINISTER AUDREY TANG USES HER PLATFORM TO CREATE COMMON GROUND OVER DIVISION

Born in Taiwan and diagnosed at age four with a congenital heart defect with a 50 percent survival rate, Audrey Tang became a child prodigy in many fields—learning to code, reading the classics, moving into advanced mathematics, and writing about everything—in an effort to leave a mark on the world. The necessary corrective surgery took place when Tang was 12, but the desire to engage with the world and make a lasting difference was already a wellestablished way of life.

Tang rose to international prominence by supporting efforts to demand greater transparency from Taiwan’s government and ultimately other governments around the world. This initiative earned the respect of Prime Minister Lin Chuan, who appointed Tang to become Taiwan’s first-ever Digital Minister as well as the youngest (at the time) and the first non-binary and transgender member of the cabinet. In that role, Tang also launched Taiwan’s widely admired and carefully attuned response to COVID-19.

In the years since, Tang has devoted her attention to using technology, and especially social media platforms, to reduce polarization. When asked by a Castilleja student about one of the major digital issues that is harming young people today, she responded, “I think it is a metric that I call PPM. When I say this, I don’t mean Parts Per Million; I mean Polarization Per Minute. The main goal of any social media platform is to keep people engaged and the easiest way to do that is by making them enraged.”

To tackle this problem, Tang has begun work on social media models that seek to bridge differences, which in turn can increase civic engagement and strengthen democracies. By inviting a Castilleja student volunteer to the stage, Tang used Polis—an open-source, online conversation platform where participants can respond to statements about a given topic to illustrate that people agree far more often than they disagree. “By creating a platform that actively builds bridges, we can realize that polarization is often an illusion,” Tang said. “These examples prove that even as algorithms guide our habits online, we have agency in how we respond and the capacity to choose common ground over division.”

Tang is also a proponent of the concept of “reverse mentorship,” which is when younger people teach valuable and perspective-shifting lessons to older people, a concept that resonated with so many of the leaders and thinkers across all grades at Castilleja.

“I was excited when I heard that Audrey would be coming to speak. Coming from Taiwan myself, I’ve followed her over the years and deeply admire the way she has used digital tools and AI to connect people with different ideas and diverse voices. I was also very fortunate to join the affinity group lunch with her. Hearing her perspectives on education was beyond inspiring, especially her insights on how we teachers can be more intentional in holding space for students to be creative, collaborative and to continuously develop their core civic competencies.”

— Hwai LinHA, Castilleja’s Mandarin Teacher

THE ARRILLAGA FAMILY SPEAKER ENDOWMENT was established in 1989 in honor of Frances Arrillaga, former Castilleja Trustee and mother of alumna Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen ’88, to ensure that Castilleja students could learn from a vast array of perspectives and life experiences.

ARRILLAGA SPEAKER

Dr. Betty Noel-Pierre, Audrey Tang, and Ashley Kwong ’26

HUNGRY? Upper School

GETTING

Artists (clockwise from top left): Omi Yee ’28, Allison Prakalapakorn ’27, Ann Peng ’28, Sofia Balmaceda Sampayo ’28, Niva Himatsingka ’27, Rachel Jiang ’28, Chloe Cheng ’27

Beyond the Attention Economy: From Distraction to Shared Purpose

Global Week '26

While the junior class was exploring the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and Morocco on their Global Investigators Trips, the rest of Castilleja kicked off the 2026 calendar year with our annual Global Week. This year’s theme, “Beyond the Attention Economy: From Distraction to Shared Purpose,” was timely and impactful. Students heard from keynote speakers and alumnae as they zeroed in on the role of technology in their lives and on reclaiming their attention for a greater purpose. Students also participated in hands-on workshops, from puzzling and yoga to shadow puppet theatre, and joined a Tech Detox Challenge at home. And our 8th graders, along with freshmen, sophomores, and seniors, made videos about using screens intentionally.

MAX STOSSEL

Using Apps and Notifications Wisely Award-winning poet, filmmaker, and Forbes-recognized storyteller Max Stossel brought humor, data, and relatable stories to the stage as he invited us to consider our relationships with our devices. “We have a camera, a stopwatch, a calculator, a flashlight, and every song that’s ever been invented in our pockets. That is magic!” said Mr. Stossel, who is also the founder of Social Awakening, an organization helping families and educators worldwide in the digital realm. “It’s never been easier to run away from ourselves,” he added, noting the ways devices can also complicate the world we share and offered tips on reclaiming focus.

DAVID COLTURI

Leveraging

Physical

and Mental Focus for Success

We did a deep dive into what it means to be fully present with professional cliff diver David Colturi. Mr. Colturi, a two-time USA Diving National Champion, seven-time NCAA All-American Champion, and Red Bull Cliff Diving Champion, shared the tools that help him focus when he hits the water at 60 miles per hour. Whether diving, taking a new class, or applying to college, Mr. Colturi recommended awareness, intention, and action “to help us separate the signal from the noise, to find the opportunity in the obstacle, and to be able to act with purpose, propelling us all forward together.”

ALUM PANEL: RECLAIMING REST

Three alumnae returned to Castilleja and shared why reclaiming rest is crucial to them as professionals, leaders, and caretakers. We heard from cultural brand strategist Natalie Shell ’11 who has worked with Timberland and KORRES, from Nicole Mitchell ’15 who researches modularity and machine unlearning at Google, and from clinical psychologist and author of Work, Parent, Thrive Yael Chatav Schonbrun ’97 The panel was moderated by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang P’17, who has published multiple books about rest. The panelists urged us to make time for hobbies, recharge, and disconnect from work tasks during the off hours, so we can take care of ourselves and others.

STUDENT REFLECTIONS

Here’s what our students had to say about the speakers they heard and the activities they participated in during Global Week:

Aya M. ’30

“Now I’m encouraged to try new things, because even if these people are scared, they’re still doing it, and they’re still amazing at these things.”

Yewu C. ’32

“I liked how I can focus on one individual [activity], and actually instead of being distracted by other stuff, I can work on that one. It can teach us to focus on what we’re doing right now.”

Emmy C. ’30

Misha S. ’30

“A lot of us are really busy just balancing school work and everything, and I think it was a great way to just pause for a moment and step back and take some time.”

Katelyn L. ’26

“I thought it was really eye opening to look at how the social media apps really design themselves to capture our attention. It’s also interesting to recognize how intentional every single choice is when it comes to making the user interface of the platforms that we spend so much time on.”

“Technology divides us. Everyone puts a different version of themselves on social media, and we’re like ‘Oh, that’s not how I am.’ We can connect in person instead of through our phones. Max Stossel described our social media as a slot machine designed to keep our attention as long as possible. And the third speaker, a cliff diver, talked about intention and action and how it relates to our everyday lives. We’re not jumping off cliffs, but we can still learn from his speech.”

LIBRARY SERVICES

Library Voices

GET TO KNOW CASTILLEJA’S THREE CREATIVE AND CURIOUS LIBRARIANS

On a regular school day, the Margarita Espinosa Library at Castilleja is abuzz with activity, drawing out introverts and extroverts alike. There are students learning research techniques and affinity group leaders setting up book displays to celebrate diverse authors; some are cozying up with a graphic novel or a puzzle while others are working on homework, making vision boards, or participating in a poetry workshop—and let’s not forget Casti’s beloved bookish bashes like the Murder Mystery Party.

This year, the librarians have also rekindled the Castilleja Library Advisory Board (CaLAB for short), in order to highlight student voices. “Having student perspectives helps us to know what students enjoy and also helps us to imagine our potential and grow what we can offer,” explains Associate Librarian Elise Bernal, who leads the CaLAB efforts. “It is also a great way to build connections with our regular library kids.”

Representing both the Middle School and the Upper School, the advisory board is now 45-member strong. Its student members plan activities such as Blind Date with a Book and the Edible Book Festival and make zines; they’ll also assist with designing the temporary Casti Village library.

“I love all the different events that the Casti Library hosts and wanted a way to help out and participate more,” says Omi Y. ’28. Her favorite activity to work on is the Edible Book Festival. “I love to bake, and it’s something that I look forward to every year, and was even excited for it when I was applying to Casti,” says Omi.

Alexandra L. ’32 enjoyed wrapping the books as she set up the “Blind Date with a Book” station. “I decided to join CaLAB because I love reading and the library,” she says.

Q&A Our three librarians support CaLAB and other library programs, while sharing their love of reading and research, crafting lore, and stickers. But do you know who their favorite book characters are and why they love their work? With two new members of the team this year, you can read on to find out!

TASHA BERGSON-MICHELSONHA, DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY SERVICES

Coffee, tea, or boba?

Coffee, sure, but especially (spicy) Masala chai.

If you could be a character from any book, who would it be and why?

Chroma the Great, the conductor of the symphony that plays color into the world in The Phantom Tollbooth. While Milo proves it takes skill and practice to paint the world with subtlety and sense, I love the thought of witnessing the world being colored and re-colored with each day.

Your favorite season and why?

Any season in which I can hike, especially when I can also sleep outdoors.

What do you love about being a librarian?

I love serving a community in which I have a chance to know everyone and build relationships over many years! I delight in all the different research topics that students and faculty bring my way. Every day I learn something new and exciting. It keeps my perspective fresh, and encourages me to remember how many exciting things there are to get interested in.

ELISE BERNAL, ASSOCIATE LIBRARIAN

Coffee, tea, or boba?

Ever since I’ve moved to the Bay Area, I’ve found a new joy in boba, and it usually includes tea for me, too! So technically, boba and tea.

If you could be a character from any book, who would it be and why?

I think I would be Amelia from Amelia’s Notebook. This is one of my favorite childhood books, and I just love how the character illustrates her experiences in her notebook, her vulnerability, and strong personality.

SAMIRA BOZORGI, ASSOCIATE LIBRARIAN

Your favorite season and why?

I’m a fan of spring because it is the season when I see the most visual change in the environment around me! Things are in bloom and smell amazing, birds are loud and alive, and you get those perfectly sunny and breezy days.

What do you love about being a librarian? I love being a connector to providing creative outlets and access to information and stories that can help students to build perspective, feel seen, or to find joy or escape. I also love building connections with students.

Coffee, tea, or boba?

I love all three for different reasons, or different times of day. But my perennial love is coffee.

If you could be a character from any book, who would it be and why?

I would be Gandalf the Grey (from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit). Kind, brilliant, calm, immortal, and magical. Need I say more?!

Your favorite season and why?

In the Bay Area, we kind of only have two seasons: warm and chilly. But if I had to choose one season, I would choose spring. My favorite holiday, Norouz, falls on the first day of spring. The air is still crisp but the sun is shining, helping to thaw out the winter blues and bring out the most beautiful flowers. I have a few vegetable beds in my garden and the spring veggies are some of my favorites: fava beans, carrots, artichokes, and peas.

What do you love about being a librarian?

My job is never boring. I learn something new every single day, whether from an anecdote shared by one of our students, researching a reference question, perusing our incredible collection, or hearing information shared by a colleague on campus. In the library, we find that we are all far more connected through our shared experiences and narratives than we often realize. And that is a beautiful thing!

Elise Bernal, Tasha Bergson-MichelsonHA, and Samira Bozorgi

AROUND THE CIRCLE —

AROUND THE CIRCLE — UPPER SCHOOL

Keeping Traditions

STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF JOIN FORCES TO REIMAGINE CASTILLEJA TRADITIONS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR NEW CAMPUS

The physical move to Casti Village is taking place in three stages— beginning with moving offices during spring break and concluding with the remaining offices and all of the classrooms just before and after Commencement. But the emotional move, an entirely different process, has been underway since long before, and alums in the Castilleja professional community are at the heart of that work. In the fall, Dr. Noel-Pierre established the Casti Traditions Task Force, led by Director of Events and Parent Engagement Ellen Stewart Moore ’80 who is joined by Vocal Music Faculty Emily Bender ’89 and Middle School Dean of Students and Science Faculty Christina Nawas Courtney ’02HA.

ENGAGING STUDENT VOICES Of course, this group also includes elected student leaders from every grade level who serve as liaisons for their peers. When they all met for the first time in the fall, the group focused on honoring traditions and celebrations, and one of the most important early action steps they took was to prepare a survey to learn more about what matters most to students. Ninetyfive percent of students responded to the survey, which among other things, asked them to rank their favorite traditions and events. The results will come as no surprise to our alum community—the five most beloved events were the Fabulous Dinner Dance (FDD), the Tie Ceremony, Spirit Week, Commencement, and the Drive Around the Circle. Close behind, students listed Rivalry, the Haunted House, the Pep Rally, Ringing, and Middle School Student Socials.

HONORING TRADITIONS It’s clear to every member of the Castilleja community that these events are what makes Castilleja so special, and behind the scenes, work is already well underway to honor these traditions. Looking at the list of favorites, FDD has always taken place off campus, and that will continue. Castilleja has already secured the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton for Commencement for the Class of 2027, and plans are being finalized for both the Tie Ceremony and the Drive Around the Circle. All of the other beloved events will continue to take place on campus and, as always, will rely on collaboration between students and various other adults—including deans, faculty, staff, and administrators. In essence, the entire Castilleja community will be working together to co-create the student experience next year.

“The students on the Task Force are so thoughtful and caring and resilient,” says Ms. Moore. “They are exactly what I hope for in the future. And it’s really moving to see how much they care about the community and these traditions. History and rituals matter so much to me, and I love seeing that they share these values. Even over the different decades, our pride in Castilleja connects us.”

CONNECTING CASTILLEJA Watch for the Annual Report next fall and Full Circle in the spring to see photos and read stories about how Castilleja continues to build community, friendships, and memories around the traditions our alumnae already know and love so deeply.

CASTI VILLAGE

REIMAGINING TRADITIONS In the capable hands of the Task Force, Castilleja traditions—such as Halloween Haunted House, the Tie Ceremony, Rivalry, and Ringing—may look a bit different, but will be alive and well in spirit during the construction of our new campus on Bryant Street.

CASTI VILLAGE The spaces are taking shape with open-air atriums, light-filled classrooms, outdoor breezeways, and underground parking.

Engineering Women

THE TEAM OF WOMEN FROM TRUEBECK CONSTRUCTION, THE COMPANY BEHIND CASTILLEJA’S NEW CAMPUS, SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND UPDATES ABOUT CASTI VILLAGE AND THE NEW CAMPUS

Castilleja students received a visit from Michaela Dunne, Galilea Gonzalez-Nava, and Brynda Olson, two engineers and a project executive from Truebeck Construction, who are working on Casti Village and our campus modernization. The three women crossed from their side of the construction fence to present at Middle School Meeting, Upper School Meeting, and in Engineering 2, previewing features of the project with the students and sharing their perspectives as women in a male-dominated field.

“I didn’t go to college thinking I was going to end up in engineering,” said Mrs. Olson, who studied architecture and practiced for many years. “I liked the design work, but over time I realized the technical part was more interesting to me.”

At first, Ms. Dunne was hesitant to become an engineer, as it was not a career path she had imagined for herself. However, she was ultimately inspired by her father and decided to follow in his footsteps. “I’ve never once had the same day in my career,” she said. “I love what I do.”

Ms. Gonzalez-Nava, a recent graduate with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, spoke about the importance of staying authentic in a field where she is often in the minority as a female, Mexican American, and first-generation professional. Sharing a story about a race car design group project when she was the only woman on the team, Ms. Gonzalez-Nava led the final chassis design and chose pink for the 3D print. “I needed to leave my mark,” she said.

In Dr. Bryan ValekHA’s engineering class, the team showed examples of their other projects for OpenAI, Meta, and Apple, reliving the thrill of solving puzzles in order to make their clients’ dreams come true by creating seismically safe glass walkways, balancing a massive carbon roof on glass walls, and installing 30-foot-tall smart windows.

Maybe even more impressive to their particular audience, they reviewed photos of Casti Village. “I know this is a temporary space, but we’re being really thoughtful about every detail,” Ms. GonzalezNava said. About the network of custom wooden decks and stairways, she added, “I think you’re going to see that it’s really warm and beautiful. You can see the sky and the trees around you, and it feels sort of like you’re in a treehouse.”

“We put so much time into ensuring the protection of the trees, and every bolt placement, every attachment has to be reviewed. All while coordinating construction on a post-tension deck, what do you know about post-tension concrete?” Mrs. Olson asked.

“Engineering 1!” Dr. Valek piped up, reminding the students that they studied post-tension concrete before. “We spent some time last semester looking at the inside of the underground parking garage, and talked about how much strength the post-tension process is adding to that slab,” he said.

ON CASTI VILLAGE

“I know this is a temporary space, but we’re being really thoughtful about every detail. I think you’re going to see that it’s really warm and beautiful. You can see the sky and the trees around you, and it feels sort of like you’re in a treehouse.”

— GALILEA GONZALEZ-NAVA

One student asked about how the materials from Casti Village will be conserved. “The classrooms will likely get refurbished and reused at another school or location,” Mrs. Olson said. The team is also working with Palo Alto’s GreenWaste Recovery, sorting the scraps of wood and metal into different bins to ensure the waste can be repurposed for the main campus.

Another student asked, “What will we see when you start work on the main campus?” All three women smiled and took a deep breath. “For a while it’s just going to look like a dirt hole and with lots of trucks driving around. But don’t be fooled; there will be a lot happening, I promise!” said Mrs. Olson. “We can’t just dig a giant pit in the ground. We have to install steel beams and lagging into the dirt and creating concrete walls as designed as we progress.” She went on to add, “When the exterior walls begin to rise out of the ground, though, things will start to move surprisingly quickly. We’re really looking forward to creating a great space for you, and we’re as excited about your new campus as you are!”

MIDDLE SCHOOL INK AND PRINT MAKING (Clockwise from top left): Madeleine Windsor ’32, Hannah Swistun ’32, Cora Sefcik ’30, and Kate Pelaez ’30

| Castilleja Full Circle

Vince DaileyHA

FOR 19 YEARS, SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, VINCE DAILEYHA (AKA “COACH VINCE”) HAS SPREAD JOY ACROSS CASTILLEJA FROM THE CAMPUS HE MAINTAINS TO THE SPORTS TEAMS HE INSPIRES

“I came to help out,” Vince says. In 2007, the company he was working for relocated and he didn’t want to, so he took a short-term position in Maintenance. He was soon offered a full-time role, and in the next 19 years, Mr. Dailey has most definitely helped out.

“We were running through the punchlist on the new gym at the time,” he said, “The Admin Building had just been renovated.” Mr. Dailey also knew how to maintain the pool, which became his responsibility, and opened a new realm of possibilities for him—in athletics. As a Middle School cross country, basketball, and track coach, he’s helped countless 6th graders adjust to their new community. “I believe that one of my reasons for being here is to spread a little joy, and as a coach, I keep this in mind. I encourage everyone to do their best and to be proud of their effort no matter the results.” Each year, several 8th grade speeches highlight Coach Dailey’s ability to help his athletes take risks while feeling fully supported.

When asked what held him here so long, Mr. Dailey says with a smile, “I’m a food person, and lunch here is amazing.” He then adds, “There was always something new to figure out, and I liked that challenge,

but it’s really the community. My colleagues and the students and their families are so kind and show so much grace. I can’t say how much these relationships mean to me—they are like family.”

According to Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations Kathy LayendeckerHA, Mr. Dailey’s ability to build positive relationships will leave a lasting legacy. “He was fundamental in recruiting wonderful people for different roles on the Buildings and Grounds team.” She also notes that he took on challenging work by leading the effort to reduce traffic. “His good spirits and equanimity helped everyone want to do better. Vince is respected and held in high regard by everyone who knows him.”

Some of Mr. Dailey’s fondest memories are when his Casti family and his own family intersected. His son Everett had his first summer job at Castilleja and eventually worked in the Tech Department. And Mr. Dailey spent six years bringing his granddaughter to Casti Camp. “She learned how to swim here. One of my favorite videos is her showing me that she could touch the bottom of the pool.”

Mr. Dailey is a two-time winner of Castilleja’s Distinguished Employee Award. When he received it last year, his desire to spread joy was evident to so many members of the broader community. Several students even noted that in his morning traffic duty role, he was the person who finally helped them crack the code on parallel parking. Now, that’s changing the world for the better!

Artists from Left: Stella Zhang ’32, Mali Chen ’32, and Alexandra Lu ’32

Kathy LayendeckerHA

SINCE 2014, ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR FINANCE AND OPERATIONS AND FORMER ACTING HEAD OF SCHOOL

KATHY LAYENDECKERHA HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SHAPING CASTILLEJA’S FUTURE

Kathy LayendeckerHA, Castilleja’s Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations, first put her MBA to use in finance, but felt drawn to education when her own daughters were in elementary school. “I was inspired by the impact their teachers had on students,” she says, “and was reconnected with my passion for education, stemming from my childhood in college communities as the daughter of a professor.”

She began her career in education at Oregon Episcopal School, first as Chief Financial Officer and then as Interim Head of School. After serving as Head of School at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Minnesota, she returned to her native California to join Castilleja in 2014. Drawn by the school’s innovative spirit and by the opportunity to serve the school at a pivotal point in its history, she immediately began working on plans and designs for a new campus. The legacy of that work will serve the next generation of women leaders and make a Castilleja education available to more girls.

In the 2023-24 school year, she played a critical role in the school’s history by serving as the Acting Head of School. It was a time of

transition for Castilleja, and her thoughtful work and caring approach set the stage for the exciting new chapter that is unfolding today. Similar care was evident in the work she did with Trustee

Alyssa Rieder P’20 ’23 to diversify Castilleja’s investment portfolio to include funds managed and owned by women and people of color.

Former Director of Admission Jill LeeHA says, “Kathy’s belief in the mission of the school is absolutely unwavering. Her commitment brought clarity to the work we shared, and she always stayed focused on what was best for our students.” And her impact extended beyond Castilleja, Ms. Lee adds, “Kathy has supported other schools through board service and frequent participation on independent school accreditation teams, presented at conferences, and served on national boards such as NBOA and AISAP.” In line with her deep commitment to the mission, she has also found mentoring women on her team to become leaders themselves especially rewarding.

When asked what she will miss the most, she answers: “The students. They are such interesting people and as hard as they work, they also have wonderful senses of humor. I’ve loved watching them grow and gain perspective about their place in the world.”

Ms. Layendecker’s faith in Castilleja’s students and devotion to the mission have made her a careful steward of the school’s community. “I believe that you should leave a place better than you found it.” Her work in support of Castilleja today and into the future has done just that.

Artists from Left: Luoyan Lin ’30 and Zoey Krawczyk’31

THE CLASS OF 2026

The Next Wanderers

“We’re reminded to look forward to the next big thing in life, prepare for the future, and treasure our last experiences: last Tie Ceremony, last Casti song, last first day of school. But even though it’s easy to get caught up in the future, it’s equally important to indulge in the present.”

— CAROLINE YUAN ’26, ASB President, Senior Speech Excerpt

“Leadership isn’t about having a title or holding authority. It’s about creating space for others to step forward. When I look back on the past seventeen years of my life, that lesson stands out. Whether on the tennis court, in activism, or even just in the classroom, what matters most isn’t being the loudest voice. It’s listening. It’s supporting. It’s giving someone else the courage to believe they can lead, too.”

— ALIDA CUTTRISS ’26, Senior Speech Excerpt

SENIOR DANCE PRODUCTION

“I found a special sort of beauty in dance, not just in the performance itself, but in the commitment and dedication I’ve seen artists pour into the crafts. The ability to fully devote yourself to something you love, to give it everything you have, and to shape all those hours of effort into something extraordinary? That is beauty.”

— AAMINAH MEMON ’26, Senior Speech Excerpt

“Sometimes, everything I’ve stuffed into my own backpack does feel unexpectedly heavy…. But I’ve learned that life is full of surprises, and you never know what you’ll need to pull out of that backpack: maybe a French worksheet from two months ago, or an extra shirt after you stain your hoodie. The lessons I’ve picked up over the years have worked the same way—they’ve shown up in surprising places.”

— JULIET SCHMELTZER ’26, Senior Speech Excerpt

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

“I still don’t think I’ll ever willingly wake up at 6:00am. And if I do… it will probably only be because my sister made me. But I’ve learned that who we become isn’t just shaped by what we do—it’s shaped by the people who stand beside us, push us forward, and occasionally drag us out of bed earlier than we’d like.”

— LAUREN MCDONALD ’26, Senior Speech Excerpt

“When I started 6th grade at Casti, my mom made it a goal for me to introduce myself to and spark conversation with every new person I met. I was really nervous, but as I kept doing it, I got a lot more comfortable. I learned who liked cats more than dogs, what sports people played, and what schools everyone was coming from…. They’re like my sisters, laughing with me at my highs and picking me up from my lows.”

— MADELEINE CHEN ’26, Senior Speech Excerpt

SENIOR TENNIS

SENIOR GOLF

SENIOR SIGNING DAY

SENIOR HOLIDAY COOKIE EXCHANGE

FACULTY VS. STUDENTS BASKETBALL GAME

CLASS NOTES

We’d love to hear from you!

Did you know that over 1,400 Castilleja alumnae have updated their personal information on Casti Connect, our digital alum platform (alum.castilleja.org)?

Whether you’d like to reach out to a fellow alum, join a group discussion, reconnect with a classmate, keep up to date with school news, stay informed about alum events and gatherings in your area, or give back to the school by mentoring or offering advice to current students, this platform makes it easy. Update your profile today and see all the platform has to offer at alum.castilleja.org

And as always, you are welcome to submit your Class Note (75 words or fewer) to appear in the next issue of Full Circle Magazine at: alum.castilleja.org

Questions? Ideas? Please contact: (650) 470-7744

alumnae@castilleja.org

1950s

1950 Eleanor “Dee” Wetmore Ellacott ’50 reached out to the Alumnae office last spring to reconnect with classmates ahead of their 75th reunion. Dee shared updates on several classmates and reflected on her own remarkable journey, including working until age 88, spending her final 15 years as a crossing guard.

Photo: Dee’s yearbook photo.

1951 Cynthia Kaiser Floyd ’51 P’81 ’83 ’85, Joyce Adams Hanna ’52 P’78 ’80 and grandmother ’20, and Pamela “Pam” Goodenough P’77 ’78, grandmother ’11 ’20 gathered for a Castilleja reunion in September—no doubt with plenty to talk about, including long-standing Casti family connections.

Photo: Pam, Joyce, and Cynthia.

1959 Carol Ramsay Rose ’59 and Ann Ramsay ’61 visited campus last fall and located their senior photos on the wall—alongside one of their mother, Elizabeth Wiel McCabe ’29. The visit was a true Full Circle moment for the family. Their sister Joan Ramsay Palmer ’58 also attended Castilleja. Photo: Carol and Ann in front of the senior class photo of their mother, Elizabeth.

1965 Wendy Jane Carrel ’65 shares, “A big bouquet of thanks to Head of School Dr. Betty Noel-Pierre and Director of Alumnae Engagement Elizabeth “Liz” Babb ’82, for bringing the spirit of Castilleja to Los Angeles in February 2026. It was a pleasure to experience Dr. Betty’s warm and inclusive leadership firsthand; her diverse talents are a gift to our school. I was equally touched by stories of alumnae in attendance—it is clear we are all bound by a deep sense of pride and gratitude for our years at Castilleja. My journey—it is a gift to be alive and to continue serving with two ‘healthcare hats’—as a publishing coach for books about wellbeing and as a guide for navigating the complexities of aging. My path led to Sacramento in February. I advocated for health, housing, and more with a team from the City of West Hollywood followed by a trip to Sonora, Mexico to support a group of expats with emergency and end-of-life planning. (My base in Mexico is Ajijic, Jalisco). Wishing everyone comfort, ease, stable health, and joy wherever you are.”

Photo: Wendy Jane in Los Angeles.

1966 Beth Roberts Leathers ’66 shares, “Still working at Coldwell Banker Realty. Please stop by if you are ever in Menlo Park. I would love to grab coffee and catch up!”

1968 Christie Hunner Shawl ’68 reports: “My son just established his practice as a psychiatrist in South Carolina, so Greenville is a permanent move for all of us. I have four grandchildren under the age of 10.”

Robin “Rob” Forrester Uecker ’68 reunited with Jayne Kowlowski Percy ’67 while visiting friends in Prescott, Arizona. The two enjoyed reminiscing about their Castilleja days and paging through old yearbooks together—proof that Casti connections can pop up anywhere, even 700 miles from campus.

Photo: Rob and Jayne together in Prescott, Arizona.

1970s

1970 Celia “Cece” Herron Waters ’70 received Castilleja’s 2025 Alum Athletic Hall of Fame Award in recognition of her outstanding athletic achievements and lifelong dedication to sport. A multi-sport standout at Castilleja and California State Champion diver, Cece went on to become Princeton University’s first female diver, earning All-American honors and competing internationally. She later built a career in sports media and technology leadership while remaining an active athlete.

Photo: Cece Waters.

Dr. Pamela “Pam” Silver ’70 was named Castilleja’s 2025 Distinguished Alumna in recognition of her pioneering contributions to synthetic biology and bioengineering. Dr. Silver is the Elliot T. and Onie H. Adams Professor of Biochemistry and Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School and a founding core faculty member of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. In 2023, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences for her groundbreaking work in biological engineering.

Photo: Pam Silver.

1972 Janet “Betsy” Barker ’72 published her first short mystery story, “Ruby Red,” in a Sisters in Crime Desert Sleuths anthology in September 2025. Her writing often explores themes of disability and chronic illness, featuring a sleuth with a disability who solves crimes. Janet has previously published a gemology guide, a guide to living with ME/CFS, and short stories in the Pillow Writers Anthology, Vol. I.

Joyce Bogner Bohn ’72 shares, “This fall, I took a trip to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. It was a great trip with historic monuments, palaces, river cruises, museums, wineries, and restaurants. One of the stops was meeting one of Bratislava’s most beloved and quirky residents, Čumil, the man at work. That fancy black boot on my foot is for a broken ankle which happened just days before the trip. I look forward to going back to Europe without the custom footwear.”

Photo: Joyce and Čumil.

Mia Mora ’72, Debra “Deb” Drake Hiraki, and Joyce Bogner Bohn returned to campus last year for a sustainability-focused lunch with Dan ChapmanHA and student leaders from Castilleja’s Green Team. Students highlighted on-campus initiatives such as Meatless Mondays, a clothing swap, and a bottle cap mural project. The alumnae also discussed their own climate efforts, from leading global climate communities to volunteering for Coastal Clean-Up Day and cultivating pollinator gardens.

Photo: Mia, Joyce, and Deb in front of the Bell.

1975 Cassandra “Casey” Lewis Keeshan ’75 writes, “Sorry to have missed our 50th; however, I’ve had a very busy summer and fall. My husband, Kevin, retired from NBC News in June and we sold our apartment in NYC and drove across the country to Walnut Creek thinking that was where we were going to settle. Well, after spending about two weeks there, we decided to relocate back to Nashville where we had lived for three years during the height of the pandemic. We have settled in and Kevin can now pursue his Red Cross work, and I can return volunteering with The Store, a nonprofit that offers food to those less fortunate in an environment with dignity (started by Brad Paisley and his wife). We’re looking forward to enjoying all the great music here.”

Photo: Casey and her husband.

1977 Jennifer “Jennie” Miller Montana ’77 continues to make beautiful outerwear apparel with a “Castilleja” theme. This year Jennie created an Instagram story highlighting how the Castilleja paintbrush flower has inspired her designs. You can browse Jennie’s books on fly fishing on our Authors List on Casti Connect under the last name of Olsson.

Doris “Christa” Lansdowne Nicholas ’77 shares: “I moved to northern Portugal in October 2025 with my two dogs and cat. We are living in a small town 40 minutes east of Porto, on the way to the Douro wine country and the Portuguese portion of the Camino Santiago. Daughter Adrienne and her husband have been in Stockholm, Sweden, since 2020.”

1980s

1980 Claire Kirch ’80 is celebrating 22 years working as a stringer for Publishers Weekly magazine. Her territory has always been the Midwest, but Claire was recently assigned the bookselling beat too—and interviewed the CEO of Kepler’s Books while in town for Reunion/ Alum Day in September 2025! Claire’s child moved to the East Bay in February, and Claire’s family visited the campus on June 4, 2025, 45 years almost to the day after her graduation. Claire greatly enjoyed zooming this past spring with Casti’s Counterpoint members about the circuitous route to her career as a journalist.

Photo: Claire in front of her oval.

1982 Ruth Maurice ’82 works for the Santa Clara County Office of Mediation and last fall spoke with the Criminal Justice Reform ACE Organization about her work facilitating voluntary victim-offender mediation. Drawing on her career as a public defender and criminal defense attorney, she shared how she navigates personal bias and builds trust in difficult conversations, encouraging students to lead with curiosity, practice nonjudgment, and center human needs like safety, connection, and dignity.

1984 Michelle Riches Helvey ’84 writes, “In February, I visited Castilleja with my husband, son, and granddaughter when my school’s basketball team played Casti in a CCS playoff game (I am Head of School at Oakwood School in Morgan Hill). We visited the class photo frames, located 1984, and my granddaughter found my picture right away. Fun to be on campus!”

Catherine Zerboni Popovici ’84 sent in the following update: “Playing lots of tennis and babysitting the granddaughter that lives close by. My daughter-in-law is expecting a son later this year, so there is more to do. We all hit 60 this year—WOW! The years fly by. I know that I need to do the bucket list over the next decade as I see that my friends in their mid-70s and 80s stop traveling much. So I am taking my single kids on the road a lot (hiking in Iceland—photo). Enjoy the moments that fly by. This is our one precious life here on planet Earth!”

Photo: Trip to Iceland.

1986 Lubna Qureishi ’86 shared a personal reflection on KQED last spring about observing Ramadan while caring for her son. In the piece, Lubna describes the rhythms and challenges of fasting from dawn to sunset and how the holy month fosters gratitude for everyday moments. “Ramadan truly makes you grateful for the small things,” she writes, reflecting on how the experience transforms ordinary routines into meaningful celebrations.

Photo: Lubna Qureishi.

1987 Bonnie Rosenberg ’87 P’22 hosted a joyful Memorial Day 2025 weekend filled with laughter and memories. Gabrielle Winer ’22, Marisol Meier ’20, Kristin Meier ’87 P’20, Michele Wray Khateri ’87, Sonja Hellman ’87, and Pamela “Pam” Hawley ’87 showed up with all their Gator pride!

Photo: Kristin Meier, Michele Wray Khateri, Bonnie Rosenberg, Sonja Hellman, Pamela Hawley

1988 Lori Burrows Warren ’88 came on campus recently to discuss her career in real estate with students. She explained how she guides people through one of life’s biggest transitions and transactions: buying or selling a home. After 20 years of event marketing, destination marketing, and then co-founding a startup that raised over $5 million in seed funding, she launched her real estate career 11 years ago. Lori explained to students that life doesn’t always go as planned and that you have to be flexible to get the most out of every day and every curveball.

1990s

1990 Rebecca Campbell ’90 returned to campus while visiting the United States from her home in England. Although she missed her class’s 35th reunion, Rebecca enjoyed walking around campus and revisiting familiar spots— including a stop at her class oval.

Photo: Rebecca points out her class oval during a campus visit.

In town from Seattle while her son Rowan trained with an Olympic-level artistic swimming coach, Gloria Tzuang ’90 caught up with classmates Eileen Tse and Jane Arena at True Food Kitchen. Always a treat to mix sunshine, sport, and Casti friendship!

Photo: The group at True Food.

1991 Kristine “Kristy” Cisco ’91 talked to students about her work in law enforcement this year, connecting a career that began as a junior at Castilleja when she began riding along with different police officers to learn about the career and then became an Explorer/Cadet. Kristy still enjoys hiking, biking, and reading and works for the Atherton Police Department.

When Elisa Bennett Martin ’91 came home from Spain to visit family, Ann Hirahara ’90, Karen Phipps Anderson, and Eileen Tse made the most of it with a brunch reunion! Mimosas, laughter, and Casti memories made for the perfect morning.

Photo: The gang’s all here!

Congratulations to Diane Menashe ’91, a powerhouse trial lawyer with more than 150 jury trials under her belt—including six capital cases— and a gift for turning complexity into clarity in the courtroom. In 2025, Super Lawyers recognized Diane with multiple honors: Top 100 Lawyers in Ohio, Top 50 Women Lawyers in Ohio, and Top 50 Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio. Diane is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and routinely teaches at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop, passing her craft on to the next generation.

Photo: Diane on the show “On The Case” (WKYC Channel 3)

1994 Kimberly “Kim” Bowen Rust ’94 writes, “I was so floored (and literally speechless) to have Sara Gilliland and Michelle Forgy Ellis surprise me by flying all the way to Florida from California with Michelle’s daughter, Allie, to celebrate my 50th birthday weekend! We had a ton of quality time, which included seeing manatees, meeting capybaras, many hours of sitting, talking and laughing by my firepit, and having a three-day sleepover. I am so grateful for decades of friendship with these amazing women!”

Photo: A three-day sleepover for this group.

Kim Flomenhoft ’94 shares, “I started a Masters of Divinity at University of Redlands, San Francisco Theological Seminary, with the goal of becoming a chaplain. I was awarded an Alumni Scholarship of $9,000 toward tuition for every year I will be attending.”

Photo: Kim ready to take on the world.

Tracy Jan ’94 treated Casti 8th grade students to a tour of the National Press Club while they were visiting Washington, DC this past fall. Tracy talked to the students about her time at Castilleja, how she still uses skills she learned at Casti in her daily work, the arc of her career, and what it means to be in journalism today. Tracy, senior editor at ProPublica, often speaks to Casti students interested in the industry.

Pratima Sethi ’94 P’27 and her sister Prerna Sethi ’99 started their family business, Sethi Couture, in 2009 with a collection of stacking rings. The brand has since grown into a full line of timeless fine jewelry. Recently, Pratima visited the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, to teach a class on “Solving Family Business Scaling Challenges.”

Photo: Prerna and Pratima.

1995 Orlena Fong Shek ’95 writes, “As part of my ongoing Rare Disease Advocacy work, I had the opportunity to take on a very meaningful project this year. When a dear friend became ill with a devastating disease as rare as my own, I worked with our local congressman to co-write a bill establishing a dedicated Awareness Month for my friend’s condition. The goal is similar to what has been done for my rare condition, Moyamoya Disease. For example, World Moyamoya Day, celebrated annually on May 6th around the world, helps raise awareness, encourage research funding, foster community among patients and families, and advocate for better care and support for those living with the disease. After introducing the bill, there is a formal legislative process before it can become law, so we will have to wait and see what happens next. I am also honored to share that I was selected as this year’s Keynote Speaker for the Pacific Stroke Association’s 26th Annual Stroke Conference in May where I will speak about advocacy, awareness, and the importance of community in rare diseases and stroke care.”

Photo: Orlena and her family.

1990s CONTINUED

Cynthia “Cyn” Harrison Arballo ’95, her husband, and two children love living in Palo Alto. She is a translator, interpreter, and educator, focused on linguistic power dynamics. Cynthia currently works as a Substitute and Primary Language Tutor for Palo Alto Unified and as a Spanish Interpreter for the Santa Clara County Office of Education. She will return to teaching at Reedley Community College in the fall of 2026.

Tara Hopwood Connon ’95 shares: “Our family has had a lot of transitions since the Palisades Fire in January 2025! We are finally settling into our new home in Westwood, and Luke (Loyola High School, ’26) has committed to play baseball at NYU. We are thrilled for him and look forward to a lot more NYC time!”

Photo: Tara and family.

1996 Jenny Cu ’96 shared her time and expertise once again on campus in the late winter, helping Upper School students learn how to introduce themselves and hone their resumes as they prepared for Castilleja’s career day, Beyond the Circle.

Photo: Jenny in action.

Kate McCarthy ’96 is currently taking some time off to enjoy life and spend time with the kids! She lives in Menlo Park with her husband and two children and in her free time enjoys tennis and hiking. From a career standpoint, Kate was most recently a product development and marketing leader at Meta, and prior to that, she was a Principal at The Boston Consulting Group.

1997 Tene Cage ’97, MD, recently departed Castilleja exhausted after talking about her career in medicine to a packed audience during our career day, Beyond the Circle. The session was so oversubscribed that Tene had to bring a trusted vendor with her to help with her props! Tene is an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Stanford, and as she explained, in that role she has the opportunity to provide clinical, medical, and surgical care to patients, to be involved in research, and to teach resident physicians and medical students.

Debbie Leight Mansfield ’97 reports: “My husband, Paul, 7-year old son, Ethan, and I went to Argentina and Uruguay at the end of the year to visit family.”

Debbie and her family in South America.

1998 Nora Menkin ’98 shared a wonderful picture of her, Rebecca “Bekki” Cima Lyon, and, Theadora “Thea” Sakata from October. Bekki and Nora “flew out to visit with Thea in SLC and had an amazing time catching up and getting toured around. Dr. Sakata took very good care of me when I got walloped with altitude sickness on my first day there, going to 9,000+ feet after my cushy sea-level existence in Seattle.”

Nora, Bekki, and Thea.

1999 Emily Glenn Tucker ’99, PhD, shared her expertise with a large group of students at Casti’s career day, Beyond the Circle, this year. Emily explained her career arc to students (non-linear!), the range of jobs available in psychology, as well as the ups and downs of owning your own practice. Since 2012, Emily has been focused on better understanding learning differences, ADHD, autism, anxiety, and other neurodevelopmental differences in kids, teens, and young adults.

Sophie Jones ’99 shares: “After a decade in medicine and surgery, followed by a decade in investment banking, I have recently been appointed CFO of Seismic Therapeutics—a machine learning-driven clinical stage immunology biotech. I look forward to connecting with fellow Casti alums in biotech investing and business development/corp development!”

2000s

2000 Anjelika Deogirikar Grossman ’00HA received Castilleja’s 2025 Outstanding Service Award in recognition of her longstanding dedication to the school as both a professional and volunteer leader. Anjelika previously served as Castilleja’s Director of Experiential Learning and Global Education and has held numerous alum volunteer roles, including President of the Alumnae Board. She currently serves as Associate Director of the Massive Data Institute at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.

Photo: Anjelika Deogirikar Grossman.

2001 Belkis Boyacigiller ’01 gave some wonderful advice to our Upper School students this year: “Balancing creativity with business growth is a skill worth mastering.” Belkis’s career has taken unexpected turns, from music booking and social media to becoming the cheffounder of Bi Nevi Deli, a beloved plant-based restaurant in Istanbul. She’s happy to be back in the United States and living in Atherton.

Photo:

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Kirstin Munro ’01 is the editor of The Contested Domain: Selected Writings on Marxism and Feminism, a book that collects Lise Vogel’s best essays, opening a window into the last half century of US socialist feminism. Combining five decades of Vogel’s work, including long out-of-print material, this collection is a crucial resource for readers interested in the intellectual history of Marxist feminism and twentieth-century activism.

Photo: Kirstin’s book.

2002 Katherine “Kat” Cohn ’02, Julia “Julie” Cohn ’05, and Marion Cohn ’08 returned to campus with their parents, Bob and Tate Cohn, to visit the Cohn Family Middle School Student Center before its deconstruction as part of Castilleja’s campus modernization project. During their visit, the sisters toured campus, caught up with Lea PenceHA P’25, enjoyed lunch in the Dining Hall, and stopped for photos at their class ovals and the Bell.

Photo: Kat, Julie, and Marion with their parents, Bob and Tate Cohn, in front of the Cohn Family Middle School Student Center.

Jacqueline Nguyen ’02 is an Orthopedic Surgeon with a subspecialty in Foot and Ankle. She currently works at San Mateo Medical Center. She also served on the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee from 2021 to 2025. Recently, Jacqueline came to Castilleja to speak about her career in medicine to a group of students who eagerly evaluated x-rays of unstable joints as part of the session.

2004 Sophia Kokores ’04 reports that milestone reunion vibes for the Class of 2004 remain strong! She loved getting together last October with Marie Gassee, Gillian Rogers, Gianna Giancarlo, and Lindsay Hertz at Mesk in San Francisco, where they caught up, celebrated, and kept the connections and the memories going strong.

Photo: The group at Mesk.

Congratulations to Logan McClure Davda ’04, promoted to CEO of TED this year. Logan, a longtime TED leader who co-founded the TED Fellows program and most recently served as Head of Impact, oversees day-to-day operations and drives the next phase of TED’s growth and innovation. Logan lives in New York with her family.

Claudia Christman-Skieller Thomas ’04 is finishing up her final year of service as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force in Anchorage, Alaska. She has been working as a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon and will be transitioning to a civilian practice in Portland this summer. She and her husband Chris and son Stellan (3), along with their dog and cat, will be making the drive to Oregon this August. Come visit them in Alaska before they leave!

2005 Congratulations Molly Fischer ’05 on her article in The New Yorker: “Can the Golden Age of Costco Last?” Molly was also interviewed on California’s KQED/PBS/NPR show FORUM, where she talked about growing up going to a Costco in San Jose (Warehouse No. 148 on Senter Road), and “being a child of California in the eighties and nineties offering a front-row seat to the rise of a retail juggernaut.”

Katie Given ’05, MD, PhD, MBA is working at the intersection of healthcare, data science, and AI as a skin cancer surgeon, dermatologist, educator, and entrepreneur. Most recently, with the support of her sister, Anne Given ’07, Katie founded and now runs her own dermatology corporation. Anne has over a decade of experience in startup finance and operations, a masters in Integrative Health Studies, and multiple certifications in the field of wellness, including coaching. Katie credits Anne for helping her to take the leap and open her own business. At our career day, Beyond the Circle, this year, the sister duo regaled students with their career story, as well as many Castilleja memories!

Photo: Katie and Anne speak to students.

Kirsten Stasio ’05 is a sustainability and social impact leader dedicated to advancing clean energy solutions that benefit communities and our climate. She serves as CEO of the Nevada Clean Energy Fund, a nonprofit investor in clean energy for homes, Tribes, schools, and underserved communities. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University. We were thrilled to have Kirsten back to the Circle for our career day, Beyond the Circle, this year.

2006 Anisha Bhalla ’06 and Charlotte Lamm ’20 joined Anne CameronHA P’04 and Head of School Dr. Betty Noel-Pierre during Reunion/ Alum Day for a lively discussion in the Chapel Theater about girls’ schools today. The panel explored whether Castilleja’s 5Cs still resonate and reflected on the traditions and experiences that continue to shape students and alumnae.

Photo: Anisha, Charlotte, Anne, and Dr. NoelPierre on stage in the Chapel Theater during Reunion/Alum Day.

2000s CONTINUED

In fall of 2025, Catherine “Kate” Powell ’06 joined Irvine Foundation as a Managing Director of Investments after nine years with Packard Foundation. She was also so lucky to spend time with several ’06 Casti alums—Daphne Crane, Ashley Schoettle Zlatinov, Kathryn Papadopoulos, and Christina Hueschen—on their annual-ish girls’ weekend trip (this time in Santa Cruz!).

Tess Thorman ’06 came on campus this year to explain her work as a researcher at a nonpartisan think tank that focuses on public policy in California. Tess studies poverty, inequality, and economic opportunity, which means she’s often trying to answer questions about how Californians are doing, what challenges they face in making ends meet, and how programs designed to help are working.

2007 Adriana “Adri” Mujal ’07 spoke about the lasting impact of tuition assistance at 2025’s View360. Now a research fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she explained, “Attending Castilleja was a truly formative experience. The faith that the school placed in my potential was a powerful motivator at that young age. It was at Castilleja that my eyes were opened to the sciences.”

Photo: Adri addressing the audience at View360 2025.

2008 Fifteen Castilleja alums—including several Honorary Alums—spanning the classes of 1976 to 2020 gathered in San Francisco in mid-November to see SUFFS, the powerhouse musical about the women who fought for the vote. Marion Cohn ’08, one of the show’s producers, secured our block of tickets!

Additional shout out to fellow Casti alums Julia “Julie” Cohn ’05 and Julia “Morgan” Jones ’09, who also served as producers on this inspiring show. True to Casti form, Heather Allen Pang ’84HA P’17 couldn’t resist a historical deep-dive during the show’s intermission when she told us that our founder Mary Lockey was listed on California’s voter registration rolls back in 1912— eight years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote nationwide. (California women earned that right in 1911, when the state approved women’s suffrage ahead of the federal amendment.)

Photo: From the Circle to the suffragists’ stage, the Castilleja legacy of Women Learning, Women Leading continues to shine.

2009 Laura Bryn Sisson ’09 shares: “I have relocated to the UK and am pursuing my MBA at Cambridge Judge Business School, expected to graduate September 2026. I’d love to connect with other alums who are across the pond!”

Photo: Laura in the UK

Virginia Harris Milner ’09 is a lawyer in the San Francisco office of Wilson Sonsini. Recently, Virginia spoke to our students in the Upper School about a career in law. She talked about how the career is challenging—from the LSAT to three years of law school to the bar exam—but that it is also incredibly rewarding.

2010s

2011 Rachel Skokowski ’11 writes, “I’m proud to share that my book, The Goncourt Brothers and the Language of Etching, was recently published by Oxford University Press. Building on my PhD research at Oxford, it explores the relationship between printmaking and literature in nineteenth-century France. My love for French language and literature began at Castilleja, and I’d like to say ’un grand merci’ to Madame Christiane RepellinHA and Madame Lauren SchryverHA P’07 for encouraging me to pursue this passion at Castilleja and beyond!”

Photo: Cover of Rachel’s book.

presented her research on college women, campus activism, and reproductive health to the Massachusetts Historical Society this year and is currently working with MHS on a related oral history project.

Photo: Cat all smiles.

2012 Cat Rosch ’12

2010s CONTINUED

Claire O’Malley Glass ’12 shares: “I keep returning to the classroom, a place I learned to love during my years at Castilleja. This spring, following my recent graduation from a masters in Architecture program, I started my teaching career as a professor at CU Denver. I am enjoying a creative mountain life in Boulder, CO, and visiting family in the Bay Area often!”

Claire Patterson ’12 earned a Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2025 after nearly a decade working in television and media, where she helped cast shows including Abbott Elementary and Ted Lasso. Claire now works in Boston as the Associate Director of Donor Communications at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Photo: Claire celebrates her graduation from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

2013 Gabriela “Gaby” Castro ’13 returned to campus in 2025 to introduce students, faculty, and staff to the joys of acoustic music during Castilleja’s Tech Free Week. Using crystal and metal bowls, drums, and chimes, Gaby created soothing ethereal sounds during a library “sound bath.” Gaby is the founder of Song Pine and Stone, which offers sound healing experiences.

Photo: Gaby leading a sound bath in the library during Tech-Free Week.

Simone Seiver ’13 came on campus in late October to speak at our leadership donor appreciation event, Keeping the Circle Green, as well as to students in the classroom.

Simone, now a practicing attorney, founded Connecticut’s first nonprofit bail fund while still an undergrad at Yale (becoming a licensed bondswoman in the process), earned a master’s in Criminology at Cambridge after traveling to 40+ countries, and later returned to Yale Law before completing a stint in counter-intelligence at the FBI and afterwards, two federal clerkships. Before the donor event, Simone also spoke to Heather Allen Pang ’84HA P’17’s class: Population, Migration, and Conflict. “Teaching a class was surreal,” Simone said. Last fall, Simone moved to New York City to join the law firm Susman Godfrey and is settling into Brooklyn, where, by her account, the most competitive application she’s ever written may have been for her new apartment!

Photo: Simone on campus.

2014 Caroline Debs ’14 is a User Experience Researcher at DoorDash. As she explained to a group of Castilleja students this year, her job consists of improving technology products to best meet the needs of DoorDash’s end users, from jobseekers to DoorDash drivers.

Juliet Norvig ’14 returned to Castilleja as a member of the mathematics faculty. A graduate of Brown University with a BA in Biology and Philosophy and Boston College with an MA in Learning Engineering, Juliet previously taught 8th grade math at Castilleja as a sabbatical replacement in spring 2023. She is now back full time in the mathematics department.

Photo: Juliet Norvig.

Sanah Imran ’14 returned to campus during the first week of school to speak with 8th graders at Castilleja’s Purpose Summit. Sanah encouraged students to think about their own spark and gifts, sharing reflections from her Casti years and her path from science to business strategy in biotech. After earning her MBA from Harvard Business School, she now works at the intersection of engineering, biosciences, and strategy.

Photo: Sanah shares her journey with students at Castilleja’s Purpose Summit.

2015 Kathleen Kenealy ’15 spoke individually to students studying in an advanced course on AI at Casti in the fall. Kathleen discussed the fundamentals of large language models (LLMs) and dug into the exciting research she’s doing at Google DeepMind. Students were introduced to the power of open-source LLMs and how they can advance scientific discovery.

Paige Vermeer ’15 appeared with her family on the Hallmark+ series, Christmas at Sea, A Christmas in July, last year. Filmed aboard a holiday-themed cruise, the show follows guests celebrating festive traditions at sea. Paige shared that she, her mother, and sister-in-law had a wonderful time soaking up the sun and Christmas spirit together.

Photo: Paige with her mom and sister-in-law in a Hallmark+ preview for Christmas at Sea, A Christmas in July.

2016 Ellie Chen ’16 spoke to our student run Women in Business group this winter about entrepreneurship. Ellie is the co-founder of Oddli, a Los Angeles-based, sustainable clothing brand founded in 2021. She was also named to Forbes 30 under 30, and the brand received a wonderful write-up on Brené Brown’s website.

Need a new pair of jeans? Buy “Casti”! In February, Karina Gupta ’16 launched KarinaJ, a jeans company that produces pants adaptable to women’s bodies. Karina received a write-up about her new company on the Yale School of Management’s website and funded her venture via Kickstarter.

Molly Ledwith ’16 began attending the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in fall 2025. After nearly five years at Accenture, Molly was excited for this next chapter and grateful for the mentors, colleagues, family, friends, and Castilleja community who supported her along the way.

Tara Thakurta ’16 returned to campus with her family and boyfriend to show them around the Circle, stopping at her oval and the sports banner bearing her name in the gym. Tara lives in Boston and is currently pursuing a PhD in biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While she was in town, Tara visited with Shivani Nishar and Leena Ambady, both of whom have relocated back to the Bay Area.

Photo: Tara poses with her “Pitcher of the Year” softball banner in the gym.

2017 Alum Grace Frome ’17 acted as coproducer on the documentary, American Dendrite, which follows the flow of water from Chicago to New Orleans, interviewing a wide range of people along the water’s edge. Grace notes, “The film is ultimately a human interest piece with an element that touches on the political rift in America and some of its history regarding the indigenous people of the Mississippi.” And naturally, everything comes back to Casti. Grace shared, “The director of this project and I actually met on a summer program when we were in high school and eventually went to college together, where we collaborated on several projects.”

This past fall, Katherine Greatwood ’17 spoke to students studying in an advanced course on AI at Casti. She discussed how AI is used in robotics, focusing on her work at Google X that addresses the circularity of plastic waste. For many of our students involved in Gatorbotics, it was inspiring to see how their experience on the team applies to such diverse challenges.

Congratulations to Madison “Maddie” Goldberg ’17, who was named host and associate producer of MIT’s award-winning climate change podcast, TILclimate! Maddie’s love of science blossomed when she was a Casti student, and her first podcast episode aired on November 4, 2025. Follow the podcast for climate change-related topics!

2020s

2020 Casti Cheers to Emielyn Das ’20, cowriter of the musical Seven Steps Around the Fire (music/lyrics by Emielyn Das & Harrison Lewis). The story follows Kareena, a young Indian-American woman who must interpret visions of her past seven lifetimes when her queer relationship is threatened by the cultural expectation of arranged marriage. The musical debuted in New York City on November 6.

Michal Goldstein ’20 graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in English and received the Thomas T. Hoopes Prize for undergraduate theses, the James Buell Munn Book Prize for literary talent, and the Sophia Freund Prize for academic achievement. She is currently continuing work on her novel, Winona.

Moorea Mitchell ’20 sang the national anthem in a quartet before tipoff at the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Four Basketball Championships last spring. A Duke University track and field standout, Moorea qualified for the 2024 NCAA Track and Field Championships and recorded the second-best hammer throw in the program’s history. A member of Duke’s a cappella community as well, Moorea graduated in 2025 and now lives and works in New York City.

Photo: Moorea’s quartet singing “The StarSpangled Banner.”

Sara Lowell ’20 reports: “It was great to see Shilpa Sajja ’19 when Nikita “Niki” Srivastava ’19 came to visit Boston earlier this year! Thanks to Casti for the Cheers & Peers meal at The Friendly Toast in Cambridge!

Photo: Sara, Shilpa, and Nikita.

Tevah Gevelber ’20 returned to campus in late April 2025 for her first visit since graduation. After earning her degree from Brown University, Tevah served with the Peace Corps in Costa Rica. She now works at Epic in Verona, Wisconsin.

Photo: Tevah in the Dining Hall.

2021 Ciara Bean ’21 graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she studied French and Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies. She received the Germaine-Mercier Award from the Department of French and Italian for academic excellence. Ciara now works in Santa Monica as an Assistant Merchant at FIGS. During college, she also pursued her interest in fashion, attending Chanel’s Ready-to-Wear shows in Paris.

Photo: Ciara on graduation day at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Divya Ganesan ’21, a recent Stanford University graduate, received the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for Distinctive Contributions to Undergraduate Education. A political science major and coterminal student in computer science, Divya was recognized for her leadership across campus organizations and for helping rebuild student community and accessibility in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo: Divya celebrates graduation day at Stanford.

2022 Elina Khoshnevis ’22, a senior studying business and entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California, was quoted in a Los Angeles Times story about a popular USC class taught by former NFL coach Pete Carroll. Elina shared that the course “completely changed my life,” praising Carroll’s ability to make students feel seen and heard.

2024 Olivia Stinson ’24 returned to campus in September to visit Jonathan “Jon” Rockman’sHA AT Physics class and share insights from her summer research at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Olivia, now studying Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT, also reflected on how Mr. Rockman’s class first sparked her interest in nuclear fusion.

Photo: Olivia dives into nuclear science with Castilleja students in Mr. Rockman’s AT Physics class.

2025 Noelle Madden ’25 reported, “Riley Sterling ’24 and I met up to go skiing in fall of 2025. We were hoping to get in on this alum coffee deal, but since we both don’t like coffee, we settled for something else.”

Photo: Noelle and Riley on the slopes.

Claire Sun ’25, Abigail Kim, and Priscilla Chan got together last fall at Palo Alto’s Sweet Maple to touch base and make sure each one was off to a great start in college.

Photo: Sweet times at Sweet Maple.

Kelsey Sweetland ’25 founded Authors for Nature, which helped two current Castilleja students, Alisha and Saige, publish their book, Endangered Animals of the Ocean last fall. Kelsey, a published author herself, started her organization to help young adults write, illustrate, and publish books that raise awareness about environmental issues. In addition to running Authors for Nature, Kelsey, a freshman at Denison University, works there as AI Student Ambassador.

Former Employee Notes

Nancy FlowersHA P’87 ’88 shares: “As a tribute to the memory of Katie Harris ’87, the Renaissance Society of America had a day of presentations in her honor at their national conference in February. The panels focused on topics related to Katie’s scholarly work in Spanish History: Historical Forgeries and their Afterlives and Inventing Saints and Shaping Holiness. A round table discussed her contribution to the field of early modern history.

Peggy McKeeHA ran into Michelle “Mimi” Shinseki ’90 and Judy SleethHA P’94 ’99 at Avenidas in early March. She notes that “It’s weirdly odd to go someplace and have a youngish woman shout out, “MRS. MCKEE”!—like in the olden days. I’ve recently settled in at Channing House, but shuttle back and forth to my home on Cowper St. every day to deal with drawers, closets, boxes, and file cabinets—yes I have file cabinets.” Peggy is particularly proud of her granddaughter Megan Andersen ’16 (Peggy and Megan retired/graduated together. Megan works in cybersecurity at CrowdStrike in Washington, DC).

In Memoriam

FOREVER IN OUR CIRCLE

ALUMNAE

Joan Aubineau Livingston ’49

Grandmother of Anne Livingston ’12

Virginia Bardin Mayhew ’64

Gail Edwards Haist ’50

Karlyn Glaser Schneider ’50

Mary Jane Graham ’47

Ami Isenberg Jaqua ’51

Roxanna Isenberg ’55

Betty James Darling ’50

Pamela Katch ’83

Sister of Stephanie Katch-Barbot ’82

Suzanne Lake Haynes ’55

Mother of Mary Kuechler ’84, Sister-in-law of Sally Kuechler

Debenham ’52 (deceased), Sue Kuechler Harris ’52 (deceased), and Nancy Kuechler Enright ’65, Aunt of Sally Stewart Harris ’76, Elizabeth Harris (Beth) ’77, Kathryn Harris Robbins (Katie) ’81,

Great Aunt of Katharine Booher ’09, Sarah Booher ’18, Catherine Debenham ’21, and Ella Debenham ’24

Judy Levitas Melvin ’56

Alison Rose ’62

Marilyn Senn Moll ’47

Leigh Westmoreland Dowe ’79

Susan Williams Wilson ’50

FAMILY

Patricia Anderson Mother of Lynn Anderson Poole ’78

Helen Babb Mother of Elizabeth Babb ’82

Laura Darby Mother of Kristin Bell ’95

Odette Felder Mother of R. Hillary Felder ’87

John Hanna Father of Kristine Hanna-Lomax ’78, Katie Hanna Dickson ’80, Grandfather of Allison Dickson ’20

Ofelia Harrison Mother of Cynthia Harrison Arballo ’95

Sylvia Hochscheid Mother of Anita Hochscheid Miller ’82

Bill Lamb Husband of Lauren Ray Lamb ’78

William Lee Father of Donna Lee McMaster ’83, Grandfather of Amanda McMaster ’17

Virgina Lee Mother of Donna Lee McMaster ’83, Grandfather of Amanda McMaster ’17

Sally Offutt Mother of Betsy Offutt Edelmann ’74

Sukumar Ramanathan Father of Rekha Ramanathan ’18 and Radha Ramanathan ’22

Nan Engler Ray Mother of Lauren Ray Lamb ’78

Meenaxi Sethi Mother of Pratima Sethi ’94, Prerna Sethi ’99, Grandmother of Amelie Bellemans ’27

Bernard Widrow Father of Leslie Widrow Derbin ’78, Debbie Widrow Sklarin ’81

Don Yates Father of Linda Yates ’80

EMPLOYEES

Elia RibeiroHA

Elyce MelmonHA Former English teacher (1981-1997)

Christiane AndreopoulosHA Former French teacher (1978-1992)

Artists from top: Iyla Parkh ’27 and Sybella Garcia-Traverso ’28

Middle School artists from left to right: Rachel Hong ’30 and Eloïse Boulanger ’30

Leadership Team

Betty Noel-Pierre Head of School

Kathy LayendeckerHA Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations

Christina GwinHA Dean of Faculty and Faculty Member, English

Peter Hatala Head of Upper School

Sue KimHA Director of Advancement

Claire Ledwith Director of Admission

Emily McElhinney Director of Communications and Community Relations

Sara Shaughnessy Director of Athletics

Laura Zappas Head of Middle School

This issue of Full Circle was written and produced by Emily McElhinney and Masha Rumer with contributions by Steven Ashton, Liz Babb ’82, and Sue KimHA, photography by Sam Petersen and Elke Tiechmann ’09, and graphic design by Kris Loew P’18 ’20.

Many thanks to Castilleja alumnae for their updates, notably Logan McClure Davda ’04, Tiffany Wong ’07, and Sandy Pillalamarri Banerjee ’05. Thank you to Global Week speakers David Colturi, Nicole Mitchell ’15, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang P’17, Yael Chatav Schonbrun ’97, Natalie Shell ’11, and Max Stossel. Thanks to the Arrillaga Family Foundation for sponsoring speaker Audrey Tang and to Truebeck employees Michaela Dunne, Galilea Gonzalez-Nava, and Brynda Olson. Thank you to the faculty, staff, and students who contributed to the stories and shared their artwork.

Board of Trustees

Stephanie Chen, Co-Chair

Nate Gallon, Co-Chair

Raj Agrawal

Ed Chan

Judy Dang

Mahooya Dinda

Daniel Feitelberg

Shruti Haldea

Bob Kocher

Allison Koo ’98

Anne Kornblut

Jamaica Kreps

Yidrienne Lai

Albert Lee

Ning Li

Armando Mann

Jennifer Newstead

Betty Noel-Pierre

Olivia Nottebohm

Suzanne O’Brien

Kimberley Morris Rosen ’98

Mike Schroepfer

Andie Navarro Sobrato ’08

Jeff Wong, Treasurer/Secretary

Zac Zeitlin

Alumnae Association Executive Committee

Kimberley Morris Rosen ’98, President

Anisha Bhalla ’06, Vice President

Liz Babb ’82

Anjali Jotwani ’08

Michele Wray Khateri ’87

Kristin Leasia ’07

Aleia Carr McDaniel ’96

Lauren Speiser ’20

Claire Traum ’17

Bella Vandenberg ’20

Mina Yazdi ’03

CASTILLEJA SCHOOL MAGAZINE

Castilleja School Foundation 1310 Bryant Street Palo Alto, CA 94301

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