Welcome New Faces

from Cushing Today - Summer/Fall 2021

Class Notes

GREG POLLARD

Director of Advancement

An 18-year veteran in advancement and development leadership for independent schools, Greg Pollard has joined Cushing Academy as the new director of Advancement.

Greg comes to Cushing from Babson College, where he was the senior associate director of development. He has extensive experience in independent schools, including as director of advancement at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire and the Ransom Everglades School in Florida.

“I am pleased to welcome Greg to Cushing, and I know he will take the Academy’s development efforts to new levels, which will increase the impact we make on our students’ learning and lives,” said Head of School Randy Bertin. “Working with our generous donors, Greg will secure resources that will allow us to continue

EDWARD "EDDIE" BUGGIE

Director of Inclusion and Community Life

A veteran diversity and inclusion professional who started his career as a Juilliard-trained dancer, Eddie Buggie has joined Cushing Academy as director of Inclusion and Community Life.

Eddie has been leading in this field at the college level for years. He initiated the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at The Juilliard School and served as director of that program. Most recently, Eddie was the Title IX & Equity Investigator, Green Dot Coordinator, at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and Titusville. He has presented on numerous occasions on diversity, equity, and inclusion and on Title IX. Before taking on the Title IX role, Eddie worked as assistant director of residence life and housing at the University of Pittsburgh, Bradford.

Eddie will be a member of the senior leadership team and will report to the Head of School. As director, he will be instrumental in driving Cushing's momentum in the work of making the diverse school community more inclusive.

Head of School Randy Bertin praised Eddie as an ideal choice for this role. “Eddie has been working on diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational settings for nearly 20 years. His expertise will be invaluable as Cushing looks to continue to strengthen our efforts in these vital areas,” Bertin said. “We are delighted that Eddie is also joining the Performing Arts Department as a dance teacher. His training and experience will bring terrific opportunities for students in our dance program.”

Eddie’s work will include providing professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, community education for students, and assessing the academic program and curriculum to ensure and increase cultural inclusion.

Eddie is thrilled to be joining Cushing’s team. “I am passionate about the chance to do this important work in a close-knit community like this one," he said. " Being at a boarding school beautifully combines my previous roles in housing and student life with DEI. I think this will be a great fit.”

Eddie earned a bachelor of fine arts in dance from Juilliard. He also has a master’s in education with an emphasis on higher education from Loyola University Chicago.

His early career was as a dancer, dance teacher, and executive director of a dance company. Eddie has performed in works choreographed by modern dance pioneers including Paul Taylor, Jose Limon, Alvin Ailey and Garth Fagan. He has taught and performed across the country and around the world.

“Being at a boarding school beautifully combines my previous roles in housing and student life with DEI. I think this will be a great fit.”

attracting the best faculty, providing students with cutting-edge learning tools, and creating state-of-the-art learning, living, and athletic facilities.”

Greg expressed excitement about the opportunities at Cushing. “With its excellent reputation among independent schools and its passionate alumni and parent network, I am excited to join Cushing and contribute to the Academy’s work in creating the best educational environment possible for students,” said Greg. “I look forward to meeting Cushing alumni and families and working with them to build a stronger, more resilient Cushing.”

Greg joins the Academy at a time of significant enrollment growth and capital expansion. These projects include the completion of the 30,000 - square-foot Watkins Field House, the Lee and Sanborn Houses dorms, the Fisher-Watkins Dining Commons, Carlisle and Hancock Halls, and the comprehensive renovation of the historic Ashburnham House that now includes new classroom spaces, e-sports laboratories, and a campus store.

Members of Penguin Nation will soon have the opportunity to meet Greg and share their passion for Cushing.

A Division 1 coach for 30 years, Paul Pearl has joined Cushing Academy as head coach for boys’ hockey.

“When we had an opportunity to bring in a new head boys’ hockey coach, we sought the best candidate possible to continue Cushing’s established tradition of hockey excellence, and I am proud to say that we found the perfect match in Paul,” said Randy Bertin, Head of School. “Paul ranks among the top hockey professionals and coaches in the country. He has an excellent record as a winning coach and the professionalism, integrity, and competitiveness that will elevate our program.”

“Cushing’s reputation for producing great scholar-athletes and its commitment to its highly regarded and excellent hockey program make the Academy a special place to coach and for its students to grow as players and students,” Paul commented. “Dr. Bertin has a great vision for the Academy and its athletics, and I look forward to contributing to this exciting future for the hockey program and Cushing.”

Paul comes to the Academy as the boys’ hockey team remains a perennial leader among the country’s independent schools. Eight Cushing players from the 2020-21 team earned Division 1 NCAA scholarships. Cushing hockey is currently well represented in the NHL, with three-time All-Star and active NHL iron man streak leader Keith Yandle ’05, who has played more than 1,000 NHL games; Stanley Cup winner Zach Bogosian ’08; and two-time Stanley Cup winner Conor Sheary ’10. Cushing has produced 18 NHL players and five U.S. Olympic Hockey players.

Pearl has been coaching at the Division 1 level for more than 30 years. He comes to Cushing from Boston University, where he was associate head coach. Prior to coaching at Boston University, Paul was associate head coach at Harvard University when that team participated in three straight NCAA tournaments between 2015-2017 and made the ECAC championship in those seasons, winning twice and sharing the 2017 Cleary Cup.

A head coach at his alma mater Holy Cross for 19 years, he remains the all-time winningest coach in the college’s history. He led the Crusaders to NCAA tournament games in 2004 and 2006 and coached five 20-win seasons. He was named Coach of the Year in 1998 by the ECAC and New England Writers’ Association, the MAAC Coach of the Year in 2002, and Atlantic Hockey Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2011.

PAUL PEARL

Advancement Officer and Head Boys’ Hockey Coach

Paul has also joined Cushing’s Advancement Office and will serve as the assistant varsity baseball coach. A graduate of Holy Cross, Paul earned his MBA from the University of Connecticut.

“Cushing’s reputation for producing great scholar-athletes and its commitment to its highly regarded and excellent hockey program make the Academy a special place to coach and for its students to grow as players and students.”