Carlisle Hall and Hancock Hall

With students' return to campus this fall, among the many highlights has been the opening of Carlisle Hall and Hancock Hall.

Completed in the spring, the connected dormitories honor longtime faculty members Dr. Susie Carlisle and Wayne Hancock, both now retired. Located on Drew Common on the site of the former Cooke Hall, each dorm is home to 30 students in 15 double rooms, with two faculty apartments.

To celebrate and preserve the signifi cant contributions to Cushing by legendary teachers L. Clyde and Erma Wheeler Cooke, for whom Cooke Hall was named, their portrait and an accompanying tribute hang in the central foyer connecting the dorms.

“We are grateful to the E.G. Watkins Family Foundation for this newest addition to our campus renewal,” said Head of School Dr. Randy Bertin. “Our residential life program plays a vital role in creating a strong Cushing community, and Carlisle and Hancock Halls are a truly wonderful enhancement. Honoring the legacy of extraordinary faculty like Wayne Hancock and Susie Carlisle, along with the Cookes before them, pays tribute to another proud chapter in Cushing’s history.”

Aff ectionately known by all as “Sooz,” Susie Carlisle began her 23-year Cushing career in 1980, and after a period away, she returned in 2000, serving in multiple roles before her 2019 retirement: beloved teacher of English and art, dean of academics, dance teacher, tennis coach, and mentor. Twice named Teacher of the Year, she is an honorary member of the Class of 2019. “Truly one of a kind, Sooz is so much more than a dean, a teacher, an advisor, a mentor, a friend—she is a life changer,” noted former student Meghan Duggan ’06. “She has enriched the Cushing community in so many ways with her brilliance, kindness, acceptance, and genuine loving spirit.”

On a recent visit to Carlisle Hall, Susie remarked, “It is an honor to read the plaque recognizing my roles as teacher, dean, and mentor, but I truly feel I was on the receiving end, as I got so much more from my students and colleagues than I gave.”

“Truly one of a kind, Sooz is so much more than a dean, a teacher, an advisor, a mentor, a friend— she is a life changer.”

A longtime resident of Ashburnham with her husband, Mark, their family’s Penguin roots include their children Heather ’00 and Andrew ’04, along with their daughter Meredith, who served as a key member of the Admissions team for several years.

Wayne Hancock began his distinguished Cushing career of 38 years in 1977. A Gardner native, Wayne was hired to teach history and coach baseball. Until his retirement in 2015, he shared those dual passions, shaping the lives of his students and earning honors as a Teacher of the Year and as a member of the Massachusetts High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. His players won eight Central New England Prep School Championships, and in 2018, the Wayne Hancock Baseball Diamond was dedicated on Adams Field. At the dedication ceremony, then–Co-Head of School Peggy Lee reflected, “Wayne’s example of setting high expectations in the classroom and on the field, as well as his strong support of both students and colleagues, has left an indelible mark on Cushing’s history.” Wayne’s many other roles included dorm parent and director of Cushing’s Native American Preparatory School (NAPS). He is an honorary member of the Class of 2015.

“Wayne’s example of setting high expectations in the classroom and on the field, as well as his strong support of both students and colleagues, has left an indelible mark on Cushing’s history.”

Viewing Hancock Hall for the first time, Wayne commented, “My family and I benefited tremendously from living within the ‘Cushing Culture’ for nearly four decades, and my wife Maria, son Jaime ’02 and daughter Cristina ’05 share in the pride of this special recognition. No doubt many of my longtime colleagues are deserving of this honor—it was a privilege to be part of a community of wonderful students and outstanding faculty, and to be part of an institution which has always been known for putting students first.”

The third dormitory project in four years, the dorms were completed on time and on budget, despite the challenges of the pandemic. Work encompassed significant infrastructure beneath Drew Common, improving this important center of campus activity. Cushing’s most energy-efficient building, it is the first dorm to be tied into the new central heating plant located at the Fisher-Watkins Dining Commons, which was renovated in 2017-2018.

A tribute to L. Clyde and Erma Wheeler Cooke, for whom Cooke Hall was named, hangs in the central foyer connecting Carlisle and Hancock Halls.