BY JOAN SLATTERY
At the Helm
A FA M I L I A R FAC E , A F R E S H P E R S P E C T I V E
First impressions count, and Nina After graduating from Brown Hanlon—as the new director of University—where she focused on admission—will be the first face of Africana studies, rowing, and actGreenwich Academy for many proing—Mrs. Hanlon returned to her spective students. Anyone who’s met high school alma mater, Noble Mrs. Hanlon will quickly recognize and Greenough in Dedham, how her warmth, engaging manner, Massachusetts, to teach ninth grade and strategic vision will serve her drama and English. well in this high-profile position. She soon felt the pull of the stage With applications on the rise across and headed west to earn a Master of all divisions, it’s an exciting moment Fine Arts at the American Conservatory for Mrs. Hanlon to assume this role as Theater in San Francisco. Mrs. Hanlon Greenwich Academy continues to expand comments that when she arrived, it took the breadth and diversity of its applicant base. effort to switch gears from teacher to student: Nina Hanlon, Mrs. Hanlon is new to the Admission Office, “I was constantly thinking about what I could Greenwich Academy’s but current students may know her from the ‘bring back’ as a teacher, and it took a long time new Director classroom, a student leadership meeting, or to change seats into that of a student.” of Admission even an early morning practice on the Mianus Mrs. Hanlon graduated from ACT with an River. With an apparent ease for switching Equity Card for stage and then signed on with roles—and doing them all well—she has held several an agency. positions over the past five years at Greenwich Academy, Meanwhile, her husband began a teaching job at first in 2011 as a Group V history teacher, advisor, and Greenwich Academy in 2006, which brought the couple Upper School crew coach. A year later, she took on the to Greenwich (Mr. Hanlon is now a history teacher at Group V Team Leader role as well. In 2013, Mrs. Hanlon Rye Country Day School). After performing in theater was named assistant head of Middle School and also productions across the country and working as an anashifted to teaching Group VII English. Not one to rest lyst in Manhattan for a strategic planning company, Mrs. idle in the summer, she served as director of the i2 STEM Hanlon shifted her focus to working in Greenwich, landsummer program at its Greenwich Academy location ing a job coaching crew at Greenwich Water Club and from 2013 to 2015. also working as a tutor for Greenwich Education Group. Mrs. Hanlon and her husband Ron managed to fit in She moved on to become Greenwich Education Group’s an additional significant event during these busy years: Assistant Director of College Counseling, overseeing its they became the proud parents of twins Simone and SAT/ACT program while teaching drama and English Dylan in 2013. too. Her career then led her to Greenwich Academy, It comes as no surprise that Mrs. Hanlon, a classically where she’s been thriving ever since. trained actor, is adept at juggling roles—and that her Eager to dive into her new role in the Admission career path has led her to the school world. She describes Office, Mrs. Hanlon began outreach efforts—attending herself as “always a teacher at heart” and grew up conferences, RIISE (Resources in Independent School surrounded by educators; she counts teachers, artistsEducation) workshops, and school visits—while wrapin-residence, and a law school dean among her close ping up her teaching and Middle School responsibilities family members. for the 2015–16 school year.
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GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS