AROUND THE QUADS | OF NOTE | FACULTY & STAFF
Retired faculty members Frank Merrill, Aubrey Loomis, Richard Venable, Bert Thurber, David Newell, and Barry Moran (above) got together at Dom’s Broad Street Eatery in Windsor for a meeting of the “icons,” as facilitator, group photographer, and semi-retired icon Chuck “Bruno” Vernon called them. English teacher, director of writing initiatives, and long-time boys cross country and track coach Sally Knight was selected as Teacher of the Year by the Student Council this spring. Students submit essays each year nominating teachers for the honor, and the Student Council choses a recipient. Senior Ruth Kornblatt-Stier wrote the essay nominating Sally, which included this line of praise: “Ms. Knight’s energy, like a wave, lifts you up, teaching you not only a keen eye for detail, a love of literature, and the power of motivation, but truly how to live.” The professional expertise of the Music Department faculty is in demand off the Island as well as on campus. In just the month of May, Kalena Bovell, director of the Loomis Chaffee Orchestra, served as assistant conductor for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra; David Winer, director of the Concert Band, served as an adjudicator/clinician for the Waterford (Conn.) High School Music Festival; and Susan Chrzanowski, choral director and head of the Music Department, was invited to reprise her session “Choral Music: A Global Denominator” at this year’s Think Tank on Global Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Faculty members Eric LaForest and Alexander McCandless presented at the Global Educators Conference this spring in New Orleans. Eric, director of the Norton Family Center for the Common Good, and Alec, the Christopher H. Lutz Director of the Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies, spoke about “Global Curriculum Development: Challenging Questions, Practical Solutions, and Looking Ahead.” “‘Clues in Academe’: A Cross-Disciplinary Lesson Study,” an article co-authored by Rachel Nisselson, head of the Modern and Classical Languages Department, was published in the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching in February.
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Girls varsity hockey head coach Elizabeth Leyden received the 2016 Vincent J. Reilly Coach of the Year Sportsmanship Award from the Connecticut Chapter of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association. Liz also teaches economics and serves as head of Harman Hall. Dean of Students Nicholas Barker and his wife, Katie Gravel Barker, welcomed their second child, son William Gregory Barker, on May 15, 2015. He joined big sister Lizzie. Science teacher Koby Osei-Mensah received the Austin Wicke Prize at the Community Honors Banquet in June. The prize is awarded each year to “a faculty member with less than 10 years of service who has demonstrated a dedication to the discipline of teaching and a commitment to fostering the growth and development of young persons.” Language teacher Courtney Carey was presented with the Distinguished Teaching Award at the Community Honors Banquet. The prize, established in honor of retired philosophy teacher Dominic Failla, goes to a senior faculty member each year. Courtney also was celebrated at the banquet along with fellow retiring faculty Debra Aniello, Aaron "Woody" Hess, Roseanne Lombardo, Mary Jo Regan, Geneviève Réla, Jeffrey Ross, and Kurt Winkler. (Read more about the retiring faculty on page 48.) Three faculty members received instructorships at the end of the school year. Molly Pond was named the Jennie Loomis Family Instructor in History. The associate director of the Norton Center and a longtime history teacher, Molly received the instructorship “in recognition of outstanding teaching, of dedication to her students’ success, and for her devotion to the development of passionate engaged learners.” Choral Director and Head of the Music Department Susan Chrzanowski received the Thomas Benedict Carter Instructorship in Music “in recognition of accomplished teaching, of dedication to her students’ growth as musicians and learners, and for her passionate advocacy of the arts.” Math teacher Adnan Rubai received the Herbert Savin Instructorship in Math “in recognition of masterful teaching, of devotion to the success of every student, and for his work cultivating curious and persistent learners.”
In recognition of their significant contributions to the success of the 2015–16 academic year, Service to the School Awards were presented this spring to Heather Fox, of the Physical Plant; Vicky Scanlon, of the Athletics Department; Rachel Engelke, head of the History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Social Science Department; Joseph Cleary, head of the Math Department; Andrew Matlack, associate dean of faculty; and Robert DeConinck, associate director of studies. Faculty and staff members marking 20 years of service to Loomis were recognized at this year's Community Honors Banquet. They include Doreen Slomski, assistant director of nursing in the Health Center; Nancy Cleary, senior associate director of admission and director of financial aid; Lisa Salinetti Ross, director of alumni and parent relations; and Edward Pond, physics teacher, head of Kravis Hall, and water polo coach. Housekeeping staff members Rosa Ballestas and Estella Angulo retired this year after working on the Island for 22 years and 20 years, respectively. Both were beloved by students and faculty, especially in Carter and Ammidon halls, where they worked for much of their tenure. Faculty members departing this year for other ventures include math teachers Ashley Hansberry, Stephen Sacchetti, and Michael Wijaya; science teacher Simon Holdaway; history teacher Thomas Pipoli; English teacher Sophia Rabb; art teacher Joe Saphire; history and English teacher Rick Taylor; Associate Director of the Annual Fund Emily Cranshaw; Director of Athletics Bob Howe ’80; College Guidance Counselor Lynn Macgovern; Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Erby Mitchell; Associate Director of Athletics, head field hockey coach, and head of Carter Hall Bobbi Moran; and Associate Director of Admission and head softball coach Missy Pope Wolff ’04. Administrative changes this summer included the appointments of Webster Trenchard, formerly dean of academic affairs, as associate head of school; Lynn Petrillo ’86, director of strategic communications and marketing, as dean of enrollment; and Susan Cabot, who is new to Loomis, as director of athletics.