The Bulletin Spring 2025

04 Alumnae/i Utilizing AI in Their Careers

14 Faculty Incorporating AI in the Classroom

18 Students Discover How AI Can Be Integrated Into Their Studies

Engaging With Artificial Intelligence

Prompt

Write a four-paragraph letter that acknowledges in this time of technological change our School remains grounded in relationships as fundamental to learning and pedagogy. Mention the renovation of our music building, Strayer Hall, and its promise for our music program. Include the upcoming renovation of the theater and the ways it will provide a hub for creativity and connection. Close by emphasizing that our mission remains: we gather to learn, to strive, to dare, to do, to be a power for good in the world.

Head of School Generates

In a time of accelerating change and technological advancement, our School remains committed to our mission and to the understanding that the most meaningful learning happens through human connection. The Harkness table is both haven and port through changing times; around it our students learn to listen as they collaborate, actively engage with ideas, and take charge of their own learning.

Even so, as technology continues to evolve, so too must there be an evolution in the way we learn, teach and innovate. In this issue of The Bulletin, we explore the ways our students, faculty, and alumnae/i are engaging with artificial intelligence— leveraging it to enhance learning, drive research and develop innovative solutions.

Our physical plant must reflect and undergird our mission as well. Through the Our Might campaign, the much-anticipated renovation of Strayer Hall, our music building, will create inviting new spaces where we can gather and celebrate music in all its forms. Similarly, the theater renovation, set to begin this

fall, will further enrich our shared spaces, providing another vibrant focal point for creativity and connection. We’re very excited about both projects, and hope you will be too, as you read these pages.

As you will read in this issue, advances in artificial intelligence have given us the opportunity to reexamine and recalibrate pathways toward the School’s enduring goals. Our mission remains steadfast: We gather to learn, to strive, to dare, to do— always striving to be a power for good in the world.

With gratitude,

Laura Danforth Head of School

... as technology continues to evolve, so too must there be an evolution in the way we learn, teach and innovate. “ ”

Utilizing AI on the Health Care Front Lines

Crystal Sosa, M.D. ’10 is saving lives with the help of the latest AI tools.

Every second counts when it comes to treating a stroke.

“For every minute that a person's brain goes without adequate oxygen, they lose 1.9 million neurons,”

Dr. Sosa says.

This fact informs Sosa’s work as a vascular neurologist and neurohospitalist at The Ayer Neuroscience Institute (Hartford HealthCare Medical Group) — and it’s why she integrates AI in stroke treatment and management.

When someone arrives at the hospital presenting with a stroke, Sosa first needs to answer one question: Is this person actually having a stroke?

“There are some people who have stroke mimics, meaning that they have some other issue that’s affecting them that looks like a stroke, but it’s not,” she says. “So we can use AI to help us discern between stroke and a mimicker.”

To illustrate the effect of a stroke on the brain, Sosa compares it to a stone being thrown into a lake.

“You have the initial little waves, and then you have the bigger waves around it,” she explains. “When someone has a stroke, imagine the blood clot is that little stone that initially went in. The tissue that’s going to be the most affected is right around where the stone is. However, the bigger waves are an area called penumbra, which means that it’s tissue at risk of dying — but it’s not dead yet.”

AI can determine, with tremendous precision, the extent of the damage.

In addition to clot-buster medications and blood vessel studies, Sosa uses an AI tool called RAPID, which combines advanced imaging and hemodynamics to enable

physicians to make faster, more accurate treatment, triage or transfer decisions.

“It tells us how much area of the stroke is completed — meaning it doesn’t matter what we do, removing this blood clot is not going to help — and it’ll tell us what tissue is still viable,” Sosa says.

“ Reflecting on the impact of AI on her work, she says, simply, “ It's made a huge difference. ” ”

This can help her determine if the patient will benefit from an intervention such as surgery.

In a real-life situation, that might mean someone arrives at the hospital with a stroke that appears to have taken out an entire side of the brain. But by using RAPID, Sosa might find that only small areas have been irreversibly damaged, and the rest can be helped.

“That’s the best patient that we send for surgery,” Sosa says. “Those patients come out of surgery looking very well.”

The journey through medical school, residency and a fellowship is long and demanding; it requires unwavering determination.

And Sosa exemplified that determination every step of the way.

At Masters, she was a member of MISH, Gold Key and Tower.

“I was never really good at writing,” Sosa says. She approached Ms. Cowhey, who was the faculty advisor to Tower and now is director of the Journalism Collaborative, and explained that she wanted to improve her writing. Cowhey encouraged her to join the student-run paper. “I worked my little heart out,” Sosa says.

She has fond memories of time spent with fellow boarding students and loved U.S. History with Ms. Wood.

Ngozichukwu Oghedo ’10, Ogorchukwu Oghedo ’10, Nik Nevin CITYterm F’08, and Laurie Sperandio, a strength training coach, are her children’s godparents.

“I was a pretty good student — I think I was a straight-A student — but it came with a lot of hard work,” Sosa remembers. “I went to a lot of office hours, and I was always in the library. I had support from everyone. If I needed extra time to get a project done or if I needed a tutor, everyone was all in it to help me out.”

When it came time to apply to college, Sosa knew she wanted to attend a school that “would continue to mold me into a successful person.” She was a first-generation college student, and she vividly recalls her college counselor at Masters, Mr. McCann (see page 27), telling her that she had a unique story, saying, “’It’s your story, and I think you’ll do just fine.’”

Sosa went to Mount Holyoke College, and it was during an undergraduate summer mentorship program with Albert Einstein School of Medicine that she knew she wanted to become a doctor.

Sosa was shadowing a family medicine doctor and an OB-GYN. The days were long: She woke up at 5:00 a.m. to be at work by 6:00 a.m., and would work until 11:00 p.m.

“I wasn’t tired,” she remembers. “I loved it. I was excited to wear my little white coat. And that’s when I knew.”

After graduating, she headed to the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, where she discovered what would become her path as a doctor: “I’ll never forget when we started day one of neuroscience. It was so interesting. I thought, ‘Everything else is so dull. This is colorful. I love this. This is so cool.’ And that’s when I knew I would go into something neuro-related.”

She decided to pursue neurology instead of neurosurgery, and hasn’t looked back. She completed her residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and a fellowship at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School.

Sosa knows that other people’s lives are in her hands — and that the decisions aren’t always hers to make. When providing nonemergency care to her patients, “I’m not just lecturing them and their families and telling them ‘This is what we’re going to do.’” She provides options and professional opinion, and reminds them, “Ultimately the choice is yours.”

“That’s probably why it takes me a million years to finish a consult,” she says, laughing. “That’s probably why everyone wants to adopt me after. That’s the approach that I take because truly, it’s not my body, it’s not my brain — it’s theirs. The nervous system is the one system in the body that, if you have some issue with it, everyone is going to feel it. You feel it. The people around you will see it.”

In a field where every moment is critical, Sosa welcomes any resource or technology that will help save lives. Reflecting on the impact of AI on her work, she says, simply, “It’s made a huge difference.”

Advancing AI in Educa tion

Can AI be a force for good? Alex Bernstein’16 is confident the answer is "yes."

In a world where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, Bernstein stands out as a leader harnessing its power for good — particularly in education.

As AI product manager at Noodle, a tech-enabled strategy and services company that supports higher education institutions, Bernstein is doing work that is making a positive impact and is personally meaningful.

“Not everyone has access to the individualized attention that a school like Masters provides,” Bernstein says. “AI can bridge that gap by offering personalized learning experiences at scale. Additionally, AI can reduce administrative burdens, lowering costs and making education more affordable.”

Not everyone has access to the individualized attention that a school like Masters provides. AI can bridge that gap. ” “

Bernstein’s path to AI leadership began at Vanderbilt University, where he cultivated a deep interest in optimizing business operations. When he graduated in 2020, amid the

There are undeniable risks associated with the rapid advancement of this technology... My hope is to be an example of how to leverage this technology ethically and responsibly.

uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, he sought a role where he could make a tangible impact on an organization’s growth and efficiency.

“The decision to start my career at Noodle was driven by its mission to make education more accessible, equitable and affordable,” he explains. “Working toward these goals has made my work deeply meaningful.”

Joining Noodle’s marketing team at a time when online education was surging, Bernstein quickly recognized AI’s potential across multiple departments.

“My passion for AI led to an opportunity to spearhead the strategy and integration of AI into Noodle’s workflows and product offerings,” he says. “Since then, I’ve successfully launched internal and external AI products and expanded my expertise by consulting on AI strategy and implementation across various industries.”

While Bernstein has had his fair share of successes at Noodle, his most rewarding experience has been teaching new skills to — or “upskilling” — others.

“Whether it’s mentoring my team, assisting other departments, or helping friends and family, nothing compares to the satisfaction of knowing I’ve empowered someone with knowledge that saves them time and enhances their capabilities in an era where it is essential to keep up with the progress in productivity,” he says. “When people tell me stories of how I was able to save them hours of time from something that I taught them or something I created, it brings me so much joy.”

These skills have been put to use when, for example, he is working with teams to implement new technologies and processes. He describes the human side of change management as “complex, particularly when it involves AI.”

He tackles concerns and issues with three consistent actions: “Clear communication, demonstrating tangible benefits and providing ongoing support to ensure a smooth transition.”

Although Bernstein is far from his high school days of fencing and debating at Model UN, one element of his Masters education continues to have a significant influence on his career in technology: the Harkness method.

“It gave me the confidence to contribute meaningfully in both academic and professional settings,” he reflects. “The ability to articulate ideas persuasively and engage in thoughtful discussions has been an invaluable skill in my career.”

When it comes to AI being a power for good, Bernstein is certainly walking the walk.

He readily acknowledges, “For AI, in general, there are undeniable risks associated with the rapid advancement of this technology.”

With that in mind, his goal is simple: “My hope is to be an example of how to leverage this technology ethically and responsibly.”

AI: ALUMNAE

LIFELONG LEARNING in ACTION

Grace

King ’16 is putting her Masters-honed skills to work in AI, creating solutions with cuttingedge technology.

Working in artificial intelligence means tackling complex problems, adapting to a constantly changing environment, collaborating with diverse groups and — importantly — staying curious.

So it’s no surprise that Grace King ’16 was drawn to the industry.

“The field moves quickly, so a mindset of continuous learning is key,” says the senior product manager at Snorkel AI, a data development platform. “My time at Masters instilled a love of learning, so working in a space where I am constantly learning is deeply rewarding.”

These days, King leads product development for Snorkel AI’s prompt engineering, AI system evaluation tools and synthetic data generation. “Our goal is to help teams build higher-quality, more trustworthy AI systems — faster and with more control,” she explains.

Even as a student at Masters, she was honing the skills needed to be successful in the field that has been changing the internet and world.

King says that “a real sense of joy” permeated her time at Masters. She has particularly fond memories of her time in Model UN, of which she was president, and draws connections to how she approaches her work in AI. “It was incredible to watch my classmates — and myself — grow into confident, articulate speakers who could tackle complex topics with curiosity and conviction,” King recalls. “Those experiences taught me the power of mentorship, leadership and collaboration — skills I carry with me to this day.”

Four years in Dance Company gave her “a creative outlet and deep sense of community.” She was also president of the Honorary Photography Society, a MISH representative, a Midnight Run volunteer and a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance and Active Minds clubs.

While she enjoyed all of her classes at Masters, two were particularly formative: Political Science with Ms. Roche and AP Calculus BC with Mr. Kim.

“Political Science taught me the power of critical thinking, reading multiple points of view on a topic before forming my own opinion, and how to debate passionately, respectfully and effectively while also emphasizing the power of listening,” she says.

Before taking calculus with Mr. Kim in her senior year, King had taken his Geometry and Honors Precalculus BC courses. “I was not particularly good at geometry,” she admits. “Mr. Kim could’ve written me off as a student without an aptitude for math. Instead, he believed in me and pushed me, proving my own doubts about my skills wrong.”

For King, that calculus course and Mr. Kim’s encouragement “gave me the confidence I needed to pursue four STEM majors in college and hold my own in spaces dominated by men. I still use the problem-solving skills he taught me today.”

Hours spent in conversation around the Harkness table sharpened King’s critical thinking, communication and listening skills that she still calls on every day. Just as important, she says, Harkness “instilled in me a deep sense of confidence in my own voice. As a young woman working in a maledominated field, that foundation has been invaluable. The ability to speak clearly and knowledgeably — whether in meetings with peers, cross-functional teams, customers, executives, or onstage at conferences and webinars — traces directly back to those early discussions around the Harkness table.”

King emphasizes the importance Masters places on instilling a love of lifelong learning and working with peers across disciplines: “Whether I’m collaborating with engineers, talking to users or translating complex ideas into strategy, I’m drawing on habits and mindsets I developed at Masters. It wasn’t just about what I learned — it was how I learned to think, engage and lead.”

In short, King says, “Masters gave me the foundation for everything that came after.”

While completing simultaneous dual degrees in physics and mathematics (B.A., Vassar College) and electrical engineering and computer engineering (B.E., Dartmouth College), King was drawn to research and took positions at the particle accelerator labs at Cornell and Stanford.

But as she finished her engineering degree, she became more drawn to the idea of bridging the gap between cutting-edge tech innovation and user needs. Product management was the perfect fit.

After graduating, she joined the startup Gretel AI (recently acquired by chipmaker NVIDIA) working on synthetic data tools that help protect privacy and expand access to data. She moved to Snorkel AI in 2024.

“Building great AI tools means working with researchers, engineers, designers, sales, marketers, customers and users, all of whom bring different perspectives,” King says. Drawing on the skills she gained at Masters gives her the ability to “navigate those conversations with openness and clarity.”

In the course of her work, King thinks often about a key phrase in her alma mater’s mission: “to be a power for good in the world.”

“It feels especially relevant in the field of AI, where the potential for impact — both positive and negative — is enormous,” she reflects. “I believe technology should always serve people, not the other way around. AI can absolutely be a power for good, but only when we build it and apply it with care. I hope my work contributes, even in a small way, to guiding this technology in a direction that benefits everyone.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, working in a field that is constantly changing has its challenges.

“The technology often evolves faster than users’ understanding of what’s possible,” King says. “You’re frequently trying to define the target while the goalposts are being built. Since good product management is rooted in real user needs, it can be tough when customers aren’t yet sure what those needs are.”

That same challenge — the rapidly evolving nature of the work — King also finds immensely rewarding: “If you go on vacation for a week, you come back and it feels like a year’s worth of advancements have happened. It takes constant learning to keep up, but that’s part of what keeps me so energized and engaged. There is never a dull moment in AI.”

More than that, though, is the people. “At both Gretel and Snorkel, I’ve been surrounded by brilliant, creative and collaborative individuals who are truly the best at what they do,” King says. “I’ve learned so much from them, and they’ve reminded me of the teachers and peers I had at Masters — people who inspire you to aim higher, think harder and never stop learning.”

“ Four years in Dance company gave King “ a creative outlet and deep sense of community. ” ”

AI: ALUMNI

Understanding the Power of Conversation

Last May, Kee Cheol Kim ’09 stood before colleagues, investigation experts and legal practitioners.

Kim shared a demo system with industry professionals during the 2nd Korean Forensic Data Society Conference in May 2024.

He was presenting his research developed from a simple question: In a criminal investigation, how could he leverage an AI or Large Language Model (LLM) system, such as ChatGPT, to answer questions about a suspect's PC or mobile data so that an investigator without expert technical knowledge would still be able to obtain useful information?

Kim, who conducts research and provides consulting services related to the implementation of AI technology for criminal investigations, digital forensics and the education system for HM Company, a Korean internal audit company, used this question as a starting point. From there, he developed a demo system based on graph database, retrieval augmented generation (RAG) method, LLM and relevant python packages.

Showcasing his work was the highlight of his career thus far, Kim says.

The skills Kim developed around the Harkness table... have been invaluable to him in his career in AI and the legal tech field.

“It took a lot of effort and experience to master the skill set,” Kim admits, noting that the Harkness method of student-centered conversations was a world away from the more traditional classroom experience he’d had in his home country of South Korea.

law. As a student, he joined research projects related to digital forensics and AI, including projects hosted by HM Company, where he has worked for the past three years (after a brief stint at DHL Supply Chain he joined HM’s AI research team).

“As a main developer, my job is to research relevant technologies for the requirements of research projects or prototypes for consulting services, and building a demo system,” Kim says.

And where does Harkness come in?

In high school, Kim envisioned himself becoming a medical doctor.

“I am fascinated by the complex yet interactive architecture of organic systems that manages to keep us alive,” Kim says.

At Masters, taking ninth grade biology with Mr. DeWitt still stands out, as does AP Biology with Ms. Merrill.

“Mr. DeWitt always made the learning materials and process enjoyable,” Kim says. And AP Biology was “extremely challenging — but I enjoyed the classes and the journey of wading through the course with my amazing friend Alex Paris ’09.”

And while decoding cellular processes, genetics and biological systems was tough, Kim found one aspect of Masters even more difficult.

The Harkness method.

“It took a trial-and-error process over the course of an entire tenth grade English class with Mr. Wood to get used to and eventually enjoy the system,” he recalls. “Although I am not a reticent person, before joining a conversation, I spend some time learning how each person speaks, the context of a conversation, etc. Engaging in an academic discussion required a different set of verbal and nonverbal skills to initiate my speech, politely interrupt, agree or disagree with an ongoing subject, or point back to the previously made points.”

One moment demonstrated how far he had come in a short time: One day during his junior year, Kim saw Mr. Wood in the dining hall. “I proudly told him that I spoke the most in that day’s English class,” he says.

“The technology field requires strong communication skills to work with different parties such as clients, software vendors or even teammates,” Kim says. “In meetings where you have to identify misunderstandings and sort them out, you are no longer using your technological knowledge but communication skills.”

Kim says that the communications skills he garnered from years around the Harkness table don’t just apply to conversations with colleagues and stakeholders — they’re relevant to the work of building system structures.

“If I simply read the requirements from the client and literally translated them into a technological architecture, that architecture is most likely to be ineffective and costly because the client may not show the core values of the requirements in documents,” he shares.

That’s why, Kim says, a necessary part of the process is “leveraging face-to-face meetings with clients: to clarify the true values behind the technological requirements via extensive discussions.”

It turns out, the skills Kim developed around the Harkness table — listening deeply, posing challenging questions, articulating ideas clearly — have been invaluable to him in his career in AI and the legal tech field.

After graduating from Masters, Kim returned to South Korea to attend Hallym University, where he majored in legal informatics and forensic science, an interdisciplinary program that includes IT, forensic science and criminal

“Having had the Harkness experience, I find these meetings quite fun,” he says.

Although Kim’s chosen career has taken him in a different direction from his early dream of medicine, many of the core skills are similar: solving complex problems, making high-stakes decisions, staying current on evolving technologies — and of course, communicating it all effectively.

WITH

NATASHA BANSGOPAUL ’04 QA &

Natasha Bansgopaul ’04 is the co-founder and COO of VegaX Holdings, an award-winning financial technology platform that builds AI and blockchain-powered quantitative trading solutions for traditional institutions and investors in digital assets.

A member of The Masters School Board of Trustees and the Dobbs Alumnae/i Association Board, Bansgopaul served as a judge at the 2024 and 2025 Diamond Challenge competitions hosted on campus at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. In 2024, she received the Richmond Bowl, an award given to alumnae/i who have demonstrated exceptional support of and service to The Masters School.

Bansgopaul returned to campus in March to serve as a judge at the Diamond Challenge competition.

Q AWhen did you decide you wanted to build a career in financial technology (fintech)?

Finance was actually the one industry I said I would never have an interest in. So, one thing I would advise is: Never say never, and keep an open mind when it comes to career opportunities.

I decided to build a career in fintech in 2012. While working at PepsiCo, I started to get more experience in global business operations from a brand management and research/strategy perspective, which led me to think about other industries that could benefit from innovation. My business partner and I started considering industries that are fairly resistant to change, where technology could create real efficiencies and impact. That led us to the finance industry, which, back in 2012 and still today, has many opportunities for technology solutions.

How do you see AI shaping the future of asset management and trading?

AI is already shaping this future and playing an active role via AI-based products such as robo-advisors and sentiment analysis. Robo-advisors can conduct instant portfolio diversification based on the market dynamics. This is interesting to many because of the ability to make decisions in real time and, essentially, enhance or maximize the performance of an individual’s investment portfolio.

Sentiment analysis is especially relevant due to the amount of information, news and communication from the general public. This AI activity may include using LLMs (large language models) and NLPs (natural language processing or neuro-linguistic processing), reviewing the latest news, regulatory filings and even social media chatter to inform the AI to make a decision or provide additional information. Imagine if you are invested in a certain product, and the AI notifies you that there is increased discussion on the safety of that product. Having this alert may cause you to make a different decision on your investment, based on access to this additional information in real time.

What advice do you have for students interested in AI-driven finance and entrepreneurship?

Bansgopaul was “honored and shocked” to be the only female participant at a finance conference in Korea.

Entrepreneurship is not for the weak! I encourage students to explore the world of working for someone else, whether that is in corporate America or a small business, before jumping headfirst into entrepreneurship. Once you become an entrepreneur, you will wear many, if not all the hats, so it’s helpful to learn from others and gain an understanding of how others operate to help inform your journey.

Never say never. Keep your eyes and ears open to opportunities and ideas. Build and develop your own skills, understand what you are really good at and where you need improvement, then seek out others who are stronger in those areas so you can start to learn from them. Make a plan, and go for it.

Q A Q A Q A Q A Q A

Stay curious and start with the basics. The industry is moving faster than ever before, but the foundation concepts and frameworks will remain relevant. In finance, it’s also important to get an understanding of how (and why) things work in the traditional finance world if you want to be able to build better solutions.

What is a moment in your career that you’re particularly proud of?

It’s hard to choose one. Raising our Series A round in a change-resistant industry as a Black female entrepreneur. Being selected as one of 10 women of color entrepreneurs from across the United States featured in Cosmopolitan magazine. In 2016, I moved to Korea to expand our business locally. While there, I was invited to speak at an annual finance conference, where I was pictured among more than 50 speakers, as the only female participant (see photo). I was both honored and shocked!

In your role as judge at the Diamond Challenge, what was your reaction to the number of projects that used AI?

At the Diamond Challenge, there were impressive projects pitched by the students using AI in interesting ways. There were quite a few projects that focused on streamlining access to information and summarizing large, complex documents to enable better understanding. I believe the students are on the right track in approaching the use of AI and thinking about potential futureuse cases.

How did your time at Masters inform your career journey?

Masters gave me exposure to business and entrepreneurship early on, as I was an active student leader on campus and in the dorms as a proctor. Being able to have the courage to lead teams, initiate discussions, build community and connect with people from across the globe are all elements from my time at Masters that continue to shape my career. I distinctly remember my economics class with Mr. Young. He brought in entrepreneurs to talk about their businesses, and this initially sparked my interest in becoming an entrepreneur. One of those businesses was Bear Naked Granola, which has grown significantly since we met the founders as students.

Associate Director of Innovation, Engineering and Computer Science Jonah Hardy guides students Aaron Weinberg (left) and Max Lovitt through a coding challenge in Advanced Topics in Computer Programming.

CHALKBOARD CHATBOTS FROM TO

Experimenting With AI to Enhance Learning

The development of artificial intelligence has begun to transform industries worldwide − and the technology is finding its way into classrooms as teachers explore innovative ways to support student learning.

“I do feel that I would be remiss to not teach AI because it’s what’s happening in the industry, and it’s what’s happening in the world,” said Rachel Langosch, upper school photography teacher.

Langosch uses AI in all of her classes and talks with her students about “when it’s okay to use AI and how to use it responsibly, especially for photographic fine art purposes.”

“It offers this wow factor for students, mimicking the magic that happens when you’re in the darkroom for the first time, seeing your image appear in the developer tray. As a teacher, this is very exciting because it gets students invested,” she continued.

“One of the things that’s amazing about AI right now is that it allows you to automate certain functions that would have taken a half an hour or an hour to do,” Langosch said. “Now you can do it at the click of a button, which allows you to spend more time on the creative process and less time on the mundane.”

ABOVE and RIGHT: Rachel Langosch, upper school photography teacher, works with her students to capture the moment.

Like Langosch, Associate Director of Innovation, Engineering and Computer Science Jonah Hardy uses AI as a resource tool in all of his classes. It’s what you would expect from someone who teaches Advanced Topics in Computer Science, Advanced Topics in Computer Programming, Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship, and Principles of Engineering.

Hardy encourages his students to experiment with AI as a means of enhancing, not replacing, their coding skills. “In my computer programming classes, I teach them how to use AI to help debug their code,” he explained. “It expedites their coding, it lowers that barrier to entry, and it also gets them through the scary part of learning how to program because they don’t have to start from scratch on every single project they do. It’s a really useful tool to help them keep up with modern trends.”

“My life motto is ‘Don’t be stagnant,’ which means always growing, always learning and always trying new things. AI gives me an easy way to do that,” Hardy said. With AI, Hardy says he can revamp the lesson plans he knows already work and ask, ‘What if I tried this?’ — and generate a new version. “It helps me keep my class fresh and stay current,” he shared.

With some trepidation, Tom Cusano introduced AI to his tenth grade English class as part of a writing assignment. Cusano had his students read an essay by a Spanish author about the more>>>

CHALKBOARD CHATBOTS FROM TO

word chuches, a term for a particular type of sweets that the author vividly recalled from her childhood. Cusano then turned to ChatGPT, prompting it to generate an essay on that same word. The class contrasted the human versus AI-generated essays, analyzing the differences in writing style, depth and emotional resonance.

“This was an opportunity to see the limits of AI, but also to translate it into skill development for the students and to have them think critically about language,” Cusano said. “What’s important in writing is a personal connection to what they’re writing about.”

The class observed that the AIgenerated version lacked an authentic human voice and specific details that come from real-life experiences.

of Teaching and Learning

“We discussed the strategies that make someone’s writing voice strong and distinct, and how to apply these strategies to your own writing,” Cusano said. “I’m sort of resistant to using AI in general, but in this case, I felt it was a worthwhile learning opportunity.”

Jennifer Hughes is teaching three accelerated sections of Spanish, and acknowledged: “I come from a different generation, but technology doesn’t scare me. I like it and I’m happy to delve into it and use AI in the classroom.”

After independently exploring AI’s capabilities, Hughes incorporated it in her Spanish literature classes as a tool for students to “get acquainted” with renowned authors such as Julio Cortázar, Gabriel García Márquez and Emilia Pardo Bazán before reading their work. She is now researching innovative ways to leverage AI, which would allow students to have authentic, immersive conversations with virtual speakers from Madrid or Barcelona.

Dean

Jason Hult is enthusiastic about AI's potential in the classroom.

I do feel that I would be remiss to not teach AI because itʼs whatʼs happening in the industry and whatʼs happening in the world.

Rachel Langosch, upper school photography teacher

I come from a different generation, but technology doesn’t scare me. I like it, and I’m happy to delve into it and use AI in the classroom.

Jennifer Hughes, upper school Spanish teacher

My

life

motto is ʻDonʼt be stagnant,ʼ which means always growing, always learning, and always trying new things. AI gives me an easy way to do that.

Jonah Hardy, Associate Director of Innovation, Engineering and Computer Science

Weʼre a Harkness school and that will continue to be true in the age of artificial intelligence. I am excited to explore ways in which our students and teachers can use these tools to make their work and conversations feel more alive and more human.

Jason Hult, Dean of Teaching and Learning

[Creating an AI-generated essay] was an opportunity to see the limits of AI, but also to translate it into skill development for the students and to have them think critically about language.

Tom Cusano, upper school English teacher

Hughes isn’t alone in her enthusiasm for AI’s potential in the classroom. Dean of Teaching and Learning Jason Hult is capitalizing on AI to create similar scenarios in his ninth grade world history class.

“I asked a large language model to generate 16 different short biographies of people who might have been living in Athens and then gave one to each student in my class, which informed their participation in the Harkness conversation that day. It would have taken me hours to write those individually, but it made the Harkness conversation a little more lively and a little more grounded in the experience of Athenians,” Hult said.

He continued: “We’re a Harkness school and that will continue to be true in the age of artificial intelligence. I am excited to explore ways in which our students and teachers can use these tools to make their work and conversations feel more alive and more human.”

For photography teacher Rachel Langosch, AI is giving her students the opportunity to realize and act on creative impulses that otherwise might have felt out of reach for them: “If this is going to help students to enhance their vision or make stronger images or think more critically about everything in their frame, then that’s beautiful to me. Then it’s working.”

Putting AI’s Power to the Test in Research Projects

As technology continues to advance, students are using innovative applications of AI, from interpreting X-rays to examining the boundaries between human and artificial intelligence.

Computer Science

AARON WEINBERG'25 and MAX LOVITT'25

Using AI to Interpret X-Rays

With spring in the air, most seniors are winding down their academic studies for the year. Not Aaron Weinberg ’25 and Max Lovitt ’25. This dynamic duo, classmates in Jonah Hardy’s Advanced Topics in Computer Programming course, are revving up for their next challenge.

“We are working on utilizing AI to create a program that can help interpret chest radiographs/X-rays to diagnose diseases such as pneumonia,” Weinberg explains.

“We hope to apply this model to several other diseases including carcinoma.”

Hardy, associate director of innovation, engineering and computer science, says Weinberg’s passion for medicine and Lovitt’s love of computer science have created an ideal synergy for this class portfolio project: “Their collaboration has led to an exciting intersection of both fields.”

Weinberg wanted to pursue the project because “Through speaking with current radiologists and reviewing research, we have found that misdiagnosis of chest radiographs is still prevalent despite modern technology. We hope

to reduce misdiagnosis and reduce time spent on X-ray interpretation through this model.”

Lovitt, whose science research projects focused on AIrelated topics, has found this assignment challenging — in a good way. “It’s different from the work I was doing in my other research, processing images versus text, so it's been interesting to step outside my comfort zone,” he says,

Lovitt and Weinberg are no strangers to the rigor and challenges of academic research, having immersed themselves for the past two years in the Masters Science Research program.

Weinberg won second place at the New York Upstate Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) for his project “Characterizing the RyR2-Mediated Cardiac

Pathophysiology of COVID-19 in Rodent Models.” He was also one of five finalists selected to present at the National JSHS event in April. He placed first in the Medicine and Health category and was the recipient of the Future of Medicine Award at the 2025 Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF). He also placed first in the Biomedical and Health Sciences category, at the New York State Science and Engineering Fair (NYSSEF). That led to his securing a coveted spot at ISEF, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest international STEM competition for high school students. ISEF takes place in Columbus, Ohio, in May.

Lovitt’s Science Research paper was published through the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Big Data, a professional computer science conference, where he also gave a virtual presentation of his project on suicide risk assesment and social media. He was invited to present his findings at the AMIA 2024 Annual Symposium High School Scholars in San Francisco this past fall. More recently, Lovitt took home fourth place in the Robotics & Intelligent Machines category at NYSSEF.

Fascinated by the math and mechanics behind AI, Lovitt is hopeful that he and Weinberg will make an impact beyond their prototype. “I do believe that AI can be used as a power for good because it utilizes a ton of applications, from medical imaging to saving people’s lives,” he said. “I realize there’s a lot I need to learn along the way, but it’s definitely an area I want to stay involved in.”

Masters Thesis

SERENA SHARMA'25

Is AI Human Enough?

When Elisabeth Merrill announced in her AP Biology class that Opeyemi Alabi ’09, a neurosurgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital, was coming to speak, Serena Sharma ’25 perked up.

“Seeing the brain procedures he shared, hearing him talk about the field, I was riddled with questions,” Sharma said. “I wanted to know more and more about what he did, and how he handled certain cases. I found that we had similar theories, similar interests and similar ways of working.”

She approached him after his presentation and soon Sharma, a student in the Masters Science Research program, was working that summer in Dr. Alabi’s lab and hospital.

“He had been working with me to create a multimillionpage paper researching AI for the hospital,” Sharma said. “We got into discussions about the ethicality of AI, the ways it can be abused, the rules that need to be updated, and importantly, why do we keep pushing? And he had an expression on his face that stuck with me as he said, ‘Because we want to see how far we can go.’”

At that moment, Sharma knew she would select AI as her topic in her challenging interdisciplinary Masters Thesis course this year.

AI: STUDENTS

SERENA SHARMA'25

continued

In her thesis “Is AI Human Enough?” Sharma investigated how Aristotle and philosophers defined humanness. She applied those questions to AI, examining whether AI can or should be considered human.

“My presentation was about using characteristics, which Aristotle said is a defining feature of humanity, to test if AI can pass as human,” she explained. “I used adaptability, emotional reasoning, creativity and deep understanding to define whether AI could be considered ‘human enough.’”

She concluded “whether we have made ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence, like the robots you see in sci-fi movies), or just AGI (Artificial General Intelligence, which is AI that can learn from users and apply their learned knowledge to their next responses), I found that while AI is still AGI, it is only a few steps away from becoming ASI.”

Matt Ives, Masters Thesis teacher and History and Religion Department Chair said, “Serena has picked a very timely topic. It was interesting to work with her as she first defined what she thought the characteristics of humanness were, and then developed fairly simple tests to see if AI large language models, like ChatGPT, could exhibit those characteristics. What she discovered is that AI largely can pass these tests. But at the same time, she (and I) were very uneasy with the idea that ChatGPT is human – because it feels like something is missing. Her conclusion, which I agree with, is that AI is not there… yet. But the struggle to express humanness is very real.”

Sharma acknowledged the transformative convergence between her passion for neuroscience and the humanities: “While my thesis presentation was done with the scientific method, it still taught me about doing the more philosophical route of study, which I found really interesting.”

Science Research

SIENA VERSACI'27 AI vs. the Human Brain

For Siena Versaci ’27, AI is more than just a tool — it’s a subject for ethical exploration.

“I’ve been interested in ethical tech for quite a while,” says Versaci, author of the 2-year-old blog “Teen Eye on Tech: Is This Ethical? One Teen’s View on the World of Ethics and Its Relationship with Technology.”

Her interest led her to Kristina Gremski’s Science Research class, where Versaci is investigating the differences between AI neural networks and human brain neural networks. Specifically, she is exploring whether encoding emotional awareness into AI will enhance its ability to diagnose or report eating disorders.

“Because humans are so complicated in their own ways, Versaci said, “they can take in factors from the environment, like watching other interactions with humans and make split-second internal decisions about people just from conversations with them, whereas AI doesn’t really have that emotional aspect.”

“What would happen if we gave AI that emotional aspect?” she wondered. “Would it inhibit AI’s ability? Would it decrease the effectiveness? Because sometimes emotion can skew results in a negative way, or would it potentially be good?”

In addition to Gremski, Versaci is working on her project with a mentor from MIT Lincoln Laboratory, which researches and develops advanced technology to address national security needs.

Versaci focused her project on eating disorders because they have been extensively researched, providing a wealth of data — something crucial for training AI, which requires numerous data points for testing.

“We’re now choosing a way to encode emotion into the AI,” Versaci said. This could involve analyzing facial expressions, such as an upturned smile, through an algorithm or using physiological indicators like blood pressure, brain waves or skin conductivity to detect emotional states. “By pairing emotional data with an existing algorithm for detecting eating disorders, we’re seeing if the new variable of adding an emotion will potentially increase its effectiveness.”

Versaci hopes to have results by the end of the summer but is committed to the work even if “it’ll turn into a little bit more of a long-term project,” she said.

* As The Bulletin went to press, Chris started a new job as associate curator at the University of Notre Dame’s Raclin Murphy Museum of Art.

double take

double take

Vincent Alban was a boarding student at Masters who served as a photo editor and photographer for Tower. He was a member of the Honorary Photo Society and ran varsity track.

He received his B.F.A. in photojournalism from The Rochester Institute of Technology, where he was the undergraduate graduation delegate for the College of Art and Design. He was named College Photographer of the Year twice and Emerging Vision Photojournalist of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism competition. An independent photographer based in Chicago, Alban has been awarded a yearlong photography fellowship with The New York Times which begins in June.

NOA BENEROFE ’ 25

Noa Benerofe, one of the co-chairs of the Honorary Photo Society, fell in love with photography during ninth grade at Masters. She is the winner of a 2025 YoungArts award for photography, a national competition. In the fall, Benerofe will head to NYU Tisch School of the Arts to study photography.

AN

ALUMNUS AND A STUDENT — BOTH WITH A PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY — ANSWER A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ON THEIR INTERESTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PURSUITS.

What drew you to photography?

VINCENT: I was always surrounded by art. My parents are artists — sculpting, painting, drawing and printmaking.

One of the things that made me interested in photography was travel. My mom was my art teacher in elementary school for 11 years and ran a school trip program. We went to France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Spain and Portugal, to name a few. Those trips made me want to document what I was seeing from a vernacular photography standpoint but also made me think about what makes a good picture and what makes me curious.

When I was at Masters, what drew me to photography was working at Tower — being able to go to events at school and be a fly on the wall. I’ve always enjoyed how you’re able to be at an event as an observer. I guess that helps my introverted self.

NOA: I tend to look for inspiration for my work in movies. I wanted to be a filmmaker before turning to photography. I couldn’t execute my visions with moving images so I turned to photography. I have done two projects that, visually, were inspired by film stills. I think that it is super apparent in my work, but I love the look of film photography.

Apart from trying to mimic the look of film in my digital photos, I feel inspired in the darkroom. Being in the darkroom is like meditation for me. The process of shooting the image, then developing and printing it is so intimate, and I absolutely love it. It inspires me to continue to create more in a way digital photography can’t replicate.

When I went to Europe for the first time, a spark of inspiration took over me in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strive to create connection in my work, and being in a new country created this drive to get to know the

places, communities and culture on a deeper level through my images. I get inspiration all over; it’s whatever is calling my name at the moment, itching to be seen from a different perspective.

What/who inspired you to pursue a career in the arts?

V: My parents and my teachers at Masters. My parents led me to it, but my teachers gave me the inspiration to run with it and make something out of it. Ms. Cowhey with Tower, Ms. Langosch with the photo curriculum and Ms. Hajjar with the Art Department showed me how I could make it a concrete goal and career path.

N: I am a multigenerational artist. Growing up around a family of creatives instilled in me a drive to create, whether it was with a camera, a pencil or even random objects around the house.

My grandma has always taken me to museums in New York City. She’s still my favorite person to slowly walk the halls and privately discuss the most memorable pieces. As an artist, her knowledge of all media is extensive. She takes me into each piece in a way that feels so three-dimensional, often lingering for much longer than the average museumgoer. She instilled in me the importance of absorbing art from the perspective of others and finding beauty in the unique details. My dad, a creative director, always pushed me to incorporate art into everything I did. If I had an idea, he would tell me to sketch it out before executing it. My mom is a professional chef. Watching her creatively experiment, fail, try again and ultimately perfect a dish is a life lesson in itself. Getting to eat each final product every night enabled me to realize that art is not only visual but a multisensory experience.

VINCENT ALBAN ’19

Name a photographer whom you admire. What makes their work stand out to you?

V: E. Jason Wambsgans: A photographer based in Chicago who I am friends with and works at the Chicago Tribune, where I interned.

Like me, he has an interest in stories about social issues in urban areas. I think his approach to photography is well informed. He’s also always one of those photographers who, when there are five photographers at a news event on one side of the room, he’ll be off on the other side of the room getting a much better picture. He’s always paying attention to something that no one else is and that is a really worthwhile pursuit. That’s something that I want to emulate, and I hope I can follow in his footsteps.

N: I am drawn to the work of American photographer Vivian Maier. Her attention to quiet detail and her life story is endlessly captivating. How did someone so talented manage to stay in the shadows, unrecognized until her death? Her compositions are beautiful. I find myself viewing her work in the quiet and mysterious manner in which she intended. I envy this quality, as I’m an artist who feels like an open book. I find

myself channeling her approach while I work, listening and waiting for the perfect moment to snap the shutter to capture the moment in front of me.

What are you passionate about photographing?

V: Structural issues due to segregation in urban areas. When I was in school I focused a lot on gun violence, and since I’ve been in Chicago, I’ve been working on a story about a man who is wrongfully convicted. There is a long history of police coercion in Chicago, and I believe a root cause of police coercion and police focusing on specific neighborhoods is because of segregation.

N: Connections. There is so much emotion and something so raw about connection. I photograph people a lot. Art is such a powerful way of getting to know others and sharing stories, especially in ways that don’t explicitly tell the story directly. The scenes I photograph do show the world, but more so how I see the world. Photography is my way of giving people a glimpse into how I see things, which I love because I cannot always articulate that with words.

What’s one photo you’ve taken that you’ll never forget?

V: A mother I photographed in Rochester, New York, with her daughter at the gravesite of the father of her daughter who passed away on Father’s Day in 2012. Her daughter was only eight months old when he died and never got to know her father. I’ve become close with them, and I’ve spent time photographing them and hanging out with them. In that moment, it was a reminder that being in people’s lives and photographing them is a high privilege. You have to earn their trust. You have to explain why you want to photograph them and why their story is important. I think that one was a particularly profound moment of a particularly profound story and I can always feel what I was feeling that day. I can feel the air and remember watching the sun go down while they were sitting there and I was photographing them. How I felt in that moment really sticks with me.

N: The work I created over the summer of 2024 was an eye-opening experience for me. Although all 10 pieces from the project have such profound histories behind them, the one of Pepe from McSorley’s will stick with me forever. While taking the images, more>>>

RIGHT: Pepe of McSorley's Old Ale House in New York City Credit: N. Benerofe

BELOW: Jasmin Vega and daughter Za'Ryah visit the gravesite of Za'Ryah's father in Rochester, New York. Credit: V. Alban

double take double take

I interviewed each person, which often led to longer conversations after I was done taking my images. Pepe, who has been working at McSorley’s for over 50 years, told me his life story while taking me around the inside of the place, as well as McSorley’s spot in the history of New York. He would take me to the corner where this person sat, and would show me paintings and images plastered with memories. I felt like I was being taken back in time as he told each story. An interview intended to be 10 minutes turned into the best hour, forging a connection with Pepe and the history of Manhattan.

Which class or teacher at Masters influenced you the most?

V: AP Studio Art with Ms. Hajjar and an Independent Study in photography with Ms. Langosch were great. In other classes, including Tower, things were pretty structured. But when I had to make my own schedule and hold myself to a standard (in art and photography), it had the biggest impact on me. With the Independent Study, I remember saying that my goal was to do a photo shoot a week, and when I was in college and sometimes when I’m working now, it’s about 10 shoots a week. Photojournalism work moves quickly. Working with Ms. Langosch was very influential because it laid a lot of the groundwork for what I am doing in my everyday life now. Those classes allowed me to do that and make my own way.

N: Ms. Langosch has hands down been the most influential teacher I have had at Masters. She has supported me as a person but mainly as an artist since I started coming

to Masters in ninth grade. She recognized the drive and passion I had for photography and pushed me to use that to its fullest potential. Without her, I would not have applied to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards or YoungArts competitions. She is someone who cares for her students and wants to see them succeed, which is really special.

Noa Benerofe ‘25 “ ” “ ”

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

V: People in photojournalism often talk a lot about — and this is applicable to arts in general — making sure you’re not burning out. Always take it easy on yourself and take breaks. It’s important and always good to aim to be on an upward trajectory, but know your limits and don’t push yourself too hard and lose the passion for it. I’ve gotten that advice from other people my age going through the same career path, but also from people who are mentors and more established photographers.

N: The best piece of advice I’ve received is probably to not let my failures stop me from what I am passionate about. Anytime I’ve messed up, I’ve gotten back up and kept going. I think this has instilled in me a drive to create and keep that passion alive.

If you could trade places with any famous photographer, who would it be?

V: It certainly would be nice to be one of the photographers who did something first like Richard Avedon with the white backdrop, or Stephen Shore with the road trip. I also greatly admire and hope to emulate Lynsey

”Working with Ms. Langosch was very influential because it laid a lot of the groundwork for what I am doing in my everyday life now."

Vincent Alban ’19

Addario or David Guttenfelder or Daniel Berehulak, who are covering the biggest conflicts and issues of the world. Their work is crucial, essential and has a large impact.

N: Richard Avedon. Not only has he photographed some cool and well-known people, but I absolutely love his style of photography and the scale at which he produces his work. I would honestly have loved to have shadowed him while he worked and observed his practice rather than trading places with him.

Ms. Langosch has hands down been the most influential teacher I have had at Masters. She has supported me as a person but mainly as an artist since I started coming to Masters in ninth grade.

catching up with former faculty

Arthur McCann

Associate Director of College Counseling, Dorm Parent, Basketball and Golf Coach 2006-2013

After living and working at Masters for seven years as associate director of college counseling, a dorm parent, and basketball and golf coach, I moved to Santa Monica, California, to become the dean of college counseling at Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences, where I have been for 12 years.

While at Masters, I met my now wife, Becca, at Tomatillo, a fun restaurant in Dobbs Ferry. We've been married for six years and have two amazing children, Asher (3.5 years) and Inès (16 months), whom we call Nessa.

My golf addiction has grown, and we love living in Los Angeles. We get home to the New York area twice a year, and I've been back to 49 Clinton Avenue a few times. I lived at Masters from 28 to 35 years old, and it is the first place in my adult life that ever felt like home — and it still does. I love following my former students on Instagram and that has been topped by bumping into Masters alumnae/i on the LIRR after a weekend in the Hamptons, at restaurants in LA, or when I run into former school psychologist Dr. Suzan Ryan at the L.L. Bean store at Ridge Hill in Yonkers.

I promise to get to some reunions and hope to see so many of you in the near future!

Brian Cheney

Upper School History and Religion Teacher 2013-2021

Since leaving Masters at the end of the 2020-21 school year, I’ve found myself in the “quiet corner” of northwest Connecticut, living and teaching at Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. My days are spent doing the usual boarding school things: teaching in the history department (including a new elective on Tibetan history), coaching squash and tennis, and living in the dorms. Most importantly, I serve as Kent’s associate chaplain. Kent is an Episcopal school, and thus has a robust chapel program which I help administer in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: providing pastoral care, organizing church services for the community and overseeing religious student affinity groups. It is vital work, and work that I started to learn to do at Masters when I helped lead trips, shared meals

and shepherded many a student and adult through their Matters of Spirit speeches.

Related to this work, I’m currently pursuing ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church. The process, which started in 2019, is nearing an end. There are only a few more things to check off the list before I am done. I was ordained a deacon in March, at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the city, and a priest a short time after that. The Masters community played such a large part in my formation as a priest.

While the work of schools is important, much closer to my heart is my family, which has grown! We welcomed Ezekiel August into our family in late December 2023. He has just started walking and climbing, which is simultaneously a joy and source of profound anxiety! Magnolia, who recently turned 4, continues to be her precocious self. My wife, Kirsten, also works at Kent as their director of communications and marketing. We love taking advantage of the landscape in and around Kent, hiking

together as a family and enjoying building the occasional snowman.

Masters continues to be near and dear to my heart. The School took a chance on me as a relatively inexperienced teacher and equipped me to live into my vocation as an educator of heart and mind. For that, I will be forever grateful. I’m also grateful for the friendships I have formed from my time at Masters. I hope to come back and visit sometime soon, so I can see your smiling faces and exchange a few laughs!

The McCann family

Brian and his family enjoy hiking in northwest Connecticut.

campus on

MASTERS HOSTS SECOND GLOBAL DIAMOND CHALLENGE PITCH EVENT

Think of the Diamond Challenge as a global “Shark Tank” for high school entrepreneurs — a platform for young innovators to tackle real-world issues with bold, impactful ideas.

Mason Dwek '26, left, and Dylan Glaser '25

Helen Gao '27, left, and Gabriela Li '27

On March 1, 32 teams from across the country and the world, including two from Masters, gathered at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center on the Masters campus for the Diamond Challenge Pitch Round, a prestigious semifinal in the global high school entrepreneurship competition. This was the second year that Masters, one of only four pitch locations in the U.S., hosted the event.

“This year saw a record number of submissions and only a very select group of teams advanced to the pitch round,” said John Chiodo, director of innovation, engineering and computer science. “To have two Masters teams advance to the pitch round is very gratifying.”

Teammates Mason Dwek ’26 and Dylan Glaser ’25 pitched PolitiConnect, an app they developed that streamlines and centralizes information on state politicians’ actions in the senate, assembly and executive branch. As of this writing, their app has a database of more than 9,000 officeholders in state or federal government.

Inspired by their love of scuba diving, Helen Gao ’27 and Gabriela Li ’27 founded OceanBloom, which aims to create 3D-printed solutions that promote coral reef regeneration and foster thriving habitats for marine life. In their pitch, the sophomores expressed their concern about the rapid deterioration of coral reefs; their decline jeopardizes not only the diving industry, but also marine life.

Teams presented their ideas before a panel of judges including CEOs, executives and experts from the world’s top companies. Chiodo said, “The Diamond Challenge invites these students to build solutions to solve problems they are passionate about and to join a growing community of innovators and changemakers.”

Although neither Masters team advanced to the final round, the students were thrilled to have had the opportunity to be a part of the competition. Dwek said, “We were happy to be there, to know that our idea was good enough to compete with the top of the top. Just to get to that round, we’d already won. We had nothing to lose.”

ABOVE: Two students, two judges, one spotlight

This year saw a record number of submissions and only a very select group of teams advanced to the pitch round. To have two Masters teams advance to the pitch round is very gratifying. “

— John Chiodo, Director of Innovation, Engineering and Computer Science

RIGHT: Masters had two teams advance to the pitch round.

A LOOK TO THE FUTURE OF PERFORMING ARTS AT MASTERS

When Andy Schneider, the associate head for finance and operations at Masters, recently toured Strayer Hall's construction site, he was amused to discover pristine vintage posters from the 1960s that were uncovered during the building's renovation.

“The original posters were perfectly preserved for over half a century behind the Sheetrock,” Schneider said. “It was almost like walking into the past, experiencing the former dining hall exactly as alumnae from the ’60s would have remembered it before the Cameron Mann Dining Hall was built.”

Since 1955, Strayer Hall has been home to Masters music programs. It served as the site of the dining hall before the Cameron Mann Dining Hall was completed in 1969.

“What faculty and students have achieved inside a space that was originally a dining hall and kitchen is so miraculous that it is difficult to process all the ways in which improvements will transform the student experience,” said Jennifer Carnevale, chair of the Department of Performing Arts.

As part of the School‘s Our Might campaign, Strayer is undergoing a critical upgrade that will feature modern and acoustically advanced classrooms and practice spaces. The redevelopment — designed by Marvel Architects — will also create dynamic new spaces for the community to gather and celebrate music, including a lobby performance area and an outdoor performance patio, bringing music and performances onto the quad.

Violinist Luna Imamichi ʼ27 is looking forward to practicing in one of the new spaces in Strayer. “My first encounter with Masters and Strayer Hall was through a summer program with the Chamber Music Center of New York that rented the space in the summer of 2022,“ Imamichi said. “There were so many practice rooms with pianos. That's what made me interested in Masters and why I am here today.“

The Strayer Hall renovation is set to be completed by this fall, just in time to kick off a new season of music concerts and performances.

CURTAIN RISING ON A NEW ERA THE CLAUDIA BOETTCHER THEATRE TO UNDERGO MAJOR

TRANSFORMATION

Since the early ’70s, the Claudia Boettcher Theatre has been a vibrant hub on campus for student productions, a space where young actors, dancers, and musicians bring stories to life. This fall, as part of the Our Might campaign, a renovation and redesign are set to transform the 450-seat auditorium into a state-of-theart venue, designed to enhance the drama, dance and musical performances while also creating a dynamic gathering space for the entire community.

With the addition of an orchestra pit, improved acoustics and a modernized set shop, the revitalized theater will offer an enhanced theatrical experience for audiences, performers, and production crews alike, elevating the live performances with improved sound, staging and artistic possibilities.

COOKFOX Architects, a prominent New York design studio, has been hired to redesign the theater. “Our studio is thrilled to work with the Masters community to reimagine the theater to celebrate the architectural legacy of the School, create a healthy, sustainable core to the campus and enhance the School’s commitment to dramatic arts education,” said Rick Cook, founding partner.

COOKFOX is highly regarded for its portfolio of built projects and its dedication to integrated, environmentally responsive architecture. Among its recent works are St. John’s Terminal for Google in Lower Manhattan, One Bryant Park, the New York headquarters for Bank of America in midtown, and a new 10-story building for the Marymount School in Manhattan.

With these renovations we are building a home for the performing arts at Masters that matches the excellence of our program and the exceptional talent and creativity of our faculty and students. The upgraded spaces will reflect the central role of the arts at Masters and seamlessly integrate music and performance into the everyday experience at Masters.

We invite the Masters community to help us fully realize this new home for performing arts.

To learn how you can support this effort, visit ourmight.org

From Masters Mainstage to Off-Broadway

Senior Emerson Riter's play “A Hollywood Ending” made its off-Broadway debut at the Chain Theatre's Winter One-Act Festival in February, playing to sold-out audiences.

Masters classmate Annabelle Rosenbluth ’25 directed the production which — wait for it — starred another Masters classmate, Josie Leff ’25.

Riter first drafted the comedy whodunit in her playwriting class at Masters two years ago. An expanded version premiered on campus during last year’s Spring Shorts, and this year, while taking Advanced Acting, she connected with Rosenbluth and Leff to bring the play to a larger stage.

At just 18, Riter is the youngest playwright ever selected for the festival, which features work by established and Tony-winning playwrights and directors.

The final three performances of the run were sold out. “Our first shows were met with a lot of praise from the theater community which was unbelievable!” Riter said.

ANNUAL GLOBAL FEAST CELEBRATES CULTURE, TRADITION AND GREAT FOOD

Connection, community and cuisine were the key ingredients for a joyful and jubilant International Dinner earlier this year.

TOP PHOTO: The cast of “A Hollywood Ending”

ABOVE PHOTO: Annabelle Rosenbluth ’25, left, and Emerson Riter ’25

“The beloved annual school tradition brought close to 300 upper school day and boarding students, faculty and staff together for a global feast of signature dishes from students’ home countries.

International Club co-chairs Anna Caponnetto Insa ’26 (Spain), Warsameh Jama ’25 (Somalia), Jeremy Renze Li ’25 (China), Eunice Sien Wang ’25 (China) and Laura Luolan Yuan ’25 (China) organized and hosted this year’s event.

“It gives us a chance to celebrate our diverse cultures through delicious food and amazing performances,” said Caponnetto Insa, who helped prepare paella. Jama made a beef suqaar dish, Yuan cooked a stewed beef brisket, and Wang prepared a taro coconut dessert. Li assisted with decorations.

Penny Peng, upper school Mandarin teacher and International Club co-advisor with Robert Fish, dean of global studies, enjoyed everything from the Trinidadian curry chicken to hwachae, a Korean fruit bowl drink.

The warm, communal energy of the event built important connections among our students. It demonstrated how diverse and culturally rich our community is.

— Penny Peng, upper school Mandarin teacher

”“For the boarders, food can bring so much comfort to students who are living away from home,” Peng shared. “The warm, communal energy of the event built important connections among our students. It demonstrated how diverse and culturally rich our community is.”

The dinner wouldn’t be complete without entertainment. This year, guests were treated to performances by student band 3 on 49 (Mert Kaplan ’25, Sebastian Simkin ’26 and Jonathan Peralta ’25), pianist April Zixuan Wang ’27, and KODE, the student K-pop dance ensemble.

Caponnetto Insa was wowed by all the talent in the Masters community. “Whether it was dancing or playing an instrument, they

all delivered beautiful performances that brought us closer to their cultures,” she said.

For Lee Bergelson, general manager of Brock dining services, it was a very exciting day for what he described as one of the largest turnouts: “With 23 dishes being prepared from 18 countries and almost 50 students working in the kitchen, everyone was very organized and focused, and it translated to some delicious tasting and looking dishes.”

“What I loved about attending International Dinner was just how much pride and joy there was,” said Samantha Weber ’25, a day student. “We are such a special, diverse community, and it was really a beautiful thing to see everyone embracing one another’s cultures.”

Celebrating 125 Years of DAA

The Dobbs Athletic Association (DAA) was founded in 1901 — two decades before the School created its first student council. Archival notes indicate that the group operated as a student government, and “Thus, a function of the D.A.A. throughout the years has been that of leadership in fostering loyalty to the ‘ideals and standards of Dobbs.’

“At the same time, this organization has maintained its athletic character because sports are conducive to

?D id You Know?

teamwork, spirit, loyalty, integrity, and other qualities fundamental to the school’s principles. Our main function, therefore, is athletic.”

125 years later, the DAA continues to honor sportsmanship and excellence in athletics. It remains a robust organization that contributes to the life of the School through Founder’s Day, Delta/Phi challenges, spirit weeks and other community-building events.

FROM THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION OF THE DOBBS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

In 2018, the Dobbs Athletic Association, the Athletics Department and the Dobbs Alumnae/i Association established The Masters School Athletics Hall of Fame to honor outstanding athletes, teams and coaches for their athletic performance, leadership and program contributions while at Masters and after graduating. The first inductee (posthumous) was Lois Miller Waterman, Class of 1901, the first president of the DAA.

The object of this Association shall be to uphold the standards of this school, to promote an athletic spirit, and to develop such sports and forms of exercise as shall be of lasting benefit and pleasure to every member of the school.

alumnae spotlight

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Beyond their lifelong connection as Masters alumnae, Louise Poston Gore ’84, Fiona Mottley ’84, Susan Orlando Meier ’88 and Amanda Gordon Fletcher ’92 also share a special bond: Each has a daughter in the Class of 2025.

As Graduation nears, these four proud mothers recall their own experiences at the School and reflect on what it means to have their daughters carry on their legacy at Masters.

As a fourth-generation student at Masters, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Fletcher ’25 grew up hearing stories about her great-grandmother going to the School and about Dobbs 16 and Delta/Phi from her mom, Amanda Gordon Fletcher ’92. “I’m sure the fact that so many of Lizzie’s relatives went to Masters influenced her decision to go,” Amanda said. “The School was kind of a bond for all the generations.

“While Lizzie never met my grandmother Ellinor Reed Gordon ’31, she has met my aunt Ethel Olhausen Brady ’61 many times. Hearing us reminisce and find commonalities piqued her interest.”

There were, however, geographic and cultural considerations — something Amanda had not

experienced growing up on the East Coast.

“I’m from Westchester, so Masters was a natural choice for high school,” Amanda explained. “But Lizzie is an Iowan — she was raised in Des Moines — and it’s not common in Iowa for people to send their kids to boarding school. When people heard that Lizzie was going away to school, they asked if she had gotten in trouble,” she said with a laugh.

“I was just so happy that Lizzie was adventurous and was excited to even consider it.”

One benefit of boarding, which some of Lizzie’s relatives also experienced, is the sister-like friendships she’s formed with her dormmates.

“Those special relationships that you build in the dorm are something that have stood the test of time; my grandmother had that, my aunt had that,” Amanda said. “You're just so tight, you become like family.”

At Masters, Amanda played lacrosse and was a member of Dobbs 16 while Lizzie’s focus has been on tech and stage management for the School’s theater productions.

Amanda Gordon Fletcher ’92

Fiona Mottley ’84

Louise Poston Gore ’84

Susan Orlando Meier ’88

ABOVE: Left to right: Eleanor Phillips ’25, Bella Muñoz ’25, Sophie Woodruffe ’25 and Elizabeth Fletcher ‘25

Ellinor Reed Gordon ’31

“We’ve had slightly different activities, but it’s still the same school,” Amanda said. “I love that so many of the organizations still exist and are very active today like MISH, where I was an officer, Dobbs 16 and Delta/Phi. In many ways the School is new and improved, but it’s still got the same heart.” And the same motto: Do It With Thy Might.

“Oh, I still think of it,” Amanda said of the fiveword phrase. “It’s so motivating, and I’m sure there are so many alumnae/i out there who still hold on to that.”

Louise Poston Gore ’84 is one of them.

“Do It With Thy Might, that’s something I come back to again and again,” Louise said. “I’m just glad to have my daughter, Eleanor Phillips ’25, at Masters, I really am. And it’s pretty cool that Eleanor is a third-generation Masters graduate!”

Louise’s mother, Mary Ann Fisher Eagle, graduated in 1960. She lived in Estherwood and, according to Louise, thrived at Masters, which encouraged both her daughter and granddaughter to follow in her footsteps.

“Eleanor has been able to find a part of herself that she wouldn’t have found if she hadn’t gone [to the school], and I guess that’s what happened to me too,” Louise said. “I found my leadership skills at Masters, I developed my artistic skills at Masters, and I got a really strong sense of myself as a female in the world whose voice was equal to everyone around her.”

Eleanor has also found her voice at Masters as co-chair of Outspoken, the spoken word poetry club. “It is really incredible,” Louise said. “You would not believe the powerful messages these kids are able to articulate. So much thoughtfulness about the world comes out in these readings.”

Even with new clubs like Outspoken and what she describes as the “amazing” additions to the campus, Louise has found that Masters is “reassuringly the same.”

“Masters is and has always been [a place that] walks the walk and talks the talk in terms of its values. I love that about the School,” she reflected.

Another lasting legacy of a Masters education is the lifelong friendships. This current group

Masters is and has always been [a place that] walks the walk and talks the talk in terms of its values. I love that about the School.

of graduates, the daughters of four alumnae, created bonds without realizing just how deep they were.

Fiona Mottley ’84 said, “My daughter Sophie Woodruffe ’25 is coincidentally friends with [Louise Gore’s daughter] Eleanor without any idea that Louise and I were classmates.”

Fiona came from Trinidad to attend Masters. Sophie, a head proctor in Cole, was also raised in Trinidad and followed in her mother’s footsteps by coming to Masters.

Who would have guessed that as Fiona and Louise walked down the senior steps during Graduation, their daughters would be walking the same path 41 years later.

For Susan Orlando Meier ’88, the School’s steadfast values were key to her decision to send her daughter, Bella Muñoz ’25, to Masters.

“We applied during the pandemic, and it was especially important to me to have a school that I could trust beyond the shadow of a doubt,” Susan said. “Masters is a place I know, a culture I know, with values that I believe in and trust to be true — and that Bella was also aligned with. It felt like a very good, safe and exciting fit for us when she was deciding to go to Masters. And Bella has had a great experience, so I’m really thrilled about that.”

Having a daughter retracing her steps on campus has been both wonderful and “surreal,” Susan said. “It’s this funny shift in perception being on campus as a parent instead of as a student. You remember that place where this thing happened but it’s a completely new place, and you’re a different person, and now your daughter is having the experience in this place. It’s wild!”

One such place is the Art Studio, where mother and daughter have nurtured their respective creative curiosities.

— Louise Poston Gore ’84

“I appreciate that Masters has always been and continues to have a real strength in the arts and that it values creativity in all its forms,” Susan said. “I was very involved in the performing arts as well as some other creative activities, such as yearbook and newspaper. [As a visual artist], the ability to experiment across media in a place that really values creativity and arts in all its forms brought out that side of me and shaped me for the future.”

Susan is thrilled that Bella has also been able to explore her creative side at Masters. “Bella has made extensive use of that beautiful Art Studio and has found different media to express herself,” she said. [Upper School Visual Arts Chair] Cheryl Hajjar “has been amazing. Bella has been able to try all different types of printmaking, drawing and painting. It’s been a real joy to see her making use of the culture as well as the actual facilities that Masters offers. And, of course, it’s also very sweet when your children turn out to be interested in something similar to what you’re interested in!”

Outside the Art Studio, the mother and daughter also share a deep belief in the School’s motto, especially the directive to “be a power for good in the world.”

“When I first heard it from Head of School Laura Danforth, I found it to be such an exciting, actionable description of what Do It With Thy Might meant to me,” Susan said. “And it’s a real organizing principle for my daughter. I think she thinks about it all the time in terms of where to go to school or what to do for a career. It’s always in the back of her mind.”

Susan is pleased to see Bella embrace that legacy: “High school is such a formative time. [For me], everything came from Masters; that was my world. It certainly made me who I am and helped me think in new ways. And the ultimate expression of how I feel about Masters is that I sent my daughter — my precious cargo — to the School.”

MASTERS on the MOVE

Whether it was the Empire State, the Sunshine State or the Golden State, our alumnae/i reunions these past few months brought together incredible members of our community for evenings filled with connection and school spirit. Head of School Laura Danforth was delighted to attend some of the gatherings and hear from those assembled about their fond memories of life at 49 Clinton Avenue.

in memoriam

Margaret “Peggy” Detmer Rossi ’50

Born in New York City, Peggy grew up in Tarrytown, New York. By age 7, she was fluent in French and winning awards for catching big fish off the coast of Florida.

After graduating from Masters, where she was a member of DAA, Cercle, and treasurer of the Senior Executive Board, Peggy attended Smith College, living all four years in Morrow House. In the spring of 1955, she was determined to see the world by driving all over Europe with a friend. She returned to marry the love of her life, Craig Rossi, and they settled in Cresskill, New Jersey, where they had four children.

Peggy’s devotion to her alma mater was admirable. A lifelong champion of Masters, she served on the Alumnae Association Board for three years and

died on October 6, 2024, at age 91.

on the Board of Trustees for seven. She took immense pride in keeping her classmates connected. A longtime class notes editor for The Bulletin, she spent countless hours on the phone, gathering and sharing news from her peers. Her unwavering commitment was recognized in 1984 when she was honored with the Richmond Bowl. One of her greatest joys was having her daughter Melissa ’76 follow in her footsteps to Masters. She also encouraged her grandson Matthew to attend CITYterm, the School’s semester program, where he flourished.

In addition to her work with Masters, Peggy also led the Junior League of Bergen County. She was a devoted mother, an intrepid traveler and dependable volunteer, who made many forever friends and enjoyed playing mahjong and bridge. Her husband and two of her children, Elizabeth and Jeffrey, predeceased her. She is survived by daughter Melissa, son Christopher, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Martha Wendt Nesbitt ’60

Martha was born in New York City and grew up in Sands Point and Tuxedo Park. She joined the Masters community as a boarder and stayed connected with friends, roommates and the School for more than six decades. She attended Masters with her sister Nancy Wendt Cushing ’62. Her older sister, Lindsay Wendt Serrell, now deceased, graduated from Masters in 1954.

After Masters, Martha attended St. John’s College and New York University. She then worked for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and later at TIAA, a pension, insurance and investment services provider, where she designed computer programs. She and her husband, Michael, had three children, Ian, Christopher and Seth. After her retirement, Martha and Michael spent most of their time in Lakeville, Connecticut.

died on January 26, 2025, at age 82.

Martha supported her alma mater as a volunteer, leading her class's Reunion Committee in 2010, and was a member of the Estherwood Society. In reflecting on the impact of a Masters education during the School’s 145th anniversary in 2022, Martha said, “The most important lessons to me were the piano lessons from Grete Sultan and participating in Glee Club.” Music continued to be a significant part of Martha’s life after she left 49 Clinton Avenue. She sang with the Berkshire Choral International, a summer camp for chorus singers held on various college campuses, and the Crescendo choral group. As recently as July 2023, Martha sang with Berkshire Choral International at Virginia Tech. She was also an active member of the Colonial Dames, the Cosmopolitan Club, the Millbrook Garden Club and a mahjong group.

Martha is survived by her husband, her three children, her sister Nancy, and her five grandchildren. Her brother, Henry, and sister Lindsay predeceased her.

we remember

The Masters School notes with regret the passing of the following members of the extended school family.

ALUMNAE/I

1940 s

Margaret Barry Cheney ’40 November 19, 2024

Anne Ainsworth Kernott ’46 January 12, 2023

Priscilla King Arnold ’47 January 1, 2025

Sally Hynson Hopkins ’47 July 2, 2023

Alexandra Leys Rickenbacker ’48 February 6, 2025

Mary Ashby Angell ’49 September 4, 2024

1950 s

Mary Bowden Lyman ’50 August 4, 2020

Margaret Detmer Rossi ’50 October 6, 2024

Jean Herron Stanton ’50 March 1, 2024

Nancy Richardson Jones ’55 August 24, 2024

Helen D. Hamilton ’55 February 3, 2025

Nancy Corwin Nichols Martin ’56 April 15, 2025

Elizabeth Theiler Martin ’56 November 19, 2024

Sally Betts Hagan ’57 July 20, 2024

Martha Kendall Gilmore ’58 October 23, 2024

1960 s

Martha Wendt Nesbitt ’60 January 26, 2025

Maria Melvin McDonald ’60 October 15, 2024

Jenot Warner Shipley ’60 October 26, 2024

Cecilie Hamilton Cruger ’61 September 16, 2024

Sara E. Bysshe ’62 September 7, 2024

Edith Howe Goodnight ’63 January 2, 2024

Alyce M. Wood ’68 February 1, 2025

1970 s

Lisa A. Levene ’75 September 16, 2018

1980 s

Kate Simoni Fralin ’82 April 2, 2025

With Gratitude: A Remembrance by Victoria Love '88

When I learned of Ms. Woods’ death, it was a shock:

There are some people in your life who seem immortal. Ms. Woods was one of those people.

I hadn’t seen her in more than three decades but she was an important part of my formative years at Dobbs. She was my dorm mother for freshman and senior years. The bond you have with a dorm mother transcends the regular studentteacher relationship: They are a surrogate parent. Ms. Woods’ gentle, kind, caring spirit made my transition to boarding school easy. Her patience and strong morality were examples to emulate.

Ms. Woods was an activist supporting civil rights and women’s rights. (I, too, marched for the prochoice movement in Washington while in college. Something that would have made her proud.)

I remember she wasn’t allowed at Graduation at the end of my freshman year because then-Vice President George H. W. Bush was speaking and the Secret Service considered her past a threat. I thought that unjust, but she didn’t mind. A small price to pay to stand by your convictions.

She championed me to switch to AP American History my junior year, but I refused as it would mean another teacher, and I wanted to be in her class.

Senior year I was back in Strong with my best friend, Anna Hirai Cranmer ’88, who was the dorm proctor. After rooming together sophomore and junior year, I wanted to room together again — and it meant I’d be back with Ms. Woods, too.

My father insisted I apply to his alma mater, Yale, despite my telling him that even if I was accepted I did not want to go. The whole process was stressful. My Yale alumni interview was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Hastings.

Back in those days before cellphones, there was a bank of pay phones on the first floor of Strong. I called the taxi company dispatcher every evening for a week to make sure I’d be able to reserve a taxi to Hastings at that time. Of course the night of the interview I was told there were no taxis, and I’d have to wait an hour.

I burst into tears. As fate would have it, Ms. Woods was walking by and saw me sobbing. She told me to splash water on my face, and she would drive me. My hero. While driving she calmed me down and gave me interview tips. I didn’t get into Yale, I went to Skidmore instead. To this day, I have this precious memory of Ms. Woods coming to my rescue when I needed it the most.

Did I ever say “thank you” to her for all she did for me? Did she know how much she influenced my life? I am a teacher now, and you have to reconcile that you influence children in a way that’s not always tangible at the time, but for some comes later as they look back and see what they miss the most or what they learned the most. I saw Ms. Woods at my five-year reunion and hope I said “thank you” and expressed gratitude to her.

To Ms. Woods and all my teachers: a huge THANK YOU! You made a difference.

ABOVE: Victoria Love ’88 and Anna Hirai Cranmer ’88 roomed together for three years.

Bulletin

THE MAGAZINE OF THE MASTERS SCHOOL

Laura Danforth Head of School

COMMUNICATIONS

Meredith Halpern

Associate Head of Strategic Communications

Isaac Cass

Digital Communications Manager

Christina Ha Communications Associate

Jen Schutten Associate Director of Communications

Design: KBWhite Communications LLC

ADVANCEMENT

Seth Marx Associate Head for Institutional Advancement

Judy Donald Advancement Associate Hilary Finkelstein Director of Annual Giving

Carol Maxwell Senior Manager, Engagement and Major Gifts

THE MASTERS SCHOOL LEADERSHIP 2024-2025

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Laura Danforth

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Beth Nolan ’69, Chair

Allison Moore ’83, P’17, ’19, ’24, Vice Chair

Katherine A. Henry ’94, P’25, ’29, Treasurer

Dana W. Oliver P’22, ’25, Secretary

Asema Ahmed ’96

Rajay Bagaria P’25, ’28

Natasha Bansgopaul ’04

Sara Barek P’27, ’29

Laura Danforth

Kara DioGuardi ’88, P’31

Michael Greene P’10, ’13

Jodi Innerfield ’05

Ronen Israel P’23, ’28

Christina Masters Jones

Philip Kassen

Susan Katzke P’24

Stacey Lacy ’93

Steve Marlowe P’23, ’23, ’25

Edgar M. Masters H’98, Life Trustee

Susan Follett Morris ’57, Life Trustee

Jonathan Resnick P’26

William Roberts

Lynn Pilzer Sobel ’71, P’99, ’05

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Marin Alsop ’73

Cynthia Ferris Evans ’52, P’76, ’86

Jeannette Sanford Fowlkes ’58, P’87

Ruth Mitchell Freeman ’51

Nancy Maginnes Kissinger ’51

Claudia Boettcher Merthan ’51

Tracy Tang ’80, P’18

DOBBS ALUMNAE/I ASSOCIATION BOARD

Jodi Innerfield ’05, President

Liza Ciaramella ’07, Vice President

Natasha Bansgopaul ’04

Lucas Buyon ’11

Sharon Nechis Castillo ’84

Emily Daly ’06

Austin O’Neill Dunyk ’98

Kathryn Taylor Harvill ’95

Chloe Lazarus ’12

Karen Li ’20

Victoria Love ’88

Greg Pasternack ’05

Tiffany Tate-Salam ’00

PARENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Officers

Parke Anderson P’24, ’27 Co-President

Jenny Liang Milward P’24, ’26, ’29 Co-President

Committees and Chairs

Sara Barek P’27, ’29

Admission Support Co-Chair

Andrew Barnes P’26, ’26

Masters Fund Parent Chair

Sharon Davenport P’27, ’27

Faculty Staff Appreciation Day Co-Chair

Peter Lavery P’29

Faculty Staff Appreciation Day Co-Chair

Jordana Manzano P’23, ’26

PA Program Support Liaison

Dana Oliver P’22, ’25

Book Club Chair

Saloni Singh P’27

Admission Support Co-Chair

Brooke Nalle Pʼ24, ʼ27 Director of Alumnae/i Engagement

Maryann Perrotta Database Administrator

Mary Ryan ’00 Associate Director of Institutional Advancement

Amie Servino ’95, P’26 Director of Parent Engagement

Maureen Steinhorn Annual Giving and Stewardship Manager

C lass Representatives

Sara Barek P’27, ’29

Rachel Combe P’24, ’26, ’30, ’32

Barbra Crane P’28

Susan Furniss P’20, ’23, ’25

Sonal Gibson P’29, ’31

Lyn Jacobson P’28, ’28

Leslie Laboriel P’27

Justine Lackey P’30

Peter Lavery P’29

Andrea Miller P’24, ’26, ’27

Jenny Liang Milward P’24, ’26, ’29

Lori Moussapour P’15, ’25

Shelly Steinwurtzel P’26, ’30

Jennifer Vargas P’26, ’31

Steven Yung P’23, ’30

Back Story

TO THE END OF YOUR BULLETIN JOURNEY OR PERHAPS IT’S JUST THE BEGINNING.

FOR THOSE STARTING AT THE BACK OF THE BOOK AND READING FORWARD, WE SEE YOU AND WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THESE HIGHLIGHTS – IN ADDITION TO THE WONDERFUL CLASS NOTES.

Alex Bernstein ’16 demonstrated a knack for tackling abstract problems way before he started working in AI. Exhibit A: He spent his senior year at Masters researching and writing a thesis about the perception of time. 38

Turns out that working at one particle accelerator lab wasn’t enough for Grace King ’16 ; her resume includes time at two.

The Dobbs Athletic Association (DAA) mission is, unsurprisingly, athletic. But when it started 125 years ago, it operated as the School’s first student government.

We’re only halfway through 2025, but Masters on the Move has already brought together alumnae/i in California, D.C., Florida and New York.

Dear Masters Alumnae/i,

In a 1919 letter to The Masters School community, Eliza Masters referred to alumnae as “you who own the School.” With these words, she encapsulated the deep connection alumnae have to the School and expressed her faith that alumnae would ensure its future. Moved by Miss Masters’ confidence, a group of alumnae banded together to raise $300,000 to establish Masters Hall, which was completed in 1921, shortly before Miss Masters’ death.

Thus began what continues to be a vibrant tradition of alumnae/i service and philanthropy at Masters. As leaders of the Board of Trustees over the last three decades, we are proud to carry on this legacy.

Our service is inspired by the gratitude we feel for the education, the lifelong friends and the sense of purpose Masters has provided us. This gratitude also drives our commitment to the Our Might campaign. We thrived at Masters because of alumnae that came before us, and we give now to ensure that generations to come will thrive at Masters.

Through Our Might we are investing in our endowment, which enables us to make a Masters education accessible to students of all backgrounds and to hire and retain a faculty of distinction. We are also making critical investments in the Masters campus by renovating and building new spaces that foster collaboration and inspire ingenuity, including the spectacular

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and major renovations to our library, theater and Strayer Hall.

This is a historic moment for Masters. Since launching Our Might in 2018, we have raised more than $100 million. This record-breaking success is truly a testament to the power of our community and the mission of our School.

We have just $1 million left to raise to fully fund our remaining campaign projects. We invite you to join us in this transformative moment in Masters’ history.

With Our Might,

Beth Nolan ’69 Chair, Board of Trustees

Edith Chapin ’83 Former Chair (2017-2023), Board of Trustees

Tracy Tang ’80, P’18 Campaign Chair, Our Might Honorary Trustee, Former Chair (2009-2017), Board of Trustees

Lynn Pilzer Sobel ’71, P’99, ’05 Member, Former Chair (2003-2009), Board of Trustees Alumnae/i Chair, Our Might

Susan Follett Morris ’57 Life Trustee, Former Chair (1998-2003), Board of Trustees

Edgar Masters H’98 Life Trustee, Former Chair (1992-1998), Board of Trustees

generations,

MASTERS FUND