Faculty Profile
Aranya Maritime What is your position at Nichols? I am the Head of the Upper School, and I teach in the English Department. How long have you been teaching at Nichols? Since September 2001. What was your path leading to Nichols like? I went to a progressive independent high school called Calasanctius across the park from Nichols. Following Cal, I earned a bachelor’s degree in English and History at Vassar College. After Vassar, I completed a master’s degree in English at Boston College. Finally, I finished my Ph.D. in English at SUNY at Buffalo while teaching at Nichols. Before coming to Nichols, I was a teaching fellow and teaching assistant at BC and SUNY at Buffalo. I also worked for a while prepping the SAT at a major test prep company and taught spinning and other classes at local fitness clubs. What extra-curricular activities are you involved in at the School? I teach a cardio class after school and help with the Mock Trial team. Because I am Head of the Upper School I participate in or attend numerous committees: Academic Review Committee, Curriculum Committee, Student Conduct Committee, Professional Development Committee, Senior Thesis Committee, Trilateral Committee and Education Committee.
What is the best part of your job? Being in the classroom with students and working with student leaders. What are your hobbies and interests outside of Nichols? Let’s see—we have a pretty large family with the five boys and Fiona. Being together with my husband, Gillian, my step-sons and Fiona occupies most of my time outside of school. I like to exercise—running, cycling and dancing. And, when I can, I read and write. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us? While the best part of my job is working with students, I would be remiss not to say a few words about the faculty and staff at Nichols. I have been privileged to work with this dedicated group of professionals for the last 12 years. I look forward to coming to school every day because of the people who work here. There is a sense of a common goal at school. We are all working toward making this the best possible educational experience for our students.
Photo Contest Guess the year this photo was taken of the class’ National Honor Society members. Submit your response to development@nicholsschool.org and the first to answer correctly will win a Nichols prize pack. Like us on Facebook to play our First Friday contest where we share photos and other items from the Nichols archive.