N E W S NOTES
New dean speaks in Chicago The school’s new dean of faculty, Temba Maqubela, was the featured speaker at a dinner sponsored by the Andover/Abbot Association of Chicago April 21. Some 40 alumni, parents and friends heard Maqubela reflect on his experiences as advocate, teacher and parent of two Andover students. Maqubela also greeted several Chicago-area alumni of PA’s summer program (MS)2, Math and Science for Minority Students. Pictured, from left, are Praveen Gupta, father of Krishna Gupta ’05; Alex Orbon ’94; Dean of Faculty Temba Maqubela; and Jessica Gonzalez ’91.
McCaslin appointed assistant dean of faculty
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usan McCaslin has been appointed to the newly created position of assistant dean of faculty for a six-year term. She will work with Temba Maqubela, who was named dean of faculty in April. McCaslin holds an A.B. degree in religion from Smith College and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School. Since coming to Phillips Academy, she has served in a number of roles: staff writer for Andover’s Bicentennial Campaign, director of publications, director of the Addison Gallery Campaign, instructor in philosophy and religious studies, dean of studies, director of the International Academic Partnership, chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, chair of the Faculty Budget Committee, chair of the Faculty Development Committee, codirector of the Teaching Fellow Program and co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. McCaslin will relinquish her position as chair of the department of philosophy and religious studies, which will be assumed by Thomas Hodgson. Hodgson has served in that role twice previously, from 1987–1994 and again from 1995–99.
Committee named to plan Commons renovation
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he academy has organized a Commons Program Planning Committee to plan for the renovation of Andover’s dining facilities. The committee has been charged to address questions like, How could Commons enhance the interaction between students and faculty? What are the current and potential advantages of having a student center in Commons? Do we need more small meeting rooms? The renovation of Commons has been made possible by a $10 million lead gift from an Andover alumnus—the only gift of that size ever made to the school anonymously. Members of the planning committee are Daniel Adler ’05; Kathy Birecki, athletics trainer; David Chase, director of stewardship; Cindy Efinger, interim director of student activities; Aya Murata, adviser to Asian and Asian American students and international student coordinator; Bob Noyes, director of food service; Marissa Sobelson ’05; Craig Thorn, instructor in English; Marlys Edwards, dean of students; Michael Williams, director of facilities; John Galanis, project manager; and Paul Murphy ’84, cluster dean and instructor in math. Murphy will chair the committee.
Former U.S. Poet Laureate reads work at Kemper
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ormer U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins visited campus and read his poetry to a packed Kemper Auditorium on Friday, May 7. The event was sponsored by the Sandra Isham Vreeland Fund and the Phillips Academy English department. Collins, the author of several poetry collections, has also been published in The New Yorker, The Paris Review and The American Scholar. He is a professor of English at Lehman College of the City University of New York.
Friends of Andover Athletics hold senior banquet The Friends of Andover Athletics (FOAA), created to nurture links among student and alumni athletes and coaches and to encourage support for Andover athletics, held its annual Senior Friends Banquet May 16. Guest speakers were Jon Karlen ’90 and Peter Karlen ’98, who both played squash at Andover and Harvard. The evening’s highlight was the presentation of Phelps Awards to two seniors. The awards honor students for sportsmanship, loyalty, humility and commitment to the success of others, reflecting the values of benefactor Richard J. Phelps ’46. Shown left to right are Lauren Dougherty ’88; 2004 award recipients Tyler Sims and Catherine Maffione; and Len Moher ’74. For more information on the FOAA, contact Jenny Savino at 978-749-4293 or jsavino@andover.edu. 40