Saint Ann's Times | Summer 2025 by Saint Ann's School

SAINT ANN’S TIMES

“SILK PAINTINGS AND POEMS” BY FIRST GRADE STUDENTS IN JON AND SHIRAZ’S CLASS

STUDENTS PAINTED ON REAL SILK WITH REAL DYE TO CREATE WORKS INSPIRED BY GONGBI STYLE PAINTINGS. THEIR POEMS WERE INSPIRED BY POETS OF THE SONG DYNASTY.

SUMMER 2025

Editorial Staff

Robin Becker, Director of Communications

Hannah Swacker Kurnit ’97, Director of Advancement

Elena Sheppard ’05, Communications Manager

Jacob Goodhart, Alumni Relations Manager

Anna Verdi, Special Events Coordinator

Julia Itzler,

Creativity and Connection

Summer 2025

From our youngest learners to our newest graduates, this has been a remarkable year of growth, creativity, and connection at Saint Ann’s. As we start the summer months, I find myself reflecting on the moments, both big and small, that made this year truly special.

This summer edition of the Saint Ann’s Times magazine captures many of these special moments, including the High School’s electrifying production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, our Lower Middle School’s first One Book Day, a joyful Kindergarten Film Night, and beloved annual school-wide gatherings like the Puppet Parade and Skating Party, among many others. Inside these pages, you’ll also find incredible student art and poetry; their work speaks to the heart of what it means to learn and to dream at Saint Ann’s. There are also exciting updates from our faculty and staff, and dispatches from our alumni, who continue to carry the spirit of our School with them wherever they go.

As you enjoy these pages, I hope you will also take a moment to reflect, to dream, and to embrace the beauty that lies in both the quiet and the extraordinary moments of life.

Wishing you all a restful and joyful summer ahead.

Yours,

about the school once upon a time there was a school called Saint Ann's and the kindergarten class was the greatest the whole kindergarten every single day and every single week

by Mateo K., Kindergarten

Using pastel and paper, Kindergarten artists layered the letters in their names to create a unique representation of themselves.

Thoughts on A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By Birgitta Victorson, Director

I don’t remember who was the first person to mention “mycelium” (a network of fungi strands) but this biological phenomenon was our key into the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Carlos Perez , the Associate Director and Biology Teacher, giddily delivered heaps of articles, images, and videos showing how mycelia grow and change and transform and, most importantly, connect life!

As the production team researched the dynamic choreography of the mushroom world, Adam Wyron, Tech Theater Teacher and Set Designer, built a set covered in mushrooms that were crocheted by our Costume Designers, Miranda Boodheshwar and Loren Bevans Our Musical Director Wenqi Li, and numerous costume students and actors, also showed up with their knitting needles. One cast member announced, “I did a paper last year on bioluminescent mycelium.” And then Miranda and Steve Sosa , Lighting Designer, spent hours in the theater looking at different fabrics against different colored lights trying to mimic their glow.

As the set and costumes were literally woven together so was the storytelling. The entire cast understood how this image of connectedness moved through our staging, choreography (Jamal Jackson), music (written by Lizzie O. (11th grade) with additional music by Ella R. (12th grade) and Callum H. (11th grade), and therefore the three very different worlds of Athens, the Mechanicals, and the Fairies that are set together in this 400-year-old play. Together the entire production team, cast, and crew learned that a fairy circle is from old Irish lore that said that these circles of mushrooms (!) were formed by the moon and created a portal to the fairy world (thanks Carlos for this dramaturgy!). Once again, the natural world guided us and it was under the watchful moon that these three worlds came together at the end of our play.

Those who saw this show may have seen the same story they are familiar with, but our student actors and musicians embedded in this process and production a deep understanding of how powerfully the natural world connects each and every one of us.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By William Shakespeare

Directed by

Birgitta Victorson

Associate Director by

Carlos Perez

Musical Director

Wenqi Li

Choreography

Jamal Jackson '96

Set Design

Adam Wyron

Lighting Design

Steve Sosa

Costume Design

Miranda Boodheshwar

Associate Costume Design

Loren Bevans '80

Tech Director

Kobun Kaluza

Music Composed by Lizzie O. (11th Grade)

With additional music by Ella R. (12th grade) Callum H. (11th grade)

Theater Department Chairs

Megan Shand and Birgitta Victorson

Dispatch from the Asian Women’s Leadership Forum

By Amu P., 11th grade

The Asian Women’s Leadership Forum, which I founded in 2024 and organized in collaboration with the Saint Ann’s DEI office, recently completed its second year. The project brings accomplished Asian women to Saint Ann’s to share their careers and experiences with students. This is all with the goal of inspiring the Saint Ann’s community, and expanding students’ understanding of what life beyond high school might hold.

Speakers over the past two years have included Shahana Hanif, New York City Council Member; Parul Sehgal, a renowned journalist and literary critic; and Dr. Ann Tran, an OBGYN at Mount Sinai, among others. Each event typically includes an interview or panel discussion followed by a student-led Q&A.

Audiences have ranged from 10 to 100 people, drawing from all parts of the School. Forums have been tailored to their audiences, from Lower Middle Schoolers to High School students. For younger students, the forum has served as a first introduction to leadership and representation. For older students, it has sparked deeper conversations about identity, professional ambition, and public life.

Six events have been held so far, with another series planned for the fall. The Asian Women’s Leadership Forum, as it grows, will continue to provide a platform for students to engage with the diverse experiences and careers of Asian women leaders.

A Conversation with BOYMOM Author Ruth Whippman

In late April, the School hosted an evening with Ruth Whippman, author of BOYMOM: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity. Whippman was joined in conversation by Ellen Friedrichs, Coordinator of Health Education, to discuss the impossible and often contradictory pressures shaping boys’ lives and the ways that such gendered expectations affect all of us. The informative conversation was followed by an audience Q&A session, during which Whippman shared even more of her insights and expertise on navigating the challenges boys face today.

Jewish Student Association Trip to Washington D.C.

In May, the Jewish Student Association (JSA) traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Students and chaperones traveled via Amtrak to see the museum’s major exhibition on the lead up to, and carrying out of, the Holocaust.

Black Student Union Visits Washington D.C.

Also in May, Perry Taylor (4th–12th Grade Learning Specialist) and Amina Mohamed (Co-Director of Diversity and Institutional Equity) facilitated a trip to D.C. for the High School Black Student Union (BSU). The visit included trips to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture and the National Museum of African Art, as well as visits to other monuments, and a meal at a Black-owned eatery.

Latin American Student Union Trip to Upper Manhattan

The Saint Ann’s Latin American Student Union (LASU) just completed its first year of operation. Matías F-V. (11th grade), Maayan M. (10th grade), and Leif M. (10th grade) were instrumental in organizing the group as well as their spring trip uptown. The group visited El Museo del Barrio and dined at El Valle Restaurant in Harlem. They also visited the garden just south of the Harlem Meer and, as faculty advisor G. Girlado put it, “enjoyed a day in community.”

Kindergarten Film Festival

During this year’s Kindergarten Film Festival, families gathered in the Bosworth Building to enjoy four original movies created by our Kindergarten students. This year’s lineup included How Things Come to be… Maybe… by Mariette and Harry’s class; Coats and Hats by David and Fiona’s class; The Quilt Book by Carly and Annie’s class; and The Brooklyn School of Magic by Szarina and Maddy’s class.

The Film Festival, which was started in 2013 by Theater Teacher Gena Oppenheim '97, was born from a desire to create a collaborative project amongst Kindergarten teachers. Each year, stories for the movies stemmed from what students were learning about in their classrooms. The silent nature of the films was incidental; students felt too nervous to perform live, and it turned out to be a great way for them to practice their handwriting skills (students write all the title cards)! The sets and costumes for the films were nearly all created by Art Teacher Rebecca Stevens. This was the Festival’s final year, and to celebrate, we are sharing the four films with you.

Grab your popcorn and enjoy the movies!

The little spark inside

The smell of a cup of hot apple cider. The feeling of a warm piece of cinnamon sugar toast. The summer breeze in my hair. The feeling of wanting to know something. Sitting by the fire in the cold winter. Sitting on the warm sand in the sun in the summer

By Issa G., 2nd Grade

Lower Middle School One Book Day

By the Saint Ann’s Librarians

“No story starts at the beginning,” —epigraph from Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee

With book-club style discussions, a Zoom visit from the author, and workshops ranging from “Build a {Giant} Bear,” to “Kid Immigrants: The Facts,” to “General Who? Cooking Chinese American,” fourth and fifth graders immersed themselves in the world of Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, the Newbery Honor-winning book by Lisa Yee that was the basis for our first-ever Lower Middle School One Book Day (the event has previously taken place in the Upper Middle School). Faculty from almost every department, as well as two retired teachers and one parent, ran 26 unique workshops, all inspired by the book—the story of a Chinese American girl who discovers that her grandparents’ restaurant is full of secrets and history. The Saint Ann’s kitchen provided a special lunch of Chinese dumplings and a German-Chinese fusion dish (read the book to learn why!), which helped make the day, run jointly by the library and the Lower Middle School office, an experience involving all five senses. Thanks to all who participated—especially the fourth and fifth graders—for their knowledge, love, and enthusiasm!

Urban Barcode Research Program

Science Teacher Nicholas Harbison’s genetics class spent the year working on research projects in conjunction with the DNA Learning Center as part of the city-wide Urban Barcode Research Program. The program supports research by NYC high school science students in studies using DNA barcoding technology. Saint Ann’s was one of fifteen schools participating in the Urban Barcode Research Program and at the year-end symposium four of the forty-five posters that were presented were from Saint Ann’s students. The road to presentation was competitive, and students had to write proposals that went through a review process by DNA Learning Center staff before being accepted.

“Old School”—A Gathering of Artists

By Brent Rumage, Art Teacher

In April, we celebrated “Old School,” the latest annual event initiated by retired Art Department Chair Andy Keating. These gatherings highlight the creative lives of Saint Ann’s faculty and staff, offering the broader community a glimpse into the often unseen artistic pursuits of our talented educators. “Old School” carries on this tradition by focusing on the artwork of retired art faculty members Charles Luce (former Chair) and Colin Lee, as well as myself. The opening reception featured original music by Director of Facility Operations Dave Schramm, accompanied by Gary Langol of the music department. It concluded with a reading by Art Teacher Angelo Bellfatto from his novel, The Brothers Gerrison

It was a great honor to share the evening with my fellow “Old Schoolers.” I joked that the name referred to our ages, but in truth, these artists formed the bedrock of the creative arts at Saint Ann’s. Through decades of dedication, they’ve shaped how we teach the arts and give our students a window into the vibrant lives of working artists.

I’ve long admired Charles and Colin’s artwork, and it was a pleasure to exhibit alongside them. As we assembled the show, we were struck by the visual overlaps in our imagery and processes. Though each of our practices is personal and distinct, the artworks complemented each other beautifully in the Rotunda Gallery.

I was especially pleased to include Dave Schramm in the evening. A long-time member of the Saint Ann’s community and a remarkable musician with a notable career, Dave’s performance was a revelation to many in the audience. His set was dynamic and moving, leaving everyone wanting more.

The evening closed with Angelo Bellfatto reading chapter seventeen, “Miguel’s Soliloquy,” from his novel. This humorous and vivid tale, narrated by Miguel, a talking parrot, details his unique inner life as a wild and domesticated bird. Angelo sculpted a ceramic bust of Miguel, which shared the stage with current student Harvest R. (11th grade), adorned in a striking parrot headdress. Dave Schramm added atmosphere to the narrative with subtle guitar improvisations.

“Old School” was an incredibly joyful and rewarding evening that Andy Keating would be proud of. It highlighted the creativity of his colleagues and celebrated the artists among us.

The Puppet Parade

The annual Puppet Parade filled the streets of Brooklyn Heights with magic and mayhem! Due to construction on Pierrepont Street, this year’s parade was rerouted to Cadman Plaza Park. A little reroute didn’t stop the fun; the park provided an exciting stage for our students to dance, perform, and show off their inventive and intricate puppets. Families, faculty, staff, and our youngest and oldest students gathered in the sunshine to witness the wonderful spectacle.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

On June 10 we celebrated the graduation of the Saint Ann’s class of 2025. The ceremony was held at the St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church and included speeches and performances by members of the graduating class. Additional remarks were made by Head of School Kenyatte Reid, Head of the High School Alex Darrow ’87, and the faculty speaker—math and English teacher Sam Aronson.

Photos courtesy of Todd France

Interlude

It’s never a goodbye with you,

Only a heartache-

Pumping quarter beats.

You’re the heartbeat of my summer

After all.

You’re the worn out denim

I’m emotionally attached to,

You’re my artificial cherry addiction.

Our last night,

I spent thinking about the future; How will I go on?

I want the august heat to leak through my skin I want to be stuck in the three months

Held between headache and heartache, —The three months I have you.

Our last night,

We exhaled the clouds into sky Elbows propped over the balcony

Knowing our toothbrushes

And footprints

Soon will no longer line up next to each other.

I will once again

Huff and puff in hibernation

Until we reconnect

On a new line,

A new time,

But still the same you.

never a goodbye,

Just an interlude of heartbeats.

By Azalea W., 11th Grade

Artwork by: Julia G., 12th Grade

I used to be an idea I used to be a seed I used to be a wish I used to be the air I used to be a brook I used to be a the dirt but now I am human

By Espe S., 2nd grade

Maxine P.-E., 12th Grade

Senior Dinners with Kenyatte Reid

Head of School Kenyatte Reid and Crystal Granderson-Reid welcomed the senior class at their home for evenings of food, games, and reflection. As part of the gatherings, Kenyatte invited each 12th grader in attendance to share a song that represented their time at Saint Ann’s or helped them through a tough moment. The result—76 unique songs with no repeats—was a powerful testament to the individuality and spirit of the graduating class.

the

as the leaves on the trees turn from rusty brown to green as peas the wooden bench sits on the ground people barely turn a glance it’s like flying solo, all alone right on by passers prance not a voice, not a tone as the years pass by the bench still stands wondering why there are no helping hands the bench stays neglected, many years from now there is no respect, not a single bow as the leaves on the trees turn from rusty brown to green as peas the wooden bench sits on the ground

By Madeleine R., 5th Grade

Tree Houses by Jenny Marshall's 3rd Grade Art Class

wooden bench

Celebrate Saint Ann’s: Liberation

Celebrate Saint Ann’s features notable and innovative voices and talent from across our community. These events bring our community together to celebrate the centrality of the arts at Saint Ann’s.

In February, Saint Ann’s parents/guardians, faculty, and students attended a performance of Liberation, written by Tony Award nominated playwright and Saint Ann’s parent Bess Wohl ’92. Set in Ohio in 1970, Liberation is “a provocative, revealing, and irreverent jolt of a play about what really goes on when women meet behind closed doors.” Following the moving performance, there was a talkback and Q&A with Bess for the Saint Ann’s group facilitated by Roundabout Theatre Company’s Teaching Artists Amy Witting and Jason Jacobs.

Celebrate Saint Ann’s: Drop Dead City

At the end of May, Saint Ann’s parents/guardians and faculty attended a screening of the documentary film Drop Dead City, which was produced and directed by Saint Ann’s parents Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn. Set in New York City in 1975, the movie captures the near collapse of New York City and the people who stepped up to rescue it. History Teacher Liam Flaherty ’85 moderated a fascinating discussion about the making of the film with Peter and Michael.

Because we are the untarnished rings, The freshly sealed baby blue egg carton The untracked lines of crystalline, powder Snow We aren't quite broken.... Just yet.

By Chloé P., 10th Grade

Skating Party

On Tuesday, March 4th, over 600 members of our community gathered at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park for a wonderful evening of ice skating and merriment to celebrate the end of winter. When taking a break from the ice, students and parents/guardians alike enjoyed unlimited hot chocolate and “chilling out” with classmates’ families. For over 40 years, the annual skating party has been a beloved winter tradition.

Sail into Summer Picnic

On Friday, May 30 community members and our youngest students joined us for our first ever Sail into Summer Picnic at Pier 1’s Bridge View Lawn in Brooklyn Bridge Park. We enjoyed warm temperatures and sunny skies. The most exciting element of the picnic was the installation of Torkwase Dyson’s sculpture “Akua ,” which was a welcome surprise to many attendees. Upon entering the Pier 1 lawn, many young picnic goers stood still and exclaimed, “What is THAT?” when noticing the large pavilion planted up on the hill of the typically open lawn.

Monster Ma'am

A ma'am on the moon a munchie chocolate muffin a hungry monster stomping on the moon the moon was shaking the stars were still

By Genesis A., Kindergarten

Artwork by Sam H., 12th Grade

Artwork by Nora M., 12th Grade

Thank You to Our Volunteers!

Our Annual Fund provides critical revenue for our operating budget and helps bridge the gap between net tuition and the full cost of educating a Saint Ann’s student. Every dollar counts, and every gift immediately supports the daily lives of Saint Ann’s students. Throughout the past school year, a group of parent volunteers donated their time and effort in support of the 2024–25 Annual Fund. We are appreciative of their time, energy, and support.

Thank you to the 2024-25 Annual Fund volunteer team!

Chidi Achara

Allison Bosworth ’05

Andrew Cali-Vasquez ’01

Erika Diamond

Meghan Force

Anne Hubert

Rebecca Leighton ’97

Marcella Manoharan ’99

Stephanie Newhouse

Marion Panas ’95

Nisha Atre Richardson

Ben Schippers

Risa Scobie

Amanda Sigouin

Laura Stephens

Aisha Williams

Make a Gift

Annual Fund volunteers gathered in May for a meeting

tour of the Computer Science Center.

Faculty & Staff Announcements

Sarah Drake

Middle and High School Learning Specialist Sarah Drake will now serve as Head of the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC). In this new capacity, Sarah will oversee and manage the day-to-day operations and longer-term projects related to the TLC.

Jen En

Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, Jen En will serve as the Head of the Upper Middle School. Jen comes to Saint Ann’s most recently from York Preparatory School where she served as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Humanities.

Cathy Fuerst

After 29 years as Head of the Preschool, Cathy Fuerst will be taking a planned leave. Michaele Wylde, who has taught in the Preschool since 2003, will serve as Interim Head.

Kari Gray

Kari Gray, who has worked as a psychologist at Saint Ann’s since 2021, will be our next Director of Student Support.

Debra Jeffreys-Glass

Debra Jeffreys-Glass will be the next Head of the Lower School. Debra joins us most recently from The Calhoun School where she served as the Director of Lower School - Elementary, which encompassed third-fifth grades.

Justin Rodriguez

Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, Justin Rodriguez will be the Upper Middle School Student Affairs Coordinator, in addition to being a Health Teacher.

Christine Spadaro

Middle School Learning Specialist Christine Spadaro will now be the Chair of Learning Support, overseeing the work of all the Learning Specialists, as well as assisting with decision making around learning support programming and long-term projects.

Jen Zerneck

Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, Jen Zerneck will serve as the Associate Head of the Upper Middle School. Jen has taught at the School since 2008, and joined the Upper Middle School Office in 2020. She has served as a dean for the sixth and seventh grades, as well as the Interim Head of the Upper Middle School.

Faculty & Staff Happenings

Golnar Adili

Art Teacher Golnar Adili’s work is on display through September at the National Museum for Women in the Arts. Her work is also currently on view in Across Asia: Arts of Asia and the Islamic World, at The Walters Art Museum; as well as part of the exhibition Vico’s Spiral: Half Century of Artists’ Books at the Center for Book Arts.

Jason Asbury

Associate Head of School Jason Asbury completed his last season as Music Director of Grace Chorale of Brooklyn this spring. He began serving as the Assistant Conductor in 1999 for Spiritus et Anima, a chorus started at Saint Ann’s School by James Busby (former faculty) and Linda Kaufman (former faculty) for faculty, parents/guardians, and alumni. In 2006, the chorus merged with Grace Choral Society to become Grace Chorale of Brooklyn. Since becoming Music Director in 2010, Jason led the ensemble through a period of significant growth and innovation. Under his leadership, the chorus expanded to over 135 singers, forged meaningful collaborations with Brooklyn-based choral and orchestral groups, commissioned new works annually, programmed works by historically underrepresented composers, and deepened the chorus’s long standing connection with the Saint Ann’s School community.

Jay Batlle

Art Teacher Jay Batlle’s new “Chef paintings” will be included in a group exhibition at Galerie Cosar, in Düsseldorf, Germany opening June 27th.

Miranda Boodheshwar

This summer, Costume Teacher Miranda Boodheshwar will be the Associate Costume Designer on Twelfth Night for The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park.

Michele Levin

Over the summer, Science and Math Teacher Michele Levin will serve as the Dean of Faculty for the TEAK Fellowship Summer Institute.

Evan Liu

Evan Liu, High School Office Manager, recently released a new album— Sound the Alarms!!!—which he wrote, performed, and recorded in his apartment over the last few years.

Katie Scheele

Oboe and Yoga Teacher Katie Scheele played at Carnegie Hall in May with Ravi Coltrane, Michelle Coltrane, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and many other musicians who performed the music of the late Alice Coltrane. Katie also played the soundtrack to La La Land at Carnegie Hall with Justin Hurwitz, the film’s composer. Earlier this spring, Katie played at the NBC Upfronts at Radio City Music Hall where she collaborated with John Tesh and Seth Macfarlane.

Elena Sheppard

Communications Manager Elena Sheppard’s ’05 debut memoir, The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora, will be published this fall by St. Martin’s Press.

Susie Sokol

Susie Sokol, Second Grade Teacher, was a performer in The Forest of Metal Objects at The Met Cloisters.

Aidan Thomas

This summer Eleventh Grade Dean Aidan Thomas and his wife will be hosting their second annual summer group show featuring alumni of their Columbia County artist residency The Macedonia Institute

The moon is coming you are in the star the star is in the earth the earth is in the moon and the moon is coming soon

you are in the sun the sun is in the star the star is in the moon and the moon is coming soon

By Whit E., 3rd Grade

Welcome New Trustees (2025)

Edwin Jager

Edwin Jager is the parent of three current Saint Ann’s students. He is a managing director of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and, as a member of the firm’s executive committee he jointly supervises D. E. Shaw group’s worldwide businesses. In addition, Edwin is a member of the firm’s risk committee, which is responsible for firmwide risk management and capital allocation. He began his career as an investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. Edwin is a magna cum laude graduate of Yale University, where he earned a dual degree, with honors, in ethics, politics, economics and political science and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). Edwin serves as a member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Trust, which manages a portion of the GSB endowment.

Dev Gandhi

Dev Gandhi is the parent of two current Saint Ann’s students. He is Chief Operating Officer of international Capital Markets at MUFG, the largest financial institution in Japan. Prior to his career in finance, Dev was a project finance attorney at Allen and Overy, helping to structure financing for infrastructure projects in the developing world. He is currently on the board of several non-profit institutions, including Write on Sports, which seeks to engage at-risk youth in the Newark area through theme-based educational curricula. Dev holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Fordham University Law School.

Martin Bell

Martin Bell is the parent of two current Saint Ann’s students. He is a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where he focuses on government and internal investigations, complex civil litigation, and trials. Previously, he served for nearly eleven years as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. He holds undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University. He also serves as a trustee of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Information about our full Board of Trustees is available on our website.

Departures

The Board wishes to acknowledge and thank the following trustees for their steadfast work on behalf of Saint Ann’s School.

Ia Andrews

Ia Andrews spent the last seven years on the Board centering Saint Ann’s students and prioritizing their needs. This was particularly evident in the 2021-22 school year, when Ia served as the Co-Chair of a special working group on Student Support. The group’s purpose was to review the resources and programs that the School offered to support students’ mental and emotional health, and to identify areas where the School’s support could be strengthened. Ia has served on the Financial Aid, Admissions and Enrollment Committee, and on the Nominating and Governance Committee, where she supported new trustees by implementing a mentorship program. We remain grateful for Ia’s unwavering commitment to Saint Ann’s and all our community members.

Carolyn Katz

Carolyn joined the board over a decade ago in 2013. Always an active and engaged member of the Board, Carolyn has served on the Financial Aid, Admissions and Enrollment Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. Carolyn was instrumental in the NYSAIS accreditation self-review process and partnered with community members to review all aspects of governance at Saint Ann’s. Most recently Carolyn served as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and as the Chair of the working group that led the Debevoise investigation. Carolyn spent this past year working diligently with the Board, school leadership, and our community to enact necessary changes that will benefit Saint Ann’s School now and in the future.

Fiona Macintosh ’15

Appointed in 2022, Fiona recently completed her three-year term as a Young Alumni Trustee. The Young Alumni program was designed to enhance the voices of the alumni community and increase a diversity of perspectives on the Board of Trustees. Fiona served on the Investment and Advancement Committees and brought a fresh point of view to both. Fiona also served as a representative of Saint Ann’s at the Annual Dalton Conference, a day-long professional development program for Independent schools in New York City, focused on improving inclusion and promoting diversity, equity, and belonging.

2025–2026 Executive Committee

Mary Watson ’78

Crystal Bobb-Semple

Dan Stone ’92

Tony Charuvastra

Josh Epstein ’95

YOUNG ALUMNI TRUSTEE

On Working at Saint Ann’s and Publishing My First Book

By Elena Sheppard '05, Communications Manager

We call this section of the magazine “Faculty in the Field.” It’s a space for a person who works at Saint Ann’s, a community that’s home to so many working writers and artists, to share a glimpse of the work they do outside of these walls. At Saint Ann’s, I am the Communications Manager; outside of Saint Ann’s, I am publishing my debut memoir (it hits stores September 30). In order to write more about that second part of myself, I thought quite a lot about the history of my relationship to the first.

Saint Ann’s entered my life when I started Kindergarten in 1992. My babysitter would drop me off at Henry Street and when she’d pick me up at the end of the day she’d report that she could hear me crying all the way from the Clark Street station. Maybe an exaggeration, but not much of one—I can still remember my homesick sobs.

In first grade, in what are now the Townhouses on Pierrepont Street, I wrote and illustrated what I considered at the time to be my debut (a few stapled together pages about a chicken and a prince). After that, I never stopped writing—I loved writing marathons, always took Marty Skoble’s poetry seminar, and sat through many a lit mag meeting. By the time I graduated from high school, I wanted to grow up to be a writer.

The book I am publishing this fall, The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora, is a nonfiction narrative that tells the story of the Cuban Revolution and its aftermath through the experience of my family. My mother’s family came to the United States as political exiles in 1960, and for as long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with stories about their lives in Cuba and their early years in Florida. Those stories were my original inspiration for the book. The book’s title comes from a line in a poem by the great Cuban poet José Martí: “A mí denme el bosque eterno.” Or, “Give me the eternal forest.” Those romantic words are etched onto my grandfather’s headstone. To me the eternal forest represents the endlessness of one’s search for their origin story, the distant horizons of the mind’s limits, the desire for an expansiveness of experience in life and in whatever comes after.

My book bends and blends genres—mythology, family lore, political history, transcripts, poetry—and I do think my confidence to produce something so experimental can be drawn back to my time as a kid at Saint Ann’s. I remember being encouraged to explore the boundlessness of creativity; there is no one way to do anything, including write a book. I have taken that life lesson to heart.

From start to finish, this book took me seven years to complete and for all of them, I’ve been working at Saint Ann’s. I began working here part-time while I was in graduate school, and after I completed my MFA I joined Saint Ann’s full time. I fit writing this book into the margins of my Saint Ann’s life—I wrote in the mornings before work, on the weekends, and in the summertime. Sometime in that seven year span I also got married (to a Saint Ann’s alum, no less, Sam Broadwin ’05) and had children.

As I look toward the publication of The Eternal Forest I am filled with equal measures of excitement and anxiety. This manuscript existed as a word document for so long that it is strange to imagine it bound and on bookshelves. Writing this Faculty in the Field has caused me to think with more focus than ever before about

my journey to becoming a writer and where Saint Ann’s has fit in at each step along the way. I may be an adult now, with a published book in the not-too-distant future, but I can very easily conjure that six year old stapling together her book about a chicken and a prince. Saint Ann’s is where my love of writing began and was first fostered, and working here now keeps many versions of me constantly in focus: I am a Saint Ann’s kindergartner on Henry Street learning to read, I am a Saint Ann’s senior crossing the graduation stage, I am a Saint Ann’s alum and staff member publishing her first book.

Clockwise from left: Mapping out the book; Digging through family photos; Receiving the book in the mail.

Staying in Touch with Saint Ann’s School

Dear Alumni,

This fall marks our School’s 60th anniversary and our alumni community is now more than 3,700 strong. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with the School or have stayed close since graduation, there are countless ways to engage with your alma mater:

• Make plans to attend Alumni Day next May 16, 2026. Guests of honor will be the classes ending in 1s and 6s—if you would like to volunteer as a class representative, contact Jacob Goodhart (jgoodhart@ saintannsny.org).

• Keep your contact information up to date (email us at alumni@saintannsny.org to make any changes).

• Give a reading, speak to a class, share your professional expertise and experience. We love visitors!

• Follow our Facebook page (Saint Ann’s School Alumni News), as well as following us on LinkedIn, and Instagram.

• Give a gift! Alumni donations to the Annual Fund are a chance to make contributions in honor or memory of a classmate, a teacher, or anyone who impacted your education.

• Take a look at the most recent Alumni Newsletter by clicking HERE

• Suggest another idea! We’re all ears.

Thank you for keeping Saint Ann’s School’s rich history alive through your influence and input and for carrying on our legacy through all that you do. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions. I look forward to hearing from you!

With love, Jacob Goodhart

Alumni Relations Manager 718.522.1660 Ext. 323 jgoodhart@saintannsny.org

Alumni Day | May 17, 2025

This year’s Alumni Day honored classes ending in 0s and 5s. The day began with Jazz & Poetry, a moving showcase of original songs and poems performed by students and alumni. A lively cocktail party followed, bringing together alumni, faculty, former faculty, and trustees, before milestone reunion classes gathered for celebratory dinners. From start to finish, the day was marked by joy, reunion, and shared memories.

You can see more photos from the night here

Lucy M. (9th grade) and Hope C. (9th grade) performing during Jazz & Poetry

Top row (left to right): Class of 2015; Class of 2010; Class of 2005; Middle row (left to right): Class of 2000; Class of 1995 Bottom row (left to right): Class of 1985; Class of 1980

January BKIS Networking Event

On January 16, Saint Ann’s alumni joined over 100 attendees at the annual Brooklyn Independent School Alumni Networking Event. Co-hosted by five Brooklyn independent schools—Brooklyn Friends School, Poly Prep Country Day School, Saint Ann’s School, The Berkeley Carroll School, and The Packer Collegiate Institute—this annual gathering offers graduates the chance to explore career changes, discover new opportunities, and expand their professional networks. The evening drew 56 Saint Ann’s alumni, representing classes from 1980 to 2020.

Celebrate Saint Ann’s: Curse of the Starving Class with Stella Marcus ’23

On March 25, members of the Saint Ann’s community gathered at the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theater at the Pershing Square Signature Center to see Curse of the Starving Class, starring Stella Marcus ’23. Written by Sam Shepard, the OBIE Award-winning play made its return to the Off-Broadway stage with Stella in a standout role. The performance was followed by a talkback, where audience members had the chance to hear more about the production and its creative process from cast members.

Celebrate Saint Ann’s: Alumni Voices in Cultural Institutions

In April, Saint Ann’s hosted Celebrate Saint Ann’s: Alumni Voices in Cultural Institutions, a compelling on-campus conversation featuring alumni Michael Lee ’98, President of the Museum of Chinese in America, and Vashti DuBois ’79, Founder and Executive Director of The Colored Girls Museum. Moderated by 11th grade students Gracie M. and Sam B., the event explored the role, responsibility, and resilience of cultural institutions in today’s political and social climate.

Pictured from left to right: Vashti DuBois '79, Sam B. (11th grade), Gracie M. (11th grade), Michael Lee '98

Alumni College Panel

To help transition our graduating seniors to college life, College Office Coordinator Celia Frey ’17 moderated a conversation with alumni currently in college. Sachin Vaid-Kwinter ’24, Jacob Avram ’24, Kya Nelson ’24, Lucy Ronda ’24, Olivia Cohen ’24, and Ester Levite ’23 all joined us to weigh in on the conversation

Alumni Auction

Over 50 alumni contributed items to this year’s Alumni Auction, showcasing the incredibly diverse talents of this community. All donations to the auction were made, created, painted, built, invented, designed, written, composed, acted, edited, directed, or owned by Saint Ann’s alumni. Items included a tour of the United Nations with Nick Birnrback ’88, brunch at Russ & Daughters Cafe with Niki Russ Federman ’95, a gift card and personal shopping appointment at OUTLINE Margaret Austin ’12 —and much more! All proceeds supported the Scholarship Fund at Saint Ann’s School. Thank you to all the alumni who donated auction items and to everyone who participated in the online event.

Pictured left to right: Celia Frey ’17, Sachin Vaid-Kwinter ’24, Jacob Avram ’24, Kya Nelson ’24, Lucy Ronda ’24, Olivia Cohen ’24, and Ester Levite ’23

Alex Nam ’21 Recital

In June, an audience of more than 80—made up of alumni, students, parents/guardians, faculty, and staff—gathered at Saint Ann’s for a recital featuring pianist Alex Nam ’21 and cellist Kyle Pinzon. The duo performed works by Beethoven, Rochberg, and Rachmaninoff with striking precision and emotion. Nam will begin a master’s in piano performance at The Juilliard School this fall.

Pictured from left to right: Evan Gardner ’21, Simon Boyer ’21, Alex Nam ’21, Charlie Martin ’21, Nikash Kathuria ’21, Miles Modeste ’21

Pictured from left to right: Kyle Pinzon, Alex Nam ’21

Alumni Gathering in Boston

In May, Saint Ann’s hosted a gathering for alumni currently attending college in the Boston area. Held to reconnect with our young graduates, the event brought together students from Harvard, Tufts, Boston University, and Boston College. It was a joy to hear about their experiences beyond Brooklyn and see how their Saint Ann’s spirit continues to shape their journeys.

Black Alumni Gathering 2025

On June 13, 2025, trustees Ashley Mathis ’08 and Chinyere Odim ’13 hosted a Black Alumni Happy Hour at DEIA in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Alumni representing graduating classes from 1999 to 2019 gathered to reconnect with old friends, forge new bonds, and celebrate the enduring spirit of Saint Ann’s.

Pictured from left to right: Rufus Burnes Heath ’23, Lily Levitsky ’24, Henry Aronofsky ’24, Gabriella Begleiter ’21. Also in attendance not picture James Best ’24, Max Lupoff ’24

Pictured from left to right: Will Alexis ’05, Kimberlean Donis ’19, Corinne Bobb-Semple ’19, Steven Johnson ’19, Sélah Reid ’19, Gabrielle Mathis ’12

Artwork by: Lina R., 10th Grade

Alumni Collaboration: Katie Merz ’78 and Paul Hamburger ’81

Katie Merz ’78 recently became the first artist to collaborate with everyday products company Simplehuman. She worked with the brand to reimagine five of their most recognizable items by adding her unmistakable Brooklyn-centric aesthetic. Simplehuman Creative Director, Paul Hamburger ’81, helped to coordinate this collaboration. In a conversation with Saint Ann’s Alumni Relations Manager Jacob Goodhart , Katie and Paul shared some Saint Ann’s memories and a little bit about the process of working together on this latest project. The conversation has been edited and condensed.

Jacob Goodhart (JG): When did you two meet and what do you remember about one another from your time at Saint Ann’s?

Katie Merz (KM ): Paul would wear a red bandana around his head and he had white blonde hair that was really long.

Paul Hamburger (PH): I was good friends with Amy (Merz ’81), Katie’s younger sister, and I would go over to her house from time to time. [Katie] would make fun of us or say hi and split. You were too cool for us. But I do remember Katie’s childhood home—it’s still a beautiful piece of architecture designed by their parents. One of my birthdays, we had a party for me in your house.

JG: How did growing up in Brooklyn and at Saint Ann’s in the ’70s and ’80s affect your creative and professional pursuits?

PH: Saint Ann’s was a great education—I think it was looser and less structured than now. They fed us a lot of really great, eclectic information. It made me a good communicator, taught me to be curious. I remember a class called “Alienation in American Literature.” We read things like The Sot-Weed Factor. At a young age, that kind of class made you curious about the world.

KM: I came from Catholic school, so Saint Ann’s was a little bit difficult for me at first, but it also felt like home. There was something about self-responsibility. My parents had the same attitude: it’s up to you to figure s*** out. I took Bob Swacker’s (former faculty) Chinese History class, and we read Zhuangzi. I never even read fiction before that, but it made total sense to me because of the way he taught it.

PH: There were so many great teachers who had such great ideas about how to inspire kids.

JG: Katie, how did that education affect your approach to your art?

KM: If you’re an artist, you’re kind of on your own. In my family and at Saint Ann’s, you weren’t alone, but

you had to keep making yourself go forward.

PH: There was no paint-by-numbers traditional path to follow. At Saint Ann’s, you were taught to think differently and do your own thing.

KM: And anyone that I have gone to school with is so familiar to me, even though I haven’t really talked to them in 50 years. I have another friend Eric Williams ’77—Eric and I were shy in high school. I remember watching him play basketball, but I never spoke a word to him. And then he called me nine years ago and we met for coffee and it was like he was my old friend. It’s this strange sort of time travel…you’re cut from the same cloth in some way.

PH: Such a shared experience.

JG: Paul, you’ve been at Simplehuman nearly since the beginning. Why this artist collaboration with Katie now?

PH: The mission of Simplehuman is to elevate everyday objects not just functionally, but emotionally. A trash can, which used to be an eyesore, becomes a point of pride. They’re almost architectural. What better way to show them as objects of beauty than by collaborating with artists? I was aware of Katie’s work and felt like it would translate really well.

JG: What’s the next frontier for you both?

KM: I did giant political ink drawings after the 2016 election in my Brooklyn studio. I just took [them out again] and thought, “Oh, these should be wheatpastes.” I did a wall in Paris last year and just came back with these giant scrolls and put these wheatpastes up on this wall as a giant collage with other artists. That’s what I’m doing here now, as an experiment. When I was really young—probably at Saint Ann’s—I used to do political cartoons in a little book. I just never did that in public. But now, it’s busting out.

PH: I’m semi-retired now. I’m doing larger, strategic thinking for where the brand’s going and how we’re communicating that.

KM: Woah, I can’t believe you have such a left-sided brain.

PH: Yeah [laughs]. I wouldn’t say I’m structured, like, at all. I get away with a lot.

KM: Oh, I’m the opposite. Everything is very meticulous.

PH: You find a way to do things on your terms. That’s something Saint Ann’s taught me. Saint Ann’s taught me that I can follow my own path and figure out how best to achieve things—without having to follow traditional rules.

Omri Gal ’15

I never thought I’d end up in the arts or sports worlds (or the restaurant industry, for that matter). But for the past seven years, I’ve been building my non-profit, Design FC, which brings together the worlds of design and sport to give youth in under-resourced communities life-changing creative opportunities. Our vision is to build a creative movement for impact within the design, sport, media, and tech industries, and provide youth with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to pursue their creative dreams.

Working alongside professional athletes, teams, major sports brands, and international non-profits, Design FC has brought creative programming/projects to life across 16 cities in the US and UK. We’re currently expanding our design after-school programs nationally and are gearing up for what should be our biggest year yet as the World Cup comes to the US in 2026.

Beyond Design FC, I co-own a restaurant (Bricolage) in Brooklyn with my family, and have been operating it with them since early 2020.

Ilana Harris-Babou ’09

For the past few years, I’ve been an Assistant Professor of Time-Based Media at Wesleyan University. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching several (more recent) Saint Ann’s alumni. I believe that every student, no matter their field of study, needs basic video literacy to be an informed and empowered citizen. This literacy is cultivated through active, thoughtful practice.

The thirteen years I spent at Saint Ann’s shape how I approach teaching every day. I’m especially influenced by the spirit of conviviality and community my teachers shared. I was lucky to learn from Angelo Bellfatto (art faculty) from kindergarten through 12th grade. His careful attentiveness to each student and sensitivity to group dynamics continues to guide my approach. Ruth Chapman’s (former faculty) passion for art history and her dedication outside of the classroom showed me that making art is not just about refining a personal voice, but about placing oneself within a larger historical context.

I’ll begin a sabbatical this fall to focus on my creative practice. My art mines the expectations of the American Dream: the ever-unreliable notion that hard work will lead to upward mobility and economic freedom. My series, Reparation Hardware was recently acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago. I’ll debut new videos and sculptures at the Frieze London art fair this October, and continue working on public art commissions on the East Coast and in the Midwest.

Rebecca Davis O’Brien ’02

When people ask me if I always knew I wanted to be a journalist, I usually make a joking reference to a newspaper I co-founded in second grade at Saint Ann’s. We called it Stinky Business. It was 1992, and our small staff in Lucy and Liz’s class chronicled the re-election campaign of President George “Tush” (very funny, obviously) and the struggles of various New York sports teams (in the business, this is what we call an evergreen).

So, yes, I had an early instinct to write the news — to interrogate the world around me and explain what I had found. This instinct has guided me as I make my way in an embattled and complicated industry, writing big stories and winning major awards, but also struggling through fallow periods in which I worry that I’ll never conduct a successful interview again. (I write this from maternity leave, thinking about how I’ll approach the labor and workforce beat at The New York Times when I return.)

When I think about why I was drawn to this work so early, and why I stuck with it, it is clear that Saint Ann’s played a critical role. At eight years old, I understood that my perspective mattered; in high school, when I edited The Ram, nobody suggested that it wasn’t my right to ask difficult questions, or to publish unpopular opinions. Saint Ann’s taught me how to be a skeptic, it taught me how to write, and it gave me resources to do the work. But mostly, Saint Ann’s taught me to trust myself.

Julia Beaver ’97

My interest in science began early and was nurtured in high school by inspiring teachers like Sarah Richards (faculty) and Dana Weeks (former faculty). By 11th grade, I knew I wanted to pursue studies in biology and genetics, and at Princeton I became a pre-med molecular biology major.

After college, and a brief stint as a professional squash player, I attended medical school at UPenn, and completed an internal medicine internship, residency, and oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins. The field of oncology was always of interest to me, even back in high school where I remember first learning about the genetic underpinning of cancer.

I practiced medicine afterwards for an additional six years and also worked at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration where I oversaw drug approvals for patients with solid tumors. However, I wanted to be closer to the science and more proactive on the development side. I joined Treeline Biosciences about two and a half years ago, heading development and regulatory strategy, and working to advance our drugs (mainly oncology targeted therapies) through clinical trials. I also have the pleasure of working at Treeline Biosciences with another Saint Ann’s alum (Sara Slifka Shulman ’03, VP Pre-Clinical Operations).

Saint Ann's fostered a love of scientific learning, inquisition, and exploration of the unknown that still serves me well today. I continue to learn in my role and enjoy adapting to scientific and clinical challenges with patient unmet need in mind.

Jethro Miller ’88

After considering it for a long time, last year I made the leap to set up my own consulting firm in the nonprofit fundraising space. The firm is creatively named Jethro Miller & Associates. I’ve already had the opportunity to work with a variety of different organizations—from a NYC-based climate organization to a national health equity advocacy group. Previously, I spent ten years as the Chief Development Officer for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, leading all national fundraising for the charitable and advocacy organizations, as well as an electoral Super PAC. During that time, my team and I raised more than $3 billion. Prior to that, I worked at the American Red Cross, leading national principal and major gifts fundraising, and also as a consultant for organizations like the ACLU, Rotary International, and UNICEF USA as well as an opera company, a homeless shelter, and a hospital.

Artwork by Mateo Velikonja, 10th Grade

I ran all the way to school excited because I had a really good poem. But I forgot it, and all I can remember is a light bulb and it is making my life difficult

By Una S., 4th Grade

5th Grade Artwork Photo by Todd France

"Head of the Madonna" by: Helena A.-K., 12th Grade

IN MEMORIAM

Claire Murphy ’17

With profound sadness, we share that Claire Murphy ’17 passed away on February 14, 2025 due to serious injuries sustained from an avalanche while working as a member of the ski patrol at Mammoth Mountain in California. Claire graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Neuroscience and received her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. Before pursuing a career as a social worker, Claire moved to California to fulfill her lifelong dream of being on the ski patrol. Her friends and family remember her for her loving, fierce, and strong willed nature.

Corey Lawrence ’87

Elizabeth Corey Lawrence, known to her friends and family as Corey, passed away on February 18 at age 55 after a battle with cancer. Corey loved nature and the outdoors. She was fascinated by birds and found deep meaning and happiness watching and helping the ones that she found near her home on Centre Island, especially the ospreys and eagles whose beauty so inspired her. She is survived by her parents Hunt and Betsy Lawrence, her husband David Halliwill, her brother Bryan Lawrence ’84, her sister-in-law Gillian Zoe Segal, and her stepsons Corbin and Justin Halliwill.

Michael McGarry

Former Faculty

Michael McGarry, who taught science at Saint Ann’s from 1990–1994, passed away on April 30, 2025, after a battle with ALS. A devoted scholar of spiritual studies, Mike most recently ran a meditation center in Berkeley, CA. To quote his obituary, and one of the many people whose lives he affected, “We are fortunate to have been touched by an individual singular in every possible quality. Kindness. Generosity. Intellect. Mike has taught so many so much.”