Upon graduating from Louisiana State University with a double BS in Chemistry and Mathematics, Andrew Galatas moved out to the West Coast to obtain his MS in Physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He became a physics instructor at Santa Cruz this past winter, after being a teaching assistant there for years. He also tutors and worked for the ADVANCE Program for Young Scholars in Louisiana. He now joins the University science faculty, where he will be teaching Physics and Chemistry.
Faculty Meeting Top row, left to right: Rafael Romero, Christina Donahue, Susee Witt, Jeff Bialik, Dara Northcroft. Bottom row: Rochelle Devault, Kristin Landowski, Adam Ahmed, Andrew Galatas. Not pictured: Elizabeth Schaffernoth. Photo by Anne Gamrin Pantelick ’85, P ’19
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his fall, University High School welcomes ten new members to the ranks of our faculty and staff and, as usual, this dynamic crew embodies a host of experience and expertise.
A seasoned English instructor, Adam Ahmed arrives at UHS after years of teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was also a pedagogy mentor, coaching graduate students on their teaching practice, and a mentor with the school’s Berkeley Connect program, helping first-year students to adjust successfully to life at a large, bustling research institution. Adam received his BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and his PhD in English at Berkeley. Jeff Bialik joined us on campus this summer as University’s new chief financial officer and chief operating officer, replacing Jim Chestnut, who retired after more than two decades with UHS. Jeff has provided financial leadership for numerous institutions, including Dominican College, Golden Gate University, and,
most recently, Catholic Charities, where he was the executive director. Jeff has also taught at numerous business schools, including the University of Notre Dame. He has a BA in Business Administration from the University of Washington and a MBA from the Haas School of Business at Berkeley. Rochelle Devault joins the Science Department after teaching a host of biology courses at Rocky Hills School and Classical High School, both in Providence, RI. Rochelle is also a committed volunteer, working on behalf of organizations such as AmeriCorps as part of their Ocean State Environmental Education Collaborative. She was also the overnight programs coordinator at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence. Rochelle graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Biology and received her Master’s in Teaching Secondary Science (Biology) from Brown University. After five summers on the staff of Summerbridge, Christina Donahue joins
that team as associate director of academics. Prior to joining Summerbridge, Christina worked as a public high school English teacher in the North Bay. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Journalism, from Northwestern University, and her master’s in Education from Dominican University of California. She is passionate about educational equity and access, making Summerbridge the perfect fit.
Kristin Landowski is a visiting fine arts instructor teaching ceramics. She thrives on creating utilitarian forms that connect community, as well as throwing vessels over three feet tall. She has over 12 years teaching experience. She graduated with a MFA in Ceramics & Interdisciplinary Studies as well as an MA in Visual and Critical Studies from the California College of the Arts. She received her BFA the from University of Wisconsin: Stevens Point. After leading schools in the East Bay for 20 years, Dara Northcroft arrived on campus in July to become the new executive director of the Summerbridge program. See page 4 for more about Dara.
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The Graduating Class The following faculty and staff retirements this past spring marked major milestones for our community, as these four individuals dedicated a combined 96 (!) years of service and immeasurable dedication to the UHS community. Jim, Ina, Diane, and Rae Ann will always have our gratitude, and we hope to see them back on campus soon. Jim Chestnut Chief Financial Officer 22 years Ina Clark IT Development Manager/ Database Administrator 18 years
Diane Schroeder Associate Athletic Director/ Instructor of Physical Education 40 years Rae Ann Sines Instructor of Science 16 years
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