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APPOINTMENTS
ANNOUNCED
THOMAS J. FLEMMA HAS BEEN NAMED A S S O C I AT E H E A D O F S C H O O L A N D D E A N O F FA C U LT Y. THE APPOINTMENT WAS ANNOUNCED BY KEVIN HICKS, CURRENTLY THE ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL AND DEAN OF FACULTY AND HEAD OF SCHOOL-ELECT. BOTH DR. HICKS AND DR. FLEMMA BEGIN THEIR NEW DUTIES ON JULY 1.
Flemma, who joined the faculty in 1999 as an instructor in history, was appointed Associate Dean of Faculty in 2011. In that role, Hicks noted in his announcement, Flemma “has demonstrated the same enthusiasm, ability, and creativity he has brought to all of the many different positions he has held at Hotchkiss.” Flemma received his B.A. from Stanford University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. He has taught AP U.S. History, U.S. History, Humanities, and electives on the 1960s and African-American history. Since his arrival at Hotchkiss, he has been the assistant and head coach of JV Girls Hockey. He also served as an assistant coach for Varsity Football for eight years. Tom has lived in Dana, Wieler, and now Edelman, where he is currently the Dorm Head. He and his wife Diana, a counselor in health services, have two children, Bella and Max. Flemma chaired his department for five years and helped develop the Humanities program. During his time as chair, he received a fellowship with NAIS for aspiring school leaders, during which time he made extensive studies of faculty evaluation and professional development strategies. As a member of the Hotchkiss Plan steering committee, he helped to draft the early versions of the Plan and co-chaired the residential life task force that emerged from it. As Associate Dean of Faculty, Flemma managed faculty housing, organized new faculty orientation, oversaw the hiring and supervision of the Teaching Fellows, directed the Faculty Colloquium, and served on the School Leadership Team. He also helped to create the Penn Residency Master’s in Teaching Program and directs the History and Culture of Boarding School portion of the Fellows’ coursework. In his capacity as Associate Dean of Faculty, he has
served on the Academic Matters, Building and Grounds, and Student Life subcommittees of the Board of Trustees. “I’m tremendously excited about both the opportunities and challenges ahead,” said Flemma. “I’m eager to propel our ongoing school conversations about teaching and learning. And I look forward to fostering collaboration amongst teachers and across academic departments, building on some of the strides we've already taken as a school. I’m always interested in hiring, especially trying to expand and diversify the pool of candidates we have to choose from. In these and other areas I hope to support our faculty personally and challenge them professionally. Serving them and the students is a real privilege,” Flemma said.
PAUL OBERTO WILL BE ASSOCIATE DEAN
Paul Oberto has been named Associate Dean of Faculty, succeeding Tom Flemma in that post, with his duties beginning this summer. Oberto is currently the William Elfers’37 Chair, head of the Science Department and instructor in biology and chemistry. Flemma said of him, at the time of the appointment, “Paul’s many years of experience at Hotchkiss and deep knowledge of the place will serve us all well as he tackles some of the important duties of this position.” Oberto received a B.A. in biology from Hamilton College, graduating cum laude with departmental honors. He earned his M.S. in natural science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He joined the Hotchkiss faculty in 2000 and became co-head of science in 2006. He has taught various levels of high school biology and chemistry, and developed and taught elective courses for seniors in biotechnology and genetics. Oberto assisted in leading a department curricular review that resulted in the design of a two-year science “core” curriculum for all ninth- and tenthgraders. He is head coach of Varsity Baseball and lives in Garland Dorm with his children, Quillan and Rosie.
S p r i n g
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