Faculty News

NEW POSITIONS

Chet Childress is the new director of counseling. Beginning his 27th year at Trinity, 14 as college counselor, Childress will continue to guide Trinity students to discover their best path after Trinity.

Adam Lonon is the new assistant athletic director. A graduate of VMI, with a BA in economics and business, London has been the Trinity girls basketball coach since 2017 and was the athletic department’s site manager in 2020-21.

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RETIRING FACULTY

José Santiago has retired after 17 years at Trinity, where he began as a Spanish teacher in 2004, but spent the last 14 years as the “go-to guy” in the technology department. Over his tenure, Santiago and the tech team oversaw a complete redesign of the technology infrastructure: “from basic things like connecting all the buildings with fiber optic cables and installing latest-technology ethernet connections throughout the campus, to advanced WiFi networks and fast, reliable backbone servers, all connected to the fastest internet speeds available in this region.” Santiago departs with a sense of pride on how the community rallied to tackle the challenges of the pandemic, recalling “the feeling of being respected and empowered to make significant contributions to the overall organization.” What’s next? “Traveling, when possible, and enjoying the company of Janet, the children and the grandchildren,” he said. “Every day is Saturday!”

FACULTY DISCOVERY AWARD HONOREES

Two teachers have been selected by the board of trustees to receive the 2020-21 Faculty Discovery Award.

Rick Hamlin ’96, social studies teacher, will travel to Liverpool, England to fulfill his lifelong dream of attending a professional soccer game at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium. “When I was in high school, it was very hard to follow European soccer in America,” Hamlin wrote. “It was rarely shown on TV, but once a week there was a 30-minute highlight show on the now defunct Home Team Sports network. From watching that show, I became a passionate fan of Liverpool Football Club. The club’s tradition, style of play, and working class roots all appealed to me. Ever since then, I have dreamed of attending a real game at Liverpool’s storied home ground, Anfield.”

“While I realize that the Discovery Award isn’t intended as professional development, I am sure that my soccer coaching would benefit from seeing the sport played at the highest level, Hamlin concluded. “This rich experience would certainly check off the number 1 wish on my “bucket list.”

Betsy Reid, English teacher, and her husband will travel to Spain (his first trip to Europe ever) to visit one of the Spanish chaperones that Reid met in 2017 on Trinity’s exchange trip to Madrid. Reid and her family subsequently hosted Silvia Diaz-Rincon on the group’s exchange trip to the states and the two families developed a lasting bond.

“In spending almost a month by her side, she served as a mentor, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend… I learned so much about life and myself in that time,” Reid wrote. “In addition to even more self-reflection and more wonderful experiences in Spain, I’ll have a chance to reconnect with my dear friend, whom I never would have met if I hadn’t chaperoned our students to Madrid.” Reid said the biggest lesson that she would share with students and the school community after the trip is that “opportunities for life and learning that can come to you if you open your heart to new relationships, open your mind to cultural experiences, and practice saying “Yes.’”

Torey Burston ’12 will assist with campus safety and security. Burston earned a degree in Homeland Security from VCU, where he also played men’s basketball.

Tom Condon is the new photography teacher. Condon received his MFA from VCU in photography and film. He later taught at VCU, University of Richmond and the Visual Arts Center. Most recently, he has been teaching at Penland School of Craft in the mountains of North Carolina.

Nadia Hassan is joining the world language department as a Spanish teacher. She has BA in Spanish and Latin American studies from VCU. Before coming to Trinity, Nadia taught at James River and Powhatan High School, where she also served at the head of the world language department.

Olivia McGuckin is Trinity’s newest college counselor. She has a BA from Randolph-Macon College, where she has also worked in their admission office for nine years, most recently as associate director.

Joe Pankey ’13 is joining the technical support team full-time after assisting part-time during the 2020-21 school year. Pankey attended the University of South Carolina and Radford University.

Grace Parker is joining the faculty as a Spanish teacher. She recently earned her master’s in Hispanic studies from the University of Georgia. She received her undergraduate degree from Lynchburg College and while there studied abroad in Costa Rica.

Jennifer Parker will join the visual arts department to teach drawing and painting courses. A contemporary painter, her commissioned portraits and paintings are in many homes and collections nationally. She is also the parent of three Trinity alums (Sage ’12, Sam ’16, Gabe ’19) as well as a former member of the board of trustees.

Maria Puccio will teach chemistry. Puccio earned her BA in chemistry and biology from Longwood University and a PhD in chemistry from George Washington University. She comes to Trinity from Ferrum College in Ferrum, VA.

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FACULTY/STAFF MILESTONES

Torey Burston ’12 and Victoria Le were engaged to be married this summer. Torey and Victoria are planning a small ceremony in December at Quirk Hotel in Richmond, Virginia with a larger celebration at a later date.

Malcolm Bell was one of 30 coaches across the country chosen to participate in the NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit on June 22 and 23. The summit gave participants the opportunity to collaborate with NFL head coaches, coordinators, and general managers as a way to help move minority coaches forward in the business. “I was the only private quarterback consultant invited this year and felt extremely fortunate to be a part of it,” Bell said of the opportunity. “Despite the summit being held virtually this year, I learned so much that I can implement right away into my coaching.”

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TRUSTEE TRANSITION

Members of Trinity’s Board of Trustees recently completed their terms of service in June 2021. We appreciate their leadership, guidance and dedication to the Titan community. Leaving the board are Leesa Witty Gregory ’93,

Kelly Johnson, Elizabeth Kelley, Robert T.

Methven, Beth Nash and Jennifer Parker.

Joining the board are new elected members, R.

Braxton Hill IV, Jana P. McQuaid, Tia Walker

and Sam Williams ’08. Erin Bacon will serve as this year’s Trinity Parents Association President.

Serving as officers for the coming year are Charles T. Hill, Jr. ’98, chair; Chris Ellis ’81 as vice-chair; John G. Mills ’90 as treasurer; and Cynthia Coleman as secretary.

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