The energy and enthusiasm at the start of the academic year can be attributed at least in part to the arrival of new faculty and staff members, who bring fresh ideas, interests, and experiences to Middlesex.
Having previously taught in the Boston area and in Dublin, Ireland, where she earned her Ph.D. at Trinity College, Katelyn Ferguson has joined the English department, lending a hand as a coach of JV field hockey and track. Carmelo Larose is also teaching English while serving as the School’s director of community and multicultural development, responsible for both the community service program and multicultural programming at Middlesex.
One of three new members of the math department, Phil Caspar previously taught at Kent School, Episcopal Academy (PA), and most recently, Pomfret School; he is coaching cross-country and track. Kevin Mahoney comes to Middlesex from New Hampton School and knows boarding school life well, having grown up on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy. With extensive college and high school coaching experience, he is assisting the girls’ soccer and JV boys’ lacrosse programs. Amanda Cimini has just completed her M.A. in mathematics education at Columbia University’s Teachers College and is assisting with coaching girls’ basketball and volleyball.
Taking on both chemistry and physics classes at Middlesex, Alex Rawson has returned to the U.S. after six years of teaching the International Baccalaureate programme (IB) in Istanbul, Turkey, and Basel, Switzerland. An avid sportsman, he will assist with coaching boys’ soccer and JV basketball.
Enriching the arts division, Marcus Rabb is a 20-year veteran teacher who has performed with such notables as Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Joe Henderson, and Wynton Marsalis. Along with directing the Jazz Ensemble, he is assisting with coaching girls’ soccer. In the realm of visual arts, Megan Morrison ’09 has returned to Middlesex after earning her B.A. in studio art and Spanish at Carleton College. She is teaching drawing and ceramics, as well as assisting with the girls’ soccer and tennis programs.
Tory Arnold ’08 also rejoins her alma mater in a new role, applying her online and event marketing skills to her work as the alumni office’s development and marketing associate. Through her own experiences – and the stories of her father (David ’75) and great-uncle (legendary teacher and coach Peter Arnold) – Tory thoroughly understands Middlesex and will coach girls’ JV lacrosse next spring.
As the application cycle begins again in earnest, Admissions Officer Matt Rawson is interviewing prospective families and also serving as a coach of football and JV boys’ lacrosse. Emma Rasmussen has stepped in as an assistant athletic director, eminently suited for the post as an accomplished athlete, coach, and former sports information director for Simmons College. She is coaching field hockey and girls’ ice hockey.
New administrative staff members include Brenda Nankanja, whohas ably taken over as the School’s database administrator. Previously a system/network administrator for Multiprofessional Consultants for the past five years, Brenda is also familiar with the demands of academic institutions, as she initially served as the data manager at Uganda’s Kampala Junior Academy. Deana Bandilla brings 14 years of experience as an executive assistant to her position as the assistant to Head of School Kathy Giles. Most recently, Deana provided administrative support to the president and CEO of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, managing everything from daily office operations to special events. And finally, Mary Canniff knows Middlesex very well through her sons: Nathan ’12, Ben ’15, and Jack ’18. Now, she is applying this comprehensive knowledge and her extensive administrative experience to managing the School’s store, also lending support to the business office as needed. With such a strong group supporting the School’s mission, the 2014-15 academic year is off to a great start.