Major(s): Government
What is your current role? What was your journey in arriving there?
I am the Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at The Frederick Gunn School. I am also the head football coach, a dorm parent, and history teacher. As of 2016, I’ve been an educator here for a total of seven school years, but I started out as a teaching fellow for the first three years. I also spent 7 summers working as a student advisor at The Wolfeboro Camp School. At Wolfeboro, I received a lot of practical understanding of the adolescent mind from the social, athletic, and academic perspectives. I come from a family of educators, so I was bound to end up in a classroom no matter what else I decided to do with my life. However, I’m glad I started education when I did.
What do you enjoy about your work? What do you struggle with?
I enjoy the genuine connections you have with colleagues, students, and visitors. There is a lot of room for healthy debates, discussions, and lessons learned with love. I am thankful for how my administration has empowered me to keep being me, which helps the school in the long run. The one major struggle with all this (specifically with a private boarding school), is that you live where you work, and you work where you live. Being in this space teaches you a lot about self-care and personal development, and how you see yourself in a community.
Do you have any advice for students thinking about entering your industry?
Education is the occupational sector that has received the most scrutiny but is one of the most absolutely necessary jobs for communities. This is an industry where you can see the ways you improve, and see the ways that you slack. All your experiences end up making one amazing person at the end of the day, and it’s always good to reflect on these moments with other educators, friends, and students. It can sometimes be a thankless job, but when you see the kids achieve their wildest dreams, or grow, or learn something new, or feel genuine excitement about a thing, it all becomes worth it.
How did your time at Wesleyan influence your career choice/journey?
As an active member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), I learned to think about community and how I can use my influence as an athlete to impact those around me for the better. Visiting the children at MacDonough Elementary School empowered me to see children as integral uplifts in the Middletown area. I wanted to imagine how great these students would be now that they see more people visiting them who want to see them thrive.
Updated as of September 29th, 2023
