Directory

Academics

Julia Maurer

Associate Head of School for School Life

maurerj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6315

BIO

Julia Maurer

Associate Head of School for School Life

maurerj@mercersburg.edu

Dr. Julia Stojak Maurer graduated from Mercersburg Academy in 1990. She joined the faculty in 2001 and has served as chair of the mathematics department, developed the school’s robotics program, and was appointed associate academic dean (2009) and academic dean (2010) before becoming Mercersburg’s first assistant head of school for academic affairs in 2015. She was appointed in 2019 as associate head of school for school life. Her doctoral work focused on developing novel nondestructive methodologies for analyzing critical titanium aerospace components. She presented her research at several global materials engineering conferences, including the Ninth World Titanium Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the SAMPE Conference in Tokyo, Japan. In addition, she was a consultant and programming analyst at Andersen Consulting in Cincinnati and a contract researcher for Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Julie received numerous academic awards including the Clare Booth Luce Graduate Fellowship, the Ohio Space Grant Consortium Doctoral Fellowship, the Dayton Area Graduate Studies Institute Ph.D. Scholarship, and the International Outstanding Graduate Student Award from SAMPE. She and her husband, fellow faculty member Matt Maurer, have five children: Emma ’18, Will ’20, Michael ’22, Nathalie ’23, and Mary.

Jennifer Smith

Dean of Academics

smithj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-1483

BIO

Jennifer Smith

Dean of Academics

smithj@mercersburg.edu

Jennifer Miller Smith was the valedictorian of her Mercersburg graduating class (1997) and returned to the school in 2008 to teach science and math. She was appointed dean of academics in 2019, and had previously served as head of the science department. Jen has been the school’s head diving coach, worked with Mercersburg Outdoor Education (MOE), and served as faculty adviser to the John Marshall Literary Society. She was the 2010-2011 recipient of the school’s Zern Excellence in Teaching Award. Jen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago. Her husband, fellow faculty member Doug Smith, is the school archivist and head golf coach and previously served as the dormitory dean of Keil Hall. The Smiths live off campus with their two children, Cole ’23 and Nora ’24.

John David Bennett

Dean of Curricular Innovation and Director of Springboard

bennettj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6197

BIO

John David Bennett

Dean of Curricular Innovation and Director of Springboard

bennettj@mercersburg.edu

John David Bennett teaches English, directs the Springboard senior capstone program, and is Mercersburg Academy’s first dean of curricular innovation. He previously served as head of the English department and coached softball (winning the 2012 Pennsylvania independent-school state championship), boys’ cross country, and junior varsity boys’ basketball. He has also sponsored Four on the Floor, the school’s swing dance society. John David came to Mercersburg from the Talented and Gifted Magnet High School in Dallas (four times named Newsweek’s “Best Public High School in America”), where he taught English and coached debate. He was an Advanced Placement Lead Teacher for the Dallas Independent School District and is now a consultant for the National Math and Science Initiative. John David graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington and Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. He and his wife, Denise, are the parents of three children: Cameron Rogers ’12, Olivia Grace Bennett ’19, and Augie Bennett ’24.

Tricia Crocker

Springboard Faculty

crockert@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Tricia Crocker

Springboard Faculty

crockert@mercersburg.edu

Tricia Crocker formally joined Mercersburg as director of community engagement in 2018 after four years at the James Madison University Counseling Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Rhode Island. She arrived at Mercersburg in 2015 with her husband, fellow faculty member Sean Crocker. Tricia and Sean live on campus with their three boys.

Amanda Cunningham

Administrative Assistant for the Office of Academics

cunninghama@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6147

BIO

Amanda Cunningham

Administrative Assistant for the Office of Academics

cunninghama@mercersburg.edu

Amanda Cunningham joined Mercersburg in 2021 as an administrative assistant in the Academic Office. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Saint Francis University. Amanda previously worked at Central Fulton School District and served as a foster-care case manager for a nonprofit foster care and adoption agency. She lives in Fulton County with her husband, Logan.

Sarah Elwood

Administrative Coordinator for Academics

elwoods@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6142

BIO

Sarah Elwood

Administrative Coordinator for Academics

elwoods@mercersburg.edu

Sarah Elwood joined the Academy as the administrative assistant to the Academic Office, Chapel, and Burgin Center in 2019 before accepting her current role as Administrative Coordinator. She completed her GCSEs and NVQs while attending school in England and attended Louisiana State University. Before coming to the Academy, Sarah was a stay-at-home mother to her three children: Audrey, Felicity, and Ezra.

Rick Hendrickson

Dean of Experiential Programs

hendricksonr@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6151

BIO

Rick Hendrickson

Dean of Experiential Programs

hendricksonr@mercersburg.edu

Rick Hendrickson came to Mercersburg in 1993 as an English teacher and head wrestling coach. He became the school’s first director of summer programs in 1997 and was named director of athletics in 2008. Rick was appointed dean of experiential programs in 2020. Mercersburg’s wrestling program enjoyed unprecedented success in his 15 years at the helm; Rick was honored at the 2008 National Prep Wrestling Tournament with the Neil Buckley Outstanding Service Award. He has also coached girls’ lacrosse, worked with strength and performance programming and as a whitewater kayaking instructor, and currently serves as an assistant football coach. Rick has also been a trip leader for travel programs to Europe, Central America, and within the U.S. He is president of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association and past commissioner of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League and the Independent-Parochial School League. Rick is a graduate of West Liberty State College and West Virginia University; he and his wife, Amy (a longtime employee in the Business Office) live on campus and are the parents of Jennifer ’03, Rachael ’06, and Gabriel ’19.

Margaret Maciulla

Director of Learning Services

maciullam@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6327

BIO

Margaret Maciulla

Director of Learning Services

maciullam@mercersburg.edu

Margaret Maciulla earned bachelor’s degrees in government and psychology from Georgetown University (where she was recruited to play lacrosse), followed by a master’s degree summa cum laude in special education from Hood College. She taught special education in the D.C. metro area for nearly a decade in both public and independent schools before earning a J.D. cum laude from George Mason University, where she was also a research assistant and a teaching fellow. Margaret practiced corporate law for Squire, Sanders, and Dempsey LLP. She arrived at Mercersburg in 2006 with her husband, fellow faculty member Frank Betkowski, and became the school’s director of learning services in 2010. She is also an assistant coach for the junior varsity girls’ soccer team. Margaret and Frank have four children: Michael ’19, Maggie ’21, and twins Francis ’23 and Charlie ’24.

Emily Parsons

Director of Community Engagement and History Faculty

parsonse@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6188

BIO

Emily Parsons

Director of Community Engagement and History Faculty

parsonse@mercersburg.edu

Emily Parsons grew up in Mercersburg; her father, Sonny Parsons ’59, was a Mercersburg graduate and owned and ran a pharmacy in the borough for many years. While in college, Emily worked as a research intern in Washington, DC, where she became intimately acquainted with the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the National Building Museum. Emily teaches history and previously served as the dormitory dean in Fowle Hall. She was Mercersburg’s first director of Springboard (a capstone experience for members of the senior class), and also taught The Global Food Chain (a Springboard course) for its first four years. Emily holds the Marilyn and Robert M. Kurtz ’52 Chair for American Studies, and received the 2011-2012 Ammerman Distinguished Teaching Award for Religious and Interdisciplinary Studies. Emily is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Shippensburg University. She has three children, including Jay Howley ’21 and Evan Howley ’22.

Kimberly Richards

Registrar

richardsk@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6123

BIO

Kimberly Richards

Registrar

richardsk@mercersburg.edu

Kimberly Richards is Mercersburg's Registrar and budget manager for the academic budget. Kimberly first came to Mercersburg in 2012 as the administrative assistant to the Academic Office. Kimberly graduated from York Technical Institute with a degree in Travel and Tourism. Kim and her husband, Ryan, are the parents of Lexi '17 and Jenna '19.

Admission and Financial Aid

Liam Chatterton

Interim Dean of Enrollment Management

chattertonl@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6163

BIO

Liam Chatterton

Interim Dean of Enrollment Management

chattertonl@mercersburg.edu

Liam Chatterton joined Mercersburg in 2017 as director of financial aid and associate director of admission; he became the school’s director of financial aid and institutional data and strategy in 2020 and interim dean of enrollment management in 2021. Liam previously worked for UBS Financial Services in New York City, where he held positions in client and global strategy. He graduated from St. George’s School in Rhode Island, where he was a prefect and played hockey, football, baseball, and lacrosse. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and legal studies from Babson College, an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, and a master’s degree in strategic management from Indiana. Liam is an assistant coach for the boys’ varsity lacrosse team. He and his wife, Kathleen (who works in the Business Office), have four children: Maverick, Kennedy, Campbell, and Hayes.

Zach Swope

Interim Director of Admission

swopez@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6313

BIO

Zach Swope

Interim Director of Admission

swopez@mercersburg.edu

Zach Swope came to Mercersburg from The Webb School in Bell Buckle, TN, where he was an associate director of admission and dormitory head. He has also worked as a research technologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Zach graduated from The Potomac School in McLean, VA, and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hendrix College, and a masters in education from Vanderbilt University in the summer of 2021. He and his wife, Shelley (the admission visit coordinator), live on campus in South Cottage, where Shelley is the dorm dean.

Kayla Hart

Associate Director of Admission

hartk@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6170

Jake Kennedy

Associate Director of Admission

kennedyj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6322

BIO

Jake Kennedy

Associate Director of Admission

kennedyj@mercersburg.edu

Jake Kennedy arrived at Mercersburg from the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he taught geography and civics as a middle school teaching fellow and served as a student adviser, dorm parent, and outdoor education instructor. Jake graduated from Baylor before earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Sewanee: The University of the South. In addition to his duties with the Admission Office, he works with Mercersburg Outdoor Education and is an adviser affiliated with Main Hall.

Jaime Lohr

Administrative Assistant for Admission

lohrj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6150

BIO

Jaime Lohr

Administrative Assistant for Admission

lohrj@mercersburg.edu

Jaime Lohr came to Mercersburg in 2016 from APPLES (Alliance for Parent, Provider, and Local Employer Solutions) for Children in Hagerstown, MD, where she was an office administrator and registrar. Prior to her time at APPLES, she worked as an administrative assistant for Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the managing corporate childcare company of Citi Family Center in Hagerstown. Jaime and her husband, Mark, live in Mercersburg.

Richard Mahoney

Admission Counselor

mahoneyr@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6148

BIO

Richard Mahoney

Admission Counselor

mahoneyr@mercersburg.edu

Richard Mahoney grew up in the beautiful small town of North Conway, NH. He graduated from White Mountain School in Bethlehem, NH, before attending Plymouth State University, where he earned a bachelor of science in physical education and played on the men’s lacrosse team. Richard comes to Mercersburg from The Webb School in Bell Buckle, TN, where he spent three years as the athletics assistant and as head boys’ varsity lacrosse coach. Richard and his wife, Morgan, live in Mercersburg.

Phoebe Miller

Assistant Director of Admission and Financial Aid

millerp@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6223

BIO

Phoebe Miller

Assistant Director of Admission and Financial Aid

millerp@mercersburg.edu

Phoebe Moore Miller ’13 returned to Mercersburg in 2021 as the assistant director of admission and financial aid. She previously spent four years working for The Hershey Company, where she held roles in both sales and marketing. Phoebe attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in political science; she captained the cross-country team and earned Liberty League Academic honors her senior year. At Mercersburg, Phoebe serves as an assistant girls' lacrosse coach and adviser, and is a proud member of the Washington Irving Literary Society. Phoebe and her husband, Matthew, live in Swank Hall with their two dogs, Waffles and Truffles.

Amy Mohr

Associate Director of Admission for Local Engagement

mohra@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6237

BIO

Amy Mohr

Associate Director of Admission for Local Engagement

mohra@mercersburg.edu

Amy Mohr came to Mercersburg in 1994 as a swimming coach intern and a teacher in the foreign language and physical education departments. Joining the admission team in 1999, she rose to senior associate director of admission and director of financial aid before pivoting to senior associate director of regional engagement in 2018, combining alumni and parent work with admission. Amy is now senior associate director of regional engagement for the Admission Office, focusing primarily on prospective day-student families; she also works in Tippetts Hall and coaches swimming. Amy earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and Spanish from Denison University, where she was an All-America swimmer and Academic All-America, later earning her MBA from Frostburg State University. She and her husband, John, and their two daughters, Annie and Clare, live in Mercersburg.

Michelle Shuman

Admission Operations Coordinator

shumanm@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6122

BIO

Michelle Shuman

Admission Operations Coordinator

shumanm@mercersburg.edu

Michelle Shuman joined Mercersburg in 2009 as a member of the Office of Summer and External Programs before moving to the Office of Admission. Michelle is the admission operations coordinator and SEVIS P.D.S.O. Prior to Mercersburg, she worked in mortgage services as an underwriter and loan closer. Michelle has two daughters, including Emily Faust ’15.

Shelley Swope

Admission Visit Coordinator and Dormitory Dean

swopes@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6173

BIO

Shelley Swope

Admission Visit Coordinator and Dormitory Dean

swopes@mercersburg.edu

Shelley Swope serves as visit coordinator for the Admission Office and as dormitory dean in South Cottage; she previously taught English. Prior to Mercersburg, Shelley was an English teacher and dormitory head at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, TN, where she worked with the school yearbook, coached cross country, and served as a student adviser. Shelley was Webb’s Teacher of the Year in 2014; she has also worked as a reporter for People magazine. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South, where she captained the swim team and spent a semester studying in England. Shelley also holds a master’s from Middle Tennessee State University. She and her husband, Interim Director of Admission Zach Swope, previously lived in Fowle Hall; Shelley also spent her first two years at Mercersburg as an assistant swimming coach in addition to her academic and residential duties.

Advancement and Alumni Relations

Bill Kissick

Chief Advancement Officer

kissickb@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6109

BIO

Bill Kissick

Chief Advancement Officer

kissickb@mercersburg.edu

Bill Kissick joined Mercersburg in July 2019 and oversees the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations. Bill arrived at Mercersburg after 13 years at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, where he served as director of alumni and development and later as chief advancement officer, leading a $178 million campaign that was completed a full year ahead of schedule. Prior to St. Paul’s School, Bill served as associate dean for development and external relations at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, as director of capital gifts at Deerfield Academy, and in the major gifts offices at Dartmouth and at St. Lawrence University. He has led or worked on four separate campaigns, and got his start in annual giving and alumni relations at Denison University and the William Penn Charter School. Bill has served on the faculty of the CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Summer Institute for Independent Schools; he is a recipient of the CASE Crystal Apple Award for Teaching and and was recently named a CASE Laureate. He graduated from Penn Charter and holds a bachelor’s degree from Denison and a master’s degree in business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Carolyn Griffin Yeager

Chief Development Officer

yeagerc@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6219

BIO

Carolyn Griffin Yeager

Chief Development Officer

yeagerc@mercersburg.edu

Carolyn Yeager came to Mercersburg Academy in 2014 from Dickinson College, where she served in a number of senior roles during her 17-year tenure, including vice president for advancement, associate vice president for development, director of major and planned giving, director of leadership giving, director of reunion giving, and director of the annual fund. She has also served in fundraising roles at Hood College. As chief development officer, Carolyn is responsible for planned giving and annual giving. Her nearly 30 years in advancement work have included leadership for Dickinson College’s $209 million First in America campaign and Mercersburg’s $300 million Daring to Lead campaign. Carolyn holds a bachelor’s degree in English and sociology from Sweet Briar College. She and her husband, Gary, are the parents of two Mercersburg students, Jack ’20 and Camryn ’21.

Jason Bershatsky

Annual Giving Officer

BershatskyJ@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6364

BIO

Jason Bershatsky

Annual Giving Officer

BershatskyJ@mercersburg.edu

Jason Bershatsky was a member of Mercersburg’s mathematics faculty for 18 years before joining the Advancement and Alumni Relations team in 2015. He came to Mercersburg from West Nottingham Academy in Maryland, where he taught math. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in teaching from the University of New Hampshire. He most recently served as Mercersburg’s director of alumni relations.

Jennifer Bradley

Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

bradleyj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6140

BIO

Jennifer Bradley

Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

bradleyj@mercersburg.edu

Jenn Flanagan Bradley graduated from Mercersburg in 1999 and returned to the school in 2006 to work in development as an assistant director of alumni and parent programs. She spent four years as a member of the Office of Admission, living in the dormitory, advising, and coaching lacrosse before rejoining the advancement team as director of the Mercersburg Annual Fund. She was named director of reunions in 2017 and director of alumni and parent relations in 2020. Jenn earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University, and she is one of 26 members of her family who have attended Mercersburg.

Leah Cook

Leadership Giving Officer

cookl@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6105

BIO

Leah Cook

Leadership Giving Officer

cookl@mercersburg.edu

Leah Cook ’15 returned to work at her alma mater in 2019. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a degree in sociology and Asian-American studies and a minor in education. In her role at Mercersburg, Leah works to connect with alumni, families, and friends of Mercersburg. Leah’s brother, Matt ’11, and cousin, Stephanie Stine ’11, also graduated from Mercersburg, as did their grandfather, the late Bill Cook ’51.

Brad Cramer

Advancement Reports and Budget Manager

cramerb@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6186

BIO

Brad Cramer

Advancement Reports and Budget Manager

cramerb@mercersburg.edu

Brad Cramer oversees the processing of requests for data and analysis, manages the capital and operational budgets, and ensures the quality of advancement data and reporting. Prior to joining Mercersburg in 2001, he worked in the financial services industry. Brad graduated from Mansfield University with a degree in accounting.

Robin Fiddler

Advancement and Alumni Relations Assistant

fiddlerr@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6329

BIO

Robin Fiddler

Advancement and Alumni Relations Assistant

fiddlerr@mercersburg.edu

Robin Fiddler joined the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations in January 2014. Previously she worked for PNC Bank as a regional coordinator for its Frederick and Western Maryland regions and as an executive assistant to the regional president and a project coordinator for PNC University. Robin has completed coursework in the office technology program at Hagerstown Community College. She lives in Clear Spring with her husband, Yogi, and son, Hunter.

James Jenkins

Annual Giving Officer

jenkinsj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6324

BIO

James Jenkins

Annual Giving Officer

jenkinsj@mercersburg.edu

James came to Mercersburg in 2017 after serving as public relations and community affairs manager for Washington County, MD. As an annual giving officer, he assists with a yearly $3 million fundraising effort among alumni, parents, and friends of the school. James has worked in marketing and communications with Armstrong World Industries, Carroll County (MD) Public Library, and NBC25 WHAG-TV, and in budget analytics with Letterkenny Army Depot. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Margaret Light

Donor Relations and Research Manager

lightm@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6178

BIO

Margaret Light

Donor Relations and Research Manager

lightm@mercersburg.edu

Margaret Light is responsible for donor relations in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations and oversees prospect research, supporting the advancement team in focusing its time and resources. Margaret has worked as a researcher/writer or project manager in many capacities, including as an environmental analyst, grant writer, and director of corporate and foundation relations at Wilson College. She holds master’s degrees in anthropology and organizational development and leadership. Margaret has served on the board of the Coy Public Library of Shippensburg, PA, and as a volunteer for the Girl Scouts.

Kathy McCleary

Advancement Services Manager

mcclearyk@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6209

BIO

Kathy McCleary

Advancement Services Manager

mcclearyk@mercersburg.edu

Kathy McCleary joined the Mercersburg community in 2016 after working as a regional principal secretary for the Chambersburg Area School District and as a senior project assistant and bid administrator for Progressive Services. As manager of advancement services, she focuses on reports, targeting, data entry and analysis, budgeting, and appeals, and provides a variety of other administrative support.

Ryanne McFarland

Alumni and Parent Relations Officer

mcfarlandr@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6124

BIO

Ryanne McFarland

Alumni and Parent Relations Officer

mcfarlandr@mercersburg.edu

Ryanne McFarland joined Mercersburg in 2021 as the Alumni and Parent Relations Officer in the office of Advancement and Alumni Relations. She comes to Mercersburg with over 6 years of Volunteer Management and Employee Engagement experience, a Bachelors in Communication Studies from Lock Haven University and a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Mansfield University. She lives in Waynesboro with her husband (Conner) and daughter (Luna).

Leslie Miller

Advancement Services Associate - Records

millerl@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6331

BIO

Leslie Miller

Advancement Services Associate - Records

millerl@mercersburg.edu

As a member of the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, Leslie Miller maintains and updates biographical records for alumni and other constituents. Previously, she worked as an administrative assistant in the Alumni and Development Office at Saint James School in Hagerstown, MD.

Evan Moats

Leadership Giving Officer

moatse@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6120

BIO

Evan Moats

Leadership Giving Officer

moatse@mercersburg.edu

Evan Moats ’12, leadership giving officer, joined the staff of his alma mater in 2017 as a regional engagement officer. In his role, he works with the Advancement Office to connect with alumni and other constituents. Evan is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, where he majored in geography and international relations.

Miranda Peruso

Director of Annual Giving

perusom@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Miranda Peruso

Director of Annual Giving

perusom@mercersburg.edu

Miranda Peruso joined Mercersburg in 2021 as Director of Annual Giving in the Advancement Office. She received her bachelor's degree from Juniata College and is pursuing her masters degree in business administration. Miranda previously worked at Juniata College. She lives in Huntingdon, PA, with her husband, Dom, and their two children, Dominick and Madeleine.

Chastity Pine

Administrative Assistant for Advancement and Alumni Relations

pinec@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6323

BIO

Chastity Pine

Administrative Assistant for Advancement and Alumni Relations

pinec@mercersburg.edu

Chastity Pine joined Mercersburg in 2021 as an administrative assistant in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations. She has more than 10 years of experience as an executive assistant, holding positions in the federal government as an Army civilian and as a member of the United States Army. Chastity met her husband, Jason, while serving in the Army, and they live in Mercersburg with their four sons, Granite, Logan, Jaxon, and Holden.

Gina Sekula

Administrative Assistant for Advancement and Alumni Relations

sekulag@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6141

BIO

Gina Sekula

Administrative Assistant for Advancement and Alumni Relations

sekulag@mercersburg.edu

Gina Sekula joined Mercersburg Academy in 2021 as an administrative assistant in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations. She attended Franklin Pierce College. Prior to joining Mercersburg Academy, Gina worked at Dartmouth College and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She lives in Chambersburg with her husband David and fur baby Tucker. She has two sons and is the proud “Nini” to five grandchildren.

Holly Trostle

Advancement Services Associate - Giving and Donor Relations

trostleh@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6362

BIO

Holly Trostle

Advancement Services Associate - Giving and Donor Relations

trostleh@mercersburg.edu

Holly Trostle attended Penn State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy. She was an assistant marketing director and community relations liaison for a retirement and senior living facility before coming to Mercersburg in 2010. She and her husband, Dave, are the parents of Drew ’22.

Arts

Kelly Dowling

Arts Department Head and Director of Theatre

dowlingk@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6107

BIO

Kelly Dowling

Arts Department Head and Director of Theatre

dowlingk@mercersburg.edu

Kelly Dowling joined the Mercersburg faculty in 2015. She previously served as managing director and a company member of the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory; taught drama and technical theatre at Winters Mill High School in Westminster, MD, and The Madeira School in Langley, VA; and worked as technical director of the Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater in Washington, D.C. Kelly has served on the board of directors for the Charm City Fringe Fest, as an editor for The Shakespeare Standard website, and as a member of the Shakespeare Theatre Association. Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in theater arts from Catawba College and also studied at the Marymount London School of Drama in England. Her husband, Walt, has worked as a lighting designer for numerous Stony Batter Players productions at Mercersburg. The Dowling family includes twin sons (Donovan ’21 and Dylan ’21), a daughter (Kaitlyn ’23), and a veritable zoo of rescue animals.

James Brinson

Arts Faculty, Organist, and Carillonneur

brinsonj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6334

BIO

James Brinson

Arts Faculty, Organist, and Carillonneur

brinsonj@mercersburg.edu

Jim Brinson was appointed Mercersburg’s school organist in 2003 and became the school carillonneur in 2009. He also directs Magalia (the school’s female a cappella group), Octet (the school’s male a cappella group), and the Chapel music program, and is assistant director of the Chorale. Jim is highly experienced in choral arts, organ performance, and music history. A graduate with distinction from both Union Theological Seminary’s School of Sacred Music and Rhodes College, he is a member of the American Guild of Organists and the American Choral Directors Association and an associate member of the Guild of Carillonneurs of North America. Jim previously worked at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and School in Winter Haven, FL, and at St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis, TN, where he served as a music staff member and organist and choirmaster at Church of the Holy Communion. He has also taught music history and organ performance at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL. Jim and his wife, Doree (who was a staff member in the library), lived in Swank Hall for several years and now live in a townhouse on campus.

Michael Cameron

Arts Faculty

cameronm@mercersburg.edu

717-328-1494

BIO

Michael Cameron

Arts Faculty

cameronm@mercersburg.edu

Michael Cameron has served as the director of the Mercersburg String Ensemble since 2008. For 13 years, he was cellist and general manager of the Marian Anderson String Quartet. He holds degrees from Hartford University’s Hartt School of Music, Northwestern University, and Rice University. As a member of the Marian Anderson String Quartet, Michael won the 1991 Cleveland Quartet Competition, which enabled him to study cello and chamber music at the Eastman School of Music for three years. He has performed with the Maryland, York (PA), and Pan-American Symphony (D.C.) Orchestras and has taught cello and chamber music at Texas A&M University, Prairie View A&M University (TX), and California State University, Los Angeles. In addition to his responsibilities at Mercersburg, Michael serves as contributing faculty (cello) and director of chamber music at Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA), is an adjunct professor of cello at Bucknell University (Lewisburg, PA), conductor of orchestra at the Susquehanna Waldorf School (Lancaster County, PA), and teaches cello at the Cumberland Valley School of Music. He also teaches many private cello students who reside in the Central Pensylvania region and beyond.

Sydney Caretti

Arts Faculty and Director of Galleries

carettis@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6206

BIO

Sydney Caretti

Arts Faculty and Director of Galleries

carettis@mercersburg.edu

Sydney Caretti holds a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the University of New Hampshire and a master of fine arts from Marywood University, where she was awarded the Ella T. Ruane Medal for Excellence in Art. Sydney arrived at Mercersburg with 10 years experience as a fine arts gallery partner and consultant from New England with teaching experience from the New Hampton School in New Hampton, NH, and Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School in Kingston, PA. She has taught AP studio art, studio art, painting, drawing, design, and ceramics/sculpture. Sydney has been head or assistant head coach in equestrian and track & field as well as an adviser, dormitory parent, head of dorms, and class dean. She divides her professional time between serving as the director of galleries and teaching. Sydney lives just off campus with her husband, fellow faculty member Erin Caretti, and their two daughters, Quinlan ’24 and Allister.

Madeline Cepeda

Burgin Center Operations Manager

cepedam@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Madeline Cepeda

Burgin Center Operations Manager

cepedam@mercersburg.edu

Madeline Cepeda joined Mercersburg in 2021 as the Burgin Center for the Arts’ Operations Manager. She received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida and also has associate's degrees in management and theatre from Hagerstown Community College. Madeline previously worked as the administrative office associate for the English and Humanities division of HCC, and is the executive director for MEG Theatre in Hagerstown, MD. She lives in Mercersburg with her husband, Mauricio, and daughter, Luna.

Denise Dalton

Arts Faculty and Director of Dance

daltond@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6325

BIO

Denise Dalton

Arts Faculty and Director of Dance

daltond@mercersburg.edu

Denise Dalton is Mercersburg’s director of dance and holds the Douglas Hale Teaching Chair. She arrived at Mercersburg in 2002, served as the head of the arts department from 2008 to 2013, and is a past recipient of the Ammerman Distinguished Teaching Award for Religious and Interdisciplinary Studies. Her choreography has been featured nationally and internationally at venues including DTW in New York City; the Regional and National High School Dance Festivals; the Colony Theater in Miami; South Africa; and India. Denise has trained under scholarship with Trisha Brown and Bessie Schonberg and has danced with renowned choreographers and companies such as Liz Lerman, Stephen Petronio, Eun-me Ahn, Art Bridgeman and Myrna Packer, Momentum Dance Company, and Dance Now Miami. She has studied Bartenieff Fundamentals and Laban Movement Analysis under Bill Evans, incorporating these concepts into her pedagogy, and continues to study and train by participating in summer programs including Bates Dance Festival, American Dance Festival, Bill Evans Teacher Intensives, and The Boulder Jazz Dance Workshops. Denise has participated in several international dance service trip projects, including South Africa, Swaziland, India, and Peru. She previously taught at the University of Massachusetts, Florida International University, and the Dillard Center for the Arts. She is certified in MBSR and a member of NDEO.

Jessica Doubell

Events and Technical Support Director

doubellj@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Jessica Doubell

Events and Technical Support Director

doubellj@mercersburg.edu

Jessica Doubell joined the school as the technical director of the Burgin Center for the Arts in 2019. She grew up in nearby Chambersburg, PA, earned a bachelor’s of fine arts in theater with a concentration in stage management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and completed a master’s degree in humanities from Wilson College. Jessica worked for a production company in Los Angeles and then as a lead entertainment technician for Carnival Cruise Lines. She serves on the board for the Chambersburg Community Theater and has been a part of the organization, on and off, since birth. Jessica and her husband, Johan, have two children, Claudia and Jonah.

Wells Gray

Arts Faculty

grayw@mercersburg.edu

717-328-1465

BIO

Wells Gray

Arts Faculty

grayw@mercersburg.edu

Wells Gray has taught at Mercersburg since 1999, and is a past head of the school’s arts department. Wells approaches teaching by establishing a strong rapport with students and fostering their knowledge of art concepts and the mechanics of art in both the studio and for AS Art History. Wells served as head coach of Mercersburg’s girls’ varsity squash team for 16 years. His academic appointments have included Bennington College, the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, the Kildonan School, and many art centers throughout the country. In addition to teaching art, Wells continues to create and exhibit ceramic vessels and sculpture. He and his wife, former staff member Willie Phillips Gray, live in Main Hall.

Matt Maurer

Director of Arts Programming and English and Theatre Faculty

maurerm@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6177

BIO

Matt Maurer

Director of Arts Programming and English and Theatre Faculty

maurerm@mercersburg.edu

 

Matt Maurer joined the faculty in 2001. In addition to serving as Director of Arts Programming, Matt teaches English and theatre, directs plays, and serves as an adviser to the Irving & Marshall Society declaimers and the Karux yearbook. After earning a BS in education from the University of Dayton in 1993, where he won the Louis J. Faerber Award for Excellence in Secondary Education, Matt taught public school for eight years. He earned a master’s in English from the University of Dayton in 2000, completed the Lessac Institute’s Voice & Body Intensive in 2002, and earned a second master’s in directing from the Theatre Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts in 2010. Matt has adapted three nondramatic texts for the Mercersburg stage, and was the 2015–2016 recipient of the Ammerman Distinguished Teaching Award for Religious and Interdisciplinary Studies. He and his wife, Dr. Julia Stojak Maurer ’90, have five children: Emma ’18, Will ’20, Michael ‘22, Nathalie ‘23, and Mary.

Bryan Morgan

Arts Faculty and Director of Music

morganb@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6160

BIO

Bryan Morgan

Arts Faculty and Director of Music

morganb@mercersburg.edu

A 2007 graduate of Mercersburg Academy, Bryan Morgan was a member of the football team, Octet, Concert Band, Stony Batter Players, and Black Student Union. He went on to attend Duke University, where he was a four-year football starter for the Blue Devils on the offensive line and won numerous athletic and academic honors, including a University Scholar Athlete Award from the National Football Foundation and a spot on the Allstate Good Works Team. Bryan returned to Mercersburg in 2016 as a member of the faculty and was named director of music in 2020. He conducts the Chorale, Jazz Band and the Concert Band, teaches courses in mixing music, is an assistant football coach and part of the school’s strength and performance team, and lives in Tippetts Hall. Bryan grew up in Hoover, AL; he holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Duke and a master’s degree in music education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Kristen Pixler

Arts Faculty and Head Girls’ Soccer Coach

pixlerk@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6387

BIO

Kristen Pixler

Arts Faculty and Head Girls’ Soccer Coach

pixlerk@mercersburg.edu

Kristen Pixler teaches digital art and photography, as well as CommArts: The Art and Business of Graphic Design (a Springboard capstone course available to seniors). She is also the head coach for Mercersburg’s girls’ varsity soccer team, works with Mercersburg Outdoor Education, and is an adviser to Blue Review, the school’s student literary-arts publication. Kristen came to Mercersburg from Harrisburg Area Community College, where she was an adjunct professor of web design. She is an experienced commercial photographer, illustrator, and designer, and owns KHP Photo and Design in Chambersburg. She received a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and a master of fine arts from Virginia Commonwealth University, both with an emphasis on photography. Kristen and her husband, Matthew, live off campus; Kristen is an adviser and dorm faculty member in Fowle Hall.

Athletics

Lauren Jacobs

Interim Director of Athletics for Programs and Student Experience

jacobsl@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6184

BIO

Lauren Jacobs

Interim Director of Athletics for Programs and Student Experience

jacobsl@mercersburg.edu

In addition to serving as interim director of athletics for programs and student experience, Lauren Jacobs is also Mercersburg’s head softball coach. Before coming to Mercersburg in 2016, she worked in the athletic department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. She was head softball coach at her high school alma mater, Whitesboro High School in Marcy, NY (where she also worked in athletic administration and coached junior varsity field hockey). Lauren played varsity softball and varsity ice hockey at Union College in Schenectady, NY, where she was twice named All-Liberty League in softball and won the Athletic Director’s Award for leadership in both hockey and softball. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Union College and a master’s degree in sport administration from Canisius College. Lauren lives in Fowle Hall with her husband, Matt (the school’s head varsity baseball coach and assistant director of summer and external programs), and mini labradoodle, Reese.

Paul Sipes

Interim Director of Athletics for Operations and Outreach

Head Girls’ Basketball Coach

sipesp@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6168

BIO

Paul Sipes

Interim Director of Athletics for Operations and Outreach

Head Girls’ Basketball Coach

sipesp@mercersburg.edu

In addition to his role in the athletic department, Paul Sipes is head coach of girls’ varsity basketball. He is a former state coach of the year in both Maryland (2001) and Virginia (2013) as well as a nine-time conference coach of the year. He is the 2012 Athletic Director of the Year with the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Paul is a former assistant executive chairman of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association, and has been athletic director at Wakefield School in The Plains, VA, and St. Thomas More Preparatory School in Oakdale, CT. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in social sciences from Wesleyan University. Paul is a member of the Mercersburg Borough Council. He and his wife, fellow faculty member Jen Sipes, live in Mercersburg and are the parents of Finn ’22 and Shelby.

Michael Collins

Athletic Facilities Operations Supervisor

collinsm@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6167

BIO

Michael Collins

Athletic Facilities Operations Supervisor

collinsm@mercersburg.edu

Mike Collins is in charge of day-to-day operations of the Goldthorpe Athletic Complex, including the Issue Room, the Hale Field House, and the Lloyd Aquatic Center, as well as the Smoyer Tennis Center and all other campus athletic facilities. He is past president of the Rotary Club of Mercersburg and a board member for two local youth sports programs: St. Thomas Sports Association and Tuscarora Youth Soccer Club. Mike lives in Mercersburg with his wife, Debra, who is the school’s advancement communications manager. The couple has two children, Michael ’14 and Caitlin.

Leah Daniels

Associate Athletic Trainer

danielsl@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Leah Daniels

Associate Athletic Trainer

danielsl@mercersburg.edu

Leah Daniels joined the Mercersburg staff after spending eight years as the associate athletic trainer at Iona College, where she primarily worked with the women’s soccer and softball teams. She also worked for a year with the softball team at the University of Detroit Mercy. (Both Iona and Detroit Mercy are NCAA Division I members.) A native of Wilmington, DE, Leah earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training with a minor in sport psychology from Ithaca College, and a master’s degree in management with a health care administration concentration from Iona. At Ithaca, she worked with a diverse array of teams, including football, women’s soccer, baseball, track and field, and men’s basketball. Leah is a Certified Athletic Trainer, is licensed by the state of Pennsylvania, and is also a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society.

Sarah Firestone

Fitness and Performance Coordinator

firestones@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Sarah Firestone

Fitness and Performance Coordinator

firestones@mercersburg.edu

Sarah Firestone ’13 joined Mercersburg in 2020 in a support role for academics, athletics, and student life. A Mercersburg native, Sarah was a standout athlete for the Blue Storm and went on to compete in track & field at the University of Nebraska, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, advertising, and public relations and a minor in psychology, criminology, and communications. She was an All-Big Ten track & field athlete and a second-team All-American in javelin, and competed in the event at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Tersa Hess

Issue Room Manager

hesst@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Tersa Hess

Issue Room Manager

hesst@mercersburg.edu

Tersa Hess works in the Athletic Department’s Issue Room. She joined the Academy in 2005. Tersa previously worked for the Whitetail Resort rental department and the Tuscarora School District and was a stay-at-home mother for 10 years. She and her husband, Wally, are the parents of Austin ’13, Ashley, Morgan, and Lucas.

Brad Keefer

Athletic Facilities Assistant

keeferb@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6155

BIO

Brad Keefer

Athletic Facilities Assistant

keeferb@mercersburg.edu

Brad Keefer joined Mercersburg as a member of the Campus Safety Office in 2018 and transitioned to the Athletic Department in 2020, where he helps to manage the school’s athletic facilities. Brad’s wife, Denise, is a nurse in the Rutherford Health and Wellness Center, and the couple has three sons.

Andrew Myers

Associate Director of Athletics - Athletic Performance

myersa@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6236

BIO

Andrew Myers

Associate Director of Athletics - Athletic Performance

myersa@mercersburg.edu

Andrew Myers has been working with Mercersburg athletes since the fall of 2011. Within his role, he coordinates athletic training services and strength and performance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from West Chester University and a master’s degree in health education from Penn State University. While at West Chester, Andrew worked with a diverse array of teams that included men’s soccer, softball, women’s gymnastics, and men’s lacrosse. Andrew also assisted with the National Football League’s Minnesota Vikings as an intern during the 2008 NFL preseason, and was a graduate assistant at Penn State, where he worked extensively with the Penn State men’s and women’s soccer and softball teams, as well as the football, women’s ice hockey, and field hockey teams. Andrew’s area of focus throughout graduate school involved researching the issue of overtraining young athletes. Clinically, he also learned a variety of useful manual therapy techniques that he incorporates daily in his work with Mercersburg athletes. Andrew has been a certified athletic trainer since 2009, is licensed by the state of Pennsylvania, and is also a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society.

Morgan Seymour

Assistant Director of Athletics

seymourm@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Morgan Seymour

Assistant Director of Athletics

seymourm@mercersburg.edu

Morgan Seymour is the assistant director of athletics and assistant field hockey coach at Mercersburg. Before coming to Mercersburg, she served as an assistant softball coach at her alma mater, Wesley College, in Dover, DE, helping the team win the Atlantic East Conference. Prior to coaching, she was the director of operations for a professional softball team in Texas. In that role, she worked with numerous international athletes and teams including Italy, Netherlands, Mexico, and the USA Women and Junior Women. She was also an event manager at the sports complex where the team played. Morgan played field hockey and softball at Wesley College, where she was an All-Conference field hockey player and the NCAA statistical leader in 2017 in defensive saves (for all three NCAA divisions). She holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management.

Cindy Yeager

Athletic Facilities Staff

yeagerci@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Cindy Yeager

Athletic Facilities Staff

yeagerci@mercersburg.edu

Cindy Yeager has worked at Mercersburg maintaining the swimming pool since 2019. Prior to arriving at Mercersburg, she was a pool operator at the Tuscarora School District for a decade. Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree in financial services. She and her husband have been married for more than 40 years and have two sons and four grandchildren.

Business Office

Maria Kimsey

Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations

kimseym@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6117

BIO

Maria Kimsey

Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations

kimseym@mercersburg.edu

Maria Kimsey came to Mercersburg with an extensive background in the corporate finance world. A certified public accountant, Maria was vice president of finance for Boehringer Mannheim, now known as Roche Diagnostics. Prior to Mercersburg, she was associate head of operations and chief financial officer at the Park Tudor School in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she oversaw the finances, facilities, human resources, technology, food service, and auxiliary services departments. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, as well as a graduate certificate in educational leadership for independent schools from Johns Hopkins University.

Melody Batson

Controller and Director of Finance

batsonm@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6359

BIO

Melody Batson

Controller and Director of Finance

batsonm@mercersburg.edu

Melody Batson joined the business office in 2020 as controller and director of finance. She was the comptroller for 13 years at Saint James School in nearby Hagerstown, MD. Melody is a licensed CPA and has extensive experience in finance and accounting, having held positions at PepsiCo in Somers, NY, and at Johns Hopkins University, among others. Melody holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Franklin & Marshall College and an MBA from Mount Saint Mary’s University. She resides in Hagerstown with her husband, Marc, and her son, Teddy.

Kathleen Chatterton

Business Analyst

chattertonk@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Kathleen Chatterton

Business Analyst

chattertonk@mercersburg.edu

Kathleen Chatterton joined Mercersburg in 2018 as a business analyst in the Business Office. Kathleen graduated from Babson College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and was a member of the women’s basketball team. Before coming to Mercersburg, she worked for five years as a planning analyst for a Fortune 500 retail company in New York City. Kathleen and her husband, Liam (who is the school’s interim dean of enrollment management), have four children: Maverick, Kennedy, Campbell, and Hayes.

Lori Cooper

Accounts Receivable Manager

cooperl@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6110

BIO

Lori Cooper

Accounts Receivable Manager

cooperl@mercersburg.edu

Lori Cooper joined the Business Office in 2005 as the accounts receivable manager. Before coming to Mercersburg, she worked for five years in the private sector as an office manager/bookkeeper and two years in public accounting after graduating from Hagerstown Business College. Lori maintains the student billing system and prepares the monthly invoices for parents. She also oversees the Blue Card system, handles miscellaneous cash receipts, and provides assistance to the associate head of school for finance and operations and the controller.

Amy Hendrickson

Assistant Controller

hendricksona@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6164

BIO

Amy Hendrickson

Assistant Controller

hendricksona@mercersburg.edu

Amy Hendrickson joined the Academy in 1998 and is an assistant controller in the Business Office. Amy graduated from West Virginia University, West Liberty State College, and Shepherd College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She previously worked at American Woodmark, Seely Pine Furniture, and Summit Health, holding positions as assistant controller and senior accountant. Amy and her husband, Rick (Mercersburg’s dean of experiential programs), previously lived in South Cottage on campus, and she has been a dorm faculty member there and in Fowle Hall. The Hendricksons have three children: Jennifer ’03, Rachael ’06, and Gabe ’19.

Kimberly Strawoet

Accounts Payable Accountant

strawoetk@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6111

BIO

Kimberly Strawoet

Accounts Payable Accountant

strawoetk@mercersburg.edu

Kim Strawoet works in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations as the development leadership team coordinator. She previously served as a staff accountant at First Community Bank of Mercersburg; before that, she spent nearly 20 years as a business manager at Bob Hoffman Chevrolet. Kim’s husband, Larry, is the athletic director at James Buchanan High School in Mercersburg and was the Rockets’ head boys’ basketball coach for 31 years. The Strawoets have three children.

Campus Safety

Jeff Rion

Campus Safety Officer

rionj@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Jeff Rion

Campus Safety Officer

rionj@mercersburg.edu

Jeff Rion joined the school in 2013 and worked as a custodian in housekeeping, working in the Facilities Office and recently took a position as a safety officer with Campus Safety. Jeff retired after 23 years in law enforcement and 42 years as a volunteer firefighter, EMT, HazMat Specialist, and WMD/Terrorism Response Tech and Trainer. He is a NYS Certified Fire Instructor and served as Chief of the Thiells Fire Department. He spent four years U.S. Army and six years in the New York Army National Guard.

Skip Sydnor

Director of Campus Safety

sydnors@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6155

BIO

Skip Sydnor

Director of Campus Safety

sydnors@mercersburg.edu

Skip Sydnor is the school’s director of campus safety and joined Mercersburg in 2005. Skip attended West Chester State College (now West Chester University) as a health and physical education major and a member of the track & field team. He previously worked for 26 years for the Pennsylvania State Police (10 years in the patrol unit and 16 years in the criminal investigation unit). He is an assistant track & field coach; his daughter, Kiersten ’12, and nephew, Brice ’15, both graduated from Mercersburg.

Brandon Adams

Campus Safety Officer

adamsb@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Brandon Adams

Campus Safety Officer

adamsb@mercersburg.edu

Brandon Adams joined the Office of Campus Safety in February 2020. His prior experience includes serving as a police officer in Gwinnett County, GA, and Shippensburg, PA. Brandon is married to his high school sweetheart; they have a daughter and son.

Matthew Affleck

Campus Safety Officer

affleckm@mercersburg.edu

Chris Buterbaugh

Campus Safety Officer

buterbaughc@mercersburg.edu

Sean Flaherty

Assistant Director of Campus Safety

flahertys@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6155

BIO

Sean Flaherty

Assistant Director of Campus Safety

flahertys@mercersburg.edu

Sean Flaherty joined the Office of Campus Safety in March 2017. Prior to being named the assistant director of campus safety, he served for 25 years with the Pennsylvania State Police, where he attained the rank of sergeant and was the station commander of several barracks throughout the state. He also assessed emergency drills for local schools and developed organizational leadership competencies that incorporated cultural diversity dimensions. Sean graduated from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania with a degree in business administration and a specialization in management and has a masters of arts in intelligence and global security from Point Park University. Sean and his wife, Cynthia, have two children, including Elizabeth ’21.

James Flannery

Senior Campus Safety Officer

flanneryj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6155

Jorge Jimenez-Escobar

Campus Safety Officer

jimenez-escobarj@mercersburg.edu

Todd Myers

Campus Safety

myerst@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6155

Bill Patrick Jr.

Campus Safety

patrickw@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6155

BIO

Bill Patrick Jr.

Campus Safety

patrickw@mercersburg.edu

A member of the Campus Safety Office, Bill Patrick joined Mercersburg in 2001. Previously, he worked for Grove Worldwide.

Buffi Smith

Administrative Assistant for Campus Safety

smithb@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6136

Joe Sturm

Campus Safety Officer

sturmj@mercersburg.edu

College Counseling

Michael Conklin

Director of College Counseling

conklinm@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6230

BIO

Michael Conklin

Director of College Counseling

conklinm@mercersburg.edu

Mike Conklin joined Mercersburg’s College Counseling Office as an associate director in 2015 before assuming the role of director in 2019. He initially came to Mercersburg in 2011 as an associate director of admission and financial aid. Mike previously served as the school’s head boys’ varsity lacrosse coach. He grew up in Syracuse, NY, and graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a bachelor’s degree in English and public policy and a minor in education. Mike and his wife, Cally (who is the former dormitory dean in South Cottage), live on campus with their daughter, Elise, and son, Benjamin.

Cindy Fowler

Assistant Director of College Counseling

fowlerc@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Cindy Fowler

Assistant Director of College Counseling

fowlerc@mercersburg.edu

Cindy Fowler joined Mercersburg’s College Counseling office in 2019 after 14 years coaching college swimming and teaching high school math. She has been a swim coach at NCAA Division I, II, and III universities, including a stint as assistant swim coach and women’s recruiting coordinator at Rutgers University. Cindy earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Montclair State University, where she co-captained the swim team, earned multiple NJAC all-conference honors, and was the Metropolitan Swimming Conference champion in the 200-yard butterfly. Cindy also holds a master’s degree from Montclair State in physical education with a concentration in coaching and sports administration. Her husband, Steve, is a member of the mathematics faculty and serves as an assistant swimming coach. The Fowlers have two children.

Justin Ledesma

Associate Director of College Counseling

ledesmaj@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Justin Ledesma

Associate Director of College Counseling

ledesmaj@mercersburg.edu

Justin Ledesma arrived at Mercersburg after 19 years as a college admission counselor; he got his start at Drexel University and spent most of his time in the college-admission world at Villanova University. Education and student leadership have always been a big part of Justin's life. He has volunteered in multiple key positions with Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) and has managed and mentored students through many organizations at Villanova. Justin has also worked hard to improve the college admission process through the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC), most recently volunteering as the organization's marketing director.

Justin is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He also holds a master's public communication from Drexel University. Justin lives in the Nevin House on campus.

Rachel Mallory

Associate Director of College Counseling

malloryr@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6161

BIO

Rachel Mallory

Associate Director of College Counseling

malloryr@mercersburg.edu

Rachel Mallory arrived at Mercersburg Academy from Vanderbilt University, where she was a graduate assistant for the Peabody Office of Graduate Admissions and Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth. She was also a member of the residential leadership team for the Vanderbilt Summer Academy, a residential summer-learning program for students age 13-17. Rachel previously worked as an admission officer at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. She serves as an officer with the Pennsylvania Association for College Admissions Counseling, and coordinates workshops for secondary-school counselors. Rachel captained the cross country and track & field teams at Mount Holyoke College (her undergraduate alma mater) before earning a master’s of education degree in human development counseling with an emphasis in school counseling from Vanderbilt. Rachel is an assistant cross country and track & field coach at Mercersburg; her sister, Megan, works in the school’s Office of Marketing and Communications. Rachel lives in Fowle Hall with her husband, Steve Milletics.

Glenn Neufeld

Assistant Director of College Counseling

Head Swim Coach

neufeldg@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6368

BIO

Glenn Neufeld

Assistant Director of College Counseling

Head Swim Coach

neufeldg@mercersburg.edu

Glenn Neufeld came to Mercersburg from the Upper Main Line YMCA in Berwyn, PA, where he was the director of competitive aquatics and national team coach for 13 years. He also spent one season as assistant swimming coach at the University of Alabama. Glenn’s teams consistently finished in the top five at YMCA Nationals, and his swimmers have won 44 YMCA national titles and a YMCA national championship in 2009. Glenn was the 2011 YMCA National Coach of the Year and spent three years on the YMCA Swimming National Advisory Committee. He lives in Tippetts Hall, where he serves as a dorm parent and adviser. In 2016 (his second year at Mercersburg), the Blue Storm girls won the Eastern Interscholastic Swimming & Diving Championships for the first time since 1987.

Jackie Sweeney

Dormitory Dean and Administrative Assistant for College Counseling

sweeneyj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6156

BIO

Jackie Sweeney

Dormitory Dean and Administrative Assistant for College Counseling

sweeneyj@mercersburg.edu

Jackie Sweeney serves as the dormitory dean in Main Hall and is an administrative assistant in the Office of College Counseling. Her husband, Mike, teaches mathematics and has been a member of the faculty since 2003. The Sweeneys have lived in Main Hall since 2012-2013 and are the parents of four children (all Mercersburg alumni or current students): Megan ’07, Sean ’13, Jack ’19, and Fiona ’21.

Vicki Thompson

Senior Associate Director of College Counseling

thompsonv@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Vicki Thompson

Senior Associate Director of College Counseling

thompsonv@mercersburg.edu

 

Vicki Englehart-Thompson began her career as a fourth-grade teacher. After earning a master’s degree in human services counseling, she became a guidance counselor and eventually director of college counseling at Cabrini High School in New Orleans. She has worked as director of guidance and college counseling at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, LA; as dean of college counseling at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, where she served for 13 years; and was most recently dean of college counseling at St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis. She credits her best education in the college search and application experience to her two sons, Alex and Christian, as they looked for best fits and launched to college. Her husband, Carey, is the vice president of enrollment and educational services at Gettysburg College. Vicki has been a volunteer for the National Association for College Admission Counseling as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (where she served as president); she is currently the chair of the board for the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools.

Haley Tyree

Dormitory Dean and Testing Coordinator

tyreeh@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Haley Tyree

Dormitory Dean and Testing Coordinator

tyreeh@mercersburg.edu

Haley Tyree is Mercersburg’s testing coordinator and the dorm dean in Fowle Hall. She and her family arrived at the Academy in 2019, after working and living at two independent schools in Massachusetts. Haley earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and was a teacher at Head Start in Brattleboro, VT, a lead teacher at Pocumtuck Preschool in Deerfield, MA, and an independent tutor to students at Eaglebrook and Williston Northampton Schools. She was also a dorm dean at Northfield Mount Hermon Summer Sessions and the testing coordinator at Williston. Haley and her husband, faculty member Ryan Tyree, live in Fowle with their two children.

Meqmeqka Zeshera

Administrative Coordinator for College Counseling

zesheram@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Meqmeqka Zeshera

Administrative Coordinator for College Counseling

zesheram@mercersburg.edu

Meqmeqka Zeshera is the administrative coordinator for the Office of College Counseling. She came to Mercersburg in 2020 from Central Fulton School District and, before that, worked for a nonprofit organization in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Meqmeqka has served diverse communities around the world in various capacities, including teaching, research, and journalism. She holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the Lender School of Business at Quinnipiac University and lives in Fulton County with her three children, Khefira, Sathapi, and Herumakhi.

Counseling Services

Mary Cate Hauenstein

School Counselor

hauensteinm@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Mary Cate Hauenstein

School Counselor

hauensteinm@mercersburg.edu

 

Mary Cate Hauenstein works as a counselor in the Rahauser Counseling Center. Previously, Mary Cate worked in community counseling centers, duel diagnosis treatment centers, private practice, and in schools in California, Colorado, China, and Switzerland. She embraces a philosophy of empowering others and sees her students as experts of their own lives. She finds incredible joy and fulfillment by holding space for others to heal and evolve. Mary Cate earned a bachelor’s degree in visual art from Brown University, a master’s in clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and a master’s in school counseling from Adams State University. She lives in Mercersburg with her Swiss Mountain dog, Rama.

Amy Shaffer Post

Social Emotional Learning Counselor

shafferposta@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Amy Shaffer Post

Social Emotional Learning Counselor

shafferposta@mercersburg.edu

Amy Shaffer Post is the social emotional learning counselor. Before arriving at Mercersburg, she worked as a special education school social worker for 10 years. Prior to that Amy worked in an outpatient mental health clinic. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Shippensburg University as well as a master’s of social work degree from Shippensburg. Amy has a specific interest in disorders related to executive functioning and holds a certificate as a clinical services provider for ADHD. She is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and Maryland as an LCSW and LCSW-C, respectively. Amy is a 2002 graduate of Mercersburg. She lives with her husband, Edmund, and their three sons, Wyatt, Waylon, and Ezekiel.

Jennifer Sipes, LCSWC

School Counselor

sipesj@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Jennifer Sipes, LCSWC

School Counselor

sipesj@mercersburg.edu

Jennifer Sipes has served as a counselor in schools since 1995, first at St. Elizabeth’s School in Baltimore, MD, then St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, CT, and at Wakefield School in The Plains, VA, before beginning her work with Mercersburg Academy’s Counseling Department in 2017. She has served as a director of counseling, as well as directing advisory programs and facilitating group work in her previous school experiences. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business where she concentrated in personnel and labor relations. She also holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She is licensed to practice in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia as a LCSW and LCSW-C. She and her husband, fellow faculty member Paul Sipes, live on Main Street in Mercersburg and are the parents of Finn ’22 and Shelby.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Renata Williams

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

williamsr@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Renata Williams

Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

williamsr@mercersburg.edu

Dr. Renata Williams is a seasoned education professional with more than 15 years of experience in education. Renata holds a bachelor of arts degree from Hartwick College, a master of arts and a professional diploma from Manhattan College, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from The Sage Colleges. She started her career in enrollment management but has also held roles in academic affairs and student affairs. Renata is the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Mercersburg Academy. At prior institutions Renata has served as the Assistant Dean of Engagement and Inclusion, Director of Intercultural Affairs and Inclusive Programming and Director in the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). Renata has spent her time in education intentionally working with students, colleagues, and peers to meet them where they are and assist in the learning process of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Although she has not always had a position that directly “required” the hard work of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Renata has consciously made it part of her work regardless of title or job description. Renata has facilitated workshops throughout New York and Pennsylvania. One of her strengths in conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion lies in her lived experiences.

Leela Woody

Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and English Faculty

woodyl@mercersburg.edu

Dormitory Deans

Christian Bancroft

English Faculty and Dormitory Dean

bancroftc@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6215

BIO

Christian Bancroft

English Faculty and Dormitory Dean

bancroftc@mercersburg.edu

Christian Bancroft joined Mercersburg’s English department in 2019. Christian coaches track & field and serves as the dorm dean of Keil Hall. With more than 10 years of teaching experience, they previously taught English at Temple University; at STEMCivics, a charter school in Ewing, NJ; and at the University of Houston, among other institutions. Christian also has 10 years of editorial experience working for prominent literary journals such as Callaloo, Gulf Coast, and Bat City Review. Christian received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. from the University of Houston. The co-editor of Adelaide Crapsey: On the Life and Work of an American Master (2018) and the author of Queering Modernist Translation (2020), Christian’s poetry and prose have been featured in a number of literary publications.

Doonie Brewer

English Faculty and Dormitory Dean

brewerd@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6215

BIO

Doonie Brewer

English Faculty and Dormitory Dean

brewerd@mercersburg.edu

Doonie Brewer joined the Mercersburg faculty in 2015; she teaches English and serves as dormitory dean in Swank Hall. She spent eight years at Holderness School in New Hampshire, where she was chair of the English department, head varsity softball and field hockey coach (and assistant girls’ varsity basketball coach), and a dorm parent and faculty adviser. Doonie has also taught and coached at Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, MA, St. George’s School in Newport, RI (her alma mater), and Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, CT (where she served as director of athletics and assistant dean of students in addition to coaching and teaching). Doonie previously served as a head coach and assistant for Mercersburg’s varsity softball team and as head coach of the junior varsity field hockey team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Penn State University and a master’s degree in American studies from Trinity College in Connecticut.

Kristin Magalhães

Mathematics Faculty and Dormitory Dean

magalhaesk@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Kristin Magalhães

Mathematics Faculty and Dormitory Dean

magalhaesk@mercersburg.edu

Kristi Magalhães teaches mathematics and serves as the dormitory dean in Culbertson House. She joined the Mercersburg community in 2017 from the Pan American School of Porto Alegre in Brazil, where she taught high school mathematics. Kristi previously worked at Holderness School in New Hampshire, where she served as dean of academics, chair of the mathematics department, dorm director, and college counselor. She has also taught in Vermont and Brasilia, Brazil, and has studied abroad in Spain. Kristi earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and mathematics from the University of Vermont. She lives in Culbertson with her husband, Eduardo, and their two sons.

Laura Patterson

Dormitory Dean

pattersonl@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Laura Patterson

Dormitory Dean

pattersonl@mercersburg.edu

Laura Patterson has served as dormitory dean of Tippetts Hall since 2013, though she and her family have been part of the Mercersburg community since 2005, when Laura’s husband, Chip, joined the faculty as an English teacher. As the dean of Tippetts Hall, Laura oversees the largest boys’ dorm on campus, which is home to more than 80 boarding students and serves as home base for an additional number of day students. Laura and Chip (who is the head of the English department) have three children: Mia ’15, Dean ’16, and Kat ’18.

Shelley Swope

Admission Visit Coordinator and Dormitory Dean

swopes@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6173

BIO

Shelley Swope

Admission Visit Coordinator and Dormitory Dean

swopes@mercersburg.edu

Shelley Swope serves as visit coordinator for the Admission Office and as dormitory dean in South Cottage; she previously taught English. Prior to Mercersburg, Shelley was an English teacher and dormitory head at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, TN, where she worked with the school yearbook, coached cross country, and served as a student adviser. Shelley was Webb’s Teacher of the Year in 2014; she has also worked as a reporter for People magazine. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South, where she captained the swim team and spent a semester studying in England. Shelley also holds a master’s from Middle Tennessee State University. She and her husband, Interim Director of Admission Zach Swope, previously lived in Fowle Hall; Shelley also spent her first two years at Mercersburg as an assistant swimming coach in addition to her academic and residential duties.

Jackie Sweeney

Dormitory Dean and Administrative Assistant for College Counseling

sweeneyj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6156

BIO

Jackie Sweeney

Dormitory Dean and Administrative Assistant for College Counseling

sweeneyj@mercersburg.edu

Jackie Sweeney serves as the dormitory dean in Main Hall and is an administrative assistant in the Office of College Counseling. Her husband, Mike, teaches mathematics and has been a member of the faculty since 2003. The Sweeneys have lived in Main Hall since 2012-2013 and are the parents of four children (all Mercersburg alumni or current students): Megan ’07, Sean ’13, Jack ’19, and Fiona ’21.

Haley Tyree

Dormitory Dean and Testing Coordinator

tyreeh@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Haley Tyree

Dormitory Dean and Testing Coordinator

tyreeh@mercersburg.edu

Haley Tyree is Mercersburg’s testing coordinator and the dorm dean in Fowle Hall. She and her family arrived at the Academy in 2019, after working and living at two independent schools in Massachusetts. Haley earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and was a teacher at Head Start in Brattleboro, VT, a lead teacher at Pocumtuck Preschool in Deerfield, MA, and an independent tutor to students at Eaglebrook and Williston Northampton Schools. She was also a dorm dean at Northfield Mount Hermon Summer Sessions and the testing coordinator at Williston. Haley and her husband, faculty member Ryan Tyree, live in Fowle with their two children.

English

Michele Poacelli

English Department Head and Director of the Writing Center

poacellim@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6207

BIO

Michele Poacelli

English Department Head and Director of the Writing Center

poacellim@mercersburg.edu

Michele Poacelli teaches English, has served as director of the Writing Center since 2015, and is an adviser to Blue Review, the school’s literary-arts publication. She arrived at Mercersburg in 2007 when her husband, Todd McGuire, joined the English department faculty. Michele was the dormitory dean in Culbertson House for four years, and spent two summers as director of Mercersburg Summer Programs’ Young Writers Camp. Michele has worked with Mercersburg students as a tutor in English and history and has held instructional and leadership positions with Teach for America, The Dalton School, Summerbridge of Greater Philadelphia, and Hagerstown Community College. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. Michele and Todd live off campus with their two children.

Kristin Ahlgren

English Faculty, Head Girls’ Lacrosse Coach, and Head Field Hockey Coach

ahlgrenk@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Kristin Ahlgren

English Faculty, Head Girls’ Lacrosse Coach, and Head Field Hockey Coach

ahlgrenk@mercersburg.edu

Kristin Ahlgren came to Mercersburg in 2017 as a member of the English faculty. Kristin is head coach of Mercersburg’s girls’ varsity lacrosse and field hockey teams, and is also a head coach for Renegades Lacrosse Club. She previously taught and worked in the library at Gilman School in Baltimore, where she also served as a head coach for the Diamonds Lacrosse Club. Kristin has taught and worked at St. David’s Day School in Baltimore and at Heritage Hall School in Oklahoma City (where she was also the head field hockey coach). Her coaching experience includes stints as head field hockey and women’s lacrosse coach at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe, MI; as head junior varsity field hockey and assistant JV lacrosse coach at Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore; and as an assistant field hockey and women’s lacrosse coach at Oberlin College in Ohio. Kristin graduated from Gettysburg College, where she played varsity field hockey and lacrosse; she lives in Mercersburg with her four children, including Jill ’19, Jake ’21, and Bridget ’22.

Christian Bancroft

English Faculty and Dormitory Dean

bancroftc@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6215

BIO

Christian Bancroft

English Faculty and Dormitory Dean

bancroftc@mercersburg.edu

Christian Bancroft joined Mercersburg’s English department in 2019. Christian coaches track & field and serves as the dorm dean of Keil Hall. With more than 10 years of teaching experience, they previously taught English at Temple University; at STEMCivics, a charter school in Ewing, NJ; and at the University of Houston, among other institutions. Christian also has 10 years of editorial experience working for prominent literary journals such as Callaloo, Gulf Coast, and Bat City Review. Christian received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Ph.D. from the University of Houston. The co-editor of Adelaide Crapsey: On the Life and Work of an American Master (2018) and the author of Queering Modernist Translation (2020), Christian’s poetry and prose have been featured in a number of literary publications.

Doonie Brewer

English Faculty and Dormitory Dean

brewerd@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6215

BIO

Doonie Brewer

English Faculty and Dormitory Dean

brewerd@mercersburg.edu

Doonie Brewer joined the Mercersburg faculty in 2015; she teaches English and serves as dormitory dean in Swank Hall. She spent eight years at Holderness School in New Hampshire, where she was chair of the English department, head varsity softball and field hockey coach (and assistant girls’ varsity basketball coach), and a dorm parent and faculty adviser. Doonie has also taught and coached at Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, MA, St. George’s School in Newport, RI (her alma mater), and Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, CT (where she served as director of athletics and assistant dean of students in addition to coaching and teaching). Doonie previously served as a head coach and assistant for Mercersburg’s varsity softball team and as head coach of the junior varsity field hockey team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Penn State University and a master’s degree in American studies from Trinity College in Connecticut.

Frank Betkowski

English Faculty

Interim Head Diving Coach

betkowskif@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6215

BIO

Frank Betkowski

English Faculty

Interim Head Diving Coach

betkowskif@mercersburg.edu

Frank Betkowski spent nine years as Mercersburg’s associate director of college counseling (while also teaching English) before moving to the English department full time. He previously was director of college admissions counseling and taught AP English at Wakefield School in The Plains, VA. After graduating from Georgetown University, Frank taught first at his high school alma mater, St. Peter’s Prep, in Jersey City, NJ. At the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College, Frank was twice a named scholar, affording him the opportunity to spend summers in residence in Santa Fe and at Lincoln College, University of Oxford. For five years, Frank operated his own college admissions consulting firm, Higher Edge LLC. Frank and his wife, fellow faculty member and Director of Learning Services Margaret Maciulla, have four children: Michael ’19, Maggie ’21, Francis ’23, and Charlie ’24. In addition to his academic and residential duties (in Keil Hall), Frank serves as the interim head diving coach and an adviser to the school newspaper.

Maggie Howes

English and History Faculty

howesm@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Maggie Howes

English and History Faculty

howesm@mercersburg.edu

Maggie Howes teaches English and history at Mercersburg. She previously worked at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA, where she was a history and literature teacher as well as a dormitory head. She has taught and worked in schools and programs in Maryland, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Maggie is a graduate of the University of Vermont and Tufts University. She and her husband, Assistant Head of School for Student Life and Culture Chris Howes, live on campus with their children.

Matt Maurer

Director of Arts Programming and English and Theatre Faculty

maurerm@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6177

BIO

Matt Maurer

Director of Arts Programming and English and Theatre Faculty

maurerm@mercersburg.edu

 

Matt Maurer joined the faculty in 2001. In addition to serving as Director of Arts Programming, Matt teaches English and theatre, directs plays, and serves as an adviser to the Irving & Marshall Society declaimers and the Karux yearbook. After earning a BS in education from the University of Dayton in 1993, where he won the Louis J. Faerber Award for Excellence in Secondary Education, Matt taught public school for eight years. He earned a master’s in English from the University of Dayton in 2000, completed the Lessac Institute’s Voice & Body Intensive in 2002, and earned a second master’s in directing from the Theatre Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts in 2010. Matt has adapted three nondramatic texts for the Mercersburg stage, and was the 2015–2016 recipient of the Ammerman Distinguished Teaching Award for Religious and Interdisciplinary Studies. He and his wife, Dr. Julia Stojak Maurer ’90, have five children: Emma ’18, Will ’20, Michael ‘22, Nathalie ‘23, and Mary.

Todd McGuire

English Faculty

mcguiret@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6215

BIO

Todd McGuire

English Faculty

mcguiret@mercersburg.edu

Todd McGuire came to Mercersburg in 2008 from Camden Catholic High School in New Jersey, where he taught English and Spanish. In more than 20 years as an educator in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Washington state, Todd has designed curriculum that reflects the lives of students and incorporated project-based educational experiences into his classes—including Mercersburg’s entrepreneurship course. Todd coaches boys’ thirds soccer and previously served as the head boys’ lacrosse coach, and he spearheads the school’s community garden. He is also a successful small-business entrepreneur who created Rain City Skate Park in Seattle, an indoor recreation facility that received national recognition. Todd and his wife, fellow English faculty member and Writing Center Director Michele Poacelli, have two children.

Alexandra Patterson

Director of Library Services

pattersona@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6149

BIO

Alexandra Patterson

Director of Library Services

pattersona@mercersburg.edu

Alexandra Patterson spent three years as a research librarian at Mercersburg before joining the faculty as director of library services in 2017. She works with faculty and students on information literacy and research, and has helped the library develop diverse collections of print and non-print materials and maintain a robust catalog. She holds the Marjorie McCrae McCulloh Chair for the Library Director. Alexandra has taught in the English department since 2018. She came to Mercersburg from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a master’s degree in library science. While in Chapel Hill, she worked with teens at the Orange County Public Library. A native of Bowling Green, KY, Alexandra earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Kenyon College. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in education from Johns Hopkins University. Alexandra lives in Fowle Hall.

Chip Patterson

English Faculty

pattersonc@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Chip Patterson

English Faculty

pattersonc@mercersburg.edu

Chip Patterson has worked at Mercersburg since 2005; he has taught English in all four grades, as well as Journalism, Existentialism in Literature, and Film Studies. He became chair of the school’s English department in 2017. Chip also coaches junior varsity boys’ squash and previously served as Mercersburg’s assistant dean of students. Before coming to Mercersburg, Chip served as a public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in California. A former crime reporter, he won six California Newspaper Publishers Association awards. Chip and his wife, Laura, live in Tippetts Hall, where Laura is the dormitory dean. The Pattersons have three children: Mia ’15, Dean ’16, and Kat ’18.

Rebecca Rose

English Faculty

roser@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Rebecca Rose

English Faculty

roser@mercersburg.edu

Rebecca Rose is an English teacher, adviser, and assistant coach in the girls' cross country and indoor track and field programs. She was previously part of Mercersburg’s inaugural teaching-fellow program from 2016 to 2018 before completing a master's in linguistics from Columbia University, Teachers College. She returns to Mercersburg from Girls Prep Bronx Middle School in the Bronx, NY, where she taught English language arts and served as a student adviser. Prior to Girls Prep, Rebecca taught English and ENL at schools throughout New York City. Rebecca holds a bachelor’s degree in classics from Middlebury College in addition to her master's from Columbia.

Ryan Tyree

English Faculty and Director of Squash

tyreer@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6215

BIO

Ryan Tyree

English Faculty and Director of Squash

tyreer@mercersburg.edu

Ryan Tyree is Mercersburg’s director of squash and a member of the English faculty. He joined Mercersburg in 2019, arriving from Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA, where he taught English and served as a dormitory head in addition to holding head-coaching positions in boys’ squash and boys’ tennis (for seven years apiece). Ryan coached a U.S. Squash Division 6 Nationals-champion team at Williston, and has worked with legendary coach Paul Assaiante’s International Squash Academy summer camps. He previously taught and coached at Eaglebrook School and taught summer-session classes at Northfield Mount Hermon School. Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Massachusetts, as well as master’s degrees in secondary education from the University of Phoenix and English literature from Middlebury College. While a graduate student at Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English, Ryan was twice awarded the Robert Haiduke Poetry Prize (2014 and 2015). Ryan is an avid lover of travel and cinema, and was a founding member of the musical venture Of Blessings and Burdens, with whom he recorded and toured in the 2000s. His wife, Haley, is the testing coordinator in Mercersburg’s Office of College Counseling and the dorm dean in Fowle Hall, where the Tyrees live with their two children.

Leela Woody

Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and English Faculty

woodyl@mercersburg.edu

Facilities

Brian Nordyke

Director of Facilities

nordykeb@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6196

BIO

Brian Nordyke

Director of Facilities

nordykeb@mercersburg.edu

Brian Nordyke is Mercersburg’s director of facilities, and has worked at the school since 2012. Brian graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in civil and structural engineering. He previously served as a captain in the Air National Guard and is a licensed professional engineer in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. His wife, Danielle DeHaven Nordyke, is the Academy’s director of human resources; they have two children, Richard and Madison ’14.

Sherry Bradnick

Administrative Assistant for Housekeeping

bradnicks@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6226

BIO

Sherry Bradnick

Administrative Assistant for Housekeeping

bradnicks@mercersburg.edu

Sherry Bradnick joined Mercersburg in 2020 as an administrative assistant for housekeeping. She previously worked as a property manager for a Section 8 housing complex. Sherry lives in Mercersburg with her husband, Joel.

Rick Buterbaugh

Carpenter

buterbaughr@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6365

Barry Byers Sr.

Grounds Maintenance Technician

byersb@mercersburg.edu

Randy Campbell

Housekeeping Supervisor

campbellr@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6336

BIO

Randy Campbell

Housekeeping Supervisor

campbellr@mercersburg.edu

Randy Campbell is the facilities housekeeping supervisor in the Facilities Office. He joined the school in 2005. Campbell previously worked as a custodian and was part of the athletic staff. Prior to Mercersburg, he was a dispatcher supervisor for 15 years with Franklin County Emergency Management in Chambersburg. He resides in Chambersburg and has a daughter, Ashlyn.

Shane Carbaugh

Painter

carbaughsh@mercersburg.edu

Pamela Chamberlin

Custodian

chamberlinp@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Pamela Chamberlin

Custodian

chamberlinp@mercersburg.edu

Pamela Chamberlin is part of the housekeeping staff in the Facilities Office. She joined the Academy in 2008.

Florine Chilcote

Mail Room Clerk

chilcotef@mercersburg.edu

Tina Farrow

Custodian

farrowt@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Tina Farrow

Custodian

farrowt@mercersburg.edu

Tina Farrow is a custodian in housekeeping working in the Facilities Office. She joined the school in 2017. Tina previously worked in Hagerstown as a credit analyst for Citibank. She lives in Greencastle with her husband, John, and their two children, Seth and Ryan.

Mark Fischer

Operational Services Technician

fischerm@mercersburg.edu

Gay Gordon

Custodian

gordong@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Gay Gordon

Custodian

gordong@mercersburg.edu

Gay Gordon works in housekeeping and joined the school in 2007.

Cathy Greenlaw

Custodian

greenlawc@mercersburg.edu

Felix Guzman

Painter

guzmanf@mercersburg.edu

Bill Hege

Grounds Maintenance Technician

hegew@mercersburg.edu

Chris Hartman

Facilities Housekeeping

hartmanc@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Chris Hartman

Facilities Housekeeping

hartmanc@mercersburg.edu

Chris Hartman is a custodian in housekeeping working in the Facilities Office. He joined the school in 2017 and previously worked for Good Humor Breyers for 21 years.

Michelle Iannazzo-Zeger

Athletic Facilities Staff

zegerm@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Michelle Iannazzo-Zeger

Athletic Facilities Staff

zegerm@mercersburg.edu

Michelle Iannazzo-Zeger is a custodian in housekeeping working in the Facilities Office. She joined the school in 2018. She and her husband, John, have three children: Daniel, Melissa, and Melanie.

Barbara Jarrett

Custodian

jarrettb@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Barbara Jarrett

Custodian

jarrettb@mercersburg.edu

Barbara Jarrett is a custodian in housekeeping working in the Facilities Office. She joined the school in 2017 and previously worked in landscaping for 25 years.

Dan Jones

Operational Services Technician

jonesd@mercersburg.edu

Logan Junkin

Grounds Maintenance Technician

junkinl@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Logan Junkin

Grounds Maintenance Technician

junkinl@mercersburg.edu

Logan Junkin works in grounds maintenance in the Facilities Office. He joined the school in 2018 and previously worked for CVTS as an arborist. He also owns and operates his own lawn company.

William Keith

Grounds Maintenance Technician

keithw@mercersburg.edu

John Kline

Grounds Maintenance Technician

klinej@mercersburg.edu

BIO

John Kline

Grounds Maintenance Technician

klinej@mercersburg.edu

John Kline joined Mercersburg's Facilities Department in 2021. Previously he owned and operated a landscaping business and worked at Phillips’ Seed and Garden Center. John holds an associate’s degree from Penn State Mont Alto and is a certified horticulturist.

Tina Koons

Grounds Maintenance Technician

koonst@mercersburg.edu

Tracy Linn

Building Maintenance Supervisor

linnt@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6169

BIO

Tracy Linn

Building Maintenance Supervisor

linnt@mercersburg.edu

Tracy Linn joined the Academy in 2015 and is a maintenance supervisor in the Facilities Office. He graduated from the Franklin County Career and from Technical School and Hagerstown Community College with an electrical and HVACR degree. His daughter, Kayleigh ’22, attends Mercersburg.

Bill Mann

Grounds Maintenance Technician

mannb@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Bill Mann

Grounds Maintenance Technician

mannb@mercersburg.edu

Bill Mann is a grounds technician in the Facilities Office. He joined the Academy in 1997.

Ed Martin

Operational Services Supervisor

martine@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Ed Martin

Operational Services Supervisor

martine@mercersburg.edu

Ed Martin is the operational services supervisor in the Facilities Office. He joined the Academy in 2013. Ed was previously a carpenter, construction inspector, consulting services field and lab supervisor, and project manager for CE Williams and Sons.

Linda McCombie

Administrative Assistant

mccombiel@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6175

BIO

Linda McCombie

Administrative Assistant

mccombiel@mercersburg.edu

Linda McCombie is the office manager in the Facilities Office. She joined the Academy in 1992. Previously, she worked for 15 years as an accounts payable manager for the Business Office. Her husband, Steve, oversees the school’s mail room.

Steve McCombie

Senior Mail Room Clerk

mccombies@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6182

BIO

Steve McCombie

Senior Mail Room Clerk

mccombies@mercersburg.edu

Steve McCombie manages the mail room as a member of the Facilities Office. He joined the Academy in 2000 and holds an electrical certification from WACC.

Lena Miller

Custodian

millerle@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Lena Miller

Custodian

millerle@mercersburg.edu

Lena Miller is a custodian in housekeeping working in the Facilities Office. She joined the school in 2015 and previously worked as a waitress for 27 years. She and her husband, Danny, have two children, Amanda and Adam.

Amy Rion

Custodian

pipera@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Amy Rion

Custodian

pipera@mercersburg.edu

Amy Piper is a member of the housekeeping team and joined Mercersburg in 2010.

Michael Quinlivan

Power Plant Operator

quinlivanm@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Michael Quinlivan

Power Plant Operator

quinlivanm@mercersburg.edu

Michael Quinlivan is a power plant operator in the Facilities Office. He joined the school in 1995.

J.R. Smith

Electrician

smithjr@mercersburg.edu

Steve Stiansen

Grounds Maintenance Supervisor

stiansens@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Steve Stiansen

Grounds Maintenance Supervisor

stiansens@mercersburg.edu

A member of the Mercersburg Facilities Office since 2021, Steve holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape contracting and a minor in business from Penn State University. He previously owned and operated a landscape design and consulting business in northern New Jersey, worked as a grounds lead for the U.S. Army at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, and Fort Stewart, GA, and was the grounds supervisor at Hagerstown Community College. Steve resides in Hagerstown with his wife, Jennifer, and two children, Steven and Ethan.

Jamie Stoner

Custodian

stonerj@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Jamie Stoner

Custodian

stonerj@mercersburg.edu

Jamie Stoner is a custodian in housekeeping, working in the Facilities Office. He joined the school in 2011, having installed floors for more than 25 years. He has lived in and around Mercersburg all of his life.

Will Willis

Director of Environmental Initiatives and Science Faculty

willisw@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6328

BIO

Will Willis

Director of Environmental Initiatives and Science Faculty

willisw@mercersburg.edu

Will Willis became the director of environmental initiatives in 2012-2013 after having been sustainability coordinator since 2009 and working with the Green Team (a student environmental group) since 2003. He also teaches Advanced Topics in Environmental Science. Will was Mercersburg’s director of international programs from 2005 to 2012 and worked in the Alumni and Development Office from 2001 to 2005. He is active in the local community as one of the original water quality monitoring volunteers with the Johnston Run Revitalization Team, as well as one of the PA State Commissioners to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). Will served as the executive director for Bitterroot Ecological Awareness Resources, a Montana-based environmental education nonprofit. He also worked for Andersen Consulting; before that, as a Fulbright Scholar, he taught English and American culture as a foreign-language teaching assistant for grades 5 through 12 in Germany. He graduated cum laude with honors in geology from Colgate University with a double major in geology and German. Will is an adviser and dorm faculty member in Tippetts Hall and previously spent a combined eight years as a dormitory dean in South Cottage and Culbertson House. His wife, Betsy Cunningham, is Mercersburg’s head girls’ cross country coach; they have two daughters, Molly ’22 and Leah ’24.

Pamela Wenger

Custodian

wengerp@mercersburg.edu

Amanda Zeis

Operational Services Technician

zeisa@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Amanda Zeis

Operational Services Technician

zeisa@mercersburg.edu

Amanda Zeis is the operational services technician in the Facilities Office and joined the Academy in 2018. She previously worked with McDonald’s as a crew member and store manager for nearly a decade. Amanda has three children: Leighton, Wade, and Deacon.

Jeff Zeis

Grounds Maintenance Technician

zeisj@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Jeff Zeis

Grounds Maintenance Technician

zeisj@mercersburg.edu

Jeff Zeis is a grounds technician in the Facilities Office. He joined the Academy in 1979.

John Zeis

Operational Services Technician

zeisjo@mercersburg.edu

Head of School’s Office

Quentin McDowell

Acting Head of School

mcdowellq@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6112

BIO

Quentin McDowell

Acting Head of School

mcdowellq@mercersburg.edu

Quentin McDowell, who has served on the Mercersburg Academy faculty since 2007, is currently Mercersburg’s acting head of school. He was appointed Mercersburg’s associate head of school for external relations in 2019 after serving for three years as the assistant head of school for enrollment. Quentin arrived at Mercersburg in 2007 as a member of the history faculty and became director of summer and external programs in 2008—a position he held until 2012, when he joined the admission office as senior associate director of admission and financial aid. Quentin also served as the head boys’ varsity soccer coach for eight years, leading the Blue Storm to its first-ever Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship and the PAISAA state championship game in 2014. He is a graduate of Muhlenberg College and George Washington University. Quentin and his wife, Lauren, have three children: Nina ’25, Ewan, and Rooney.

De-Enda Rotz

Director of Executive Services

rotzd@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6113

BIO

De-Enda Rotz

Director of Executive Services

rotzd@mercersburg.edu

De-Enda Rotz joined Mercersburg’s staff in 1993 and held a number of development and alumni relations positions over the course of more than 20 years—including director of stewardship and engagement, associate director of alumni and parent relations, and most recently director of special programs—before accepting a role in the head of school’s office in 2018. De-Enda holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Wilson College. Her father, the late Roy Peck, worked at Mercersburg as a member of the buildings and grounds staff for more than 50 years. De-Enda and her husband, Dirk, are parents to Derek and Devin ’25.

Cheryl Selman

Administrative Assistant for the Head of School's Office

selmanc@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Cheryl Selman

Administrative Assistant for the Head of School's Office

selmanc@mercersburg.edu

Cheryl Selman joined Mercersburg Academy in 2021 as an administrative assistant in the Head of School’s Office. Before coming to Mercersburg, she worked as a legal assistant for Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe Inc. and as a judicial assistant for Judge Shawn Meyers ’86. Cheryl lives in Chambersburg with her husband, Peter, and her children, Madison and Chase.

Jacquelyn Grace

Special Events Manager

gracej@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6363

BIO

Jacquelyn Grace

Special Events Manager

gracej@mercersburg.edu

Jacquelyn Ross Grace ’07 earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Penn State University and spent two years as an administrative assistant in the Office of Admission and Financial Aid before joining the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations in September 2013. In 2019, she began her role as special events manager and is responsible for planning campus, virtual, and regional events, including the school’s annual flagship event, Family and Alumni Weekend. She lives in McConnellsburg with her husband, JJ, and their children, Elle and Tae.

Alexa Stoner

Special Events Coordinator

stonera@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6204

BIO

Alexa Stoner

Special Events Coordinator

stonera@mercersburg.edu

Alexa Stoner joined Mercersburg Academy in 2021 as a special events coordinator focusing on advancement and alumni relations and college counseling. She graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in dairy and animal science and has more than 20 years of marketing, communications, and event planning experience serving the agricultural and finance industries. Alexa and her husband, Tim, live on their family dairy farm in Mercersburg.

Health Center

Laura Nickerson

Director of Health and Wellness Services

nickersonl@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6136

BIO

Laura Nickerson

Director of Health and Wellness Services

nickersonl@mercersburg.edu

Laura Nickerson joined Mercersburg as director of health and wellness services at the start of the 2020-2021 academic year. Laura previously worked as a registered nurse at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME, and spent four years as director of health services at Gould Academy in Bethel, ME. Laura holds a doctorate of nursing practice, advanced leadership in health care from Regis University, a master’s of science in nursing, education from Walden University, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from St. Lawrence College in Ontario, Canada.

Stephanie Comer-Concordia, CRNP

Nurse Practitioner

comer-concordias@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Stephanie Comer-Concordia, CRNP

Nurse Practitioner

comer-concordias@mercersburg.edu

Stephanie Comer-Concordia is a nurse practitioner in the Rutherford Health and Wellness Center. She joined the Academy in 2017. Stephanie graduated from the University of Maryland with a master’s degree in nursing, and is the parent of Susan Concordia ’22, Louis Concordia ’22, and Christian Concordia ’24.

Lisa Harmon, RN

Registered Nurse

harmonl@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Lisa Harmon, RN

Registered Nurse

harmonl@mercersburg.edu

Lisa Harmon is a registered nurse in the Rutherford Health and Wellness Center. She joined the Academy in 2011.

Denise Keefer, LPN

Licensed Practical Nurse

keeferd@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Denise Keefer, LPN

Licensed Practical Nurse

keeferd@mercersburg.edu

Denise Keefer joined the Academy in 2012 as a staff nurse in the Rutherford Health and Wellness Center. Denise graduated from the Franklin County Career and Technology Center's licensed nursing program and has been a nurse for 26 years in school and non-school settings. She is the proud mother of three boys, and her husband, Brad, works in the Athletic Department in facilities.

Mehret Kidane, RN

Registered Nurse

kidanem@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Mehret Kidane, RN

Registered Nurse

kidanem@mercersburg.edu

Mehret Kidane is a nurse in the Rutherford Health and Wellness Center. She joined the Academy in 2005 and graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Mehret’s three children are all Mercersburg alumni: Lola Tijani ’13, Timi Tijani ’14, and Laila Tijani ’18.

Becky Schook, RN

Registered Nurse

schookb@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Becky Schook, RN

Registered Nurse

schookb@mercersburg.edu

Becky Schook assesses, treats, and monitors student health. Before coming to Mercersburg, she worked in a multi-physician office for 11 years.

Maranda Sheffield, CNA

Health and Wellness Center Assistant

sheffieldm@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Maranda Sheffield, CNA

Health and Wellness Center Assistant

sheffieldm@mercersburg.edu

Maranda Sheffield is a certified nursing assistant in the Rutherford Health and Wellness Center. She joined the Academy in 2015.

Sonnia Oberholzer, RN

Registered Nurse

oberholzers@mercersburg.edu

History/Religion

Jay Bozzi

History Department Head

bozzij@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6188

BIO

Jay Bozzi

History Department Head

bozzij@mercersburg.edu

Jay Bozzi came to Mercersburg in 2014 after teaching and working at King’s Academy in Madaba, Jordan. He is chair of the history department and SEARCH coordinator for Mercersburg’s Advanced Program for Global Studies (MAPS). Jay is also an assistant wrestling coach. He and his wife, Sarah (a member of Mercersburg’s mathematics faculty and the assistant director of outdoor education), worked together on the faculty at King’s Academy, and Jay previously taught and coached at Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, CT, where he taught history and coached wrestling, football, and lacrosse. Jay graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT, and earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a U.S. concentration and a minor in political science from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN; he also holds a master’s degree in history from the University of New Hampshire. Jay serves as a dorm parent in South Cottage.

David Bell

History Faculty and Class of 2022 Grade Dean

belld@mercersburg.edu

717-328-1474

BIO

David Bell

History Faculty and Class of 2022 Grade Dean

belld@mercersburg.edu

David Bell came to Mercersburg in 1997 (he officially joined the faculty one year later) and worked in the library for 11 years while also teaching history classes. In 2008, he became a full-time history teacher and the director of community service. David is the 2017-2018 recipient of the school’s Zern Excellence in Teaching Award, and received the Ammerman Distinguished Teaching Award for Religious and Interdisciplinary Studies in 2007-2008. He previously taught history for more than a decade at Sanford High School in Sanford, ME. David’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in secondary education (with a major in history) from the University of Maine at Farmington and an MLIS from the University of Rhode Island. His 10 years of basketball experience prior to coming to Mercersburg included stints as a high-school varsity coach and a college assistant. At Mercersburg, David has coached varsity girls’ basketball and softball, as well as JV boys’ basketball and baseball; he is also the public-address announcer for varsity football games. David and his wife, staff member Julie Bell, have two daughters: Jennifer ’17 and Emily ’18.

Erin Caretti

History Faculty

Interim Head Varsity Volleyball Coach

carettie@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6188

BIO

Erin Caretti

History Faculty

Interim Head Varsity Volleyball Coach

carettie@mercersburg.edu

Erin Caretti is a native Pennsylvanian, having grown up in Shoemakersville, PA. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in education from Colgate University. After graduation, he spent two years teaching English as a second language in South Korea; upon returning to the U.S., he entered the boarding-school world at Wyoming Seminary as a history teacher and football coach. He earned a master’s degree in history from Villanova University. Before coming to Mercersburg, Erin worked at the Perkiomen School and Trinity-Pawling School. At Mercersburg, Erin teaches history and serves as an assistant coach for the varsity volleyball team and head coach for the JV boys’ basketball team. Erin lives just off campus with his wife, fellow faculty member Sydney Caretti, and their two daughters, Quinlan ’24 and Allister.

Rich Heffron

History Faculty

heffronr@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Rich Heffron

History Faculty

heffronr@mercersburg.edu

Rich Heffron arrived at Mercersburg from Ithaca College, where he taught in the Department of Philosophy and Religion. He previously taught at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. Rich received a bachelor’s degree in History from Quinnipiac University, where he captained the men’s cross country and track & field teams.He earned a master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies from the University of Chicago, and he is nearing the completion of a Ph.D. in Islamic history (also from the University of Chicago). During his graduate studies, Rich lived abroad in Sana’a, Damascus, and Cairo, and he published scholarship in the Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity, Penguin Book of Exorcisms, and Encyclopaedia of Islam. At Mercersburg, Rich teaches history and serves as an assistant coach for the boys’ cross country and boys’ and girls ’indoor track & field teams. He and his wife, Dr. Jenna Heffron, live in Tippetts Hall with their son, Jude.

Tim Kerr

History Faculty and Head Boys’ Lacrosse Coach

kerrt@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Tim Kerr

History Faculty and Head Boys’ Lacrosse Coach

kerrt@mercersburg.edu

Tim Kerr is Mercersburg’s head boys’ varsity lacrosse coach and teaches history and religion. He spent 13 years at Kent Island High School in Stevensville, MD, where he taught social studies and was the head boys’ lacrosse coach for seven seasons, coaching 24 future college lacrosse players. As head coach, Tim’s Buccaneers compiled an 89-24 record, four regional championships, and four state semi-final appearances. He served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at his undergraduate alma mater, Washington College, in Chestertown, MD, for six seasons, where he also taught a graduate course in history and served as an academic adviser. Tim has coached at the international level as an assistant for the Finnish national lacrosse team, coaching in a World Games and European Championships. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Washington College and a master’s degree in administration and leadership from the University of Phoenix. He and his wife, Carrie, live off campus with their children.

Emily Parsons

Director of Community Engagement and History Faculty

parsonse@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6188

BIO

Emily Parsons

Director of Community Engagement and History Faculty

parsonse@mercersburg.edu

Emily Parsons grew up in Mercersburg; her father, Sonny Parsons ’59, was a Mercersburg graduate and owned and ran a pharmacy in the borough for many years. While in college, Emily worked as a research intern in Washington, DC, where she became intimately acquainted with the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the National Building Museum. Emily teaches history and previously served as the dormitory dean in Fowle Hall. She was Mercersburg’s first director of Springboard (a capstone experience for members of the senior class), and also taught The Global Food Chain (a Springboard course) for its first four years. Emily holds the Marilyn and Robert M. Kurtz ’52 Chair for American Studies, and received the 2011-2012 Ammerman Distinguished Teaching Award for Religious and Interdisciplinary Studies. Emily is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Shippensburg University. She has three children, including Jay Howley ’21 and Evan Howley ’22.

Emily Schoenberger

History Faculty

schoenbergere@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Emily Schoenberger

History Faculty

schoenbergere@mercersburg.edu

Emily Schoenberger ’15 is a Mercersburg native and graduated from Shippensburg University with degrees in history education and English. She returned to Mercersburg after a year at North Penn-Mansfield High School, where she taught geography and world cultures and economics. While pursuing her undergraduate degrees, she spent three years as an assistant girls varsity soccer coach at Mercersburg. Emily has also served as assistant director of Mercersburg Summer Programs and is the director of Mercersburg Adventure Camp. During her time as a student at Mercersburg, she was a prefect in Fowle Hall, captain of the girls' varsity soccer team, and a Writing Center Fellow. Emily's mother Kelly worked in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations for 13 years, and her brothers Evan ’13 and Will ’17 are fellow Mercersburg alumni.

Allison Stephens

History Faculty

stephensa@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6188

BIO

Allison Stephens

History Faculty

stephensa@mercersburg.edu

Allison Stephens has taught at Mercersburg since 1989. She was first hired in 1987 as the school’s director of annual giving before moving into the classroom, where she has taught history, English, American studies, and the Quinn-Ferguson Honors Seminar. Allison serves as an adviser to the Mercersburg News, the Rainbow Alliance, and the Women’s Activist Club, and has been a longtime adviser to Mercersburg Model UN. She is a faculty adviser in Swank Hall. Allison has held the Rumbaugh Chair for excellence in teaching since 2011. She and her husband, fellow faculty member Dave Holzwarth ’78, have two children: Wynn Holzwarth ’11 and Zack Holzwarth ’13.

Daniel Walker

History Faculty and Class of 2024 Grade Dean

walkerd@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6188

BIO

Daniel Walker

History Faculty and Class of 2024 Grade Dean

walkerd@mercersburg.edu

Dan Walker teaches history and is currently an assistant dean of students/grade dean. Prior to his grade dean role, he spent 16 years as Mercersburg’s head football coach. As a historian, Dan is fascinated with the intertwining of geography with human activity; United States history is his main interest. Dan was an All-Patriot League defensive back at Colgate University, where he was named the team’s most valuable defensive player. He has worked and coached at Hamilton College, King’s College, and Frostburg State University (from which he earned a master’s of education). Dan and his wife, Nikki (who is head of Mercersburg’s science department and the head outdoor track & field coach), have two children, Colby ’19 and Holden ’23.

Will Whitmore

School Minister and History and Religion Faculty

whitmorew@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6137

BIO

Will Whitmore

School Minister and History and Religion Faculty

whitmorew@mercersburg.edu

Will Whitmore came to Mercersburg from The Rectory School in Pomfret, CT, where he served as the school’s chaplain, taught English, and was a tutor, dorm parent, soccer coach, and outdoor-education instructor. He has also worked at The Pennington School in New Jersey. Will is the 2016-2017 recipient of Mercersburg’s Ammerman Distinguished Teaching Award for Religious and Interdisciplinary Studies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the University of Denver and a master’s of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Will is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ. He is pursuing a Ph.D. from the University of Gloucestershire in England, where his dissertation focuses on sports chaplaincy in the National Football League and the English Premier League. Will regularly works with chaplaincy groups to help promote sports chaplaincy, and his research has been featured in various webinars and podcasts. Will lives on campus with his wife, Kristen, and their two foster children.

Human Resources

Danielle DeHaven Nordyke

Director of Human Resources

nordyked@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6116

BIO

Danielle DeHaven Nordyke

Director of Human Resources

nordyked@mercersburg.edu

Danielle Nordyke joined Mercersburg as the director of human resources in 2004 after spending 16 years in multiple human resources roles in both corporate environments and nonprofits. She manages human resources for all employees, including payroll and benefits administration, employee relations, performance management, and HR policy and compliance. Danielle holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Shepherd University and is a Society for Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional. She is also a veteran of the District of Columbia Air National Guard. Danielle and her husband, Brian (who is the school’s director of facilities), have two children, including Madison ’14.

Karla Bingaman

Human Resources Coordinator

bingamank@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6159

BIO

Karla Bingaman

Human Resources Coordinator

bingamank@mercersburg.edu

Karla Bingaman came to Mercersburg in 2001 and worked as administrative assistant for the Office of Summer and External Programs before transitioning to administrative coordinator for the College Counseling Office, where she worked for almost 19 years. Karla joined the Human Resources department in 2020.

Mitzi Nonemaker

Human Resources Generalist

nonemakerm@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6238

BIO

Mitzi Nonemaker

Human Resources Generalist

nonemakerm@mercersburg.edu

Mitzi Nonemaker came to Mercersburg with 27 years of accounting, payroll, and administrative experience. Her responsibilities include recruiting functions, onboarding and offboarding duties, lead payroll processing, and benefits administration. Mitzi assists employees with benefit information, employment guidelines, and policies and procedures. She also provides assistance to the director of human resources. Mitzi and her husband, Dan, have two children, Jessica ’02 and Michele.

Language

Tom Thorne

Language Department Head

thornet@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6153

BIO

Tom Thorne

Language Department Head

thornet@mercersburg.edu

Tom Thorne, who is in his second tour of duty as head of Mercersburg’s classical and modern languages department, studied Latin and economics while attending Dickinson College. At Dickinson, he received the M.G. Filler Prize for Excellence in Classical Studies. Before coming to Mercersburg, he taught at Christ School in North Carolina. At Christ School, Tom developed a Paideia-inspired seminar approach for ancient history courses, and headed the foreign languages department. His excellence in teaching earned him the James M. Johnston Instructor’s Award at Mercersburg for the 1996-97 school year, and he has held the David F. Chapman Chair since 2001. Tom was the invited speaker at Mercersburg’s 2008 Commencement exercises and at the school’s Baccalaureate ceremony in 2013. He also serves as an adviser to the Karux (the school’s yearbook). Tom and his wife, Barb (the school store supervisor), are the parents of two Mercersburg graduates: Elissa Thorne Shashai ’06 and Julia Thorne ’07.

Grace Abel

Language Faculty

abelg@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6153

BIO

Grace Abel

Language Faculty

abelg@mercersburg.edu

Grace Abel, originally from Taiwan, came to Mercersburg from Hastings College and Smith College, where she was an adjunct professor of Chinese language and culture. After receiving a master’s degree in education she taught at Lakeside School in Seattle and established the Mandarin Chinese program for the University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, and spent five years as the Mandarin instructor at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts. She has served as an AP Chinese reader for the Educational Testing Service for many years. Grace and her husband, Andrew (who is managing editor of a local newspaper, the Mercersburg Journal), live in one of the faculty townhouses on campus. Their son, Nathan ’17, is a Mercersburg graduate. 

Peter Kempe

Language Faculty

kempep@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Peter Kempe

Language Faculty

kempep@mercersburg.edu

Peter Kempe has taught at all educational levels, from preschool to university, in Germany and the United States. Peter is a College Board and ETS consultant, having served from 1995-2000 on the AP German Test Development Committee, and has served as a table and question leader during the grading of German AP exams. Peter is an avid runner of marathons; as an athlete, he played soccer in Germany and the U.S. for a number of clubs and also played college soccer for both San Francisco State University and the University of Hannover in Germany. He holds the national B license of the DFB (German Soccer Federation) and spent 12 seasons as Mercersburg’s head boys’ soccer coach. Peter has three children: Anika ’09, Stefan ’13, and Antonia ’18.

Benjamin McNeil

Language Faculty

mcneilb@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6153

BIO

Benjamin McNeil

Language Faculty

mcneilb@mercersburg.edu

Ben McNeil teaches French and Latin and is the head coach for Mercersburg’s boys’ thirds soccer team and boys’ JV lacrosse team. Ben lived in New England most of his childhood and played football, hockey, and lacrosse at Williston Northampton School, where he earned 10 varsity letters and was an All-New England All-Star in lacrosse. He went on to play lacrosse at Providence College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in French. He also holds a master’s degree in French pedagogy and linguistics from Middlebury College and Latin credits from Catholic University. Ben came to Mercersburg from the Tilton School in New Hampshire in 2014. He and his three sons, Manny, Finnegan, and Everett, live in Main Hall.

Justine O’Connell

Director of Global Programs and Language Faculty

oconnellj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6345

BIO

Justine O’Connell

Director of Global Programs and Language Faculty

oconnellj@mercersburg.edu

Justine O’Connell is Mercersburg's director of global programs, international student coordinator, and a member of the school's language department. Before coming to Mercersburg, Justine was the exchange coordinator and an English language teacher at Colegio Alemán de San Felipe, which is Mercersburg’s sister school and exchange partner in Chile. She has accompanied Colegio Alemán students on two separate trips to Mercersburg. Justine serves on the Conduct Review Committee, works with Model UN, and is an adviser in Fowle Hall. She holds two bachelor’s degrees in Spanish literature and global studies from the University of Arizona. She and her husband, Matias Abarca, live in Fowle with their dog, Kobe.

Heather Prescott

Language Faculty

prescotth@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6153

BIO

Heather Prescott

Language Faculty

prescotth@mercersburg.edu

Heather Prescott previously taught French in Massachusetts and Vermont, Spanish in New Hampshire, and English at a bilingual school in El Salvador. Heather specializes in making language applicable in students' daily lives. Two of her research publications on Second Language Acquisition and Writing to Learn were published in 1994 and in 2001, and she is a member of AATF and ACTFL. She was a presenter at the 2005 Quebec City conference of the AATF, speaking about Mercersburg’s newest advanced-French course: Contemporary Issues in the French-Speaking World. She is a College Board Examination Reader for the Advanced Placement French Language and Culture Course. Heather was the 2008-2009 recipient of the Zern Excellence in Teaching Award and is a former head of Mercersburg’s classical and modern languages department. Heather stays in touch with many of her former students, both by letters and by email.

Wendy Valenteen

Language Faculty

valenteenw@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6153

BIO

Wendy Valenteen

Language Faculty

valenteenw@mercersburg.edu

Wendy Valenteen came to Mercersburg with many years of teaching experience. After teaching at York High School in York, PA, she took up residence in Valladolid, Spain, teaching in private academies and establishing her own academy over a time period of 14 years. Wendy also taught a bilingual curriculum in the elementary, middle, and high school grades at the Colegio Internacional de Valladolid for five years. During the last three years of her 22-year residence in Spain, she taught English within the multimedia method at the Wall Street Institute in Palencia and at the Pre-K to Adult levels at the Estudio Internacional in Valladolid. Immediately before coming to Mercersburg, she taught Spanish at Baltimore’s Gilman School. Wendy is a College Board Examination Reader for the AP Spanish Language and Culture course. She and her husband, Félix, have two children: a son, Félix ’06, and a daughter, Amanda.

Library

Nicole Brown

Library Assistant and Tech Integration Specialist

brownn@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Nicole Brown

Library Assistant and Tech Integration Specialist

brownn@mercersburg.edu

Nicole Brown joined Mercersburg in 2021 as a library assistant and technology integration specialist. She received a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Penn State University and a secondary teaching certification from Wilson College, and is completing a master’s in library and information science from Clarion University. Nicole previously taught English in Maryland for 10 years. She lives in Mercersburg with her husband, faculty member Andy Brown, and their children, Damien and Liam.

Alexandra Patterson

Director of Library Services

pattersona@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6149

BIO

Alexandra Patterson

Director of Library Services

pattersona@mercersburg.edu

Alexandra Patterson spent three years as a research librarian at Mercersburg before joining the faculty as director of library services in 2017. She works with faculty and students on information literacy and research, and has helped the library develop diverse collections of print and non-print materials and maintain a robust catalog. She holds the Marjorie McCrae McCulloh Chair for the Library Director. Alexandra has taught in the English department since 2018. She came to Mercersburg from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a master’s degree in library science. While in Chapel Hill, she worked with teens at the Orange County Public Library. A native of Bowling Green, KY, Alexandra earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Kenyon College. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in education from Johns Hopkins University. Alexandra lives in Fowle Hall.

Julie Bell

Assistant Librarian

bellj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6195

BIO

Julie Bell

Assistant Librarian

bellj@mercersburg.edu

Julie Bell spent eight years on the Mercersburg faculty as a French teacher (1983 to 1989) and director of the library (1997 to 1999); she returned to the library in 2003 as an assistant librarian. Julie is the library’s cataloguer and participates in all aspects of library service. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Bates College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in French with a minor in Russian. She also holds a master of library science from the University of Rhode Island. Julie lives off campus with her husband, faculty member David Bell; they have two daughters, Jennifer ’17 and Emily ’18.

Jessica Bontrager

Dean on Duty and Library Assistant

bontragerj@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Jessica Bontrager

Dean on Duty and Library Assistant

bontragerj@mercersburg.edu

Jessica Bontrager came to Mercersburg from Ashtabula, OH, where she was working as a chemist at Chromaflo Technologies. While at Chromaflo she worked with teen interns to help them learn the industry. Jessica earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Slippery Rock University. She lives on campus with her husband, Cory, who works in the science department.

Douglas Smith

School Archivist, Class of 2025 Grade Dean, and Head Golf Coach

smithd@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6171

BIO

Douglas Smith

School Archivist, Class of 2025 Grade Dean, and Head Golf Coach

smithd@mercersburg.edu

Doug Smith is Mercersburg’s school archivist and teaches the Parallel Histories Springboard course. He is also the head varsity golf coach and an assistant coach for the boys’ thirds basketball team; he previously served as the dormitory dean in Keil Hall. Doug has been a varsity assistant coach and junior varsity head coach for Mercersburg’s boys’ soccer teams, as well an assistant golf coach and coordinator of the school’s spring golf program. Doug played soccer at Benedictine University at Springfield (in his hometown of Springfield, IL) before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. He worked in the medical, restaurant, and project management industries in Illinois, Maryland, and Virginia before coming to Mercersburg. Doug’s wife, Jennifer Miller Smith ’97, is a Mercersburg alum and dean of academics; the Smiths have two children, Cole ’23 and Nora ’24.

Suzanne Taylor

Research Librarian

taylors@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6307

BIO

Suzanne Taylor

Research Librarian

taylors@mercersburg.edu

Suzanne Taylor is a research librarian for the school’s library in Lenfest Hall. She joined the Academy in 2017. Suzanne graduated from Messiah College and Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in library and information science. She is an avid gamer, reader, and baker.

Mathematics

Amy Kelley

Mathematics Department Head

kelleya@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6216

BIO

Amy Kelley

Mathematics Department Head

kelleya@mercersburg.edu

Amy Kelley teaches mathematics and has also team-taught 3D Design, one of the offerings in Mercersburg’s Springboard senior capstone program. Amy came to Mercersburg from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, GA, where she was an associate professor of mathematics. She, her husband, Joe and their daughter Emmie lived in Fowle Hall for six years and now live in a townhouse on campus. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree from Manhattanville College, a master’s degree from Boston College, and a Ph.D. from the University of Albany, State University of New York. She serves as an adviser and dorm faculty member in Fowle.

Sarah Bozzi

Mathematics Faculty and Interim Director of Outdoor Education

bozzis@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6216

BIO

Sarah Bozzi

Mathematics Faculty and Interim Director of Outdoor Education

bozzis@mercersburg.edu

Sarah Bozzi has taught mathematics and worked with Mercersburg Outdoor Education (MOE) since her arrival at Mercersburg in 2014. She and her husband, Jay (who is the head of the history department), previously served on the faculty at schools in New England and abroad. Her various roles at Mercersburg have included coaching girls’ lacrosse and serving on the Conduct Review Committee. She is an avid skier and traveler who has led student trips in India, Jordan, Ecuador, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Wyoming, and the Grand Canyon. Sarah graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, with a major in mathematics and a minor in communications. She is affiliated with Keil Hall.

Andrew Brown

Mathematics Faculty and Head Football Coach

browna@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6189

BIO

Andrew Brown

Mathematics Faculty and Head Football Coach

browna@mercersburg.edu

 

 

Andy Brown joined Mercersburg in 2019; he teaches Robotics, Maker’s Lab, and Application Design and is the head football coach. Before coming to Mercersburg, Andy worked for 10 years in public education where he held multiple leadership positions within engineering, physical education, health, and technology education programs. He received a bachelor’s degree in technology education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Hood College in Frederick, MD. Andy and his wife, Nicole (who works as a library assistant at Mercersburg), have two sons.

Jeff Cohen

Mathematics Faculty

cohenj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6216

BIO

Jeff Cohen

Mathematics Faculty

cohenj@mercersburg.edu

Jeff Cohen has taught mathematics at Mercersburg since 2004, and was department head for five years (2014 to 2019). He received the Zern Excellence in Teaching Award in 2007-2008, served on the Faculty Council, and is the head coach of the school’s JV baseball and girls’ JV tennis teams as well as a residential faculty member in Main Hall. Jeff graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Bucknell University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics, and holds a master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire. He has helped lead trips for Mercersburg students to Australia, Costa Rica, China, Singapore, and Brazil, and worked for the ESL+ summer program for four years. Jeff enjoys TV nights, movie and bowling trips, and Sheetz runs with his advisees, and he considers his close relationships with students and alumni to be the most rewarding part of his job.

Sean Crocker

Mathematics Faculty, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach

crockers@mercersburg.edu

717-328-1490

BIO

Sean Crocker

Mathematics Faculty, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach

crockers@mercersburg.edu

Sean teaches mathematics and is Mercersburg’s head boys’ varsity basketball coach. He came to Mercersburg in 2015 from Stuart Hall School, a boarding school in Staunton, VA, where he taught math and computer science and was head boys’ basketball coach. His 2019-2020 Blue Storm team won 17 games (the program’s best record since 2006) and reached the PAISAA state quarterfinals. Sean has taught and/or coached at Boston Latin School, Washington and Lee University, Tufts University, Framingham State College, and Wheelock College (where he was also the head men’s tennis coach). He has also worked as director of operations for The Hoop Group and for East Coast Fusion/Team Loaded (an AAU basketball program). Sean is a graduate of Connecticut College and Tufts University; he and his wife, Tricia (Mercersburg’s director of community engagement), have three children.

Stephen Fowler

Mathematics Faculty

fowlers@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Stephen Fowler

Mathematics Faculty

fowlers@mercersburg.edu

Steve Fowler joined the Mercersburg faculty in 2018 as a mathematics teacher and assistant swimming coach. He previously taught computer science at Kutztown University and Montclair State University and math in public high schools in Elizabethtown, PA, and Kinnelon, NJ. Steve has coached swimming and diving at the club, high school, and college level. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Elizabethtown College and a master’s degree in mathematics from Montclair State University. Steve’s wife, fellow faculty member Cindy Fowler, is a college counselor at Mercersburg. The Fowlers have two children, and Steve is an adviser affiliated with Fowle Hall.

David Grady

Mathematics Faculty

Head Boys' Cross Country Coach and Head Indoor Track & Field Coach

gradyd@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6185

BIO

David Grady

Mathematics Faculty

Head Boys' Cross Country Coach and Head Indoor Track & Field Coach

gradyd@mercersburg.edu

David Grady came to Mercersburg in 1994 to serve as the school’s director of educational technologies, and moved to the mathematics classroom full time in 1998. He is also Mercersburg’s head indoor track & field coach and head coach of the boys’ cross country team, and previously served as head coach of the school’s outdoor track & field teams. David earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in educational media and instructional design from the University of North Carolina. He lived in Main Hall for 18 years as a residential faculty member; he finds working with students in the residential setting particularly fulfilling. David and his wife, Hope, stay busy with their four children, Christopher ’16, Sarah ’22, Mary ’25, and Dominic. They are also involved in spreading awareness about childhood cancer, having lost their daughter, Lauren, to brain cancer.

Kristin Magalhães

Mathematics Faculty and Dormitory Dean

magalhaesk@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Kristin Magalhães

Mathematics Faculty and Dormitory Dean

magalhaesk@mercersburg.edu

Kristi Magalhães teaches mathematics and serves as the dormitory dean in Culbertson House. She joined the Mercersburg community in 2017 from the Pan American School of Porto Alegre in Brazil, where she taught high school mathematics. Kristi previously worked at Holderness School in New Hampshire, where she served as dean of academics, chair of the mathematics department, dorm director, and college counselor. She has also taught in Vermont and Brasilia, Brazil, and has studied abroad in Spain. Kristi earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and mathematics from the University of Vermont. She lives in Culbertson with her husband, Eduardo, and their two sons.

Andy Schroer

Mathematics Faculty

schroera@mercersburg.edu

717-328-1478

BIO

Andy Schroer

Mathematics Faculty

schroera@mercersburg.edu

Andy Schroer grew up in Norwich, NY, and studied mathematics and computer science at Cornell University, where he was a quarterback on the varsity football team, and earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Shippensburg University. He gained his teaching experience in the Perth Central and Norwich City schools before coming to Mercersburg in 1986. Andy serves as head coach of Mercersburg’s thirds basketball team and an assistant coach of the golf team. He has also coached varsity football, track & field, and JV boys’ basketball. Mercersburg won four straight Mid-Atlantic Conference football championships under his leadership from 1996 to 1999. Andy enjoys golfing in his free time and in the summer of 2015 was able to take a golf trip to Scotland thanks to the Lord family faculty travel award. Andy is the father of two Mercersburg graduates: Samantha ’07 and Alex ’08.

Kelsey Steiner

Mathematics Faculty

steinerk@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Kelsey Steiner

Mathematics Faculty

steinerk@mercersburg.edu

Kelsey Steiner teaches mathematics and lives in South Cottage on campus. She is also an assistant softball and swimming coach. Kelsey has taught, worked, and coached at Norwin High School in Irwin, PA, the Valley School of Ligonier, Greater Latrobe Junior High School, and Saint Vincent College, as well as Adirondack Camp in New York state. She graduated from Oberlin College with a bachelor’s degree in geology and was a two-year captain of Oberlin’s varsity softball team.

Michael Sweeney

Mathematics Faculty

Head Girls' Varsity Tennis Coach

sweeneym@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6216

BIO

Michael Sweeney

Mathematics Faculty

Head Girls' Varsity Tennis Coach

sweeneym@mercersburg.edu

Mike Sweeney teaches mathematics and is Mercersburg’s head girls’ varsity tennis coach and associate head squash coach (holding level 1 and level 2 U.S. Squash coaching certifications). He has taught at West Nottingham Academy, the Summer Institute for the Gifted (Bryn Mawr College and Vassar College), the Phelps School, and Wolfeboro: The Summer Boarding School. Mike also worked with Project SEED, a national mathematics organization where he taught college-level topics in algebra to elementary school students in Philadelphia. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University and a master’s degree in educational technology from Pepperdine University. He has also studied at the graduate level at Immaculata College, St. Joseph’s University, and Villanova University. Mike worked in the admission office while at West Nottingham and is a past head of Mercersburg’s mathematics department. His wife, Jackie, works in the Office of College Counseling and is the dormitory dean in Main Hall, where the Sweeneys live. They have four children: Megan ’07, Sean ’13, Jack ’19, and Fiona ’21.

Outdoor Education

Sarah Bozzi

Mathematics Faculty and Interim Director of Outdoor Education

bozzis@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6216

BIO

Sarah Bozzi

Mathematics Faculty and Interim Director of Outdoor Education

bozzis@mercersburg.edu

Sarah Bozzi has taught mathematics and worked with Mercersburg Outdoor Education (MOE) since her arrival at Mercersburg in 2014. She and her husband, Jay (who is the head of the history department), previously served on the faculty at schools in New England and abroad. Her various roles at Mercersburg have included coaching girls’ lacrosse and serving on the Conduct Review Committee. She is an avid skier and traveler who has led student trips in India, Jordan, Ecuador, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Wyoming, and the Grand Canyon. Sarah graduated from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, with a major in mathematics and a minor in communications. She is affiliated with Keil Hall.

Pete Gunkelman

Assistant Director of Outdoor Education

gunkelmanp@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6172

BIO

Pete Gunkelman

Assistant Director of Outdoor Education

gunkelmanp@mercersburg.edu

Pete Gunkelman, a native of North Dakota, has served as director of Mercersburg Outdoor Education (MOE) since 2013. He arrived at Mercersburg in 2006 as MOE’s assistant director. Pete began his outdoor career as a subzero winter camper; during his undergraduate years at the University of Richmond, he took a job at an indoor climbing gym and quickly developed a passion for the sport. Today, Pete guides trips from West Virginia to Peru and enjoys sharing his love for the natural world with students, and has also team-taught 3D Design, which has been one of the offerings in Mercersburg’s Springboard capstone program for members of the senior class. When he’s not in the office making sure that permits are current and gear is in working order, Pete can be found surfing, climbing, cycling, or passing those passions on to his two daughters.

School Minister

Will Whitmore

School Minister and History and Religion Faculty

whitmorew@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6137

BIO

Will Whitmore

School Minister and History and Religion Faculty

whitmorew@mercersburg.edu

Will Whitmore came to Mercersburg from The Rectory School in Pomfret, CT, where he served as the school’s chaplain, taught English, and was a tutor, dorm parent, soccer coach, and outdoor-education instructor. He has also worked at The Pennington School in New Jersey. Will is the 2016-2017 recipient of Mercersburg’s Ammerman Distinguished Teaching Award for Religious and Interdisciplinary Studies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the University of Denver and a master’s of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Will is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ. He is pursuing a Ph.D. from the University of Gloucestershire in England, where his dissertation focuses on sports chaplaincy in the National Football League and the English Premier League. Will regularly works with chaplaincy groups to help promote sports chaplaincy, and his research has been featured in various webinars and podcasts. Will lives on campus with his wife, Kristen, and their two foster children.

School Store

Barbara Thorne

School Store Supervisor

thorneb@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6146

BIO

Barbara Thorne

School Store Supervisor

thorneb@mercersburg.edu

Barb Thorne has had many roles at Mercersburg, including working as an adviser, dorm dean, and assistant swim coach. She was an All-American and captain of the swim team at Dickinson College where she was MVP her senior year. Before coming to Mercersburg, she was a paralegal at Russell and King Law Firm in Asheville, NC, and served for eight years as an officer in the Pennsylvania and North Carolina Army National Guard. Barb and her husband, Tom (a faculty member), are the parents of two Mercersburg graduates: Elissa Thorne Shashai ’06 and Julia Thorne ’07.

Karen Hawbaker

School Store Clerk and School Driver

hawbakerk@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6146

BIO

Karen Hawbaker

School Store Clerk and School Driver

hawbakerk@mercersburg.edu

Karen Hawbaker works for the Class of 1960 School Store and the Transportation Office, and she is a wedding representative for the Irvine Memorial Chapel. She officially joined the Academy in 2014. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from West Chester State College and a master’s degree in special education from Temple University. She taught for 31 years in the Tuscarora School District, the West Chester School District, and the Chester County Intermediate Unit. Her husband is emeritus faculty member Jack Hawbaker, and they have two sons, Kip ’10 and Kyle ’14.

Science

Nikki Walker

Science Department Head and Head Outdoor Track & Field Coach

walkern@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6217

BIO

Nikki Walker

Science Department Head and Head Outdoor Track & Field Coach

walkern@mercersburg.edu

Nikki Walker has been a member of the Mercersburg faculty since 2006 and has lived on campus since 2003, when her husband, Dan, joined the faculty as a history teacher and the school’s then-head football coach. She became head of the physical education department in 2013 and head of the science department in 2019. While at the Academy, Nikki has taught biology, anatomy, human development, physical education, and the Business of Sport and Open Topic (Springboard capstone courses); served as head coach of the girls’ outdoor track & field and softball teams; and worked on the school’s Accreditation for Growth committee. Nikki has also been an instructor and clinical coordinator for athletic training in the kinesiology department at Penn State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Frostburg State University and a master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania, and is a certified athletic trainer and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. The Walkers have two children, Colby ’19 and Holden ’23.

Franklin Bell

Science Faculty

bellf@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6217

BIO

Franklin Bell

Science Faculty

bellf@mercersburg.edu

Franklin Bell teaches science and coaches swimming at Mercersburg. Franklin came to Mercersburg after working at Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, TX, where he was science department co-chair and the AP Biology teacher. He has also taught chemistry, genetics, zoology, and human anatomy and physiology. In addition to teaching, Franklin serves as an independent consultant; his duties include editing biology textbooks, conducting biology teacher institutes, and serving as a table leader and reader of AP Biology exams. Franklin also taught and assisted with a sea turtle research program at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Kamuela, HI, and led a marine science program at Christchurch School in Christchurch, VA. Franklin has served on the AP Biology Test Development Committee and coauthored an extensive review guide for the AP Biology exam, Strive for a 5: Preparing for the AP Biology Examination, which was published by BFW Freeman. He and his wife, former faculty member Carolyn Bell (who now works in the Rutherford Health and Wellness Center as a nurse), live off campus; the Bells are the parents of three children, including Kiersten ’09 and John-Eric ’12.

Cory Bontrager

Science Faculty

bontragerc@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6189

BIO

Cory Bontrager

Science Faculty

bontragerc@mercersburg.edu

Cory Bontrager is a native of nearby Greencastle, PA, and joined the science department in 2018. He is a graduate of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, from which he holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s of education. He studied in the Honors Program at Slippery Rock, where he had two graduate assistantships: one as the laboratory prep assistant for the chemistry department and another as the graduate housing coordinator for the Office of Housing. Cory was published in the Journal of Visualized Experiments in 2017. He is an assistant coach for Mercersburg’s boys’ JV tennis team; his wife, Jessica, is a library assistant at the school.

Skyler Clark

Science Faculty

clarks@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Skyler Clark

Science Faculty

clarks@mercersburg.edu

Skyler Clark, a native of Connecticut, joined the Mercersburg science department in 2018 as a teaching fellow and was appointed a full-time member of the science faculty in 2020. Skyler serves as an assistant girls’ varsity soccer coach and has been the faculty adviser for the John Marshall Literary Society on campus. He graduated from Washington College in Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in theatre. Skyler grew up on the campus of The Gunnery, an independent boarding school in Connecticut; his father taught and coached for more than 30 years, giving Skyler an enormous appreciation for and understanding of residential life. Skyler lives in Keil Hall on campus.

Ellie De Leon

Science Faculty

deleone@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Ellie De Leon

Science Faculty

deleone@mercersburg.edu

Ellie De Leon officially joined the faculty and the science department in 2020, though she has been a member of the community and assistant girls’ cross country coach since 2018. Ellie serves as an assistant boys’ cross country coach, assistant track & field coach, and an adviser and dorm faculty member in Fowle Hall. Prior to Mercersburg, she taught middle school science and coached cross country as well as track & field at the Barnesville School of Arts and Sciences in Maryland. Ellie earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Mount Holyoke College and a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ellie lives off campus with her partner, Leela Woody, who is a faculty member in the English department.

Michelle Eichelberger

Science Faculty

eichelbergerm@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Michelle Eichelberger

Science Faculty

eichelbergerm@mercersburg.edu

Michelle Eichelberger joined the Mercersburg faculty in 2021 with 32 years experience teaching mathematics, physics, and chemistry in Pennyslvania. She is a graduate of Shippensburg University and holds a master’s in educational leadership. Michelle is a past recipient of the Shippensburg University School Study Council Outstanding Teacher Award and the Exemplary Program Award. She received the Walter J. DeLacy Award from Penn State University. Some of her other experience includes work as an online course developer and instructional technology coach, as well as an instructor for NJSeeds and Bridgeway Academy. Michelle works as an adviser for the school’s Karux yearbook. Michelle and her husband, Danny (who works in the school’s Office of Information Technology), have two daughters, including Erika ’20.

David Holzwarth

Science Faculty

holzwarthd@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6189

BIO

David Holzwarth

Science Faculty

holzwarthd@mercersburg.edu

David Holzwarth graduated from Mercersburg Academy in 1978 and began teaching at the school in 1990. At Mercersburg, he applies his background in mechanical engineering to the physics classroom. In addition to helping develop the lab-based course curriculum of Mercersburg’s physics courses, he has also worked to incorporate astronomy into the classroom. He designed the school’s Class of ’38 Observatory roll-off roof structure, equipped with three telescopes. In 2015 Dave designed, equipped, and developed Mercersburg’s Maker Space program to bring design engineering and fabrication principles to the senior capstone Springboard program. The Maker Space serves as a hub of making what the students imagine and supports faculty and staff in their teaching and personal hobbies. Dave holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree in math and studio art from Wesleyan University. At Mercersburg, he has coached football and track & field, and in 1994, he established a varsity ski team. Dave is a USSA Alpine coach and certified referee. He continues to train and compete in track as a USTFA Masters athlete. Dave and his wife, fellow faculty member Allison Stephens, have two children, Wynn Holzwarth ’11 and Zack Holzwarth ’13.

William Linch

Science Faculty

linchw@mercersburg.edu

BIO

William Linch

Science Faculty

linchw@mercersburg.edu

Before coming to Mercersburg, William Linch was a theoretical physicist specializing in high-energy particle physics and string theory. Since earning a Ph.D. in supersymmetry at the University of Maryland at College Park, he has held positions in the mathematics and physics departments at SUNY Stony Brook, the University of Maryland, and Texas A&M University, as well as a professorship at Universidad Andres Bello in Chile. In addition to teaching and research, William has dedicated much of his time to mentoring students with a passion for mathematics and natural law and to hosting various journal clubs, independent study sessions, and research group discussions. At Mercersburg, William teaches courses in algebra II and physics, assists with management for track & field meets, and works with the Robotics PGA. William and his wife, Catherine, have a daughter, Luna. 

Sheri Mahoney

Science Faculty

mahoneys@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Sheri Mahoney

Science Faculty

mahoneys@mercersburg.edu

Sheri Mahoney arrives at Mercersburg after 20 years of teaching at independent day schools in New Mexico and Florida. In that time, she has taught biology, AP biology, anatomy and physiology, and environmental science. In addition to teaching, Sheri spent part of her career in outdoor education and has traveled across the globe with students. Sheri earned a bachelor of science in biology from the University of Tennessee and a master of arts in counseling from the University of New Mexico. Sheri lives in Tippetts Hall with her wife, former Mercersburg faculty member Alysia Oakley, their dog, Peppie, and their cat, Miyazaki.

Jim Malone

Science Faculty and Mathematics Faculty

malonej@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6189

BIO

Jim Malone

Science Faculty and Mathematics Faculty

malonej@mercersburg.edu

Jim Malone studied wildlife biology at the University of Michigan but grew up in Pennsylvania, where he attended Swarthmore High School and played football and basketball. It was there that he developed a keen interest in mathematics and science. An avid environmentalist and advocate for the homeless, Jim enjoys involving other Mercersburg families and students in community service at the Chambersburg Homeless Shelter. Jim and his wife, retired faculty member Sue Malone, are the parents of two Mercersburg graduates, Molly ’01 and Jess ’03.

Will Willis

Director of Environmental Initiatives and Science Faculty

willisw@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6328

BIO

Will Willis

Director of Environmental Initiatives and Science Faculty

willisw@mercersburg.edu

Will Willis became the director of environmental initiatives in 2012-2013 after having been sustainability coordinator since 2009 and working with the Green Team (a student environmental group) since 2003. He also teaches Advanced Topics in Environmental Science. Will was Mercersburg’s director of international programs from 2005 to 2012 and worked in the Alumni and Development Office from 2001 to 2005. He is active in the local community as one of the original water quality monitoring volunteers with the Johnston Run Revitalization Team, as well as one of the PA State Commissioners to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). Will served as the executive director for Bitterroot Ecological Awareness Resources, a Montana-based environmental education nonprofit. He also worked for Andersen Consulting; before that, as a Fulbright Scholar, he taught English and American culture as a foreign-language teaching assistant for grades 5 through 12 in Germany. He graduated cum laude with honors in geology from Colgate University with a double major in geology and German. Will is an adviser and dorm faculty member in Tippetts Hall and previously spent a combined eight years as a dormitory dean in South Cottage and Culbertson House. His wife, Betsy Cunningham, is Mercersburg’s head girls’ cross country coach; they have two daughters, Molly ’22 and Leah ’24.

Strategic Marketing and Communications

Amy Marathe

Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications

marathea@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6353

BIO

Amy Marathe

Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications

marathea@mercersburg.edu

Amy Marathe leads the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications, which oversees and manages Mercersburg's digital and traditional media footprint as well as the school's overall branding and marketing efforts. Amy has a significant background in creative direction, content strategy, digital marketing, and project management--including more than a decade at Discovery Communications, where she served as director of content and held responsibility for strategy and implementation for numerous websites under the Discovery.com umbrella; she most recently worked as a communications and marketing strategist for the Izaak Walton League of America. Amy holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication from the University of Tennessee. She and her husband, Amit, are the parents of a daughter, Ava.

Debra Collins

Advancement Communications Manager

collinsd@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6121

BIO

Debra Collins

Advancement Communications Manager

collinsd@mercersburg.edu

Debra Collins brings a wide range of communications and marketing experience to her position as advancement communications manager, where she serves as the primary gatekeeper for messaging and content originating in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations. In her role, she develops and manages communications for the school’s philanthropy and engagement program, including major gifts, annual giving, donor relations, volunteer management, and events. Debra previously worked at Mercersburg Academy and is pleased to have the opportunity to return and contribute again to the campus. In the interim, she served as director of marketing and public relations at Penn State Mont Alto and director of communications at Wilson College. Debra earned her master’s degree in public communications at American University and her bachelor’s degree in technical journalism at Colorado State University. She and her husband, Mike, who serves as Mercersburg’s athletic facilities operations supervisor, have two adult children, Michael ’14 and Caitlin.

Megan Mallory

Content Manager for Internal Programs

mallorym@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6378

BIO

Megan Mallory

Content Manager for Internal Programs

mallorym@mercersburg.edu

Megan Mallory has a professional background in publications and education. She spent nearly eight years working for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, where she served as editor of Pathlight (PHA’s official magazine)—for which she led a complete redesign in 2014. Prior to that, she provided special-education services for children in grades kindergarten through middle school in the Washington, D.C., area. A native of Buckhannon, WV, Megan (whose sister is Assistant Director of College Counseling Rachel Mallory) earned a bachelor’s degree in English and women’s studies from Mount Holyoke College, a master’s degree in teaching from Trinity University in Washington, D.C., and an MFA in creative nonfiction from West Virginia Wesleyan College. Megan lives in Greencastle with her husband, their rambunctious toddler, and two lovable critters: a cat (Tilly) and dog (Lucy).

Tyler Miller

Associate Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications

millert@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6330

BIO

Tyler Miller

Associate Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications

millert@mercersburg.edu

Tyler Miller joined Mercersburg in 2010 as advancement communications manager and spent seven years in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations before joining the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications in 2017. In his current role as associate director, he oversees communications strategy and content creation for admission and summer programs. Tyler earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in communication studies from Shippensburg University. Prior to Mercersburg, he worked in communications for a public school district and spent a year as a newspaper staff writer.

Lee Owen

Magazine and News Editor

owenl@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6176

BIO

Lee Owen

Magazine and News Editor

owenl@mercersburg.edu

Lee Owen spent 10 years as editor of Mercersburg magazine before becoming the school’s director of news and content, and reassumed duties as editor of the magazine in late 2020. Under his leadership, Mercersburg magazine has received eight CASE District II Accolades Awards. Lee serves as a writer, editor, and manager for a variety of campus projects, including news releases and much of the communications and collateral for the school’s Department of Athletics. A former sportswriter and part-time broadcaster, Lee covered the Tennessee Titans of the NFL as a beat reporter and later worked in athletic media relations at High Point University and in the college relations office at Guilford College. At Mercersburg, Lee has served as an adviser, a dormitory faculty member in five different dorms, a faculty adviser to Model UN and the school’s Karux yearbook, on the Conduct Review Committee, and as an assistant golf coach. He has lived in six states but spent most of his childhood in Houston, TX. Lee holds a degree in American studies from Vanderbilt University; he and his wife, Lindsay, have two children.

Cody Parks

Social Media Manager

parksc@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6302

BIO

Cody Parks

Social Media Manager

parksc@mercersburg.edu

Cody Parks is Mercersburg’s social media manager. He previously worked as marketing manager for Trident Enterprises International in Waynesboro, PA. During his time there, he assisted in a major rebranding effort, designed all internal and external media, and maintained the company's various websites and social profiles. Prior to that, Cody held the role of marketing assistant at Flight Systems Industrial Products in Carlisle for nearly two years. There he launched the company's official Instagram page, moved all video production efforts in-house, and designed internal and external media, as well as helping to create the company’s Activities Committee to build work relationships. A Chambersburg native, Cody earned a bachelor's degree in communications media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Evelyn, are the parents of a son, Aidan.

Zally Price

Creative Technology Director

pricez@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6301

BIO

Zally Price

Creative Technology Director

pricez@mercersburg.edu

Zally Price came to Mercersburg in 2010 after working as a website and print publication designer for a local Internet service provider. He earned an associate’s degree in graphic design from Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts. As creative and technology director, Zally provides oversight for web services, online marketing, email communications, and digital asset management.

Student Life

Chris Howes

Assistant Head of School for Student Life and Culture

howesc@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6118

BIO

Chris Howes

Assistant Head of School for Student Life and Culture

howesc@mercersburg.edu

As Mercersburg’s assistant head of school for student life and culture, Chris Howes oversees all aspects of the student experience, from citizenship to leadership to residential-life matters and other school policies. He came to Mercersburg from Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA, where he was the dean of student life, taught history, and coached lacrosse. Chris previously spent three years as dean of students (and eight years on the faculty overall) at Severn School in Severna Park, MD. He has also worked at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, at Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich, RI (where he was chair of the history department and a coach and college counselor), and at Mitchell College in New London, CT. Chris and his wife, Maggie (who teaches English and history at Mercersburg), live on campus with their children.

Betsy Cunningham

Peer Group Leadership Program, Class of 2023 Grade Dean, and Head Girls’ Cross Country Coach

cunninghamb@mercersburg.edu

BIO

Betsy Cunningham

Peer Group Leadership Program, Class of 2023 Grade Dean, and Head Girls’ Cross Country Coach

cunninghamb@mercersburg.edu

Betsy Cunningham serves as the director of student leadership and has been head coach of the girls’ cross country team since 2005. She teaches human development, and previously taught mathematics and chemistry and spent eight years as a dormitory dean in South Cottage and Culbertson House on campus. As a student, Betsy ran for 12 consecutive seasons at Colgate University and was the first female cross country and track & field inductee into Colgate’s Hall of Honor in 2003. She went on to run professionally for the Mountain West Track Club while earning a master’s degree in geology from the University of Montana. Before coming to Mercersburg, Betsy coached both a middle school cross country team and a junior club team in Missoula, MT. In 2007, she was named the Pennsylvania State Independent School Cross Country Coach of the Year. Her spouse, fellow faculty member Will Willis, teaches science; the couple has two daughters, Molly ’22 and Leah ’24.

Trini Hoffman

Director of Student Activities

hoffmant@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6134

BIO

Trini Hoffman

Director of Student Activities

hoffmant@mercersburg.edu

Trini Hoffman’s energetic and high-spirited personality is a perfect match for her responsibilities as director of student activities; she plans and coordinates student events on and off campus and oversees all student clubs, including faculty adviser for the ski club. Trini taught and coached for many years in the Tuscarora School District before coming to Mercersburg. She lettered four years in varsity field hockey, basketball, and softball, and received an award for Outstanding Senior in Physical Education at Shepherd College. In addition to her responsibilities as director of student activities, Trini teaches the Wayfinder course and is a faculty adviser in Main Hall. She spent 18 years as the dormitory dean in Main Hall.

Justine O’Connell

Director of Global Programs and Language Faculty

oconnellj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6345

BIO

Justine O’Connell

Director of Global Programs and Language Faculty

oconnellj@mercersburg.edu

Justine O’Connell is Mercersburg's director of global programs, international student coordinator, and a member of the school's language department. Before coming to Mercersburg, Justine was the exchange coordinator and an English language teacher at Colegio Alemán de San Felipe, which is Mercersburg’s sister school and exchange partner in Chile. She has accompanied Colegio Alemán students on two separate trips to Mercersburg. Justine serves on the Conduct Review Committee, works with Model UN, and is an adviser in Fowle Hall. She holds two bachelor’s degrees in Spanish literature and global studies from the University of Arizona. She and her husband, Matias Abarca, live in Fowle with their dog, Kobe.

Laurie Rice

Administrative Coordinator for Student Life

ricel@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6119

BIO

Laurie Rice

Administrative Coordinator for Student Life

ricel@mercersburg.edu

Laurie Rice is the administrative coordinator for the Office of Student Life. She joined the school in 2003 in the Dean’s Office after teaching evening adult computer classes at Franklin County Career and Technology Center. Laurie is a resource for the procedures and regulations of the school and locates information to solve problems for students, parents, faculty, and staff. She maintains daily records of student attendance and deals with matters relating to all things student life on campus. Laurie holds a bachelor’s degree from York College of Pennyslvania and a teaching certification from Shippensburg University. She and her husband, Jeff, are the parents of Shayna ’11, Megan, and Jessica.

Coleman Weibley

Assistant Dean of Students

weibleyc@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6365

BIO

Coleman Weibley

Assistant Dean of Students

weibleyc@mercersburg.edu

Coleman Weibley is Mercersburg’s assistant dean of students, an assistant swim coach, and a residential faculty member in Tippetts Hall. Coleman first came to Mercersburg in 2013 and spent four years as Mercersburg’s assistant director of summer and external programs prior to his appointment as director in 2017. A native of Carlisle, PA, Coleman was previously the director of swimming and diving operations at Florida State University and head coach of FSU’s club swimming program, Club Seminole. Prior to working at Florida State, Coleman held a similar position at the University of Tennessee, where he served as the camp director for the teams’ summer camps. Coleman holds a bachelor’s degree in education with a focus on recreation and sports management from Tennessee and a master’s degree in business administration from Shippensburg University. He, his wife Bailey Blake Weibley ’11, and their daughters Parker and Quincy, live on campus.

Jo Wrzesinsky

Dean of Students

wrzesinskyj@mercersburg.edu

717-328-6235

BIO

Jo Wrzesinsky

Dean of Students

wrzesinskyj@mercersburg.edu

Jo Wrzesinsky has worked at Mercersburg since 1999. A graduate of Blair Academy (one of Mercersburg’s Mid-Atlantic Prep League rivals), she was an assistant director of annual giving in the Office of Alumni and Development until joining the Office of Summer and External Programs in 2002; she became director of Summer and External Programs in 2015 and was appointed associate dean of student life in 2017. In 2019, Jo became the school’s first female dean of students. She has also served as director of Inbound, Mercersburg’s new-student orientation experience, for three years; spent five years as head girls’ lacrosse coach; and was the stats coordinator for the wrestling team for three years. Jo earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of New England. She lived in Fowle Hall for 10 years before serving as the dormitory dean of Swank Hall from 2010 to 2017. Jo and her husband, Jason Frey, live in Swank with their two children.