Directory

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.

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.

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.

Jyl Hoover was the administrative assistant in the Registrar’s Office for many years and was appointed the school’s registrar in 2019. She prepares transcripts and forms involving the dissemination of student records to other institutions. She also maintains records for students (permanent, academic, and enrollment) in electronic and permanent paper files, and manages records related to the master schedule.

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.

Lena Eckstine has been a member of the Office of Admission since 2007 and served as operations coordinator prior to joining the faculty as assistant director of admission in 2016. She initially came to Mercersburg in 2004 as a member of the Office of Alumni and Development. In her current role, Lena works with the merit scholarship program and serves as the Admission Office liaison to the White Key parent volunteer organization. She is also an adviser in Fowle Hall. Lena has three children, including Trey ’21.

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.

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.

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. He and his wife, Shelley (the admission visit coordinator), live on campus in South Cottage, where Shelley is the dorm dean.

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.

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.

Tim Crouch joined the Advancement and Alumni Relations Office in 2013 after working as associate director of summer and external programs. He served as associate director of capital giving before being promoted to director of regional engagement. In his current role, he focuses on gifts for the school’s capital projects as well as leadership gifts for the Annual Fund. Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in international business and management from Dickinson College and worked in sports marketing for a time. He and his wife, Anna (who is director of admission), live in Swank Hall with their son.

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.

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.

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.

Barb Myers is the advancement services associate for the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations where she handles the processing of gifts made to Mercersburg and deals with credit card gifts, monthly gift payments, receipts, and acknowledgments sent to donors. Prior to joining the Academy, Barb was a bank bookkeeper.

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.

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 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.

Kelly Dowling joined the Mercersburg faculty in 2015. She is the assistant director of the Burgin Center of the Arts and the lead designer and production manager for all performance events in the building. 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.

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.

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.

Mike Collins is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Goldthorpe Athletic Complex, the Issue Room, the Hale Field House, the Smoyer Tennis Center, the Lloyd Aquatic Center, and all campus athletic facilities. He is past president of the Rotary Club of Mercersburg and a board member for local youth sports programs St. Thomas Sports Association and Tuscarora Youth Soccer Club. Mike lives in Mercersburg with his wife, Debra, and their two children, Caitlyn and Michael ’14.

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.

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.

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. Sean and his wife, Cynthia, have two children, including Elizabeth ’21.

Austin Curwen has been an associate director of college counseling at Mercersburg since 2015. In addition, his involvement on campus includes work as a group leader for Mercersburg Outdoor Education and advising in Main Hall. Austin graduated from Syracuse University with bachelor’s degrees in geography and history, and he holds master’s degrees from the University of Washington, Columbia University, and the University of Bristol. He started his career in education working for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Rockland, ME, and his first classroom job was at the Queen Anne School in Seattle. Later he taught at The Thacher School in Ojai, CA, and was the director of American studies at the Kingham Hill School in the UK. Outside academia, Austin has held a variety of positions, including service as a volunteer firefighter, a stint with the U.S. Army, and captain of vessels, motor and sail. He and his wife, Alison (who works as a library assistant), are the proud parents of three Mercersburg graduates: Darcy ’17, Tag ’19, and Stapley ’20.

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.

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, Fiona ’21, and the late Jack ’19.

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, Senior Associate 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.

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 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.

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 assistant diving coach and an adviser to the school newspaper.

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.

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.

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. The Tyrees have two children.

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.

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.

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

Avery Cook’s interest in nature, gardening, and landscape design led to his position at Mercersburg in 1985. He supervises a team of skilled employees that maintain a campus of more than 300 acres and many diverse plant species. Avery studied landscape architecture at Purdue University, and is also involved with the John McFadden Railroad Museum on campus.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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 and Open Topic (Springboard senior capstone courses). 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 participating in the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin’s (ICPRB) multi-year Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan. 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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

After attending Mercersburg Academy as a postgraduate student in 1995-1996, Nate Jacklin earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and philosophy from Columbia University and a master’s in social studies education from Teachers College at Columbia. As an undergrad, Nate garnered four varsity letters in wrestling and was named Columbia’s Outstanding Freshman Wrestler. Nate spent six years teaching history and coaching wrestling and soccer in Stafford, VA, before returning to Mercersburg in 2008 to join the faculty. He taught in the International Baccalaureate Program at Mountain View High School in Stafford; at Mercersburg, he is head coach of the varsity wrestling team, and has also taught the Entrepreneurship Springboard course. Nate and his wife, Lindsay, live in Tippetts Hall on campus with their three children.

Emily Parsons teaches history and is the dormitory dean in Fowle Hall. She 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, D.C., where she became intimately acquainted with the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the National Building Museum. Emily served as 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. Emily has three children, including Jay Howley ’21 and Evan Howley ’22.

Ali Hawk is a Spanish teacher, an adviser in Tippetts Hall, and a coach in Mercersburg’s strength and performance program. She was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has lived in the U.S. since 1990. Ali graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a degree in history and a concentration in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and earned a master of arts degree from Indiana University. She previously taught and coached field hockey and ice hockey at Portsmouth Abbey and Groton, where she also chaperoned spring break trips with the Appalachia Service Project, taught ESL in the summer, and was the faculty adviser to the Spanish Club. Ali, who spent seven years as Mercersburg’s head varsity field hockey coach, was inducted into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2007 in recognition of her accomplishments as a student-athlete. She coached at her Division I alma mater from 2005 to 2009. Ali came to Mercersburg Academy in 2010 and was named the 2011 Area Field Hockey Coach of the Year by the [Chambersburg] Public Opinion. She lives in Mercersburg with her husband, Kent, and their children, Jonas ’24 and Clara.

Justine O’Connell is Mercerbsurg'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 previously taught French in Massachusetts and Vermont, Spanish in New Hampshire, and English at a bilingual school in El Salvador. Heather likes to focus on cultural and political awareness in the classroom. 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.

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 off campus with her husband, Cory, who works in the science department.

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.

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.

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, and Dominic. They are also involved in spreading awareness about childhood cancer, having lost their daughter, Lauren, to brain cancer.

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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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.

Tyler Miller arrived at Mercersburg in 2010 as development 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 external relations, which includes admission, advancement, alumni relations, 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 local public school district and spent a year as a newspaper staff writer.

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.

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.

Justine O’Connell is Mercerbsurg'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 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.