Welcome New CSW Faculty & Staff
This year, The Cambridge School of Weston is happy to welcome nine new faculty, five new staff and four new dorm parents. Some of the faces will be familiar to the community, with people taking on additional responsibilities or an alumna returning to work in admissions. As always, the range of interests, educations and backgrouds among the new hires is impressive, and will complement the diverse faculty and staff already here. Please click below to learn more about these individuals.
New Faculty
The history department welcomes Anjali Bhatia. Most recently, Anjali was a middle school humanities apprentice at Shady Hill School in Cambridge; prior teaching experience was at the Shishu Bharati School in Lexington. Anjali received a B.A. in Indian classical dance from Kalakshetra College in Chennai, India and both a B.A. and M.A. in international law/human rights from Vrije University of Amsterdam.
Amber Espar, who joins us as a part-time Spanish teacher this year, is a familiar face to many. A 1997 graduate of CSW, Amber has since assisted with several CSW Latin America trips and has done some teaching in CSW’s science and Spanish classrooms, as well as dance studios. Amber received her B.A. in international studies with a concentration in Spanish and anthropology from Vassar College.
Another familiar face on the CSW campus is Carey Foster, who has taught various dance and choreography classes here since 2007. Carey will have a greater presence this year as her commitment within the dance department expands significantly. Carey has choreographed and performed numerous creative works in the Boston area. Carey is currently a candidate for a M.F.A. in performing arts/dance from the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee; she received her B.A. from Southern Methodist University.
Joining the Skills Center to provide evening support is Liz Hayes. Liz is currently an independent tutor for students in the metrowest Boston area, as well as the sole proprietor of Hazel Handcrafts, creating one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces with an eco-friendly and ethical approach. Liz studied at Macalester College and Maine College of Art.
Jeannette Lee will be teaching English at CSW after two years as a visiting assistant professor at Hampshire College. Previously, Jeannette was an instructor and researcher at Brown University, teaching American, African American, Caribbean and British literature. Jeannette received both her Ph.D and M.A., both in English literature, from Brown University; her B.A., also in English literature, is from St. John’s University.
Amani Marshall will be joining us a history teacher. Amani’s most recent teaching experience was as a post doctoral research fellow at the University of Delaware, developing and instructing African American studies; previous teaching work was at Mount Holyoke College and Indiana University. Amani earned a Ph.D in history from Indiana University and a B.A. in history from Florida A&M University.
Taking on the new position of Director of the Theatre Program is Jeffrey Sichel, who has extensive experience in teaching, administrating and producing theatre around the world, including at Bard College. Jeffrey’s lecturing and presentation of plays, operas, puppetry and more has found him working from Spain to China, New York to Washington DC, and many places in between. Jeffrey earned his M.F.A. in directing from Columbia University and his B.S. in theatre from Skidmore College.
Lan Wu joins the foreign languages department as a part-time teacher in our new Mandarin program. Most recently, Lan has taught in the Washington DC area. She has also taught and worked in administration in educational institutions in Beijing, China. Lan has earned two M.Eds, from George Mason University and Brock University (Ontario), and received a bachelors of economics in business administration from Beijing Forestry University.
Trapelo welcomes new dorm parents Liz Galante and Peter Gonsalves and their son, Gabe. We all already know Peter, who has been a member of the FLIK dining services team at CSW since 2007 and has coached the boys’ junior varsity soccer team. Peter’s wife Liz most recently conceived and operated Project Toddler, a start-up model for a hands-on visual arts program for young children and their parents in Boston’s northshore region; Liz also has marketing/public relations experience. Both Peter and Liz received a B.S. from Endicott College.
CSW’s Associate Director of Communications Lee Koh and her husband Jordan Mueller, along with their son Toby, are joining the residential life program as dorm parents in The Barn. Jordan is a software application developer at Liaison International in Watertown, as well as a candidate for a master of liberal arts in information technology at Harvard University. Jordan received his B.A. in mathematics and East Asian studies from Oberlin College.
New Staff
Many of us will recognize Julia Cornue, who did some assistant teaching in the CSW math department last year. This year, Julia joins us as an Administrative Intern working primarily in the Deans’ Office. She will also be a dorm associate and the girls’ junior varsity soccer coach. Julia’s recent work has been as a mathematics tutor for students in the Boston area. Julia received her B.A. from University at Albany in mathematics and statistics.
Toby Dewey will be the director of next year’s new creative summer arts program here at CSW. Toby’s family started the Charles River Creative Arts Program at the Charles River School in Dover in 1970; Toby has been the program’s director since 1980. He also is the artistic director for Urban Improv, an improvisational theatre program based in Jamaica Plain which promotes positive youth development. Toby received his M.Ed from the Antioch Graduate Program and his B.A. in English from Beloit College.
Joining Toby at the creative summer arts program as associate director will be Tina Johnson. Tina has been the Administrative Coordinator of the program at Charles River School since 2005. Tina’s experience in founding and/or directing arts programs has taken her from Massachusetts, to Florida, to Maine and back to Massachusetts. Tina received a B.A. in performing arts/directing from Emerson College and a B.A. in American Studies from Wellesley College.
Waetie Sanaa Kumahia, a 1995 graduate of CSW and former CSW trustee, joins us as Assistant Director of Admissions. Waetie Sanaa’s most recent work experience was with Life Together Diomass Intern program in Brookline and Dorchester as a post graduate fellow; previously she was a recruiter, teacher and trainer for the Bell Foundation in Dorchester. Waetie Sanaa received a M.A. in theological research at Andover Newton School of Theology and a B.A. in anthropology from Wellesley College.
Certified public accountant Randi Parker has joined the Business Office team as Associate Director of Finance. Randi has been an accounting manager or senior accountant at several New England/New York organizations including Live Nation and Clear Channel Entertainment. Randi received her B.S. in accountancy from Bentley College.
