As Proctor prepares to welcome new and returning students to campus for the start of the academic year, our community also welcomes new faculty and staff to Andover. This group of educators has been working hard to get to know Proctor during new faculty orientation. Please welcome these new community members to Proctor. Learn more about them below!

Zhen Lei (World Language Department) 

What most excites you about the Proctor community? 

I understand that both faculty and students both live in the community, so I am so excited to meet the people here, and build good relationships with the whole community!

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be?

I am already so interested in all the programs Proctor offers, just from what I have read and heard from Ross and Karl. To name a few, I am most excited about Project Period, Summer Service trips and Wildness Orientation. I am excited to see these first hand and learn more about them!

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

This summer I went to Utah to hike. It was a really nice and unforgettable experience for me because I have not hiked much before. During a normal day, I like to cook and bake cookies, cakes and anything else that looks tasty. 

What is your favorite movie?

I think most of them are in Mandarin Chinese, and the most recent one, is called Hi Mom. It is a comedy about family dynamics. 

What is a random fun fact about you?

I love to bring my homemade desserts to the office and to share with everyone! 

Josie Sanchez (Dartmouth MALS Fellow) 

We profiled Josie and the exciting new role she will play at Proctor in an earlier blog post. Check it out HERE! 

Heather Mather (Business Office) 

What most excites you about the Proctor community? 

Joining a community of people with similar values and interests. 

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be?

Proctor en Monteverde sounds amazing!

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

Genealogy/ Local History

What is your favorite movie?

Moulin Rouge

What is a random fun fact about you?

I met my husband on a spring break ultimate frisbee tournament trip in Georgia.

Cooper McNealus (USS/FIS Coach)

What most excites you about the Proctor community? 

I am excited to join the Proctor community because I grew up in Vermont and I have always been a New Englander at heart. I am excited to move (from Colorado) back to some lush forests, independent mountains, icy slopes, and cool lakes. I am also stoked to continue teaching the sports I love, skiing and soccer, while fostering a network of people I hope to have in my life for a long time.

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be?

I would be very interested in Ocean Classroom. I have had limited time near the ocean in the past 10 years and would love a chance to catch some waves or eat some seafood. Colorado seafood is sketchy at best!

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

If we exclude skiing and soccer, one of my favorite hobbies is producing electronic music on my computer. I enjoy sampling songs I love, or recording my friends singing or playing guitar and creating a remix or original tune. I can get lost in this for hours and it is a very different outlet for me than my normal athletic activities.

What is your favorite movie?

My favorite movie is "The Emperor's New Groove" made by Disney. The character Kronk really cracks me up!

What is a random fun fact about you?

Caroline Koziol (Social Science Department) 

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I am most excited about seeing the community in action, how students work with their peers, with teachers, and vice versa. I am also excited to start collaborating with new teachers and other members at Proctor. I am ready to soak up as much information as I can.

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be?

I love to travel so any off-campus traveling program, especially the European art class sounds like a dream.

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

I love painting, whether it’s Bob Ross or weird ideas that come to me like a cow in a lei or rainbow raccoons. 

What is your favorite movie?

Midnight in Paris. 

What is a random fun fact about you?

I was one of the last groups to see Notre-Dame before it caught fire in April of 2019.

Brian Didier (Social Science, Burbank East) 

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community? 

My family and I are excited to be leaving the craziness of Boston and moving back north, this time to a beautiful campus and community. 

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be?

Both the Ocean and Mountain Classrooms look amazing. Having said that, I'd love to lead a group to India!

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

Saltwater fly fishing

What is your favorite movie?

Withnail and I

What is a random fun fact about you?

I grew up in Kansas!

Alyssa Costa (Performing Arts Department, Director of Music)

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I’ve loved working on the musicals the past few years here at Proctor. Everyone is always so welcoming and the students really want to learn and grow. I’m eager to get to know even more people and be part of such a positive community. 

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be?

I would go to Spain or Costa Rica. I studied Spanish in high school and visited Segovia, so it would be cool to do something like that again. 

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

Right now I’m into making beaded bracelets, but I also love to sing and play the piano. 

What is your favorite movie?

Little Women, but not the new one. The 1994 version with Christian Bale is way better!

What is a random fun fact about you?

I just finished my 9th summer working at an all girls sleepaway camp where I’m best known for being able to entertain 50 ten year olds with one set of giant jenga!

Tina Nussbaum Wagler (Science Department) 

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I'm excited to learn from the many amazing and experienced educators at Proctor. I'm also looking forward to meeting a whole new community of people. 

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be?

That's a tough one as I'd love to do ALL the off-campus programs but if I'm limited to one, I'd choose mountain. 

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

I enjoy being active outdoors - running, hiking, biking, walking, nordic skiing, etc. 

What is your favorite movie?

I don't have a favorite movie per se but I love any documentary, much to the chagrin of my children. 

What is a random fun fact about you?

I broke my wrist four years ago (first broken bone) while walking to the gym to run on the treadmill since it was "too icy" to run outside. 

Marc Flaherty (Social Science Department, Carr House) 

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

I have a lot of answers for this question. Connection, learning, professional development, community, these are all things that I can gain from both my colleagues and, perhaps most importantly, my students. However, I think fun is what excites me the most about Proctor. There are so many opportunities for me to develop myself and develop the minds of young people here at Proctor through the lens of having fun. Whether it’s the ideas I have in the dorm, or the classroom, or on campus in general, the ability to simply enjoy what we’re doing and where we’re doing it are numerous and that’s something that feels very unique.

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be?

This is a hard question to answer, but I think it would have to be the Ocean Classroom - experiencing ocean travel and what it means to navigate the seas on a long voyage is so intriguing to me. Though I would feel a little bad for those who would be stuck with me and my love of pirate shanties on a seafaring boat for a trimester.

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

Baseball - I grew up playing, I still play it, and I even play in a vintage base ball (yes two words) league in which I transport myself back in time to 1864 to play the game as it was in its infancy.

What is your favorite movie?

It’s a very close tie between Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.  

What is a random fun fact about you?

I lived in Ethiopia for a year.

Charley Stern ‘09 (Performing Arts and Communications Departments, Davis House) 

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community?

When I arrived at Proctor as a student I remember the feeling of entering a switched-on and deeply connected community. It was populated with educators committed to their individual work, while also being a part of something much larger. And, perhaps most importantly, people at Proctor were psyched about being at Proctor. I am thrilled to have the chance to dive back into this world as a member of the faculty. 

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be?

Mountain Classroom.

What is one of your favorite pastimes?

Nordic skiing.

What is your favorite movie?

Before Sunrise 

What is a random fun fact about you?

I worked on an organic farm in Norway. 

Christine Piquette (Assistant to the Academic Dean) 

What most excites you about joining the Proctor community? 

The people!! The way that this community comes together and really supports each other is something truly unique and amazing! 

If you could take part in any of Proctor’s off-campus programs, which would it be? 

Costa Rica or Europe 

What is one of your favorite pastimes? 

I love to hike    

What is your favorite movie? 

Tough one!  Maybe Liar Liar, or My Cousin Vinny

What is a random fun fact about you? 

I'm fairly good at ping pong :)

Other new faculty include Kate Jones (Learning Skills Department), Geordie Sousa '08 (USS/FIS Coach), Mamie Phelan (USS/FIS Coach).