Welcome Our New Faculty and Staff

The Bryn Mawr School welcomes 28 new members of our faculty and staff for the 2022-23 school year. Our cohort includes musicians, photographers, yogis and a fly fishing instructor! Together, they bring a wealth of talent to all of our divisions. Read more about them below.

Anjulee Bhalla will teach Upper School Computer Science and comes to us from Microsoft in Seattle, where she has been a software engineer for the last three years. Anjulee also served as a summer engineering intern at Google, a teaching assistant in Math and Computer Science at Bowdoin College, and the Assistant Director of Miss Porter’s School Summer Programs; she is a Miss Porter’s graduate herself! Anjulee earned a BA in Math and Computer Science from Bowdoin College and spent a semester in Budapest working on math.

Aneesah Blocker is our new Little School Administrative Assistant. She describes herself as “crafty”...from custom cups and tumblers to jewelry she just loves arts and crafts. She joins Bryn Mawr from the Maryland School for the Blind where she was an administrative assistant and transportation coordinator for the past two years. She has a BA in humanities and a minor in human resource management from University of Maryland University College. 

Kate Bradley joins the Upper School Math Department, having served as a Penn Teaching Fellow in Mathematics at Gilman for the last two years, where she designed a course on data analysis with programming, coached squash and intramural sports, and advised the GSA. Prior to her time at Gilman, Kate was a research fellow at MIT and a research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. She holds a BA in Economics from Yale University, where she served as an academic mentor to local public school students for three years. 

Jess Buslewicz will be joining the Middle School team as a Wilgis Teaching Fellow in our seventh grade history classroom and library. She recently graduated from Smith College with a BA in History and a minor in Jewish studies, with focuses on race in America and Holocaust studies, respectively.

Lane Connors is our new Upper School Art teacher. For the last four years, Lane has been a fine arts instructor at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, where they taught 9th-12th graders and coordinated art-related service opportunities for St. Agnes Hospital. Prior to MDS, Lane was a student teacher at Towson High School and Padonia International Elementary School, and they have even been a docent at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Lane earned a BS in Art Education and a BFA in Art & Design from Towson University. 

Alexandra Chissell ’98 joins our Student Support Services team as our new Middle School Learning Specialist. She brings with her 17 years of experience working as a Special Educator for Baltimore City Public Schools. After graduating from Bryn Mawr, Alexandra attended the University of Hawai’i where she majored in Hawaiian Studies. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Elementary Education from UMBC and a Masters of Education in Special Education from Towson University. 

Julia DiMaio is the inaugural Site Director for Bridges at Bryn Mawr. Julia began her teaching career in Teach for America and has been involved with Bridges since 2014, teaching math, science, language arts and financial literacy at the Bridges at Gilman Summer Institute since its founding summer. Most recently Julia was Science Department Chair at Jemicy Upper School and she previously worked at Gilman School and at the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women. She is a graduate of Notre Dame Preparatory School, and holds a BS in biology from Wake Forest University, an M.S. Education from Johns Hopkins University, and an MA in Liberal Arts from the Graduate Institute at St. John’s College. 

Allyson DiMilia will joins our Dance Department. She has extensive experience as a dance instructor, therapeutic recreation leader, and swim instructor, having worked with both children and adults for recreation and rehabilitation. During her studies, Allyson also traveled to Brazil to study Afro-Brazilian dance. Allyson holds three BS degrees from SUNY Brockport in Dance, Interdisciplinary Arts for Children, and Therapeutic Recreation.

Shanti DiMucci is joining our growing fourth grade class as one of three homeroom teachers this year. Ms. DiMicci most recently served as Lower School Learning Specialist at McDonogh School and brings an impressive career, several advanced degrees, and multiple certifications in reading and writing with her. Behind this robust background, she is a proud mom of twin girls and serves as a Girl Scout leader and Girls on the Run coach. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Simmons College, where she studied English and special education.

Shebrae Dixon will also be joining the 4th grade team this year. Shebrae joins us from Baltimore International Academy. Since graduating from Goucher College in 2020, she has gained experience in the classroom with 5th and 6th grades. She is also the proud studio owner and lead teacher for Dynamix Dance Corp. 

Meisha Dockett is joining Bryn Mawr as the Director of Human Resources. She comes from Garrison Forest School where she has served as the Director of Human Resources for the past five years.  Meisha is familiar with the tri-school community, she was in the business office at Gilman for eight years and has been the co-chair of the Gilman Parents Association Executive Board and Wellness committee.  She received her Bachelors of Arts from Johnson & Wales University.

Returning to Bryn Mawr Little School is Terri Doughney. Terri holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in English and a master certification in teaching from Notre Dame of Maryland University. Terri began her teaching career in Baltimore County Public Schools teaching high school English. She has also served as a second grade paraeducator at Southwest Baltimore Charter School and as a writing instructor at Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. Terry also completed a New Farmer Training course through University of Maryland. 

Amanda Gogola joins the Bryn Mawr business office as the new controller. She has 10 years of experience working with nonprofits including private schools and has worked with Bryn Mawr for the past six years conducting audits. Amanda received both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in accounting from James Madison University.  

Ashley Johnson is joining the Middle School community as a Dorothy Clayborne Fellow in our 6th and 7th grade English classrooms. Ashley studied English at Towson University, serving as a research assistant under Dr. Sherita Roundtree studying noise, pedagogy, and composition. She is an incoming graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, working towards her Masters in Liberal Arts. Ashley’s research and professional interests lie at the intersections of interdisciplinary creative practice, Black Feminism, embodiment, and community liberation and transformation. 

Selah Johnson will teach Upper School history and comes to us from St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn. While there, she taught in all divisions and offered 11th and 12th grade electives on African-American History and Black Activism in the 20th and 21st centuries as well as an evening adult course on women from the Civil Rights era. Prior to St. Ann’s, Selah taught History at the Spence School and was the Lead Teacher and History Curriculum Coordinator for the TEAK Fellowship Program. She has developed several student and faculty programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics as they relate to history. Selah holds a BA in history from Spelman College and an MA and PhD in U.S. History from UCLA. 

Reema Khanchandani joins the Upper School Science Department, where she will teach

Biology and AP Biology; Reema will also serve as the Chair of the Cum Laude Committee. Since 2011, Reema has taught at Garrison Forest School, where she also served as chair of the science department and, most recently, Upper School Director. At Garrison, Reema taught a public health elective, was part of the Diversity Leadership Council, and co-facilitated an affinity group for students of color. Reema earned a BA in Biology from Goucher College and an MS in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. 

Kate Estes Klein joins the College Counseling team as Associate Director and has counseled students and families from both sides of the desk. Most recently, Kate has been the Senior Events Analyst at Pearson, where she has managed recruitment strategy for their virtual schools programs. She served as a college counselor for the college admissions consulting organization IvyWise and before that was Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Johns Hopkins University. Kate holds a BA. from York College of Pennsylvania,

where she was captain of her college swim team. 

Sarah Lotz is our new Upper School Learning Specialist. She has been a school counselor and accommodations coordinator at Calvert Hall, where she facilitated the Peer Education program, developed wellness-related professional development for faculty, and coached cross country. For the last four years, Sarah has also been the head cross country coach at Mercy High School and has worked in the college counseling department at Friends School. Sarah earned a BA in Sociology from UNC Chapel Hill and a Master’s in Counseling from Loyola University. 

Camille McCarroll will teach yoga. A Baltimore native and St. Paul’s School for Girls graduate, she has taught preschool-aged children to adults in a variety of settings, including area schools and yoga studios. Since 2012, Camille has taught yoga and managed the teacher training program at YogaWorks; her classes there include Hip Hop Yoga and a David Bowie tribute class. Camille’s work has been featured in the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Magazine. She earned a BA in Sociology/Philosophy from Dickinson College. 

We welcome Maliyah Peacock ’18 home to Bryn Mawr as a Little School teacher! Maliyah has worked summers and as a substitute in the Little School since 2017. Since graduating from Bryn Mawr, Maliyah has been studying sociology at Gettysburg College, as well as working as a lab assistant at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital and at the Center for Cross Cultural Learning in Rabat Morocco.  

Brittany Pfister is the new Associate Director of Advancement at Bryn Mawr.  She comes to us from Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, where she was the Senior Associate Director of Development. She worked previously in Washington D.C. fundraising for Americans United for Separation of Church and State and People For the American Way.

Brittany received her BA from Appalachian State University and she is also a trained and registered yoga instructor.  

Amy Purtill is joining Bryn Mawr to teach History in 6th and 7th grade, and to advise a group of 6th graders. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Amy came to the States to attend Barnard College and then couldn't bring herself to leave. She has a Bachelors in History from Barnard and Masters from Columbia University in Modern European Studies. Amy lives in Brewer's Hill with her husband Brad and their dog, Ellie (short for Eleanor Roosevelt). If you ask her about her dog, she will immediately pull out her phone and start trying to show you pictures of her. When Amy isn't at school you'll find her at home, either baking or gardening.

Caren Samuels joins Bryn Mawr Little School from Kent County and Queen Anne’s County schools where she was an educator for students from pre-k through high school.  She received her B.A. in education and psychology from Brooklyn College and her MA as a counselor of education and human resources from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.

Maggie Wheeler will be returning to Bryn Mawr. She taught previously at Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore, as well as fourth and then third grade here at Bryn Mawr before staying home with her two young daughters. With her eldest daughter joining our kindergarten this fall, Maggie will return as a third grade homeroom teacher. She holds a BA in psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University. 

John Williams is our new Director of Operations. John most recently served as Project Manager at Whiting-Turner, which means he’s already familiar with Bryn Mawr’s campus having been involved in many projects through the years, including the Student Center. He received his Bachelor of Science in construction management from Morgan State University.

Reagan Williams will teach Upper School math and comes to us most recently from Lansdowne High School, where she has taught since 2016. Reagan has experience working with students at all levels of understanding and teaches her students to appreciate the value of making mistakes. Prior to her time at Lansdowne, Reagan taught middle school math at City Springs. Reagan holds a BA from Michigan State University and an MA in Education and Mathematics from UMBC. 

Paul Villmoare will serve as a long-term substitute in Upper School Spanish. He comes to Bryn Mawr most recently from Park School, where he taught Spanish and Portuguese and also served as the Upper School Modern Language Chair. Paul speaks five languages, co-authored several in-house Spanish textbooks, and initiated two student exchange programs. He holds a B.A in Spanish and history from the University of Virginia, an MS in educational leadership from McDaniel College and a D.U.P.L.E. (Diploma Universitário de Português Língua Estrangeira) from the Universidade de Lisboa in Portugal.

Technically not new, William Vennes joined our faculty in 2020 and served for the past two years as a Teaching Assistant in the Upper School and Long Term Substitute in the Lower and Middle Schools. Prior to 2020, he worked in Saint Petersburg, FL teaching Lower School Computer Science, serving as robotics team leader, and heading the Middle School Fabrication Lab at an independent school. This year, William returns to Bryn Mawr as a sixth grade math teacher and advisor. William graduated from Eckerd College in 2018 with a Bachelors in marine science and a minor in applied mathematics.