Faculty Biographies
 Marq Agboyani, Dorm Parent and Adventure Teacher, is excited to be at Oliverian for the 2011/12 year. Recently, Marq developed a passion for teaching/mentoring at-risk teenagers in Colorado and Montana. At Oliverian, he is continuing to develop as a teacher, mentor, and professional role model for his dorm and students alike.
As a graduate of Colorado State University's College of Applied Human Sciences, with a bachelors degree in Health and Exercise Science, Marq is continuing to apply the knowledge he gained while teaching his classes at Oliverian. As a sportsman, runner, and CrossFit enthusiast, Marq hopes to spread his passion for fitness and well-being amongst the staff and students to create a community with a focus on being healthy.
While not teaching or dorm parenting, Marq enjoys playing his guitar, snowboarding, sports, fishing, hiking, camping, and being outside. Given his hobbies and experience working with youth, it is with great pleasure that Marq joins the Oliverian community in the White Mountains of New Hampshire!
Email: magboyani@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Bessa Axelrod, Art Program Director, was born and raised in Southern California. Freely admitting to a severe case of “wander-lust,” she has traveled widely throughout the U.S. “My mother once complained that my frequent changes of address took up most of her address book, ranging far outside the pages allowed for A and B!” Her wanderings always brought her back to New England where she finally settled down in 1990.
Bessa brings to the Oliverian School a passionate commitment to the Arts. Her broad expertise will allow our students to explore a wide variety of art methods and materials including; drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, art history and culture. Bessa’s foremost goal is “to create a supportive environment for artistic growth, self-expression and risk taking, and to help students develop an exceptional and individualized portfolio of artwork.”
Email: baxelrod@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100 ext. 7041
 Adam Bartkoski, Weekend Chef, has worked in alternative, experiential and at-risk programs for over 15 years. At Oliverian, Adam's talents as an educator
merge with his expertise in fine dining and passion for working with organic and locally grown ingredients.
Adam's previous culinary experiences include sous-chef positions at Coyote Rose in North Conway, NH, and most recently at the Inn at Thorn Hill in Jackson, NH. Adams love of cooking and his focus on nutrition and sustainability are an invaluable part of our community.
Email: abartkoski@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100 ext. 7049
 Art Bedard, Maintenance.
Art was born and raised in Rochester, NH and went to Castle College to earn his degree in Business Administration. Having started work as a Correction Officer at the Valley Street Jail, Art quickly rose through the ranks and became Chief of Security. Art now manages maintenance at the Oliverian School and enjoys the various obstacles teenagers present to the only campus maintenance personnel!
Email: abedard@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Stephanie Claverie, Counselor,
was born and raised in New Orleans,
Louisiana and comes to Oliverian by way of Baltimore, Maryland.
Stephanie is considered the "roaming gnome" of her family having
traveled all over the world. She has visited Machu Picchu, slept in the
ice hotel in Finland, and fished for piranha in the Amazon. Having survived her first New England winter, Stephanie is excited to start her second year here, and will consider the idea of getting on skis (stay tuned). She is joined by her two dogs, JoJo and Dixie.
After receiving her BA in History from Tulane University, Stephanie
worked for two non-profits in New Orleans. When Hurricane Katrina hit,
she moved up to Baltimore and worked as dormitory parent at a boarding
school for 3 years. During this time, Stephanie completed her Master of
Education in Guidance & Counseling from Loyola University Maryland and
fulfilled the requirements to become a National Certified Counselor.
Email: sclaverie@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100 ext. 7040
 Robyn Davis, Dorm Parent/Adventure Teacher,
Robyn grew up in Southern VT and attended Saint Michael's College where she Studied Elementary Ed and Psychology. After college, Robyn moved out to Winter Park, Colorado where she worked at Snow Mountain Ranch, YMCA of the Rockies, for about 3 years. During the past 5 summers, Robyn has worked with summer camps leading backpacking trips throughout the White Mountains and Rocky Mountains, as well as a Wilderness Therapy Program. In the past, Robyn worked mainly with younger children but within the last 2 years have been able to work with teens, and began to realize how much of a lasting impact she can have with them.
Robyn’s position at Oliverian is a Dorm Parent/Adventure Teacher and she is very excited to be here! Robyn is passionate about working with youth and allowing them to be themselves along their road to self-discovery. She loves the outdoors and getting outside every chance she gets, even in the rain. Robyn enjoys hiking, running, kayaking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. She thinks the Oliverian School is the perfect place for her to embrace her passion for the outdoors and pass it on to anyone who welcomes it!
Email: rdavis@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Jay Destroismaisons, Executive Chef, has over thirty years of hospitality experience in all phases of the industry. Mr. Destroismaisons also has over 25 years of youth & family mediation experience, has ten years working with at risk adolescents, Jay is also a nationally certified hypnotherapist and is currently the executive director of the Center For Positive Change, a hypnotherapy practice specializing in lifestyle modification for smoking cessation, weight control, and academic performance.
Jay’s goals include working towards self sufficiency in all areas of food service and promoting healthy lifestyle modifications to enhance the well being of our students and staff.
Email: jdestroismaisons@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100 ext. 7018
 John Doyle, Stewardship Teacher, grew up just north of Hanover, New Hampshire on his family's farm. Using only horse drawn power, John made maple syrup, cut wood for heating the family home, hayed, raised livestock, hunted and trapped, and grew and sold vegetables. After graduating from Hanover High School, John attended Bridgeton Academy and later Hawthorn College where he received his B.A. in History. After college, John spent 13 years working in hotel and restaurant management at the Hanover Inn; 6 years building custom houses; and the past 12 years teaching building trades, agriculture, and forestry and wildlife science to 7th-12th graders. John has been a Coverts Cooperator for the state of New Hampshire since 1996, and is passionate about teaching students about wildlife conservation, forestry management, and beef cattle.
Email: jdoyle@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100 ext. 7012
Julie Gaffey, Admissions and Marketing Coordinator. After graduating from Georgia Southern University with a BA in English, Julie moved to San Francisco to ride the “dot.com wave” where she worked as Marketing Coordinator for an internet startup. While she thrived in the fast paced internet environment, Julie heard her true calling back in Georgia to work with struggling youth in the alligator infested swamps where she worked for over 5 years as counselor, teacher, and training director at a Wilderness Program for troubled teens.
After leaving the Deep South, Julie followed the northern path to be closer to family and discovered The Oliverian School tucked away in the beautiful mountains of New Hampshire. Oliverian’s mission deeply resonated with Julie and she was thrilled to fuse her marketing skills together with her passion for working with struggling youth.
Julie has been part of The Oliverian School since 2007 where she has settled in the woods of NH with her husband, Brian, and their three young children. Julie
greatly appreciates the landscape surrounding Oliverian as it provides the perfect environment for hiking, kayaking, canoeing, exploring rivers, downhill skiing,
cross-country skiing, and hunting for wildlife with her trusty camera!
Email: jgaffey@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100 ext. 7104
 Josh Holt, Humanities Teacher/Associate Academic Dean/Substance Abuse Recovery Program Coordinator, Josh came to The Oliverian School in February 2011 with twelve years of experience in education and the nonprofit sector in Texas, New Orleans, and New York. Josh graduated with a BA in history and religion from Hendrix College in 1996, during which time he also studied at Oxford University in England and led a work trip to Kenya. Josh received his MA in teaching social studies from Columbia University’s Teachers College in 1998 and a MA in religious studies from Southern Methodist University in 2004. He is currently working toward his doctorate in education.
In his free time, Josh enjoys writing, reading, and venturing out into the abundance of the natural world that New Hampshire has to offer.
Email: jholt@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Abby Hood, Academic Dean and Science Teacher. Graduating from Mount Holyoke College with Biology major in 1999, Abby spent the subsequent years as College Laboratory Instructor, Sea Turtle Research Technician, Wildlife Rehabilitator, and Advisor and Work Crew Leader at a therapeutic work community set on an organic farm. Abby returned to school and received her M.S. from the University of Vermont in Ecological Planning. From geology to botany, soil science to ecology, and eventually honing in on the ecological effects of agriculture, Abby’s graduate work consisted of a broad, multi-disciplinary study of the natural systems of New England.
It was during the summers, not the school year, though, that Abby first identified her passion for teaching science to high school students. She worked for the Governor’s Institute of Vermont, Science and Technology program. During one intensive week each summer, Abby taught field science to bright, motivated high-school students. She loved it, and the next thing she knew, she was applying for full-time teaching jobs. Since arriving at Oliverian, Abby has been thrilled to share her love of science and nature with her students. The campus provides amazing opportunities for exploration, inquiry, and adventure, and the students are interesting and spirited individuals who inspire her to keep learning and growing.
In her free time, Abby enjoys hiking, running, skiing, canoeing, and playing with her dog. During the summer, she continues to teach field science for the Governor’s Institute of Vermont and for the Vermont Science Initiative’s K-8 teacher enrichment program.
Email: ahood@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100 ext. 7010
Jillian Hoyt, Spanish Teacher.
A graduate of the University of Southern Maine's Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP), Jillian brings a passion for learning languages to The Oliverian School. She earned her bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College where she majored in Spanish and Economics. While earning her degree, she lived with a local family and took university courses in Barcelona, Spain.
When not teaching, Jillian enjoys hiking, camping, writing, and traveling. A Maine native, she is no stranger to the outdoors and is excited to be spending another year working and living in the White Mountains.
Email: jhoyt@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Kate Johansen, Director of Residential Life.
Kate was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and despite her best efforts, continues to find herself in places with beautiful scenery and unfortunate weather. She has an eclectic educational and vocational background which includes a BA in History, MA in Psychology and Religion and a Post-Masters Certificate in Counseling. She has been working with adolescents for over a decade in classrooms, camps and treatment facilities and was drawn to Oliverian because it allows her to combine her unique blend of skills and education in new and exciting ways.
Throughout her childhood, Kate's dad always told her, "Do what you love and the rest will follow." She loves working with teenagers, organizing schedules, and being outside; it took awhile, but she finally found a position which allows her to do all those things and, it turns out her dad was right.
An avid Red Sox fan, Kate is excited to be 3,000 miles closer to Fenway Park. She also enjoys hiking, camping and playing Scrabble. She makes the world's best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and is trying, with little success, to master the perfect pie crust.
Email: kjohansen@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100 ext. 7007
 Carla King, Upper Valley Stewardship Center, Director of Equine Services. Carla graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in Animal Science. Carla has had a lifelong love affair with horses and finds running a smoothly operating barn and keeping healthy horses a very rewarding lifestyle. She enjoys sharing her equine enthusiasm with the students and hopes that they will find their time with the horses to be a rewarding experience.
When not around horses, Carla can be found walking or playing frisbee with her dogs. Carla is a NH native and enjoys each of the four seasons that NH has to offer. She also enjoys going to the movies, milkshakes and getting to see bear and moose out on the Oliverian campus.
Email: cking@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100 ext. 7054
 Kara Kliesing, Humanities Teacher.
Kara graduated from Texas A&M University with B.A.s in English and American Studies. She is currently a humanities teacher at Oliverian, and is excited to bring her interdisciplinary studies background to the department.
Kara has a particular interest in American literature and regional cultures which has led her to live, study, and work in the West, Southwest, South, New England, and England. She hopes to instill in students an appreciation for personal and national identities, and an understanding of how individuals express those identities through writing.
In her free time, Kara enjoys hiking, baking, and porch-sitting, and has the Oliverian community to thank for introducing her newest hobby: rock climbing. She was once a volunteer assistant mammal keeper at the Jacksonville Zoo, and spent time with various organizations promoting wildlife wellbeing and land preservation in the West.
Email: kkliesing@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
William Kramer, Dorm Parent.
Will has worked in the non-profit field since his college days. Most of these organizations were directly related to the aid of children in need. He has been in several different countries for this work and is extremely passionate about it. It is this passion that has led him to the residential team as a dorm parent, here at Oliverian.
After spending a significant amount of time in Romania, helping and living in an orphanage for developmentally dissabled children, William came back to his home in Nebraska to work for the state as a Forensic Interviewer. Recently, it occured to William that need is not always based on the lack of money an individual has, or the country they might live in. Rather, need for help spans many lines and touches everyone in various ways.
Having experienced the amazing things that can happen for a young person at Oliverian, through the success that his cousin, Alex Townsend ’08, had achieved at the School, William believes strongly in the direction, goals, and ideals that Oliverian provides for young people. "I enjoy working here and am as happy as i have been in a long time. Learning and growing together as a community with great kids and a wonderful staff... What more could a person want?"
Email: wkramer@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
Maurice Liddy, Learning Specialist.
Maurice comes to Oliverian from Ireland via Arizona and Colorado. He has a Mechatronic Engineering Degree from Dublin City University and 4 years professional experience as a Mechanical and Electonic engineer. He has since relalized that his passion lies in education and think of no better place than Oliverian to foster this passion. He gained a Master's degree and certification in Special Education and has worked as a special educator in an inner city public high school in Denver, Colorado. This is his fourth year in a variety roles at Oliverian.
This year Maurice will be a learning specialist, who's primary focus will be helping students overcome any learning challenges both inside and outside the classroom. Parents should feel free to contact him any time with specific concerns regarding their child.
Maurice's interests include rock climbing, (the real) football, mountain and road biking and playing music. He is very passionate about playing and is discovering a real love for bluegrass and Irish traditional music.
Maurice is thoroughly delighted to have the opportunity to be at the Oliverian school and work with truly amazing staff and students.
Email: mliddy@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Barclay Mackinnon, Jr., Head Emeritus-Director of Admissions.
As Head Emeritus, Barclay has dedicated over 9 years of his 29 year career in the field of education to the Oliverian School. In that time he has been a teacher, advisor, counselor, coach, and administrator. He describes the feeling he had when he began his first teaching job at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, as a strong sense that he was going home. "It may be hard to believe, but it's as though I've never had a bad day."
Barclay received his undergraduate degree from The City University of New York and his graduate degree from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California. He’s proud to say that his work at Oliverian has been the most richly rewarding professional experience of his career. “The Oliverian School ethos supports students who may be struggling to find their way, while giving them an opportunity to redefine who they are in a setting that will nourish and inspire them. Barclay lives in Norwich, Vermont and is the proud father of sons Ian, Max and Ben, and stepchildren Danny and Jenna.
Email: bmackinnon@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100, ext. 7103
 Melissa McDonnell , Learning Specialist and Dorm Parent.
Melissa is returning to her native New England after several years in the South, and is excited to be back!
After graduating from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NewYork with a degree in Communications and a Paralegal Certificate, Melissamigrated south to Alabama. Here,she taught environmental education and team building courses to students of allages. She then spent two yearsteaching adjudicated adolescents at a South Carolina wilderness therapyfacility, while also obtaining a Master?s of Education Degree in DivergentLearning from Columbia College.
As difficult as it was to leave the warm temperatures, slowdrawls, and fried food of the South, Melissa is excited to back in theNorth. She?s looking forward tospending time with her four younger siblings, exploring this new area, and, ofcourse, working with the students of Oliverian!
Email: melissa.mcdonnell@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Jesse Mohr, Director of Stewardship.
Jess grew up on his family’s farm in upstate New York, spending his time exploring the woods, fields and streams, but also eagerly awaiting the chance to escape farm life. That’s the thing about growing up on a farm – weekend mornings are spent fixing fences rather than watching cartoons. It wasn’t until Jess moved off the farm that he realized what it meant to him.
Jess received his Bachelor’s of Science in forest ecology from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Visiting and working in the towering old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest, Jess began to see and understand the inter-connectedness of these primeval ecosystems: how the trees, soils, and wildlife are all dependent on each other. Moving on to study sustainable forestry, Jess began to see how he and his choices about paper, lumber and even food could disrupt the inter-connectedness of a healthy ecosystem. Pulling at this thread, Jess found the inspiration to keep asking hard questions, to keep moving forward with his career and learning, and to make his way back to the farm and garden.
After receiving his Masters Degree and teaching at the University of Vermont, Jess now balances a fulfilling teaching life at Oliverian with his private consulting work in the fields of ecology, conservation, and natural resources. As Director of Stewardship, Jess gets the chance to oversee and teach about management of the School’s forest, farm, and wildlife preserve while helping students find that thread that inspires them to keep asking the hard questions about how their life affects the environment around them.
Email: jmohr@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Rudy Nunez, Math Teacher.
Rudy was born and raised in Los Angeles where he went to college and earned his B.S. in Applied Physics. While in college, Rudy joined the military reserves and then moved to New York City to earn his masters in Math Education. Rudy taught Math in the Bronx for 3 years before finding his way to The Oliverian School. Some of Rudy’s hobbies include tinkering with electronics and video games as well as taking in the natural scenery in New Hampshire. Rudy especially looks forward to his first winter here!
Email: rnunez@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Michael Richardson, Director of Student Support,
Michael comes to the Oliverian school from the North East Kingdom of Vermont. He received a Bachelors degree in Fine Art from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, NY. After spending several years as a free-lance artist Michael began an eight year career at a therapeutic boarding school. He worked in a variety of positions from dorm staff to clinical therapist. He has earned a Master of Science degree from Springfield College and is a trained mental health and substance abuse counselor.
Michael is excited to be a part of the Oliverian community because he enjoys biking, skiing and working in the woods. He hopes to integrate his counseling model with the Oliverian experience to provide the students with a holistic therapeutic approach. Michael is an experienced provider of individual, group, family and milieu forms of therapy. While Michael admits that therapy can be a challenging process, he finds motivation though helping people attain a healthier way of being.
Email: michael.richardson@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100, ext. 7013
 Randy Richardson, Headmaster.
Randy brings 20 years of direct experience as a teacher, coach and administrator of independent schools to the Oliverian School.
In addition to running a boarding program at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, PA, he served as Head of School of The Derryfield School in
Manchester, NH for 6 years. Randy loves politics and history, and has taught a range of history and social studies courses from geography to U.S.
History, to electives in U.S. foreign policy and revolution. He has coached lacrosse, soccer and ice hockey at many levels. He recently spent two years
working as an educational consultant for Breakthrough Collaborative, a national students-teaching-students program dedicated to educational equity and
teacher training.
Randy is excited to be joining the Oliverian community this year. He feels like he is coming home because he has lived and worked in independent
schools since he was a small child. In fact, Randy is especially drawn to Oliverian because he vividly and fondly remembers the working farm and
faculty and student heroes that were at the center of that first school community in his life.
Randy is proud of his family, including his wife, Susi, son, Josh, daughter, Liza, and their dog, Sabrina. He feels an even deeper connection to the
Olivierian mission, students and families because Liza credits an alternative school similar to Oliverian as a key to her current wellbeing and success.
Randy likes to be outdoors whenever possible, and especially enjoys hiking, running, biking, kayaking, rollerblading, snowshoeing and ultimate frisbee.
When he is indoors, Randy reads as much history and news as possible, and he has been known to watch too many international soccer games.
Email: rrichardson@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100, ext. 7009
 Rob Rinaldi, Photography Teacher.
Photography has been Rob’s passion since he was ten years old and took his first photo class. After earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in Fine Art Photography, Rob went on to do commercial photography in southern Connecticut and the NYC metro area. Rob worked with everything from tabletop still life, to portraits, to room sets, and food – as well as working in a number of studios. Rob also started working on a small magazine about vintage Ford tractors and implements (www.n-news.com), ultimately purchasing that magazine 12 years ago. Working with kids has always been a passion for Rob. From chairing the local preschool board, to being involved with the local public school and the board at Wellspring Waldorf school in Chelsea, VT - education has been high on his agenda.
Rob lives in Vermont with his partner Jill and their two daughters Nilla, age 12 and Bailey, age 10. They grow and sell organic garlic and eggs and participate in the Local Resource Network, a local foods and community-building organization inspired by the work of Bill McKibben.
Email: rrinaldi@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Julie Sanderson, Dorm Parent/Adventure Teacher.
Julie grew up in New England and from a very early age always enjoyed the outdoors. It was a National Outdoor Leadership Semester in college that she realized she could intertwine her love for outdoor adventure into a career. She later received her BA in Outdoor Education and Leadership from Sterling College in Vermont.
After graduation she moved out west and worked as a wilderness therapy field instructor. She also has spent time teaching skiing and snowboarding in Oregon and working as a hiking guide in Yosemite National Park.
Julie is now returning to New England to join the Oliverian faculty. She was drawn to the school because of its unique mission. She is excited to work with students in an academic atmosphere that also fosters growth with outdoor adventures. Julie is also especially excited to see the fall foliage!
Email: jsanderson@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Shannon Hunter Thibodeau, Photography Teacher.
Shannon is a native to NH and new to the Oliverian School as of last spring.
In her free time, Shannon enjoys the beautiful outdoors hiking, rock climbing, biking, snowboarding, and photo documenting the landscape and people.
Shannon was drawn to The Oliverian School because of the way it provides a unique learning experience for the students and offers an incredible photography exploration of student life here in Pike, NH. The connection between student and faculty is also very important and she is honored to be a part of the Oliverian community again this year.
Email: sthibodeau@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Peter Stevens, Director of College Counseling, is a veteran teacher, counselor and for 24 years a headmaster in independent schools in the United States and in Europe. Specializing now in college counseling, Peter works as an independent educational consultant and a school-based counselor, providing college guidance and boarding school placement for students. Most recently, Peter ran the academic programs at the Academy at Swift River, a therapeutic school in western Massachusetts, where he also provided college and school counseling. Peter is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the New England Association for College Admission Counseling and is an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. He is a graduate of Williams College and the University of Chicago, and currently lives in rural Massachusetts, from where he travels to Oliverian School. One can learn more about Peter from his website www.peterwstevens.com.
Email: pstevens@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100, ext. 7015
 Peter Tice, Science Teacher,
Peter is a new addition to Oliverian for the 2011-2012 school year. Following university teaching as a graduate student and several years teaching in public-school alternative and mainstream programs, he is making a return to his passion in small-group, holistic education at Oliverian. Peter received his B.Sc. in Geology from McGill University in 1995 and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in magma crystallization dynamics and alkaline crystal chemistry from the University of New Orleans in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Peter lives at Oliverian with his wife, Sherri, and their children: Justin, Calvin, and Emaline.
Peter was initially drawn to Oliverian by its commitment to provide for individual students’ learning needs and interests while maintaining high academic standards. “Students need to be challenged to become independent thinkers who use the information from their courses to develop their own analytical framework to consider the world and their place in it. In doing so, they become more active participants in their own lives and in that of their community. Cultivating students as independent thinkers commences with treating students as individuals; learning who they are and providing them with the means and support to blaze their own path.”
In his free time, Peter is interested in horticulture, sustainable agriculture, woodworking and handicraft, wildlife observation, astronomy, mineral collecting, building scale railroad models, and railroad history.
Email: ptice@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100
 Gregory Vogel, Associate Headmaster, joined the Oliverian community in 2004 after spending 5 years as Assistant Coach with Dartmouth Men’s Soccer as well as Research Analyst in the Development Office at Dartmouth College. Greg earned his bachelor's degree at Alfred University and his Masters Degree in Administration at Western Maryland College. As Associate Headmaster, Greg’s priorities include faculty development, residential life, student discipline, and managing daily operations.
Greg lives directly on the Oliverian campus at “The Homestead” with his wife Vajra and their four children: Maren, Gregory, Hannah, and Caelan. Living on campus fosters valuable family integration with Oliverian students. Vogel Family Values of integrity, compassion, and support extend throughout campus as students interrelate with Greg’s kids helping with meals, barn chores, swimming, or even students teaching the Vogel kids the latest fishing techniques.
Having worked with high school and college students at various developmental levels, Greg strengthened his belief that the education of today’s youth flows from many sources, particularly outside the classroom. “The Oliverian School offers the necessary environment to address the student as a “whole person” and impact students in many areas beyond traditional academics. We inspire students to develop a real sense of character and their importance to this community, as well as the world around them. Too often, young people struggle with unlocking their strength and courage needed to achieve.” It is Greg’s belief that the most important work faculty accomplishes comes alive through the “in between moments” of education when they can mentor, care, inspire, and guide students toward triumphant life decisions and a genuine vigor for life.
Email: gvogel@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100, ext. 7008
 Brett Wanner, Music Teacher, Soccer Coach.
Brett has had extensive experience as a performer, producer, and recording artist and is still engaged in all three activities. When not immersed in the musical world, Brett still enjoys playing soccer. While he played soccer at a very competitive level in his and earlier adulthood, Brett has begun to focus on coaching and player development. Brett lives in Lyme, NH with his wife Marilyn and two children Addison and Lena.
Through his experiences and independent study, Brett is able to provide an interesting and unique perspective into the world of music at Oliverian. He is able to meet our students where they are at musically and provide them with opportunities for growth in varied areas ranging from songwriting to music business to the recording arts. He wishes to provide our students with a music program that looks very different from a traditional high school program in the hope that it will be more engaging, challenging, fun, and focused on student compositions. Brett lives for those moments when the creative spark ignites and it gives birth to a work that was previously nonexistent.
Email: bwanner@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100, ext. 7045
 Susan Welsh, School Nurse,
wouldn’t be working at Oliverian had it not been for her daughter finding the position advertised online and telling her mom, “I found the perfect job for you – it’s everything you love to do – and it’s even in New Hampshire, too!” Now in her second year at Oliverian, she has found her niche at this lovely boarding school amidst the awesome mountains and babbling brooks. And even more exciting, she has become “mom” to a school full of fun, energetic young people who bring a sense of fulfillment and joy to her life each and every day.
Susan’s diverse background in nursing prepared her well for her new job at The Oliverian School. Having graduating from Mass General Hospital School of Nursing in Boston, Susan had no desire to work in a traditional hospital setting. Instead, her independent spirit and sense of adventure steered her towards working in a variety of community health settings over the years and she eventually discovered that she loved school nursing best of all. Susan worked in both public and private schools in Massachusetts, one of which was an alternative high school in Worcester for adolescents with behavioral and emotional problems.
Susan also came to Oliverian because of a longing to fulfill one of her life-long goals that’s quoted in one of her old yearbooks: “to help adolescents find their identity.” She truly believes that each Oliverian student has extraordinary gifts and talents and once their potential is realized and unleashed, they can literally change the world. As an eternal optimist and woman of great faith, she hopes to inspire and challenge them to reach for the sky…. they can do anything if they try!
Susan has been married to her husband, Karl, for the past 32 years and they have a wonderful family: a daughter who is a special education teacher; a son-in-law who a middle school math teacher who recently earned a master's degree in administration; and a chemist son who is pursuing his master's degree in meteorology in St. Louis after recently completing a year-long internship at NASA researching atmospheric pollution. Other members of the family include a 4 ½ yr. old foster grandson with a big personality and an energetic boxer who loves to pop bubbles!
Email: swelsh@oliverianschool.org
Phone: 603.989.5100, ext. 7006
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