Faculty and Staff

Art Department

Brett Abigaña

Brett Abigaña directs the Academy’s Choral Ensemble. Mr. Abigaña holds a Master of Music Composition from The Juilliard School, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts Composition from Boston University. E-mail Mr. Abigaña.

Liz Cellucci

Liz Cellucci teaches visual art at BUA. She received a BFA in Painting from UMass Dartmouth and has pursued graduate course work in Graphic Design and Art Education at Massachusetts College of Art and the University of Connecticut. Prior to teaching, Liz was a designer and art director working in advertising and television. She enjoys spending her summers at an international yoga and meditation retreat site, where she works with children and teens in visual art and theater production. She participates annually in educational conferences, presenting art workshops for children. E-mail Ms. Cellucci.

Bill Gardiner

Bill Gardiner teaches drama at the Academy.  He has been acting professionally in the Boston Area for over twenty years.  He has performed with the Actor’s Shakespeare Project, The Stoneham Theatre, the Publick Theatre; Boston Theatre Works, North Shore Music Theatre, American Stage Festival, Boston Playwright’s, and the Gloucester Stage Co. Mr. Gardiner also toured New England with many educational companies including; City Stage Company, Boston Arts Group, Loon and Heron Theatre and Tempest Productions. His Industrial film credits include Boston Herald, Dunkin Donuts, Allmerica Insurance, Franco-American and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. For over six years Mr. Gardiner was part of the Science Theatre Company at Boston’s Museum of Science, performing in Science related plays and writing and performing both in-house and traveling demonstrations.  He has taught acting at the Actor’s Workshop, the Young Company of the Publick Theatre, American Stage Festival, and for the past three years at the Summer Theatre Institute of BU.  He graduated from Boston University.  He is currently pursuing his MFA in Theatre Education from Boston University after graduating summa cum laude with a BFA in Theatre Arts. E-mail Mr. Gardiner.

Classics Department

Laurie Glenn

Laurie Glenn teaches Ancient Greek and Latin. She received her B. A. from Boston University with a major concentration in Classics and a minor in Italian. She has studied at the University of Padova in Italy, and has twice attended the summer program of Reginald Foster, one of the pope’s Latin scribes, in Rome. She is currently pursuing graduate work at BU. E-mail Ms. Glenn.

Kristin Jewell

Kristin Jewell teaches Latin and Greek. She graduated magna cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in Classics. She went on to earn an M.A. and Ph.D. in Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where she focused her research on Euripidean tragedy. As a teaching fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, she taught Latin courses as well as a freshman writing seminar based on classical and modern rhetoric. Before arriving at the Academy, Kristin also taught in the Classics department at Dickinson College, and was a member of both the English and Foreign Language departments at the Loomis Chaffee School. E-mail Dr. Jewell.

English Department

Philip Gambone

A graduate of Harvard University (A.B. in English, magna cum laude) and the Episcopal Divinity School (M.A. in theology, with honors), Phil taught for 26 years at the Park School in Brookline prior to his appointment at BUA. He is a published writer with three books and many articles and essays to his credit. Phil has taught writing at the University of Massachusetts, Boston College, and in the freshman writing program at Harvard. Currently, he teaches one evening a week in the creative and expository writing program at Harvard Extension School. He has twice been awarded Distinguished Teaching Citations by Harvard. In 1996, he taught in Beijing under the auspices of School Year Abroad, an experience that led to his passion for Asian literature and art. E-mail Mr. Gambone.

Lauren Proll

Dr. Lauren Proll teaches 10th and 11th grade English, and advises the Literary Magazine. Dr. Proll was most recently the chair of the English Department at Gann Academy, and before that she taught at Wittenberg University, where she directed the writing program, and at Indiana University, where she won three teaching awards.  She holds a B.A. in English (summa cum laude) from The College of New Jersey, as well as an M.A. degree and a Ph.D. in English from Indiana University. Her primary area of scholarship is British Modernism and, in particular, the work of D. H. Lawrence. Email Dr. Proll.

Jason Tandon

Jason Tandon teaches American Literature. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from Middlebury College, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of New Hampshire. He has ten years of experience teaching literature and composition at the secondary and university levels. He is also a lecturer in the BU Writing Program where he teaches courses in English Romanticism and Modern and Contemporary American poetry. E-mail Mr. Tandon.

History Department

James Davis

Jim Davis teaches philosophy, history and English at the Academy. He received his B.A. in political science from Beloit College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa and earned an M.A. in philosophy at State University of New York at Albany. Jim received his Ph.D in philosophy at Boston University, after research on the Aristotelian and ancient Greek views of science, psychology, and theories of reality. He has taught at Boston University’s College of Liberal Arts and the Metropolitan College and Merrimack College. During the summer, he teaches logic and philosophy in John Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth program. Jim is a member of the American Association of Philosophy Teachers, and has presented a paper on pedagogue at their biannual conference. He has won the Boston University Rallis Memorial Award for excellence in humanities research, was a finalist for the Metcalf Award for Excellence in teaching at Boston University, and was honored with the University of Chicago’s award for excellence in high school teaching. E-mail Dr. Davis.

Richard Horn

Richard Horn teaches history at Boston University Academy. He has also served as the Academy’s Director of Studies and Director of Governance. He received his A.B. in history from Harvard University, his M.A.L.S. in social sciences from Dartmouth College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from Princeton University. Rich taught at the Rivers School in Weston and The Brooks School in North Andover, and has lectured in the department of history at Princeton and at The College of New Jersey. In addition to publishing several articles on history, Rich is preparing his dissertation, an intellectual biography of the American philosopher Sidney Hook, for publication. His areas of special interest are 19th and 20th century American history, social thought in Europe and America during that same period, the history of evolutionary theory, and philosophy, particularly American Pragmatism. E-mail Dr. Horn.

Alexandra Lyons

Alexandra Lyons teaches ancient history at BUA and oversees the writing center at the Academy. She graduated summa cum laude from Yale University and received her Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Harvard University in 2004. In addition to teaching Russian language and literature courses as a graduate student and then as a lecturer at Harvard, Sasha worked as a free-lance translator and art curator in Prague before coming to BUA. She has published articles on Russian poetry in peer-reviewed journals as well as several translations of literary and academic texts. She is fluent in five languages; unfortunately ancient Greek is not one of them. E-mail Dr. Lyons.

Mathematics Department

Nick Dent

Nick Dent teaches Math and is the Director of Governance. A graduate of Oberlin College with a B.S. in Physics, Mr. Dent previously taught math and physics at Sacramento Country Day in Sacramento, California. In addition to teaching Math, Mr. Dent advises the Robotics team, leads the Math Club and the Science Olympiads, and coaches Ultimate Frisbee. E-mail Mr. Dent.

Srdjan Divac

Srdjan Divac teaches mathematics. He studied Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Harvard as an undergraduate, and Mathematics as a graduate student, at Harvard, Tufts, and Boston University. He has also taught mathematics at Harvard, Tufts and BU, and has received numerous teaching awards. He continues to teach math in the Math for Teaching ALM program and the Summer School at Harvard. When not teaching, he enjoys, among other things, Andean flutes, tennis, and vacations. E-mail Mr. Divac.

David Earls

David Earls is a mathematics teacher at BUA.  After teaching mathematics and computer science for two years at Pope John XXIII High School in Everett, David decided to go back to school and earn an M.S. in mathematics from Tufts University.  E-mail Mr. Earls.

Science Department

Gary Garber

Gary Garber teaches physics and advanced calculus at the Academy. In addition, he oversees Academy students who intern in science and engineering labs at Boston University, coordinates the senior thesis program, and is the head coach of the Robotics Team and the Science Team. Gary attended The Loomis Chaffee School, earned his B.S. with a double major in physics and astronomy from Haverford College, and received his M.A. in physics from Boston University. His graduate school research concentrated on biological applications of optics in the B.U. Photonics Center. Gary taught physics and mathematics at the Germantown Friends School in Pennsylvania. Gary is an active member of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and has given physics and astronomy presentations and workshops around the country. He wrote three chapters of a physical science book, which was published in the fall of 2002. His hobbies include jogging, astronomy, and model electric trains. E-mail Mr. Garber.

Rachel Hutchins

Mrs. Hutchins teaches Chemistry and advises the Science Team as well as oversees the Academy’s Community Service Program.  Most recently, Mrs. Hutchins taught at Marin Academy in California. She has an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from St. John Fisher College. E-mail Mrs. Hutchins.

Reanne L. Napoleon

Reanne L. Napoleon teaches Chemistry at BUA. Having graduated Cum Laude from the University of Sciences in Philadelphia with a B.S. in Chemistry, she is currently a doctoral candidate at Boston University in Theoretical Computation and Physical Chemistry. In 2008, she was awarded the prestigious Feldman Award for outstanding accomplishments in research, teaching and service at BU. Her research has been published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry and she has presented her findings at conferences across the United States and Germany.  E-mail Ms. Napoleon.

Administration & Staff

James S. Berkman

James S. Berkman, Head of School, received his A.B. (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) in History & Literature at Harvard College, his M.Phil. in early modern European History at Oxford University, and his J.D. (cum laude) at Harvard Law School. After practicing law for a couple of years, Jim taught English and has been an independent school administrator since 1984.  He has worked at Germantown Friends School, Germantown Academy, Friends Academy, as well as Abington Friends School, and most recently he served as the Head of School at Hawken School in Cleveland, Ohio. Jim’s literary interests include Henry James, Mark Twain, science fiction, and Romantic poetry.  He also enjoys art and rowing. E-mail Mr. Berkman.

Paige Brewster

Paige Brewster is the Director of Admission and Financial Aid. Paige comes to the Academy with six years of experience in Boston’s non-profit sector.  Before joining our staff, she worked at MetroLacrosse, a character-based lacrosse program for Boston youth, and at The Steppingstone Foundation, an academic preparation and placement program for Boston school children.  She received her B.S. in Business Administration from Bucknell University in 2001. E-mail Ms. Brewster.

Michelle M. Cannon

Michelle M. Cannon is the Director of Studies. After receiving her A.B. from Harvard University in Classics, Michelle taught Latin, Greek, and Ancient History at Commonwealth School, and Latin at Boston Latin School (her alma mater). While at Commonwealth, she also served as Director of Admission. Prior to coming to BUA, Michelle started-up and directed an out-of-school ninth grade academic preparation and high school placement program for Boston school children at The Steppingstone Foundation. E-mail Ms. Cannon.

William (Bill) Castell

Bill Castell, Technology Coordinator, received his B.A. from Oberlin College in Studio Art and Art History, and his Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education in Technology and Education. Bill comes to the Academy after six years working as a Technology Coordinator at the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School. E-mail Mr. Castell.

J.T. Duck

J.T. Duck is the Director of College Counseling.  He also oversees the Academy Press. J.T. most recently had been the Associate Director of Admission at Brandeis University, and also worked in college admissions at Haverford College, where he graduated with a B.A. degree in Comparative Literature. E-mail Mr. Duck.

Ellen Rhodes-Evans

Ellen Rhodes-Evans is the Assistant Director of College Counseling. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Bates College and her M.Ed. in Policy, Planning and Higher Education Administration from Boston University. Prior to joining the Academy in 2001, Ellen was the Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Boston University, where she assisted with freshman selection and managed the transfer admissions process. E-mail Ms. Rhodes-Evans.

Karen Foy

Karen Foy is the Academy’s School Counselor. A graduate of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland with a B.A. in Psychology, Mrs. Foy received her M.A. in Psychology from the UMass Dartmouth. Mrs. Foy also has a degree from Boston University’s School of Education with a C.A.G.S, School Counseling, and a Massachusetts license as a School Guidance Counselor in grades PreK-12. E-mail Mrs. Foy.

John Friborg

John Friborg, Director of Advancement, has served in many capacities at several independent schools, including Governors Academy, New Canaan Country School, and The Thacher School. He comes to BUA from his most recent position as the Head of Fox River Country Day School in Illinois. For many years he helped run a successful capital campaign at The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston. A graduate of Williams College (B.A. in History), he also holds graduate degrees from the University of New Hampshire (M.A. in History) and the Harvard Graduate School of Education (Ed.M. in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy). E-mail Mr. Friborg.

Maureen O’Hara Hurley

Ms. Hurley is BUA’s Director of Summer Programs and Coordinator of Student Life and Advising. Maureen worked for many years at Boston University, and more recently at the British Schools of America and TERI College Access.  She holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and a Master of Urban Affairs degree from Boston University’s Metropolitan College. E-mail Ms. Hurley.

Nyani-Iisha Martin

Nyani-Iisha Martin is the receptionist and events coordinator for the Academy. Her responsibilities include helping students, parents, and faculty with administrative needs and working with the University and outside vendors to organize events. She graduated from Harvard University in 1997, and is pursuing further studies at BU. E-mail Ms. Martin.

Yasmin McGinnis

Yasmin is the Assistant Director of Admission and Advancement. She received her B.A. in Sociology/Spanish from the College of the Holy Cross and her M.A. in Spanish Literature from Boston College. Yasmin has worked in higher education since 1996 in the area of admissions both at Boston University and Wellesley Collge.

Jeff Small

Jeff Small is the Administrative Manager.  Before joining the Academy, he was the Administrative Assistant in the Math and Computer Science Department at Suffolk University in Boston for six years.  Prior to that, he earned his B.A. in Communication at Florida Atlantic University. E-mail Mr. Small.

David Stone

David Stone is the Director of Athletics and Alumni Relations. He received his B.S. in Physical Education from Ithaca College and his M.A. in Human Movement from Boston University. His primary focus is on exposing students to athletic activities that promote good health and that can be enjoyed throughout life. Dave has been at BU Academy from the school’s inception. E-mail Mr. Stone.

Katey Sullivan

Katey Sullivan (’03), Financial Manager. Katey Sullivan graduated from Boston University Academy in 2003 and most recently from Boston College (B.A. in English). She has had work experience in a Boston area hospital and law firm, as well as Boston College’s Women’s Resource Center. She brings to her position a thorough understanding of BUA’s culture and community, and is interested in pursuing further studies in Business Management at Boston University. E-mail Ms. Sullivan.

Nicole White

Nicole is the Admission and Advancement Coordinator. She is a graduate of Bryant University with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and Minors in marketing and political science. Most recently, Nicole has been a development assistant. She has experience working with print communication and has managed a variety of events and projects in fundraising and development. E-mail Ms.White .