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meet our staff The following is a partial listing of some of our 2008 Junior Program faculty and staff. head of program David Torcoletti began his career at the Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH) where he taught photography, lived in a dormitory, and coached. He went on to become a House Director, Campus Dean, and eventually, School Dean. David then moved to Milton Academy where he was a teacher and Dean of Students. David now combines running the Junior Program with regularly exhibiting his photographic work. David is a summa cum laude graduate of Ohio University and earned his M.F.A. at Bard College as a Milton Avery Scholar. some of our 2008 summer administration Betsy Gott earned her A.B. from Bowdoin College in government and legal studies and education. She also holds a master's in education from Simmons College with a concentration in students with moderate disabilities. Betsy recently taught Social Studies and Language Arts at the Landmark Elementary Middle School in Manchester, MA, and also served as the athletic director for middle school sports. She currently volunteers with Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay as a mentor for a thirteen year old girl, works as an alumni interviewer for Bowdoin College, and plays ultimate Frisbee for a Boston club. Betsy works for Exploration during the academic year as the Assistant to the Head of the Junior Program, and returns this summer as the Director of Curriculum. Jess Keenan is a graduate of Colby College, where she majored in American studies and minored in environmental studies. Jess attended the School for Field Studies in Atenas, Costa Rica, was captain of the Colby women's swimming and diving team, and was on the All-Academic Team. After teaching preschool in Wyoming for the past couple years, Jess has moved to Portland, Maine where she is currently working at the Waynflete School as the Assistant to the Director of the Lower School. Jess returns for her seventh summer at the Junior Program and will be the Dean of Students. Lisa Summergrad is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Haverford College, where she studied English with a concentration in Creative Writing. At Haverford, Lisa co-founded a student-run musical theater group and was also the editor of the literary magazine. She also selected and trained student advisors for first-year orientation, and worked as a residential advisor for first-year students. Lisa currently works at Exploration as an Admissions Officer during the academic year, and will return for her fifth summer at the Junior Program. She will be the Main Office Director. Stephanie Flournoy graduated with a B.A. in English from Haverford College. Stephanie has been involved in community work in New York City, where she recently worked as a New York Advisory Board member for the College Access Consortium. She has also worked at the OPTIONS Center for Educational and Career Choice at the Goddard Riverside Community Center, which is a settlement house in New York City. There, she counseled underrepresented high school students about college and financial aid, and ran a professional development institute to teach other counselors about working with this population of students. Stephanie returns this summer as the Director of Programming at the Junior Program. Joe Alberti is a graduate of Swarthmore College, where he majored in linguistics and education. He is now working towards his Ph.D. in reading, writing, and literacy education at the University of Pennsylvania. At Swarthmore, Joe was an elementary school teaching intern for science, a pet training instructor, coordinator for the Positive Alternatives in Chester Tutoring Group, and coordinator for the Good Schools PA Advocacy Group. Joe recently taught seventh and eighth grade science and currently teaches third grade in Philadelphia Public Schools. Joe returns as the Assistant Director of Curriculum. Joel Hebert earned his B.A. from Williams College and his masters degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Mississippi. Joel was a Dean's List student at both institutions, and also rowed on the crew team and served as the Dennett House President for the Housing Committee at Williams College. Joel recently taught high school in rural Mississippi, and now teaches English at Bedford High School in Bedford, MA. In addition, Joel is the faculty advisor for the Frisbee Club at Bedford High, and coaches high school track. Joel returns to the Junior Program, this time as an Assistant Dean of Students. Paloma Herman recently earned her B.A. from Brown University. At Brown, she was the Resident Counselor Coordinator for the Office of Residential Life, and also a member of the Bruin Club, which hosted potential students at Brown. Paloma has also been a member of Building Understanding Across Differences, a discussion-based diversity group, and studied abroad in Italy. She currently works at the San Francisco School, an independent school where she teaches eighth grade Spanish, coaches girls' basketball, and works as an Admissions Coordinator. She returns for her fifth summer at the Junior Program, this time as an Assistant Dean of Students. Nick Malakhow is a graduate of Swarthmore College, where he studied English literature and theater. Nick was active in Swarthmore's theater department and was a writer and editor for the humor magazine. He is also an accomplished fencer and won numerous trophies as a member of his high school's varsity fencing team. Nick is currently teaching high school English and theater at the Westtown School in the Philadelphia area. He returns to the Junior Program for his fifth summer, this time as the Assistant Dean of the Day Program. some of our 2008 summer faculty Jake Ban is an undergraduate at Swarthmore College, where he is studying education. While at school, he works as a college buddy for children in the Swarthmore TopSoccer program and serves as the Personal Relations Director of the Village Education Project. Jake has played the piano for over ten years, and also enjoys working as a DJ on his college radio station. He returns to the Junior Program as an Instructor. Kielynne Banker is an undergraduate at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she is majoring in biology and earning her teaching certification. Kielynne is a dancer and a clarinet player, and she taught dance at the Valley School of Dance for three years. Kielynne currently works as a teaching assistant for the Common Ground Class for incoming college students, and is a program coordinator for the Geneva Heroes Community Service organization at Hobart and William Smith. Kielynne joins the Junior Program as an Instructor. Tim Carroll is an undergraduate at Carleton College, where he is majoring in American studies. He is both a record librarian and a DJ for his college radio station, and is a member of the Lenny Dee Players sketch comedy group. Tim has also lead pre-orientation backpacking trips for Carleton first-years, and has earned the honors of Carleton Distinguished Scholar and a National Merit Scholar. Tim returns to the Junior Program as an Instructor. Jenna Cassoli is studying psychology and community health at Tufts University. She is currently a member of the Tufts Third Day Gospel Choir and the Spirit of Color Dance Troupe. Jenna attended the Junior Program as a student for three summers, and has worked at the Program in various roles for the past four summers. She will be the Main Office Manager at the Junior Program. Paolo Cozzi earned his B.A. in Latin American Studies from Holy Cross College. Paolo has worked as a teaching assistant in a sixth through eighth grade reading program in Mamaroneck, NY and as a volunteer sociologist for the Pro-Naturaleza Andean Community in Peru. Paolo currently teaches Spanish at the Morse School in Cambridge, MA, where he designed, implemented, and now facilitates the Spanish language instruction program. Paolo returns as a Curriculum Advisor and a Day Student Advisor. Julia Duchon is a student at Colby College, where she is studying both English and government. Julia founded the mock trial team at Colby, and has won numerous awards as both a witness and an attorney in state mock trial competitions. She also serves as the editor of a Colby newspaper, and is a choreographer for the Colby Step Team. In addition, she recently spent two summers in Nicaragua working at a soccer clinic for kids aged 7-15. Julia joins the Junior Program as an Instructor. Na'eem Crawford-Muhammad is a student at Union College, where he is majoring in political science. At Union, he has served as both President and Treasurer for the Student Government Association, Chairman of the African and Latino Student Alliance, a student representative for the Social and Intellectual Enrichment Grant Committees, and has been a Dean's List student. In past summers, Na'eem worked at an overnight camp for homeless children, teaching chess and being a bunk-life counselor. He returns to the Junior Program as a member of the Programming Office. Lauren Funderburk earned her B.A. from New College of Florida, where she majored in environmental studies. Lauren was a recipient of the Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholarship and won an award for her student leadership on two occasions. She has recently worked at the Mote Marine Laboratory as a sea turtle care intern, and the Jewish Community Alliance, where she is an assistant pre-school teacher and a tutor for students in grades K-6. Lauren will return to the Junior Program as an Instructor. Atang Gilika is an undergraduate at Macalester College, where he studies economics and geography. Atang has been the recipient of the Kofi Annan International Student Merit Scholarship, and currently works as an Orientation Leader and Mentor and is in the Macalester Men's Choir. He has also worked as a leader and mediator for the Constructive Engagement of Conflict Organization, for which he planned a Global Fiendship, Solidarity, and Sustainability Conference for 350 youth from the southwestern states. Atang returns to the Junior Program as the Banker and a Day Student Advisor. Matt Glasser is an undergraduate at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he studies civil engineering. Matt is an Eagle Scout, and has taught leadership skills through the Junior Leadership Training Organization of the Boy Scouts. He has also been an assistant cross country coach for middle school runners, and enjoys playing on his school's ultimate Frisbee team. Matt returns to the Junior Program as an Instructor. Allie Holmes is a mathematics major at Colby College and a Dean's List student. At Colby, Allie mentors a first grader and volunteers at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, where she is the Program Leader. In the past, Allie was the editor-in-chief of her high school yearbook, a member of her high school's varsity field hockey team, and a coach for youth recreational field hockey. Allie will return to the Junior Program as a Day Director. Lelde Ilzina is a student at Macalester College, where she is studying political science and international studies. At Macalester, Lelde is involved in a dance group and the acapella group Scotch Tape, and works in the International Studies Office. Recently, Lelde has taught English to Italian and Slovenian children through the United World College International Baccalaureate program in Trieste, Italy and she has won awards and recognition for her literature and compositions in her home country of Latvia. Lelde joins the Junior Program as an Instructor. Molly Klane is a recent Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Carleton College, where she majored in American studies and earned her teaching certification. Molly is currently the Program Director of Kids for Conservation, an organization that teaches principles of conservation to third grade students. Molly has worked as an AmeriCorps tutor and as a classroom assistant in Northfield, MN public schools. Molly has also taught English in Guatemala and recently studied in Barcelona, Spain. Molly will join the Dean's Office as a Residence Director. Kacey Lane is a student at Bowdoin College, where she is currently conducting an honors research project in psychology. At Bowdoin, she is an academic mentor for the Learning Center, a tutor, and both a Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholar and a John B. Russworm Scholar. She also volunteers at the Children's Museum of Maine and at the Center for Grieving Children, an organization dedicated to providing a safe environment for children and teens to express their grief. Kacey will be the Explorer Production Assistant and a Day?Student Advisor. Brian MacDonald studied theater performance at the University of Evansville, and is now working towards his master's degree in drama at Catholic University. In the past, Brian has worked with the Peanut Butter Players, a children's theater company, as an actor, stage manager, and counselor. Brian has also taught stage combat at the Boulder Conservatory Theatre Company. Brian has won numerous acting awards, including Double-Honor Thespian and Best Thespian. Brian returns to the Program as a Curriculum Advisor and a Day Student Advisor. Bethany Morrow is a senior at Haverford College, where she is earning her B.A. in religion. Bethany is currently the musical director of the Haverford College Outskirts, a female acapella group, and a performer in Greasepaint Productions, which is a student-run musical theater group. She also works as a book restoration and repair assistant in the Haverford library, and has previously worked as a marketing and advertising intern at the RDW Group in Boston, MA. Bethany joins the Junior Program as an instructor. Dawit Mulugeta is an undergraduate at Macalester College, where he is studying economics. At Macalester, Dawit is currently the organizer of Fair Trade Task Force for the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, and works for Information Technology Services. As part of an International Baccalaureate Program, Dawit has done community outreach in Ghana and Ethiopia, where he taught English and math to underprivileged youth. Dawit returns to the Program as the IT Coordinator and a Day Student Advisor. Van Nguyen is an undergraduate at Haverford College, where he is majoring in East Asian studies and education. Van has studied martial arts for a number of years, and is now a Martial Arts Assistant Instructor for children ages 3 and up. He is also a member of Haverford's varsity fencing team and a part of the Mathletes team. Van returns to the Junior Program as an Instructor. Tyler Plourde is an undergraduate at Colby College, where he is studying English and education. In high school, Tyler was president of The National Honor Society and the captain of the varsity soccer team. He now plays for the Colby soccer team, and has coached at various soccer camps and recreational programs. Tyler is also the president of his dorm at Colby, and is part of the student government organization. Tyler returns to the Junior Program as an Instructor. Marissa Roque is an undergraduate at Swarthmore College, where she is earning her degree in Asian studies. At Swarthmore, Marissa is active in folk dancing and in a medieval/renaissance acapella group. She has also worked as a stage manager for the theater department of Swarthmore College, and has earned awards for her costume design with the Trumbauer State Theater Competition. Marissa joins the Junior Program as an Instructor and the Audio-Visual Assistant Coordinator. David Yee is a student at Bowdoin College, majoring in English and minoring in education. David is an active member of both the Bowdoin Chamber Choir and the Meddiebempsters men's acapella group, and spends time mentoring special needs students through the Falcon Friends organization. David is also the co-founder of a new Fencing Club at Bowdoin, and enjoys swing dancing with Polar Swing. David joins the Junior Program as an Instructor.

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