Faculty & Staff Directory

Ashley brings ten years of experience and expertise in advancement to her new role. Most recently, as the Assistant Director of Advancement at the University of Illinois’ College of Education, she worked to engage alumni and donors through to the successful conclusion of the $2.7 billion “With Illinois” campaign; secured several new student scholarships, fellowships, and estate gifts; and raised the largest gift ever made to the nationwide Freedom School initiative. Prior to her work at Illinois, she completed a Field Development internship at Autism Speaks before going on to serve as the Donor Relations Coordinator for Home Sweet Home Ministries, a non-profit that addresses housing and food insecurity. There, Ashley spearheaded the development office with multiple six-figure events and worked to create a fully active and engaged board. This multifaceted experience has honed her skills in strategic fundraising and relationship-building, making her well-equipped to contribute meaningfully to Marvelwood's mission.

As a first-generation college graduate, Ashley is deeply passionate about education. Marvelwood's commitment to personalized teaching methods and creating an environment that promotes success for all students resonates deeply with her. She believes in the power of impactful conversations, meaningful relationships, and strategic fundraising to support Marvelwood's academic and extracurricular programming, college counseling, community service and wellness initiatives, and beyond.

Outside of work, Ashley is an avid runner and marathoner who has eagerly relocated to New England with her husband, their young daughter, and their border collies! They look forward to enjoying outdoor adventures, historical experiences, and delicious NYC-style pizza!

At Marvelwood Since: 2024

Jasmine has taught English for 14 years. The first six years of her career focused on ESL teaching. For the past eight years she taught high school English Language & Literature with a special interest in rhetorical analysis and short-form literature. With an educational background in the social sciences, Jasmine makes sure to incorporate philosophical and sociological concepts into class so that students are learning as much about literature as they are about life. No matter what field students dream of venturing into, they are budding linguists and writers with Jasmine.

In her free time, Jasmine enjoys crocheting, performing the spoken word poetry and listening to Broadway musicals.

At Marvelwood Since: 2025

At Marvelwood Since: 2020

Joanna graduated from Emerson College with a B.F.A. in Creative Writing. Before coming to Marvelwood, she worked at Kent Center School in the Reading Intervention department working with students in kindergarten through eighth grade. A former competitive figure skater, Joanna taught skating for many years in Kent and New York City. Coming from a theatrical family, Joanna enjoys performing and working behind the scenes in numerous plays at the Brookfield Theatre for the Arts and pottering in her garden. She currently lives with her two daughters, Irine '25 and Bella ‘19 on Marvelwood's beautiful campus.

At Marvelwood Since: 2015

Alex joins Marvelwood with over fourteen years of experience in independent schools and more than three years in enrollment management. He has held leadership roles in residential life, admissions support, and summer program operations, most recently serving as Camp Administrator for the Chewonki Foundation in Maine, where he oversaw camper recruitment, enrollment, and year-round administrative operations for multiple summer programs.

Prior to Chewonki, Alex was Director of Residential Life at Buffalo Seminary, where he supported student well-being, developed a comprehensive residential curriculum, and collaborated with the admissions team on domestic and international recruitment. His career also includes extensive work in event management, operations, and educational programming.

Outside of work, Alex enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling, and has road-tripped through all 48 contiguous U.S. states.

At Marvelwood Since: 2025

Pam joined the Marvelwood family in 1992 with a background in Studio Art, Drama and English. Over her time here she has held administrative positions, directed the Theatre program, and has been a dorm dean for both boys and girls dorms. As Chair of the Arts at Marvelwood, she has taught a myriad of courses: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, and Crafting, as well as Fabric Arts and Jewelry making. She enjoys working in Summit Dorm and sharing her two Greyhounds and silly cats with any interested students.

Pam has loved living on this beautiful campus with the students, faculty and family. In her free time, Pam enjoys working in her garden in Maine, painting, pottery making, reading, Concerts in the park, and making music.

At Marvelwood Since: 1992

Athletics/After-School Activity Assignment: Art Portfolio, Ceramics

At Marvelwood Since: 2012

Russell is the Facilities Foreman at The Marvelwood School, overseeing all of our school’s day to day maintenance, gathering project quotes and implementing construction and renovations for all buildings and grounds. Before joining the Marvelwood maintenance team in 2011, Russell brought a wealth of knowledge in construction and also worked as a machinist, spent time repairing small engines and was a rental manager for power equipment.

Russell truly loves his craft, as he spends some of his free time fixing and building at home in Warren, CT. He is the father of two daughters, Cheyanne, who is a sophomore at Northwestern Connecticut Community College and Tara, mother of Russell’s two adorable grandchildren.

At Marvelwood Since: 2011

Dennis White came to The Marvelwood School after working for the Greater New York Council, the parent company of the Boy Scouts of America, where he spent two years teaching inner city youth as a guest lecturer in the public school system. He also worked as a camp director for the same organization each summer. Desiring a change from the city life, he came to Marvelwood with his wife, Misty Jordan, who had joined the School as its full time theater teacher.

Dennis teaches 9th grade world history, Lego robotics and 3D sculpture. Dennis enjoys all his classes for many different reasons, and finds it a welcome challenge to demonstrate that history can be interesting and fun. 15 years have past and Dennis still enjoys watching the minds of the students develop over the course of their time at the school. He has enjoyed their creativity and perspective the most.

Overseeing the theatre tech program, Dennis and his student crews create amazing sets for The Marvelwood School's stage productions. Dennis and his wife, Misty Jordan, Director of Residential Life, have two wonderful daughters, Isla and Everleigh.

At Marvelwood Since: 2006
Athletics/After-School Activity Assignment: Theater Tech

At Marvelwood Since: 2012

Joanie went to the Westover School in Middlebury, CT., then to Hartwick College and graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a B.A. in English Literature. 

She grew up at Cascade Mountain Winery in Amenia, NY, and worked there off and on for the past 30 years. In 1994, she and her husband settled down in nearby Sharon, CT., where they raised their three kids. In 2000, after teaching a creative writing class at Sharon Center School in the after-school enrichment program, Joanie was hired by Region 1 to work with the speech pathologist in the Pre-K program at Sharon and the Special Ed department. There she learned about PPT’s, IEP’s, the autism spectrum, and the process of diagnosing learning disabilities and implementing the plans.

When their kids started to play travel sports at an elite level, they traveled the country for games and tournaments. Joanie moved from Sharon Center School to substitute teaching, private tutoring, and coaching. In the summer of 2018, Joanie became certified as a classroom educator in Orton-Gillingham, a specific instructional approach to teaching children with dyslexia and started working at Marvelwood as a Strategies teacher. “I love being a champion for all kids but especially the underdog. I am honored to be a part of such an extraordinary community.” She is now working on her O.G. practicum at Marvelwood and Kildonan.

Joanie has done extensive volunteer work in the community, including the Arts Fund for Region 1, The Housatonic Musical Theatre Kitchen Tour, the Region 1 Athletic Fund, Sharon Parks and Rec and is currently the Senior Warden at Christ Church Episcopal in Sharon.

She and her husband Walter still live in Sharon. They can be found chasing their three grown “kids” around the country or most likely at a baseball game where their son Willy is an infielder for the Baltimore Orioles organization.

At Marvelwood Since: 2018

Michaela joined Marvelwood fresh out of college, bringing her knowledge of being a college admissions tour guide and executive board member with her. During her time at Muhlenberg, Michaela studied Anthropology and partook in archaeological research regarding Black history in rural Pennsylvania.

In her free time, Michaela enjoys reading (her favorite is "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman), hiking with her dog Frida, and doing carpentry projects. Being new herself, Michaela is very excited to join the Marvelwood community as an admissions associate and is eager to begin showing families and their students how welcoming and encouraging the Pterodactyl community is!

At Marvelwood Since: 2024