Dean of Faculty

The Dean of Faculty’s Office is responsible for all matters relating to the Academy’s faculty, including the recruitment, retention, and development of faculty.

New Faculty

Deerfield Academy is proud to announce our newest faculty joining us for the 2023-2024 school year. 

Trevon is excited to join the Deerfield community, Born and raised in St. Augustine, FL, Trevon was a high-caliber athlete receiving six Division-1 football scholarships. Committing to the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Trevon completed his bachelor’s degree in human development and Family Studies and a master’s degree in adolescent development. Since then, Trevon has become an author and professional motivational speaker, traveling to different universities to speak on leadership and character development with the intention of realigning, guiding, and molding the minds of the youth and young adults. Trevon will join Deerfield from UNH, where he was a residential hall director in the Residential Life Department for almost four years. Trevon hopes to make a huge impact on the development of the students here at Deerfield. To enjoy life, Trevon enjoys paddle boarding, going to the movies, and working out.

Jackie is excited to join the Deerfield community as the new Director of Academic Support. Throughout her career, Jackie has served students with exceptionalities in high-achieving academic communities as a special education teacher, literacy specialist, and instructional coach before making the leap into school leadership as the Founding Principal of a diverse-by-design middle school in Brooklyn, NY. In that role, Jackie designed academic programs and led professional development to support teachers in meeting the wide range of learners in their classrooms. Jackie was born in New York, raised in Northwestern CT, and attended college in the Midwest, where she earned her BA in psychology at Macalester College and served as a two-time captain in both swimming and water polo. She then landed in NYC, earning her MA in education from Pace University, meeting her wife, and started surfing (who knew?!). Her wife Carol, James (three), and Peaches, a senior chihuahua/pug, will join her on campus. When not doing something water-centric, Jackie and her family will likely be found riding bikes, eating ice cream, futzing in the garden, or listening to records.

Elizabeth is excited to be a “new teacher” after 25 years of teaching at The Hill School in Pottstown, PA. Having launched two children to Wesleyan University and, this year, to Trinity College, she and her husband are thrilled to start a new chapter too! Originally from Arlington, Liz is coming home to Massachusetts. Liz graduated from Bowdoin College, where she also met her husband when they worked for the math department one summer. While at the Hill School, Liz had many roles, including dorm head, chair of the math department, and dean of faculty. However, her favorite role has always been that of a math teacher. While at the Hill School, she earned her MEd at Villanova University. She is looking forward to teaching Algebra 2 and Calculus at Deerfield. Liz will reside in Childs House with her husband, John, and their dog, Chewy. John and Liz will be coming to campus straight from a trip to New Zealand, where they will have hopefully seen three Women’s World Cup games, beautiful scenery, and many Lord of the Rings sites. While at Deerfield, Liz hopes to find opportunities to return to her favorite activities of dancing and singing.

John is thrilled to branch out and work for only the second employer of his life (not counting the roller-skating rink he worked at in high school . . . even though he could not skate!). After graduating from Haverford College, John went directly to mathematics graduate school at Penn State University. After earning his master’s degree, John joined the faculty at the Hill School in Pottstown, PA. A year later, when Hill went coed, John married Elizabeth, who joined him at Hill. Over 26 years, John has worn many hats, including mathematics department chair, faculty adviser to the honor council, academic dean, dorm parent, assistant coach for indoor and outdoor track and field, and mathematics teacher. John loves all things mathematical (including equations, both the simple and quadratical), and nothing makes him happier than his students discovering the joy of mathematics for themselves. While at Hill, John earned an EdM in independent school leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University. John and Elizabeth’s two sons graduated from Hill; their older son currently majors in mathematics and physics at Wesleyan University, and their younger son starts at Trinity College in the fall, likely studying mechanical engineering. John and Elizabeth are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this summer with a trip to New Zealand to see the amazing scenery and the US Women’s National Soccer Team in the World Cup. They saw them win the tournament in Lyon, France four years ago. John also enjoys reading (especially mysteries), cooking, hiking, and being at their home on Cobbosseecontee Lake in Maine.

Francoise Ellis is excited to return to Deerfield after retiring in June 2021. Before her retirement, she was a French teacher at Deerfield for 21 years, and a resident of Mather 1 for 20 of those. She’ll be rejoining the Language Department this year as a sabbatical replacement. Since departing Deerfield, Francoise relocated with her husband, Laird, to Montague, right at the edge of the wildlife management area, sharing the land with bears, bobcats, deer, and a multitude of smaller mammals and birds. Besides biking, reading, traveling, and tending the land, she has worked on expanding her culinary skills by taking cooking classes in Hatfield from Sandy d’Amato, a James Beard-awarded chef. Although her life has been rich these past two years with new activities and old ones, she is delighted to have a chance to step in once more among students for the coming year.

Hayden is delighted to join the Deerfield community as an Early Career Teaching Fellow in the History and Social Science department. He grew up in Ottawa, Canada, before transitioning to the Westminster School in Simsbury, CT. Hayden attended Johns Hopkins University, graduating in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. During his time at Johns Hopkins, Hayden was a member of the historic men’s lacrosse program while also serving as the president of the indigenous students at Hopkins. Athletically, Hayden has represented the Haudenosaunee People three times in the World Junior Lacrosse Championship and holds gold, silver, and bronze medals. Hayden previously worked at the Canadian Military Heritage Museum as an archivist and digitization specialist, gaining valuable research experience and immersing himself in his area of interest, wartime history. Hayden enjoys listening to his record collection, doing yoga, and watching the Toronto Maple Leafs in his free time. 

With 13 years of classroom experience, Ava taught environmental science in K-12th grade, instructed undergraduates in biology, ran ecological research experiences for graduate students, and facilitated professional development programs for educators. Ava ran community-based conservation workshops with the Morpho Institute in Peru, research programs with Earthwatch in the Bahamas and Belize, and has participated in field expeditions in Kenya, Ecuador, and Brazil. Ava holds a BS in natural resources with a concentration in applied ecology from Cornell University and a MAT in biological science from Miami University. She is pursuing her EdD in environmental science and sustainability education at Antioch University.

Virginia’s passion for teaching and seeing the world has led her to different academic environments. After Virginia earned her PhD in Latin American Literature from the University of Virginia, she taught at Mount Holyoke College and in the Middlebury Summer Program for undergraduate and graduate students. She also taught at Deerfield Academy for many years before leaving to serve as Resident Director for School Year Abroad in Zaragoza, Spain. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay but raised primarily in the US, Virginia returns to Deerfield after a ten-year hiatus of living and working in Spain and teaching at Thacher in CA and St. Paul’s in NH. She is excited to join old friends and many new colleagues at Deerfield. When Virginia is not teaching, she spends her time traveling, biking, hiking, gardening, and with her lovely family and friends.

Dr. William Jackson is a clinical health psychologist with a unique and diverse background. Raised in Massachusetts, he has lived extensively in Europe and South Asia. In addition to his professional pursuits, he is a proud father of two, a devoted husband, a classically trained actor, and a former Buddhist monk. William began his clinical research at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research and the Greene Moral Cognition lab at Harvard University. Over the past 15 years, he has developed mindfulness-based interventions, collaborating with institutions like the Benson Henry Institute at MGH, Tufts University, and Harvard Medical School. His six years as a Buddhist monk influenced his extensive scientific research and his practical experience in private practice and Boston area schools. William is hard to offend, has an adequate sense of humor, and is passionate about to inspiring personal insight and meaningful change.

Matt is thrilled to join the Deerfield community and will be setting up shop in Kendall Classroom Building as part of the Language Department. He will teach Mandarin Chinese and share his passion for the remarkable culture from which it springs. Matt’s journey with the language began while studying Asian religion and thought at Swarthmore College. It wasn’t until after graduating, that he learned to do nifty things with it—like ordering bubble tea—while studying abroad in Beijing, at Tsinghua University, and in Taipei, at National Taiwan University. He was fortunate to be able to further his studies (and get his feet wet teaching Harkness-style) at Columbia University as a Faculty Fellow in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. He continues to be fascinated by all things Chinese, as you’ll quickly discover if you ask him about anything from dance to poetry or painting. He comes to Deerfield having most recently taught at the Episcopal Academy outside Philadelphia, and at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts and College in New York. He is joined on campus by his wife, Emily, who is also an avid speaker of Chinese. Matt enjoys spending time with family, reading, doing humanitarian work, meditating, and taking in the great outdoors when not working with students.

Bukosia is thrilled to be joining Deerfield as an Early Career Teaching Fellow. Originally from Kampala, Uganda, she graduated from Trinity College, where she majored in international studies and mathematics. Her curiosity and love for learning led her to take on exciting journeys, including studying abroad in China for a summer and spending an academic year at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Bukosia’s passion for education led her to work as an Academy Fellow at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, Kenya. While at the Aga Khan Academy, she served as a teaching assistant for the mathematics department, coordinated the service-learning program for ninth-grade students, and led a team of students and staff to organize the fifth annual TEDxYouth@AKAMombasa event. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, baking, exploring the world of African Literature, sewing, and making jewelry.

A New England native and returning DA faculty member, Jenn is so excited to join the Science Department at Deerfield this fall. Now entering her tenth year teaching high school, Jenn has instructed a variety of courses in chemistry, biology, and student-led research. After earning her PhD in chemistry from Dartmouth, Jenn continued her research in structural biology as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health for two years before beginning her teaching career at Deerfield Academy. During her seven years teaching science at Deerfield, Jenn often reflected on what it means to be a scientist and continues to be inspired by her students, who remind her that scientists come in all ages. Most recently at the Pingry School in New Jersey, Jenn has spent much of her time supporting students as they conduct authentic scientific research. Recently, she traveled to Seattle with a group of students to publicly present their work at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology annual conference. No longer able to resist the charm of New England, Jenn is thrilled to return to Western Massachusetts, where she will be close to family, friends, and mountains. Jenn lives with her husband (also Dr. Pousont) at their home in Greenfield. They hope to soon welcome a canine friend who can join them in long hikes, sailing, and some time on the yoga mat!

Chuck started as Chief Advancement Officer at Deerfield in November of 2022. He arrived at Deerfield from Phillips Exeter Academy, where he served as the director of principal and major gifts. Before Exeter, he had fundraising stints at Mount Holyoke College, Phillips Exeter (he had two tours at Exeter), and his alma mater, Hobart and William Smith Colleges. A native of the Pioneer Valley, Chuck grew up in Amherst and entered Deerfield in 1985 as a tenth grader. Chuck’s mother, Sandy Ramsay, worked at Deerfield for 23 years and was the assistant to two Deerfield heads of school, Kaufmann and Widmer. When not raising philanthropic dollars, Chuck enjoys golf, cycling (outdoors and on the Peloton!), cruising on his Boston Whaler around Chatham, MA, and traveling. Chuck will be joined at Deerfield by his fiancée, Sarah Mullins, and the four children they have between them: Rupert, Annabel, Peyton, and JP. They also have a goldendoodle, Edelman (Yes, Chuck is also an avid Boston sports fan!)

Vincent is beyond excited to join the Deerfield community as an English Teaching Fellow. Originally from the suburbs of Massachusetts, returning to teach and exploring a new area is a thrilling opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on the place he calls home. In the spring of 2023, Vincent earned a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Brown University, specializing in modern fiction and ethics & epistemology, respectively. Vincent wrote his senior thesis in philosophy on rational action and belief, earning him honors in the department, and he was an active participant in the performing arts, appearing in multiple theatrical productions and briefly leading two a cappella groups. Having held previous positions in educational publishing, advisory for authors of middle-grade and young adult fiction, and tutoring in English, Vincent is committed to learning through literature. He hopes to eventually pursue a graduate degree in one of his former fields of study and cannot wait to share what he has learned with the Deerfield community. Vincent is an avid audiobook listener, a passionate singer, a lover of exercise, and an intense player of board games.

Ryan Tyree is thrilled to join the English department and work with the squash program at Deerfield. His arrival marks a full-circle career path; he began his teaching career six miles up the road at Frontier Regional Middle School before moving across the street to Eaglebrook School. After his time at Eaglebrook, Ryan and his family moved to Easthampton, where he taught English and served as a dormitory head, in addition to holding head-coaching positions in boys squash and boys tennis (for seven years each) at Williston Northampton School. Ryan coached a U.S. Squash Division VI Nationals-champion team at Williston and spent many summers with legendary coach Paul Assaiante’s International Squash Academy summer camps. In 2019 Ryan accepted the newly created role of Director of Squash at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, where his teams progressed from competing at the Division V levels, collecting a girls national championship at Division IV, all the way up to the 2023 tournament where the girls team competed alongside Middlesex, Choate, and Exeter, while the boys team matched up with Hotchkiss, Darien, and the one and only Deerfield Academy! Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Massachusetts, a master’s degrees in secondary education from the University of Phoenix, as well as a master’s in English literature from Middlebury College. While a graduate student at Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English, Ryan was twice awarded the Robert Haiduke Poetry Prize. Ryan is an avid lover of music, travel, and cinema, and was a founding member of the musical venture Of Blessings and Burdens, with whom he recorded and toured in the 2000s. He and his wife Haley have led eight student trips to countries in Europe and hope to one day resume this rewarding experience. Haley has been the testing coordinator at Williston and Mercersburg Academy as part of their Offices of College Counseling and reinvigorated the residential life experience for so many by leading the largest girls dorm at Mercersburg. She and Ryan now reside in (Scaife) with their two children, Holden and Addie, and a little bundle of fur named Ash!

Native Taiwanese, Yu-Mei Wei appeared as a soloist with various orchestras in the United States, Europe, and Taiwan. In addition, she also gave recitals in Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan. Her passion for chamber music propelled Wei to form the Taipei Fine Arts Trio. The trio performed and held seminars in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong in promoting Taiwan-China cultural and musical exchange. The trio represented Taiwan Council of Planning and Development to participate in the inaugural Taiwan Arts Festival in Seattle. The Taipei Fine Arts Trio had released 3 recordings: Taipei Fine Arts Trio, Musical Feast from Chi Mei (Piano Trio I), and Millennium 2000. Since 2005, Wei has teamed up with her sister to perform duo piano recitals regularly. Yu-Mei Wei holds a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from Indiana University where she graduated with a Performance Certificate and a Master of Music in piano performance from the University of Southern California. She studied with Ilana Mysior, Menahem Pressler, and John Perry. Wei returned to Taiwan in 1994 and began her career as a soloist, chamber musician and educator. She taught at the National Taipei University of Arts and University of Taipei. She joined Deerfield Academy Music program in 2017 as Piano Instructor and Chamber Music Coach after moving with her family to Deerfield from Taiwan. In 2018, Wei joined the Elm Chamber Ensemble. The ensemble released the recording “New England Trios” under Bridge Records. Wei looks forward to continuing working and teaching with students and spreading her passion for music at Deerfield Academy.

 

Staff

  1. Mark Acton

    Asst. Dean of Faculty, Science Teacher
  2. Jean Fournier

    Executive Assistant to the Dean of Faculty
  3. Brian Hamilton

    History & Social Science Department Chair & Teacher
  4. Ivory Hills

    Asst Head of School for Strategy & Planning; Dean of Faculty
  5. Abe Wehmiller

    Associate Dean of Faculty, History Teacher

Contact Dean of Faculty

deanoffaculty@deerfield.edu
413-774-1420

Main School Building, Second floor
Mon–Fri, 8:00am–4:30pm

PO Box 87
Deerfield, MA 01342