Buzzer Summer 2021

Browning boys take charge

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The Browning School Magazine Summer 2021

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let’s build A robot.

let’s start A debate.

ROBOTICS DEBATE

When student engagement is honored, passions bloom, boys work hard, success follows.

Dr. Protheroe retires the Browning Art Show

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Grade 3 boys engage in tug-of-war at Field Day in Central Park.

Individual class celebrations for Grades K–5 were created in response to the pandemic.

Signals On the cover: Henry S. ’22 serves as a captain for the Debate Team, while Robotics Team member Matthew C. ’22 works on the school’s robot, Ultro. These clubs are merely two examples of organizations and activities where Browning boys have agency to direct their own learning.

Dear Browning Friends, What are we to make of a year like no other?

This community has shown resilience and strength through the challenges of a global health crisis unlike any in our lifetimes.

Through viral surges, weekly testing, new and confusing regulations, Zoom glitches, and the disruption of all the physical and ritualistic ways in which we show togetherness, we kept doing what we do best: putting relationships at the forefront, so that every boy could feel known, loved, and challenged.

In this most unusual year, we were still able to honor many of the rhythms of school, though in altered ways. Divisional closing ceremonies, an alumni reunion, art shows, and the STEAM Expo were reimagined online; spring sports practices were held indoors; and the senior breakfast featured, to the delight of the members of the Class of 2021, egg sandwiches prepared on the playdeck. The return of the beloved Senior Class dinner created a sense of normality and closure for the 28 boys and their families, who had their final year at Browning unsettled in ways that in our wildest dreams we never could have contemplated.

With vaccine rates high within our community and New York state, we look forward to welcoming all students and faculty back to our facilities in the fall, as regulations will allow us all to be together.

When we do return, however, we know that students and faculty alike might be living with a lingering sense of distress and uncertainty occasioned by the upheaval of the past year and half. And here again is where our focus on relationships will be paramount, for it is our connection and our togetherness that will help our community members heal from trauma and embrace the “next normal.”

Nothing about school this year was simple, and it certainly wasn’t perfect. We have a renewed appreciation for the importance of being innovative and collaborative in extraordinarily difficult and unpredictable circumstances. This would not have been possible without a faculty that showed up—physically and emotionally—for our boys every single day. In our times of challenge, we found ways together not only to endure, but also to succeed. Ultimately, we will recall 2020–21 at Browning not principally for the obstacles that we faced, but for what surmounting those obstacles demonstrated about the incredible students, families, faculty, and staff at our school. It was a year like no other, and—for myriad noble reasons—it was a year to remember.

Dr. Botti at graduation.

Read Dr. Botti’s blog at browning.edu/head-of-school

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In this most unusual year, we were still able to honor many of the rhythms of school, though in altered ways.

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John Botti, Ph.D. Head of School

BUZZER — Summer 2021

LETTER

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INSIDE:

Summer 2021

FEATURES RETIREMENT

COVER STORY

History Chair Dr. Protheroe departs

Authentic engagement: The role of student agency at Browning

Thanks for 25 years of memories.

Tapping into the power of relationships, imagination, and curiosity.

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Art creates community

COMMUNITY

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Welcoming new colleagues, applauding new roles

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Amplifying Asian voices

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Bright futures, bright smiles

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Reentering school mindfully in September

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Three claps for the Class of 2021

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CONTENTS

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Moving forward, 18 months on

ALUMNI

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Alumni Reunion Michael Ingrisani receives Achievement Award

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Social impact is a family tradition

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Mark your calendars!

Longtime Panther takes on city politics

In memoriam

Mission and Values The Browning School fosters growth of courageous and compassionate men of intellect and integrity who aspire to contribute meaningfully to our world.

The Browning gentleman develops amid a community that upholds these values…

HONESTY

GOOD NEWS

INSPIRATION

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Browning hosts its first student-led diversity and equity conference

Returning to the classic model of learning

Model UN delegates garner awards

Grade 8 tackles the danger of a single story

Chess instructor plots next move

New Upper School advisory focuses on relationship building

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A family affair Nathaniel Garcia ’06 elected to Board of Trustees

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Appreciation for our PA President

We speak the truth, act with integrity and take responsibility for our actions.

Lower Schoolers show they’re “still standing” Speaker Series concludes with Dr. Niobe Way

DIGNITY

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Grade 11 student deepens learning at Island School Best-selling author addresses Interschool seniors

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Selfless senior spearheads coffeehouse fundraiser Sophomores excel at French theater festival

Sixth grader honored

by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

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Take a bow, Ms. Warner

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PURPOSE We believe that education encourages exploration and discovery in pursuit of meaning and enduring fulfillment.

The Browning School strives to create a diverse community in which all members are safe, respected and valued. We believe that in actively promoting a diverse learning environment, we are fostering intellectual, social and emotional growth for all.

Recognizing and pursuing diversity, however, are not enough; we seek to transcend mere tolerance of differences and aspire to a celebration of the varied appearances, abilities, perspectives and values that characterize our community.

Middle Schooler’s war on drugs documentary wins award

Boys create drama with radio play in pandemic year

CURIOSITY We encourage and celebrate open-minded inquiry about our world and the perspectives of those around us.

Diversity Statement

Sophomore fundraises for charter school laptops

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We honor and celebrate the dignity of all people and support the power of a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community.

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We are thrilled to welcome three new leaders who will help in shaping our boys’ educational future, as well as to celebrate new appointments for two colleagues who have already done so much for our School.

Gabe Ashman Chair of the History Department

Megan Ryan Middle School Dean of Student Life

Gabe Ashman, our new Chair of the History Department, comes to Browning with 28 years of experience, including time at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans and, most recently, at Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School, where he was the History Chair for 15 years and a holder of the Chair of Distinguished Teaching.

This September, Megan Ryan will assume the duties of the Middle School Dean of Student Life.

“Mr. Ashman has extensive experience in curriculum development, and he’ll bring these skills as he leads the History Department through the rest of our ongoing curriculum review,” Gene Campbell said. “We’re incredibly excited to learn from him as colleagues and we believe our students will be in good hands in his classes for years to come.”

During her 17 years at Browning, Ms. Ryan has served in a variety of roles, including French teacher, Department Chair of Foreign Languages, and Character Education Coordinator.

“Nurturing the emotional, ethical, and social qualities of the student experience requires attention, care, and imagination, and Ms. Ryan will provide all of these in surfeit, as she has done throughout her Browning career,” Dr. Botti said.

Welcoming new colleagues, applauding new roles 4

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Naledi Semela Director of Equitable Practices and Social Impact Naledi Semela has joined our community as Browning’s Director of Equitable Practices and Social Impact. Mr. Semela is an educator and anti-bias leader who most recently served as the Associate Director of Admissions at Prep for Prep, where he was once a student.

Mr. Semela is a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools’ Diversity Committee and a Fellow of the Board of Trustees at Friends Seminary, where he serves on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. Before joining the team at Prep for Prep, Naledi worked at the TEAK Fellowship as Assistant Director of High School Programs and then as Associate Director of Admissions, following a four-year stint at the Spence School as Communications Manager.

During his time at Spence, he taught and mentored students in the Interschool Leadership Fellows program, where 11th and 12th graders studied leadership and led civic engagement projects in a two-year program.

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Ronald Taylor Head of Middle School

Lydon Vonnegut Chair of the English Department

Ronald Taylor has begun his appointment as Browning’s new Head of Middle School, succeeding Danielle Passno, who is now our Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning.

This fall, our colleague Lydon Vonnegut will assume the Chair of the English Department. She has been an outstanding teacher, mentor, and learning partner during her time at Browning, one rightly esteemed by boys, colleagues, and families alike. We are lucky to have her leadership, particularly as she builds upon the successes realized in the department under Mike Ingrisani during his more than 50 years in the position.

Mr. Taylor was formerly the Acting Director of the Office for Identity, Culture and Institutional Equity at the Horace Mann School, where he was charged with infusing equity work with data-informed practice. This built on his success in co-founding and co-directing HM STEPS (Students Together Empowering People of Color Successfully), a student-led, facultysupported, affinity-based mentoring program that supports the middle school experience for students of color.

“This is a terrific outcome to a commendable nationwide search process, and Ms. Vonnegut will continue to do outstanding work in her new role,” Head of School John Botti said.

With teaching experience in both public and independent schools, Mr. Taylor focuses on middle school education, and applying equity-based lenses to curriculum and instruction.

In the classroom, Ronald was responsible for integrating systems analysis and interpretation into the middle school history program. Before Horace Mann School, Ronald taught in the Syracuse City School District and later at the Harlem Children’s Zone in Manhattan.

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Good news to begin with

Returning to the classic model of learning

With the prevalence of COVID-19 within the community remaining low and health regulations allowing for closer seating in classrooms, the older grades were able to join the Lower School in having live, in-person instruction this spring!

Big win for our boys, an educational shift and farewell to a chess master

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Grade 5 returned to 62nd Street while the pods for Grades 6–10 were adjusted to make them larger to increase the size of social groups. As importantly, teachers could return to live instruction by moving between classrooms. Juniors and seniors, who occupied the fifth floor of the building, were able to go from class to class, much as they did in pre-COVID times.

GOOD NEWS

Model UN delegates garner awards

BUZZER

The Model United Nations team had an impressive showing at this year’s virtual Ivy League conference.

Editors

MODEL UN

Hosted by the International Affairs Association of the University of Pennsylvania, Browning had 20 delegates in tow, representing France, Japan, and Vietnam. Competing in three committee topics, three of our juniors walked away with the following awards: Luca G. ’22 won Best Delegate on “Europe After the EU,” Nathaniel M. ’22 received Outstanding Delegate for “Europe After the EU,” and Henry S. ’22 earned Best Delegate on “China and the Mekong River Development.”

“It was noticeable that our award winners were all juniors,” faculty advisor Dr. Gerald Protheroe said, “I attributed this to the fact that all were members of our excellent Debate Team and that all three of them simply enjoy discussing politics with each other, to the occasional bemusement of some of their peers in other pods, and they revel in constructive argument and discussion. But Model UN is a team effort and this result would not have been possible without the constant support of the entire delegation.”

The Browning School Magazine

Jan Abernathy, Director of Strategic Communications Jeremy Katz ’04, Associate Director of Strategic Communications

Editorial Contributors John Botti, Head of School Washieu Anan ’23 Amy Anselmo, Director of Wellness Caroline Axelrod, Director of Alumni Affairs Kate Bancroft, Art Teacher Alexander Barr ’21 Gene Campbell, Head of Upper School Jackson Richter ’18 Jessi Soles, Upper School Counselor Nik Vlahos, Performing & Fine Arts Chair

Contributing Photographers Coffee Pond Photography Rossa Cole David DeBalko Julie Goldstone Kevin Hagen/AP Photo Jeremy Katz ’04

Johannes Kroemer Kayla Lindquist Mark Linnihan/AP Photo Da Ping Luo Sanford Pelz ’71 Glen Williams

Design and collages (pages 20 and 23)

by Michael Wiemeyer / Designlounge, NY. The Buzzer is published twice a year by The Browning School. Submissions may be sent to Jeremy Katz at jkatz@browning.edu. All submissions may be edited for length and clarity.

Follow Us @browningschool

Visit our website: browning.edu

Board of Trustees 2021–2022

Chess instructor plots next move For 33 years, John Kennedy has introduced the game of chess to countless Browning boys! As he moved into retirement, Mr. Kennedy left behind the legacy of a Browning program built on both excellence and joy.

Mr. Kennedy’s love of chess was surpassed only by his love of spending time with our kids each day. During his tenure as both the Lower School chess teacher and our lead chess team coach, Mr. Kennedy built a chess program that fostered a spirit of healthy competition and team cohesion while teaching our boys both the “grytte” and the critical thinking skills needed to be successful chess players. Through weekly lessons, after-school classes and myriad tournaments, Mr. Kennedy fostered meaningful relationships with and among our students.

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Valda M. Witt, President Alka K. Singh, Vice President Andrew E. Vogel, Vice President Jeffrey M. Landes ’83, Secretary Raul Pineda, Treasurer John Botti, Head of School Maria Rappa, President, Parents Association Kinjal Nicholls, Vice President, Parents Association Stuart A. Orenstein ’00, President, Alumni Association Mimi Basso Michael P. Beys ’89 Sandra Buergi Nathaniel X. Garcia ’06 Elizabeth Granville-Smith Stephanie H. Hessler Philip A. Hofmann Federico Infantino John M. Liftin Elizabeth G. Miller

J Mocco Nazmi Oztanir Jerry C. Pi ’95 Jodi J. Schwartz Graig J. Springer ’98 Martin Small Deborah C. van Eck Andrew E. Vogel Vance Wilson Sara B. Zablotney

James S. Chanos, Honorary Trustee Stuart J. Ellman, Honorary Trustee Allan L. Gropper, Honorary Trustee

GOOD NEWS / MASTHEAD

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FEATURE

Chinese belt and road initiative

topic

Browning boys take charge

merits of the international monetary fund

topic

ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS

DEBATE urbanization of west africa

topic

SUPPORTING STANCES

adopting medicare for all americans

topic

LISTENING TO OPPONENTS COVER STORY: STUDENT AGENCY

Despite competing online this year, the Debate Team finished second in the state debate competition.

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ROBOTICS

PLANNING AN AUTONOMOUS ROBOT

EXPLORING PROGRAMMING

setting examples

creating a portfolio of potential projects for younger students to explore electronics

COVER STORY: STUDENT AGENCY

the role of student agency

The Robotics Team won the regional competition in early 2020, and has performed exceptionally well in virtual tournaments this season.

FEATURE

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COVER STORY: STUDENT AGENCY

Authentic engagement: The role of student agency at Browning

By Gene Campbell Head of Upper School

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t is a truth universally acknowledged at Browning that a boy in possession of a passion and a sliver of free time can do great things. It may take the form of sticking with his Latin classes through the end of his senior year and hosting a Certamen tournament in those closing weeks, or it might be the growing tower of books on a boy’s nightstand that proves to be the impetus of a college major and a career in psychology or economics or film. It’s impossible to predict where the boys will go when given the agency to chart their own course.

Relational learning is at the heart of the Browning experience, and adults valuing boys for who they are gives boys room to discover their passions. As Dean of Upper School Sam Permutt notes, “At Browning, we celebrate boys for their authentic engagement, regardless of the topic or perspective. If it matters to them and they’re willing to share why it matters, then we want to hear about it. These moments

provide windows for other boys to see some of their own possible future selves.”

Green Team members work towards a sustainable future for our planet.

Gus Stimpson ’21 launched a weekly podcast during the pandemic.

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Clubs Program Builds Agency Taking responsibility for one’s own learning is a skill that develops over time, and we give boys outlets for their voices to be heard by building student input into as much as we possibly can. In the Middle School, the boys run weekly Morning Meetings, team building exercises, and handling the announcements on their own. Similarly Upper School has become increasingly student-led, with the Upper School Student Government rewriting the division’s cell phone policy and creating the instantly beloved Browning casual dress code, which we have adopted as our full-time dress code for this wondrous year of hybrid learning.

The clubs program is our secret weapon in sparking this agency in our students. Recently unveiled in the Middle

studentCreated clubs and teams

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COLLABORATIVE ART HARMONIZING TOGETHER

A CAPPELLA

the band

raising the bar

COVER STORY: STUDENT AGENCY

FEATURE

Agency is seen in many ways, from the A CaPanthers a cappella group, where the boys arrange and produce music themselves; the Green Team, where the boys organize community events that promote sustainability; and the Zoo podcast, where students release weekly episodes interviewing members of the Browning community throughout the pandemic.

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Authentic engagement: The role of student agency at Browning

Browning provides diverse opportunities for boys to explore their passions. In addition to clubs and teams finding new ways to operate during the pandemic, our new Certificates of Distinction program will allow boys to specialize in competencybased, self-directed, individualized study.

School, for years it has been a place in which our older students can discover new passions while fully exploring existing ones. The experiences they offer range from the traditional, like Model UN or our literary magazine, The Lit, to the newly formed podcast or the Sports Analytics Club or the Dungeons and Dragons Club. Many of these clubs are started by students looking to share an interest with their peers, and they are great ways to build friendships between boys across grade levels. Give a boy something meaningful to do—particularly if he has decided it’s worthwhile—and he will do it for as long as it takes. Our seniors almost literally glow when they talk about the long hours into the night they spent rehearsing for performances or building a robot. They choose to be here for those late hours, and such a choice is often a simple one for them.

earning runner-up for the Inspire Award in the NYC championships of the FIRST Tech Challenge, which qualified them for the World Championships (unfortunately cancelled this year again due to COVID). The award is given to teams that are both technically knowledgeable and able to display gracious professionalism by connecting and motivating other teams and the broader STEM community. These boys have spent the year planning, building, testing, and refining an autonomous robot under the watchful eyes of Aaron Grill and Dr. Melodie Ting , and also funding much of their efforts through workshops they offered to younger students here at Browning. Perhaps most impressively, they’ve created a portfolio of potential projects for those younger students to explore electronics and programming even after those

Student-Created Teams Find Success Our most successful clubs were started by students within the past few years. The Robotics and Debate Teams have been world-beaters of late, with both teams bringing home New York City championships last year, despite facing programs from other schools with more participants than we have students in our Upper School. Begun by Robert Nielsen ’18 and Ben Ellman ’18, and Austin Stapleton ’20, respectively, both clubs grew out of their individual interests and spread rapidly to encompass the dreams and aspirations of many more students; 13 boys worked on this year’s robot,

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Boys on the Robotics Team enhance their own learning and mentor younger members.

A CaPanthers perform at a concert in 2019; the Grytte editors adapted their newspaper online during the pandemic and coded it themselves.

Green Team members continued to create school-wide challenges during the pandemic to reduce our environmental impact.

workshops ended, essentially laying the groundwork for other boys’ learning and sharing their passion with those lucky younger Panthers.

We also saw the Debate Team repeat as city champions and place second in the New York State Championships this year, with two of those young men, Nathaniel M. ’22 and Luca G. ’22 heading off to participate in the Coolidge Cup, which brings together top debaters from every state around the country each summer. The 19 boys on the team compete in three divisions (Novice, Intermediate, and Open) and handle all of the research required to support their stances on the resolutions put before them.

They have been asked to engage on topics such as US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, the urbanization of West Africa, and the relative merits of the International Monetary Fund, among others.

The boys who are the team leaders—this year Connor F. ’22, Ben S. ’22, Henry S. ’22, and Nathaniel M. ’22—teach the newer team members the finer points on how to ask good questions of an opponent, how to best listen to an opponent’s point of view (and discover their weaknesses), and how to solidify their own arguments as they move to the summary stage of the debate. “The boys simply learn more if they’re teaching each other,” says Dr. Ting. “The leaders have to see the strengths and weaknesses of their peers’ skills, and in turn it makes them reflect on their own abilities to do the same. It’s been a big key to our success.”

Building Agency with Coursework

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We are developing our Certificates of Distinction program as yet another way for students to work hard on what they find meaningful. Boys with an abiding interest in and passion for engineering or the humanities will now be able to expand and direct their own learning in these areas and assemble a portfolio to evidence that learning. At the end of Grade 9, boys can choose one of a number of pathways that will lead to a Distinction in a desired field.

Through Grades 10 and 11, boys will master competencies that will lay out a pathway to the desired Distinction. By Grade 12, the boy will be called to plan a senior project around the idea of applying the learning of their Distinction to the good of the world beyond Browning, similar to a thesis presentation or a dissertation defense, evaluated by a panel of experts in the field, and scholars from within the Browning community. We plan to add other areas of study in the future.

It’s precisely this kind of learning that a boy will be asked to do throughout the rest of his life, and it’s exactly this kind of learning that our boys have shown invigorates and excites them as they discover a sense of purpose in their lives. That sense of purpose is where their journey ends, or perhaps begins anew, as they then carry forth their learning to serve the greater good. And it all starts with a simple opportunity to explore something they care about, with guidance from adults who care deeply about them.

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Three claps for the Class of 2021

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COMMUNITY

Thank you for everything you have done in your time at Browning—and particularly over this past year—to make it such a special place.

I know this wasn’t the senior year of your dreams, but you never let our circumstances get in the way of your care for one another or of your shared joy in each other and in your teachers. I have been more than impressed by your

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leadership this year, as you modelled for the younger boys what it means to be engaged, courageous, and compassionate young men of intellect and integrity, and I write this note now with the bittersweet recognition that I won’t get to sit in a class, go on a college trip, or sit with you in my office and learn from you again. I take great solace in the fact that you’re

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going out into the world ready to be thoughtful and empathetic leaders, and I trust that I’ll see you all again soon as you make your way home to visit Browning in the future. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.

—Gene Campbell Head of Upper School

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Three claps for the Class of 2021

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On June 15, the same day that New York reopened, having met its COVID-19 vaccination target, members of the Class of 2021 came together for graduation at St. Jean Baptiste Church.

During the ceremony, each boy collected his diploma and stood in front of his classmates,

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family, and faculty as Head of School Dr. Botti remarked upon the major accomplishment of each graduate—providing an impressive review of all their years at Browning. The attendees also heard from commencement speaker Ian Sandler, Chief Operating Officer of Riley’s Way, an organization that empowers young leaders to live purposefully by creating meaningful connections and positive change.

BUZZER — Summer 2021

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Bright futures, bright smiles Members of the Class of 2021 have had tremendous success in their college selections, showing resilience and grace as they persevered through the impact of the global health crisis. We wish them the best of luck now and forevermore!

Alexander J. Barr Dartmouth College (NH)

Fazeel A. Khan University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (MI)

Oliver B. Messler University of St. Andrews (Scotland, UK)

Christian E. Kim Georgetown University (DC)

Matteo P. Nickola Tulane University (LA)

Jacob N. Lassner Boston College (MA)

David D. Pham Fordham University (NY)

Jason Y. Li University of Rochester (NY)

Alexander Raftopoulos Columbia University (NY)

Samuel T. Liftin Bucknell University (PA)

Jeffrey Y. Ramos Middlebury College (VT)

Andrew A. Halajian Cornell University (NY)

Kyle T. Liptak Emory University (GA)

Edgar Saavedra Colgate University (NY)

John F. Harrison Boston College (MA)

Brendan C. Lopez Cornell University (NY)

Christian Sanchez Dickinson College (PA)

Yeil B. Clemente Lafayette College (PA) Fernando B. Cohate Lehigh University (PA) Griffin C. Davis Tufts University (MA) Brian F. Granville-Smith Loyola Marymount University (CA)

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Ian A. Schunk Union College (NY) Aaron R. Seth Cornell University (NY) Eric D. Sigg University of Pennsylvania (PA) Hercules P. Sotos High Point University (NC) Deion Stewart Gettysburg College (PA) Augustus E. Stimpson Syracuse University (NY) Evan P. Taylor Boston College (MA)

Reentering school mindfully in September

By Amy Anselmo, Director of Wellness, and Jessi Soles, Upper School Counselor

After months of quarantine, social distancing, and uncertainty for students, the Wellness Team believes that boys will need increased support as everyone returns to school full-time in September.

We plan to have systemwide supports, and a focus on strategies for managing stress and anxiety to provide reassurance, routine, and regulation for our boys.

Boys learn from the adults in their lives; seeing us manage our schedules and everyday tasks as well as our coping strategies helps them learn to be resilient. Throughout the summer, your boys may experience bumps in the road and likely a winding path with strong emotions and challenges. They will need the resilience they have gained through this time to see them through.

As they return to East 62nd Street, we hope to address any trauma and anxiety as we help them assimilate back to fulltime in-person learning. Some may struggle with social anxiety, while others may struggle with returning to print material after spending a year online. We encourage families to proactively help their boys readjust to full-time in-person

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parents during the last 18 months, and therefore boys will often need support, rituals, and routines to alleviate any anxiety. The goal should be to ensure a less stressful home environment and provide cues for your child, such as a test run of how they will get to school or a drop-off at the Red Doors; all that can help will make for a smoother transition come September. learning. One way in which parents can help their child adjust to school next year is by learning the classroom rules and expectations of school. Review these with your child, and practice them at home.

Separation anxiety has become fairly common during Covid. The problem is likely to linger, with some kids feeling less anxious and others feeling more so. Kids have been used to being home with their

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Overall, our goal is to provide preventive and responsive services to our community while maintaining a presence for our boys. If we have learned anything this year, it’s that the remote connection simply cannot replace the physical connection that we need with one another. We hope that you reach out to the Wellness Team to say hello, tell us about your son and family, and get to know us better.

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THE CELEBRATION: DR. GERALD PROTHEROE

Dr. Protheroe makes next strategic move: retirement Alexander Barr ’21

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any students have sat in Dr. Gerald Protheroe’s classroom over the years, but his larger-than-life persona and impactful teaching have remained the same. During his 25 years at Browning, Dr. Protheroe has impacted the lives of a generation of Browning students and inspired a love of history in countless young minds. Upon his retirement, alums share fond memories of Dr. Protheroe from interactions within and beyond the classroom.

“Dr. Protheroe helped guide me, not just through my studies, but he took interest in us and our lives outside of school,” said Stuart Orenstein ’00, President of Browning’s Alumni Association.

Originally from Wales, Dr. Protheroe moved from Great Britain to the United States when his career playing in a top amateur London soccer league came to an end, and he began teaching at the Anglo-American International School in N.Y. After a decade of teaching at several schools on the East Coast, he was recruited to be the head of Browning’s history department in 1996. “Everybody had left [the history department]. It was a totally new department, so I had carte blanche to implement my ideas,” Dr. Protheroe said.

Dr. Protheroe’s enthusiastic teaching style and love for the subject matter brought history to life for his students.

In addition to the narrative, Dr. Protheroe was able to make his subject matter more approachable by including personal anecdotes. His classes were never solely about the past.

Dr. Protheroe used the subject as a vehicle to improve his students’ understanding of the present. “History is important if you want to have a broad understanding of what’s going on in the world today,” Dr. Protheroe said.

For example, the unit in the Grade 9 curriculum on the ancient Middle East covered the present-day conflicts in the region and their roots in history. As Dr. Protheroe covered the history of the ancient Persians, Assyrians, and Jews in his classes, he simultaneously traced the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The culminating assignment for the unit focused on how the Cave of Abraham, a holy site in the West Bank connected to ancient history, has affected the present-day situation.

Dr. Protheroe fostered a learning environment that was perfectly suited for Browning, and his classes have created a shared experience among Browning alums. He played many roles, from faculty advisor to soccer coach to coach for the Model UN team. “The best teachers connect with the most students; Dr. Protheroe found commonalities with

Dr. Protheroe’s enthusiastic teaching style and love for the subject matter brought history to life for his students.

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Dr. Protheroe makes next strategic move: retirement

Dr. Gerald Protheroe joined Browning in 1996 where he has served as an Upper School history teacher, faculty advisor to the Model UN program, and Middle and Upper School soccer coach.

Dr. Protheroe received the Class of 1979 Faculty Award from the Class of 2021 at their graduation to honor his legacy.

them in their life that didn’t just have to do with what was “He sparked a deep interest that I continued in college going on in the classroom,” Mr. Orenstein said. through my current occupation at the UN,” Aadir Khan ’16 Since his arrival at Browning, Dr. Protheroe has shared said. “I don’t think I would be on the trajectory I am now in his passion for history and international affairs outside life or be as successful in it as I have been if it weren’t for the classroom by leading the Model UN Team. The team Dr. Protheroe’s mentorship.” annually attended the Ivy League Model UN Conference As the faculty leader, Dr. Protheroe often picked small, relheld at the University of Pennsylvania, in which participants atively unknown, or controversial countries for the Browning assume the roles of diplomats from various countries on a delegation to represent in order to encourage team members committee and debate current issues. With Dr. Protheroe’s to think creatively about how to make their particular nation guidance, the program has done much to foster students’ relevant on the world stage. Beyond the conference itself, interests in diplomacy. the trip also presented a unique opportunity for students to

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did you know?

get to know Dr. Protheroe and form the close relationships between student and teacher that make Browning special.

“It was a great way for us to bond with Dr. Protheroe almost as peers, and also just to pal around with him. He had a great sense of camaraderie and a wonderful ability to steward and guide us,” Mr. Orenstein said. From witty comments about current international affairs to dramatic impressions BUZZER — Summer 2021

of Winston Churchill, Dr. Protheroe brought energy, passion, and humor to the School. Years later, alumni still remember him impersonating a Welsh farmer waking up at dawn in order to boost morale for early morning Model UN committee sessions, among other antics. He was a presence inside the Red Doors, and he will leave a lasting legacy on the Browning community.

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Browning strives to inspire

Grade 8 tackles the danger of a single story In preparation for their English unit on Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus, Grade 8 students dove deep into learning about Africa and “the danger of a single story.”

The World Immersions School led our boys through three days of a project-based learning, virtual immersion program that focused on this essential question: How might a deep understanding of the many stories of Africa inform and impact our own stories?

“Using the framework of head, heart, and hands, the boys listened to stories from Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and the US,” English teacher Anne Rawley said.

“And here it was—the very best of Browning boys— going global to improve the local, and not letting Covid-induced Zoom-school keep them from heading out into the world to develop self-awareness, make connections, build community, and appreciate the power of stories.”

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION

A joyous tradition, enhancing the advisory program, and a student-led conference

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Browning hosts its first student-led diversity and equity conference

New Upper School advisory focuses on relationship building

The Upper School Student Equity Diversity Committee (SEDC) hosted its first student-led conference on equity, diversity, and inclusion with students from across New York City this past spring.

The Upper School advisory program, designed to ensure that every student is deeply known by a faculty member, is evolving in structure next year. Grade 9 students will be placed in advisory groups with members of their own class, where they will focus on the transition into high school and developing a sense of class identity.

Under the theme of “Advocacy: Finding Inspiration in our History and Hope for the Future,” Browning boys led peer conversations around their own responsibility as advocates, identifying action steps to support their communities’ most vulnerable populations, and brainstorming on collaborations for the future.

“One of our guiding principles throughout the creation of this event was to maximize student conversation and provide ample opportunity for affinity groups and discussions while fostering communitybuilding—all within the parameters of a Zoom call,” said Brendan Lopez ’21, Chair of the SEDC. “I am happy to report that we have received plenty of positive feedback, and in the future, the SEDC hopes to expand the conference, and maybe even host it in person.”

INSPIRATION

All Grade 10 students (and any new upperclassmen) will be placed into mixed-grade advisories, and will remain with their advisor throughout their high school career. “This allows students to continue to develop relationships across grades, and for advisors to develop long-lasting and meaningful relationships with the boys and their families over the course of several years,” Upper School Dean of Student Life Sam Permutt said. This new format will also allow upperclass students to express their preference about who their advisor will be, which helps ensure they are matched with an adult they feel they can connect with.

LOWER SCHOOL

Lower Schoolers show they’re “still standing” With songs, instruments, dances, speeches, and artwork, on the main theme of Elton John’s song “I’m Still Standing,” this year’s Lower School Closing paid tribute to overcoming the challenges of attending school during a pandemic.

The program was a glorious and memorable event as our boys beamed while performing songs—that included “Oh, Mr. Sun,” “Bounce Back,” “I Can See Clearly Now,” and “Fight Song” —with unbridled spirit and strength.

View the performances at browning.edu/news/ls-closing-2021

2020–21 Speaker Series concludes with author Dr. Niobe Way, on the crisis of connection among boys

Sixth grader honored by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

In April, Dr. Niobe Way, a recognized leader in the study of social and emotional development among adolescents, addressed an online audience of over 50 parents and educators, concluding our 2020–21 Browning School Speaker Series. The talk—about the relationship between young men, how they change over time, and how this contributes to loneliness and mental health issues—was presented with matching support from the Edward E. Ford Foundation.

Dr. Way is a professor of developmental psychology and the founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity at New York University.

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Sixth grader Austin C. ’27 has been honored for his academic prowess by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY).

Austin’s exceptional assessment performance placed him in the top nine percent out of more than 15,000 students in Grades 2 through 8 who participated in the testing search. CTY uses above-gradelevel testing through the SAT, ACT or similar assessment to identify advanced students from around the world and provide a clear picture of their true academic abilities.

INSPIRATION

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1. Nate L. ’23, Grade 10 2. Fazeel Khan ’21, Grade 12 3. Maximiliano S. ’26, Grade 7 4. Rex H. ’22, Grade 11 5. Austin C. ’27, Grade 6 6. Luca G. ’22, Grade 11 COMMUNITY

7. Sasha M. ’23, Grade 10 8. Freddie B. ’26, Grade 7 9. Joe F. ’22, Grade 11 10. Edgar Saavedra ’21, Grade 12

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We are very proud of all the work our students have done, and excited to present the Middle and Upper School art shows. The Art Department faced many challenges teaching in a remote format. All students were mailed art supplies, and Upper School students were each given an iPad with the art application Procreate and an Apple Pencil. In both divisions, lessons focused on drawing and also working with color. We covered everything from formal abstraction to realistic representation, while introducing the boys to a wide range of artists. As you can see from this selection and from the show, they learned many new skills this year and created beautiful work.

community

—Nik Vlahos and Kate Bancroft Fine Arts Department

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Browning Art Show: Art creates community

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11. Griffin Davis ’21, Grade 12 12. Oliver Messler ’21, Grade 12 13. Brendan Lopez ’21, Grade 12 14. Daouda C. ’25, Grade 8 15. Amadosi O. ’22, Grade 11 16. Gregory P. ’22, Grade 11 17. Jonathan G. ’25, Grade 8

18. Marcos I. ’25, Grade 8 19. Jasper S-M. ’22, Grade 11 20. Nathanael B. ’28, Grade 5 21. Adam W. ’25, Grade 8 22. Pablo R-S. ’26, Grade 7 23. Evan T. ’22, Grade 11 24. Benjamin H. ’23, Grade 10

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And now for more good news

A family affair

All three Pelz alums were Browning faculty and in the building at the same time this year! Chris Pelz ’12 (middle) returned to take over for his brother, Jon Pelz ’12 (right), as a maternity leave first grade associate teacher for the spring term. Chris, with proud father and college guidance counselor Sandy ’71 (left), shadowed Jon, who continued to work in the spring as a substitute.

Nathaniel Garcia ’06 elected to Board of Trustees Nathaniel is a founding member and Co-Chair of the Browning Panther Mentors, a group of Black alumni helping us to build a better Browning. He joined the Browning family in the seventh grade, by virtue of Prep for Prep.

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in biology from Manhattan College and completing his undergraduate research internship at the Pulmonary Immunology Laboratory at Weill Cornell Medical College, Nathaniel joined Pfizer.

Currently a Senior Associate Scientist in the Vaccine Research & Development Department, Nathaniel has played an integral role in the development of immunoassays for the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, Nathaniel advances EDI awareness and initiatives at Pfizer’s Pearl River offices as the External Impact Lead for Pfizer’s Black Colleague Resource Group.

Lower School Teacher Caitlin Hasson and her husband, Dave, welcomed George James Hasson on January 13 at 6:23 a.m.

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THANK YOU

Appreciation for our PA President The Browning community would like to offer our heartfelt gratitude to Maria Dell’Oro for her myriad contributions to the School, and especially for her service as the President of the Parents Association.

As President, Maria worked tirelessly and selflessly to foster a deeper sense of community across all Browning constituents.

She also served as a member of the Board of Trustees in her tenure and was an active Annual Fund volunteer. It is virtually impossible to catalog the many ways Maria has helped our community grow closer with shared purpose. Perhaps more importantly, Maria led with empathy, kindness, and compassion, which cannot be understated. Her steady hand and clear vision steered the work of the PA through the pandemic and will have lasting effects in the future.

Sophomore fundraises for charter school laptops Over the past year, sophomore Daniel M. ’23 has been fundraising through an email campaign to support the Mott Haven Academy Charter School. Daniel’s selflessness allowed Mott Haven to acquire Chromebooks for immediate use for its under-resourced K–8 students to continue their education remotely.

Daniel follows in the footsteps of his brother, Robert ’20, who worked during his last two years of high school to raise funds to acquire sports equipment, school clothes, and supplies for the students of Mott Haven.

We send our best and fondest wishes to Maria, Nicolas, Max, and Fede, who will always be a part of the Browning family!

Daniel M. ’23

Middle Schooler’s war on drugs documentary wins award Eighth grader Pierce W. ’25 placed second in the New York City History Day competition for the junior individual documentary category.

Pierce’s independent research project, a 10-minute film, explored the history of the war on drugs, its consequences and the changing tide of American sentiment regarding the legalization of drugs. Pierce’s second-place finish qualified him to compete in the New York State History Day competition, where he was named a finalist.

Watch Pierce’s film at tinyurl.com/pierce-documentary BUZZER — Summer 2021

GOOD NEWS

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Amplifying Asian voices AFFINITY GROUP HIGHLIGHTS CONNECTION AND REPRESENTATION

Congresswoman Grace Meng spoke to the Browning community online in April about supporting the AAPI community; affinity group members visit Chinatown in 2020.

By Washieu Anan ’23

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he Asian Affinity Group (AAG) seeks to provide a safe and positive space for Browning community members who identify as part of the Asian community, to better understand and develop our identities by talking about our experiences. Our weekly conversations revolve around issues our members face as a whole. By providing this space, we hope to cultivate pride and confidence in sharing our diverse voices and cultures with the broader community.

Especially in the midst of the pandemic, the importance of community and connection has definitely been highlighted. The AAG has hosted several open meetings for us to share our culture, heritage, identity, and history with the broader Browning community. Last May, in honor of Asian

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American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the AAG hosted an open meeting that included cooking demonstrations and a Pictionary game that featured some of our favorite foods. It was great to see many members of the Browning community through the then-novel format on Zoom.

In October, prior to the 2020 United States presidential election, we invited New York State Senator John Liu to speak with our community. As we do not see much Asian representation in public office, to hear about his journey to the State Senate was especially important and exciting.

Senator Liu’s career was filled with firsts; namely, as the first Asian American elected to legislative or citywide office in New York City, his work and accomplishments serve

Group members celebrate Lunar New Year annually, partaking in cultural activities.

The affinity group is for boys who identify as Asian, Pacific Islander, or Desi American.

as inspiration to everyone who attended the meeting. His message to use our voices to advocate for change resonated deeply with us, as did his encouragement to enact our civic duties, such as voting or encouraging others to vote on behalf of those who are not yet old enough to vote.

Another well-received open meeting we hosted was a celebration of the Lunar New Year, when we collectively ushered in the Year of the Ox. At this event, we unveiled our virtual cookbook, featuring many of our favorite recipes. We shared not only our recipes but our stories as well, on the different ways we celebrate Lunar New Year with our families.

Congresswoman Meng discussed the recent rise of antiAsian violence and the power of politics. She noted that Asian Americans are battling two viruses: COVID and the virus of bigotry. She also noted that she experienced anger over the Atlanta mass shooting in March. The incident ultimately drew mass attention, with many more people beginning to listen and care, which is small consolation for the lives lost on that day.

Congresswoman Meng also believes that politics, when used correctly, can serve as a tool to help those who need help the most. She entered politics because she felt underrepresented as an Asian American woman in the United States.

Following her grandmother’s words and understanding that she was the “odd one out,” she became an advocate for people whose issues would otherwise go unheard.

In being an advocate, she also realizes that there is no need to cause unnecessary tensions between groups of people. She believes that using words and our platforms matters most in bringing about change. It is through this belief that she passed House Resolution 151, which condemned all forms of anti-Asian sentiment in federal law.

It was heartwarming to see someone like Congresswoman Meng advocate for the most pressing issues that face Asian Americans every day. It is not often that we see Asian Americans in politics, and it is even more rare for us to see them on the largest political stage available in the United States. Congresswoman Meng serves as a role model for us all, encouraging us to invite others into conversation about the issues that everyone, not only Asian Americans, faces today.

AAG members are proud of the cultures and ethnicities we each represent. With the AAPI community thrust into the spotlight by the increase in targeted violence, we sought to raise awareness with the broader community with the hope that we can come together and take a stand against violence of all stripes. As Congresswoman Meng shared, “The answer to racism is never more racism. The answer to racism has to be solidarity.”

Disrupting bias, racism, and hate As the pandemic wore on, members of the AAG became increasingly aware of and dismayed by the rise in anti-Asian violence around the country. Our student leaders, in partnership with leaders from the Student Equity and Diversity Committee, made presentations at the Middle and Upper School assemblies to call attention to these events. Further, with the assistance of Jerry Pi ’95, P’32, we invited Congresswoman Grace Meng to join us at another open meeting that we held at the end of April.

Cooking courses: a highlight of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

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Browning strives to inspire

Grade 11 student deepens learning at Island School Eleventh grader Jose G. ’22 spent 100 days at The Island School this spring, where he expanded on his studies in marine ecology and sustainability while immersed in both the natural and cultural landscape of South Eleuthera, The Bahamas. In addition to academics, Jose rounded out his physical education by training weekly for a triathlon, as part of the school’s commitment to connecting students with the community and environment.

Jose’s semester abroad is an extension of Browning’s partnership with The Island School, which aims to inspire and educate our boys, helping them to develop the global perspective needed for success in today’s interconnected world.

Jose G. ’22

An online coffeehouse, an author’s wise words, and a farewell.

Best-selling author addressed Interschool seniors Noted author Julie Lythcott-Haims held a webinar for Interschool seniors in May, as they prepared to graduate into a world upended by the pandemic. Lythcott-Haims—a former dean at Stanford University and the author of a memoir and, most recently, Your Turn: How to be an Adult (Henry Holt & Company, 2021) —reminded the graduates to be true to themselves, even when their parents may want a different life for them.

Julie Lythcott-Haims

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INSPIRATION

Navigating the 90-minute talk with the amiable storytelling for which the former

podcaster is known, Lythcott-Haims owned up to her own failings as a way to help students empathize with demanding parents and understand how to share important information about themselves and their identities with their families. Continuing to bemoan the unhealthy culture of success at any cost and overparenting that she saw at Stanford and within her own community (and her home), Lythcott-Haims encouraged our young people to study what makes them happy and to have confidence that they can thrive.

FUNDRAISER

Selfless senior spearheads coffeehouse fundraiser Senior Christian Kim ’21 spearheaded an Interschool coffeehouse fundraiser last winter to benefit the Ronald McDonald House and raised $3,000 in the process.

The event featured performances by amazing soloists, renowned ensembles, comedians, and a host of other talented artists from independent schools across the city.

“In planning the fundraiser, Christian embodied many of the qualities we hope to foster in our community: tenacity, purpose,

agency, and the power of relationships,” said Music Teacher Hannah Hickok. “From start to finish, he exemplified the potential of vision and follow-through, bringing to life an event unlike any Browning has ever hosted. His warm encouragement inspired a variety of talented Interschool musicians to commit their time and energy to our worthy cause.

The result was an evening I’ll never forget, imbued with the magic of shared intention and musical kinship.”

Christian Kim ’21

Sophomores excel at French theater festival Despite the constraints of performing for a virtual audience this year, the 10th grade French class gave clear evidence of their language proficiency at the Lycée Français Theater Festival. Competing against nearby schools in New York City and international schools in Mexico City, Santiago, and Sydney, our boys came away with the coveted Special Jury Prize as well as the Coup de Coeur for the most “creative staging” in their presentation.

French Teacher Dominique Bernard said, “It was a demanding activity and an excellent way to break the routine. We all have every reason to be thrilled by the excellent performance of our French III students. A superb achievement indeed!”

Take a bow, Ms. Warner After two decades of fostering a love and appreciation of music in our Lower School boys, Lucy Warner retired this year. Through weekly music classes, community assemblies, and countless recitals, holiday programs, and closing ceremonies, Ms. Warner has made music a centerpiece of our school traditions and culture.

Ask any Lower School boy who his favorite music superhero is and you will certainly hear about a wide range of composers and artists whose work Ms. Warner has brought to our Browning classrooms through her Zap! Boom! Pow! Superheroes of Music book series. Thank you, Ms. Warner —you will be missed!

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INSPIRATION

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Moving forward, 18 months on

A PANDEMIC DOESN’T STOP INNOVATION AT BROWNING

By John Botti Head of School

While the pandemic has reinforced just how much of life is outside of our control, we are advancing the strength of our educational program and improving student life in several ways, even in this challenging time.

Over the past year, we’ve invested in getting more skilled and caring adults in front of and behind our boys, and made important efforts in systematizing both our hiring and interview processes to help eliminate biases, expand sourcing of qualified candidates, and create more equitable protocols. Further building upon our long-standing academic excellence, and expanding our intellectual culture, Danielle Passno has moved into an exciting

new role as Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning.

A Focus on Competency Allowing us to clearly indicate the learning goals of a class and what goes into being an excellent student of that particular course, our new focus on competency-based learning will ensure that more students master concepts which are essential and enduring. The approach will provide our faculty with

We’ve invested in getting more SKILLED and CARING adults in front of and behind our boys.

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more-specific information about our boys’ learning progress. Most importantly, it provides our students and their families with an understanding of why boys have received a certain grade, and what the boys can do to improve their performance in any given subject.

A new Upper School program, Certificates of Distinction, puts a spotlight on competency while highlighting the agency that we want boys to develop around their learning.

At the end of Grade 9, boys can choose one of a number of pathways that will lead to a Distinction in a desired field. Through Grades 10 and 11, boys will be required to show evidence that they have mastered five to seven competencies, which when combined will create a pathway to the desired Distinction. When this portfolio demonstrates command of the necessary competencies, the boy will plan a senior project around the idea of applying the learning of their Distinction to the good of the world beyond Browning. The project, like a thesis, will be evaluated by a panel of experts in the field, with faculty, scholars from within the Browning community, and relevant alumni composing the panel.

Those boys who successfully presented would be awarded the Certificate of Distinction as part of their diploma and school transcript.

Visit our digital magazine Buzzwords for more stories of what’s happening behind the Red Doors.

Competency-based learning will ensure that more students master concepts which are ESSENTIAL and ENDURING. Panthers’ Purpose Panthers’ Purpose is our philosophy for incorporating social-emotional learning (SEL), character education, and an equity and belonging lens into the framework of our entire academic program, from Kindergarten through Grade 12. These competencies will be made appropriate to grade level. For example, in Grade 2 the management of emotions might be a competency, while in Middle School we might emphasize the importance of empathy.

In Upper School, we could identify the qualities of successful leadership, and model opportunities for boys to lead, to follow, and to discuss what role collaboration and decision-making form in creating healthy cultures. There’s no end to the SEL, character, and equity architecture we can create to help boys become their fullest selves.

Equitable Practices and Social Impact Browning seeks to put equity front and center through equity competencies, which will give all faculty and staff explicit aims in our professional practices. While cultural competency has always been a goal of our professionals, now we will be stating that how we teach and what we teach can advance the cause of equitable practices. Our Panther Mentors, a group of alumni BUZZER — Summer 2021

of color who have come together to connect with Browning in meaningful ways, continue to offer their presence for our young men of color. Our vision is that the Panther Mentors will establish longitudinal relationships with our Upper School students that will allow those students to know that there are men who have walked the road that they’re walking. Eventually, we’d like to broaden this program to include multiple identity groups as mentors, and to give all boys a chance to learn from mentors.

We are also shifting the framing of and language around serving the broader community— from service learning to social impact—as we seek to understand these as acts that connect us all, and where dignity is not a gift from one to another, but rather a sensibility that’s enacted by genuine human encounter. That is the spirit of mutual benefit and mutual learning that informs both our program and overall mission.

What Lies Ahead This fall, we will be bringing all boys into school every day. As we move past the urgency of the pandemic, we are also going to have to keep an eye COMMUNITY

BUZZ WORDS buzzwords. browning.edu.

on the well-being of all community members. We will have to find ways to provide emotional support to all in our community and to stay mindful about our emotional conditions and our obligations to each other.

In periods where the environment is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous, we run the risk that changing circumstances will render our plans

irrelevant. Here’s where I think the size and the flexibility of our community really helped us over the past year. We were advantaged by being a community that has really valued relationships, as we have given each other a high level of trust and patience. That allowed us to do so much this year that we might’ve missed otherwise. Faculty gave their trust and patience. Families gave their trust and patience. Everyone has adjusted and worked hard to make the best of what’s around.

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STEVIE RACHMUTH ’10

NATE GARCIA ’06

PETER SHAPIRO ’10

JOHN ELSTAD ’71

SANDY PELZ ’71

JOHN BOTTI

ANDY SANDBERG ’01

TOM HERMAN ’64

CHRIS MCLEOD ’95

JANET LIEN

MAUREEN LINEHAN

STEVE CLEMENT

BRANDT BERRIE ’11

MIKE INGRISANI

JERRY PI ’95

GEORGE STAVROPOULOS ’18

DYLAN SMITH ’11

NICK VERSANDI ’01

JIM CANNON ’71

LUC VAREILLES ’04

AARON GRILL

DAVID SCOTT ’95

RALPH GARDNER ’71

MATT GELINE ’11

ANDREW WEST ’92

Browning community comes together for three days of online events More than 100 Browning alumni, teachers, and friends came together in April for Browning’s 2021 Alumni Reunion celebration. Over the course of three days of online events, alumni enjoyed a special panel entitled “Opening the Red Doors in 2020–21” with Browning Administrators discussing how their roles changed during the pandemic; a Retirement Celebration for Coach David Watson to toast his 39 years at Browning; a special conversation with History Department Chair

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Dr. Gerald Protheroe on his 25 years at Browning; and, an all-alumni Zoom gathering and award ceremony.

We are thrilled so many alumni were able to reconnect with classmates and former teachers online, and look forward to celebrating together again in person!

To watch recordings from the events and learn more about the reunion program, please visit browning.edu/photos/2021-alumni-reunion.

BRYAN RHEE ’89

KEVIN DEARINGER

SAMORA LEGROS ’03

STUART ORENSTEIN ’00

JIM ROOT ’71

JOE METZGER ’02

MICHAEL ZUPPONE ’16

BRYAN MCGURK ’04

H. FIELDS ’11

BRIAN KRAUS ’91

JEFF LANDES ’83

BRUCE WALLACE ’66

LARRY BAHR ’96

JOHN HUTZLER ’86

DAVID WATSON

THERESA RODRIGUEZ

GERRY PROTHEROE

HARRISON MESSER ’12

MEGAN RYAN

ALEX KWOK ’20

JOHN KENNEY ’74

DAVID BRADLEY ’65

ETIENNE PORTOUT ’99

JULIAN ORILLAC ’16

TERREL PHELPS ’11

Michael Ingrisani receives the Charles W. Cook ’38 Alumnus Achievement Award Browning’s Alumni Association presented Dean of Faculty and English Department Chair Michael Ingrisani with its highest honor—the Charles W. Cook ’38 Alumnus Achievement Award.

For the first time in its history, this award was presented not to an alumnus, but instead to Browning’s longest-serving teacher, in recognition of all that he has given to his students and the School in his more than half-century of service and leadership.

Upon receiving the award, Mr. Ingrisani said: “I was surprised by the award for the very obvious reason that I

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did not attend Browning as a student. Thinking about how for all of my career, I have tried to teach boys to use and enjoy language, to understand the world and themselves in the process—and over the years I have learned a great deal. I know that I have learned enough by being in the atmosphere of Browning, and by espousing, along with my colleagues, the values that the School holds dear, and that—in those ways—I do think of myself as somebody who is a student of The Browning School. And the award, I think, is a way for the alumni to say, ‘You’re one of us. Come join.’

In response, I gratefully accept.

So thank you very much to all of my students.”

Reread Mr. Ingrisani’s golden jubilee celebration piece from last year at tinyurl.com/ingrisani-50years.

ALUMNI

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ALUMNI: CHRIS COFFEY ’98 SPOTLIGHT

Longtime Panther takes on city politics BROWNING ALUMNUS ASSUMES CRUCIAL ROLE IN NYC MAYORAL CAMPAIGN

By Jackson Richter ’18

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n June, millions of New York City Democrats will enact their civic responsibility and choose their Party’s representative for the November mayoral election. For Chris Coffey ’98, the choice is clear.

“I think Andrew [Yang] is kind of a perfect anecdote to Bill de Blasio,” Coffey said. “He’s someone who works nonstop. He’s someone who thinks you can have both helping folks in poverty and helping homeless folks, while also trying to get jobs and stimulate the economy. It doesn’t have to be an either-or.”

Coffey is serving as the Co-Campaign Manager for Yang’s mayoral campaign, which has taken this year’s race by storm.

Yang has consistently polled well within the large pool of contenders to be de Blasio’s successor. His unsuccessful campaign in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race strongly boosted his name recognition.

Coffey’s interest in politics stems back to his days in Washington, DC, where he attended George Washington University. There he interned for Bloomberg and became acquainted with its founder, Michael Bloomberg, subsequently helping him win his first mayoral race in 2001.

Coffey spent the next 11 years working for Bloomberg at City Hall before joining Tusk Strategies, a consulting firm where he now leads the New York and New Jersey practices. Coffey also continued his career in politics, working

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on Corey Johnson’s Speaker of the New York City Council race and Governor Andrew Cuomo’s reelection campaign.

Coffey commented that he has always enjoyed his time in New York much more than in Washington; he appreciates the immediacy of the impact he has been able to make through local government. Indeed, he and his fellow New Yorkers have observed multibillion-dollar deficits, rising shootings and crime, and above all a general sense of stillness from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He believes New York is ready for a change in leadership—a mayor who unites New Yorkers.

“Bill de Blasio often talks about two cities: the folks who have resources, and the folks who don’t have resources,” he said. “And he’s obviously right that there’s a huge income inequality gap in New York City that we need to fill. Andrew Yang talks about one city. The idea that you have to be anti-business to be anti-poverty is not Andrew’s way.”

This mayoral campaign season is like none prior as New York rises out of the pandemic. Coffey commented that for the first time in his career campaigning, his team has not had an official campaign office for much of the campaign.

Nonetheless, the Yang team has been hard at work at outdoor events and looks forward to offering more traditional

ALUMNI: CHRIS COFFEY ’98 SPOTLIGHT

“You have to be willing to do basically everything.

You have to figure out how to be the hardest-working person there.” events as vaccinations increase and distancing precautions become less stringent.

Coffey is better suited than most Browning graduates to lead a campaign, considering he was the face of a winning one more than 20 years ago. Coffey was elected Student Council President for the 1997–98 school year. His competition was formidable, as his most prominent opponent, Edward Isaac-Dovere ’98, had gone on to serve as the Chief Washington Correspondent for Politico, as well as currently staff writer for The Atlantic.

The two former political adversaries met with Yang at a meal this past spring, during which Isaac-Dovere interviewed Yang. Coffey recalls that he and Isaac-Dovere spent

Clockwise from top left: Chris Coffey ’98 in his senior year at Browning; mayoral candidate, Andrew Yang, on the campaign trail; Coffey speaking at a 2018 alumni panel (pictured with Larry Bahr ’96).

at least five minutes discussing their days at Browning with Yang, including Coffey’s delivery of his primary campaign promise: a Snapple machine.

Coffey commented on what it takes to succeed on the journey from the Red Doors to career dreams.

“You have to be willing to do basically everything. You have to figure out how to be the hardest-working person there. Then I think you’re putting yourself in a really good position to be somebody who gets noticed and is asked to do something.

“And always be really, really nice to people,” he concluded. “You just don’t know who’s going to be where.”

Editors’ Note: This article was written before Andrew Yang left the race after the primary.

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ALUMNI

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ALUMNI: DESMON AND DERRICK LEWIS ’01 SPOTLIGHT

Social impact is a family tradition

FOUNDATION LEADERS WORK TO UPLIFT THEIR BOROUGH

By Jeremy Katz ’04 Associate Director of Strategic Communications

D

errick and Desmon Lewis ’01 understand the importance of making an impact in people’s lives. “We come from a family of first responders,” says Derrick. “Our grandmother retired as a nurse on her 50th anniversary at Bronx Lebanon Hospital, and our aunt worked at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx for 45 years. Our mother worked for the sanitation department in the Bronx, and our father was a civil rights activist fighting to increase diversity within the construction industry across the city.”

So it’s no surprise that the brothers have found a way to give back: the Bronx Community Foundation. “Our goal is focused on being an objective,

unbiased, collaborative, and strategic thinking institution to solve the systemic institutional challenges that have plagued the Bronx for many, many decades,” says Derrick. “Our mission and vision is to uplift and enable the existing organizations, and to provide new resources in order to solve some of those systemic challenges.”

As importantly, Desmon adds, “We want the community to have the power to decide its own destiny and provide the resources to do that. The Bronx has historically been driven by a public sector that has in many cases disenfranchised the residents’ decision-making. We want to bring that decision-making back to the commu-

Desmon and Derrick Lewis ’01, Co-Founders of The Bronx Community Foundation.

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ALUMNI

The Foundation has received support from multiple prominent New Yorkers, including Judy Dimon, Chair of the James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation, and wife of Jamie Dimon ’74.

nity through existing organizations that are already doing good work in the community.”

The Bronx Community Relief Effort, a COVID-19 initiative, began immediately after the coronavirus hit and has already distributed over two and a half million meals in the Bronx.

“The Bronx shouldn’t have any foodinsecure people because we’re in the backyard of capitalism and we also have one of the largest food distribution centers in the world, the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center,” Derrick notes. “Most people don’t know that the Bronx is the unhealthiest community in New York State, the most food-insecure community in New York City, and remains one of the poorest communities in the country.”

The Foundation also distributed over 2,500 Chromebooks and MiFi devices. “Close to 40% of the Bronx,

nearly 600,000 people, don’t have high-speed internet at home. You had hundreds of thousands of youth that were sent home without access to the internet during the pandemic and essentially schooling on cell phones,” says Desmon. The Foundation’s Bronx Digital Equity Coalition is helping to eradicate the digital divide and create a digital oasis in the Bronx.

In addition to these projects, the Foundation also distributed millions of dollars in grants to nonprofits and small businesses and distributed more than a million PPE items throughout the Bronx.

Entering Browning in the seventh grade through the Boys’ Club of New York, Desmon says, “We didn’t have a clue that this whole world existed.

And I’m defining ‘this whole world’ as the opportunities that people have at Browning which you can leverage for good and positivity.”

Derrick adds, “This is where we learned that we could build a network, and when we got into nonprofit work, we had a little bit of this fearless attitude because of our experience at Browning.”

Looking past the pandemic, the brothers say that their major focus will be on building the Foundation’s infrastructure and “continuing the good work we are doing,” says Desmon.

The organization hopes to hire an inaugural chief executive officer this summer, and that Browning’s social impact work may someday mesh with the Foundation’s through volunteerism and other opportunities for students.

“Going to Browning, we began to really understand the power of a network that will grant you access,” says Desmon. “We have that same philosophy with the Foundation because the goal is to take Bronx nonprofits, bring them to the table, and get them access to the dollars, human capital, and resources that they wouldn’t have otherwise because they didn’t know it was available.”

Please visit thebronx.org to learn more and get involved.

BUZZER — Summer 2021

2021–22 ALUMNI CALENDAR

Mark your calendars!

Alumni Council Meeting September 20 Alumni Soccer Game Date TBD Class of 2000 Distinguished Speaker Series October 19

Alumni Admission Event February 24 Alumni Council Meeting March 7 Grade 12 Alumni Association Breakfast April 20

Alumni Council Meeting November 1

2022 Alumni Reunion April 22

Alumni Basketball Game December 1

Spring Celebration April 28

Alumni Council Meeting December 6

Alumni Giving Day May 6

Young Alumni and Past Parent Reception January 6

Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association May 16

Alumni Council Note-a-thon & Meeting February 7 Visit browning.edu/alumniconnect for more information.

CONTACT US!

For additional information or support, contact Director of Alumni Affairs Caroline Axelrod at 212.256.1175 or caxelrod@browning.edu.

IN MEMORIAM

Andree Dean P ’66, ’72 Richard Flynn GP ’20, ’12 Anil Jethmal ’83

ALUMNI

Muna Rihani P ’25 Gina Serman P ’06 Aaron Weinman ’01

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Last page of good news 44

The Quantum Boys COREY (v/o): Hello, my name is Corey Peterson. Uhh...Is this thing on? I’m kidding, I’m kidding.

That’s a joke my dad would make. Dad, if you’re listening to this, I love you. I love all your corny jokes.

In all seriousness, this recording is intended to be...well, a record of the events that took place over the last couple of days.

Although I know I’ll never forget any of the things that happened to me and the boys, I want to make sure the details get saved. Also, the whole thing was so crazy that I’m sure people are going to have a hard time believing it and they’ll probably try convincing us that we’re exaggerating or, I don’t know, misremembering. Or that we’re in shock or something.

And maybe after a while, we’ll even start to believe them. But what I’m about to tell you did happen to us. And I’m not going to exaggerate.

The two FBI agents that found us and brought us in for questioning definitely doubted that we were telling the truth.

Especially the one with the eye patch. He wasn’t very nice.

GOOD NEWS

Boys create drama with radio play in pandemic year Because of the constraints imposed by the pandemic, we were unable to put on the annual Middle School Shakespeare production in person. As an alternative, Drama Teacher Adam Giordano decided to write a radio play that the boys could rehearse over Zoom and then record for presentation to the community.

The Quantum Boys is about four middle school boys who go on a class trip to Washington, DC, and end up on an interdimensional adventure filled with fascinating characters and narrow escapes.

Relying on courage, ingenuity, and the kindness of others who help them along the way, the heroes persevere through the strange and sometimes dangerous challenges they come face to face with.

The story was inspired, in part, by old-time radio shows like The Green Hornet, and included an emcee who guides the proceedings, as well as a few commercial interruptions from “sponsors.”

The stellar cast was made up of students from all grades of the Middle School.

Take a listen to our stellar cast, made up of students from Grades 5-8, at tinyurl.com/quantum-boys

Thank you from the many faces of Browning.

The Browning family has stepped up to the plate once again!

Your collective support of the 2020–21 Annual Fund enabled the School to persevere and thrive while facing all the obstacles our community and the world endured this past year. Thank you for making a positive impact with your annual gift to Browning.

5 2 Ea s t 6 2 n d S tre et, New York , NY 1 00 65

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PAID

AUGUSTA, ME PERMIT NO. 121

TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS Please email Krizia Moreno-Cruz at kmoreno-cruz@browning.edu

FROM THE ARCHIVE The core principles laid down more than 130 years ago still operate at The Browning School today: a school for boys, small classes, close personal attention for each student, a wide variety of extracurricular activities, and a heavy emphasis on fostering initiative. Learn more about student agency on page 8.