Cupola Magazine – Spring 2024

Cupola

Spring 2024

Moses Brown School

Let’s begin with some silence.

Moses Brown, a Friends School, exists to inspire the inner promise of each student and instill the utmost care for learning, people, and place.

The complexity of liminal spaces has long intrigued me. Liminal spaces are spaces of transition—the places that exist between what is known and what is unknown. Throughout our lives we are constantly navigating liminal spaces, both large and small, conscious and unconscious; paradoxically, they can be both unnerving AND critically important. It is a time when uncertainty generates possibility, challenging the norms and habits that may not always be healthy or good, and compelling us to imagine, not only what is possible, but what may be necessary. In other words, liminal spaces are often connected to change.

Moses Brown has been in its own liminal space, transitioning out of the pandemic while also navigating a leadership change. In addition, the school is poised for its next strategic plan–building on the success of MB Believes and toward a future where we will confidently deliver on our mission in a complex and changing world. As Moses Brown’s 14th head of school, I feel a deep responsibility to this liminal moment in the school’s 240-year history, to build on the school’s foundation of strength while challenging us to boldly lead in educating our students to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Last summer, I read the book Imaginable, by futurist Jane McGonigal. In her book, McGonigal compels the reader to consider 10-year time horizons – to imagine all the possibilities and to confidently and optimistically plan for the future. As a leader who leads from truth and optimism, I was drawn to her approach. Good to Great by Jim Collins has also been a favorite read of mine for many years, and one concept that his book highlights is the Stockdale Paradox based on Admiral Jim Stockdale’s seven-year story of survival as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Stockdale’s quote, which is the foundation of the paradox developed by Jim Collins, is, “You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be." For Moses Brown, we must merge these ideas together: be honest about the challenges facing the world, independent schools, and Moses Brown while enthusiastically embracing the opportunities for the future, relentlessly believing in, preparing for, and executing on our collective vision.

So, for me, this liminal space of transition and change is one of opportunity - opportunity to build on the foundational strength of an amazing school while boldly setting a direction for its future that will require us to lead education in new and exciting ways to ensure that we deliver on our mission in preparing students for a world we cannot predict. What is the story that we want to be telling in 10 years, as we gather to celebrate 250 years of education at Moses Brown School? This is the exciting question before us today, and I hope you will help us imagine, design, plan, and execute our vision in the years to come!

In friendship,

Katie Titus Head of School

What is the story that we want to be telling in 10 years, as we gather to celebrate 250 years of education at Moses Brown School? “

Board of Trustees

2023-2024

Hilina Ajakaiye P ’27

Maitrayee Bhattacharyya P ’20 ’26

David Bourns

Cheryl Schadone Cohen ’81

Sage DeWolf P ’24 ’26 ’28

Zona Douthit

Jason Engle ’98 P ’28 ’30 ’33

Austin Jaspers ’11

Dolph Johnson P ’20 ’23

William (Tad) Jose ’78

Keith Monchik ’90 P ’24 ’27

Dave Murphy ’91 P ’27 ’30

Tom Pizzuti P ’29 ’32

Yiguang Qiu P ’20

Peter Ramsden ’82 P ’16 ’19

Valerie Reishuk

Jane Ritson-Parsons P ’17 ’21, Clerk

Yvonne Rogers P ’25

Bruce Shaw P ’99 ’02 ’06

Megan Smith

Ahvi Spindell ’72

Ariana Steele P ’26 ’29

Reza Taleghani ’90 P ’21 ’23, Clerk

Dawn Tripp P ’19 ’24

Carlton Tucker P ’18

Laura Whiteley P ’27

EX-OFFICIO

Katie Titus, Head of School

Rebecca Leuchak P ’04 ’09

Clerk of the NEYM

Cupola

THE MAGAZINE OF MOSES BROWN SCHOOL

Cupola is produced by the Alumni and Communications offices for alumni and friends of Moses Brown School. Your feedback is welcomed. If you want to opt-out of the print magazine and receive only the digital copy of the next magazine, please let us know by emailing alumni@mosesbrown.org.

Editor: Frances Jackson P ’26

Class Notes Editor: Meghan Hansen P ’28

Contributing Writers:

Meaghan Fernandes

Meghan Hansen P ’28

Graham Holland P ’28 ’31

Deb Goeschel

Jon Gold P ’33

Frances Jackson P ’26

Karin Morse ’79

Ryan Vemmer

Designers:

Meaghan Fernandes Tim Furman

Photography: Jon Chase ’64

Andrea Hansen

Meghan Hansen P ’28

Peter Goldberg

Heidi Gumula, DBVW Architects Emma Marion ’24

David O’Connor

Ryan Vemmer

Printer: Primary Graphics certified by the Forest Stewardship Council

Advancement Office: Elizabeth Breidinger P ’33

Meghan Hansen P ’28

Karin Morse ’79

Stay in Touch!

Send thoughts on this issue or suggestions for our next edition, including news, class notes, or photos to alumni@mosesbrown.org.

Follow MB online at mosesbrown.org and on social media:

Dr. King B. "Doc" Odell, Jr. teaching a class at Moses Brown in 1969.

Head of School Katie Titus teaches pre-calculus to upper school students during her first year.

News from Hope & Lloyd

Stewarding our School: MB

Values in Action Today and Tomorrow

With the goal of building trust through transparency and a shared understanding of what it takes to responsibly steward our 240 year-old school, Moses Brown launched a new annual event. Stewarding Our School: MB Values in Action Today and Tomorrow engaged over 200 MB community members, including alumni and current parents/guardians, in the Woodman Center’s Glendinning Hall on January 23, 2024. The community heard from Head of School Katie Titus, students, faculty, senior leaders, and voices from across MB. The program included segments on the impact of K-12 education at Moses Brown, the business of running a school with a financial update and outlook, and setting the stage for the future and next strategic plan. We listened, learned, and were inspired by the presenters as well as the messages shared when the evening closed with a Meeting for Sharing.

Most importantly, we recommitted ourselves to the shared stewardship of our school and its Friends values. The work we do with our students, the work we do to run the school financially, and the work we have ahead as we envision our next strategic plan—this is work that we need to do together, as a community, as each generation has done before us, with integrity, purpose, and optimism.

With over 6,500 active alumni located across the globe, we are excited to share a recording with you so that you, too, can learn more about Moses Brown today. If you weren’t able to attend, we hope you will take time to watch the recording of the presentations and the Q&A session. Visit mosesbrown.org/stewarding-2024 (PW: MB2024) Watch now!

Top: Will C. ’24, upper school student senate co-president, and Head of School Katie Titus kick off the inaugural Stewarding Our School presentation. Middle: Head of Middle School Jared Schott facilitates a conversation between teachers and students across all three divisions. Bottom: Alice M. ’24 leads audience Q&A with Katie Titus.

Historic Homecoming and EXPO Weekend

Marks New Chapter for Moses Brown School

Moses Brown School hosted Homecoming and EXPO, the annual tradition in October that celebrates one of Moses Brown’s core Quaker values: Community. The weekend provided a special opportunity for past, present, and future members of the MB community to connect and enjoy a shared experience.

The Moses Brown Alumni Association and friends joined together to kick off Homecoming weekend on Thursday, October 19 at the annual fall alumni awards reception. Held at the Providence Art Club, the event celebrated two accomplished Moses Brown alumni: Eric Cioè Peña ’01, who received the Outstanding Young Alum Award, and Keith Monchik ’90, who received the Karin Morse ’79 Service to Alma Mater Award [See p. 34].

The defending Division I State Champions played in the first-ever field hockey game under the lights at Campanella Field on Thursday evening. With Quaker Nation supporting on the sidelines—and in our brand new spectator seating area—MB prevailed.

On Friday night, in a student-led program to honor and welcome Katie Titus as Moses Brown’s 14th head of school, students lifted their voices to present testimonies of the six SPICES, the core values of Friends education [See story p. 16]. More than 1,000 community members didn’t let a little rain dampen their spirits as they joined together for the annual Harvest Dinner which moved indoors to the WaughtelHowe Field House. Following dinner, alumni, students, and families donned their glow sticks and with a break in the rain headed out to Campanella field, where the varsity football team competed under the lights. Quaker Nation showed their spirit cheering the team and helping MB get the win.

The action continued on Saturday with two thrilling displays from MB’s Girls and Boys Soccer teams. The Girls were the first to take to a rainy Campanella Field and were victorious, winning the game and claiming their bid in the playoffs. Boys Soccer took the field afterwards, also having a stellar game with Quakers again taking the win.

Rain didn’t stop the agenda on Saturday either, when prospective families arrived on campus to take part in the annual admissions Open House, and current families returned for more EXPO fun. Activities in the field house included musical and theatrical performances in an amazing and energizing showcase of the talent at MB.

Schoolhouse Snapshots

Seventh Graders Benefit from Alum Experience in Interdisciplinary Unit

Hannah Pearson ’09 visited with the seventh grade and gave a presentation that explained the sustainability of shellfish farming and her work as a shellfish hatchery manager at Island Creek Oysters. The visit was part of a semester-long, interdisciplinary unit combining English and science classes to explore coastal Rhode Island and the driving question: “How does the complex web of stakeholders in Rhode Island's quahogging and fishing industries impact the state's coastal communities and the fragile marine ecosystem?"

Seniors Present Their Class of ’48 Award Experiences

In December 2023, four MB seniors presented the experiences that resulted from their Class of 1948 award for independent study and inquiry. This annually-funded learning opportunity is an ongoing gift to the school, and each year the students share what they learned during their (sometimes international) immersive experiences.

Right: Alum Fran Sargent ’48 and Mary Mountain, widow of Ray Mountain ’48, were in attendance for this year’s presentations by (from left to right) Mike M., Alice M., Mariely M., and Sanvi R., all class of 2024.

Hannah Pearson ’09 explains sustainability of shellfish farming to seventh graders.

Economics of Social Innovation Students

Pitch Ideas to Alum Panel

In November 2023, students in Gara Field’s Economics of Social Innovation (ESI) class wrapped up an intensive, four-week challenge using MB's Advancement Office as its non-profit client. Empowered as consultants to rethink and reimagine how to most effectively engage young alums with the school, the students pitched their ideas to nearly 100 audience members in the Y-Lab and a panel of judges. Mia Puddington ’09, Jaden Pena ’19, Teo Milner ’19, and Shaan Hossain ’19 served on the judge panel alongside Head of School Katie Titus, Elizabeth Breidinger, Director of Advancement, Meghan Hansen, Director of Alumni Programs, and Arthur Gaskin, Founder and Director of PVD Squash. Local entrepreneurs Liz Newton ’91, Dave Murphy ’91, Davide Dukcevich ’92, and Jason Engle ’98, observed the pitches and networked with students during a luncheon preceding the presentation.

For the Honor of Truth Fund Brings Leading AI Expert to Campus

Young people need to be equipped with knowledge to understand how best to navigate the vast abilities of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) frontier and help society address it going forward. Upper school Humanities students had the opportunity to work with leading AI expert Sarah Newman to explore the role, societal implications, and outcomes of this exploding technology. This was made possible through funding from For The Honor of Truth Fund, an initiative supported by the Class of 1965.

Standing: Mia Puddington ’09, Katie Titus, Teo Milner ’19, Gara Field, Davide Dukcevich ’92, Dave Murphy ’91, Shaan Hossain ’19 , Jaden Pena ’19. Sitting: Jason Engle ’98, Karin Morse ’79

Alums Connect with Students for Career Explorations Day

A new MBAA and Advancement Office Partnership

A t a time where students are beginning to make decisions about their future, what better way to explore their options than to tap into Moses Brown’s extensive alumni network? Over 45 alumni and community members came to campus on March 1, 2024 to share with 11th and 12th grade students their professional experiences in a wide range of industries: arts and entertainment; building and construction; business, media, and communications; education; engineering, and tech; entrepreneurship; finance; government and public service; healthcare; law; non-profit/NGO; environmental sciences; psychology; marketing and sales; sports management; and venture capital.

Twhe Moses Brown Alumni Association (MBAA) and Advancement Office, in partnership with the Upper School, hosted MB Connects: Career Explorations Day for current juniors and seniors. The event provided an invaluable opportunity for students to gain insights into various professions, discover potential academic and/or career paths, and receive guidance on navigating the exciting journey ahead.

“I think it's important for these students to hear about people's different career paths as they begin their journey,” said alum Erin Shippee ’95, founding member of Steward Asset Management and MB Board of Trustees Investment Committee member, about why she returned to campus to meet with current students.

Alumni and community members from a vast array of career fields were in attendance, such as CEO of Wistia Chris Savage ’01; Steve DeLeo ’15, press secretary for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse; founder of SquadLocker Gary Goldberg ’87; Emmy Award-nominated television producer Danielle Weiss Medina ’92; reporter/anchor at WPRI12 Kim Kalunian ’07; Associate Judge for the State of Rhode Island Hon. Melissa R. DuBose P ’19 ’22; and national best-selling novelist Dawn Tripp P ’19 ’24.

Ahead of the event, students selected sessions to attend based on career paths and industries that they wanted to learn more about, and they were each placed in two of their top choices. Before the sessions began, upper schoolers were encouraged to be open to what they might learn and to consider what connections they could make that might be beneficial in the future.

“Make a connection that feels really promising and forward moving,” encouraged Head of Upper School Laura Twichell. “There's an incredible opportunity today to connect with people who may be real resources for you later.”

Each session featured two to four panelists of professionals who provided career insights to a small group of students. The panelists shared how they

decided to pursue their chosen field, what levels of education were required, and what it’s like to work in their profession day-to-day. The panelists also saved time for one-on-one breakout sessions so that students could ask questions and receive personalized advice.

Many of the day’s visiting professionals noted that it’s difficult to know in high school exactly what direction your career path will take you in the future.

“You just really never know what's out there,” shared Joana Ruano Ames '10, vice president of sales at Garner Health and MB Connects Co-Clerk. “I think it's really important to have an open mind as you go through today,” she said.

The opportunity was not only valuable for the students, but for alumni as well, as it brought their MB experience full circle.

“I was so excited to be able to come and share some of my 30 years of work experience with the folks here at MB,” said Adrienne Schaberg Filipov '91, managing director and partner, chief human capital officer at Warburg Pincus.

We hope many of today’s students will be inspired to share their own professional experiences when they become alumni, passing on the tradition for generations to come.

Page 8, bottom right: MBAA MB Connects Co-Clerk Joana Ruano Ames '10 sharing her career story with the students before the speaker panels. Page 9, top: Tim Savage, M.D. '04, pediatric infectious diseases physician, shares advice with students interested in healthcare. Page 9, bottom: Steve DeLeo '15, press secretary for U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, traveled from D.C. to join students in conversation around government and public service careers.

A Look at Lower School

Photos courtesy of Heidi Gumula, DBVW Architects

Our youngest learners are enjoying the benefits of an $8 million top-tobottom renovation and expansion of our Lower School. This new facility provides students with flexible spaces designed with the latest research on elementary education and child development in mind, including sunny new classrooms and gathering areas, an imaginative play studio called the Wonder Lab, an interconnected science and technology lab, a music studio, and a flexible suite of rooms designed for individual learning extension and enrichment. The new Mencoff Commons is the home for foreign language learning and the Debbie Goff Library.

New Rustin Center Bolsters Student Wellness and Belonging

The Bayard Rustin Center for Peace and Belonging opens as a space for reflection, listening, and understanding.

Members of the Moses Brown School community gathered last year to celebrate the launch of the Bayard Rustin Center for Peace and Belonging. The culmination of an initiative coming out of the 2020 DEI strategic plan, the Rustin Center opened this school year and is located on the first floor of Middle House.

Based on the premise that the social fabric of a community is only as strong as the well-being of its members, the Rustin Center is a hub where everyone at Moses Brown can come together and harness our collective spirit for the common good. Its multipurpose common space allows for both drop-in gathering and structured programming. And its office spaces provide a nexus for the work of Friends education director Jen McFadden, director of the Rustin Center Luke Anderson, and wellness director Beth Lantz.

With thoughtful intention and purposeful action, the Rustin Center is a home where members of our community can: find sanctuary to reflect, connect, and rejuvenate; build community through shared pursuits; develop empathy and critical thinking skills; practice active listening, conflict resolution, and discernment; and cultivate integrity and sense of self.

The Center’s naming and vision honors the memory of Bayard Rustin, a Black, gay, Quaker peace activist who was a truth-teller and champion for equality. His clarity of purpose and fearlessness remind us that in coming together we must truly see and be seen by each other. He brought his full self to his work, and the Rustin Center is a place where all students, employees, and families can do the same.

For MB student Kavan B. ’28, the Rustin Center has already become an important space on

campus. “It’s always very inclusive, and I can talk with peers who are also students of color,” says Kavan. He’s already begun to make deeper connections with people when he visits the center, and is looking forward to more meetings for specific affinity groups.

“I think it’s really important for students to be comfortable around campus being able to express who they are, and the Rustin Center definitely provides a space for that,” says Dominique Avila ’11, who is not only an alum but also instructs middle and upper school visual arts. “As a teacher, I think it’s a really lovely space to be able to come in here and find a little peace and quiet.”

Olivia K. ’25 agrees. “The Bayard Rustin Center is a very nice place to go to hang out with friends and just talk, drink some tea, read books, or do work. I hope a lot of people come to enjoy the space.”

L to R: Director of the Rustin Center Luke Anderson, Director of Health and Wellness Beth Lantz, and Director of Friends Education Jennifer McFadden

Let YOUR Alumni Voice Be Heard!

Join us as we seek to identify the key queries for the foundation of the next Strategic Plan for the future of Moses Brown School.

Let Your Life Speak: Community Conversations

Please join Head of School Katie Titus and other local alumni for an interactive session with small breakout groups to help us prepare for the next strategic planning process, followed by a chance to socialize with other MB alums. These sessions are part of a series taking place this spring allowing for parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and students to build community and engage in these important conversations. We hope to engage as many alums as possible in our upcoming conversations as we seek to hear a range of perspectives and differing viewpoints in this process. Co-hosted by the Moses Brown Alumni Association.

Reunion/Alumni Weekend Session May 18 | 2:00 pm Jones Library, MB Campus

Virtual Conversation via Zoom June 18 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm Register

How artificial intelligence is transforming the world

by Jon Gold P ’33

Where some educators are afraid, many instead see an opportunity to harness technology to enhance teaching and learning.

Ihave been fascinated by technology for as long as I can remember. I was born in 1984, which means I am part of a very particular generational cohort: we “elder millennials” came of age during the inflection point in which digital technologies swallowed our social lives, our learning environments, and our media ecosystem. I was on AOL Instant Messenger in Middle School, got my first iPhone right after college, and in the years I’ve been a teacher, I’ve seen educational technology dramatically change how we teach and learn. When I interviewed at Moses Brown, I taught my demo lesson using an overhead projector; by the following fall my classroom had its own interactive whiteboard – and the rate of change has only accelerated since then.

My enthusiasm and curiosity about technology also started with the example set by my Mom, Suzie Gold. She worked part time while my brothers and I were growing up, but when I was a middle schooler, she went to graduate school to get a master’s degree in the then-brand new field of educational technology, which eventually led her to being the director of academic technology at The Baldwin School outside Philadelphia. We would spend our evenings together tinkering with spreadsheets, discussing how my teachers were using technology, and reflecting on how she could get teachers to be more open to using technology in the classroom. Her deeply-held belief was that technology could enhance– rather than disrupt– the teaching and

learning experience. Although she died in 2008, I know my Mom would have been excited by all the changes in the educational technology space since then.

In November 2022, OpenAI debuted its most advanced generative AI tool, ChatGPT, and my brain exploded. I could not believe that technology like this existed, and, following my mom’s inspiration, I immediately started thinking about ways we could use these kinds of generative AI tools to enhance teaching and learning. I asked Moses Brown’s Head of Middle School Jared Schott for some time at Middle School faculty meetings to show my colleagues how this new technology worked, and we convened an informal employee working group over the spring and summer of 2023 to explore and iterate. Since then, I have been able to connect with educators at various other schools, to speak at several conferences, and even to be quoted in the New York Times, all while developing my own understanding of generative AI tools. It’s been heartening and inspiring to watch educators grapple with this new technology, and I am so grateful to be playing a

Middle School History teacher Jon Gold P’33 speaks to current parents about AI’s challenges and opportunities.

leadership role both here at MB and in the broader independent school community.

Put simply, the discourse in education has reflected the broader societal conversation about this powerful new technology, and my contention, in all of the conferences and meetings I’ve been a part of, has been to maintain that AI will be a threat to education if we allow it to be. I am also convinced that schools like MB, with a well-honed value set and abundant technological resources, need to be leading the field in exploring and iterating all while defending what we hold sacred from this synthetic superintelligence. Indeed, where some educators are afraid, many of us, instead, see opportunity– both to harness this technology to enhance teaching and learning and, more deeply, to allow it to force us to clarify and commit to our school values; in other words, the arrival of this uncanny superintelligence means we have to rededicate ourselves to the humanistic values at the core of what we do at MB.

We had an experience at an all-school employee meeting in October 2023 that further affirmed my belief that what we do at MB can’t be totally undermined by this powerful new technology. For this meeting, we left aside all of the very real and profound questions about AI and just played around; we wanted to create an opportunity for MB employees to tinker. Seated in table groups, my MB colleagues used ChatGPT to create acronyms and write hilarious emails to head of school Katie

Titus. In the beginning of the meeting, folks were quietly typing into their devices but by the end, the room had an uproarious vibe, particularly as upper school Math teacher Kevin Matson read an increasingly absurd email ChatGPT had written. Groups erupted in laughter, colleagues were leaning over each other’s shoulders, and the room hummed with joyful learning and exploration. Even in a workshop about AI, the indomitable spirit of humans learning in community with other humans, of collaboration and collective effort, won out.

Aside from channeling my mom’s sense of curiosity and enthusiasm, it’s what I’ve learned about Friends education and Quaker pedagogy that makes me more excited than afraid. If there is truly an “Inner Light” inside each of us, then even technology that feels eerily “human-like” is but a crude facsimile of the deeper truths of human experience. It may be able to write fluently, to solve equations, or to make art, but it doesn’t have “that of God” inside; although some researchers may disagree, in my view, AI can’t introspect, collaborate, or be curious about someone else’s experience.

Predicting the future has always been a fool’s errand, but a recent article in The New York Times, surveying a future with even more powerful AIs, makes the potent claim that “A.I. could usher in a world of work that is anchored more, not less, around human ability.” It remains to be seen how this new AI age might change teaching and learning, let alone society, politics, media, and human relationships. What we do at MB–the soulcraft of learning how to learn, to be curious, empathetic, and resilient, and to look for the Light in ourselves and others– doesn’t change in the age of AI; it only becomes more urgent and more deeply needed. In this new age, it will only be by cultivating what makes us uniquely human, our Inner Lights, that we can be ready. I just wish my Mom were here for us to discuss it all.

Moses Brown Welcomes Katie Titus

By Deb Goeschel

As Moses Brown School welcomed Katherine “Katie” Titus as its 14th Head of School, Katie returned the welcome, enthusiastically and authentically connecting with alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff throughout the summer, fall, and winter of the 2023-24 school year. Rounding out year one, she continues to listen and gain a sense of the school, its Quaker foundations and values, and what that means for Moses Brown today — as well as its strategic outlook for tomorrow.

The Quaker experience has been one of the absolute best parts of learning her new role, according to Katie. In fact, her perspectives and philosophy on teaching and academic life align closely with the Quaker approach, something she wasn’t consciously aware of until she learned about MB’s search for a new Head of School — a search brought to her attention by a family friend, a Quaker and Moses Brown past parent Anne Ludes P ’14, ’20, ’23.

In learning about this opportunity, the culture of the school resonated with Katie. It had her reaching for a graduate paper she wrote for a John Dewey philosophy class to send to the search committee as a way to provide insight into her leadership and vision. That piece, in essence, described the experience of a Quaker school. Stepping into a leadership role in a Friends school requires a lot of questioning, listening, and integrating. The testimonies, the values, are what Katie is leaning into and guiding decisions by.

With each decision, “We can keep coming back to our mission and values,” which Katie says has been “a joyful gift,” as she learns about the culture at Moses Brown. “Quaker values will be a huge part of the ways we can continue to be successful going forward as a school and community.”

RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE GENERATIONS

Katie believes a significantly important piece and the great strength of independent schools is building connectivity and relationships across generations. Beyond philanthropic support, how alumni interact with today’s students is key … and it’s changing. She points out that “the reunions, cocktail parties, and networking offer benefits and are fun, yet alumni are asking for ways to more meaningfully engage with the current life of the school.”

Today, there are active pockets of that happening within the curriculum. Examples include upper school’s Economics of Social Innovation class, in which alumni can challenge MB students with questions they’re

trying to solve in their business, and the students can offer solutions. Other classes might engage visiting alumni because they’re working in business, politics, academia, etc., to share their experiences and get fresh perspectives.

“Our students are incredibly talented and have a different perspective than we do as adults,” notes Katie. “They have a vision of the world that is a little more optimistic, so leaning into that and helping them have an impact on the school and community is important — and alumni can help us with that.

“It always comes down to, how are we connecting alumni and students so that alumni can share their experience for motivation and inspiration?” says Katie. “We’ve got those pockets of interaction, engagement, and relationship, but how do we continue to strengthen and build from that? We’re hoping to build something with our alumni that strengthens the current school.”

When it comes to strengthening the school, David “Dave” Murphy, Jr., ’91, P ’27 ’30 – who served on on the Head of School search committee and is a member of the governance and executive committees of the Board of Trustees and clerk of its buildings and grounds committee – is confident that Katie is the right leader for Moses Brown right now.

“Each Head of School brings their own style, approach, and the skill set needed at the time

of hire,” says Dave. “Today, MB needs a strong leader who seeks input, but is decisive while also being warm and able to genuinely connect with the MB community.

“With Katie, you know you’re being heard. She is not only smart and strategic, but possesses the added skill, a gift even, of being able to synthesize and process information quickly. She possesses the attributes, acumen, and drive to execute at the highest level for the Moses Brown students and community. I believe she will thoughtfully and strategically steward the school into our next cycle of excellence.”

Fellow trustee, governance committee member, and current clerk of the Moses Brown Alumni Association Jason Engle ’98, P ’28, ’30, ’33 agrees and says he’s been impressed with Katie’s leadership and with her ability to listen, observe, and learn over the past seven months.

“Katie’s continued opendoor policy and ability to have difficult, but direct, conversations will only help Moses Brown grow,” says Jason. And his participation in two of the Let Your Life Speak: Community Conversations has him believing they will be an important foundation for the future of Moses Brown. “I hope the entire MB community — including alumni — attend a session to lend their perspectives of the impact MB had on their lives.”

From hosting an event for local alumni in August to alumni events in New York and San Francisco, Katie has lent an ear to alumni as she begins her tenure at Moses Brown. Above: Katie speaks with alumnus Fran Sargent ‘48 at an event she hosted at the Head of School residence, the Rachel Thayer House, last summer.

With Katie, you know you’re being heard. I believe she will thoughtfully and strategically steward the school into our next cycle of excellence.

- David “Dave” Murphy, Jr., ’91 P ’27 ’30

STRATEGIC PLANNING STARTS WITH MANY CONVERSATIONS

Katie introduced the Let Your Life Speak: Community Conversations series for all constituencies, including alumni, this spring. She considers these conversations vitally important as they are the foundation and beginning of MB's next wave of strategic planning work. She points out that at her previous schools, although she led the process, the schools engaged outside consultants to do the planning.

“We’re not doing that here; we’re doing it ourselves,” says Katie. “It’s reflective of our Quaker approach. We’ll honor and invite multiple voices to the

About Katie

Katie Titus began her tenure as head of school at Moses Brown in July 2023. Prior to her arrival, Katie served as the interim head of the prestigious Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. Previous to LWHS, Katie was head of school at Mercersburg Academy, where she successfully oversaw initiatives that improved admissions standards and increased engagement at all levels. Working closely with the Board of Trustees and faculty, Katie led the school through strategic design efforts that resulted in forming its core values, updating the mission statement, and identifying key strategic choices for the school's future.

table and build to the future of the school collectively.

“These conversations are the first step. Quakers talk of queries versus questions because queries require thought, multiple perspectives, time, and reflection to build toward direction. The first step of planning is asking our school community to help us build the key queries that lead us to the right questions.

“My job is to take all of the feedback and build the key queries for the strategic plan and then ask, ‘What are the key questions we need to ask in 2024 so we can build the story we will be telling in 2034 when we’re celebrating 250 years of the Moses Brown school?’”

Katie’s Guiding Mantras

Many have heard or read one or all three of these “mantras” Katie embraces by now, and she truly looks to them as guideposts.

The year will be imperfect AND amazing

This statement is about trying to normalize the community around the concept of, ‘we can do hard things.’

“We may not all agree, and it won’t be perfect because we’re human, but it doesn’t mean we can’t live our values. We’re living in a time of snap judgements and not tolerating imperfection, and it’s not good for the kids. If we as adults can’t manage it, how will the kids?” She wants to help the students and the MB community build resiliency and learn to navigate around and through conflict.

Be more curious than certain

Katie graduated from Middlebury College, where she majored in mathematics and played four years of varsity basketball (two of them as captain, a 1,000-point scorer), and earned a master’s degree at Columbia University’s Klingenstein Institute. She spent 20 years as an educator at Pingree School and St. George’s School. Moving beyond the classroom, she embraced new and challenging responsibilities in roles as director of college counseling, dean of students, and associate head of school life prior to becoming a head of school. Katie and her partner Stuart are parents of Natalie, a senior in college, and Samantha, a first-year college student.

“We now live in a world where there seems to be an intolerance for differences of perspective. Given that, how do we set some expectations of how we’ll operate as a community that will absolutely have differing perspectives, thoughts, and opinions?” Katie asks.

She believes that the commitment to Quaker values, working together through conflict, and proactively seeing the Inner Light of each community member will define and guide the community during a time of deep divides in the world.

She notes that peace isn’t an absence of conflict, but rather the choice of how we enter and navigate conflict. She feels that if both adults and kids can learn to say, ‘I hear you, and it’s okay for you to have a different experience,’ that means, “we can find ways that serve everyone in the Moses Brown community. I believe we can come together in dialogue and with a discernment that unites rather than divides.”

Relationship before task

This particular mantra resonates strongly for Katie. “It’s part of my leadership. What I've learned over time and with more experience is that relationships matter much more than the outcome of some task. If we can build relationships and trust, whatever we accomplish together will be strengthened. It’s a critical reminder for me that none of it can happen without relationship.”

Katie's family proudly wears their MB gear. Left to right: Samantha, Stuart, Katie, and Natalie Titus.

Katie Titus LOVES School

Choosing to teach a precalculus class during her first year as Head of School was an ambitious choice, one that serves Katie as much as it serves MB students.

“It’s my favorite class to teach!,” she exclaims. “While my professional journey has provided me with the opportunity to serve schools in a variety of roles, I am a teacher first and foremost, and throughout my 28 years of working in schools, I have taught all but four years.“

“By teaching, I gain valuable experience in the structure of time at a school; I connect more deeply with a group of students; I gain a stronger understanding of our academic program; and most importantly, it grounds me every day in the mission and reminds me of what’s most important. It is unlikely that I will be able to sustain teaching after this year because of the need for me to also be on the road and out in the community connecting with alumni and the MB family at large when and where possible … but for now, I will enjoy every moment.”

Katie recalls she got into academia because, “I loved school! I was that kid. I liked the routine, and I was good at it. After I graduated, I don’t think I wanted to let it go. Teaching and coaching was a way not to.”

Katie says she loves working with motivated student leaders, but she also loves working with the kids who made a mistake or those who are going through a difficult time to help them learn how to navigate coming back from that. She finds it exciting to learn new things right along with the students. And Katie loves the idea of having a positive impact on a group of kids who are our future.

“I believe in our future, despite our complicated moment in history, because of these kids. They motivate me every single day.”

THE STORY WE’LL TELL: MOVING MB FORWARD

Katie believes in the power of stories and storytelling. Meeting with alumni and parents and hearing their Moses Brown stories and experience has already allowed her to discern certain school strengths and opportunities.

She continues to listen and learn from members of the community as she seeks to strike a balance between the need to honor tradition while helping the school evolve so it can continue to offer the best educational and life-prepping experience to all its students. She strongly believes that alumni engagement is how that happens.

“Together, we discover what the core strengths of Moses Brown are that never change and how to nurture and protect them, while also asking hard questions: ‘What are the experiences over the decades that weren’t ideal? What needs to change? What can we do to evolve so it continues to be better and better for the kids?’”

As Katie looks forward ten years to the 250th anniversary, she knows that the student experience today will help shape the world tomorrow. She says she is committed to Moses Brown and its community being leaders within the educational sphere and ensuring that the school is creating an academic experience that is rigorous and joyful while also preparing students for a

complex and changing world. The complexities and changes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) are bringing to education will certainly be a big part of the future.

“It would be strange not to talk about AI when talking about trends for which we will need to figure out where Moses Brown stands,” says Katie. “ChatGPT and AI are going to change industries, and education is not exempt. Overall, education has been a little slower in evolving a response to it. But I’m proud of Moses Brown because we’ve already had a team on the ground talking and thinking about AI and how it might influence the classroom experience.” [See story on p. 14]

She is also committed to creating a sustainable financial future for the school amidst rising costs to ensure expanded access to a great educational experience, while also stewarding MB’s program, facilities, and its people.

What she can’t emphasize enough is the centering of the student voice in leadership and experience when looking to the future.

“We need to ask, what are the ways we're building experiences for kids and exposing them to meaningful work in the classroom that they can then take outside of the classroom?,” posits Katie. “This is vital because what we’re doing is working to prepare children for their future, not our past.”

Katie Titus chats with Brooke B. '24 during a pizza party gathering for the Class of 2024 at the start of the year at the head of school residence.

Writing the Next Chapter: Setting the Scene Through Values in Action

Friday night festivities during EXPO weekend began with a historic moment when Moses Brown School formally welcomed its new Head of School Katie Titus. The joyous community celebration, centered around an expression of Quaker values in action, was led by MB seniors Paige Durant and Thomas Allen and concluded with a Meeting for Sharing. Audience seating encircled a center stage, where members of the 4th, 8th, and 12th grades lifted their voices to share personal testimony about what one of the six SPICES, the core values of Friends education— Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship—meant to them and how they experience them in their lives. Following each of their own testimonies, other students spoke words gathered from people in Katie’s life, describing how she exemplified that value. Testimonies included fellow colleagues at her past institutions, close friends, and finally her daughters, Natalie and Samantha. Katie, who was surprised and moved by the testimonies, then took to the stage to address the audience.

“Many of you have heard me describe my belief in the power of stories, said Katie. “The stories we tell have the power to create our culture. Moses Brown School has been a place of learning for youth since 1784. There are literally thousands of stories about the history of our school, and as we sit here together today, we are writing the story of its future.

There are literally thousands of stories about the history of our school, and as we sit here together today, we are writing the story of its future.

- Katie Titus

In just over 10 years, we will gather again as a community to celebrate 250 years of education at Moses Brown. To put that into context, our current second graders will be seniors and some of our current seniors may be starting their own families, the next generation of MB students!

“I recently read a book called Imaginable by author and futurist, Jane McGonigal. Her book calls us to be more intentional about thinking in tenyear horizons. If we can imagine it, we can build it. The world is not going to become less complex and we cannot go backwards; but we can envision what we hope for our school, and our children. So, Moses Brown, when we are gathered together in 2034 celebrating 250 years of education at this amazing place, what is the story we want to be telling? If we can imagine, we can build it. This is an exciting time for the school and I am deeply grateful for being here, at this moment in its history, with all of you, because I know we will write an incredible story . ”

Excerpts from Testimonies at the Head of School Welcome Ceremony

Members of the 4th, 8th, and 12th grades shared personal testimony about what each of the SPICES mean to them and how they experience them in their lives. Following each of their testimonies, other students spoke words gathered from people in Katie’s life, including colleagues at past institutions, close friends, and her daughters, describing how she exemplified that value.

S implicity

Raised in Vermont in a log cabin home that her parents built themselves, Katie’s affinity for the simpler things of life was instilled in her at an early age and has guided her throughout her life. As a school leader, her commitment to live an honest and simple life of compassion, empathy, and gratitude serves as a role model for both her colleagues and students alike.”

- Reflection of Lucia and Tony Jaccaci, longtime friends of Katie, Read by Millie L., MB Class of 2028

P eace

“I have been lucky enough to call Katie Titus one of my closest friends for over 25 years. Over all those years, I have watched how Katie regularly incorporates peace in her life. Katie nurtures peace in her community through her acceptance of each and every person - and her willingness to be open and to truly listen. Katie leads with curiosity, not judgment. She’s adventurous, and when she ventures out of her community to the larger world, she carries that openness.”

- Reflection of Anne Ludes, P ’14, ’20, ’23, Read by Nathalie K., MB Class of 2028

I ntegrity

“Katie believes that students are better equipped for success when they learn the value of working together for a greater good. She helps us see that learning to collaborate requires an understanding that we are responsible both for and to each other. It is that sense of responsibility to others that makes us stronger, and it is Katie's belief in the importance of integrity that defines her most.”

- R eflection of Elizabeth Bickford, Associate Head of School for Faculty and School Affairs at St. George’s School, Read by Keilly Q., MB Class of 2024

Back Row: Ivan T. '24, Keilly Q. '24, Katie Titus, Paige D. '24, Cris M. '24 , Thomas A. '24. Front Row: Lane A. '28, Nathalie K. '28, Millie L. '28, Sofia V. '32, Ellie L. '32 and Joseph B. '32

Katie nurtures peace in her community through her acceptance of each and every person - and her willingness to be open and to truly listen. " “

- Anne Ludes, P ’14, ’20, ’23

C ommunity

“Community is the reason that schools exist. We learned so much throughout the pandemic, and one major lesson is that we need each other. The building of foundational relationships, where people support each other and foster a team mentality, has its beginnings in elementary school. Communities are strongest when the individual cares more about the group than themselves. I know Katie takes great pride in being part of the Moses Brown community. She cares more about you than you may ever know.”

- Reflection of Nikki Walker, science teacher and track coach at Mercersburg Academy, Read by Cris M., MB Class of 2024

E quality

“We never felt like we were working for Katie, but rather with her. She always did her very best to authentically connect with all the members of the community… each person mattered, and Katie had time for each of our stories. Equality might begin with this: a recognition and desire to know each other for both our similarities and differences, and truly be with each other. Katie strived for this each and every day.”

- Reflection of Maggie Howes, English teacher at Tabor Academy, Read by Sofia V., MB Class of 2032

S tewardship

“Everything we know about being a leader and a steward we learned from our Mom. It is not about getting up in front of people and telling them what to do. It’s about organizing spaces and then asking others ‘what do you think? What are your ideas?’ And her personal favorite ‘what are you going to do about it?’ The underlying message in those questions is, ‘I believe in you’.... she taught us a lot about the value of stewardship, most of all in the way we watched her steward our family.”

- Reflection of Natalie Titus and Sammy Titus, Katie’s daughters, Read by Ellie L., MB Class of 2032 and Millie L., MB Class of 2028

Katie’s Commitments to MB

Simplicity: I commit to always bringing us back to our mission and values. The road ahead will not be simple, but the rules of the road can be.

Peace: I commit to holding us accountable to building a community of authentic peace - a willingness to engage in inevitable conflict while always holding our common humanity at the center.

Integrity: I commit to always being my authentic self upholding the values of this place, and I believe that true integrity is doing that both when everyone is looking and when no one is looking.

Community: I commit to showing up and reminding us that we are one MB - that what connects us will always be more powerful than what divides us.

Equality: I commit to seeing every member of this community and believing in our individual and collective Inner Light, always mindful of the most vulnerable in our school and in the world.

Stewardship: I commit to enacting my role as a steward of Moses Brown School - as our mission compels us, to instill the utmost care for learning, people, and place.

Photo courtesy of Jon Chase ’64

Honoring the Legacy of Dr. King B. "Doc" Odell, Jr.

By Karin Morse ’ ’79

Dr. King B. "Doc" Odell, Jr., the highly respected and revered member of the Moses Brown School community who was its longest serving faculty member, passed away on September 26, 2023. Doc was a teacher, advisor, mentor, coach, colleague, friend and confidant to thousands of students, faculty, staff and parents alike. Doc’s influence on the school and its students is immeasurable, and while his loss has been deeply felt by the entire community, his long and influential tenure has left a lasting legacy.

Beloved in the Classroom

Doc was best known for his high standards and relentless expectations as a teacher of French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Latin, and as track coach extraordinaire. He came to Moses Brown in 1953, initially teaching geography to grades 6 - 8. He served as the chair of the world language department for four decades, lived in the dorms for 20 years and was head of the boarding department for 16 years. With all of these accomplishments and contributions, Doc was most proud of having been Interim Upper School Head in 1995-1996.

Doc was the faculty advisor to various clubs and organizations, including the French Club, Debate Club, Broadcasting Club, Flying Club, House Council, Radio Club, Spanish Club, Italian Club, Young Republicans Club, and the yearbook, The Mosaic. For over 30 years, Doc also led much-soughtafter student trips to England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Morocco and his favorite - Italy. More recently Doc was the Moses Brown School Archivist and in 2022, the room he thought should be named the Moses Brown Room, became the Dr. King B. Odell, Jr. Archives and Reading Room.

Doc’s dedication to teaching and his expertise in languages were recognized by the Rhode Island Foreign Language Association, which named him Teacher of the Year in 2000. In 1990, the American Association of Teachers of French honored him with the Excellence in Teaching French Award, highlighting his exceptional contributions to the field of education.

COMMITTED TO COACHING

In addition to his role as a teacher, Doc began his coaching career at Moses Brown as a tennis coach, then quickly became a highly successful track and field coach, leading the Moses Brown teams to numerous victories and championships. He served as the head winter track coach from 1964 to 1997 and the head varsity coach of cross-country and spring track from 1964 to 2004. Under his leadership, the teams achieved three Rhode Island Interscholastic League Winter Championships, 22 New England Prep School Track Association Winter Championships, eight New England Cross-Country Championships, 14 spring New England Track Championships, three victories at the Peddie School Relays, and a second-place finish at the Prep School Mile Relay of America at the Penn Relays. For six years, Doc served as head of the New England Prep School Track Association, creating divisions which remain to this day. It comes as no surprise that in 2000, Doc was inducted into the MBAA Athletic Hall of Fame. Doc’s commitment to excellence in both teaching and coaching was self-evident and students rose to his high expectations, (often to avoid his acerbic wit). In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the school, Suzie and Habib Gorgi '74 provided a philanthropic gift to name the outdoor track the Doc Odell Track in 2005. This honor was a testament to the life-changing impact Doc had on Habib and countless Moses Brown students and alumni, who benefited from his mentorship, coaching, and friendship. In recognition of his exceptional athletic contributions, Doc was honored with the Frank Lanning Award by Words Unlimited, the statewide organization of sports writers, sportscasters, and sports publicists, at its 60th annual Sports Banquet in February 2006.

BEYOND HOPE AND LLOYD

Doc’s achievements were not limited to his time at Moses Brown. After graduating from Aldrich High School in Warwick, RI, he earned an A.B. from Suffolk University, an A.M. from Brown University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. As a Fulbright scholar, he conducted research and taught at the Universities of Grenoble, Perugia, and Valencia, building on his expertise in languages and education.

During his 33 years in the U.S. Air Force and R.I. Air National Guard, Doc had assignments in both Intelligence and Personnel while rising to Lieutenant Colonel.

Doc’s entrepreneurial spirit was kindled as a paperboy in the Lakewood section of Warwick, and as he spent

summers on Block Island he became a prominent businessman there. He began as the manager of the Narragansett Hotel in New Harbor which he managed for decades. He was the long-time owner of King’s Spa, a building that then became The Water Street Inn, the Empire Theater, and the Sky King Snack Bar at the Block Island Airport. As the 20 or so Moses Brown students he employed each summer could report, he also owned the Western Union franchise for the island for many years. Doc was also President of Star Resorts, with interests in ski operations on Okemo Mountain in Vermont.

Doc’s passion for teaching and coaching, and his dedication to his students and the Moses Brown community by shaping the lives of others, has left a lasting legacy for future generations.

For community members who are so inclined to share a sentiment or memory with Doc's family or our community, we encourage you to do so here or at mosesbrown.org/doc. Memories will be shared at Reunion + Alumni Weekend

Doc Odell in 2022 at the dedication ceremony of the King B. Odell, Jr. Archives and Reading Room.

Remembering Doc

By Karin Morse ’79

As a student in the late 70’s, I assiduously avoided the northwest corner of Friends Hall. There was a highly accomplished, intimidating teacher who barked at students in multiple languages and mimicked kicking things while overtly reigning over the area. Little did I know that just a few years later, I would have the honor of sharing this classroom with King Odell and calling him a lifelong friend and confidant. I could not foreshadow how much I would learn from him, but behind his black coat, hat, pants, and squared-off glasses, I sensed that there was an individual who cared deeply about students, colleagues, and Moses Brown School.

Doc had a profound influence on decades of alums, and as a complex and multifaceted individual each of us knew a slightly different aspect if not incarnation of him. I was honored and awed when his niece Julie asked me to write King’s obituary, but I could not have done so without the help of several alums close to him filling in the details about his entrepreneurial endeavors, earlier coaching, or certainly experience in the Air Force or Air National Guard.

Doc and Dave Burnham hired me right out of college in 1984, and when I taught my very first French class on Lower East (now the East Wing Conference Room) Doc appeared in the doorway. I should not have been surprised, but what I didn’t anticipate was that Doc would stand under the vasistas (was ist dass/transom window) the whole period. I’m not sure who was more nervous (or distracted): the students or I.

Like many alums and colleagues, I truly enjoyed traveling with Doc to Europe, and there are many tales that have emerged from these

trips. Standing with Doc and Louise Heckman on the cliffs at Omaha Beach in Normandy and looking across the sea of stars and crosses was most poignant; as they represented the sense of history of an earlier generation and one which was critically important to Doc. On another occasion, Doc and I took a nonchalant early morning walk along the Champ de Mars and I handed my camera to a helpful local.

There is no doubt that generations of alums like me have appreciated the challenges he put before us guided by his intuition and understated care. I look forward to celebrating Doc at Reunion.

Doc and Karin in Paris

Through the Years Alumni Remember Doc

"When I went to college, I enrolled as a freshman in advanced French courses. My professor there took me aside and asked me how I knew so much about the subject. I replied, 'Doc Odell.'"

Charles Wick ’67

"I was a teacher most of my adult life. Doc was the teacher I hoped to grow up to be."

Bryan Cooper ’78

"His high expectations and passion for language are directly responsible for setting me on my career path as an ESL teacher. Thank you, Doc."

Whitney Tibolt ’87

"Most of all, Doc taught me the importance of being a mentor to young kids, of seeing the world, expanding horizons, and never just settling because of your background. Doc was a dreamer who allowed me to dream too. I’ll miss you, Doc. Grazie di cuore di tutto. RIP amico mio."

Stefano Dukcevich ’89

"Every day that we ran around campus, he would drive by in his van with the window down and yell at us to run faster... in between puffs of his cigar, of course. He made it clear that he had high standards. He knew our limits and made sure to always push us past them. It was painful at the time, but looking back, I really appreciate the push."

Bryant Baek ’00

Commemorating Doc Odell at Reunion and Alumni Weekend Events

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024

Memorial Meeting for Worship

11:00 am, Providence Friends Meetinghouse

The annual Memorial Meeting for Worship will include a memorial reading of classmates passed on over the last year with a special moment to remember King B. "Doc" Odell. We’ll be joined by Jennifer McFadden, Director of Friends Education. All are welcome.

The Life & Legacy of Doc Odell Luncheon

Noon, Sinclair Room

Join us for lunch and to celebrate and honor the life and legacy of King B. "Doc" Odell. All alumni are invited.

Arboretum Walking Tour with former MB English faculty & coach, Tom Andrew 3:15 pm, Walter Jones Library Steps

Doc's tree was the first one planted, in 1998, as part of the initiative by former Head of School, Joanne Hoffman, to honor faculty and staff with 30-plus years of service at MB. For those on or visiting campus, Doc's tree--a Siberian Elm--is on the other side of the wall, to the left, as you exit the south end of the Dwares Student Center.

Doc Odell Makes $1M Estate Gift

Doc's inspiring gift has accelerated a $3.5 million effort to revitalize the Odell Track

King B. "Doc" Odell, Jr. has added to his immeasurable legacy by including in his estate plans the lead gift to support the renovation and revitalization of the outdoor track that was named in his honor in 2005.

In the final months of his life, Doc had several conversations with Karin Morse ’79, senior alumni engagement officer, and Elizabeth Breidinger, director of advancement about his estate plans. Having already made plans to leave the school a transformative gift to support faculty, Doc spoke with Karin and Elizabeth about how much he valued his four decades coaching cross country and track. He wanted his ultimate contribution to the school to reflect his dedication to both teaching and coaching.

“I feel fortunate to have spent time with Doc and am honored to have heard many stories from him and Karin about their lives at Moses Brown,” said

Elizabeth Breidinger. “When Doc shared his wishes, I was inspired, knowing all that Doc had done for this community over six decades of service. Countless alumni, faculty, and staff have shared the profound impact Doc had on them, and this extraordinary donation is a testament to the impact the Moses Brown community had on Doc. He was excited about this project and said, “There is nothing more beautiful than a track meet at night.”

Doc was best known for his high standards and relentless expectations as a teacher of French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, and Latin, and as track coach extraordinaire. He came to Moses Brown in 1953, teaching geography to students in grades 6 - 8.

Doc served as the head winter track coach from 1964 to 1997 and the head varsity coach of cross country and spring track from 1964 to 2004. Under his leadership, the teams achieved three Rhode Island

Interscholastic League Winter Championships, 22 New England Prep School Track Association Winter Championships, eight New England Cross-Country Championships, 14 spring New England Track Championships, three victories at the Peddie School Relays, and a second-place finish at the Prep School Mile Relay of America at the Penn Relays. While Doc’s track coaching accomplishments are remarkable, his mentorship, guidance, and friendship are what his former students and athletes remember most.

“One theme I’ve heard consistently from alumni in my first six months at MB is the distinctiveness of the faculty-student relationship,” said Head of School Katie Titus. “Through the voices of alumni at our Memorial Meeting for Worship for Doc Odell this fall, I came to appreciate the many ways in which Doc was a true standard bearer for our school and its faculty; an exemplar of what it means to be fully committed to the intellectual and personal growth of each student. I am in awe of his fierce belief in this school, its Quaker mission, and its people, and am humbled by his ultimate expression of care and generosity.”

Alumnus Ken Hoxsie ’68, shared the tremendous impact Doc’s passion for teaching, and winning, had in shaping his time both at and beyond Moses Brown.

“[Doc was] passionate about teaching, he was tough and demanding in class, insisting on rigor in thought and speech, and everyone who survived those demands emerged the better for it. He was equally tough and demanding as a coach, and he was competitive! As athletes, we were naturally competitive, but Doc’s intensity made us push

ourselves and refuse to be satisfied. We re-captured the 4x160 relay state record in 1967 because we knew he wanted it, and that is how inspiring leaders motivate. He always expected nothing less than our best, and he made us expect the same of ourselves.”

Event

Inspired by Doc Odell’s lead gift, the school has launched an intensive fundraising effort to ensure the Odell Track replacement is fully funded through donations. In order to complete the project, 100% of the project costs need to be secured.

The $3.5 million Doc Odell Track renovation and revitalization project includes the construction of a new track foundation and the installation of a sandwich system, resin-based running surface built

As athletes, we were naturally competitive, but Doc’s intensity made us push ourselves and refuse to be satisfied... He always expected nothing less than our best, and he made us expect the same of ourselves.”

- Ken Hoxsie '68

to NCAA specifications. The project will include new high jump, pole vault, triple jump, and long jump areas as well as all new track equipment, improved drainage, ADA accessibility, and the infrastructure for future stadium lights.

If you would like to learn more details about the project or making a gift, please contact Elizabeth Breidinger, Director of Advancement at (401) 831-7350 x234 or ebreidinger@mosesbrown.org.

Rendering

Changes at Campanella Field

by Graham Holland P ’28 ’31

If you’ve been to Campanella Field recently, you’ll know that changes have been underway. Big ones. And when the track project is completed and construction vehicles exit campus for the last time, they will leave behind what amounts to the largest outdoor campus transformation in a generation. It’s been a multi-year, comprehensive project that includes re-imagined lower school play spaces, a press box, expansive athletic seating areas, a renovated terrace for community gatherings, a state-of-the-art video scoreboard, and the planned renovation and revitalization of the Doc Odell outdoor track.

Imagine, if you will, a warm autumn afternoon. As lower school parents arrive to pick up their children, they notice that a varsity field hockey game is about to begin. Rather than leaving campus straight away, they wander along a pathway through beautifully redesigned lower school outdoor spaces and up to the new terrace where they greet other families who have had the same idea. As the adults catch up, their children run off to climb on the amazing wave play structure that overlooks the field. From a brand new press box comes the amplified voice of MB students announcing the rosters for the game. As each player rushes the field onto newlyrenovated turf, they hear the cheers of gathering fans and look up to see a crystal-clear image of themselves in uniform smiling down from a stateof-the-art scoreboard. Where once there was only

Robbie ’69, Judy, Zack ’10 and Hannah Mann were joined by family, alumni, and friends to celebrate the dedication of the Max Mann '08 Scoreboard.

a steep, grassy slope, fans of Quaker Nation begin filling in an extensive seating area until it's a sea of blue and white.

TRANSFORMATION

Just a few years ago, this might have been the stuff of dreams, but with each passing month, it has moved closer to reality. Last year, work was completed on two new lower school play spaces. One play area, the Baker Family Playground, for Nursery through 1st graders, has been completely re-imagined with a variety of age-appropriate play structures designed to support the developmental needs of our youngest students while helping to build body awareness and confidence.

Also opened last year is the highly distinctive Boomerang play structure that provides a wide variety of opportunities for older elementary students to climb, slide, swing, and explore. Students who journey to the top of the boomerang will also find that it has one of the best views of the field on game days.

Last spring’s sports season also saw the first use of a new 27” x 25” video scoreboard donated to honor the memory of Max Mann ’08. As this scoreboard is being used in conjunction with a new press box, the possibilities for an enhanced viewing experience are tremendous.

According to Director of Athletics, AJ Kizekai, we will soon “get to the point where Quaker Vision becomes a staple here at MB. Where we have students producing athletic events, calling games, live streaming, and doing everything that you might see at the college or professional level.” It’s an exciting prospect and another way to broaden student engagement.

Another goal of these renovations has been to find ways to bring our community together. For example, the expanded Taleghani Alumni Terrace, which sits between the lower school building and the upper playground, provides both a gathering space for outdoor events and a vantage point from which to view athletic contests. Just below this space, what was once a steep hill, has been transformed into a terraced seating space that can accommodate legions of Quaker Nation fans. Anyone who has ever watched a game while squeezed into a spot along the old concrete wall will appreciate what a huge improvement the newly expanded seating area is.

These spaces are bringing our community together in the manner envisioned, as happened last fall when our football team played a homecoming game under the lights for the first time with hundreds of students, families, and alumni gathered along the sidelines cheering them on. It was a magical evening that followed the largest ever Harvest Dinner, a beloved MB community tradition. A vision for the near future is to turn night games like this into regular events through the installation of a permanent lighting system. This expansive vision also includes a full renovation of the Doc Odell track, complete with new long jump, high jump, and pole vault areas. The future for this area of MB’s campus is indeed bright. If you’d like to support our efforts to make the rest of this vision a reality, please contact Elizabeth Breidinger at ebreidinger@mosesbrown.org.

Photo courtesy of Heidi Gumula, DBVW Architects

Accomplished Alumni Honored by MBAA

Congratulations to our recent recipients of Moses Brown Alumni Association Awards!

FALL 2023

Eric Cioè Peña ’01

Outstanding Young Alum Award

Eric, M.D. M.P.H. is the founder and current Vice President of the Center for Global Health of Northwell Health and the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He is also the ACEP lead ambassador to El Salvador. He is a graduate of SUNY Downstate Emergency Medicine Residency program and the Columbia University International Emergency Medicine Fellowship. He has worked extensively in Ecuador, Guyana, India, Botswana, Dominican Republic, and El Salvador on health systems development projects, trauma care and humanitarian assistance. He has a Masters in Public Health and Humanitarian Assistance from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and received his doctorate of medicine with concentration in Global Health from the University of Pennsylvania.

FALL 2023

Keith Monchik ’90 P ’24 ’27

Karin Morse ’79 Service to Alma Mater Award

Keith is a well-known and respected orthopedic surgeon with OrthoRI. He earned his M.D. from Ross University, where he received the distinguished academic scholar award and was valedictorian. He is also currently an Assistant Clinical Professor in Brown's Warren Alpert Medical School and serves as a team physician for Johnson & Wales University, and several schools in the R.I. Interscholastic League, including Moses Brown football. Keith has been a long-term alumni volunteer. He is in his second term as a Trustee who also serves on the Enrollment and Marketing Committee, and was the MBAA Board Clerk from 2012 - 2015. Additionally, he has served on the Nominating and Steering Committees of the Board of Trustees and has been an event host and consistent reunion committee member. Keith is also an MB parent. His children Nathan ’24 and Emeline ’27 have attended Moses Brown since lower school.

Want to nominate someone?

The MBAA is seeking nominations for alumni awards. To submit nominations, please visit mosesbrown.org/nominate

Learn more about the awardees at mosesbrown.org/alum-awards

SPRING 2023

Irving T. Fain ’98

25th Reunion Achievement Award

Irving is the CEO and Founder of Bowery, the largest vertical farming company in the U.S. that designs and builds smart indoor environments to reimagine the future of food. Through its network and proprietary technology, Bowery is transforming the fresh food supply chain to be simpler, safer, and more sustainable. Bowery’s farms are 100x more productive than traditional agriculture while using a fraction of the resources. Bowery is sold in over 1,500 locations including Whole Foods, Ahold Delhaize, Amazon, Safeway/Albertsons, and Walmart and is backed by tech and agriculture leaders with $647M in equity and debt raised from investors.

SPRING 2023

Brian A. Nichols ’83

Distinguished Alum Award

Brian currently holds the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs for the U.S. Department of State. Assistant Secretary Nichols previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe from 2018 to 2021, promoting democracy, rule of law and human rights in Zimbabwe while managing multi-dimensional humanitarian crises brought on by corruption, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant Secretary Nichols also previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Peru from 2014 to 2017, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) from 2011 to 2013, and from 2007 to 2010, he served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia.

SPRING 2023

Hugh A. Madden ’84 P ’19 ’22 ’24

Faculty/Staff Member of the Year

Presently Director of Admission grades 9 - 12 and Director of Financial Aid, Hugh has been a member of the staff since 1991. Hugh was previously Director of Admission and Financial Aid, and Assistant/Associate and Interim Director of Admission. For many years, he was the ninth grade class dean and served for over 12 years on the Upper School Discipline Committee. Hugh was also a much-sought-after advisor, and frequently chaperones field trips. In addition, Hugh has been a member of the MBAA Board and is presently a member of the Hall of Fame Committee, having also been inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the 1984 Baseball Team.

FALL 2022

Rosa Heyman ’09

Outstanding Young Alum Award

After attending Moses Brown, Rosa received her B.A. in women, gender and sexuality studies, writing, and american culture studies from Washington University in Saint Louis. A prolific writer, Rosa has experience in many facets of the publication and magazine industry, and was most recently appointed executive digital editor of Cosmopolitan magazine. Rosa leads the digital operations for the largest women’s lifestyle brand in the U.S. and oversees a team of editors and writers. Rosa’s background is in social media and content strategy, and she is focused on the serious topics of our times. She has spoken as an expert on panels for Facebook, Instagram, Social Media Week, and Her Campus. Rosa previously held similar roles at Marie Claire and People magazine.

FALL 2022

Ted Fischer ’83 P ’12 ’14 ’17

Karin Morse ’79 Service to Alma Mater Award

Joining the Board of Trustees in 2006, and with a required year off between consecutive double terms, Ted completed ten years of service. Ted’s tenure is marked by his leadership of the development committee from 2010 to 2012, as the school was building the capacity and developing the plan for what has now become the most successful fundraising campaign in school history. He was also a member of the executive committee during that period. As a vice chair of the MB Believes campaign, Ted has continued to play a key role in MB’s fundraising success. Ted completed 13 years as a student at Moses Brown, and is a proud parent of three MB graduates, Robbie, Remy, and Molly. Prior to becoming co-founder & CEO at Ageless Innovation, LLC, Ted was president of Fischer Consulting Group and vice president of business development for Hasbro, Inc.

Alumni Events

AUGUST 16, 2023

Alumni Connect with Katie Alums were invited to the Rachel Thayer House to “Connect with Katie Titus” during a summer social event.

JULY 29, 2023

MBAA Newport Polo Match

The Moses Brown Alumni Association welcomed new Head of School Katie Titus to the traditional outing at Newport Polo to meet alums and friends while enjoying the match together.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

MBAA Quaker Classic

Head of School Katie Titus joined 100 alums and guests at the MBAA’s Quaker Classic at Newport Country Club. The biennial charity golf tournament raises money for the Randall W. Bliss ’46 Alumni Scholarship Fund—which supports financial aid for a student in the upper school who is the child of an alum—and for alumni programming. Thank you to our sponsors & supporters!

Above L to R: John Blacher ’72, Paul Boghossian ’72, Bob Krause ’63 & David Barrall ’72

Right L to R: Katie Titus, Pam Priestley Gyles ’04, Dean Weinberg ’94 P ’29, Lizzi Weinberg P ’29

Quaker Classic Top Photo: L to R: Kyle Dungan '04 , Isaiah Osofisan '04, Chris Akelman '04 & Ben Cole '05

Lower photo - L to R: Mike Mendes '99, Tim Hurley '99& Jim Engle '71

L to R: Neal Pandozzi ’91, Liz Newton ’91, Katie Titus, Saulein Song Fakhry ’91, Philip Ayoub ’91, Karin Morse ’79

L to R: Karin Morse ’79, Paul McCarthy ’08, Lauren Charness '08, Max Charness '08, Zachary Duhaime '08, Anna Duhaime

L to R: Christian Davis ’86 and Skip Davis ’85

OCTOBER 17, 2023

MBAA Homecoming Fall Reception and Awards Presentation

NOVEMBER 1, 2023

New York City: Women in Technology and Networking Reception

Moses Brown School alums and friends gathered in New York City on November 1 to hear from a panel featuring alums in the varied field of technology. Rosa Heyman ’09, and Bridget Shea ’95 addressed how AI is playing a role in their work and our future, along with engaging participation from the audience. Erin Shippee ’95 moderated the discussion.

Head of School Katie Titus traveled to attend the event and connect with New York area alums. The Advancement Office is grateful to Goodwin Procter LLP, a global law firm known for advising businesses in the technology sector, which co-sponsored the event.

The Moses Brown Alumni Association and friends joined together to kick off Homecoming weekend on Thursday, October 19 at the annual MBAA Homecoming Fall Reception and Awards Presentation. Held at the Providence Art Club, the event celebrated two accomplished Moses Brown alums: Eric Cioè Peña ’01, who received the Outstanding Young Alum Award, and Keith Monchik ’90, who received the Karin Morse ’79 Service to Alma Mater Award.

NOVEMBER, 2023

Thanksgiving Week Gatherings

Alums returned to MB during Thanksgiving break for the Young Alumni Welcome Home Social, annual Alumni Soccer Game, and Spree Bowl. It was great to see old and new friends together during the holiday week.

L to R: Katie Titus, Bridget Shea ’95, Rosa Heyman ’09, Erin Shippee ’95

L to R: Jazmine Estrada ’10, Keith Monchik, MD ’90, Head of School Katie Titus, Eric Cioè-Peña, MD, MPH ’01, and Jason Engle ’98.

DECEMBER 12, 2023

CommUNITY

Gathering

Alums, faculty, and staff gathered at The Guild Pawtucket to share in community and hear from Luke Anderson, Director of the Rustin Center, about the work happening in the new Bayard Rustin Center for Peace and Belonging. Special thanks to Joana Ruano Ames ’10, Maija Hallsmith ’11 and Amanda Ramirez ‘09 for leading the efforts!

JANUARY 21, 2024

MBAA Alumni Hockey Game and Open Skate Alums, students, families, and friends joined together for some frozen fun at the annual Alumni Hockey Game and Open Skate held at Brown University’s Pollard Family Rink in Meehan Auditorium.

DECEMBER 7, 2023

Festive Fun at the MBAA’s Wreath Making Event

Thank you to Semia Dunne ’94 and the MBAA for hosting a wreath-making evening at Flowers By Semia Floral Studio in Providence this December.

L to R: Julie Berry ’87, Semia Dunne ’94, Blythe Pariseault P ’28 ’31.

L to R: Kelli Larson ’29, Todd Larson ’88 P ’26 ‘29, Lisa Larson P ’26 ‘29

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

True Blue Alumni Basketball Game

MB alums and supporters came together to cheer on the girl’s varsity basketball team during the regular season. The team went on to win the 2024 RIIL Girls' Basketball State Championship!

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

San Francisco Alumni & Friends Reception

Bay Area alums met new Head of School Katie Titus at the St. Francis Yacht Club. Special thanks for Peter Noonan ’63 for hosting.

Thank you to the Moses Brown Alumni Association Board 2023-2024

Joana Ruana Ames '10 Clerk, MB Connects

Alexander Egan '03

Jason Engle '98 Clerk, MBAA

Jazmine Estrada '10 Clerk, Local

Maggie Moran Ford '08

Alexa Flinton Gold '04

Katherine Gorgi '08

Jane Knowles '81

John Lewis ’09

John Pariseault ’97

Assistant Clerk MBAA; Clerk, Nominating

Adam Pennacchio ’01

Mia Rotondi Puddington ’09 Clerk, Communications

Jennifer Reavis ’13

Matthew Romano ’14

Recording Clerk

Miles Rutter ’04

Benjamin Sack ’13

Bob Samors ’77, Clerk, National

Omar Siddiqi ’91

Conal Smith ’06

Glenn Sparr ’85

Evan Tong ’97

David Vanech ’98, Treasurer

Maria Veale ’15, Clerk, MB Connects

James Worrell ’85

Michael Yules ’10

Phil Zexter ’81

Class Notes

1963

Steve Hanley '63 and Ken Anderson '64 returned to Edgewood Yacht Club on Labor Day Weekend 2022 for Rhodes 19 club racing. These are familiar waters because they both started sailing Beetle Cats here during their MB days. Ken and Steve wore matching shirts with "Ancient Mariners" emblazoned on the front. “Despite advancing age and a list of infirmities that would gladden the heart of any orthopedic surgeon, they took on all comers and finished the day with a perfect record - six victories in six races.

1975

Steve Blough ’75 moved back to Providence in the summer of 2021 after more than 40 years away, much of it in the Washington DC area. He retired after 27 years at KPMG, the last ten as senior economist in the corporate tax group. He lives about mid-way between Moses Brown and Lincoln and enjoys “both walking the old streets and exploring everything that is new or I never knew about in Providence and Rhode Island.”

1979

Peter Kilmarx, M.D., ’79 has been named Acting Director of the Fogarty International Center and Acting Associate Director, Global Health Research, National Institutes of Health. An expert on infectious disease research and HIV/AIDS prevention, Dr. Kilmarx was named Deputy Director of the Fogarty International Center in 2015. During his tenure at Fogarty he has lead analysis of NIH global health activities, built coalitions with high-level NIH and external stakeholders, represented the Center and NIH in national and international forums, and co-lead an initiative to transform African health professional education and research, resulting in the formation of the African Association for Health Professions Education and Research (AFREHealth), as well as the African Postdoctoral Training Initiative (APTI), which brings African postdoctoral fellows to NIH. He has also focused on efforts to increase equity in global health research and building global capacity for pandemic preparedness. Dr. Kilmarx will oversee an annual budget of more than $95 million and a portfolio of nearly 600 active grants while continuing Fogarty's mission to support and facilitate global health research conducted by U.S. and international investigators, build partnerships between health research institutions in the U.S. and abroad, and train the next generation of scientists to address global health needs.

1981

Melissa Maxwell ’81 celebrated the world premiere of her play, Imbroglio, which ran during the Great River Shakespeare Festival for their 20th anniversary season in 2023. The play received overwhelmingly positive responses, including “Playwriting this good deserves our attention.”

“Imbroglio is a terrific play that holds the audience spellbound from its jocular opening scene to its devastating conclusion. Best of all, it is a crackling, snapping good story, expertly meted out over two acts, and given a sterling production by Great River Shakespeare Festival.”

A full review may be found here: talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/ minn/minn1160.html

Steve Hanley '63 and Ken Anderson '64

Peter Kilmarx, M.D.,’79

Melissa Maxwell ’81

Michele Goldsmith ’84 brought a little MB with her on the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal last April. The first photo was taken at the Hillary Suspension Bridge, which is named after Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to ascend to the peak of Mt. Everest. The bridge is 459 feet long and 410 feet high. The second picture was taken at Mount Everest Base Camp.

SUSAN "SASHA" ALPERT '78

Breaking Ground Then and Now

Susan “Sasha” Alpert ’78, the multiple Emmy-winning executive vice president of Bunim/Murray Productions’ documentary division BMP Films, which she founded in 2007, has produced groundbreaking films over the past seventeen years.

Sasha was also one of the approximately dozen female students who were the first to break new ground and attend Moses Brown School when it resumed coeducational operation in 1976. Alpert says that transferring to a school in which she knew no one while the school was in a transitional phase was tough at first.

“Some boys were not happy we (the girls) were there, but at the same time, others were absolutely fine with it,” recalls Sasha. “I never felt I had to prove anything to the guys. I had male friends at Classical High School, and I ended up with male friends at Moses Brown.”

Her experience of being female among a majority of male students may have given her exactly the resilience and fortitude she needed to land on her feet in the male-dominated industry of tv and film and become the recipient of multiple Emmy awards for her work.

Alpert claims that the size of the school and its approach to education did offer an enormous benefit in the relationships students could have with their teachers. There was more time and therefore more availability for true mentorship. Alpert, along with other female students, took a feminist literature class taught by Beth Taylor (who went on to teach at both Harvard and Brown Universities).

“She pushed us to develop our own voice,” says Sasha. “She had a huge influence on me.”

Beth thought Wesleyan University would be a school that Sasha would really like — and she was correct. One summer she interned on a project that documented overseas endeavors with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), such as building wells in Bangladesh. Sasha loved the work so much that when she went back to school, she decided to major in film studies. She says that she loves documentaries because they allow you to have a visceral and personal understanding of a subject, providing a vehicle for stories that might otherwise never be told.

“It’s one thing to read about something, but to put a face to it and learn about the individuals who are struggling and bearing their heart and soul to you … it’s a deeper dive.”

Want to read more about Sasha and the films she’s produced, including AUTISM: The Musical, AUTISM: The Sequel, On the Edge (about Olympic ice dancers), Transhood, and They Call us Monsters? Visit mosesbrown.org/sasha

Michele Goldsmith ’84

1996

Ben Bellows ’96 received the Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni Award from the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech. Ben is the Executive Director, Program Chief Engineer for Pratt & Whitney. At Pratt & Whitney, Ben Bellows is responsible for strategic and technical leadership in the development of new state-of-the-art propulsion systems. Since July 2022, he has led a high-performance team though diverse phases, ranging from design and validation to engineering, manufacturing, and development transition preparation and prototype development.

Abigail Harkey '96 was awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Award for Teaching Research, which took her to Finland for a semester where she researched the Finnish national sustainability and arts curricula. She presented on Social Emotional Learning and the Arts at universities and conferences in Finland and Sweden, and engaged in an international consortium of artist-educators focused

on the socio-cultural landscape. Upon her return to Denver, CO, she was hired as the Visual Arts Specialist for Denver Public Schools. where her Fulbright research is informing a new curriculum she is designing called Ecosocial Art. She regrets the lack of traditional Finnish sauna culture in America, but is making up for it with Colorado hot springs.

2001

Jason Pappas ’01 and Sarah Sholes ’06 were married on October 16, 2022, on Block Island (Jason’s hometown) surrounded by their closest friends from MB. Jason and Sarah met in 2018 when they were both living in the Boston area and working for Harvard University. They figured out pretty quickly that both had graduated from Moses Brown and had many mutual connections. At the celebration were Megan Reid, Adam Drobnis ’01, Chris Savage ’01, Andrew Silver ’01, Peter Treut ’01, Matt Archibald ’01 and Sara Dworkin ’06. The couple was also showered with a candy corn toss by the Class of ’01 friends.

2003

Peter Asante, M.D. ’03 was awarded the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Community Pediatrics “Local Hero” award, just one of five pediatricians in the U.S. to earn this national recognition. The Local Hero Award recognizes pediatricians who lead community action and advocacy for children in local communities. The Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics announced, “this award is presented to individuals who epitomize the community pediatrician. Dr. Asante is a general pediatrician at Community Health of Central Washington’s Yakima Pediatrics, where he also serves as Medical Director of the Teen Health Clinic, and a hospitalist and chair of pediatrics at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Davis Health Clinic at Davis High School, the first school-based health clinic in the Yakima Valley. Dr. Asante advocates for expanding access to comprehensive healthcare for under-resourced youth through his work as a Board Trustee with the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and currently serves as co-chair of their Equitable Care Committee. He also is currently the Vice President of the Washington School-Based Health Alliance.

Ben Bellows ’96

Peter Asante, M.D. ’03

Abigail Harkey '96

Ben Bellows ’96

Gabe Amo ’05

Elected to Congress

Congratulations to alumnus Gabe Amo ’05, who was elected on November 7, 2023 to represent the first congressional district in Rhode Island and is the first person of color to represent the state in Congress.

After graduating from Moses Brown, Gabe went on to graduate from Wheaton College in Norton, MA, where he majored in political science and went on to many more academic successes. He received a Truman Scholarship for public service and a Marshall Scholarship to study public policy at Oxford University. In the world of politics, Gabe worked in support of several high-profile Democratic political campaigns and then went on to work for former Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and in the White House for both the Obama and Biden administrations.

Gabe’s commitment to leadership and service was evident at Moses Brown. He was highly involved as both a student senate representative and president, orientation committee leader, was on the varsity football and track teams, and performed with the Versatones a capella group. Gabe served on the Moses Brown Alumni Association Board, was a member of the Board of Trustees until he joined the Biden administration, and was MB's 2019 Outstanding Young Alum awardee.

News reports about Gabe’s election as the first person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress have been published both locally by the Providence Journal and nationally by the New York Times, the Washington Post, and NBC News.

In speaking with reporters about the historical significance of his election, Gabe acknowledged that while he is mindful of that he also knows that “this was a job interview in all aspects.”

Gabe’s commitment to service embodies the Moses Brown School ethos of doing well for the greater good of society.

“I’ve now got to go and do the job of helping this government function at the federal level,” said Gabe. “And that is the highest form of service that I can provide.”

Alumni celebrate with Gabe on election night at The Guild Pawtucket co-owned by Devin Kelly ’86. L to R: Don Sweitzer P ’05, Larry Tremblay, Sheri Sweitzer P ’05, Alex Cole ’07, Josh Amo ’21, Gabe Amo ’05, Terry Moran ’06, Ben Cole ’05. Front: Susan Kaplan P ’02, ’05, ’08, Karin Morse ’79. End: Jaden Pena ’19, the campaign's primary field organizer.

Photo Courtesy of Executive Office of the President of the United States/Wikimedia Commons

Jake Gould ’05 and Kerry Clarke were married on July 5, 2021, after postponing over a year as a result of the pandemic, with friends and family up in Wiscasset, Maine. In attendance were many MB alumni including, (right, L to R) Gabe Amo '05, Kal Wellman, Zach Cole '07, Christina Sabra '05, Liam Deegan '05, Skander Frank '05, Kerry Clarke (Bride), Jake Gould '05 (Groom), Ben Cole '05, Alex Cole '07, Kyle Cassamas '05, Micah Clasper-Torch '05 and Harris Weinfeld '05. Jake & Kerry have since welcomed their first child, a daughter named Gia, who turned one in March 2024. 2005

Joseph F. Altieri ’05 was named a partner at Washington, D.C. based litigation law firm Hollingsworth LLP. The announcement stated that Altieri has a track record of success in representing large corporations in complex bet-the-company litigation. He is skilled at simplifying the complexities of products liability litigation into straightforward themes that effectively communicate his client’s stories to juries and judges across the country. He has extensive experience in all aspects of trial preparation and has honed a specialty in preparing and defending company and expert witnesses for deposition and trial. He served as an intern for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Federal

Public Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and for The Honorable Judge Rainey Brant of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Altieri received his J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown Law, where he was vice-president of the Student Bar Association, development editor of the Journal of Gender and the Law, received the Alan Goldstein Memorial Award for exceptional client advocacy, and was awarded the Dean’s Certificate in recognition of “outstanding service to the Georgetown Law community.” He received his Bachelor of Business Administration, magna cum laude, from the University of Miami. Altieri is a member of the District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association.

2008

David Bresnahan-McRae '08 married Benjamin Berg in Washington, DC in November 2023 with many alums in attendance. (Photo right, L to R:) Danielle Kaslow '08, Caitlin Davis '08, Mary Howell '08, David Bresnahan-McRae '08, Maggie Moran Ford '08, Benjamin Berg. David’s nephew, Maddox McRae, son of Elizabeth Bresnahan-McRae ’99, is also in the photo.

Nicole Gazin ’08 and Luis married in Mexico surrounded by loved ones, including classmates (in photo to right) David Bresnahan-McRae ’08, Danielle Kaslow ’08, Mary Howell ’08, and Caitlin Davis ’08 along with Nicole’s dad and former faculty member Paul Gazin, who taught math during her time at MB. Another celebration was Nicole’s baby shower with Derek Simpson ’08, Caitlin Davis ’08, David Bresnahan-McRae '08, Danielle Kaslow ’08, and Mary Howell ’08. Lastly, the couple celebrated the birth of baby Sofia! Nicole remarked: “these MB friendships really do last a lifetime! I had a busy year surrounded by my class of 2008 friends!”

Joseph F. Altieri ’05

2011

Members of the Class of 2011 gathered for the celebration of Theron Roe’s 30th birthday at the home of Peter Roe ’79 & Elvia Nina Roe (Lincoln ’79)

2012

Elena Savignano ’12 was married in 2021 in San Diego with several MB alums in attendance. In photo below L to R: Annie Hayes '12, Liv Imperatore '12, Lizzy Tutu '12, Elena Savignano '12, Brian Fleming '12, Tobin Tyler '12, and Maija Hallsmith '11. She also graduated with her master’s degree from UCLA last summer.

2013

Isabella DeLeo ’13 and Arturo Bory, were married in Bristol, RI, last summer. Twenty alums from the Classes of 1977 through 2015 joined together for the celebration (photo bottom of page).

2015

Ethan Binder ’15 and Caitlin Harrington ’15 were married on September 16, 2023 in Newport, RI. Nicole Maloof '15 and Max Bertman ’15 were in the wedding party, and many Moses Brown classmates were in attendance to celebrate with the new couple (photo below).

2017

Sinjon Goldberg ’17 joined Volition Capital in 2022 as an analyst on the software team. Sinjon is responsible for sourcing and providing due diligence on new investment opportunities within software and tech-enabled service businesses. Prior to joining Volition, Sinjon worked as an investment banking analyst at Stifel. He worked within the global technology group covering software and internet businesses. He also spent time as a corporate development associate at Building Engines (acquired by JLL) where he focused on property technology. Sinjon graduated from Babson College, where he studied entrepreneurship and finance and was the Director of Hockey Operations for the Men’s Ice Hockey team.

Row L to R:

Front Row L to R: Emma Stanton ’13, Ian Opaluch ’13, Aine Russell ’13, Maddy Wyner ’13, Cruz Goler ’89, Isabella DeLeo ’13, Phil Zexter ’81, Henry Diamond ’77, George Boitano ’79, Carol Geffroy ‘86, Michael Geffroy ‘84

Back

Peter Roe ’79, Michael McLaughlin ’79, Marc Geffroy ’79, Steve DeLeo ’79, David Russian ’79, Henry Nodarse ’79, Nick Nunez ’79, and Stephen DeLeo ’15. Missing from photo Jake Berman ‘10

L to R: Joshua Kestin ‘11, Jordan Harrop ‘11, Ayumi Roe, Theron Roe ‘11, Max Wood-Lee ‘11, Carter Davison ‘11.

Welcome New Alumni!

Congratulations to the Class of 2023

Welcome to the Class of 2023 and newest members of MB's alumni community. Best wishes for your adventures that will take you beyond Moses Brown School. We look forward to hearing from you and all that you do!

Jeff Sparr ’81 P ’19 delivered the Commencement address. Jeff is a renowned artist and mental health advocate.

In keeping with his commitment to utilizing art as a path to wellness, he literally brought a blank canvas, an easel, paint, and markers with him to the ceremony, and invited the entire graduating class to create something unique together.

“This blank canvas is my gift to you, with all its hope and possibilities,” Jeff said.

“And after you receive your diploma, I invite you to join me in making your first mark on your next chapter in life. And let it serve as a reminder of your lifelong connection to each other and a reminder that with a little creativity and perseverance you can do anything you put your minds to.”

Jeff Sparr '81, P '19 delivered the Commencement address.

L to R: Student Senate co-presidents Jaeson D'Alessandro '23, Charlotte Logel '23, and Salter Arms '23

In Memoriam

We send our sympathies to the friends and families of the following MB community members, who passed away during the last year.

Theodore Low ’44

Wendell Harris ’44

Gerrit Sanford ’45

Wilson Utter ’45

William Claflin ’46

Bradford Luther ’47

Charles Staples ’47

William H. Stewart '47

William Pettine ’48

Arthur Brunner ’49

Blake Cady ’49

Harris Rosen ’50

Foster Kinney ’52

Mason Flemming ’55

Donald Hysko ’55

David Merchant ’55

Thomas Jencks ’57

Robert Anthony ’58

Richard Crawford ’60

John Thompson ’61

Arthur Hyde ’63

Edward Ricci ’67

Donald Taylor ’68

Ira Sutton ’73

C. Peter Lycurgus ’74

Marcus Battle ’77

Charles DeBlois ’78

Edwin "Lundin" Coward ’79

Thomas Erikson ’79

Douglas McEwen ’80

Mark Melaragno ’81

Brad Shipp ’83

Anthony Manieri ’84

Joshua Kenyon ’85

Deborah Levy-Mahoney ’87

David "Adam" Boaz ’89

David Jagolinzer ’92

Andrew Frutchey '95

John Hazen White III ’06

Jaymi Feeney ’09

If you believe someone is missing from this list, please accept our humblest apologies and let us know at alumni@ mosesbrown.org so we may correct our records.

Faculty/Staff

Rev. Dr. Dcn. Dorothy "Ricky" L. Brightman

Elizabeth Johnson

Dave McNab

Dr. King B. "Doc" Odell, Jr. (See story p.24)

Dave McNab

Johnson

The Rev. Dr. Dcn. Dorothy "Ricky" L. Brightman

By Karin Morse ’79

In 1976, when Moses Brown School returned to coeducation, Ricky was hired as an associate athletic director working in partnership with Jerry Zeoli to help lead and reorganize the girls’ athletic program. She established a girls' program that initially included girls' soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and track and soon thereafter tennis, swimming, and then softball, which she also coached.

Ten years later, Ricky served as director of community service and taught and led Computer Science. After receiving a Master in Library Science degree from Simmons College, she finished her MB career as a librarian. Ricky’s academic degrees also included a bachelor’s in physical education, and a master’s a doctorate in education.

After she "retired" in early 2007, Ricky went on to become a permanent deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. At the time, she was the first woman senior warden of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John. In addition to her church activities, she became the registrar at the Narragansett Boat Club in 2008. At the Club, she continued her support for youth in sports and even encountered former students learning to row.

Ricky will be remembered for her long-time advocacy for youth in sports, especially equal access for girls in sports; her ability to build bridges among different groups of people; and her sense of justice for the disenfranchised. She is survived by her wife the Rev. Dr. Nancy Hamlin Soukup; they had been together for 29 years and married for 10. Her family, friends, and MB colleagues and alumni will miss her brilliant intellect, her dry sense of humor, and her abundantly creative imagination — all of this wrapped up in a quiet, unassuming presence.

Ricky had a significant influence on so many at MB. Please join us in holding Nancy and the rest of Ricky’s family in the Light.

Elizabeth

Let’s end with some silence.