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School News
Andrea Kassar Appointed 12th Westridge Head of School Effective July 2022
In May, Andrea Kassar, current head of Upper School at The NightingaleBamford School in Manhattan, was named the next head of school. She will join Westridge in July 2022, succeeding Elizabeth J. McGregor upon her retirement.
“During our search process there was remarkable alignment across our community on the priorities we sought in our next head of school: a visionary thought leader with the ability to sustain academic excellence while promoting social-emotional wellbeing and a committed advocate for DEI and anti-racism work,” said Richard Fung, 2020-2021 chair of the Westridge Board of Trustees.
Kassar has more than 20 years’ experience as an administrator and faculty member at girls’ schools in New York. As head of Upper School at The Nightingale-Bamford School, she has led the division through significant enrollment growth and the transition to an Advanced Courses program and worked to implement new and expanded student programs in the areas of diversity and equity, and health and wellness. Prior to NightingaleBamford, Kassar was with The Chapin School, an all-girls school for grades K-12.
She earned her undergraduate degree in English and psychology at the University of Chicago and holds an M.A. in English and comparative literature from Columbia University and an M.A. in psychology from the New School for Social Research. Kassar spent part of her childhood in the Middle East (Bahrain and United Arab Emirates) and is a graduate of Brearley, a K-12 girls’ school in Manhattan. She and her husband, Tim McKenna, have three children, Lucy (13), Billy (8), and Cecily (5).
Alumnae Garden to Open This Fall
Construction of the Alumnae Garden, an outdoor gathering space that will connect the school’s two treasured Greene and Greene buildings—Pitcairn House and Merwin House—got underway in July. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall, providing a new, welcoming space for students, faculty, and staff by day, and for alumnae and community gatherings in the evenings. The garden will feature an installation to recognize alumnae donors to the Endowment Campaign.
Celebration Planning Underway for Elizabeth J. McGregor’s Retirement
As announced last November, Elizabeth J. McGregor is calling Westridge her final academic home as she will retire in June 2022 after more than four decades in education. Planning for a schedule of events honoring McGregor throughout the second semester of the school year is underway, including during Homecoming, Alumnae Weekend, and a dinner in April 2022. Information will be sent to all community members when details are finalized.
New Research in History Course
While the school’s history curriculum has long emphasized thinking like a historian and analyzing sources and history to draw one’s own inclusion, the new Research in History course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to step into the shoes of historians. The class combines instruction on historiography (the study of the methods of historians in developing history as an academic discipline) and research methodologies, lectures from visiting historians, and workshopping of the significant individual research projects the students will take on with the guidance of their teacher, mentors in the field, and Westridge library staff.
Westridge Welcomes New Trustees
Please join us in thanking three long-time Westridge Trustees who retired from our board in June― Christine McCarthy, Linda Tolbert, and Laurie Stanford Turner ’82.
KIRSTEN HANSEN ’83
Most recently practice development manager at O’Melveny & Myers LLP where her focus was on labor & employment and healthcare. Former director of legal affairs at Earthlink Network, Inc. Actively involved with the Angeleno Gold Chapter of Young Presidents Organization, Five Acres, the Huntington Library Governors Art Collectors’ council and education committees, the Geffen Theatre advisory board, and Cuisine et Roulette supporting St. Vincent’s Meals on Wheels. J.D. from Glendale University College of Law and B.A. in English from Loma Linda University.
DANIEL PRINCE
Partner and vice chair of the Los Angeles Litigation Department of Paul Hasting LLP with a practice focused on complex commercial cases, cross-border disputes, corporate and government investigations, and class actions. Serves on boards for the USC Alumni Association, USC Gould School of Law, John M. Langston Bar Association, and YMCA of the Foothills. J.D. from University of Chicago Law School. M.A. and B.A. from USC. Father of Marley ’27, Vivienne ’30, and Graham.
JOSEPH YBARRA
Founding partner of Halper, May, Ybarra, and Gelberg with a practice in commercial litigation. Past board service includes the Liberty Hill Foundation, Homeboy Industries, and the Mexican American Bar Foundation. J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, M.A. in American history from the University of Texas at Austin, and B.A. from Dartmouth College. Father of Marysa ’25 and Soleil ’23.
Remembering Ms. V.
A memorial bench for Lower and Middle School Dean of Students Carol van Zalingen, Ms. V., will be installed this fall on Ranney Court near the spot where she greeted students each morning. Special thanks to the Spence family for providing funds for this on-campus memorial.
Juanita Jimenez Retires, Honored with Alumna Status and Arts Endowment
During an Alumnae Weekend reception fêting her 50 years at Westridge, retiring Ceramics Teacher Juanita Jimenez was named the school’s third-ever honorary alumna and was surprised with news of the Juanita Jimenez Endowed Fund for the Arts. This new $144,000 fund supporting the Westridge Art Department was launched by the Frank Family (Susan Frank ’71, Laurie Frank Wilson ’68, and their brother Richard R. Frank) continuing the legacy of their late father, who funded construction of the ceramics studio. Other gifts to the fund came from the Erskine family (Giorgianna Bray Erskine ’50, Eugenia Erskine Jesberg ’77, Martha Erskine ’81, and Hannah Erskine ’12.) Contributions to the fund in Juanita’s name can be made at www.westridge.org/give.
As the school continues its expansion of STEM programming this year, faculty working in computer science, robotics, rocketry, and the STEAMWork Design Studio have been brought together under the auspices of a formal Computer Science and Engineering department. “Over the past several years we have invested in faculty with deep backgrounds in these fields and this move will foster collaboration on the current curriculum and especially as we plan the trajectory of course offerings for coming years,” said Elizabeth J. McGregor. Last year, Upper School teacher Autumn Rogers brought extensive experience in robotics to Westridge and this year, particle physicist and rocketry expert Dan Perahya joined the team. In addition to engineering options, the expansion of the computer science program is part of the school’s current strategic plan.
Parent Association Events Line-up
After a year where Westridge Parent Association (WPA) volunteers, led by 2020-2021 WPA President Edie Tyebkhan ’86, pulled countless rabbits out of their hats to foster community, shower the class of 2021 with love, celebrate faculty and staff, and successfully translate the Summer Opportunities Fair to an online information hub and successful fundraiser for the school, new leadership is ready to take the reins. Our deepest thanks to the executive committee for their tireless efforts. The WPA supports a variety of programs at Westridge, including back-to-school parties, guest speakers, the Genna Rae McNeil ’65 Endowed Scholarship for AfricanAmerican Students, and annual special projects, including a specialized bench for the lower level plaza of the Science Building last year. If you would like to join a committee, please reach out to President Ellen Tsang at ellenjchi@gmail.com and President-elect Lisa Burke at lyhburke@sbcglobal.net. You can look for information on upcoming events on the WPA page of the Parent Portal and in the all-school weekly email.
