Meet the Upper School Deans

Favorite restaurant: n/naka

Favorite things to do on weekends: Yoga at CorePower, going to the beach with my family and digging large holes in the sand, exploring new hiking locations, jogging along the LA River path with my two kids and husband, tidying up the house, napping, baking, shopping

Favorite city in the world: Marrakech

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? Mind, Body, and Spirit: Holistic Approaches to Building Resilience

Fun fact: I’m a two-time All-American and four-time national champion in tennis at the D3 collegiate level. My first time seeing a movie in a movie theater was in my 30s. I've donated eight inches of my hair to Locks of Love twice. I love roller coasters. I birthed two humans and each time did it without any epidural. 

Favorite restaurant: Angelini Osteria

Favorite things to do on weekends: iPic Theater in Pasadena is my happy place. The combo of movies, food, and comfy chairs is pretty great.

Favorite city in the world: New York City

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? I used to teach a very cool class with the late Ted Walch called Self and the Spirit—a look through the lenses of philosophy, psychology, religion, and literature at the nature of self and how humans find meaning and purpose.

Fun fact: This is always one of my Two Truths and a Lie: I have been to every state capital (and capitol) in the U.S.! 

Favorite restaurant: Pine & Crane 

Favorite things to do on weekends: Take my two dogs on a hike, search for the best ramen in LA, or spend an afternoon napping on the beach

Favorite city in the world: Bath

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? A Vision of the Future: Dystopia & Sci-Fi in Media

Fun fact: I could name all the state capitals and US Presidents (in order!) by the time I was four years old, thanks to my history- loving grandmother. 

Favorite restaurant: Fixins Soul Kitchen

Favorite things to do on weekends: Hiking Fryman Canyon and dancing to Afrobeats, amapiano, house, or ’90s R&B

Favorite city in the world: London

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? Dunder Mifflin: Social Psychology Through the Lens of The Office 

Favorite restaurant: Kiwami

Favorite things to do on weekends: Kings games at Crypto, Dodger games at Chavez Ravine, and any piece of theater

Favorite city in the world: Edinburgh

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? The Great Work Begins: Theater for the Next Century

Fun fact: Outside of work, I’m also an active playwright

Favorite restaurant: Taisho

Favorite things to do on weekends: Soaking in the SoCal sun on a weekend hike; watching big games, from HW to college to professional (particularly the Ohio State Buckeyes, Chicago Bears, and Columbia University volleyball); cooking Sunday dinners for the family

Favorite city in the world: Chicago

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? Mastering the Art of Being: Conscious Evolution

Fun fact: Favorite pastime is vibing with monks, yogis, and shamans

Favorite restaurant: La Boucherie

Favorite things to do on weekends: Brunch, museums, beach boardwalks, long drives, movies at an iPic Theater, and browsing flea markets

Favorite city in the world: London

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? We Belong Together: The Craft, Inside Out, Gattaca, and other films about the human need to belong

Fun fact: I worked at a Jewish Orthodox school for girls here in LA. A truly life-changing experience for a host of reasons, some obvious, some deeply personal.

Favorite restaurant: Mario’s Peruvian

Favorite things to do on weekends: Trying new restaurants with friends, hiking to nearby waterfalls, and taking my dog Derby to the park

Favorite city in the world: Singapore

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? Fairy Tales and Folklore from Around the World: A Study of Childhood, Character, and Culture

Favorite restaurant: Republique

Favorite things to do on weekends: Cooking, watching the Steelers play, walking around Lake Balboa with my family

Favorite city in the world: London

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? The Game is Afoot: Detective Fiction Through the Ages.

Fun fact: I've played piano for over 30 years, and I used to gig at a jazz club downtown.

Favorite restaurant: Camphor

Favorite things to do on weekends: Chilaquiles burritos on my roof with the Sunday edition of the LA Times

Favorite city in the world: Antwerp

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? Culture of Higher Education Through a Geographic Lens

Fun fact: Though I am from Connecticut and now live in California, my time in both Vermont and Kentucky has had the biggest impact on my life.

Favorite restaurant: Moo’s Craft Barbecue

Favorite things to do on weekends: Playing pickup basketball, weekend road trips, and biking with my kids

Favorite city in the world: Kyoto

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? Adulting: DIY Skills for Life

Favorite restaurant: Vibrato

Favorite things to do on weekends: Jamming at concerts of all genres, lounging at the beach, and exploring hidden gems on the LA food scene

Favorite city in the world: Memphis

If you could teach any class at HW, what would it be? Elbow Room: A Theoretical Framework for Understanding Macaroni & Cheese as Cultural Capital

Fun fact: I sang in the vocal orchestra for the first a cappella opera performed by a North American opera company