faculty & staff
About
About
Dedicated, passionate, and curious, RHCD’s faculty and staff are committed to helping each student explore their strengths, passions, and academic interests.
DEPARTMENTS
ALL FACULTY & STAFF
Maria Abregu
Upper School Spanish
BS, Mississippi State University
D, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
mabregu@rockyhill.org
Cherie Baccari
Extended Day Program
Certificate, Crisis
Prevention Institute
Certificate, Community
College of Rhode Island
cbaccari@rockyhill.org
Katy Basu
Upper School Chemistry, Yearbook Coordinator
AB, Cornell University
PhD, University of Illinois
kbasu@rockyhill.org
ELAINE COSTA BERNARDINO
LS World Languages and Cultures Instructor/ Languages Department Chair
BA, University of Londrina
MBA, Getting Vargas Foundation
ebernardino@rockyhill.org
Charlotte Buecheler
Upper School English
MS, HEC Paris
MA, ABD, Brown University
cbuecheler@rockyhill.org
Karah Chartrand
Middle School Science
BS, University of Rhode Island
MAT, Western Governors University
kchartrand@rockyhill.org
Jody Cicchese
Middle School Social
Science & English, Coach
BA, Providence College
M.Ed, Rhode Island College
jcicchese@rockyhill.org
Christine Comeau
Upper School Science
and Biology
BS, University of New England
MS, University of Rhode Island
ccomeau@rockyhill.org
Theresa Conroy
Middle School Math, Coach
BS, Cleveland State University
M.Ed, Bowling Green University
tconroy@rockyhill.org
Jan Cooney
Director of Admission and
Financial Assistance
BS, Syracuse University
M.Ed, Lesley University
jcooney@rockyhill.org
ext. 104
Holly Cotta
Director of Academic
Center for Enrichment
BA, University of Rhode Island
MA, University of Rhode Island
hcotta@rockyhill.org
ext. 108
Stephanie Cruff
Second Grade
BFA, University of Rhode Island
M.Ed, University of New Haven
scruff@rockyhill.org
Martha Cunningham
Chief Operating Officer
BA, University of Maryland
MDE, University of Maryland
mcunningham@rockyhill.org
ext. 222
Helen Dembinski
Academic Center for Enrichment
BA, University of Vermont
MA, CUNY- Brooklyn College
hdembinski@rockyhill.org
Trixie Dumas ’81
Lower School Art Coordinator, Lower School Math, Coach
Cert. in Architecture, RISD
BFA, Wheaton College
tdumas@rockyhill.org
Susan Eaton
Upper School Math,
Community Service Coordinator
BS, Bentley University
seaton@rockyhill.org
Art Entwistle IV
Assistant Athletic Director,
Athletic Trainer
BS, Lyndon State College
M.Ed, Plymouth State College
aentwistle@rockyhill.org
Traci Fairchild
Director of Counseling
and Wellness
BA, University of Maine
MSW, Rhode Island College
tfairchild@rockyhill.org
Amadeus Finlay
Communications
and Media Editor
MA, University of Edinburgh
afinlay@rockyhill.org
ext. 148
Susan Fonseca Lanham
Global Impact Advisor,
Director of Communications
BA, University of Georgia
J.D. Samford University,
Cumberland School of Law
sfonseca@rockyhill.org
Meg Getsinger
Visual Arts Department Chair,
Upper School Art
BA, St. Lawrence University
MA, New York University
mgetsinger@rockyhill.org
Matt Gnolfo
Middle/Upper School Latin,
Coordinator of Diversity
BA, Vassar College
MA, Columbia University
mgnolfo@rockyhill.org
Ian Green
Humanities Department Chair,
Upper School Social Studies
BA and MA, New York University
Ph.D., City University
of New York
igreen@rockyhill.org
Wendy Gustavel
School Librarian
BA, College of the Holy Cross
M.Ed, University of New Hampshire
wgustavel@rockyhill.org
ext. 149
James Himmelmann
Music & Choral Teacher
BM, University of Rhode Island
MM, University of Rhode Island
jhimmelmann@rockyhill.org
ext. 193
Andrew Hoffman-Patalona
Upper School Science, Robotics
BA, Bard College
MAT, Bard College
Michael Jedrey
Middle School Division Head
BA, Amherst College
MAT, Tufts University
mjedrey@rockyhill.org
ext. 128
Natalie Joseph
Third Grade
BA, University of Rhode Island
M.Ed, University of Rhode Island
njoseph@rockyhill.org
Joseph Karr
Middle School Science
BA, Green Mountain College
M.Ed, Endicott College
jkarr@rockyhill.org
Bridget Keane
Middle School English
BA, University of New Hampshire, English & Journalism
MA, University of Rhode Island, Secondary Education & Middle School Endorsement
bkeane@rockyhill.org
Amy Laurent
Academic Center for Enrichment
BA, Boston College
M.Ed, Boston College
alaurent@rockyhill.org
Michael Lawson
Data and Facilities Coordinator
AAS, Community College of Rhode Island
mlawson@rockyhill.org
ext. 171
Robert Lee
Upper School Social Sciences
BA and MBA, Cornell University
MA, University of Rhode Island
rlee@rockyhill.org
Caitlin MacDonald
Fifth Grade, RHEA Director
BA, BS, University of
Rhode Island
M.Ed, Boston University
cmacdonald@rockyhill.org
Pam Matson
Science Department Chair,
Upper School Science
BS, St. Lawrence University
pmatson@rockyhill.org
EMILY McMAHON
Kindergarten
BA, University of Rhode Island
MA Psychology, Adelphi University
M.A.T. Elementary Education,
Rhode Island College
emcmahon@rockyhill.org
PATRICIA McLAUGHLIN
Interim Assistant Head of School
for Advancement
BA, Providence College
JD, George Washington University, National Law Center
pmclaughlin@rockyhill.org
ext. 129
JACK McNAMARA
Middle/Upper School
Band Director
BM, University of Rhode Island
MM, Boston Conservatory
of Music
jmcnamara@rockyhill.org
KATY McNAMARA
School Nurse
BA, St. Lawrence University
MS, Antioch New England
ADN, Community College
of Rhode Island
kmcnamara@rockyhill.org
Patty Mott
Head Preschool Teacher
AS, Community College
of Rhode Island
BS, Western Governors University
MS ECS, Walden University
pmott@rockyhill.org
Patty Pontarelli
Lower School Division Head
BA, Rhode Island College
MA, Catholic University
of America
ppontarelli@rockyhill.org
ext. 116
Diane Rich
Head of School
BA, Boston College
Ed.M., Harvard Graduate
School of Education
drich@rockyhill.org
ext. 192
Eléna Rich
Dean of Student Life,
Upper School French
MA, University Francois Rabelais
Ed.M., Harvard Graduate
School of Education
erich@rockyhill.org
Joshua Schatz
Mathematics Department Chair,
Upper School Math, Coach
BA, Smith College
MA, New York University
jschatz@rockyhill.org
Ming Shen
Coordinator of International Programs, Upper School Mandarin
BA, Beijing Normal University
M.Ed, Rhode Island College
mshen@rockyhill.org
Belinda Snyman
Upper School English
BA/HTD, Capetown Teachers College, South Africa
bsnyman@rockyhill.org
Meg Stowe
Director of Innovation
BS, Denison University
M.Ed, Lesley University
mstowe@rockyhill.org
ext. 182
Iveth Streisand
Middle/Upper School Spanish
BA, Rutgers University
MAT, Roger Williams University
istreisand@rockyhill.org
Sean Tucker
Lower School Physical and
Health Education
BS, Salisbury University
MS, McDaniel College
stucker@rockyhill.org
Brady Wheatley
Upper School Division Head
BA, Brandeis University
MEd, University of Massachusetts
bwheatley@rockyhill.org
ext. 130
Megan Williams
Director of Athletics
BA, Bryn Mawr College
MS, Ohio University
mwilliams@rockyhill.org
ext. 188
