"Midland's
teachers are REAL people who deeply care about their subjects,
and engage the students in their classes, rather than simply spouting
information." ~Emma D, 2008
Will
Graham:
B.A. Middlebury College
M.A. Middlebury College
Marguerite Graham:
B.A. New England College
MST University of New Hampshire
|
WILL
GRAHAM, Midland’s eighth Head of School,
arrived in 2006 with over thirty years of boarding school
experience as a student, teacher, coach and administrator.Will
earned a B.A. in American Literature from Middlebury College
and holds an M.A. in English from the Bread Loaf School
of English at Middlebury College where he had the opportunity
to spend a summer studying the teaching of writing at Lincoln
College, Oxford. Will teaches “Midland: Writing and
a Sense of Place,” a course inspired by post-graduate
work and travel in Alaska. A high school and college All-American
lacrosse player, Will continues to share his passion for
the sport by coaching Midland’s Mighty Oaks. Life-long
New Englanders, the Grahams enjoy exploring the Midland
property as well as California’s Central Coast.
MARGUERITE GRAHAM
joins the Midland faculty as an Assistant to the Head for
Special Projects, reserving a few hours each week for therapeutic
massage clients at her office in Ireland House. A magna
cum laude graduate of New England College, Marguerite completed
her graduate studies in writing and the teaching of English
at the University of New Hampshire. She has been a teacher,
alumni/ae director, arts council administrator, volunteer
coordinator for instructors of skiers with physical disabilities,
and recipient of various grants to support writing projects
and programs in the arts for teachers and students in Bethel,
Maine. When their children, Kate and Angus, left home for
college, Marguerite returned to school to pursue her interests
in anatomy and physiology, the healing arts, and reflexology. |
B.A.
University of Denver
M.A. University of Denver
Interior Design Diploma International Academy of Design
& Technology, Toronto
|
JILL
BRADY is Midland's incredibly efficient and generous
Office Manager and Assistant to the Head of School. She
lives in the Santa Ynez Valley with her husband Kimmis,
their two Whippet dogs Lily and Lucy, and their three horses. Jill
is a frequent rider of Midland's trails, a passion she developed
from growing up on a ranch in Missouri. Jill has a Masters
Degree in Library Science, and worked in the public library
system in Toronto for 15 years. Anyone visiting Midland's
campus needs to know that the flowers and landscaping are
largely a result of her diligence and green thumb.
"What a gift this four-year moment-in-time
is for our students and those of us fortunate to work with
them. Midland is a quiet place in a world screaming materialism
and self-absorption." |
| 
Ian
Cummings:
B.A. Stanford University
Lynda Cummings:
B.A. Stanford University
|
IAN
CUMMINGS taught at Midland in 1987-88 and rejoined
the faculty in 1994. He teaches English and American Studies,
coaches boys’ soccer, chairs the Student-Faculty
Council, and directs the spring play. Ian earned his B.A.
in Political Science from Stanford University, graduating
with distinction, and studied acting at the Professional
Theater Training Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Ian and his wife, Lynda, spent most of their first two
years of marriage teaching and working as volunteers in
Guatemala. They are the proud parents of two children,
Sean and Emily.
LYNDA CUMMINGS joined the Midland community
in 1994, served briefly as Director of Admissions, retired
to have children, then returned as Editor of the Midland
Mirror. In July 2004, she discovered the best job
on campus—Director of College Placement. In 2007,
she visited 15 college campuses bringing the total number
of schools she has visited to 53. She earned her B.A.
in English from Stanford University. Lynda loves quilting
and raising her children at Midland.
"I
love the amount of individual contact I have with students
in the college application process. The diversity of interests
makes my job exciting."
|
B.A. Smith College
Ph.D. Smith College
|
DIANE
DE AVALLE-ARCE earned her Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies
at Smith College, and is a former Asst. Professor of Spanish,
Language, Literature and Culture at NC Central University
in Durham, NC. Diane is a Spanish language instructor at
Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, a freelance bilingual
writer and translator, and a copyeditor for some 50 fiction
and non-fiction books. Diane is helping the Spanish department
at Midland by teaching additional sections of Spanish I.
|
B.A.
California State University, Fresno
M.A. Regent College, University of British Columbia
at Vancouver
|
MATTHEW
EAMES may never have come back from his summer
bicycle trip across Euruope had it not been for the waves,
Mexican food, and, ultimately, Midland. Matthew is an Emergency
Medical Technician registered in Santa Barbara County. Having
graduated from California State University Fresno with a
BA in English, he then moved to Vancouver, BC where he completed
a Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Regent
College, University of British Columbia. Matthew has done
relief and development work in Central America, worked for
nonprofit groups with at-risk youth, as a bereavment couselor
with Hospice, and in the University setting as a researcher.
Born on the banks of the Santa Maria river, living and surfing
the last few years on the Arroyo Grande rivermouth, Matthew
is excited to now be residing on the Alamo Pintado creek
as he considers the Central Coast watersheds which feed
these rivers to be his home. Matthew serves at Midland's
Health Coordinator. |
B.A.
Humboldt State University
M.A. Pontifica Universidad Catolica, Lima, Peru
Ph.D. Harvard University
|
PAUL
H. GELLES is in his his third year as a Spanish
teacher, after teaching Anthropology at the University of
California at Riverside for thirteen years. He holds a B.A.
in Spanish Literature and Anthropology, as well as M.A.
and Ph.D. degrees in Anthropology. He has traveled extensively
throughout Latin America and has lived in Peru for many
years, both as an exchange student and as a researcher studying
Andean culture and civilization. Paul has particular interests
in indigenous literature, irrigation politics, and translation
theory; he is fascinated by language and culture and enjoys
sharing his interests with students. He also enjoys hiking,
surfing, and spending time with his wife, Iliana, and their
children, Daniela and Darien. |
B.A.
Stanford University
M.S. University of California, Santa Barbara
|
LISE
GODDARD joined the Midland faculty in 2003 as
the Director of Environmental Programs and chemistry teacher.
She earned her B.A. from Stanford University, spent a
year studying and working in the Caribbean, and taught
biology and coached crew at St. Andrew’s School
in Delaware. She then earned her Masters from UCSB in
the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology.
With her husband Jeff and identical twin sons, Ziggy and
William, she is delighted to be in a boarding school community,
especially one that embraces using the natural world as
the classroom. Jeff is a research biologist at the Marine
Science Institute at UCSB and enjoys identifying native
and non-native plants on Midland’s property while
walking Ziggy and Will. Lise and Jeff enjoy backcountry
hiking, surfing and photography.
"I
love that the Midland community embraces environmental
stewardship as an essential part of education." |
B.S.
University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A. University of California, Santa Barbara
|
PHIL
HASSELJIAN came to Midland in 2001. He works in
the Mathematics department and supports the staff with technological
assistance. Sandy (his dog, pictured on the right) and Phil
have dedicated their lives to living the Midland mission,
including multiple ascents of Grass Mountain last year (he
reached double figures). |
B.A. University of Montana
|
NADIA
HEBARD is in her first year as a full-time faculty
member, having served as Midland's intern in 06-07. She
teaches 9th grade English, Study Skills, and as Assistant
Equestrian Coach. A product of Whitefish, Montana and the
daughter of avid explorers, Nadia possesses a deep love
for the natural world. She lives for animals (such as Baja,
pictured with her), skiing, hiking, and generally anything
active. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and a minor in
Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of
Montana. |
B.A.
University of California, Santa Barbara
|
JOSE
JUAN IBARRA graduated from Midland in 1987 and rejoined
the community in 1996 to teach Spanish and coach soccer
and baseball. José Juan received his B.A. in Environmental
Studies and Chicano Studies from UCSB. After graduating
from college, José Juan worked as a social worker
acting as an advocate for low-income families. Besides teaching
and coaching at Midland, José Juan started two cultural
exchange programs; One, in which Midland adopted an orphanage
in Tijuana, BajaCalifornia, México. And two, a two-week
cultural and academic exchange program between a college
preparatory school in Mascota, Jalisco, México. For
the last few years José Juan has been active in promoting
issues of diversity both at Midland as well as nationally
through NAIS. He is a member of The Call to Action, and
has been taking students for the last four years to the
annual People of Color Conference and Students Diversity
Leadership Conference. Most recently José Juan presented
at PoCC in Seattle on the topic of “Our Immigrant
Faculty: Perspectives and Pathways.” Last year José
Juan was hired on by NAIS to be a faculty member of their
annual Summer Diversity Institute. José Juan and
his wife, Arcelia, have two daughters, Deyanira and Zoraida.
"I love the fact that Midland teaches--students
and families--about the importance of being accountable
to a working community." |
B.A.
Texas Christian University
J.D. Georgetown University
|
DEBORAH
BALLMAN JONES joined the Midland faculty in 1996
as the school’s first Director of Development. Debbie
received her B.A. in history from Texas Christian University
and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Prior to her move to California with her family, Debbie
was the Director of Special Projects for the Easter Seal
Society in Washington, D.C. She enjoys sailing and snow
skiing and biking with her family. |
B.A. United
States International University, San Diego
|
B.G.
KRESSE has been a Midland faculty member since 1977.
He graduated from Midland in 1968 and obtained his B.A.
from the United States International University in San Diego
in 1972. B.G. is the school cook, and all-around go-to person
for everything from plumbing to history facts about the
school. He is also the electrician and school fire marshal,
as well as a student advisor. B.G.’s interests include
electronics and travel. B.G. and Joanne's son, James,
graduated from Midland in 2002. B.G. is also the campus
ping pong master. JOANNE works privately
with a handful of Midland students each year to help them
better acclimate to living independently. |
B.A.
Mount St. Mary's College, Los Angeles
|
MICHAELA
LAZA earned her B.A. in Music at Mount Saint Mary's
College in Los Angeles, CA. Michaela is the former Performing
Arts Department Chair at Laguna Blanca. She performs with
the Santa Monica Gala Pops Concert, the Santa Barbara Music
Academy of the West and Westmont College Community Arts
Music Association Foundation. Currently, Michaela is leading
a Choir Group for Midland students each Tuesday and Thursday,
and will offer credit courses in Music at Midland beginning
in 2008/2009. |
B.S.
Wesleyan University
|
DAN
MAYS teaches Math
and Physics and helps coach Cross Country. He is also the
manager of the school store. He graduated with a double
major in Mathematics and Physics from Wesleyan University,
where he also ran and threw for the Track and Field team.
He has enjoyed a variety of abroad experiences, including
rural projects in Guatemala and Ecuador and a semester of
study in Bahia, Brazil. Dan enjoys long treks by foot or
bicycle and is eager to explore the land around Midland.
He spent the summer of 2007 in Alaska. |
B.S.
Humboldt State University
|
SHAWN
McVICAR joined
the Midland
faculty in 1999. He received his B.S. in Wildlife Biology
with an emphasis in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation
from Humboldt State University. He teaches biology and Algebra
I, and a class in Naturalist Studies. He is also a coach
in the maintenance program. A Central Coast native, his
interests include playing guitar, mountain biking, and bird
watching. He and his wife Laura are the parents of Evan
Carter and Garrett Quinn. |
-
-
Ben Munger:
B.A.
University of Montana
M.A. University of California, Santa Barbara
Laurie
Munger:
B.A. University of Montana
M.S. University of Montana
|
BEN
MUNGER and
Midland School have long and strong family ties. Ben and
his family lived at Midland while his father, Carl Munger,
taught and was Headmaster of the school. Ben
graduated from Midland in 1979. He
earned his B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Montana
and received his Masters of Arts in Archaeology from the
University of California. Ben worked for the US Forest
Service for 10 years as an archaeologist. From 1985-89, Ben taught anthropology
and art at Midland.
Ben is the Ranch Manager and oversees and directs
our 8-acre organic garden. He teaches Agriculture and
Midland 101, and also teaches any interested students how
to drive a tractor or run the plow behind the clydesdales. Ben
and Laurie's daughter, Emma, is a senior at Midland, and
serves as Freshman Prefect.
Ben,
quoting from Aldo Leopold: "Stability
seems to vary inversely to the mental distance from field
and woods."
LAURIE MUNGER returned
to Midland in 1999 and teaches Midland 101, geology, and
a class on water. Laurie studied at the University of Montana,
where she earned a Masters of Science in Geology. From 1985
to 1994, Laurie taught biology, geology, human development,
and environmental studies at Midland, and then moved to
Montana where she ran Bison Bagels. (When we're lucky, Laurie
will make a batch of cranberry bagels for the school.) Her
interests include camping, hiking in the rain, and swimming. |
| 
B.A.
University of Mississippi
B.F.A. Montana State University
B.A. Montana State University
|
FAITH
NYGREN came to Midland in August of 2001 and is
Midland’s Ceramics teacher. Faith, a Mississippi native,
spent most of her twenties backpacking, learning to snowboard,
and exploring Montana and the Northern Rockies. She brings
a love of the outdoors, of art and music, and a commitment
to community to Midland. Faith received a B.A. in English
from the University of Mississippi, a B.F.A. in Studio Arts
from Montana State University, and a B.A. in Art Education
from Montana State University. She teaches the Ceramics
courses. Faith is married to John, who is a member of the
band Buellton,
and they are the parents of George, Midland's youngest family
member. |
B.A. University
of Colorado, Boulder
B.S. Duke University
MHA Chapman College
|
ELIZABETH
QUICK has returned to Midland as part of the wellness
and health care team. She has a Sociology/Psychology degree
from the University of Colorado and was trained at Duke
University as a Physicians Assistant. She oversaw health
care at Midland for 6 years, till 1990, and then served
the health community of Santa Barbara County with her masters
in health administration. She resides in the Santa Ynez
Valley, is married to a Midland alum and has twin daughters
who benefited from growing up at Midland. |
B.A. University of California, Los Angeles
M.A. California State University, Fullerton
Ed.D. Columbia University, Teachers College
|
KAREN
READEY is Midland’s Director of Communications.
Karen earned her doctorate from Columbia University’s
Teachers College in Sociology and Education, received her
M.A. from Cal State Fullerton and B.A. from UCLA. Karen
has been a marketing and public relations consultant in
the local wine industry and has taught various courses in
Sociology at Chapman University. While living in New York
City, Karen conducted research for a large corporation and
served as a Dean of First-Year Students at Columbia University.
She enjoys traveling, cycling, and spending time with family
and friends.
“I’m grateful to work in an environment
where learning and inspiration never cease.” |
Don
Redl:
B.A. Harvard University
M.A. Princeton University
Jill
Redl:
B.A. Gonzaga University
M.A. University of Virginia
|
DON
and JILL REDL joined the Midland community in
2004 after teaching for several years at independent high
schools in New Jersey. Jill earned her B.A. in French
from Gonzaga University, and her M.A. in English from
the University of Virginia. Jill co-teaches American Studies,
and tours the great expanse of British Literature with
her seniors in English 12. Don, who chairs the math department,
earned his Economics degrees at Harvard and Princeton
Universities. He teaches Precalculus, Calculus Honors,
Statistics and Economics, and he coaches Cross Country.
Don and Jill, along with their adopted barn cat, Kali,
feel very much at home at Midland and are happily establishing
roots in the Golden State. |
|
TOM
ROGOWSKI joined Midland in 1998 as the Business
Manager and Athletic Director for the school. Tom is a long-time
Santa Ynez Valley resident and has extensive experience
in management and operations. Previous to joining Midland,
he had owned and operated a business in the Santa Ynez Valley
for twenty-three years. He has taught at the junior high
and high school levels and coaches various sports including
basketball, baseball and volleyball. He is an outdoor enthusiast
and has led climbing groups on Mt. Whitney. Though
he might seem like an office guy, Tom loves nothing more
than driving tractors, using power tools of one sort or
another, and "reducing" the campus's ground squirrel
population. Contacting him is a difficult task, and takes
a series of searches to various parts of the property. |
| 
Ashleigh Rosa:
BFA Alfred University
Johnny
Ninos:
BFA Alfred University |
ASHLEIGH
ROSA, a product of the White Mountains of New
Hampshire, comes to Midland bringing her love for the
outdoors and the visual arts. Having earned her BFA from
Alfred University, Ashleigh then completed an Outdoor
Adventure apprenticeship with Inner Quest, Inc. where
she was trained as an instructor in the practical skills,
safety, and instructional methods in a wide variety of
outdoor pursuits for adolescents. In addition to teaching
Fundamentals in Visual Art, Honors Art, and Representational
Drawing, Ashleigh coaches girls' JV soccer. She looks
forward to exploring more of the West Coast and entering
another year as part of the Midland community.
JOHNNY
NINOS, from Upstate New York and a graduate of
Alfred University with his BFA in Sculpture, joins Midland
as the Metals instructor. Johnny shares his talent and
skill in the metals studio as well as in the kitchen as
the Friday night pizza guy. An avid fixer-upper, Johnny
heads the Heroes program which helps maintain the school
grounds by training students proper techniques and tools
for reconstruction. In addition to coaching boys' JV soccer,
Johnny loves to share his overall love for the outdoors
with the Midland community. |
B.A.
University of Colorado
M.D. University of Colorado School of Medicine
|
KAREN
SANDQUIST
is Midland's doctor. She earned her B.A. in Biochemistry
from the University of Colorado and her M.D. from the University
of Colorado's School of Medicine. Dr. Sandquist is Board
Certified in Family Medicine. She completed her residency
and fellowship training also in Denver, CO. Over the past
18 years Dr. Sandquist has worked in a variety of interesting
places, including private practice, Indian Health Service,
community health centers, addiction medicine and most recently,
a boarding school. She moved to California 5 years ago,
and currently lives in Arroyo Grande. She spends most of
her free time with her three lovely (and busy) daughters,
ages 9, 12 and 14.
"I love working with students, and have
enjoyed everything about Midland." |
| 
Derek
Svennungsen:
B.A. University of Minnesota
Martina
Svennungsen:
B.A. University of Washington |
DEREK
SVENNUNGSEN is Midland's Director of Admissions.
He is from Whitefish, Montana, and earned his English
degree from the University of Minnesota, graduating with
honors. An avid trail runner and mountain biker, he has
also coached basketball and track while at Midland, directed
fall theatrical productions, and taught various English
and literature courses.
"I couldn't work at another school.
In asking more out of our students, Midland gives young
people the opportunity to be real citizens in a real community."
MARTINA SVENNUNGSEN teaches World
Studies and is the head of Midland's equestrian program,
which complements her lifelong love of all things equestrian.
Martina was born in Vienna, Austria, but has lived in
the West for most of her life, usually near ski areas.
Prior to teaching school, she taught skiing at Big Mountain
in Montana and Crystal Mountain in Washington for thirteen
years. She earned her English degree at the University
of Washington. She takes care of her husband, a dog, cat,
a horse, and their child Elias. |
B.S.
Whitman College
|
CYMBRE
THOMAS returns
to Midland for the intern position after four years away.
She is a Midland legacy and graduate of 2003 who then attended
Whitman College, where she studied Geology and Education.
Although dogless, she brought her cat to live with her in
Lowry House. She is working with Laurie Munger in the classroom
with her geology class, co-coaching volleyball and lacrosse,
and cooking two meals a week in the kitchen. Most of all,
Cymbre continues the library project started when she was
a student, weeding and electronically cataloging Midland's
collection. She is excited to return to Midland to live
and work for a year and to take advantage of all the hiking
and camping opportunities! |
B.A. Hastings College
M.A. San Jose State University
|
SUSAN
THOMPSON
is in her first year as Midland's librarian. Susan grew
up on a farm in rural western Nebraska, and earned her degree
in business administration and English from Hastings College
in Hastings, Nebraska. She received her teaching credential
from The Bay Area Writing Project at UC Berkeley in 1989,
and spent many years teaching English, writing and publishing
curriculum, and mentoring beginning teachers in Napa public
schools. She completed her Master's Degree in Library and
Information Science at San Jose State, after which she served
as a high school librarian and literacy coach. She is married
to Sanford winemaker and general manager, Steve Fennell,
and enjoys spending time with him and their two cats, Pepper
and Miss Kitty. |
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