St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School welcomes several new faculty and staff members, including four alumni of the school, as we begin our 2020-21 school year.

Haley Chelsvig is teaching biology and chemistry, and is a member of the residential faculty and coacheds volleyball and boys’ middle school soccer. She graduated summa cum laude from Drake University with a degree in biology and psychology and, as an undergraduate, conducted research on species diversity and animal behavior.

A career education administrator, Ashley Close holds a B.S. in Marketing of Higher Education and an M.S. in Education from Elmira College and a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. She is the new Assistant Director of Admission at SAS.

Jennifer Dillon, ’82, a seasoned accounting and operations executive with a passion for small business and educational not-for-profit organizations, joined SAS this summer as Chief Financial and Operations Officer.

Lisa Garner comes to SAS from Holy Trinity High School in Chicago where she was Director of Counseling. Garner holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and DPsych degree from Illinois School of Professional Psychology (Argosy University). She is a certified School Counselor. In addition to serving as Mental Health Counselor, Garner will be a lead house parent in Watts House.

Taylor Lee joins SAS as a Spanish teacher and International Student Coordinator. He is a 2018 graduate of Washington & Lee University where he earned a B.A. in Global Politics with a minor in Latin American & Caribbean Studies. Lee, who is a member of the residential faculty, will also be the assistant varsity boys’ soccer coach.

Brian Mazur joins SAS as an experienced mathematics teacher having taught at Franklin County High School, Lakeview Centennial High School (Texas), Dallas CAN! Academy, and Horizon Science Academy. He is a graduate of Oberlin College where he earned a degree in Technology in Music and Related Arts (TIMARA). He will teach algebra and Math 7.

Jazz Render, ’14, returns to SAS as an Admission Counselor. She is a graduate of the University of West Georgia University with a major in Mass Communications and a concentration in Digital Media and Telecommunications.

Paul Schutz joined SAS as IT Support Coordinator earlier this summer. He most recently served as the director of marketing for the continuing education unit of the School of Theology at the University of the South where he worked extensively with distance learning systems, configured systems for online event registration and payments; and provided extensive logistical and technical support for large events, including A/V configuration, recording, videography, and equipment troubleshooting. He holds a B.F.A. in Photography from New York University and has completed significant coursework towards a Masters in Theology from Sewanee.

Thomas Simerville, ’16, and a recent graduate in history from the University of the South, joins the school as a Father Flye Fellow with special skills and responsibilities in outdoor education. Simerville, a residential faculty member, will teach History, Art, Adventure Education, and Humanities; will help to lead Outdoor Adventure programs in Wilderness Basics, Mountain Biking, Climbing, and Adventure Cycling.

Margaret Wilson, ’16, who has been serving as the interim farmer at the SAS Farm, joins the school fulltime as farm educator and art teacher. A 2020 graduate of Warren Wilson College, Wilson majored in Psychology and minored in Art (Ceramics) and Expressive Arts Therapy. Wilson, a member of the residential faculty, will teach functional pottery and Middle School art, and manage the school’s farm and farming afternoon program.

Shomari Todd, a senior at the University of the South, will be joining the college counseling office this year as an intern. Shomari, who is studying psychology and education, is originally from Fort Washington, Md., and hopes to return to Maryland to be a school counselor. Shomari’s goals are to make students’ experiences in school truly unforgettable while putting them on the right track for life beyond high school. He is involved with Bacchus and the Wick at Sewanee, helping to care for students and create community.

Other summer transitions include Interim Dean of Students Geoffrey Smith moving into the more permanent role of Dean of Students, school nurse Melissa Gilliam assuming the title of Director of Health Clinic, history teacher and residential faculty member Chris Monahan taking on additional responsibilities as Residential Life Coordinator, Director of College Counseling Dan Monahan continuing in his role as COVID Coordinator, and School Store Manager Jana Barnett moving into the position of Academic Administrative Assistant. Auxiliary Program Director Lizzie Duncan, ’76, will also take on the responsibility for the school store.