History

Julie Relyea

History Faculty

Julie Relyea

B.A., Saint Michael’s College
MTS, Harvard Divinity School

Julie Relyea earned her B.A. in Education and Religious Studies from Saint Michael’s College and a Master of Theological Studies in Comparative Religion from Harvard Divinity School. Her teaching journey began in China through the WorldTeach program, followed by teaching roles in Maryland and Massachusetts, where she also led gender equity initiatives and taught yoga and mindfulness. While at Harvard, she worked with the Religions and the Practice of Peace Initiative, coordinating speaker series and helping to develop programs focused on interfaith understanding and peacebuilding. In 2022, she joined the Walker’s community, where she now teaches World Religions, Philosophy, Ethics, Psychology, and 7th Grade Geography. For co-curriculars, she teaches yoga and personal fitness. She lives on campus with her husband, Randall Northrop, who also works at Walker’s, their daughter, and their family dog.

Randall Shō Northrop

History Department Chair, Executive Director of the Capabilities Approach

Randall Shō Northrop

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B.A., St. Michael's College
M.St., University of Oxford

Randall Shō Northrop serves as History Department Chair and Executive Director of the Capabilities Approach. He holds an MSt in Global and Imperial History from the University of Oxford, where he focused on cultural, intellectual, and transnational history. Before joining Walker’s, Randall taught Global History and Social Sciences at Beaver Country Day School in Brookline, Massachusetts. At Beaver, he also served as grade dean for 9th and 10th grades. At Walker’s, Randall leads the integration of the Capabilities Approach across the curriculum, ensuring that every student’s learning experience nurtures leadership, innovation, and a commitment to social impact. In the History Department, he works to create inquiry-driven courses that center girls’ voices, connect past and present, and empower students to understand — and shape — the world around them. He has taught a variety of courses at Walker’s, including Advanced Microeconomics, Advanced Macroeconomics, Global History, Media and Society, Inequalities in the United States, U.S. History, etc. Randall serves as the faculty advisor for the Model UN club, the Asian Student Collective, and coaches cross country. He lives on campus with his wife, Julie Relyea, and their daughter, Adeline.

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Kim Harris-Thacker P'24, '27

History Faculty and Archivist

Kim Harris-Thacker P'24, '27

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Kim Harris-Thacker P’24, ’27 is The Ethel Walker School’s archivist, as well as a faculty member in the history and English departments. She is a well-published magazine writer and essayist with a keen interest in history and community, and in connecting the past and the present through the medium of story. Born and raised in Wyoming, Kim has retained a love of the outdoors, which she shares with her husband, Walker’s Upper School English teacher Dr. David Thacker, and their two daughters, Molly and Liesel, who are current and former Walker’s students.

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Brendan O'Dwyer

History Faculty

Brendan O'Dwyer

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B.A., SUNY Purchase
M.A., Wesleyan University

Brendan earned his B.A. from SUNY Purchase and his M.A. from Wesleyan University. After receiving his master’s degree, Brendan joined the Walker’s community as a full time faculty member in 2015. In addition to teaching in the History Department at Walker’s, Brendan has coached soccer, basketball, skiing and tennis. He lives with his wife and three children in Litchfield.

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John Monagan

History Faculty

John Monagan

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B.A., Johns Hopkins University
M.S., Drexel University

John Monagan grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut, where he attended Chase Collegiate School from 6th-12th grade. From Waterbury, John headed south to attend Johns Hopkins University, where he majored in history. After four enjoyable years in Baltimore, John’s years in private school led him to The Ethel Walker School, where he taught history and English. John spent his first four years at Walker’s teaching 6th-9th grade history and 6th-7th grade English. He has also spent time running student activities. John earned his Master of Science degree from Drexel University in Sports Management while working at Walker’s. He previously served as Walker’s Athletic Director for nine years and continues to teach in the history department. John is the head coach of the varsity basketball and softball teams and lives on campus with his wife and two children.

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