The Ethel Walker School
Boarding School Life
Relationships and memories that last a lifetime
Walker’s community is built on relationships that are nurtured and strengthened both in and out of the classroom. Our residential faculty create a healthy family atmosphere that allows our students to thrive, as they meet the challenges of adolescence head on. We provide a variety of shared experiences and expectations that enhance the building of these special relationships creating memories that last a lifetime.
At Walker’s, you are never more than a few steps away from someone who is an integral part of your daily life.
Friends, residential faculty and classroom teachers feel like family at Walker’s. Our dedicated residential faculty will take the time to get to know you well and will notice when you need extra support or encouragement.
Frequently Asked Questions
We often hear similar questions from families thinking about a boarding school experience. At Walker’s, students have the opportunity to begin boarding in seventh grade and continue through twelfth grade and in the postgraduate year. Programming varies depending on whether students are in the Middle or Upper School. Because every family’s situation is unique, there may be other questions that you have about boarding at Walker’s. Please direct your additional questions to Director of Residential Life and Student Activities Mallory Pasquariello at mpasquariello@ethelwalker.org.
How will my roommate be determined? Can I pick my roommate?
For new students, we will carefully match you with a roommate based on your responses to a roommate questionnaire which asks you to share your sleep patterns, study habits, and interests. Returning students are allowed to choose their roommates before the end of the year.
How many students are in a dorm?
Dorms range in size from 30 to 60 students.
Are dorm rooms furnished?
Each student is provided with a desk, dresser, and a twin XL bed/mattress. Bathrooms in Smith and Lucy Jean House are ensuite and are shared by two rooms (four students). In Cluett Dorm, there are hallway bathrooms that are shared by the adjacent rooms (four students). Each building has a common room and a kitchen.
What amenities do the dorms have?
Each building has a common room and a kitchen. All dorms have a supply of games and books that students may borrow. Cluett Dorm has a pool table and air hockey game. Lucy Jean House has a piano adjacent to a common space with a working fireplace.
What do I need to bring to campus for my dorm room?
Anything that makes your room feel like home! Students should bring their pillows, blankets, comforters, towels, shower caddy, desk lamp, fan, alarm clock, laundry bag, and lock box to store any valuables. Students should also bring learning materials, including any electronics and chargers. Please reference the Boarding Student Packing List page for more complete information. Irons are not allowed and refrigerators may be used with prior permission from the Dean of Students office.
What are proctors?
Proctors are student leaders in the dorms who plan fun activities in your dorm, monitor study hall, and are available to help you navigate your schedule, as well as work as a mentor and friend. Proctors create inter-dorm competitions, themed weekly activities, and evening fun. Along with residential faculty, proctors will celebrate your birthday and your many accomplishments.
What is the difference between Residential Faculty and Dorm Affiliates?
A residential faculty member is a faculty or staff member who lives in faculty-designated apartments in the dorm buildings. Residential faculty members act as students’ go-to’s for anything they may need in the dorms outside of school day hours.
Dorm affiliates are faculty or staff members who live on or near campus, and are on call for different areas of student life, such as monitoring evening study hall in the library.
In Their Words
Not only do I live with my classmates, but our dorm parents are also our coaches, teachers, and advisors, giving students the chance to have endless support even when they are away from home. Dorm life is full of never-ending laughter and joy, truly making Walker’s my home away from home.
—Averi R. '24
Residential Faculty and Dorm Affiliates
Ben Barker
Visual Arts Faculty
Ben Barker earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Environmental Sciences from the University of East Anglia in England and is a graduate of the Connecticut Film Industry Training Program from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. Ben spent over 20 years in the environmental industry conducting laboratory analysis, mobile laboratory site investigations and indoor air quality studies. He is a State of Connecticut Department of Health Services-certified Environmental Laboratory Director. After leaving the scientific arena, Ben pursued his life-long love of photography and film by working in locations management for film and television productions in New York City and Connecticut. He is also a seasoned and qualified soccer coach, having coached the game for 15 years. Over that period he has coached all youth ages from two to 18 years old.
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Clarissa Basch P'15
Director of College Counseling, Co-Director of Community Partnerships
Clarissa Basch has served as Walker’s Director of College Counseling since February 2004, where she guides students through the process of investigating, applying to, and selecting colleges.
Before joining Walker’s, Clarissa spent 17 years as a college admissions officer at Drexel University, Endicott College, and Hampshire College. She was lured to “the other side of the desk” because of the opportunity to work directly with students on their post-Walker’s plans, and to be part of this vibrant boarding school community. With professional colleagues at colleges and universities all over the country, she loves to welcome them to Walker’s when they come to meet with her students in the fall.
Clarissa is an avid exerciser who swims and helps guard at the Walker’s pool on weekday mornings. She is an active volunteer for numerous organizations in the greater Hartford area and at Walker’s serves as one of the faculty advisors to the Community Partnerships program. Clarissa put her college counseling know-how to use with her daughter (Walker’s Class of 2015), and both survived the experience intact. Following graduation, her daughter enjoyed a wonderful gap year in England as an English-Speaking Union Scholar before enrolling at Susquehanna University, from which she graduated in 2020. Her son graduated from UConn in 2023. Clarissa lives on campus with her husband.
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Dr. Melissa Bernardo
Science Faculty
Melissa joined Walker’s in 2017 after completing her Ph.D. in Biology from Wesleyan University. Her dissertation dealt with nutrient-mediated manipulation of host-feeding behavior by a parasitoid. Melissa has taught a range of topics at the university level and brings her knowledge and enthusiasm to Walker’s chemistry, biology and environmental science classes. She also coaches volleyball and softball.
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Rachel Feldman
Math Faculty
Rachel Feldman is a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where she earned her degree in Secondary Mathematics Education (grades 7-12). She then continued her education by earning her Master’s degree in Learning Design from the University of Illinois while also beginning her teaching career in Chicago. She has taught a wide range of students at the middle and high school levels, including courses in Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, and College Algebra. She loves to teach using hands-on, real world applications that emphasize cooperation and problem-solving. She is excited to have joined such a dedicated and inspiring community at Walker’s!
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Colin R. Griggs
Assistant Director for Enrollment and Financial Aid
After nearly two decades in the boarding school world, Colin R. Griggs joined the Admission team at Walker’s in July of 2022. His experience includes leadership roles in admission, athletics, student life, and residential life, and has since landed firmly in admission. Griggs has worked closely with Walker’s Financial Aid Committee since 2022 and moved into his role as Assistant Director for Enrollment and Financial Aid starting in the summer of 2025. He enjoys helping families learn about the opportunities that Walker’s can offer them through the financial aid process.
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Chris Hague
Math Faculty, Interim Director of the Middle School
Before joining the Walker’s community, Chris worked as a middle and upper school math teacher at King’s Academy in Amman, Jordan and All Saints’ Day School in Phoenix, Arizona. Chris studied Sports Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario where he published two journal articles for the Sports Coaching Review and Psychology of Sport and Exercise. In his free time, Chris is a passionate runner and triathlete.
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Allie Harris '13
Advancement Communications Coordinator
Allie Harris ’13 joined The Ethel Walker School Advancement Team in 2019. She graduated cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester in 2017 where she majored in English Literature and wrote for print magazines and social media. At Walker’s, Allie was Head of Day Students and Head of Cicerones as well as a member of the Varsity Equestrian Team.
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Sam Hotchkiss
Latin Faculty
Sam Hotchkiss makes his triumphant return to Connecticut, the land of his birth, to teach Latin at The Ethel Walker School. While away, he received a B.A. in Classics from Reed College, an M.A. in Classical Languages and Literatures from the University of Chicago, and another M.A. in Latin and Classical Humanities from UMass Boston, where he also obtained his Massachusetts teaching licensure. He taught Latin for two years at the public high school in Needham, Massachusetts, and got his first taste of independent school teaching at the College Preparatory School in Oakland, California. He loves the twelve-bar blues, the Italian sonnet, and the intricate rhythms of Greek and Latin poetry. He lives on campus.
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Karim Mabrouk
French Faculty
Karim joins Walker’s faculty on a full-time basis this year as a member of the World Languages faculty specializing in French; previously he served on the faculty on a part-time basis. Karim will teach French 1B, 2, and 4 this academic year. He is fluent in French and Arabic and has focused some of his work on teaching French for diplomacy and international affairs. Previously, Karim was a Graduate Fellow and Visiting Lecturer at Trinity College (Hartford, CT), an instructor at Yale University, and he held various teaching and administrative roles at the University of Connecticut. He is a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) at the University of Connecticut in French Language & Literature. He holds Master of Arts degrees from UConn in both International Studies and French Culture Language & Literature and a Graduate Certificate in Human Rights Studies. Karim earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both International and French Studies from Iona College. Karim is a JV soccer coach and will coach swimming in the winter.
Dr. Emma Mitchell
Science Department Chair, Physics Faculty
A graduate of an all-girls independent secondary school, Emma earned her bachelor’s degree in Physics from Vassar College and her Ph.D. in Engineering Physics from the University of Virginia. Her doctoral research was in laboratory astrophysics and astrochemistry, focusing on thermal and radiation processing of frozen water in astronomical environments. She has received fellowships from both the NASA Earth and Space Science Program and the NASA Virginia Space Grant Consortium. She has been teaching at Walker’s since 2016. Emma also serves as President-Elect of the American Modeling Teachers Association, a non-profit organization that provides professional development in the Modeling Instruction guided-inquiry approach to teaching science. In her free time, Emma is also a passionate cook and baker.
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John Monagan
History Faculty
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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Jill Mountford
Assistant Athletic Director for Operations, Varsity Lacrosse Coach
Jill Mountford joined Walker’s in the fall of 2023 as head coach of the varsity lacrosse team after graduating from Bentley University with a Bachelor in Science in Management. Coach Mountford also coaches at the club level for Nor’easter Lacrosse. She has a USA Lacrosse Gold Coaching Certification.
Coach Mountford also serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for Operations within the athletic department. She lives on campus with her dog Bentley and serves as a dorm parent and upper school advisor.
Randall Shō Northrop
History Department Chair, Executive Director of the Capabilities Approach
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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Mallory Pasquariello
Director of Residential Life and Student Activities, Senior Class Dean
Mallory Pasquariello brings more than a decade of experience in student life, academic support, and community leadership to her role as Director of Residential Life and Student Activities at The Ethel Walker School. Since joining Walker’s in 2012, she has held multiple positions of increasing responsibility, including Assistant to the Deans Office, Dorm Parent, and Dorm Head. In addition to her administrative leadership, she contributes to the academic program as an Art History teacher.
In her current role, Mallory oversees the residential life program and student activities, guiding students in their personal growth while fostering a vibrant and inclusive boarding community. She also serves as Senior Class Dean, supporting students through the pivotal transition to college and beyond. Known for her ability to foster meaningful connections, she emphasizes student leadership, engagement, and the development of lifelong skills that extend well past the classroom.
Mallory holds a B.A. in Art History from Roger Williams University, with minors in Architecture, Business Management, and English Literature, and an M.A. in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester.
Passionate about empowering the next generation of female leaders, Mallory encourages students to “try everything,” embracing Walker’s spirit of discovery and the transformative experiences that come with boarding school life.
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Dr. Suzanne Piela P’22, '28
Science Faculty
Suzanne joined The Ethel Walker School in the fall of 2007 and since then has taught AP Biology, Advanced Biology, Honors Biology, General Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Honors Biochemistry, Equine Science, and an independent study in Microbiology. Suzanne earned her B.S. in Biology at the University of Notre Dame and her D.V.M. at the University of Minnesota. She also did a small animal internship in medicine, surgery, and emergency medicine at Rowley Memorial Animal Hospital in Springfield, MA.
Suzanne practiced as a small animal veterinarian for 10 years before transitioning to teaching. Prior to her role at Walker’s, she worked as a park naturalist and taught ecology at the elementary level, and worked as a middle and high school science and math tutor.
Suzanne is currently the Science Department Chair, coaches JV Tennis, and loves to ride at Walker’s barn when she has time.
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Katelyn Rodriguez
Art Faculty and Middle School Coordinator
During her undergraduate studies, Katelyn expanded her artistic and curatorial experience through programs in Miami at Art Basel and in New York at the New York Academy of Art Summer Residency Programs. These opportunities further strengthened her technical skills and broadened her perspective as an artist.
In 2023, she completed her master’s degree in Teacher Leadership at Central Connecticut State University, focusing on equity, justice, anti-racist pedagogy, innovative instructional practices, and restorative approaches in education.
Katelyn is deeply aligned with Walker’s mission and is dedicated to enriching the student experience, fostering creative growth, and inspiring a lifelong love of learning.
Nicole Sellew
English Faculty
Nicole Sellew grew up in Connecticut. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2021, where she studied English, creative writing, and film and media studies. She received her M.Litt. in creative writing from the University of St Andrews in 2022 and is now studying for her Ph.D. She teaches English and theater, and she is both a novelist and a playwright. Her debut novel will be published by Clash Books in 2025, and her writing for the stage has been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, among other places.
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Dr. Julia Sheldon P'20, '23
Science Faculty
Dr. Julia Sheldon P’20, ’23 began teaching science at Walker’s in 1998. Her childhood fascination with the natural world led her to love science and eventually to pursue a degree in chemistry at the University of California at San Diego. During her time at UCSD, Julia became a certified SCUBA diver and worked in a research lab studying fish physiology at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Julia also discovered a passion for teaching through serving as a teaching assistant and mentoring low income, first-generation college students in the Ronald McNair program at UCSD. After college, Julia continued her research and teaching at Yale University, where she earned a Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry while studying the interactions between DNA and the proteins that begin the cellular process of transcription.
At Walker’s, Julia is passionate about engaging students in science by encouraging them to observe the environment around them and to explore how science can help them understand and improve their world. A highlight of her career was being named a National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, which allowed her to travel on an expedition to the Arctic and to develop and teach an interdisciplinary elective course about Climate Change at Walker’s. Julia also co-developed and co-teaches Honors Scientific Research in Antibiotic Discovery, Walker’s research-based science course that guides students to search for new antibiotics in response to the worldwide antibiotic resistance crisis. In addition, she has held several administrative roles at Walker’s including Science Department Chair, Co-Dean of Faculty, and Dean of Studies.
Julia has embarked on several more educational travel experiences over the past few years: two visits to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic, a safari to learn about climate change and sustainability in Tanzania, and an expedition to Antarctica with a cohort of female and nonbinary leaders in STEMM with Homeward Bound. She uses these experiences in the classroom to help her students to become engaged and informed citizens of the world.
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Dr. David Thacker P'24, '27
English Faculty, English Chair, and Director of Community Partnerships
Dave joined Walker’s in 2018 from Florida State University where he was completing his Ph.D. in Creative Writing and teaching English. He has enjoyed teaching for the past 11 years at the university level but was thrilled to join Walker’s where he spends more time focused on teaching and getting to know his students. A published poet, Dave earned a B.S. in English, summa cum laude, from Weber State University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The University of Idaho. Dave is passionate about community partnerships and is the director of Walker’s Community Partnerships program.
Read Full ProfileImportant Phone Numbers
Main Desk
+1-860-408-4467
Nurse
+1-860-408-4289
Counselor
+1-860-408-4284
Dean of Students
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m-4:00 p.m.
+1-860-408-4324
Residential Life
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m-4:00 p.m.
+1-860-408-4237
Administrator on Duty (AOD)
Monday-Friday after 4:00 p.m., weekends
+1-860-821-3080
Cluett House Faculty On Duty
Monday-Friday after 4:00 p.m., weekends
+1-203-707-1154
Lucy Jean House Faculty On Duty
Monday-Friday after 4:00 p.m., weekends
+1-860-266-5861
Mountain View House Faculty On Duty
Monday-Friday after 4:00 p.m., weekends
+1-860-266-5864
Calling Future
New Girls!
Our Priority application Deadline
is January 15
Our application deadline is coming up soon — submit yours now. We can’t wait to learn more about you!
