Jenni Biehn: Jenni has joined Admission as the Dean of Enrollment Management. Jenni has a BA from Bucknell University. Prior to Westtown, she was the Director of Enrollment Management at Western Reserve Academy. Jenni shares, “I am happiest when I have a balance of social time with friends and family as well as quiet activities like reading, stargazing, gardening, puzzles, baking, walking the dog, and yoga. I love being around water—pool, lake and ocean! My husband and our three teenage sons are all Philadelphia sports fans who are happy to be back on their home turf.””

Vaniel Bunns: Vaniel has joined our Dining Service Team as a prep cook. Vaniel has an AD from Harrisburg Area Community College. Prior to Westtown, he was a Manager at Cook Out Restaurants. Vaniel shares, “I am from a family with military parents. Though I have lived in many places, I consider home to be St. Louis. I have two siblings—an older brother and younger sister. I love spending time with my wife Kelsey, playing video games, writing, and drawing. I enjoy cooking and finding good food spots! We live in East House on Johnny’s Way.”

Carlos Charriez: Carlos has joined the Middle School faculty teaching Science. Carlos has a BS from Pennsylvania State University and an MEd from Framingham State University. Prior to Westtown, he was the Sixth Grade Dean at Wilmington Friends School. Carlos shares, “I love the outdoors, especially forests, mountains, and lakes. I hiked 115 miles across Shenandoah National Park this summer with my oldest son on the AT trail. I like to fish and build stuff. I love Puerto Rican food. I enjoy gardening and hope students will join me this year in growing food and learning about nutrition and healthy eating.”

Audra dePrisco: Audra has joined our Lower School faculty as a 5th grade teacher. Audra has a BSEd from Bloomsburg University. Prior to Westtown, she taught 4th and 5th grades at Girard College. Audra shares, “This will be my 28th year in the classroom. I was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, in the heart of the Anthracite Region and I am a graduate of Bloomsburg University with continuing education credits through Bloomsburg and University of San Diego. I have taught every grade level from preschool through eighth grade in schools in Hazleton, Harrisburg, Millville (PA), and Philadelphia. I am a trained actor with over fifty productions under my belt and I specialize in playing peculiar older women (even before I became a peculiar older woman). My most recent appearance was as the Trunchbull in Girard College’s production of Matilda Jr. last June. I have an intense interest in world history and nutritional anthropology and a deep love of cheese, the color yellow, nature, and playing ukulele. I do the latter in an acoustic duo with my husband, Jeremy. We play a lot of coffee shops and farmers markets.”

Niral Desai: Niral has joined the Upper School faculty and will be teaching physics. Niral has a BA and MS from the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to Westtown, he was a physics and math teacher at The Agnes Irwin School. Niral shares, “I am a new faculty teaching physics in the Upper School. Besides physics, I enjoy video games (a lot), and appreciate stand-up comedy. Come find me if you’d like to chat about Nintendo, ask a question about particle physics, or drop a great joke!”

Sierra Doyle: Sierra has joined Upper School as the Psychologist. Sierra has a BS from West Chester University, an MS from Chestnut Hill College and a PsyD from Immaculata University. Prior to Westtown, she worked as a behavior consultant at Assessment and Treatment Alternatives. Sierra shares, “I have worked in the mental health field for 10 years. I recently completed my doctorate in Psychology at Immaculata University. I enjoy cooking and am a huge Eagles fan!!! Looking forward to working with everyone at Westtown.”

Kae Dunn: Kae has joined the Middle School Faculty as an Emerging Educator Fellow. Kae has a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University. Prior to Westtown, she was the Assistant Teacher at Easterseals Arkansas Developmental Preschool. Kae shares, “I love the outdoors like hiking and taking nature walks. I enjoy cooking and baking all types of food. I love listening to and creating music. I also love to read and write. A fun fact about me is that I am the oldest of seven siblings.”

Kelsey Hicks-Bunns: Kelsey has joined the Upper School as the Upper School Director of Equity, Justice, and Belonging. Kelsey has a BA from University of Tennessee and a MEd from Mercer University. Prior to Westtown, she was the Equity and Inclusion Consultant at Open Research Lab. Kelsey shares, “I’m originally from Clarksdale, MS and grew up between there and Memphis, TN. Of course this means I love good food and live music. This is my third time living in Pennsylvania. Most notably, the last time I lived here started in 2017 and brought this wonderful person named Vaniel into my life. I attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Mercer University in Atlanta, GA where I earned my Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership. I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.”

Sarah Jacien: Sarah has joined our Middle School faculty as the Math and Innovation Technology teacher. Sarah has a BSEd and MS from West Chester University. Prior to Westtown, she was the 3rd – 5th grade math teacher at Episcopal Academy. Sarah shares, “I am an animal lover and have been riding horses competitively since I was in 5th grade. I am the happiest when I am at the barn with my horse, Giselle.”

Sandy Litvin : Sandy has joined the Upper School faculty and will be teaching biology. Sandy has a BS from West Chester University and a MA from Gratz College. Prior to Westtown, she was the science teacher at Unionville-Chadds Ford School District. Sandy shares, “I have been a Chester County resident since 1980 and have been teaching biology since 1994. I recently retired and am now returning to teaching here at Westtown. Hobbies include equestrian activities, golf, exploring new parts of our amazing country and world. Fun fact: my first job when I moved to this area was numismatic sales.”

Francine Locke: Francine has joined Westtown as the new Director of Sustainability. Francine has a BS and MS from Temple University. Prior to Westtown, she was the Chief Sustainability Officer for the County of Delaware. Franice shares, “My hobbies are spending time with family, gardening, painting, and enjoying food! Fun Fact: I will be traveling to Saudi Arabia to visit my son and his family at the end of the year. My son is studying the Arabic language and history at the University of Madinah.”

Liz Penland: Liz Penland has joined the Upper School as the Dean of Students. Liz has a BA from Bryn Mawr College, and an MA, MPhil, and PhD from Yale University. Prior to Westtown, she was the Dean of Students at Wyoming Seminary. Liz shares, “I grew up in Boston. I love working in boarding schools. My hobbies are walking three little dogs, reading as many genres of books as possible, and geeking out about Mediterranean antiquity and ancient languages and cultures. I also knit, crochet, and travel when I can.”

Sarah Pressman ’05: Sarah has joined the Middle School faculty teaching Social Studies. Sarah has a BA from Elizabethtown College and an MEd from Cabrini University. Prior to Westtown, she was the Department Chair and Social studies teacher at Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School. Sarah shares, “I am a native of West Chester, Pennsylvania, and have grown up in the sphere of Westtown being a proud 2005 grad. My husband (Ben), our two children (Brooks and Albert), and I, just recently moved to the family farm near Pocopson, Pennsylvania. I love the outdoors, hiking, reading and traveling. Most weekends you will find me hanging out with my family, at the local farmer’s market, running errands, and exploring the Chester County region.”

Shawn Rowley: Shawn has joined the Upper School as the Director of Theater. Shawn has a BFA from Rider University. Prior to Westtown, she was the Upper and Middle School Theater Director at Garrison Forest School. Shawn shares, “I have one son named Alex and a doggo (black lab mix) named Timmy! I love all things theater, reading, skiing, anything to do with water (swimming, sailing, etc.), travel, and trying new things. A fun fact about me: I was a seat filler for the Tony Awards for seven years.”

Simon Sarkodie: Simon has joined the Upper School faculty teaching English. Prior to Westtown, he was an English teacher at Woodberry Forest School. Simon shares, “I hold a BA from Hunter College, CUNY, and an MA from the University of Virginia, both in English literature and African American Studies. When I am not reading a new book, you can find me experimenting with new recipes from the New York Times cooking section. I also love to spend time on the golf course, play a casual game of tennis, and explore new restaurants and coffee shops.”

Emily Smulowitz: Emily has joined our Middle School faculty teaching science. Emily shares, “I graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Environmental Geography in 2015 and earned my Masters in Education from Temple University in 2021.  I have been teaching formally for three years in the Philadelphia School District. Previous to teaching in Philadelphia, I worked at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education as a Program Coordinator. Outside of teaching, I spend my time playing ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and tennis. I also enjoy bird watching and plant identification. I am excited to begin my journey at Westtown!”

Emma Teneza: Emma has joined the Lower School faculty as an Emerging Educator Fellow. Emma has a BA from Queens University of Charlotte. Prior to Westtown, she was a student teacher at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Emma shares, “I really enjoy triathlon, hiking, reading books, and watching Netflix. A fun fact about me is that I know how to play the drums!”

Sophie Vilmatelo ’13: Sophie has joined our Library department as the Upper and Middle School Librarian. Sophie has a BA from The University of the South and an MS in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute School of Information. Prior to Westtown, she was the Lower and Middle School Librarian at The Brooklyn Waldorf School. Sophie shares, “I enjoy reading, knitting, and playing the piano. A fun fact: My husband and I met as students at Westtown! We are both alums and very happy to be back.”

Franco Yannielli: Franco has joined our Middle School faculty teaching Spanish. Prior to Westtown, he was the Spanish graduate teaching assistant at Northern Arizona University. Franco shares, “I was a Fulbright FLTA at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. I hold a BA in Teaching English as a Second Language from Argentina and an MA in Teaching Spanish from Northern Arizona University. I love anything outdoors—hiking, working out, and going on adventures. I also enjoy reading, hanging out with friends, coffee, movies, and traveling. I’m always up for having fun! I speak both Spanish and English. A fun fact: I’m Argentinian.” 

Perry Zanki: Perry has joined the Upper School faculty teaching chemistry. Perry has a BA and BEd from Windsor University and a MA from West Chester University. Prior to Westtown, he taught chemistry at Archbishop John Carroll High School and Friends Select School. Perry shares, “I was born in Canada, was a flower farmer in California, and play bike polo. A fun fact about me: I like to build ‘Live Edge’ furniture in my spare time.”