José Benítez Meléndez joins the modern languages department to teach Spanish. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Spanish education with minors in French and Italian from the University of Puerto Rico, José earned his master’s degree from Middlebury College in Mediterranean Studies, Spanish, and Italian. José has tutored students in Florence, Italy; instructed kindergarteners in Romania; and, most recently, taught Spanish and lived in a dormitory at the Darrow School. José will live in Wolcott House.
Jamila Capitman joins the Upper School as director of student multicultural programming. Jamila received her bachelor’s degree from Temple University, and since 2006 she has served in a variety of roles, including seven years as youth coordinator at VISIONS, Inc., a training and consulting organization specializing in diversity and inclusion. An actress, director and playwright, Jamila oversees her own production company, Raw Fruit, which has produced over twenty plays in the Philadelphia area.
Melissa Figueroa joins Milton’s English department. Melissa received her bachelor’s degree in English literature from UCLA. She has since earned a master’s degree in teaching and curriculum from Harvard University and a second master’s degree in educational leadership from Simmons College. A long-time instructor in the talented and gifted program at the University of Massachusetts (Boston), Melissa has taught English at the Boston Latin School for the last eleven years. Melissa will live in Forbes House.
Kate Hamblet, a new member of the English department, earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Yale University and her master’s degree in Victorian Studies from Oxford University. A veteran teacher, she has taught at the Potomac School in Maclean, Virginia; at the Brimmer and May School in Chestnut Hill; and, most recently, at the Winsor School, where Kate also served as advisor to the student newspaper.
Mark Heath joins Milton as a participant in the University of Pennsylvania’s Resident Masters in Teaching program. Mark earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University with a concentration in government and a citation in Spanish. While at Harvard, Mark completed the Harvard Undergraduate Teacher Education Program; served as president of the Harvard Best Buddies chapter; and worked as a peer advisor to incoming Harvard students. Mark will teach in the history and social sciences department.
Jennifer Hughes, a new member of the visual arts department, earned her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and her master’s degree in printmaking from the University of Iowa. Since 2009 she has served as studio manager at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, where she has also served as an instructor. Jennifer has taught at the Eliot School in Jamaica Plain; at Tufts University’s Experimental College; and at the Boston Architectural College. A practicing artist, she has held solo shows at Harvard University’s Holyoke Center Arcade Gallery and Roxbury Community College.
Eric Idsvoog joins Milton Academy’s English department. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin (Madison), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and English literature, Eric is completing his doctoral work in English literature at Harvard University. The winner of Harvard’s Francis James Child Teaching Prize, Eric also won the Bok Center Teaching Award eight times for his work as a teaching assistant and tutor. Most recently, Eric has served as an adjunct professor at Stonehill College.
Joel Moore, a new member of the science department, earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in math at Oklahoma State University and his doctorate degree in organic chemistry from the University of Kansas, where he mentored undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry. After completing a National Institutes of Health fellowship at Harvard University, Joel worked for eight years as a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry.
Patrick Owens joins Milton as a participant in the University of Pennsylvania’s Resident Masters in Teaching program. A graduate of Georgetown University, Patrick earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and psychology, with a minor in French. While an undergraduate at Georgetown, Patrick served as a teaching assistant in probability and statistics courses and tutored in the Washington, D.C., school system. Patrick will join the math department as a teaching fellow.
Allison Nishitani will teach biology as a new member of the science department. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Allison earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience and her doctorate in neuroscience from Harvard University. While at Harvard, Allison served as a teaching fellow for Neurobiology and Behavior; conducted research at the Harvard Medical School; and co-chaired the Harvard Graduate Women in Science and Engineering group and the Harvard Women in Neuroscience committee.
Hannah Pulit, a member of Milton’s class of 2007, joins the English department this fall. After graduating summa cum laude from Colby College with a bachelor’s degree in English, Hannah returned to Milton as the deans’ office coordinator, a co-teacher of advanced creative writing, and, for the past year, a resident and advisor in Hallowell House. Hannah is in her second year of the master’s degree program in English, American, and world literature at Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English.
Jesse Sawyer joins the classics department. Jesse earned his bachelor’s degree in classical languages at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and his master’s degree in classical languages from the University of Georgia. Jesse began his teaching career at the University of Georgia, and has since taught at both independent and charter schools, most recently at the Sturgis charter school in Hyannis, where he taught both introductory and higher level courses in the International Baccalaureate program.
Molly Swain, a new member of the visual arts department, earned her bachelor’s degree in fine arts and her master of arts in studio teaching from Boston University. Molly is not entirely new to Milton. Former captain of the Boston University women’s lacrosse team, Molly served as assistant coach for Milton’s girls’ lacrosse team last spring. In addition to teaching visual arts courses, Molly will continue coaching lacrosse and assist in the outdoor program.
James Williams, who joins our mathematics department, earned his bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and his master’s degree in engineering from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst). Following a decade-long stint as an engineer, James has taught at Suffield Academy, The Hill School, and, most recently, Verde Valley Academy in Sedona, Arizona, where he also coached the varsity boys’ basketball team and advised international students.
