About Us

Our Team

Behind Every Great Student

At Geffen Academy, our educators are reflective practitioners with deep experience who are committed to supporting students’ ideas, passions, and academic interests.

List of 111 items.

  • Michael Albertson

    Ed.D. - Music Department Chair
    Michael Albertson is the founding Music Department Chair of Geffen Academy at UCLA and a 20+ year music educator.
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  • Nathaly Alverio

    M.A. - Academic Advising and College Guidance Specialist
    Ms. Nathaly Alverio is part of the Office of Academic Advising & College Guidance.
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  • Lindsey Anthony-Bacchione

    M.F.A. - Communications Manager
    Lindsey Anthony-Bacchione holds an M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University, Los Angeles, and a B.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
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  • Olufemi Aruleba

    B.S. - Math Educator
    Olufemi Aruleba joined our Mathematics Department this year. He received his B.S. from the University of California, Irvine.
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  • Erik Arutyunyan

    M.A. - Mathematics Educator
    Mr. Arutyunan graduated from CSUN in 2019 with a Master's degree in Mathematics with distinction. Originally from Moscow, Mr. Arutyunan has been in the United States since 2011. Math has been his favorite subject since Middle School. His goal is to inspire future generations of mathematicians.


     
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  • Elizabeth Ashforth

    Ph.D. - Director of Student Research Programs, Department Chair of ITrack
    Dr. Ashforth was a science instructor at Marlborough School for nine years.
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  • David Banks

    Ph.D., M.S., M.Ed - Science Educator
    Dr. Banks, an Educator in the Science Department, teaches Biology to Sophomores and Advanced Molecular Biology to Juniors and Seniors. 
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  • Chris Barker

    B.A. - Business Operations Manager
    Chris is a founding member of the Business Office team and has been at UCLA since 2010.
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  • Shelby Bartlett

    M.A. - Associate Dean of Middle School & Summer School Director
    Shelby is passionate about student leadership, social-emotional growth, and community engagement.
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  • Michael Carter

    M.F.A. - Visual Arts Educator
    In addition to being an Educator, Michael is a visual artist working in painting and performance.
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  • Jake Cassman

    M.M. - Music Educator
    Mr. Jake is an educator and practicing musician/songwriter who instills a creative and exploratory spirit in the classroom. 
     
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  • Melissa Castro

    B.A. - Admissions Specialist
    As a member of the Admissions Office, Melissa supports prospective families throughout the application process.
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  • Sibyll Carnochan Catalan

    Ph.D. - Founding Head of School
    Dr. Catalan has been the founding Head of School for Geffen Academy since its inception 9 years ago. Dr. Catalan holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University, an M.Ed. from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.
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  • Jack Caughey

    Ph.D. - English Department Chair
    One of Geffen Academy at UCLA's founding Educators, Jack is chair of the English department and teaches 11th-grade English and 12th Grade Humanities.
     
     
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  • Chloe Chvatal

    M.S. - Mathematics Educator
    Chloe presents mathematics as a dynamic skill developed gradually through consistent practice. 
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  • Aaron Cohen

    Ph.D. – Mathematics Educator
    Aaron received his B.S., M.Eng. and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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  • David Collicutt

    M.A. - Athletic Director & Head Golf Coach
    David oversees Geffen Academy's robust competitive athletics program, with over 40 competitive teams in 17 different sports.
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  • Sean Conlin

    B.A. - Theater Arts Educator
    Sean Conlin is a graduate of UC Berkeley.
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  • Judit Csotsits

    M.F.A. - Visual Arts Educator
    An alumna of UCLA, Judit teaches visual arts in the Middle School at Geffen Academy.
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  • Tracy Daniels

    Executive Assistant to the Head of School
    Ms. Daniels is part of the founding, pioneering team that made Geffen Academy a reality in 2016. She has built her career by being dependable, resourceful, anticipating and problem-solving, and communicating with diplomacy. 
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  • Johanna Day

    Ed.D. - English &  Humanities Educator
    Dr. Day earned her doctorate in education from California State University, Los Angeles.
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  • Amber de Seriere-Pataki

    M.A. - Physical Education Chair
    Amber previously headed the women’s soccer program at West Los Angeles College and the girls soccer program at Marlborough School.
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  • Daniel Delgado

    B.A. - Business Operations Assistant
    As a member of the Business Office team, Daniel performs a broad range of administrative support and customer service functions.  Daniel holds a B.S. in Public Policy from the University of Southern California. 


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  • Kara Donnell

    B.A. - Human Resources Coordinator
    Kara assists the Human Resources team and works closely with Educators.
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  • Lauren Ershoff

    M.A. - Associate Director of Development
    While supporting the Geffen Academy Fund, Lauren works closely with the Family Engagement Co-op.
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  • La Keisha Fair

    M.A. & ATC - Athletic Trainer
    As our athletic trainer, La Keisha is responsible for recognizing and treating injuries, identifying general medical conditions, and making the appropriate referrals.
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  • Ashleigh Fata

    Ph.D. - Latin & Humanities Educator
    Ashleigh, or Magistra Fata to her students, is a Latin Educator with a passion for ancient Greek, history, and archaeology.
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  • Sophia Ferrone

    B.A. - Senior Human Resources Generalist
    Sophia joined the Geffen Academy community in 2018.
     

     
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  • Debrah Fine

    Ph.D. – Science Educator
     
    Debrah brings a wealth of K-12 STEM teaching experience to Geffen Academy, having taught both middle and upper school at La Jolla Country Day School.  Most recently, Debrah headed up the Vertex Learning Lab in San Diego, where she collaborated closely with leaders and scientists at the company to deliver high-quality STEM education, scholarships, and internship programs to talented students in the San Diego Unified School District.
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  • Elizabeth "Liz" Franco

    M.S. - Assistant Athletic Director
    Liz oversees the athletics program for middle school students in grades 6-8, as well as supporting the overall athletics operations for the high school athletics. 
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  • Kimberly Gallant

    B.S. - Science Educator
    Kimberly Gallant teaches Chemistry and Advanced Chemistry. She is a seasoned educator dedicated to the field of STEM education. She is committed to inspiring an appreciation for science in her students. 
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  • Kevin Garcia-Lopez

    B.A. - Physical Education Educator 
    Coach Kevin brings a passion for physical fitness, teamwork, and holistic well-being to students. He has a strong educational background from the University of Concordia Irvine and is committed to promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. He strives to inspire those around him to be themselves through his energy, smile, and joy. He is eager to contribute his skills and enthusiasm to our community.
     
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  • Paul Geisler

    M.A. - Registrar & Scheduler
    Mr. Geisler has been working in education for over thirteen years and brings expertise and experience from schools in California and abroad. 
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  • Leigh-Michil George

    M.F.A. & Ph.D. - English Educator
    A teacher since 2010, Leigh-Michil aims for all her students to leave her classes more confident, equipped with reading and writing knowledge that they can translate into self-knowledge.
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  • Jada Golden

    M.S.Ed & W.D.P. - Learning Specialist
    As a licensed special educator, Jada works directly with students and educators at Geffen Academy to support both the implementation of accommodations and the art of differentiation. She began her formal teaching career in Boston Public as an elementary inclusion classroom teacher and summer high school differentiation specialist, where she was awarded the Boston Education Foundation grant three years in a row. 
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  • April Grace

    B.F.A. - Wellness & Psychology Educator
    As an educator since 2008 specializing in wellness and human development, April has taught in both clinical and educational settings but is most passionate about working with youth.
     
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  • Stefan Grunspan

    B.S. - I-Track Educator
    Stefan Grunspan, an I-Track Educator, teaches Engineering, Design, and Robotics to middle and high school students.


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  • Armando Guerrero Jr.

    Ph.D. – Spanish Educator
    Dr. Guerrero, or Profe Guerrero to his students, is a sociolinguist and passionate educator with over a decade of experience in teaching Spanish. He holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages & Literature and an M.A. in Spanish from UCLA, as well as a B.A. in Spanish and Philosophy with a minor in Educational Studies from UC Santa Barbara.


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  • John Guzmán Aguilar

    M.A. - Spanish Educator
    John Guzmán Aguilar teaches Middle School Spanish 3 and Upper School Spanish 1 and 3 in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
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  • Jennifer Haber

    J.D., M.Ed. - English Educator
    Jennifer Haber works in the middle school as a 7th-grade English Educator. She has been working in education for over 25 years and is passionate about instilling a lifelong appreciation for books, reading, and writing in her students. 

     
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  • Aaron (Ari) Hagler

    Ph.D. - History Educator
    The History Department welcomes Dr. Aaron Hagler. Aaron earned his B.A from Brandeis University, his M.A. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from the University of Pennsylvania.
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  • Sandra Halajian

    Ed.D. - Dean of Instruction and Educator Culture (DoI&EC)
    Sandra brings twenty years of experience working in secondary schools, joining us most recently from North Hollywood High School, where she was an English teacher and an Instructional Coach. Dr. Halajian has a Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA; a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from California State University, Los Angeles; a Master of Arts Degree in Education Administration from Concordia University; and recently completed her Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from California State University, Los Angeles. 
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  • Sarah Harrell

    Ph.D. - Latin & Linguistics Educator
    Dr. Harrell earned her B.A. in Ancient Greek and Latin from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. in Classics from Princeton University.
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  • Kathryn Hayes

    M.A. - Middle School Division Director
    Ms. Hayes has taught in traditional K-12 and independent school settings both locally and abroad with a consistent focus on student-centered learning that balances academic rigor with attention to students’ social-emotional growth and development.
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  • Allan Hendrickson

    Ph.D. - Mathematics Educator
    Allan is a compassionate educator with a broad teaching experience in math, covering nearly all ages and levels. He believes mathematics is a beautiful and powerful subject that belongs to everyone.
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  • Hillary Higgins

    J.D. - Associate Director of Academic Advising & College Guidance
    Hillary's current role at Geffen Academy builds on a decade of experience in education.
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  • Carol Hoffstedt

    M.S. - Mathematics Educator
    As an educational explorer, Carol Hoffstedt seeks to empower her students to be math-proficient and realize that math is even more beautiful than it is useful.
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  • Spencer Howell

    B.A. - Student Services Coordinator
    Spencer is Geffen Academy’s Student Services Coordinator.  Previously serving as the Facilities and Business Operations Coordinator, Spencer is now part of the Dean Team and Counseling Team in the Student Life Suite. 
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  • Yujia Hua

    M.A. - Mandarin Educator
    Ms. Hua has worked in K-12 schools in New York and Iowa.
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  • Nicholas Hurtt

    M.S. - Mathematics Department Chair
    Mr. Hurtt joined the mathematics department at Geffen Academy in 2018 and began serving as the Mathematics Department Chair in 2023.
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  • Stacey Jasper

    M.Ed. & M.A. - Assistant Middle School Academic Dean
    Ms. Jasper is the Assistant Middle School Academic Dean for Geffen Academy. She oversees processes for welcoming and acclimating new and returning Middle School students to the Geffen Academy academic program.
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  • Morell Jones

    M.Ed. - Dean of Students and School Culture
    Over the last six years at Geffen Academy, Moe has developed a robust 7th grade Civics curriculum and instituted and grown the Model UN program for middle school. Moe brings vision, clarity, and a deep commitment to Geffen Academy's founding mission, and we are pleased to welcome his ideas, warmth, and creativity to the work of the Student Life Suite. 
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  • Janessa Kelly

    M.A. - Principal Learning Specialist
    Janessa interfaces with students and families in the areas of counseling and social-emotional support. Janessa’s therapeutic approach stems from the belief that validating and understanding the whole student, coupled with data-driven information, and effective intervention leads to the optimum environment for students to thrive.
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  • Drina Krieger

    Events & Alumni Manager
    B.A. - Events and Alumni Manager
    Drina, a proud native of Los Angeles, has been producing and managing events in the city for over ten years. She is dedicated to developing relationships with community partners and creating meaningful events, driven by her passion for bringing people together.
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  • Chris Kyle

    M.F.A. - English Educator
    Chris Kyle teaches English. He is also a writer. He earned his M.F.A. in screenwriting from UCLA, where he's been teaching for the past decade in the School of Theater, Film & Television. He graduated from Duke with a degree in English and Classical Studies. 
     
     
     
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  • Lianne Laguitan

    M.S.W. - School Counselor
    In her capacity as a school counselor, Lianne is part of the Student Life Suite and works closely with students and families.
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  • Hyunji Alice Lee

    M.S. - Mathematics Educator
    Hyunji Alice Lee is motivated to help Geffen Academy students become more independent and creative mathematical thinkers.
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  • Jason Lee

    B.A. - Business Operations Specialist
    Jason has experience in events, audio/video, facilities management, client relations, procurement, and more.
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  • Crystal Lopez

    M.Ed. - Faculty Services Coordinator
    Crystal Lopez holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Science from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master's in Education from National University, specializing in social-emotional learning.
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  • Luis Miguel Macías

    M.A. - Spanish Educator
    Luis Miguel is originally from El Paso, Texas, and completed his master’s degrees in teaching Spanish as a second language at the University of Alcalá de Henares and Spanish literature at the University of Oklahoma.

     
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  • Patrick Mahany

    B.A. – Director of Advancement
    Patrick Mahany is an advancement professional with extensive experience in multi-million dollar capital campaigns, major gift work, and annual giving programs within the education sector. 
     
     
     
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  • Miriam Margolis

    B.A. - Director of Admissions
    A founding member of the Admissions team, Miriam has been with Geffen Academy at UCLA since 2016.
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  • Amelia Mathis

    M.Ed - Physical Education Educator
    As a graduate from UCLA with a B.A. in African American Studies, with a concentration in Sociology, Amelia Mathis has made a lifelong commitment to the education, development, and leadership of young people.
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  • Maskit Maymon

    Ph.D. - Science Department Chair
    Maskit has been a science Educator at Geffen Academy for five years. Her primary instructional focus and content area expertise has been in the area of Evolution, Ecology and Environmental Science. Maskit led the first 7th grade research poster symposium at the UCLA Life Science Courtyard last year and played a significant role in the Educator leadership for the student Jewish Affinity Group.
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  • Jill Mayorga

    Ed.D. - Science Educator
    Jill Mayorga has been a science educator for 19 years, teaching high school physics, chemistry, biology and physical science in Massachusetts, New York, and California. 
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  • Megan McEwen

    Ph.D. - Science Educator
    Dr. Megan teaches Physics and Advanced Astrophysics to 11th and 12th graders at Geffen Academy.
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  • Steve Mejia

    Ed.D. - Assistant Upper School Academic Dean
    Dr. Mejia assists Upper School students in need of academic support and coordinates remediation for A-G/graduation requirements.
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  • teddy menard

    M.S.W. - School Counselor
    As a school counselor, mx. teddy provides individual therapeutic support with students one-to-one, facilitates group sessions, and contributes to school-wide efforts promoting positive social-emotional development in collaboration with the Student Life Suite.
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  • John Miller

    Ph.D. - Humanities and History Educator
    John Miller teaches 9th-grade Humanities and 10th-grade History. He earned his Ph.D. in History from the University of Southern California and his B.A. and M.A. from the University of British Columbia. 
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  • Tori Moebus

    M.A. - Science Educator
    Victoria (Tori) Moebus has been a full-time science educator for four years with experience teaching in both middle and upper school. 
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  • Adam Morgenstern

    M.A. - History Educator
    Adam Morgenstern earned his B.A. and M.A. in history at California State University, Northridge. Adam taught higher education for eight years before joining Geffen Academy in 2024. He has taught at community college and, more recently, at CSUN and Loyola Marymount University. His areas of specialty include Constitutional history of the United States, the Cold War, and twentieth-century American foreign relations.


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  • Raquel Ochoa

    M.A. - Assistant Director of Admissions and Outreach
    In her role in the Admissions Office, Raquel advances her passion for all things education and community.
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  • Emma Oeland

    M.Ed. – History Educator
     Emma Oeland is a SoCal native, a UCLA Alum, and an M.Ed. graduate of Boston University. She has been teaching since 2015 and aims to encourage historical empathy in her students through the study of global history. She loves exploring new music, museums, and films and working on her Mandarin language skills. 
     
     
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  • Kasiemba Okeyo

    B.A. - I-Track Educator
    Kasiemba is a passionate filmmaker, songwriter, and composer driven by a deep fascination for the ever-evolving intersection of storytelling and technology. 
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  • Kate Oldre

    M.A. & M.Ed. - Associate Head of School
    In her role as Associate Head of School at Geffen Academy, Kate oversees the 6-12 Academic Program.  She is dedicated to refining and supporting an educational infrastructure that centers the student while honoring the roles of educators and families. 
     
     
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  • Mari Oropeza

    Ph.D. - Director of Academic Advising & College Guidance
    A native El Pasoan, Dr. Oropeza is our founding Director of Academic Advising & College Guidance.
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  • Kate Page-Lippsmeyer

    Ph.D. - English Educator
    Dr. Kate Page-Lippsmeyer joined Geffen Academy in 2020-2021 as an English Educator in the Upper School.
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  • Karla Perez-Mendoza

    Ph.D. - World Languages & Cultures Department Chair 
    Karla is part of the founding, pioneering team that made Geffen Academy a reality in 2014.
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  • Rebeca Puga

    M.F.A. & J.D. - Visual Arts Department Chair
    Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, Rebeca obtained a B.A., as well as a law degree, from Universidad de Chile at the School of Social Economical and Juridical Sciences and became an attorney.
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  • Anna Putsima

    M.S. - Mathematics Educator
    Anna Putsima is passionate about fostering a love for mathematics in the minds of her students.
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  • Christian Reed

    Ph.D. - English & Humanities Educator
    Christian Reed is a published essayist whose work has examined the writing of Herman Melville and Jorge Luis Borges. He has been an Educator at Geffen Academy’s English Department since 2017. 
     
     
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  • Didier Reiss

    J.D., C. Phil & M.A. - History Educator
    Didier is a founding Geffen Academy History and Humanities Educator, deeply committed to cultivating the digital literacy, nuance, and critical thinking skills that 21st-century students need to productively engage with the world.

     
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  • J.R. Rich

    B.A. - ITrack Educator
    J.R. or Mx. Rich (pronounced “mix”) to their students, has 8+ years teaching Maker, S.T.E.A.M., and New Media education. They’ve been in Makerspace environments since they were two years old and have been excited to watch the maker movement grow over the last three decades.
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  • Ben Riendeau

    B.A. - Senior Human Resources Manager
    Ben Riendeau brings more than 15 years of experience to his role as Senior Human Resources Manager at Geffen Academy.
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  • Ke'Yuanda Robertson

    M.A. - English Educator
    After earning her B.A. in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Southern California, Ke’Yuanda Robertson worked at ABC News’ Primetime and 20/20.
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  • Nancy Rodriguez

    MSPA - Chief Administrative Officer
    Nancy is the Chief Administrative Officer at Geffen Academy at UCLA. In this role she has worked hand in hand with the Head of School to launch the first independent secondary school in the UC system; creating new policies, procedures, processes, handbooks, negotiating the founding MOU with its Geffen Academy Educators, leading finance, student health program, business office, human resources team, IT/Ed Tech, facilities and other programs and systems. 
     
     

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  • Rebeca Rodriguez

    B.S. - School Nurse
    Rebeca supports student health at Geffen Academy through her role as school nurse.
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  • Tyler Russo

    B.A. - Campus Operations Assistant
    Tyler has been the Campus Operations Assistant since 2022, working closely with the Campus Operations Manager and Educators. 
     
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  • Ollie Savage

    M.A. - English Educator
    Ollie Savage has taught English in Los Angeles for the past 12 years, including positions at Milken and Oakwood Schools.
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  • Kelly Schwartz

    B.A. - Project Specialist
    A member of the Business Office, Kelly supports a variety of projects and programs at Geffen Academy.
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  • Jason Segall

    M.F.A. - Ceramics Educator
    Jason Segall will join the Visual Arts Department as our new Ceramics Educator. Jason received his BFA from Kansas City Art Institute and his MFA from Alfred University.
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  • Matt Sheridan

    M.F.A. - Visual Arts Educator
    A contemporary visual artist who works in abstract painting and animated video, Matt is our Media Arts educator, overseeing animation, video, photography, and production for our students.
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  • Nathan Simoneaux

    M.Ed. - History Department Chair 
    Nathan is our History Department Chair. In his role, Nathan works with History Department Educators to set the curriculum for the department, support and manage department classroom Educators, and play a role with the Department Chair group in leading school curriculum and culture.
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  • Aghavni Simonyan

    Ph.D. - Mathematics Educator
    Aghavni joins us from the University of California, Irvine (UCI).
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  • Courtney Slade

    M.B.A. - Mathematics Educator
    Courtney is dedicated to helping our students develop a robust understanding of mathematics as they become confident and creative problem solvers.
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  • Carla Soria

    M.A. - Spanish Educator
    Carla Soria teaches Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Carla Soria has been in the field of education for over 15 years. She is originally from Spain.
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  • Mackenzie Stratton

    M.A. - Associate Director of Academic Advising & College Guidance
    Ms. Stratton is a West LA native and has focused her career on helping students find their path. In 2019, she earned her Master's in Guidance & Counseling from Loyola Marymount University.
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  • Michael Strazzeri

    Campus Operations Manager
    Mike is a seasoned operations manager with a career spanning over 16 years at UC Irvine's Student Center & Event Services. He’s had the privilege to lead and mentor thousands of student staff members, streamlining onboarding processes and fostering a productive, efficient work environment. 
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  • Daniel Suarez

    B.S. - Information Systems Lead
    Daniel was formerly an IT analyst for UCLA Health and UCLA campus. Danny earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems in Business and Technology from California State University, Northridge.
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  • Ross Szabo

    M.A. - Wellness Director & Educator
    Ross is our founding Wellness Director who has developed and incorporated our unique Wellness program into our school curriculum. He has also created a Mental Health Education Institute that is hosted by Geffen Academy to provide schools with a common language for mental health and how educators can use their personal stories to normalize mental health in the classroom.
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  • Jeremy Tan

    M.S. - P.E. Educator; Upper School Strength and Conditioning Coach & Educator
    Jeremy supports our P.E. Department as both Educator and strength and conditioning coach.
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  • Wilson Trang

    B.A. - Science Educator
    Wilson Trang is a science Educator with over 15 years of experience working in the field of education.
     
     
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  • Zeke Trautenberg

    Ph.D. - Spanish Educator
    Zeke, or Profe T to his students, teaches Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Cultures. He holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literatures from UCLA.
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  • Matt Vacca

    M.A. - Upper School Division Director
    In his role at Geffen Academy, Matt facilitates and provides leadership to design, cultivate, implement, and execute the instructional operations for the Upper School.
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  • Millie Vasquez

    B.S. - Science Educator
    Millie teaches 6th grade science and contributes to a student-centered and inquiry-based curriculum.
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  • David Watts

    M.Ed. - Associate Dean, Upper School
    A native of Northern California, David brings a depth and breadth of experience as an administrator, teacher, advisor, coach, student advocate, and mentor. 
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  • Brianna Winn

    M.A. - Dean of Faculty
    Ms. Winn serves as Dean of Faculty at Geffen Academy. In this role, she works primarily with the Academic Leadership Team, namely Division Directors and Department Chairs, to support key administrative and instructional programs across the school. 
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  • François Wolman

    M.A. - French Educator
    François Wolman is originally from Paris, France, and completed a Master of Arts in Psychology from Pepperdine University. He previously taught at several public and private schools in the Los Angeles area for over 40 years. 
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  • Briana Young

    B.A. - Wellness Educator
     Briana is passionate about teaching wellness, human development, and psychology. She aims to help students understand themselves deeply and develop healthy habits that will support their wellbeing throughout life. 
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  • Ryun Yu

    B.S. - I-Track Educator; Computer Science 
    Ryun is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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  • Jenny Zhang

    B.A. - Mandarin Educator
    Jenny is an expert educator, having experience with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency bands, the College Board, the Confucius Institute, and schools all across the country.
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