Meet Our New Faculty 2023

WILBUR ALLEN

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION

A graduate of Temple University, Wilbur was a four-year member of the Men's Basketball program which competed in four NIT postseason campaigns. Upon graduation, Wilbur returned to his high school alma mater, Oak Hill Academy, where he served as a math and business management teacher, dorm parent, and associate head basketball coach. Over his five years at Oak Hill, Wilbur coached and mentored 12 NBA players and over 40 Division 1 athletes. After Oak Hill, Wilbur served as head coach of an instructional program in Beijing, China, and most recently, as Assistant Head Coach and Director of Basketball Administration at the University of Mississippi and University of Alabama-Birmingham. In addition to his Admission responsibilities, Wilbur coaches football and basketball and serves on the duty team and as an advisor.

PRODIGY BOSSELE-MEEHAN

FRENCH TEACHER

Upon graduating from the University of the Western Cape and Cape University of Technology in Cape Town, South Africa, Prodigy started her teaching career as a student teacher at Abbotts High School in Cape Town. She then served as a full-time teacher of French, English, and humanities at Nova Pioneer in Johannesburg, South Africa. Most recently, Prodigy taught French and English as a Second Language at Ligon Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, NC where, in addition to teaching, she also coached volleyball and track, and she spearheaded a student club fostering inclusion and cultural awareness. Prodigy teaches French, coaches cross-country and track, and serves as an advisor and dorm parent.

SHANNON TYREE BROWN*

DIRECTOR OF PARENT ENGAGEMENT

After a successful career in business, Shannon transitioned to the world of independent schools. The parent of two in middle school, Shannon served as the Parents Association President at Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Conn., for the past three years. During her tenure, Shannon created connections between families, students, and the school during the complicated pandemic years and was known by all as a creative and effective community builder and partner.

EJ COLLINS

TEACHING FELLOW IN HISTORY

A 2023 graduate of Amherst College, EJ majored in Black studies and education studies. At Amherst, he served as Junior and Senior Chair of the Black Student Union, as well as on the Equity in Mental Health Initiative Committee, Cultural Heritage Month Committee, and Amherst Spoken Word. EJ also served as a Student Mental Health educator and as an Amherst College Summer Bridge residential tutor. He is the recipient of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, Education Pros Fellowship, Meiklejohn Fellowship, and the 2022 Greg C. Call Fellowship. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he coaches Girls J.V. Basketball.

KIM COOPER

ENGLISH TEACHER

Currently a Teaching Fellow at Bennington College where she is completing her second Master’s degree, an M.F.A in creative writing, Kim will teach two sections of creative writing at Berkshire. Previously, she served as English teacher and Director of Equity and Inclusion at White Mountain School and Kimball Union Academy. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Kim also oversees the Dome, Berkshire's literary magazine, and serves as a dorm parent.

KEVIN CZEPIEL

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION

Kevin joined us from Northfield Mount Hermon school where he served as Admission and Advancement Officer and was the head boys’ hockey coach since 2016. Kevin led the NMH program to a 98-44-16 overall record from the past six seasons and oversaw the team’s growing successes including trips to the NEPSAC playoffs in 2018, 2019, and 2022. In 2018, Kevin was named Coach of the Year by both the New England Hockey Journal and Neutral Zone. In addition to his Admission responsibilities, he serves as head boys’ ice hockey coach, advisor, and dorm parent.

SHERI MAHONEY

SCIENCE TEACHER

Sheri joins us most recently from Mercersburg Academy where she taught biology and advanced studies biology, and served as a house head, advisor, and outdoor education leader. Prior to Mercersburg, she served in similar roles at Bosque Academy and Academy of the Lakes Academy. A graduate of University of Tennessee with a concentration in ecology and evolutionary biology, Sheri earned an M.Ed. in counseling from the University of New Mexico. In addition to teaching AP environmental science and biology at Berkshire, Sheri joins the fall and spring Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program staff and serves as an advisor and dorm parent.

CHRIS MEEHAN

SCIENCE TEACHER

Prior to Berkshire, Chris served as AP environmental science teacher and department chair at Beijing Royal School, program director at Aoji International School in Beijing, China, and Dean of Instruction at Nova Pioneer Ormonde in Johannesburg, South Africa. Currently, Chris is the program director of Team4Tech, which manages education-focused employee engagement programs and social impact volunteering projects. He teaches one section of environmental science.

VITALY NAZAROV*

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Upon completion of his M.D. and Ph.D. at State Pediatric Medical University in St. Petersburg, Russia, Vitaly completed a research residency at Yale School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, and completed a Master’s in public health at the University of Connecticut Medical School. He completed residencies at New Orleans Children's Hospital, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, and Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY. Most recently, Vitaly served as attending physician at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, Mass., and as pediatrician at MACONY Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine since 2014. Vitaly oversees the Student Health Center and provides regular on-call support.

TAYLOR SLONAKER

ASSISTANT THEATER DIRECTOR

A 2023 graduate of the University of Vermont, Taylor is a native of Great Barrington and attended Monument Mountain Regional High School where she developed her love for the performing arts. Her extensive theater resume includes productions at MMRHS, University of Vermont, Loyola University of Chicago, and Shakespeare and Company. Most recently, Taylor participated in the summer intensive program at Shakespeare and Company for early career actors. Her work supports Berkshire’s fall, winter, and spring theater productions.

LIZZY SPALDING '07

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION

Lizzy Spalding '07 returned to Berkshire in 2021 to work part-time in the Admission Office, following a career in advertising and healthcare. A graduate of Northeastern University, Lizzy became a full-time faculty member in the fall of 2023 and serves as a house parent, advisor, and head coach of J.V. Volleyball and Girls Varsity Tennis.