Friday Feature: New faces of Thayer

To get to know our new faculty and staff a little better, we asked them to answer a few questions about themselves. 

Today, we learn more about:

• Upper School Science Faculty Alyson Fulton
• Associate Upper School Dean of Students | Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Olivia Pena
• Upper School World Language Faculty Isabel Knudson
• Upper School World Language Faculty Luke Westman

Meet Alyson Fulton

In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie? 

Favorite food: Carbonara pasta
Favorite book: any psychological thriller
Favorite movie: Interstellar

If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be? 

Princess Diana

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

Stop worrying about things out of your control. It will all work out in the end!

What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school?

It’s okay to not have your entire life planned out!

What’s your idea of the perfect day?

Sitting by water with a coffee, croissant, and a book; ideally in another country.

Meet Olivia Pena

In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie? 

Favorite food: chocolate/brownies, chicken wings, and fruit
Favorite book: Hooray for Diffendoofer Day by Dr. Suess

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

Your feelings are not a choice. Your actions and behaviors are.

What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school?

I wish I knew that I never do my best work at night. Go to bed and start fresh in the morning!

What’s your idea of the perfect day?

My perfect day would involve waking up without an alarm, spending time outside, seeing friends/family, and eating amazing food!

Meet Isabel Knudson

In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie? 

Favorite food: Chicken gyro! Or tiramisu.
Favorite book: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Favorite movie: Mamma Mia! (a bit of a tone shift from my favorite book)

If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be? 

Agatha Christie. I love Hercule Poirot and I need to pick the brain of the woman behind so many intricate mysteries.

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

“If you can’t get out of it, get into it.” 

So much of our daily life is made up of obligations—chores, work, school, etc—and sometimes we despise undesirable responsibilities. But I don’t want to dread most of my day when I’m the one who has to live it. Instead of dragging our feet and looking for a way out of an obligation, we can dive in with a go-getter attitude because everyone can learn something from anything. So if there’s a job you’re bored by, an assignment you’re stressed about, or a chore you’re dreading, and you can’t get out of it? Get into it. Find joy, or at least value, in everything you do and it’ll make life a little lighter.

What do you know now that you wished you’d known in middle school? 

With practice, everyone is capable of doing the daily crossword puzzle.

What’s your idea of the perfect day? 

The one I’m living today, because I’m living it! (as long as it starts with a good cup of pour-over coffee and the daily crossword…)

Meet Luke Westman

In order, what’s your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite movie? 

Favorite food: any dish from Haret Jdoudna in Madaba, Jordan
Favorite book: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Favorite movie: Hot Fuzz

If you could invite one historical figure to dinner, who would it be? 

Robin Williams, if he counts as a historical figure.

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

“This too shall pass,” said by many humans I’m sure, but most notably my grandmother, Nancy.

What do you know now that you wished you’d known in high school? 

I wish I knew that asking questions or admitting you do not understand is a sign of strength, not weakness.

What’s your idea of the perfect day? 

Wake up at 7 a.m. Coffee. Play sports all morning. Brunch. Nap in the afternoon. Arts and crafts in the evening. Dinner. TV Show. In bed by 10 p.m.