Friday Feature: New faces of Thayer

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:

  • Director of Annual Giving & Parent Relations Kelly Westerhouse
  • Penn Teaching Fellow and Middle School Science Faculty Emily Power
  • Upper School English Faculty Luke Tobin
  • Network and Systems Administrator Nate Melo

Director of Annual Giving &
Parent Relations
Kelly Westerhouse

Meet Kelly Westerhouse

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

Favorite food: In general, my favorite type of food is fish/seafood, unless you have a cannoli. I tend to favor savory over sweet; I like small bites and lots of variety, so sea-cuterie is my thing.
Favorite book: My favorite reread at the moment is Ruth Reichl’s Delicious—I love a story within a story.
Favorite movie: My ‘feel good’ movie is the Replacements and my ‘all the feels’ movie is Woman in Gold.

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

I would invite Abigail Adams because of how she used a library to educate herself when that wasn’t popular or accepted. Plus, she really used her many roles to be as out-of-the-box as possible.

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

I would have to say the best advice I’ve put into action is that it’s okay to change your mind and that very few decisions are truly irreversible.

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

The ability to tell a story well will get you further than you could imagine.

What’s your idea of the perfect day?

That’s hard to define—probably one that’s not very scheduled. I like to wake up on my own (no alarm) and have things to accomplish even if that includes holding down the couch. I’m equally fine with blue sky or rain and will be outside in both. Throw in music and good food and my husband to make me laugh and I’m good.


 

Penn Teaching Fellow and 
Middle School Science Faculty
Emily Power

Meet Emily Power

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

Favorite food: Cheese and crackers
Favorite book: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Favorite movie: Into the Wild

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

Princess Diana

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

Find the joy in every day.

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

Don’t cut your own bangs without a plan!

What’s your idea of the perfect day?

It’s early autumn, still warm but peak foliage. I climb a mountain with good friends and soak in the views at the summit over a lovely picnic. On our way home, we jump into freezing cold water and drive back with the windows down and the music turned (almost) all the way up. We end the night with stories and snacks and a movie. Or maybe a concert?


 

Upper School English Faculty
Luke Tobin

Meet Luke Tobin

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

Favorite food: a tuna poke bowl
Favorite book: my favorite book (as of recently) is Demon Copperhead
Favorite movie: my favorite movie is Stand by Me. My favorite show is True Detective (season 1) with Matt McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

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

Either Kurt Vonnegut or Ned Kelly. Vonnegut is so creative and has a unique background, and I enjoy his dark humor. Ned Kelly is an Irish-Australian outlaw who became an Australian National hero after his death.

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

My grandmother would say “you have two ears and one mouth for a reason." This advice has stuck with me and reminds me only to speak when I have something meaningful or important to say.

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

Never put yourself in a “box” and try a little bit of everything your school offers. In high school, I captained three varsity sports (soccer, hockey, and lacrosse), but I also sang in the chorus, was in the men’s ensemble, joined the student council, took art classes, and submitted writing to poetry contests.

What’s your idea of the perfect day? 

Summer: Pabbleboarding or surfing in the morning, mountain biking, pickle ball or tennis during the day, and fishing on a boat until sunset.

Winter: Pond hockey in the morning, snowboarding during the day, sauna at sunset, jump through the ice for a polar plunge, and then join friends around a fire.


Network and Systems 
Administrator Nate Melo

 

Meet Nate Melo

Editor's note: Nate officially joined Thayer midyear last year, but had not yet been featured. Welcome, Nate!

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

Favorite food: White rice, red beans, and stewed chicken.
Favorite book: Deep Work by Cal Newport

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

Jesus

What’s the best advice you ever received? 

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

What’s your idea of the perfect day? 

A perfect day is when I spend time with family.

 

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