Toggle ViewMiss Elizabeth Bennett
History & Humanities Department, Technology Department
Email: ebennett@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Miss Elizabeth BennettBiography
Miss Bennett earned her Bachelors Degree in History from Ohio University in Athens, OH in 2020. She was an undergraduate fellow of the George Washington Forum, in which she embarked on a two year study of political theory, in addition to completing an intensive research project on the Toleration Acts in the 17th C. Great Britain. Her favorite era of history to study is Early Modern British History. Miss Bennett is very excited to combine her love of history with another passion of hers: technology.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, Miss Bennett will teach Grades 7 and 8 History, Grades 7&8 Computer Science, and Grade 12 Digital Arts. Miss Bennett’s goal is to help every student receive the equitable education they deserve. Her classroom incorporates innovative and collaborative ideas to reach all students. When not teaching, she can be found helping out in the Technology Department or with the Social Media Team.
Toggle ViewMrs. Megan Blinkhorn
Art Department
Email: mblinkhorn@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mrs. Megan BlinkhornBiography
Mrs. Blinkhorn attended Emmanuel College in Boston and studied Studio Arts with a double major in Secondary Education. In May 2008 she graduated with Distinction in the Field and earned her BA in Studio Art & Secondary Education. Currently she is enrolled in the Continuing Education program at the Rhode Island School of Design and is a member of the National Art Education Association.
Mrs. Blinkhorn first joined the Mount Alvernia community during her student teaching practicum in 2007, then in 2010 returned full time as the art teacher for grades 7-12 and the Fine Arts Department Chair. Her goal in the art studio is to provide students with hands-on experiences that allow them to become resourceful and confident as they work through finding creative solutions to problems. Aside from teaching art classes, Mrs. Blinkhorn organizes the annual art show, moderates the after school art club, and manages an Instagram account dedicated to showcasing artwork by our student artists.
Toggle ViewMs. Jillian Boudreau
Administration
Email: jboudreau@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Ms. Jillian BoudreauBiography
Ms. Boudreau is a licensed School Counselor and Principal in the state of Massachusetts. She earned a Bachelor of Arts dual degree in Human Development and Communications and a Master of Arts degree in School Counseling, from Boston College. Ms. Boudreau also completed a graduate certificate program in Catholic School Leadership from Merrimack College, while participating in the Archdiocese of Boston’s Aspiring Leaders Program. Next, Ms. Boudreau was selected to serve as a Principal Fellow within Boston College’s Lynch Leadership Academy and was the Assistant Principal at the Immaculate Conception School, a Catholic co-educational school, in Newburyport, MA. Prior to that role, she served as the Lower School Counselor, Dean of Students, and Director of Student Affairs at the Academy of Notre Dame, in Tyngsboro, MA.
Lastly, Ms. Boudreau is also a product of a Catholic, all-girls education, which drew her to Catholic education and instilled in her a firm belief in the importance of educating and empowering young women to be confident, passionate, successful leaders.
Toggle ViewMrs. Mary Bridget Chick
Administration, Theology Department
Email: mbchick@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mrs. Mary Bridget ChickBiography
Mrs. Chick majored in Psychology and English at The University of Scranton before enrolling in Boston College’s dual degree M.A. Counseling Psychology / M.A. Pastoral Ministry program.
During her years at MAHS, Mrs. Chick has held various positions. She joined the M.A. community as the school’s first Director of Campus Ministry and has served as the Grade 7-9 school counselor. Mrs. Chick shifted to her current role as the Assistant Head of School in the fall of 2020.
No matter the role, Mrs. Chick’s favorite part of working at MAHS is the privilege of supporting students as they encounter the struggles and successes that will shape their characters and as they work to become the young women God has created them to be.
Toggle ViewSr. Michele Craig , mfic
Administration
Email: mcraig@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Sr. Michele Craig , mficBiography
Sister Michele Craig, MFIC earned Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Mount Alvernia College in MA and a Master’s Degree in History from Villanova University in PA. Sister Michele earned a Certificate in Spirituality from Regis College in Toronto, Canada.
Sister Michele Craig has been an educator for many years. She has taught on both the elementary and secondary levels and been Principal on both levels. After completing eight years in Community Leadership, Sister enjoyed a sabbatical year and followed that as an office manager of C.H.I.P.S., a Soup Kitchen in Brooklyn, NY., for two years.
Mrs. Kathleen Kent, then Principal of MAHS, asked Sister Michele to join the MAHS Community as a Receptionist/Administrative assistant. Sister is in her sixteenth year in this position!
Sister Michele Craig is also a graduate of an all girls Catholic High School and was Principal of St. Clare High School in Roslindale, MA for six years. She is delighted to be part of the MAHS Community which is dedicated to empowering young women to be forces for good in our world.
Toggle ViewMs. Kathleen Dougherty
English Department, History & Humanities Department
Email: kdougherty@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Ms. Kathleen DoughertyBiography
Ms. Dougherty earned her degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the only undergrad program in the country for that major at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire. There she took place in many leadership opportunities where she learned that the best way to bring about systemic change, was education. She went on to serve two years with City Year Boston working in Boston Public Schools. Her second year she took place in a program where she served and taught in schools during the day while obtaining her master’s in education by night.
During the 2021-2022 school year, Ms. Dougherty will be teaching ninth and tenth grade English as well as a tenth grade humanities course. She will also be working alongside student council to watch them grow into even stronger leaders than they already are.
Toggle ViewMrs. Tanya Finegold
Technology Department
Email: tfinegold@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mrs. Tanya FinegoldToggle ViewMs. Colleen Francis
English Department, History & Humanities Department
Email: cfrancis@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Ms. Colleen FrancisBiography
Ms. Francis graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with a degree in government and public policy. While at F&M, she was a four year member of the women’s field hockey team, a member of campus ministry, and was inducted into the Pi Sigma Alpha national honor society for political science. She then returned home to Massachusetts to pursue a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Northeastern University. She will finish her course work at NU in 2022.
Ms. Francis currently teaches English for grades 7 and 8 and United States History for grade 10. In all of her classes, she hopes that students will be able to recognize the relevance of course material in understanding how people interact and how society functions.
Toggle ViewMr. Thomas Francis
Facilities Management
Email: tfrancis@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mr. Thomas FrancisToggle ViewMs. Sandra Giordano
Mathematics Department
Email: sgiordano@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Ms. Sandra GiordanoBiography
Ms. Giordano attended Tufts University and graduated with a BA in Economics and French. After working in the financial industry and at a software company for several years, she stayed home to raise her two children while working part time towards her Master’s in Education for Secondary Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She began teaching grades 5 and 6 at an elementary school in Newton for 5 years before joining the faculty at Mount Alvernia High School. This will be Ms. Giordano’s 10th year as a math teacher here. She is also the head of the math department.
Ms. Giordano has taught all levels of math at MAHS, except for 9th grade Geometry. She currently teaches 8th grade Algebra 1, 11th grade Pre-Calculus, and 12th grade Calculus. She is one of the teachers of the Cooking and Baking Club, which is a club that she and Miss Holloran started last year during the time that we were learning remotely. She and Miss Holloran plan to continue the club this year virtually for students, faculty, and their friends and family members.
Toggle ViewMrs. Julie Gosselin , ’83, P16
Athletics and Wellness Department
Email: jgosselin@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mrs. Julie Gosselin , ’83, P16Biography
Mrs. Gosselin has been the Athletic Director for Mount Alvernia High School since 1997-98 school year. On her arrival to MAHS we had cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball and tennis. Since her tenure we have added cheer, swim/dive, ice hockey, golf and track.
Mrs. Gosselin is an alumnae of Mount Alvernia HS and was a member of the basketball and softball teams. Athletics is an extension of the classroom where the girls learn many life lesson like honesty, integrity, responsibility, effort and skill. Her expectations for her athletes are to be safe, learn and develop in their sport of choice and to have fun making memories that will last a lifetime. Her wish for the athletic program is to have it continue to grow and be competitive.
Toggle ViewSr. Jeanne Marie Hall , mfic
Administration
Email: jmhall@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Sr. Jeanne Marie Hall , mficBiography
Sr. Jeanne Marie, mfic earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English at Mt. Alvernia College. She then went on to St. Bonaventure University earning an MA in Sacred Science (Theology).
Sr. Jeanne Marie taught Theology at Mt. Alvernia for 27 years from 1994 – 2021 retiring from teaching after 53 years in the ministry of education. During that time she served as the Theology Department Chair for several years. She is now part of the support staff at the high school.
Sr. Jeanne Marie was a graduate of St. Clare High School in Roslindale, MA where she first met the Franciscan Sisters She entered the Community after graduating from the School.
Toggle ViewMrs. Marie-Aude Hewes
World Language Department
Email: mhewes@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mrs. Marie-Aude HewesBiography
Mrs. Hewes earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in France and then continued to a Master of Political Science in Paris. After working as a financial analyst for a few years in a French bank she moved to the USA. There she started teaching at the French Library in Boston. She joined MAHS in 2010 and went back to university to earn a Master of Education. She teaches all levels of French, is the Department Chair , she co-moderates the Cultural Enrichment Club with Mrs. Kugler and hopes to go back to organizing trips for the students as soon as it is possible.
Madame Hewes a reçu une maitrise de Management en France ainsi qu’un Master de Sciences Politiques . Après avoir travaillé plusieurs années comme analyste financière dans une banque française, elle a déménagé aux Etats-Unis. Son premier poste d’enseignement était à la Librairie française de Boston. Elle est entrée a MAHS en 2010 et est retournée à l’université pour son Master d’Education. Madame Hewes enseigne tous les niveaux de français et est responsable du département des langues. Elle co-dirige le Club d’enrichissement culturel avec Madame Kugler et espère recommencer à organiser des voyages pour les étudiants dès que possible.
Toggle ViewMs. Meaghan Holloran
Science Department
Email: mholloran@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Ms. Meaghan HolloranBiography
Ms. Holloran is the Science Department Chair and is teaching Grade 9 Biology and Grade 12 Anatomy & Physiology for the 2021-2022 school year.
Ms. Holloran earned her BS in Biology from Stonehill College in 2011 and her Masters in Secondary Education from Boston College in December of 2014. She completed several internships with the Museum of Science in Boston throughout her undergraduate career and has participated in professional development programs through the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, and the National Science Teaching Association (among others).
In addition to teaching science, Ms. Holloran is also the Choir Director and a co-moderator of the Science Club and the Cooking/Baking Club.
Ms. Holloran began teaching at MAHS in the fall of 2011 and enjoys empowering young women to learn about science and pursue their goals in STEM-based fields.
Toggle ViewMrs. Kimberly Kossuth
Administration
Email: kkossuth@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mrs. Kimberly KossuthBiography
Kimberly Kossuth graduated from Wellesley College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and earned her Master Degree in Higher Education Administration from Stanford University. After working in college admissions, she then began pursuing careers in enrollment management and institutional advancement at the private elementary and secondary high school levels.
Kim is thrilled am thrilled to be the Director of Admissions at Mount Alvernia High School. Her focus will be on expanding and maintaining a culture that thrives on collaboration, tradition, and efficiency, and embodies the spirit and mission of MAHS. In the 2021-2022 school year, she looks forward to working with our various constituencies to expand our admissions outreach. Kim states, “Mount Alvernia is truly a special place, and I am proud to educate young women and their families about its benefits and all that it has to offer.”
Toggle ViewMrs. Liliana Lara
World Language Department
Email: llara@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mrs. Liliana LaraBiography
Hola!, ¿Qué tal? Señora Lara earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Hispanic Literature and Culture from Centenary College of Louisiana. She has been teaching Spanish for 14 years at the Elementary, Middle, High school and College levels in Louisiana, Michigan and Massachusetts. This will be her 7th year teaching in Mount Alvernia High School. Her instruction for the school year 2021-2022 involves courses from Spanish I to Spanish VAP.
Señora Lara is a native speaker of Spanish. She grew up in Bogotá, Colombia and teaching connects her to heritage and Latin culture. Most importantly, teaching allows her to build connections and help students develop language skills that they will be able to use in their lives.
Señora Lara is interested in language acquisition, in her students’ cognitive process when learning a foreign language such as Spanish. Listening to her students speak Spanish is a constant source of inspiration and she believes that speaking a different language is an asset for the courageous, compassionate and articulate women of Mount Alvernia High School.
Toggle ViewMr. Thomas McNicholas
Mathematics Department
Email: tmcnicholas@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mr. Thomas McNicholasBiography
Mr. McNicholas or Mr. McNick, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Actuarial Science and Mathematics from Assumption College in Worcester, MA. He went on to become a Behavior Support Specialist for The Williams Elementary School in Newton, MA and a long-term substitute for math at Newton North High School.
During the 2021-2022 school year, Mr. McNick will teach: Grade 7 Pre-Algebra, Grade 9 Geometry, Grade 10 Algebra 2, and Grade 11 Pre-Calculus. Mr. McNick coaches boys lacrosse at Newton North in the spring and is part of the Academic Planning Committee here at Mt. Alvernia High School.
Toggle ViewMr. Richard Monbouquette
Science Department
Email: rmonbouquette@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mr. Richard MonbouquetteBiography
I am a proud native of Norwood, Massachusetts and a graduate of Norwood Senior High School. I attended the United Sates Air Force Academy for over 2 years before transferring to the University of Massachusetts Boston campus. While attending UMASS/Boston, I earned a BS degree in Biology.
I worked in the public school system for 20 years as a biology teacher and also coached varsity football and hockey. While teaching in public school, I attended and received my M.Ed from Fitchburg State University in Educational Leadership and Management.
I am currently employed as a full time science teacher here at Mount Alvernia high school. I am currently teaching 7th grade earth science, 10th grade environmental science and 12th grade oceanography.
Toggle ViewMrs. Maureen O’Rourke , P93, 94, 97
Guidance Department
Email: morourke@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Mrs. Maureen O’Rourke , P93, 94, 97Biography
Mrs. O’Rourke has been a member of the Mount Alvernia Faculty since 1983 as teacher, Director of Guidance, Department Chair and parent of three alums–Megan, ’93, Kerry, ’94 and Cristin, ’97. During her 39 years of service at MA, she has taught World History, U.S. History and American Government. Her passion, however, has been her role as the senior/junior school counselor having the opportunity to work individually with the students and to witness their personal growth and academic achievement. Her favorite time with the students encompasses the college search and the resulting interaction with the many admissions directors and college representatives with whom she has worked to highlight Mount Alvernia’s strong academic program preparing strong leaders of the 21st century.
Toggle ViewDr. Amitha Palamakumbura
Science Department
Email: apalamakumbura@mountalverniahs.org Profile Page: Dr. Amitha PalamakumburaBiography
Dr. Palamakumbura earned a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka before moving to the United States for higher studies. She earned a PhD in Biochemistry from Northern Illinois University. After graduating, she joined the research faculty at Boston University where she worked on cancer research for 17 years. In 2015, Dr. Palamakumbura joined the science department of Mount Alvernia High School to teach chemistry and physics. She is also the moderator of MAHS’s Science Club. As a proud woman in science, Dr. Palamakumbura is passionate about introducing the next generation’s women to STEM.
During the 2021-2022 school year, Dr. Palamakumbura is teaching Grade 11 Honors and CP Chemistry, and Grade 8 Physical Science. Students of these classes will experience hands-on laboratory learning and engaging projects that coincides with the subject matter.
