Team

As an Associate Director of Admission and Harvard-Westlake’s inaugural Assistant Head of School for Community and Belonging, I am dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the Harvard-Westlake community. Prior to joining Harvard-Westlake, I practiced law at prominent law firms, served as a senior advisor to former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, and taught several law schools classes including legal writing. My experiences in law, public service, and education have equipped me with the skills to navigate complex issues and advocate for equity. I am honored to lead our school’s initiatives in community, belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion. My husband, Chris, serves as Chair of the Upper School Deans, and our daughters, Taylor and Avery, are proud graduates of Harvard-Westlake.

I am the Assistant Director of Admission and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Harvard-Westlake, where, as always in my career, I keep storytelling at the heart of my work. I began my career teaching English in Washington, DC and New York City after earning my BA in English from Spelman College and MA in English Education from Columbia University Teachers College. In Los Angeles, I taught fifth grade English at the Center for Early Education before serving as Assistant Director of Admissions and later Director of Outreach and Inclusion at Geffen Academy at UCLA. I published my first children’s book, Always With You, Always With Me, in 2023, and my second, Eden’s Light, in 2025. Now, in my role in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department at Harvard-Westlake, I guide families through the admission process, listen to their stories in interviews, and help embrace and nurture diverse stories and experiences for all at Harvard-Westlake.

I am the Middle School Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and an English teacher at Harvard-Westlake, where I work to create inclusive, engaging learning environments for all students. An educator for over 20 years, my teaching experience spans community college, university, and middle school classrooms. I have served as a co-chair and member of diversity, equity, and inclusion committees and led workshops and presentations at the NAIS People of Color Conference and California State University, Northridge, on the growth and impact of YA Latinx literature in education. In addition to teaching, I am an award-winning poet and the author of three books. I am also the proud mother of three children.

I am the Upper School SLIDE Coordinator and a Visual Arts teacher at Harvard-Westlake, where I teach Video Art and co-coordinate the annual Westflix Student Film Festival. As the Upper School SLIDE Coordinator, I advise SLIDE (Student Leaders for Inclusion Diversity and Equity) and teach a Student Leadership Directed Study course for affinity group leaders. I am passionate about using education, mentorship, art, storytelling, and event planning to inspire collaboration, community, creative problem-solving, and social change. Before joining Harvard-Westlake in 2019, I earned my MFA in Interdisciplinary Art and Social Practice from the University of Minnesota, where I co-taught “Making Sense of Climate Change: Science, Art, and Agency.” I also served as an ambassador for This Free Life, advocating for tobacco-free lives for LGBTQIA+ young adults who are disproportionately targeted by Big Tobacco. My work reflects my commitment to earth, art, mental health, social justice, student voice, and the power of inclusive language to inspire deep human connection and understanding. My students call me “Mx. Limerick,” and I use both they/them and she/her pronouns.

I am the Associate Director of Human Resources and Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Harvard-Westlake, where I focus on fostering a welcoming and inclusive workplace for all employees. I work closely on the recruitment of new faculty and staff, coordinate the diversity recruitment fair, support employee affinity groups, develop and support employee programs, and help create a culture of belonging. I joined Harvard-Westlake in 2019 as part of the Human Resources and Benefits team in the business office. Before that, I worked in Human Resources in the IT and EdTech industries, specializing in onboarding, recruiting, and employee engagement.

I serve as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist and Athletic Director at Harvard-Westlake, where I bring expertise in using sport as a vehicle for change and innovation. My work spans operations, compliance, impact strategy, player relations, and digital media, and I have consulted for athletes, coaches, and executives across 12 professional leagues, more than 20 colleges and universities, a premier high school sports governing body, and over 30 sports-adjacent companies and organizations. My efforts have contributed to 29 legislative reforms, directed $40 million in grants and contributions, and helped inject $1.5 billion into public schools. In addition to my work at Harvard-Westlake, I serve as an adjunct professor at California State University, Long Beach, and Morehouse College, teaching courses on sports, culture, and power. An avid reader, researcher, and writer, I am passionate about advancing equity, access, and opportunity through athletics and education.

Matthew has been an educator for over 20 years, in both New York City, where he earned a BA from New School University, and his hometown of Los Angeles. He has taught in public, private, charter, religious, and community schools, including Temple Beth Am, Shorashim Hebrew Academy, Carroll Gardens School for Innovation, and the Bronx Charter School for Excellence. Matthew has taught in classrooms, group lessons, private teaching and tutoring environments, teaching Hebrew, Judaic studies, general studies, and music.

For much of his career, Matthew was focused on music, teaching, performing, composing, producing, and engineering. He has worked with Billy Idol, Miguel, members of System of a Down and Duran Duran, companies such as Nvidia, CBS, Lego, and Disneyland, and has produced albums, film scores, films, and music videos as well as event production and coordination. While music had been his life-long passion, the last several years have inspired an equal or greater passion for Jewish education and advocacy, working tirelessly to inspire, enlighten, and empower the Jewish people. Matthew has worked within the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and secular communities. He recently expanded his educational acumen by earning a Certificate of Completion from the Introduction to Responsive Classroom Workshop.

I serve as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assistant and the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Harvard-Westlake, where I support current and prospective families navigate the financial aid process. I joined the Harvard-Westlake Financial Aid Office in 2026 after having been part of the Harvard-Westlake Admission Office. I earned a BA in Latino/a & Latin American Studies from Occidental College and am currently pursuing my Master’s in Education at Cal State Long Beach. Prior to Harvard-Westlake, I was a high school Spanish teacher in East Los Angeles.