Welcome

List of 9 members.

• 

  Brian Beale 

  Director of Enrollment Management

  617-278-2323

  BIO

  Though Brian hails from the Philadelphia suburbs, he considers himself a New Englander at heart. After attending Bates College in Maine, Brian spent two years working in outdoor education at YMCA Camp Coniston before starting his career in Admissions at Dublin School in Dublin, NH. Brian then went on to work in admissions and financial aid at both Princeton Day School and Cardigan Mountain School before joining the Brimmer and May community in 2012. At Brimmer, Brian oversees Admissions and financial aid, is a member of the Advancement team, and serves as an Upper School advisor.
  
  

  Brian is an active member of the Enrollment Management Association, SSS, and local and regional collaboratives. When not at Brimmer, Brian enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors, long-distance running, spinning, and skiing.
• 

  Melissa Alkire 

  Director of Lower School Admissions

  617-278-2315

  BIO

  From the classroom to the administrative offices and from coast to coast, Melissa has been deeply engaged in the practice of education with a keen eye on what leaders in our field are doing to prepare and engage students and to grow and support the faculty community.
  
  Originally from Long Island, New York, Melissa earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in history from Boston College. Having studied Italian, as well, she spent time living abroad in Florence and Parma, Italy, where she enjoyed connecting with friends and exploring the incredible history and art of the cities. As an undergraduate, Melissa knew that she would become an educator and her educational journey began in 2009 as a global history teacher at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Over the course of 11 years, she had learned to design and re-design classroom experiences that center on the students and their voice and choice. While part of the Beaver team, Melissa became a Grade Dean for all grade levels of the Upper School and Technology Integration Specialist. In these roles, she has had the opportunity to collaborate with administration, work alongside faculty of all departments, and build partnerships with families. Most importantly, she has worked to cultivate connections with students through listening to their experiences as learners and young adults.
  
  Melissa's most recent role was the Division Head of the Upper School at Laguna Blanca School in Santa Barbara. In this role, she faced considerable challenges head on, including a global health pandemic, school merger, operational strategy development, and several off-campus crises. Those three years grew her capacity at a significant pace for strategic planning, daily operations, relationship-building, and curricular development & alignment. It is her work at Laguna in the Admission Office that brought her the greatest joy and allowed her to work closely across the three divisions that made up the Ek-12 school community. And it is with much enthusiasm that she dedicates herself now to the role of Director of Lower School Admissions, at Brimmer and May where she seeks to focus on relationships, empathy, and inclusion in the work ahead.
• 

  Tess Cicala 

  Associate Director of Admissions

  617-278-2320

  BIO

  Growing up in Connecticut, Tess attended the Wooster School from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade, which fostered her appreciation for community, school spirit, and independent school education. 
  
  

  Tess’s passion for admissions grew during her time at Providence College after participating in their Admissions Ambassador program. She discovered her enthusiasm for sharing her school with others, and became dedicated to cultivating a welcoming and supportive environment for prospective students. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a minor in Economics. 
  
  

  Shortly thereafter, she made her return to Wooster School to begin her career in advancement. She worked in development and marketing, before ultimately landing in the admissions office. She coached Junior Varsity and Middle School volleyball where she gained invaluable experience working with students across different grade levels. Tess was drawn to Brimmer for its feeling of belonging and togetherness. 
  
  

  Outside of her professional endeavors, Tess enjoys reading, being active, and socializing with friends. She is thrilled to be apart of the dynamic team at Brimmer and continues to enjoy making new connections with students and families.
• 

  Courtney McGillicuddy 

  Associate Director of Lower School Admissions, Assistant Head of Lower School

  617-278-2313

  BIO

  A native Bostonian and member of the Brimmer Class of 1989, Courtney has been teaching in the area since 1997. She joined the Brimmer team in 2007 as a Lower School Teacher. She taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades before becoming the Assistant Head of Lower School in 2011.

  
  A committed and proud alumna, Courtney is thrilled to be back working at Brimmer—the essence of the School remains the same. The very things that attracted Courtney to Brimmer as a prospective student are also what brought her back as an educator. Brimmer is a close, supportive community where all members work to create an environment where students can meet their full potential, feel valued, and thrive.

  
  Courtney holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. When she’s not at work, she likes to travel, read, and spend time with her family.
• 

  Amanda Miles 

  Director of MS/US Admissions, Associate Director of Financial Aid

  617-278-2335

  BIO

  Amanda joined Brimmer and May in July 2024 as Director of Middle and Upper School Admissions and Associate Director of Financial Aid. She brings with her over 20 years of high school and middle school admission experience in the Boston area, having worked at Fay School, Dana Hall, and Cambridge School of Weston.
  
  

  Interacting with students and families is Amanda’s favorite part of the admission process; she enjoys helping parents learn about their child and see the many ways that Brimmer can help their child grow, develop, be challenged, and figure out who they want to become.

   

  Amanda has a B.A. in Psychology from Trinity College and an M.Ed. from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She lives in Wayland with her husband and two sons.
• 

  Jessica Christian 

  Director of DEIB, Admissions Liaison

  617-278-2324

  BIO

  Jessica grew up in Northern New Jersey and is proud to be independent school–educated. Prior to joining Brimmer, Jessica worked for three years in admissions at her alma mater, The Dwight-Englewood School, in New Jersey, and for six years at The Spence School, in New York City. After receiving an M.A. in mental health counseling from NYU, Jessica spent time working as a psychotherapist at a small practice in New Haven, Conn.

  
  For Jessica, independent schools have always been an environment in which she thrives and is her best self. At Brimmer, she appreciates the comradery among faculty and staff and enjoys the feeling of contributing and adding perspective to the Brimmer community.

  
  When Jessica is not at work, she spends her time exercising, cooking, reading, building Lego sets, and raising her children. 
• 

  Ina Patel 

  LS Director of Teaching & Learning, Admissions Liaison

  BIO

  Ina’s teaching philosophy is guided by the belief that learning should be fun, innovative, and hands-on. Every child can learn and can be inspired to learn. Her background in science has helped develop a robust Lower School science program full of hands-on learning to foster 21st-century skills. Ina enjoys working at Brimmer because of its commitment to develop and to ensure every child’s love of learning and belief in global engagement.

  
  Ina also assisted in the development of the design program and implemented design thinking and the design process into the School’s STEAM curriculum. Her passion for global education led her to engage the Lower School in projects that focused on global concerns such as scarcity of water, deforestation, and cultural tolerance. During the summer, she directs Eco-Adventures, Brimmer’s outdoors adventure camp.

  
  Ina holds a Tufts University TEEP Certificate (School of Engineering) and is certified by the state of Massachusetts to teach grades 1-6. She is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and serves on the Brimmer Board of Trustees and Retention Committee. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring new places all over the world and having adventures in the great outdoors.
• 

  Helen Du 

  Co-Director of International Students, Admissions Liaison

  617-278-2329

  BIO

  
  Having come to the U.S. as an international student in her twenties, Helen uses her international background to support Brimmer’s international students in adjusting to new environments and a new culture and helping them succeed both academically and socially.

  
  Helen has spent a significant portion of her career in education, having been faculty in China, a college counselor at Boston University and Northeastern University, and an independent consultant. She has wanted to be an educator and counselor since she was a young child and is glad she has found her passion, which is helping students grow and reach their potential. Her philosophy promotes global learning, engaging with the community, and helping students become world citizens with compassion, vision, and commitment. Helen likes to explore new ways to connect international students and bring new perspectives to enrich our community such as through bringing different cultures to campus.

  
  Helen believes that Brimmer is an open-minded, inclusive community with opportunities for flexibility and professional growth. She particularly enjoys working with international students and families, and is planning to write a novel on international students, their families, and their challenges and achievements.

  
  Helen holds a Harvard summer college counseling certificate and has completed postgraduate coursework in social policy. She is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. In her spare time, she volunteers at a local Chinese school and senior center and is a board member for Chinese Culture Connection in Malden, Mass., a nonprofit that builds connections between the Asian community and the rest of Malden.
• 

  Amanda Crater 

  Admissions Coordinator

  617-278-2316

  BIO

  Originally from Beverly, MA, Amanda spent 20 years in New York City and worked at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and JCC Harlem for 12 years in a variety of managerial roles. Amanda is thrilled to be back in her home state and at Brimmer. Ms. Crater holds both a B.F.A. in Technical Theater and an M.A. in Arts + Humanities Education, both from New York University. A highlight of her career was working on Witness Theater, an inter-generational program bringing together Holocaust survivors and high school students to elicit, expose, and memorialize the moving stories of survival. She was drawn to Brimmer because of their global focus and D.E.I. work and is continually impressed by the faculty and staff and their dedication to the students.