List of 19 members.

• 

  Ryan Dahlem 

  Head of School

  339-686-2241

  Harvard Graduate School of Education - EdM
  Stanford University - BA

  Bio

  Ryan S. Dahlem became Rivers’ ninth head of school in July 2023. Prior to joining Rivers, he held a number of administrative and leadership roles at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He spent 17 years at St. Margaret’s, serving as assistant head of school for the last nine of those years. Earlier in his career, he was an associate director of admission at Stanford University and a tenured math teacher at University High School in Irvine, CA. Ryan has published and presented extensively on innovation, purpose, and strategy in independent schools. He holds a BA in psychology from Stanford and a master’s degree in teaching and curriculum from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. An avid mountaineer and trained musician, he lives on campus with his wife, Anne; the Dahlems have three children.
• 

  John Adams 

  Mathematics, Director of Academic Technology, Varsity XC Skiing Head Coach

  339-686-4510

  Bates College - BA
  Columbia Teachers College

  Bio

  John Adams joined the Rivers math department in 2015. Before coming to Rivers, he was math department chair at The Dublin School in New Hampshire, also serving as head varsity lacrosse coach and dorm parent. In addition to teaching math at Rivers, John is director of academic technology and coaches varsity Nordic skiing and JV boys’ lacrosse. John has presented at regional and national conferences on the use of technology in the math classroom, particularly in the use of the “flipped” classroom. At Bates College, where John received a BA in economics, he captained the lacrosse team.
• 

  Melissa Anderson 

  Head of Upper School, History

  339-686-2346

  University of California/Berkley - Ph. D
  Princeton University - AB

  Bio

  Melissa Anderson has a BA in politics from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining Rivers, Melissa spent 16 years at Greenwich Academy, where she had extensive experience in both teaching history and administrative roles. In addition to teaching Upper School history, Melissa assists with special projects that support curriculum and strategic planning. She has twin daughters in the Rivers Class of 2025.
• 

  John Bower 

  Head of Middle School

  339-686-2281

  Haverford College - BA

  Bio

  John joined the faculty in 2008 and currently serves as the Assistant Head of Middle School, the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Middle School Choral Director. During his time at Rivers, John has also taught Middle School and Upper School French, music directed the Middle School and Upper School musicals, and advised the a cappella groups. In 2017, he received the Walter Family Community Award recognizing his "commitment to cultivating a caring community through extraordinary contributions to the school." Outside of Rivers, John sings with a semi-professional a cappella group, "Redline," and performs with a variety of community theater groups. He holds a BA in music theory & composition and a minor in French language from Haverford College.
• 

  Christopher Dalton 

  Upper School Dean of Studies, Science

  339-686-2266

  Yale University - BS
  Cornell University - PhD

  Bio

  Christopher Dalton joined the Science Department in 2016 after working as a business strategy consultant at Accenture Strategy in Boston. Prior to that, he was a teaching fellow in evolutionary biology and ecology at Cornell University for five years where he received their inaugural school-wide teaching award for a teaching assistant, published ten peer-reviewed manuscripts, wrote successful grant proposals, and presented at many conferences. Chris earned his BS in ecology and evolutionary biology from Yale University, and completed his PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell. He teaches science in the Upper School, advises, and coaches.
• 

  Andrea Diaz 

  Upper School Dean of Faculty, History

  339-686-4599

  Boston University - MA
  Brown University - BA

  Bio

  Andrea Diaz joined the Upper School at Rivers in 2010. She teaches world history, US history, and electives in international relations. Additionally, Andrea is the assistant coach for the girls’ varsity cross-country team and is a member of the diversity committee. She graduated from Brown University with a BA in international relations and the history of art and architecture and earned an MA in art history from Boston University.
• 

  M. Kristen Kelleher 

  Associate Head of School for Development and External Relations

  339-686-2236

  Boston University - MS
  Boston College - BA

  Bio

  Krissie has worked in development for over 15 years, having started her career in the Harvard College Fund office before moving to Loomis Chaffee, where she was an integral part of the development team. Krissie worked at Loomis as associate director of development and major gifts officer before being promoted to director of major gifts, and then director of the school’s Centennial Campaign. A native of the South Shore, she earned a B.A. in communication from Boston College and an M.A. in public relations from Boston University.
• 

  Jenny Jun-lei Kravitz 

  Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  339-686-2363

  Tufts University - M.A.
  UMass Lowell - M.S.
  Tufts University - B.A.
• 

  James Long 

  Assistant Head of School

  339-686-2272

  Harvard Graduate School of Education - Ed.M.
  Bowdoin College - BA

  Bio

  As Assistant Head of School and Director of Student Affairs for the Upper School, Jim Long is responsible for the Upper School co-curricular program, advisor program and assembly program, and oversees the Upper School Class Deans. Jim is also a Middle School boys’ basketball coach and ninth grade academic counselor. Jim has held a number of positions during his tenure, including Dean of Students for the Upper School, Head of Middle School, acting Head of School, and varsity basketball coach. He graduated from Bowdoin College with a BA in history and government and later received a master’s in education from Harvard University.
• 

  David Lyons 

  Director of College Counseling

  339-686-2270

  Hamilton College - AB

  Bio

  As Director of College Counseling, Dave is responsible for all facets of college counseling office, including counseling students and parents in the college search process, course selection for seniors, and working with faculty, staff, administration, and trustees. Dave also serves as the school's liaison to the NCAA eligibility center. He is a frequent presenter at professional conferences, and well as to executive groups on topics such as developing strategies for their children’s college process, tackling the common application, and athletic recruiting. As a Rivers graduate, he was inspired by his experience here to pursue a career in education, and is thrilled to be back working with many of those same people. A graduate of Hamilton College, he previously served there as Assistant Dean of Admissions.
• 

  Benjamin McGovern 

  Director of Facilities

  339-686-2203

  Massachusetts Licensed Construction Supervisor

  Bio

  As Director of Facilities since 2010, Ben is responsible for the oversight and management of all buildings, grounds, vehicles, and infrastructure at all Rivers School properties. Before coming to Rivers, he was Construction Supervisor at Wellesley Builders, where he was involved in the construction of the Rivers School Conservatory’s Bradley Hall facility in 2007.
• 

  William Mills 

  Upper School Dean of Student Life, History

  339-686-2429

  Connecticut College - BA
  Harvard University - ALM

  Bio

  Will joined The Rivers School in 2008 and teaches 11th and 12th grade history. He graduated with a B.A. in political science from Connecticut College and received his A.L.M. at Harvard University. An avid rower, Will coaches boys’ crew at area high schools and rowing clubs. He came to Rivers from Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut, where he taught history, coached, and served as a dorm parent.
• 

  Colette Porter 

  Director of Marketing and Communications

  339-686-2245

  Fairfield University - BA

  Bio

  Over the past 20 years, Colette Porter has worked as a marketing communications professional for universities and independent schools in the region, and she has dedicated herself to institutions that focus on the transformative power of women's education. She served as director of campaign communications for Wellesley College’s $500M comprehensive campaign and, most recently, led marketing and communications efforts for The Winsor School in Boston and Nashoba Brooks School in Concord. Colette started her career in publishing and advertising, including several years as an advertising account supervisor at Arnold Worldwide. A Weston resident, Colette earned a BA in English literature from Fairfield University in Connecticut.
• 

  Lindsey Robb 

  Interim Director, Rivers School Conservatory

  339-686-2334

  Lawrence University - BA
• 

  Jonathan Robinson 

  Director of Technology

  339-686-4482

  Assumption University - BA

  Bio

  As Director of Technology, Jon is responsible for the technological needs of 681 faculty, staff, and students of The Rivers School and The Rivers School Conservatory. He was the recipient of Rivers' Bergen-Decker Award in 2009. Prior to coming to Rivers, Jon worked as network manager of the Boston Law firm Palmer & Dodge LLP. He has a BA from Assumption College.
• 

  Yassine Talhaoui 

  Director of Enrollment Management

  339-686-2251

  Clark University - MA
  Johannes Gutenberg University - BA

  Bio

  Yassine Talhaoui holds a BA in Spanish and Education from Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany and an MA in English from Clark University. Prior to joining Rivers in 2022, he worked at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT, where he held several roles, including associate director of admissions and director of diversity and inclusion. An experienced athlete, he played semi-professional basketball in Europe. Yassine speaks five languages and has taught Spanish and French at the Watkinson School in Hartford. 
• 

  Andrea Villagrán 

  French, Spanish, Director of Global Engagement, US Professional Growth Coordinator

  339-686-4503

  Wellesley College - BA
  Middlebury College - MA

  Bio

  Andrea comes to us from The Gordon School in East Providence, where she’s been teaching both French and Spanish for the last four years. In her time at Gordon, Andrea worked across the school community in a variety of ways, including as an admissions associate, a translator for the school’s website and a leader of the school’s Community Building Committee. Andrea started her teaching career at The Rumson Country Day School, where she taught for two years before moving on to Gordon. At RCDS she also taught both French and Spanish and worked closely with the school’s community service program. Andrea is an inveterate world traveler who grew up in Guatemala; she looks forward to bringing the world and its cultures to our classrooms in both the middle and upper schools. Andrea earned her B.A. in French and political science from Wellesley College and her M.A. in French Civilization, Culture and Society at Middlebury College.
• 

  Jonathan Wasserman 

  Chief Financial Officer

  339-686-2232

  Brandeis University - MBA
  Brandeis University - BA

  Bio

  Jon's primary responsibilities as Director of Finance and Operations and Assistant Treasurer include serving as the School's Chief Financial Officer as well as overseeing non-academic operations at Rivers such as transportation, food service, facilities, and auxiliary programs like Camp Nonesuch and The Rivers Day Camp. He serves on the school's Finance, Facilities, Investments, Executive, Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, Audit, and Music Executive Committees. A 1988 graduate of Rivers, Jon previously worked as Associate Director of Finance and Operations for five years as well as Associate Director of Advancement for six years. He graduated from Brandeis University with a bachelor’s in history and education and a master’s in business administration in social policy and management. Jon was the recipient of Rivers' Bergen-Decker Award in 2013.
• 

  Keith Zalaski 

  Director of Athletics, Math, Varsity Boys’ Basketball Head Coach

  339-686-4581

  Amherst College - BA
  Tufts University - MA

  Bio

  Keith Zalaski serves as director of athletics and coaches varsity boys’ basketball. He also teaches mathematics in the Upper School. Prior to joining Rivers, he taught at Arlington Catholic, Trinity Pawling, and Williston Northampton School. He has also served as assistant men’s basketball coach at Tufts University. He has a BA in economics from Amherst College, where he played basketball and captained the golf team, and an MA in teaching from Tufts University.