Faculty and Staff Directory

Always looking to capture that authentic "Northwood Moment" on camera, Michael brings the Northwood Experience to life. Prior to joining Northwood, Michael worked as a freelance photographer / graphic designer. His client list included: Hilton Resorts, Miller Sports Group, IMG, SBC Media, Aruba Publications, Golf Digest, P3 Vodka, Olympic Regional Development Authority, Crowne Plaza Resorts, and New York ByWays. Capturing all aspects of the Northwood family through images and video remains as challenging and fun today as it was when he joined Northwood in 2002. 

For Christine, it is all about stories and connections.  From hearing memories of a funny antic or seeing a well of emotion surface when speaking about that teacher who made all the difference to their teenage self, she feels privileged to learn about Northwood through the very real and emotional stories of our alumni and parents.   The Northwood experience transcends all those fashion trends and haircut styles tucked away in the Epitome yearbooks lining the shelves in the advancement office — it is the common thread of teenagers discovering who they are in this beautiful Adirondack setting that connects the greater Northwood family over the decades. Watching this Northwood family come together to generously support the experience for teens here today is what makes her job as director of The Northwood Fund so rewarding. After graduating from UMass Amherst, Christine lived out west working for an independent bookstore in Denver for nearly two decades before joining the advancement team in 2008.

Chadd Cassidy begins his third year as the Head Coach of the Northwood School Boys Junior Team.  A Lake Placid native, Cassidy spent four years with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League before coming to Northwood School in 2015.  In his four seasons with Rochester, he led the team to the AHL playoffs three times.  He joined the Rochester organization following five seasons as an assistant coach at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP), culminating in a gold medal at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Under-18 World Championship in Germany. During the 2010-11 season, he also led Team USA to titles in the 2011 Five Nations Tournament and the 2010 Four Nations Cup. In addition, the U.S. National Under-18 Team posted a 12-9-1-2 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record in United States Hockey League (USHL) play in 2010-11, helping the NTDP reach the USHL postseason for the first time. Chadd earned his Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland in 1995.

Pairing Northwood’s alumni, families, and grant-makers with the programs, projects, and people that inspire their support — that’s how Stephanie Colby, associate director of development, views her role at Northwood School. It’s a form of matchmaking that is incredibly rewarding. Stephanie joined Northwood’s advancement team in 2010 after 10 years in development and communications at nearby Paul Smith’s College.  A native of the Adirondacks and graduate of Middlebury College, Stephanie is passionate about education and also loves the comfort and familiarity of small towns like Lake Placid and Middlebury, making Northwood a perfect fit. Having grown up on the ice, Stephanie can’t wait for Mirror Lake to freeze each year, so she can skate the perimeter with her family -- and welcome alumni and parents back for Northwood’s Annual Pond Hockey Tournament!

A Connecticut native, Brad attended Brunswick School for ten years before deciding on boarding school. He is a 1999 graduate of the Taft School, where he was a classmate of Associate Director of Admission, Evan Nielsen. Brad graduated from Colgate University in 2003 with a B.A. in History and a minor in Education.

After a brief stint in the corporate world following college, Brad began his career in education in 2004 as a teacher and coach at Brunswick. In 2005, Brad joined the boarding school ranks at Berkshire School where he worked under Northwood's current Head of School Mike Maher. At Berkshire, Brad was the Director of Financial Aid/Associate Director of Admission in addition to teaching in the History Department, coaching, serving as an advisor and dorm parent. In 2013, Brad was appointed the Director of Admission and Strategic Initiatives at The White Mountain School in Bethlehem, NH and served in that role until joining Northwood School in the summer of 2016.

Brad lives in Jay, NY with his wife Linda and their two children, Mia and Landon.

Originally from Clifton Park, New York, Leigh graduated from Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut in 2011. She then played four years on defense for the Connecticut College Camels where she won the Erica M. Vos Award of Valor in the spring of her senior year. After her collegiate career, Leigh spent two years as Canterbury's Associate Head Girls' Hockey coach and as an instructor in history and math.  She helped guide the Saints to two New England championship tournament quarterfinal appearances.  In the summers Leigh has worked for USA Hockey at Eastern and New England development camps.  In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Leigh will be a dorm parent and a member of Northwood's history department.

Trevor Gilligan '03 hails from Saranac Lake, NY and is in his second stint at Northwood School. He spent 2008-2013 working on the Northwood hockey coaching staff before taking over as the head college hockey coach at SUNY Canton where he took over their club program and led the transition of the SUNY Canton men's hockey team to the NCAA Division III level. Gilligan has extensive experience at Northwood School as a dorm parent, coach, advisor, and a member of the Class of 2003. He earned Bachelor of Education degree at SUNY Oswego, and was a member of the Lakers 2007 National Championship hockey team.

Born in Puerto Rico, as a military dependent, Elenor grew up enjoying the travel that is part of a military family’s life. She graduated from high school in Germany and attended OLVA in Plattsburgh, NY.

Elenor's work experience is as varied as her outside interests from having owned a children's clothing store while her children were young to working in accounting and also selling real estate part time. Elenor joined Northwood School in 2001 and has been part of the admission office since that time. Three of Elenor's children attended Northwood School, Jerica Young '05, Fergie Young '09 and Richele Young. Elenor lives in the scenic town of Jay, NY with her partner Chris and son, Jaron.

Alex believes that supporting education can be a truly transformational experience for both the recipient and the donor. A native of western New York, Alex received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his master's degree from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass, Amherst. After spending a decade in various fundraising roles at the University of Massachusetts and the College of Charleston, Alex joined the Northwood advancement team in July of 2015 to help connect alumni and parents with Northwood programs and projects that change lives. Alex and his wife Mara live in Lake Placid with their two young children, Ryan and Anna.

Mara loves the excitement and anticipation of a great event - especially an event that includes Northwood alumni and parents. After a career as an equestrian coach and trainer, Mara joined the advancement team as event coordinator. Responsible for events both large and small, such as Annual Reunion, Winter Weekend, and Family Weekend, Mara enjoys the challenge of keeping each event organized, fun, and always growing. Mara lives in Lake Placid with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

Born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, Evan attended public schools in his hometown before continuing his education at the Taft School in Watertown, CT for the final two years of high school. Evan graduated from Taft in 1999 as a classmate of Director of Admission, Brad D'Arco. He went on to attend the University of Notre Dame where he graduated in 2003 with a B.A. in Political Science.

Following a career in professional hockey, Evan worked at Morgan Stanley and for the New York Yankees before returning to boarding school as part of the faculty at Berkshire School. At Berkshire, Evan worked under Northwood School's current Head of School, Mike Maher. In his six years at Berkshire (2010-16), Evan taught in the History Department, spent four years as 11th Grade Dean, served as a dorm head and advisor, and coached in the football, hockey, lacrosse, and outdoor programs. Evan joined the Northwood School admission office in the summer of 2016.

Evan lives on campus in the Balsams.

A 1992 graduate of the University of Vermont, Gino has been a successful coach, school administrator, and athletic director since becoming an educator in 1998.  In his nine years as Head Boys' Coach at Kimball Union Academy, he recruited and mentored 18 Division I players, four of whom were NHL draft picks. Two of his teams won the NEPSAC Small School Championship. From KUA he returned to his high school alma mater, Rice Memorial in Burlington as Associate Principal for Student Life and Athletic Director. In his three years at Rice, the school won 19 state championship titles.  He arrived at Northwood in 2015 as a math instructor and assistant to Chadd Cassidy with the Boys' Junior program.  Last year he became Northwood's Dean of Students and Athletic Director.

Jeff Silengo begins his second year at Northwood as the Head Coach of the Prep Team.  Prior to Northwood, Jeff spent two years playing professional hockey in the ECHL.  Jeff is originally from Madison, CT and attended Holderness and South Kent before playing a year in the USHL. Following his prep school and junior hockey, Jeff played collegiate hockey at the University of New Hampshire, and he received a degree in Kinesiology: Sport Studies with a Business Administration minor. 

David joined Northwood School in 2013 after his graduation from Amherst College where he majored in mathematics and philosophy.  He has coached with the hockey and soccer programs in his time at Northwood. David also teaches in the math department and is a dorm parent on 3rd East. Outside the classroom, his interests include chess, backpacking, and snowboarding.

Carrie Grady Wardlaw was born and raised in Lake Placid. She is 1988 graduate of the ski racing academy Mountain House School and earned her B.A. in Education at Plattsburgh State University. Carrie is three time Ironman finisher and a competitive water-skier. This is her second time as part of the Northwood School faculty and staff. From 1997-2005, she was a history teacher, ski and conditioning coach, advisor and dorm parent. After spending seven years and having three children in Park City, Carrie and her husband Tait, decided to move back to Lake Placid to be closer to family. Carrie began working at Northwood School again in the fall of 2013 as part of the Admissions Team.

Tait and Carrie live in Lake Placid with their children, Wyatt, Teegan and Luke.