News Detail
Welcome, New Faculty and Staff!
This summer, nine new faculty and staff members joined the Episcopal community. Three alumni returned to campus, two of whom grew up on The Holy Hill as faculty children. Two Virginia Theological Seminary families came on board, living just over the fence on the VTS property. Others made cross-country moves from the West Coast (in the middle of a pandemic). From opera singers to youth ministry leaders and outdoor enthusiasts, they are all so excited to bring their talents to Episcopal and to get to know our students over Webex and in person soon.
Ann deSaussure Biondi '08
After graduating from Episcopal in 2008, Ann worked in corporate retail for J.Crew in New York City. She then moved to San Francisco with her husband, Jamie, where she worked for a Rothy's, a sustainable shoe start-up, before joining the editorial team at Banana Republic. Ann serves as the Associate Director of Communications at Episcopal.
Ann graduated from the College of Charleston in 2012 with a degree in English and a concentration in creative writing.
The Biondis live on campus alongside Ann’s sister, Frances Murray ’06; their brother-in-law Billy; and their niece Annie.
Jamie Biondi
Prior to joining Episcopal’s faculty, Jamie taught English, served as the 11th grade dean, and directed the fall theater production at the Nueva School in San Mateo, Calif. In addition to teaching English at Episcopal, Jamie also serves on the Hoxton dorm team and coaches.
Jamie graduated from Yale in 2012 with a degree in English and theater studies. In 2014, he received his M.St. in English from Oxford University with a focus on 20th-century American drama.
Porcha Dodson
Porcha serves as associate director of annual giving in the Advancement Office. Porcha grew up in Middleburg, Va., and recently moved back after living in Los Angeles for the past 18 years. Porcha most recently served as an independent school and higher education development consultant in Los Angeles and, prior to that, she spent over six years with the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of California, Los Angeles, as the director of development.
While attending Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va., Porcha studied opera and received a degree in arts management. In 2008, she started Project Knapsack, a nonprofit organization that delivers school supplies and other educational resources to students throughout Africa and South Africa. Once a year, Porcha travels to Africa and volunteers her time working with primary and secondary students in some of the continent's most vulnerable areas.
Hannah Ellington '03
After graduating from Episcopal in ’03, Hannah received her degree in vocal performance and German from Birmingham-Southern College and spent 12 years as a professional opera singer in Europe and the U.S.
At Episcopal, Hannah teaches German and an English elective and also serves on the dorm team for Anderson, where she lives on the second floor. Hannah grew up on campus with her family from 1993–2006, as her dad, Jim Ellington, led our theater program.
Devin Jacobsen
Devin Jacobsen joins Episcopal as a Latin teacher. A graduate of University of the South at Sewanee with a degree in English, Devin also holds an M.Div. from Harvard and is currently working toward his Ph.D. in literature at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Devin has tutored and worked with young people over the past 10 years as he has pursued his higher education.
Devin lives on campus at Virginia Theological Seminary, where his wife is a candidate for ministry.
Richmond Jones
Prior to joining Episcopal’s community, Richmond Jones spent the past five years preaching, teaching, and working with youth in parish settings as well as at Kanuga, a conference center for the Episcopal Church in the mountains of North Carolina. He earned his B.A. in marketing from Jacksonville University and his M.Div. from the School of Theology at Sewanee.
Richmond is our assistant chaplain in addition to teaching Biblical theology and coaching. He lives with his wife, Perry; their two-year-old daughter, Alice; and their two cats on the second floor of Berkeley.
Evan Leonard '13
Evan ’13 joined us as a substitute biology teacher in 2019 and returns for the 2020-21 school year as a full-time physics teacher. Evan has already called campus home as his dad, Chuck Leonard, taught theater at Episcopal from 2006–2011.
Evan graduated from the University of Vermont in 2017 with a degree in environmental studies and political science. Prior to returning to the High School, he was a substitute teacher in Fairfax County. An avid outdoorsman, he coaches cross country, rock climbing, and Ultimate Frisbee.
Mallory Nonnemaker
Mallory serves as our theater director, in addition to teaching in the English department and serving on a dorm team. For the past 11 years, she has taught theater in public schools in Georgia while volunteering in youth ministry with the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. She holds a B.A. in theater from Brenau University and a M.Ed. from Columbus State University.
She lives at the Virginia Theological Seminary with her husband, Brandon, who is studying at VTS; her twin sons, Finley and Fletcher; and their dog, Charlie.
Julie Park
Julie is serving as a sabbatical replacement for Dave Philllips. She teaches geometry and precalculus in addition to serving on the Harrison dorm team and coaching.
Julie graduated from Davidson College in 2016 with a degree in mathematics and went straight to Duke University to pursue a Master of Arts in teaching degree.
For the past three years, Julie has taught math at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia and recently moved to Crystal City with her fiancé, who is working as a dental resident at the Veteran’s Administration hospital in D.C.
Ann deSaussure Biondi '08
After graduating from Episcopal in 2008, Ann worked in corporate retail for J.Crew in New York City. She then moved to San Francisco with her husband, Jamie, where she worked for a Rothy's, a sustainable shoe start-up, before joining the editorial team at Banana Republic. Ann serves as the Associate Director of Communications at Episcopal.
Ann graduated from the College of Charleston in 2012 with a degree in English and a concentration in creative writing.
The Biondis live on campus alongside Ann’s sister, Frances Murray ’06; their brother-in-law Billy; and their niece Annie.
Jamie Biondi
Prior to joining Episcopal’s faculty, Jamie taught English, served as the 11th grade dean, and directed the fall theater production at the Nueva School in San Mateo, Calif. In addition to teaching English at Episcopal, Jamie also serves on the Hoxton dorm team and coaches.
Jamie graduated from Yale in 2012 with a degree in English and theater studies. In 2014, he received his M.St. in English from Oxford University with a focus on 20th-century American drama.
Porcha Dodson
Porcha serves as associate director of annual giving in the Advancement Office. Porcha grew up in Middleburg, Va., and recently moved back after living in Los Angeles for the past 18 years. Porcha most recently served as an independent school and higher education development consultant in Los Angeles and, prior to that, she spent over six years with the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of California, Los Angeles, as the director of development.
While attending Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va., Porcha studied opera and received a degree in arts management. In 2008, she started Project Knapsack, a nonprofit organization that delivers school supplies and other educational resources to students throughout Africa and South Africa. Once a year, Porcha travels to Africa and volunteers her time working with primary and secondary students in some of the continent's most vulnerable areas.
Hannah Ellington '03
After graduating from Episcopal in ’03, Hannah received her degree in vocal performance and German from Birmingham-Southern College and spent 12 years as a professional opera singer in Europe and the U.S.
At Episcopal, Hannah teaches German and an English elective and also serves on the dorm team for Anderson, where she lives on the second floor. Hannah grew up on campus with her family from 1993–2006, as her dad, Jim Ellington, led our theater program.
Devin Jacobsen
Devin Jacobsen joins Episcopal as a Latin teacher. A graduate of University of the South at Sewanee with a degree in English, Devin also holds an M.Div. from Harvard and is currently working toward his Ph.D. in literature at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Devin has tutored and worked with young people over the past 10 years as he has pursued his higher education.
Devin lives on campus at Virginia Theological Seminary, where his wife is a candidate for ministry.
Richmond Jones
Prior to joining Episcopal’s community, Richmond Jones spent the past five years preaching, teaching, and working with youth in parish settings as well as at Kanuga, a conference center for the Episcopal Church in the mountains of North Carolina. He earned his B.A. in marketing from Jacksonville University and his M.Div. from the School of Theology at Sewanee.
Richmond is our assistant chaplain in addition to teaching Biblical theology and coaching. He lives with his wife, Perry; their two-year-old daughter, Alice; and their two cats on the second floor of Berkeley.
Evan Leonard '13
Evan ’13 joined us as a substitute biology teacher in 2019 and returns for the 2020-21 school year as a full-time physics teacher. Evan has already called campus home as his dad, Chuck Leonard, taught theater at Episcopal from 2006–2011.
Evan graduated from the University of Vermont in 2017 with a degree in environmental studies and political science. Prior to returning to the High School, he was a substitute teacher in Fairfax County. An avid outdoorsman, he coaches cross country, rock climbing, and Ultimate Frisbee.
Mallory Nonnemaker
Mallory serves as our theater director, in addition to teaching in the English department and serving on a dorm team. For the past 11 years, she has taught theater in public schools in Georgia while volunteering in youth ministry with the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. She holds a B.A. in theater from Brenau University and a M.Ed. from Columbus State University.
She lives at the Virginia Theological Seminary with her husband, Brandon, who is studying at VTS; her twin sons, Finley and Fletcher; and their dog, Charlie.
Julie Park
Julie is serving as a sabbatical replacement for Dave Philllips. She teaches geometry and precalculus in addition to serving on the Harrison dorm team and coaching.
Julie graduated from Davidson College in 2016 with a degree in mathematics and went straight to Duke University to pursue a Master of Arts in teaching degree.
For the past three years, Julie has taught math at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia and recently moved to Crystal City with her fiancé, who is working as a dental resident at the Veteran’s Administration hospital in D.C.
