Traveling has inspired me the most - to get to experience different cultures and meet people in different countries has been eye-opening and humbling.
Do you have a pet?I am a huge supporter of rescuing animals. I have three rescue dogs. I have a German Shepherd mix named Greta, a Labrador mix named Tula and a Chihuahua named Rocky.
What was your favorite experience as a student?My favorite experience as a student was participating in foreign language poetry recitation contests and I am so glad to know that Hopkins students participate in them too. I also enjoyed serving on student council.
What particular tidbit we should know about you?My 15 minutes of fame has to be when I was in high school and my twin sister and I were chosen to be on the cover of three books about twin sisters and their adventures.
Sanil Patel:
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Milford, CT.
What is your academic background?
My academic background is in the classics, biology, and education. I focused on Higher Education while obtaining my Masters Degree.
What are you teaching/coaching/advising/etc. this year?
This year, I will be working in the college counseling office and advising.
What particular tidbit we should know about you?
I am a serious foodie and love to cook. Living in New York City, I find myself always searching for the newest, trendiest restaurant. When I am not exploring, I am in the kitchen trying new recipes!
Are you a sports fan? Sport? Team? Participant in?
Yes! Sports consumes much of my life outside of work. I am a die-hard Yankees fan and find myself going to games quite often. In my spare time, I love to golf and bike.
Tell us about a book, film, television program, performance, etc. that has impacted you and why?Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss is a door-stopper that I read a few years back. It looks at successful leaders in technology, business, health, and sports, and sheds insight into their lives and habits. I find it interesting to look at the habits of those who are successful and happy. One of the most recited habits? Make your bed in the morning. If only I would have known this when I was 10...
Mariana Torrens Arias:
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina and moved to the U.S. in 2003.
What is your academic background?
After teaching Spanish for four years in Maine and Massachusetts, I was admitted to the Communications program at the University of Texas at Austin and moved there to study. My focus was on cross-cultural communication, cultural translation and marketing for cultural institutions. Upon graduation, I applied these skills at the Blanton Museum of Art, the Thinkery (Austin’s children’s museum) and in International Development at Yale University.
What are you teaching/coaching/advising/etc.
this year?
At Hopkins I will be offering academic support and teaching Spanish 2 and 3 Accelerated, and Spanish 3.
What was your favorite experience as a student?
I loved living in Austin and having first-hand experience of the history and perspectives near the border with Mexico. My favorite experience about being a student there, other than the weather in February, was taking classes that challenged me to look at things from a perspective other than my own. It felt like yoga for the brain!
Ashley Sjolund:
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Hamden, CT and attended Hamden High School. I spend many hours throughout my childhood swimming for Chuck Elrick and the Hopkins Mariners. While I did not attend Hopkins as a student, I somehow feel that joining the faculty at Hopkins and coaching the swim team is bringing me full circle.
What is your academic background?
I attended Villanova University and earned a B.S. in Biology in 2008. While at Villanova, I worked in a research lab and completed a senior thesis studying the dysregulation of prolactin signaling in breast cancer. This experience led me to complete a Ph.D. in Genetics at Yale University. I studied a DNA repair protein that is mutated in a small percentage of the population and found that expression of this variant led to a cancerous phenotype in human cells and altered the effectiveness of treatment. After completing my doctorate, I taught biology at Greens Farms Academy in Westport and served as an advisor and the Assistant Director of Independent Research through
June 2019.
What are you teaching/coaching/advising/etc. this year?I will be teaching freshman and AP Biology, and serving as the Assistant Coach for swimming, and coaching Science Olympiad. I am also excited to serve as a freshman advisor!
Do you have a pet? Tell us about it!My husband and I rescued a little white Maltipoo from Korea in June. His name is Oscar. He loves a belly rub and will chase birds and squirrels all day if he could. He has freakishly long legs, can jump really high, and has the cutest fluffy tail. I hope Oscar is able to visit Hopkins one day, as I think petting and playing with a dog is a great way for students to de-stress.
Are you a sports fan? Sport? Team? Participant in?I am a huge Villanova Basketball fan! You will see me around campus with my Villanova Nalgene, Villanova workout bag and Villanova car decal. I try to attend at least two home games a year with my college friends and love to trash talk other Big East teams. I also get extremely excited if I find out that a student is applying to college at Villanova and I am always happy to share a little about my experience as a student there. Come chat!
Lely Evans:
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Taiwan but grew up in California.
What is your academic background?
I got my BA in violin performance and continued with 19th century performance practice in grad school, which was in Australia. I studied teaching Mandarin as a second language later on as a way to reconnect with my roots.
What are you teaching/coaching/ad-
vising/etc. this year?
I will be teaching Junior School Chinese.
What particular tidbit we should know about you?
I love to create things (food, clothing, metal work...). My junior year abroad in Vienna was an eye opener. I learned German and many other things in life.
Do you have a pet?
We have a cavachon named Brie.