Amy Thompson

Dean of Enrollment

English

The Loomis English curriculum is rich with the study of literature and places a distinct focus on writing. Freshmen investigate four basic genres: poetry, fiction, drama, and literary nonfiction. Sophomores focus primarily on American literature; juniors begin to study the techniques of rhetoric and argumentation and explore the literary traditions of tragedy. And seniors choose from myriad term electives or take the college-level Senior Seminar. Since writing clear, logical, and persuasive prose is critical to academic achievement and to successful communication, the department teaches writing throughout the program. Learn more about writing at Loomis from Director of Writing Initiatives Sally Knight, English teacher Jeff Scanlon '79, and students Oumi, Liam, and Tara in this Pelican Scoop Podcast.

Mathematics

The Mathematics Department at Loomis values the practical reasons for studying mathematics, but also aims to share a deep appreciation of the abstract beauty of mathematics with every student. With many academic and extracurricular opportunities, such as our competitive Math Team, we encourage you to think carefully about the concepts that spring from our fundamental ideas concerning magnitude, quantity, shape, structure, and reasoning. Are you passionate about mathematics? Listen to Joe Cleary and Hudson Harper, mathematics faculty, on this Pelican Scoop Podcast as they discuss opportunities for Loomis students with a passion for the subject.

Modern & Classical Languages

The Modern and Classical Languages Department at Loomis strives to provide an education that teaches you how to interact in an ever-changing global landscape, preparing you for global citizenship. In addition to teaching the fundamental competencies of Arabic, Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish, our department will encourage you to dive into the cultural, historical, and geo-political background of whatever language, or languages, you choose to pursue. Thinking about learning Arabic? Check out this Pelican Scoop Podcast with Arabic teacher Ludmila Zamah.

History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

The History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies curriculum has several objectives: 1) to develop an appreciation of the past through multiple perspectives; 2) to increase knowledge of our interdependent and complex world; 3) to teach the value of engaging in open-minded dialogue and discussion; and 4) to foster an understanding of foundational terms and ideas defining history, philosophy, and religion so that our students are prepared to do substantive work presently, in college, and beyond. Check out the rich breadth of courses offered through this department.

Social Science

The Social Science department reflects Loomis Chaffee's longstanding commitment to giving its students meaningful opportunities to understand how society works — why people make the decisions they do — on an individual level and in groups. The department offers classes that explore how people behave and influence the world around us through two disciplines, psychology and economics. Human development and behavior, social structure, cultural patterns, and economic systems are all examined to give you a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you. Check out the exciting courses offered through this department.

Science

The Science Department at Loomis challenges you to think more deeply about the world around you. Laboratory experiments, hands-on activities, and computer simulations empower you to live in and contribute to an increasingly technological society while gaining confidence in your own abilities. Advanced Biology courses are signature aspects of our curriculum, and departmental Guided Research Projects enable interested students to conduct highly focused scientific investigations in a college research-like setting. We also offer several extracurricular activities related to science, including our competitive LC Robotics Team and the Science Quiz Bowl team. For more about this year's Guided Research Project in molecular biology, listen to science teacher Erica Gerace's Pelican Scoop Podcast.

The Norton Family Center for the Common Good 

The Norton Family Center for the Common Good provides the foundation for your growth as a citizen in a diverse democracy, fostering an active, engaged approach to citizenship. Among the many programs and activities sponsored by the Norton Center is the Norton Fellows program that empowers students to take active roles in their communities through self-directed engagement projects during the summer. Last summer, Olivia created an online resource for adopted teens and young adults, Steele launched an organ donation registration program targeted to teenage drivers, and Kavya designed and taught self-defense courses for girls in rural India. 

The Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies

The Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies offers students interested in global and environmental literacy, sustainability, and engagement the resources and programming to make a positive impact in countless ways. The center oversees the Global & Environmental Studies Certificate program, international education/travel programs, and environmental sustainability programs, including the Gilchrist Environmental Fellowships, which fund student and faculty-led stewardship initiatives. Hoping to make international travel part of your Loomis experience, read more about Loomis' recent trip to Cuba.

The Pearse Hub for Innovation (PHI)

The Pearse Hub for Innovation (PHI) is the nexus of innovation, collaboration, project-based learning, design thinking, and entrepreneurship at Loomis Chaffee. Students with myriad interests, a shared passion to solve problems worth solving, and an eagerness to make a positive difference in their communities, come together in the PHI to take advantage of state-of-the-art technology, an adaptive makers' space, training with faculty experts, and a cutting-edge curriculum. New this spring, the PHI launched the Innovation Trimester (I-Tri), a program that allows a select group of seniors to step away from their regular academic schedules for an entire term to immerse themselves in hands-on projects that address pressing concerns in our local communities.

Diana Farrell '83 is the founding president and chief executive officer of the JPMorgan Chase Institute, the first research organization to strategically harness the scale and scope of one of the world's leading firms to give policymakers, businesses, and thought leaders the tools and insights they need to understand the global economy. She served in the White House as deputy director of the National Economic Council and as deputy assistant to the president on economic policy, 2009–11.

Steven Strogatz '76, a professor of applied mathematics at Cornell University, is a passionate communicator about mathematics. A frequent guest on NPR's Radiolab and Science Friday and blogger about mathematics for The New York Times, he is the author of several books, including The Calculus of Friendship (2009), which concerns his relationship with his calculus teacher at Loomis Chaffee; The Joy of X: A Guided Tour of Math, From One to Infinity (2012); and Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe which will be released in April 2019.

Journalist and author Frank Bruni '82 has worked as a White House correspondent, Rome bureau chief, chief restaurant critic, and op-ed columnist for The New York Times. He has written three New York Times best-selling books: Ambling Into History, about George W. Bush's presidential campaign; Born Round, a memoir; and Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania. In 2017, he published his first cookbook, A Meatloaf in Every Oven, co-written with Jennifer Steinhauer.

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