Poly People

Akili Tommasino ’05

Akili Tommasino ’05 studied art history at Harvard and founded the Prep for Prep/Sotheby’s Art Academy in 2017 “to give high school students of color an earlier window into the art world.”

Alex Carter

Alex Carter joined Poly in 2018 as a History teacher and became part of the Upper School Dean team in 2022.

Alexandra Nava-Baltimore ’20

“Being a student at Poly has allowed me to live what I learned. Poly has been my home, my studio, my classroom, and my inspiration.”

Amy Lucero

Poly welcomed Upper School Dean Amy Lucero in 2025.

Andrew Schnipper ’85

Alumnus Andrew Schnipper ’85 is a restaurateur who launched NYC’s iconic, fast and casual dining experiences such as Hale & Hearty and Schnipper’s.

Angela Yee ’93

Media personality Angela Yee has her finger on the pulse of hip-hop, culture, business, and community. 

Atiya Pope ’23

“The thing that makes Poly students special is that we’re all rooting for one another.”

Beatrice Larkin ’23

“The rigor of the courses keeps us on our toes, which helps us prepare for the future.”

Caroline M. ’33

Caroline M. ’33 is an excellent, creative student who has discovered that she loves to write and read poems.

Cherkira Lashley ’11

Cherkira Lashley ’11 is part of the Upper School Dean team as well as Head Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach.

Chris Davenport ’91

Chris Davenport ’91 has been a reporter for The Washington Post since 2000 and covers the defense and space industries for the Post‘s financial desk.

Dan Fogler ’94

Dan Fogler is an American actor, comedian, and writer who won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

David Koven ’69

David devoted most of his career to community development work, specializing in affordable housing development and in 2024, he earned Poly’s Alumni School Service Award.

Diahann Billings Burford ’90, P’20

Diahann Billings Burford ’90, P’20 was the second girl to serve as president of Poly’s Student Government. “Diahann was a force of nature,” recalled Paul Raso, retired science teacher and former Student Government advisor.

Dr. Arthur J. Bellinzoni, Jr. ’53

After graduating from Princeton, Arthur earned a PhD at Harvard in History and Philosophy of Religion with a concentration in early Christianity.

Dr. Neil Schluger ’77

“…I developed a love of learning, even for its own sake, and Paul Raso was one of the teachers who helped to instill that in me.”

Dr. Robert Minutello ’87

An active interventional cardiologist, Dr. Minutello has performed cardiac procedures in over 10,000 patients during the course of his career. 

Dylan D. ’34

Dylan D. ’34  is great at fostering community among her classmates with her creative storytelling and enthusiasm.

Ed Schoenfeld ’67

Ed Schoenfeld ’67 was a charismatic NYC restaurateur who became an unlikely, but highly regarded culinary ambassador for Chinese cuisine.

Elizabeth Somers ’91

With an extensive background in biology and drug development, Elizabeth Somers ’91 heads the Infectious Disease, Global Project and Alliance Management area at Merck.

Ella Schwartz ’92

Ella Schwartz ’92 has been a cybersecurity warrior for more than 20 years as well as the author of several nonfiction children’s books.

Emily Gardiner Herzog P’24, ’27

Emily Gardiner Herzog P’24, ’27 serves as Chair of the Upper School Deans and Director of College Guidance.

Emily Giurleo ’13

“I certainly wouldn’t be a software engineer if Ms. Turkenkopf and Ms. Licata hadn’t encouraged my love of math and science.”

Eugenia Xiao ’14

Multi-talented Eugenia Xiao ‘14 earned a BA from Cornell and then a MS in Nursing from Columbia University School of Nursing.

Everett Nelor

Everett Nelor is one of Poly’s Upper School deans.

Fiona Greig ’97

“Athletics gave me a natural home.”

Francesca Walker

Francesca Walker joined Poly Prep in 2022 as an Upper School dean.

Gauri Purohit ’21

“Poly has given me a vast array of opportunities in both academics and the arts, which have allowed me to immerse myself in math courses beyond the standard curriculum and participate in theatre performances.”

Gigi Georges ’84

Gigi Georges ‘84, a recipient of Poly’s Distinguished Achievement Award, has had an extensive career in politics, public service, and academia.

Hallie Stephenson ’20

“My favorite part about going to Poly Prep was that I was able to find such an incredible group of people who wanted to see me succeed and cared about my future.”

Hank Schilling ’24

“Poly understands how sports and academics are equally important in students’ lives. We have a wide array of sports to choose from and many teams to join both in Middle School and Upper School. There are facilities and fields for almost every sport you can think of.”

Heidi Zarou ’86, P’22, ’22

“In the Lower School art studios, every day is a journey, an exploration into new and exciting territories with our youngest learners where creativity, imagination, and energy abound.”

Ira Feldman ’75

Sustainability must encompass environmental protection, economic development, and social justice. Educating the next generation of environmental advocates is a priority for Feldman.

Jared Banner ’03

Jared Banner ’03 played four seasons of varsity baseball at Poly. He was named Executive Director, Player Development for the New York Mets in 2018.

Jean Belford P’24

Jean’s AP Computer Science Principles class won the AP Computer Science Principles Female Diversity Award that recognizes Poly’s commitment to female diversity, as well as the girls’ interest and enthusiasm for computer science.

Jeanine Smartt Liburd ’88, P’21, ‘24

“I honed my ability to craft my ideas and utilize language to be persuasive and share my perspective.”

John W. ’32

“John W. ’32 loves P.E. and shows good sportsmanship after each contest.”

Jonathan D. ’30

Jonathan D. ’30 wrote a story entitled “How Bird Got its Wings” adapted from a Haudenosaunee folktale.

Junie Blaise ’24

“Junie is a bright and smart student who goes beyond just academics. She was willing to help other students who were struggling,”

Kahaliah Sandy ’21

“Kahaliah has a great ear and confidence to carry out a conversation in Mandarin.”

Karan T. ’32

Karan T. ’32 has an insatiable appetite for knowledge across ALL subject areas.

Khari Freeman ’24

“There are so many good people around and there is always someone you can ask for help when you need it.”

Krystal F. ’32

Krystal F. ’32 is independent and responsible, kind, caring, and empathetic. She stands out as a true leader in the classroom.

Laura B. Coppola ’95

“The best part of teaching at Poly is building communities and relationships with students and seeing their understanding of art and its transformative power grow. I hope my students use their knowledge of culture and art in a way that empowers them and gives voice to issues they really care about.”

Leslie Grinage ’99

“Being in an educational environment such as Poly prepared me well to live in and value a pluralistic society.”

Liam S. ’33

Liam S.’33 is very bright and curious student all around, but especially stands out in math. He sees patterns and numbers everywhere!

Liz Feldman ’95

Among the many credits Liz Feldman ’95 has accrued in her career, she is the creative force behind the recent hit Netflix series Dead to Me and No Good Deed.

Lola Stephens ’21

“Lola S. ’21 is a top science student, always pushing her own boundaries to understand information and concepts at the deepest levels,”

Lucas Hunter ’23

“Poly Prep has allowed me to flourish in both athletics and the arts.”

MaKiyah Turner-Hicks ’24

“I decided to come to Poly because of its amazing extracurriculars. I’m really interested in theater, visual arts, language, and sports, and Poly offers all of them.”

Marcus Whitney ’93

Marcus is a software developer, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist with a track record of success in all areas.

Margaret Cochran ’26

“From a dramatic musical to creating an abstract painting. Poly has so many classes from which you can choose what you really want to do.”

Margaret Watson ‘80

Margaret Watson ’80 was a member of the first coed class at Poly.

Maria DiCarlo P’23

“My goal for all my math students is that they look back on their math classes and feel that my department has nurtured their abilities to be creative problem-solvers and independent thinkers.”

Mason R. ’31

Mason R. ’31 wants to become the best mathematician in his family.

Max Rose ’04

Alum Max Rose ’04 was elected to represent NY District 11 in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018.

Megan Caro

Megan Caro is Poly’s Upper School Dean Coordinator.

Michael Cacace ’98

You”ll find Michael  “front of the house” hosting at his family’s landmark restaurant, Michael’s of Brooklyn. Ask about their famous sauce!

Michael Terrin ’66

Eminent physician Dr. Michael Terrin ’66, MDCM, MPH is an internist with subspecialty certification in pulmonary medicine, and an MPH in epidemiology.

Michal Hershkovitz P’16, ’18

“Teaching holds a mirror to the soul,” —Parker J. Palmer

Nathan Nguyen ’24

“What I like best about Poly cannot be limited down to a single simple word or phrase.”

Nick Storz ’17

Poly Blue Devils pitcher Nick Storz ’17, who was listed among the Baseball America 2017 Top 100 Draft Prospects, chose to play for LSU, where he is an imposing presence on the mound.

Nikash Khanna ’24

“I like the supportive people and the expansive campus at Poly Prep.”

Nina E. ’32

Nina E. ’32 brightens Lower School everyday with her luminous spirit and irrepressible enthusiasm.

Nnamdi Orakwue ’91

Nnamdi Orakwue ‘91 is a Harvard graduate who has become a successful business leader and strategist in the technology investment space.

Nyla Welch ’20

With an exceptional talent for language, Nyla has traveled abroad through Poly’s Academic Travel program twice, to Martinique and France.

Otis Pearsall ’49

Thanks to his passion for historic preservation, his efforts led to the monumental New York City Landmarks Law and Brooklyn Heights as the first historic district.

Parsa Aghazadeh ’25

“Parsa truly embodies what it means to be a Poly student. Not only is he intrinsically motivated and intellectually curious, he is kind and respectful to all…”

Perri Meeks

Poly welcomed Upper School Dean Perri Meeks in 2022.

Peter Taubman ’65

Esteemed educator, Dr. Peter Taubman has dedicated his life to teaching. During his tenure at Poly, he helped launch the Anti-Bias Coalition and served as coordinator for the Center for the Study of Diversity and Teaching.

Qadir Forbes ’11

“I love the Poly community and have been in service to Poly since my days as a student.”

Reyhan Sanchez ’24

“My interest in chemistry stems from how cool it is to see the way everything interacts.”

Ronnie Rothstein ’60

“Everything is possible, even if it takes four tries to get into Poly!”

Rowan McAllister ’15

“Art was always my favorite class, but I’ve found I use my math and engineering skills almost as much…to really connect all the dots of my education.”

Ryantony Exuma ’22

“Just like stringing notes together to create music, in French class, Ryantony strings together words, manipulates syntax, and applies grammar to express himself in such a thoughtful and euphonious manner…”

Sam Turner

“I remember being told I shouldn’t do ballet, I have the wrong body type, skin tone; my mentors taught me to transform those emotions to propel me forward in my art.”

Samantha Chan ’21

“Poly encourages students to seek help from teachers, lead meaningful conversations in class, and voice their opinions at community forums.”

Samantha M. ’31

Some of Samantha’s favorite classes include Math, Art, and Dance.

Shayaan M. ’34

Shayaan M. ’34 is a voracious reader and a kind friend who is always happy to support his classmates.

Shaza Mousa ’23

“Shaza has an incredible and zany imagination and she is fierce on the page. Her talent as a writer is undeniable.” 

Sonia B. ‘28

“I really love it here. Go Poly!”

Sonja Lindberg ’16

“I worked more and harder than I ever had in English classes. After a few weeks, I came to love it.

Sophia C. ’31

Sophia C. ’31 lives to challenge and better herself through her pursuit of knowledge.

Stellene Volandes ’89

An avid participant in the arts while at Poly, Stellene is an accomplished writer and the editor-in-chief of Town & Country.

Tess Sutter ’21

“Tess’ work ethic, values, and ability to be a consummate teammate while striving for excellence have been recognized by her teachers, coaches, and peers.”

Valentina Aberle ’27

“Something that I will take away from this school and the people in it is that it’s OK to make mistakes, that it’s OK to be scared, and that it’s important to be yourself.”

Wendy Haft ’84

Wendy has coached every sport from basketball to tennis, but focused on softball. In 2015, she returned to Poly to present the Yale Cup at our end-of-year Athletics Awards Ceremony.

Will Hochman ’10

“I felt like maybe I could become who I imagined myself to be.”

Zeke Wise ’24

“The campus is so amazing. I feel like I’m on a real college campus.”

Zoe D. ’29

Zoe D. ’29 is a great team player and her creativity shines through all of her work.

Zuva K-P ’28

“I loved history my whole life and this year my teacher is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had.”