Leslie Grinage ’99

Davidson College (BA), Texas A&M University (MS), Vanderbilt University (EdD)

Leslie Grinage ’99, who earned a BA in Spanish from Davidson College, was named Dean of Barnard College in 2019. Leslie was among the Poly alumnae who returned in 2018 for our celebration of Poly Women Through the Decades. Alumnae met with seventh graders who had done historical research about each decade. Their questions made Leslie realize she was a living witness to history. But, as an African-American woman, Grinage’s experience was different from other young women in her class. “I wouldn’t have known at the time to use a word like intersectionality,” Grinage said, “but I think the intersection of race and gender had an influence on my Poly experience. At Poly, I developed an appreciation for different cultures, ethnicities, and religions. Being in an educational environment such as Poly prepared me well to live in and value a pluralistic society.”

Academics

More Poly People

Alumni

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.”

Alumni

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.

Alumni

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.

Alumni

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.”

Alumni

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.

Alumni

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.”

Alumni

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.”

Alumni

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.

Alumni

Fiona Greig ’97

“Athletics gave me a natural home.”

Alumni

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.

Alumni

Max Rose ’04

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

Alumni

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.”

Alumni

Sonja Lindberg ’16

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

Alumni

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.

Alumni

Will Hochman ’10

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

Alumni

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.

Alumni

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.