Chris Schuck

Head of School

CHRIS SCHUCK earned an A.B. in Philosophy from Princeton, then worked with A Better Chance and studied conflict analysis and peace research before earning an M.S. in Teaching from University of Pennsylvania. Over the course of his thirty-five year career in education, he has taught both math and English in public and private schools—in high school, middle school, and elementary divisions—and has also held administrative roles at all three levels. Prior to his appointment at Northwest Academy, he was the Associate Head at Oregon Episcopal School, and for seven years Head of School at La Jolla Country Day in San Diego. His wife, Lauren Carrera, is an artist with a studio in Portland.

cschuck@nwacademy.org

April Haddock

Registrar

APRIL HADDOCK is a graduate of The University of North Texas in Denton, Texas where she received two B.A. degrees in Psychology and Political Science. Pursuing diverse intellectual interests, April went on to study Nutritional & Dietary Guidance, Studio & Live Sound Recording, and Computer Coding. Her love of details and organization helps Northwest Academy run smoothly. Outside of school, she plays the drums, loves pop culture, and just re-learned how to ride a bike. April originally joined the Northwest Academy community in 2008 as the Assistant to the Head of School and returned in 2016 as the Registrar.

ahaddock@nwacademy.org

Ariel Williams

Education Assistant

 Ariel March Williams received her BFA in drawing and writing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and studied performance art and drawing at The Burren College of Art in Ireland. Ariel has written art reviews and criticism for online and print publications, exhibited her work internationally, and taught visual art to students of all ages for six years. She has two black cats, one favorite mug, and a large collection of books. Ariel joined Northwest Academy as an Education Assistant in August 2020.

awilliams@nwacademy.org

Chloe Omelchuck

Education Assistant

Chloe Omelchuck grew up in Portland and attended Grant HS before getting her BA at Hampshire College where she studied art and ecology. Before working at Northwest Academy she worked as a lifeguard, camp counselor, and as a muralist. When she’s not working she spends her free time reading, knitting, sewing, cooking, and playing with her cat. She loves science and art and all the glorious ways in which they can be combined and inform each other.

Chloe joined Northwest Academy as an Education Assistant in September 2020.

comelchuck@nwacademy.org

Cristiana Gilman

Director of Development

CRISTIANA (CRIS) GILMAN received her B.A. in Fine and Performing Arts from Portland State University.  In addition to her experience in theater, she has a background in fundraising in both the academic and healthcare fields.  For the past decade, she has been managing community and fundraising events, as well as annual giving programs. She is excited to be back in an educational environment and to be part of the Northwest Academy team.  Cris has been with Northwest Academy since 2017.

cgilman@nwacademy.org

Hau Bui

MS Math
DEI Director

HAU BUI has a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics and an M.Ed. from University of California San Diego. Hau taught for 10 years at charter high schools in the San Diego area and independent middle schools in Los Angeles. For leisure, he enjoys playing tennis, scuba diving, eating out at new restaurants, and winning at board games. His other occupation is being a funcle (fun + uncle). Hau has been with Northwest Academy since 2016.

hbui@nwacademy.org

Inge Hoogerhuis

Director of Admissions and Marketing

INGE HOOGERHUIS has degrees in Theatre & Drama and Forensic Studies from Indiana University.  After careers in music, social service and fine dining management & recruitment, she became the Director of Admission at Portland Jewish Academy in 2007.  Inge enjoys getting to know students and their families.  Outside of school, Inge continues to sing and write.  Inge has been with Northwest Academy since 2018.

ihoogerhuis@nwacademy.org

John Storhm

Director of Systems & Technology

JOHN STORHM has a B.S. in physics from George Washington University. He joins Northwest Academy after a 25-year career working in information technology for private industry, government agencies, and non-profit institutions. John has a passion for books and publishes his own e-book reprints of older out-of-print books. He serves as the volunteer webmaster for the Portland Area Used Booksellers Association and as Vice-Chair of the Tigard Library Board. In his spare time, John enjoys exploring the Western states with his family and riding his motorcycle. John has been with Northwest Academy since 2012.

jstorhm@nwacademy.org

Julia Cain

Director of Student Services
College Counseling

JULIA CAIN is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. In addition to the Museum School, Julia also attended the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts in Paros, Greece.  As College Counselor, she is dedicated to providing guidance through all phases of the college application process. She brings sanity, compassion, and expertise to the daunting task of applying to college. Julia has been with Northwest Academy since 2000.

jcain@nwacademy.org

Kathy Veenhuizen

Human Resources Manager & Accounting

KATHY VEENHUIZEN has over 25 years’ experience in Human Resources and accounting across a variety of industries.  She loves to travel, and has done volunteer work all over the world, including Germany, Hungary, Poland, Mexico, and most recently in Kenya.  Kathy loves spending time with her husband, four adult children and her three grandbabies!  She has been with Northwest Academy since 2016.

kveenhuizen@nwacademy.org

Lily King

Linux System Administrator & Systems Support Specialist

Mary Folberg

Founder and Emeritus Head of School

MARY FOLBERG, Founder and Emeritus Head of School, is recognized for her belief in the importance of arts education for young people. Folberg is the 2013 recipient of Portland Monthly Magazine’s Light A Fire Award for Lifetime Achievement. She also is the recipient of the Kennedy Center Award for Excellence in Arts Education in 1981, 1988 and 1989 and the Metropolitan Arts Commission Award in 1982. She holds degrees in literature and dance and taught in California and Oregon public schools. Founder and long-time director of the Jefferson High School dance department, she also created the school’s company of dancers, The Jefferson Dancers, and was its director for 17 years. In 1993, she created Northwest Academy, designed to educate the area’s most creative and intellectual young people.

mfolberg@nwacademy.org

Morgan Kunze

Admissions and Database Associate

MORGAN KUNZE graduated from the University of Colorado in 1995. She learned to love fundraising as a volunteer, and spent five years in fund development at United Cerebral Palsy and Planned Parenthood, coordinating annual giving and special events.  After taking a few wonderful years at home with her two kids, Morgan joined the development office at Northwest Academy, helping our fantastic community support our students through the Northwest Academy Fund and Club Cabaret.  In 2017, she transitioned to the school’s Admissions and Marketing Department, where she enjoys getting to know prospective students and their families.  Morgan has been with Northwest Academy since 2010.

mkunze@nwacademy.org

Paul Mallon

Director of Finance

PAUL MALLON has a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Columbia and an MFA in Film from UCLA. He joins Northwest Academy after careers in banking and in film production and distribution. Prior to Northwest Academy, he was Finance Director at the French American International School and CFO at ECONorthwest. Paul enjoys supporting his daughter’s soccer team, biking, and attending music, theater, and dance events around town. Paul joined Northwest Academy in 2019.

pmallon@nwacademy.org

Rachael Torchia

Head of Middle School

RACHAEL TORCHIA is a photographer with a background in mediation and conflict resolution. She has a B.A. from Bennington College, and her instructional experience includes public, private, and charter schools as well as court intervention programs. She specializes in experimental and student-directed learning and has taught conflict management and arts-based curricula at middle schools and high schools  in Vermont and Oregon. Rachael has been with Northwest Academy since 2006.

rtorchia@nwacademy.org

Rich Brown

Safety Coordinator

RICH BROWN

rbrown@nwacademy.org

Samson Syharath

Education Assistant

 Samson Syharath is an actor, director, educator, and founder of Theatre Diaspora, Oregon’s only Asian-American theatre company. After graduating with his B.A. in Theatre from the University of Arkansas- Fort Smith, he completed his training at the Portland Actors Conservatory where he taught and managed the office for several years. He is also the Chair of the EDI committee for the Portland Area Theatre Alliance. In 2017, he was part of the Theatre Communications Group’s Rising Leaders of Color Cohort, featured in American Theatre Magazine. He also received the Leslie O. Fulton Fellowship from the Portland Civic Theatre Guild that same year. He has worked as a theatre professional for Artists Repertory Theatre, Theatre Vertigo, Oregon Children’s Theatre, Shaking the Tree, Bag&Baggage, Milagro Theatre, Portland Actors Ensemble, and many others. He is so excited to be joining NWA this year! Samson joined Northwest Academy as an Education Assistant in August 2020.

ssyharath@nwacademy.org

Simone Coker-Kamna

Community Engagement Manager & High School Activities Director

SIMONE COKER-KAMNA received her B.F.A. in Studio Art From Michigan State University and her M.A. in Arts Administration from the University of Oregon. Simone has spent the last six years working in Portland’s nonprofit community and brings over a decade of community outreach and engagement experience to Northwest Academy. Simone has been with Northwest Academy since 2018.

scoker-kamna@nwacademy.org

Tamara Lion

Operations Manager
Main St. Office Manager

TAMARA LION has an Associate’s Degree in Retail Management & Merchandising Display from Bryant & Stratton College in New York. She began her career in New York as a retail store manager, eventually living and working in 6 states across the east coast for her husband’s Marine Corps career. For the past 16 years, she has been an instructional assistant and administrative assistant in both public and private schools in Oregon. In her free time, Tamara is a mixed-media artist and enjoys music, reading, hiking, and spending time with her family and Golden Retriever, Bailey.  Tamara has been with Northwest Academy since 2017.

tlion@nwacademy.org