Faculty Staff Bios

Dr. Sharon Howell

Headmaster

PhD – Harvard University

Michael Kane

Art Department

MFA – Harvard University

Dr. Elia Desjardins

Dean of Academics
PhD – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Nicole Begin

English teacher

MA – Northeastern University

Jennifer Mackenzie,

English teacher

BA – Dartmouth College

M Phil – University of Oxford (UK)

M Lit – University of St. Andrews (UK)

Kerra Photiades

English teacher

MA – University of Virginia

Dr. Sharon Howell

Headmaster

PhD – Harvard University

Sven Cole is the Assistant Head of School, a role he has held since 2012. Prior to that, Sven served as Director of Institutional Advancement, where he oversaw Admissions, Development, and Marketing. His first job at Bridgton Academy came back in the 1980’s when he was in middle school and worked in the dish room of Goldsmith Dining Hall. Sven is a third-generation Bridgton Academy staff member, the son of Bridgton Hall of Fame member Susan Cole and grandson of Bridgton Hall of Fame member Betty Dyer. Needless to say, he has some impressive shoes to fill.

Prior to returning to the Bridgton Academy community, Sven served as Director of Marketing at Glen Group, a marketing firm in New Hampshire.

Sven lives on campus with his dog, Summit.

In his downtime, he enjoys catching the sunrise from the top of Pleasant Mountain; he works hard to bring a few students up with him each year to experience the dawn of a new day from the mountaintop.