Meet Our New Faculty & Staff

Sarah graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She then joined AmeriCorps and was assigned to work as a math and history teacher at Covenant Preparatory School in Hartford, CT. After completing the school year, she decided to pursue a career in education and went back to Johns Hopkins where she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Mathematics and student-taught in Howard County. Ms. Biron was born and raised outside of Boston, but fell in love with Baltimore after five years and decided to take her passion for teaching to Loyola Blakefield. Every summer, she volunteers on a Native American reservation with the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health where she runs a girl’s lacrosse club. Ms. Biron enjoys playing outside with her four-year-old German Shepard pup, Caden, and is looking forward to getting involved in activities on campus.

Amy graduated from Towson University with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Over the years, she has worked for companies such as USF&G, Zurich Insurance Group, and T. Rowe Price. Amy switched career paths and accepted a position as an instructional assistant with Immaculate Conception School, where she worked for the past 10 years. Amy just recently joined Loyola as an administrative assistant with the Guidance and College Counseling Department. She is excited to work with the students at Loyola.

Jesse graduated from St. Joseph’s University in 2006 with a degree in international relations and history. He was a four-year student-athlete and earned two varsity letters as a lightweight rower. During his time as an undergrad, he also studied abroad at University College Cork in Cork, Ireland. Jesse earned a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) in 2014 with a focus on social studies. For the past eleven years, he had been coaching high school rowing in the Washington, DC, area, most recently at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and for a brief time at Gonzaga College High School. Jesse will be teaching AP Government and Politics, as well as Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. He lives in Nottingham with his wife, Erin (NDP ’02), and three daughters, Maggie, Ruby, and Cece. They already love running up and down the hills in the Hollow!

Selma Vives Ciccarone

Selma has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Goucher College and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. She is currently completing a Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching at Goucher College. A native of Puerto Rico, Selma has three children, including a Loyola alumnus, Timothy Ciccarone ’13, and has worked as a Spanish teacher and private tutor since 2008. Most recently, she worked at Glenelg Country School as a middle–level Spanish teacher and at Friends School of Baltimore as a secondary modern language substitute teacher and tutor. Selma has worked with organizations such as the Pro Bono Resource Center and Esperanza Center in Baltimore as a volunteer interpreter for immigrant children. She will be teaching Spanish I & II this year and is very excited to be a part of the Loyola community. She is looking forward to participating in student retreats, service trips, and other summer opportunities. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors by biking, paddle boarding, and hiking around the Baltimore area.

Garrett earned a Master of Music Performance from Towson University and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Slippery Rock University. He is a professional musician (trumpet player) and music educator originally from Eatontown, NJ. He started working for Loyola Blakefield's music department in September of 2016, assisting Mrs. Mary Thielen with the Jazz Ensembles and brass/percussion instruction. He is excited to be in a more permanent position for the 2017-18 school year as Assistant Band Director. When he is not performing or teaching, he enjoys spending time with his awesome wife, Laura, and their rescue dog, Zoey.

Professional Performance Credits include: American Music Theatre - Lancaster, PA. Toby's Dinner Theatre - Columbia, MD. 42nd Street the Musical (2016 US National Tour), In The Mood Live! (2015 US National Tour), Blast! The Show (2014 Japan Tour), Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Happenings, Streetlight Manifesto, Belle & Sebastian, Al Chez & the Brothers of Funk Big Band, the Capitol Bones Big Band, and the 2012, 2013, and 2015 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra.



Jason Gradin

Jason came to Loyola Blakefield in the spring of 2017 to assist with user support issues in Loyola’s new 1:1 environment. Prior to coming here, Jason worked in a technical support role at a variety of organizations, including Polycom, Social Security, and the University of Maryland, his alma mater. Outside of his day-to-day activities, Jason is updating his technical certifications, and is making plans to continue his cybersecurity master’s program at UMBC in the spring. In addition to his studies, Jason also sings in the choir at his grandmother’s church, plays guitar at his local open mic night, and draws the occasional cartoon for his comic blog. He does not, however, know how to dance.

Jesse obtained a degree in philosophy with the single-minded goal of getting kids to think. Since 2005, he has inspired independent thought from California to Hawaii. Most recently, he oversaw the Humanities Department at Maui Preparatory Academy and worked to expand their International Student Exchange Program. He especially enjoyed mentoring Chinese exchange students and learning about their culture in relation to the western world. Following his teaching goal of provoking thought, Mr. Harris chose to teach theology at Loyola to help students grow intellectually and spiritually. Outside the classroom, Mr. Harris loves traveling to historic sites, reading about exotic places, and making sushi for his wife.

Bobbie earned a Master of Science in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA. Upon graduating from Mary Washington, she worked as a Systems Engineer for Northrop Grumman Corporation. She began her teaching career as a math tutor with Bowman Educational Services and moved into the classroom at the former Friendship School in Eldersburg. She comes to Loyola Blakefield from Jemicy Upper School where she taught math. She will be working in the Murray Learning Center at Loyola Blakefield. Outside of the classroom, she is involved in the ACTS ministry at St. Louis Parish in Clarksville. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and reading.

Christella graduated from Towson University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in art education, and received a master's degree in professional studies in 2016. She worked as an art educator in Baltimore County Public Schools for ten years before making the transition to Loyola Blakefield. She will be teaching art in the middle school and hopes to attend games, retreats, and to inspire young artists on campus.

Renata Sawada (Finance & Operations)

Renata was born and raised in Baltimore, having graduated from St. Paul's School for Girls in 1986 and Goucher College in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She went on to receive accounting training from Stevenson University. Her past work experience includes working in the banking industry in California, accounts payable and accounting at TESSCO Technologies, and as an independent bookkeeper. Her husband, Edward, graduated from Loyola Blakefield in 1987 and her son, Mac, is a member of the Class of 2023. She will be assisting in the business office here at Loyola.



Lara Towson (Marketing & Communications)

With an affinity for design and love for creating work that tells a story, Lara is excited to put her marketing experience to work for Loyola Blakefield while working part-time in the Marketing & Communications Department. A Maryland native, Lara earned her bachelor’s degree in art from Towson University, with a concentration in graphic design. She also spent a summer abroad studying art history and photography at the Lorenzo de’ Medici School in Florence, Italy.

Throughout her career, Lara has worked in newspaper publishing, printing, and marketing. Most recently, she spent eight years for a large Pacific Northwest-based commercial general contractor where she was a Senior Marketing Coordinator. From technical writing and proposal layout to graphic design and SketchUp 3D modeling, Lara has created a wide range of work in her career. As part of Loyola’s marketing team, Lara will work on a variety of projects impacting admissions, development, and more.

Along with her husband and two daughters, Lara recently returned to Maryland after living in Portland, Oregon for 12 years. She looks forward to spending three days a week at Loyola (M, T, W) allowing her the opportunity to spend time with her family—hiking, camping, kayaking, and volunteering at her daughter’s school.

Justin White ‘09 (Office of Ignatian Mission and Identity)

Justin graduated from Loyola University in Maryland with a degree in sociology. During his time at Loyola University, he was involved in service and justice initiatives coordinated through Loyola’s Center for Community Service and Justice. His involvement with that office led him to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore where he taught junior theology for eight years and directed the school’s community service program for seven. During his time at Loyola University and Cristo Rey Jesuit, his passion for exposing students to a “faith that does justice” grew, and that growth has now led him to Loyola Blakefield. He is excited to serve as the Ignatian Ministries Associate and support and coordinate initiatives flowing out of the Ignatian Mission and Identity Office, as well as supporting many of the clubs and sports teams that Loyola is proud to have.