Leadership

Head of School Brian Hargrove joined NMH in July 2019. Since his arrival, NMH has built on the momentum of previous leaders and remained focused on delivering on its mission to empower its students to act with humanity and purpose.

During Brian’s tenure, NMH completed a strategic planning process, committed more than $70 million toward campus improvements, increased financial aid by 47%, and launched the $225 million This Place, This Moment: The Campaign for Northfield Mount Hermon. Under his leadership, the school has seen record levels of applications, benefited from new highs in alumni and parent giving, and sustained the school’s exceptional record of college and university matriculation for its graduates.

Brian came to NMH from Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, where he was the assistant head of school for advancement and communications and led a $300 million campaign, one of the largest day- and boarding-school fundraising campaigns on record. He previously was director of development for St. Mark’s School of Texas, his alma mater, and worked in the private sector at an educational data company in Dallas and as a partner at an executive search firm in New York City. Brian holds a master’s degree in education and school leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Texas State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College.

Beatriz Garcia P’09, assistant head for academic programs and dean of faculty, began mentoring educators years ago when she was part of a teacher-training program for English as a foreign language instructor in her home country of Uruguay. She taught Spanish for two years at Deerfield Academy, then came to NMH in 2003 to teach in the world languages department. She has taught Spanish, diversity, and social justice and has led language-immersion programs abroad. Bea served as department chair from 2006 until 2014, when she became the assistant dean of the faculty. She assumed the dean of faculty position in 2018. Bea has a bachelor’s degree in Latin American literature and a master's degree in applied linguistics from Universidad de Jaén in Spain.

James Greenwood joined NMH as dean of equity and social justice in July 2024. He’d previously worked at the school from 2007 to 2016, serving as director of multicultural affairs. He also spent five years as director of NMH’s SOAR Summer Program for incoming students of color and seven years as dorm head for 9th-graders in Cottage 1 (now Chan Cottage). Prior to his return to NMH, Greenwood was dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Western Reserve Academy. He had also been dean of equity and inclusion at St. Paul’s School and director of inclusion and multicultural practice at Shady Hill School. Greenwood’s many years of experience at independent schools also include teaching history and work in admissions and student life. He has published and presented widely on issues of diversity and equity in education. Greenwood holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies, with a concentration in African and African American studies, from Kenyon College, and also did undergraduate work at Howard University. He earned a master of arts in teaching from Brown University, a master of education from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and a doctorate in education from Boston College.

Trish Jackson, chief advancement officer, joined NMH in June 2022 to lead both the advancement and marketing and communications offices. She previously held leadership positions at Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, Wheaton College, Geisel School of Medicine and Dartmouth Health, Brown University, and Dartmouth College. She also served as interim senior vice president for development and alumni engagement at The New School and as a consultant providing development leadership for the University of Vermont Health Network. In addition, Trish serves on the Scripps College Board of Trustees and on the boards of Northern Stage, a regional theater in White River Junction, Vermont, and Every Woman Treaty, an international nonprofit aimed at making freedom from gender-based violence a human right. She received a bachelor’s degree from Scripps College and an MBA from Claremont Graduate University.

Mary McEneany, assistant head for finance and operations and chief operating officer, joined NMH in 2019. She previously served as vice president for administration and finance and treasurer at Hampshire College, chief administrative officer at the nonprofit Center for Human Development, chief financial and operations officer at Community Action, associate director for administration and finance at UMass Amherst, and chief business officer for the Greenfield public schools and the Pioneer Valley Regional School District. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Iona College, an MBA in nonprofit finance from UMass Amherst, and master’s-level certification in school business administration from the Massachusetts School of Liberal Arts.

Charles Tierney III, P’16, ’19, ’20, associate head, knows NMH and the college-prep-school world like no one else. Since his arrival at NMH in 1998, he has been a history teacher, coach, dorm advisor, dean, accreditation coordinator, assistant head of school, interim plant facilities director, interim communications director, and interim head of school. From 2014 to 2016, he was head of the Tatnall School in Wilmington, Delaware. Charlie also was director of studies at St. Stephen’s School in Rome and taught at Choate Rosemary Hall and the Berkshire School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s in educational leadership and administration from Teachers College of Columbia University.

Clair Ward, NMH’s dean of enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year, brings to her work more than 20 years of leadership and enrollment experience at independent schools. She served for six years as the head of school at Shore Country Day School and, prior to that, for nine years as head of school at the Valley School of Ligonier. She also served as associate head at the Phillips Brooks School and has worked as a leadership coach and a consultant. Ward began her career in education as a Latin teacher. She received her bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College, where she double-majored in English and classics, and holds a master’s degree in educational administration and curriculum from Boston College. Most recently, she trained at Brown University and now holds ICF leadership coaching certification.