Murphy Austin

• maustin@bec.bard.edu

Murphy is responsible for program evaluation, data management, and research across the Bard Early Colleges network. He specializes in creating adaptive data systems for long-term insights, drawing from years of experience in the non-profit sector. Austin holds a BA from Swarthmore College in Sociology and Anthropology.

Clara Haskell Botstein

• cbotstein@bard.edu

Clara is responsible for overseeing policy, public partnerships, and strategic initiatives at the Bard Early Colleges. Clara has over a decade of experience in policy work in education and youth development. Clara holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University. Clara serves as Board Chair for the Two Rivers Public Charter Schools in Washington, D.C. and is an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, D.C..

Ligaya Franklin

• lfranklin@bec.bard.edu

As the Academic Program Associate, Ligaya is responsible for fostering cohesion of intercampus student and faculty programs at the behest of the Dean of the Early Colleges. Their work primarily focuses on the following: meet-ups, retreats, equity related initiatives, affinity-based groups, faculty development programs (such as the Program Chair and Early College Fellowship, and Capstone Project, etc.), and student centered programs ( such as the Difference & Justice, Women & Leadership and Network Student Council). 

Ligaya has a background in school-based program and community management, community engagement, and DEI ( diversity, equity, & Inclusion) work. They have a BA in Policy, Society, & Education from Bard College at Simon’s Rock. 

John Gardenhire

• jgardenhire@bard.edu

As the Assistant Director of Finance and Operations, John is responsible for financial and human resource-related duties for the network. He has worked for education nonprofits and charter schools for several years. His roles have entailed directly working with students (as a dean); spearheading programs (as a director); and before coming to Bard Early College, directed the finances and operations of charter schools, in Brooklyn. He has a BA in Economics, from Baruch College and an MBA from Penn State.

Anna Hessa

• ahessa@bec.bard.edu

Anna Hessa is a dedicated fundraising professional with a specialty in the cultural sector. As Assistant Director of Development, her role is to develop and expand individual philanthropic support for the Bard Early College Network. Areas of expertise include strategic planning, event production, board development, print and digital marketing, and young donor strategy. Anna received her Master of Arts, Visual Arts Administration, from New York University; and her Bachelor of Arts, Art History, from Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee.

DJ Hills

• dhills@bhsec.bard.edu

As part of the team for policy, partnerships, and new initiatives, DJ facilitates external partnerships for the Bard Early Colleges, manages the Maryland Alternative Teacher Preparation Program, and coordinates licensure programs throughout the network. They hold a BA in English and Theatre from Goucher College.

William Hinrichs

• whinrichs@bhsec.bard.edu

A.B., Princeton University; Ph.D., Yale University. Hinrichs has taught at St. Mark’s School, the Taft School, Yale University, and BHSEC Queens. Publications include The Invention of the Sequel: Expanding Prose Fiction in Early Modern Spain (2011). Teaching and research interests include literature and culture of 16th- and 17th-century Spain, flash fiction, and concepts of authorship and authorial property.

Alysa Hutson

• ahutson@bec.bard.edu

Alysa works alongside the Associate Vice President to support the early colleges in policy, partnerships, and new school ventures. Previously, Alysa served as the External Accountability Manager for a national charter management organization and as a legal fellow for Leadership for Educational Equity. She began her professional life in the classroom as a high school history teacher in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Alysa received a Bachelor’s in Public Policy Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law.

Sarah Imboden

• simboden@bard.edu

Sarah is responsible for finding, pursuing and managing grants for all campuses of Bard Early College, including government and private foundations. In this role, Sarah works closely with BEC Network staff and school leaders, as well as faculty, on grants to fund projects ranging from individual research to national initiatives. She has a background in municipal and nonprofit grant writing and administration, as well as journalism and research. She has a dual MA in history and public policy from Rockefeller College, University at Albany and a BA in history.

Brian Mateo

• bmateo@bard.edu

Brian Mateo is a “connector,” which makes him the perfect person to lead several engagement activities across Bard’s network. Brian works with the international campuses, Early Colleges and the Bard Globalization and International Affairs Program (BGIA). Through his work with the Early Colleges he promotes civic engagement initiatives such as assisting faculty develop Engaged Liberal Arts and Sciences courses, administering the Community Action Award program and working with Early College leadership to provide opportunities for students to engage with their communities. He also teaches a course on civic engagement at the Early College in Queens. Brian also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Carnegie Council Ethics for International Affairs and a Term Member for the Council on Foreign Relations.  Brian attended The Pennsylvania State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health and a Master’s of Education in College Student Affairs.

Shazia Muhammad

• smuhammad@bec.bard.edu

Shazia serves as the Finance and Operations Assistant for the network of campuses that comprise the Bard Early Colleges (BEC)s.  She helps to facilitate the payment and purchasing processes applicable to Bard College and the funding sources it manages.  She also serves to support the logistical aspects of the Early Colleges’ human resources and other operational needs. She has a diverse administrative background, having experience in academic environments and the nonprofit sector.  Her knowledge comprises the fields of operations , office management, community outreach, bookkeeping and finance, as well as human resources.  Always with the ultimate end goal in mind of strengthening direct and mission-based services, she has a special interest in helping nonprofit organizations such as the BECs develop systems and processes that allow administrative functions to be more efficient.

Stephen Tremaine

• tremaine@bard.edu

A New Orleans native, Tremaine founded Bard’s early college in New Orleans and led that campus for five years before moving into the role of Vice President for Early Colleges in 2013. Tremaine holds a BA in Literature from Bard College, an MA in Literature from Tulane University, and is currently completing a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Dumaine Williams

• dwilliam@bard.edu

Within the Bard Early College Network, Dr. Williams has served as the Dean of Students at BHSEC Newark and as the founding principal at BHSEC Cleveland. He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology from Stony Brook University; an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University; and a B.A. in Biology from Bard College.

Eniyah Willingham

• ewillingham@bec.bard.edu

As the Alumni/ae & Community Engagement Coordinator, Eniyah is responsible for fostering engagement, support, and awareness across the Bard Early College community through stakeholder engagement, community building, messaging & outreach, and development & fundraising. Her work primarily engages audiences most connected to the Early College- students, alumni/ae, families, and faculty & staff. Eniyah has a background in community engagement, youth development, and non-profit development, and holds a BA in Sociology and Gender & Sexuality Studies from Bard College.