Meet Our Staff

Tom Sheppard

Thomas Sheppard, Director of Enrollment Management

Tom came to Stevenson as Director of Admission in 1999 after serving for three years as Director of Admission at Trinity-Pawling School in New York. Previously, Tom spent five years as a history teacher, coach, and dorm parent at Perkiomen School in Pennsylvania. Tom earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University and an M.Ed. from Lehigh University. Tom lives on campus with his wife, Jennifer, who serves as Director of Admission, Carmel Campus, and children, Zachary and Olivia. He serves as a residential faculty member.

What Stevenson Means to Me

At Stevenson, anything is possible. From the first moment a student or parent visits our website through to graduation day and beyond it is obvious that an optimistic attitude and a willingness to go beyond one’s comfort zone go a long way around here. A sense of self-confidence and intellectual wonder enables our students to take risks and sets the foundation for the development of confident learners from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. In the end, the Stevenson journey is full of curves and unpredictability. It is also a journey that without fail brings us back to the core tenet of our mission which calls upon Stevenson to help our students “shape a joyful life.”
-Tom Sheppard
Susan Rymzo

Susan A. Rymzo, Director of Admission, Pebble Beach Campus

Susan came to Stevenson in August 2010 after three years at St. George's School in Newport, Rhode Island serving as Associate Director of Admission and a dorm parent.  She previously served as Associate Director of Admission at St. Paul's School in New Hampshire and as an Admission Counselor at Middlebury College.  Susan earned a BA degree from Middlebury College where she captained the Nordic ski team, and also earned her M.S.Ed from the University of Pennsylvania in Education Leadership.  Susan and her husband, Matt, who teaches English and serves as a resident faculty member and coach, live on campus with their Chocolate Lab, Sadie.  Since she grew up in Alaska, Susan is an outdoor enthusiast, enjoys triathlon training, and cooking. 

What Stevenson Means to Me

Stevenson School is a place where individuals – both students and teachers – can be themselves. It represents a community where warmth, acceptance and encouragement exists, everyone is accepted and respected for who they are, where they come from, what they believe in, and for whatever passions they wish to pursue. Eclectic students embrace their own identity and celebrate those similar and different than themselves. With opportunities to grow as individuals at Stevenson, students try new things, step out of comfort zones and feel supported in any endeavor. Open-minded community members continuously inspire others on campus, teachers dedicate themselves to their craft, and students simply love learning and want to achieve success. The enthusiasm that students have for Stevenson is electric; they want to engage, get involved, and are eager to act as school ambassadors.
-Susan Rymzo
Jennifer Sheppard

Jennifer B. Sheppard, Director of Admission, Carmel Campus

Jennifer came to Stevenson in 1994 as Assistant Director of Admission and a residential faculty member. After three years at Stevenson, Jennifer headed north to become the Director of Admission and Financial Aid at The Urban School of San Francisco.  Four years later, Jennifer returned to Stevenson as Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admission.  Currently, Jennifer is working full time at Stevenson's Carmel Campus.  Along with her children, Zachary and Olivia, and husband, Tom, who serves as Director of Enrollment Management, Jennifer lives on campus and serves as a residential faculty member. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Dartmouth College.

What Stevenson Means to Me

To me, Stevenson is family, community, and a way of life. Having been at Stevenson for over a decade, I recognize that I have grown and matured just as Stevenson has as a school. From working with students, families and faculty on the Pebble Beach Campus through Admission, the Resident & Advising Programs, and running the Financial Aid program for many years to now being closely tied with our Carmel Campus as Director of Admission and a current parent, I value Stevenson for its unique, multi-faceted entirety. I am reminded of why I invest myself so fully as I see the impact a Stevenson education has on my own children on a daily basis. Stevenson is shaping the future as we educate all these young individuals and I am so proud to be a part of it.
-Jennifer Sheppard
Bernadette Sotak

Bernadette Sotak, Associate Director of Admission and Financial Aid

Bernadette joined the Stevenson Admission Office in July 2008 after four years at Verde Valley School in Sedona, Arizona. Bernadette served in several capacities at Verde Valley, including Dorm Parent, the Associate Director of Admission, and the Director of Financial Aid. She attended Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Promotion. After college she worked in the NAU Admission Office as a Student Recruitment and Retention Specialist. Coming from Arizona, Bernadette especially enjoys walking and running on the beach, as well as exploring new places, reading, off-roading, sewing, and cooking.

What Stevenson Means to Me

To me, Stevenson is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff who support and nurture one another while also educating one another. During my day to day interactions with respectful students and patient faculty members I am constantly reminded of why I enjoy being a part of this community; because I feel comfortable and accepted here, and yet I am constantly being challenged. It's the right fit for me.
-Bernadette Sotak

Melissa Schuette, Associate Director of Admission

Melissa came to Stevenson in October 2006, utilizing her corporate recruiting experience to coordinate the Admission Office for 3 years. In 2009, she left Stevenson to live and work in St. Louis, returning to the Admission Office in July 2011.  Melissa earned her BA in Business Administration from Principia College in Elsah, IL, and her AA in Merchandise Product Development from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA.  Melissa leads the Green Key tour guide program for Stevenson. She and her husband, Nathan, live off campus on the Monterey Peninsula.  Melissa enjoys travel, wardrobe styling, clothing design, cooking and baking.

What Stevenson Means to Me

In truth, Stevenson students inspire me with the hope for our future. Although it should come as no surprise, I am often impressed at the degree of maturity, focus and joie de vivre demonstrated by Stevenson students. While they are expanding their horizons at Stevenson they are learning about themselves, developing a sense of professionalism and ease in their interpersonal interactions, and learning to be active participants in our vibrant community.

The same passion for learning seen in our students is both inspired and reflected in the multifaceted faculty and staff at Stevenson. Vibrant lunchtime discussions sometimes range from the ocean floor geography which produces big surfing waves in Santa Cruz and Big Sur, to cultural and personal enrichment experienced by volunteer work in parts of Africa. Being a member of the Stevenson community is both challenging and rewarding, and there is never a dull moment! To be surrounded by active thinkers and enthusiastic educators is a thrilling experience, which I relish.

Stevenson is not only a microcosm of youth-leadership education. To me, Stevenson is home.
-Melissa Schuette
Alex Spence

Alexander Spence, Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admission

Alex joined the Stevenson Admission Office in July 2010.  Prior to coming to Stevenson, Alex served as the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at The Orme School of Arizona for over 6 years. Alex earned a bachelor's degree and M.A. from Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona, where he served as a Community Outreach Counselor to students and their families for 10 years.  Alex resides on campus with his wife, Mary, and daughter, Evelyn, and serves as a residential faculty member.  In addition to spending time with his family and their feisty Boston Terrier, Delilah, Alex enjoys running and the outdoors.

What Stevenson Means to Me

Stevenson is an amazing school and community whose members maintain a wholesome discipline, have a voice that is valued, and mutually respect one another’s interests and pursuits. There is a collective love of learning and so many unparalleled options available here that are all invigorating parts of our lives at Stevenson.
-Alex Spence
Alex Spence

Jeanine Kowalski, Admission Office Administrator

Jeanine came to Stevenson in the summer of 2012 after serving for two years at Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley, CA in the Student Services Office. Prior to her time in California, Jeanine worked in New York at her alma mater, Syracuse University, as an Associate Campus Minister. Having earned her bachelor's degree in Television-Radio-Film and French Language/Literature & Culture, Jeanine takes every opportunity to incorporate video and photography projects into her work in the education industry. Raised in Pennsylvania within a family of educators, Jeanine is a life-long learner who also enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking and pursuing new adventures with her camera.

What Stevenson Means to Me

I consider it a privilege to be an integral member of this campus where high school students continually discover more about themselves and the world around them. Stevenson is a place where one's character and personality are cherished and matured. Every day, this community steps out in confident faith to see how their education will inspire students to change the world; and, I am thrilled to be a part of it.
-Jeanine Kowalski