Getting Started: All School

Faculty and Staff Directory

Department

Grade

Last Name

William Doerge

Educator, US Science

(858) 453-3440 x279

Bio

“How do machines and devices work? Automobiles, wind generators, smartphones? Why do objects move and behave as they do? An airborne soccer ball, a bicycle, an airplane, the solar system? What are the scientific ideas behind their operation? From my childhood to now, I have always wondered how and why things work, and through teaching physics I aspire to stimulate a similar curiosity and enthusiasm in my students. I inspire greatness by facilitating lab activities that allow students to directly gather evidence for physics ideas in a hands-on manner, such that they are able to better understand where the ideas and equations originate. Then my students apply these ideas to solve engineering-like problems, to explain how vehicles move and devices function, and to design and build their own devices.”

Bill Doerge hails from Pittsburgh, and he started his career as an electrical engineer for Motorola in Phoenix, Ariz. While working with middle school students as a volunteer, he became interested in teaching and has taught high school and college physics in both Arizona and San Diego. He also worked as a science curriculum developer and physics instructor at the Center for Research in Math and Science Education (CRMSE) at San Diego State University.

Mr. Doerge particularly enjoys working with students on engineering projects, which have included an electric vehicle conversion, robotics competitions, Rube Goldberg machines, solar-powered vehicles and a rideable hovercraft.

Outside of school, his interests include hiking and cycling, both on and off road.
Aakash Kumar

Upper School Dean of Students

(858) 453-3440 x391

Bio

“I inspire greatness for a better world by helping all students feel comforted and supported to make mistakes, ask questions, and dive into their own passions—providing opportunities for students to build on what they already know and continue to be lifelong learners. Science is all about taking chances and exploring interesting phenomena, and I inspire greatness by helping to build strength and confidence to use science as a new way to look at the world.”

Aakash Kumar completed his undergraduate degree at Georgia Tech in Biomolecular Engineering and is currently working to finish his Ph.D. in Cognitive Science in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is working on a project titled “Using Augmented Reality to Teach Physics.”

Before he started his Ph.D., Mr. Kumar was a high school math and science teacher in Arkansas, and he chose to go back to school to learn more about how to best help students learn science. He is so excited to have the chance to use all this knowledge every day and continue to learn from his students and fellow teachers.

Mr. Kumar has an extremely chatty (he calls this an “accent”) lab-mix named Onyx, who is still adjusting to being a West Coast beach dog instead of a New Yorker. His favorite book is The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, and he watches way too much TV to pick a favorite show, although currently it’s a toss up between The 100 and The Good Place. The journey taken by the characters is what speaks to Mr. Kumar, and it is also why he, his fiancé Richelle, and Onyx spent two weeks traveling across the country to get to San Diego. They both love travelling and are hoping to head to Italy next summer and India after that.

Mr. Kumar’s hobbies include running, hiking, playing video and board games, and cooking. He is passionate about all kinds of gaming, staying positive amidst all of life’s uncertainty, and finding ways to connect the world to the students in a classroom.
Todd Lineback

Educator, US Science

(858) 453-3440 x146

Bio

“I inspire greatness for a better world by igniting students’ passion for science. The brilliant minds of science have made incredible insights into the nature of physical phenomena. Investigating these will aid my students greatly in their future endeavors, be they academic, professional or otherwise.”

It is so important that teenagers build a well-considered, well-constructed base of knowledge and skills. In his role as a science teacher in the Upper School, Todd Lineback works to ensure that each student formulates as strong a foundation in science as possible. He shapes his approach to fit each student’s unique needs and to incorporate each student’s unique awareness and abilities into their science learning experience.

By regularly asking students to conduct lab protocols and then to draw conclusions based on evidence gathered, students have the tangible and relevant revelations associated with live lab-bench explorations. Further, Mr. Lineback fosters cooperative interaction among his students and emphasizes that science is an active, social and technical enterprise.

Mr. Lineback earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and he worked as an undergraduate researcher at UCSB’s Neuroscience Research Institute. His teaching career began in Tottori, Japan, where he worked as an assistant English teacher for two years. He has taught high school chemistry since 2000 for institutions as far afield as Bethesda, Md., and the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean Sea. He has worked at La Jolla Country Day School since 2008.
Daniel Mulvihill

Educator, US Science

(858) 453-3440 x182

Bio

“I inspire greatness for a better world by equipping my students with physical and mental tools to help them navigate real work problems with grace, empathy and perpetual curiosity.”

Daniel (Danny) Mulvihill joined the LJCDS community in 2022 as an Upper School science educator. From a young age, he loved learning about how the world worked. Mr. Mulvihill frequently explored mechanical phenomena such as disassembling his dad’s lawnmower and natural biological wonders, like when he stopped running during a second-grade track meet to inspect an insect in the middle of the track.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in biology at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, Mr. Mulvihill spent time conducting stem cell research at The Scripps Research Institute, working for the USDA on the Asian Longhorn Beetle eradication project in New Jersey, and teaching kids at Oak Crest Day Camp survival skills, including how to safely construct a proper s’more over their fires.

During his seven years as a science teacher at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Edison, NJ, he earned his teaching credential, served as Director of STEM and established the school’s educational makerspace.

While teaching in New Jersey, Mr. Mulvihill also met his significant other, LJCDS design and innovation educator Casey Walker, and they moved to San Diego together in 2021. They are proud cat parents and even prouder of their garage workshop, which features a 1947 South Bend metal lathe and a 1930 Ford Model A Coup, which he last restored to working condition in high school. Mr. Mulvihill is a huge fan of Star Wars; he likes it almost as much as he likes spiders.
Daniel Padgett

Educator, US Science; Coach - Baseball

(858) 453-3440 x294

Bio

“I inspire greatness for a better world by giving students the tools and confidence to become great problem solvers. No matter what career path my students end up taking, they are going to face challenges that require critical thinking. Science provides a great platform for this as students learn to gather and filter information and decide what is relevant, and then determine the best path to a solution.”

Dan Padgett spent the first few years of his post-undergraduate life playing minor league baseball three seasons a year and the winters delving further into science working as a neuroscience research assistant. While pursuing his neuroscience Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego, Mr. Padgett decided to change the course of his academic pursuit from research to teaching. He has been a member of the La Jolla Country Day School science faculty since 2006.

Being mentored by the LJCDS legend Billy Simms opened Mr. Padgett’s eyes to finding new ways to reach the younger generation of scientists, while also realizing that some of the most basic demonstrations of scientific phenomena are timeless. He uses technology to improve the analysis and presentation of data in the physics classroom, which allows students to break down simple experiments in a more complex and thoughtful way.

Mr. Padgett is an assistant coach for the LJCDS baseball team as well, which allows him to impart many of the baseball lessons (and life lessons) he learned over his career to a younger generation of players.

Mr. Padgett and his wife, Tracy, love going to the zoo with their nearly 2-year-old twins, Edwin and Kendall, and watching them enjoy their two favorite African penguins, Dan and McKinney.
Biology (H) and Physics Teacher
Dani Tucci

Educator, US Science

(858) 453-3440 x 480

Bio

“I inspire greatness for a better world by sparking students’ curiosity in science and the world around them. I believe that every student can learn and ‘do’ science and that my role is to model what scientists do and how we can ask questions that can be tested in the laboratory. From the simplest atoms to the most complex structures, science is everywhere, and you just have to keep looking and searching for answers.”

Dani Tucci, M.Ed., loves teaching science and wants to inspire students to achieve their academic goals, provide support and resources to succeed and empower them to tackle challenging problems both in and out of the classroom.

Before starting at LJCDS in 2023, Ms. Tucci earned her bachelor’s degree from Scripps College in 2012 and her Master of Education from UC San Diego in 2016. Since graduation, she has taught everything from biology to chemistry to environmental science in various school settings, from Title 1 public schools to small private schools. Ms. Tucci is a San Diego native but has taught mainly in the Bay Area for seven years. She is excited to return to southern California, where the weather is a bit warmer!

Ms. Tucci loves the outdoors, spending time with her family, playing board games and reading a good book.
Chris Uyeda

Educator, US Science; Coach - Surf

(858) 453-3440 x340

Bio

“I got my start in education leading students on experiential programs across the globe. And while I work in classrooms today that spirit is still at the heart of my teaching practice. So how do I inspire greatness for a better world? Simple, I show them the world. From there, I’ve found the inspiration takes care of itself.”

Chris Uyeda has a deep love for the following: science, teaching, the ocean, his family, and the greatest show ever made, Seinfeld. Somehow he has found a way to turn the first three into a profession.

Mr. Uyeda joined the La Jolla Country Day School faculty in 2010 and has taught biology, chemistry, marine science and biotechnology. His job is to help students understand that science is a process, not a body of knowledge, and what it means to think like a scientist. Primarily, though, his role is to give young people his attention.

A career educator, Mr. Uyeda has also taught at High Tech High, Florida Keys Community College, Sea|mester, Adventures Cross Country and the Catalina Island Marine Institute.

He earned his degrees from Stanford and the University of Miami and was a NOAA Knauss Fellow for Marine Policy in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Uyeda is a PADI Open Water SCUBA instructor and wilderness first responder and holds an IYT Master of Yachts 200-ton license.
Renna Wolfe Ph.D.

Educator, US Science

(858) 453-3440 x336

Bio

“I inspire greatness by connecting students with the natural world and empowering them to ask scientific questions. Given the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living things with the environment, I believe we are obligated to appreciate the inner workings of life on this planet and to take care of it compassionately. I aim to lead by example, by treating others and our environment with respect, and igniting in my students a zeal for science.”

Renna Wolfe, Ph.D., believes strongly that education is key to shaping our world for the better. She has eagerly assumed countless roles in teaching and instruction during her academic training, in which she married two of her great passions, learning and science, by focusing her own research in the field of brain plasticity. Attaining a career in teaching science to students at LJCDS provides the ultimate reward for Dr. Wolfe because in addition to loving the material and the teaching, she loves the kids!

Dr. Wolfe earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in biology from Smith College. Following a year of research in Boston, she was too enticed by San Diego to remain in her home state of Massachusetts and spent the next phase of her life completing her Ph.D. in neuroscience at both UC San Diego and UC Berkeley. Dr. Wolfe is impassioned by faith and spirituality, believing in a fundamental harmony between science and religion. She is also an avid outdoor enthusiast. However, lately, all that rock climbing, hiking, and surfing have had to take a back seat to her two very active small children, not that she's complaining!
Maria Anna Zupanc

Educator, US Science

(858) 453-3440 x231

Bio

“I inspire greatness for a better world by sharing my passion for science, my love for learning and my thirst for knowledge.”

Marianne M. Zupanc, Ph.D., strongly believes that a good foundation in the sciences is essential to coping with the challenges the future generation will face and embracing a variety of opportunities in the 21st century. A science classroom is also a place where other important skills are nurtured, such as working in teams and thinking outside the box.

Dr. Zupanc earned her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology at UC San Diego. She obtained her Ph.D. from Open University in collaboration with the National Institute for Medical Research in London, and the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Tübingen, Germany. Subsequently, Dr. Zupanc was involved in research in neurobiology at the University of Manchester, U.K. and the International University Bremen, Germany. After this career in academia, she decided to pursue her other passion – educating and mentoring young people. Dr. Zupanc joined the International School of Bremen, where she served as head of the science department. During her tenure, she had the opportunity to work and interact with students, faculty and staff from over 50 different countries, which provided her with the opportunity to embrace the richness of many different cultures.

Dr. Zupanc loves the outdoors, spending time with her family, including her dog Cooper, and reading a good book.

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