Faculty and Staff Directory

To search for faculty and staff contact information, please select a department from the menu below on the left. Alternatively, you can use the menu on the right to search faculty and staff using the first initial of the person’s last name.

To reach a member of the faculty or staff via telephone, dial 805-640-3201, followed by your party’s extension.

Faculty & Staff Directory

  • Photo of Sander van Otterloo
    Mr. Sander van Otterloo
  • Photo of Gallia Vickery
    Ms. Gallia Vickery
    Mathematics Teacher
    Princeton University - AB
    Bio
     
    An experienced teacher of AP Calculus and a reader of AP exams, Gallia has taught all levels of mathematics, including a post-AP course that introduces students to the geometry of space and prepares them for multivariable calculus studies. Gallia loves the patterns in mathematics and approaches much of her teaching with both graphical and algebraic methods. Some of her favorite topics to teach include modeling with trigonometric functions and polar graphing. Gallia also brings a lifelong passion for dance to her work at Thacher. She began training in classical ballet as a child and danced with the Cleveland Ballet before attending Princeton, where she fell in love with modern dance and musical theater. Before Thacher, she taught dance and mathematics at the Purnell School in Pottersville, New Jersey. 


  • Photo of Nathan Vish
    Mr. Nathan Vish
    Mathematics Teacher
    Bio
     
    Hailing most recently from Leadville, Colorado, Mr. Vish lives on campus with his wife and two young sons. Previously, he served as the Director of HMI Semester at the High Mountain Institute. He has taught math and lead outdoor programming at The Hotchkiss School and Georgetown Day School, and he finds some of his greatest educational moments using lessons learned during his time as an Outward Bound instructor to help students embrace and overcome the challenges inherent to a mathematics classroom. He loves backcountry skiing, climbing, mountain biking, long-distance hiking, and relishing a good meal with friends.
  • Photo of Christopher Vyhnal
    Dr. Christopher Vyhnal
    Science Department; Chemistry and Geology Teacher
    Colgate University - BA
    University of Tennessee - MS
    Dartmouth College - PhD
    Bio
     
    Known on campus as “Doc V,” Chris did his undergraduate work in geology at Colgate University and then earned an MS in geology at the University of Tennessee and a PhD in geochemistry at Dartmouth College. At Thacher, he teaches Chemistry, advises, and coaches girls’ volleyball. Before arriving at Thacher, he worked as an environmental consultant in Boston and taught science at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Massachusetts and at the Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. In addition to his primary teaching responsibilities in chemistry, Chris continues to be involved with the school’s astronomy program and observatory, and he maintains an interest in our local weather and global climate. 
  • Photo of Theresa Vyhnal
    Ms. Theresa Vyhnal
    Annual Fund Manager
    805-640-3201 x295
    Boston College - BA
    Bio
     
    Theresa supports the Annual Fund as the annual fund manager. The Vynhal family moved to Thacher in 2004 when Doc V. joined the Science Department. Theresa worked in the Thacher library from 2006-2009, then she joined the development team. From 2009-2014 she devoted part of her time as the assistant secretary to the board, and from 2015-2019 she worked on The Next Peak campaign as the campaign manager. Theresa has a BA from Boston College and lives on campus with Doc V, their four kids, Nolan CdeP 2017, Meg, Katie CdeP 2021, Jack ‘25, and their dog Eddie.
A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, California, 93023
Tel: 805-646-4377 Fax: 805-646-9490 Email: info@thacher.org 
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy as to students: The Thacher School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other School-administered programs.