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Welcome new faculty and staff

As the new school year begins, we’re welcoming faces both familiar and unfamiliar back to campus. From new students and families to new faculty and staff, we can’t wait to meet the newest members of the Carondelet community.


Get to know the newest faces on campus before the first day!

Piper Brewster - Athletics Director

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet? 

I just started at Carondelet last week. I was previously a Senior Associate Athletic Director at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. I am also an adjunct professor in the Graduate Kinesiology Department at Saint Mary’s College.

What do you most like about teaching? 

I will not be teaching at Carondelet but why I enjoy teaching in general is because it enables me to help others in realizing their potential and to better prepare them for their future careers in sports. (I teach Sports Law and Leadership and Governance courses.)

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

I got a puppy and read a lot of books/articles on dogs!

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you?

I’m an only child.

What else do you want to tell the Carondelet community?

I’m excited to meet other new faculty and staff at Carondelet and work together to better the student experience!

Alexis Bustamante - Assistant Dean of Students

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet? 

I am originally from Southern California. Before working at Carondelet, I worked at a foster care agency in Oakland, CA. I also worked at a K-12 charter school in Chicago, IL, and have a background in Restorative Justice and facilitating workshops around identity/development.

What do you most like about teaching? 

I love building relationships with students, being able to support them, and getting to know them outside of the classroom.

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

I spent this summer reading “The Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevado.

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you? 

I am training my dog, Tucker, to do AKC Scent Work competitions.

What else do you want to tell the Carondelet community?

I am excited to be back in an education setting and hope to impact Carondelet students beyond the classroom!

Tayler Costa - Math Proctor/Library Assistant

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet?

I grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, California. I graduated from Chapman University in 2017 and was a Substitute Teacher before joining Carondelet.

What do you most like about teaching?

I love being able to create a positive environment for students that allows them to enjoy their time inside and outside of the classroom.

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

Going to the movies is one of my favorite things to do, so I was really excited when movie theaters opened back up this summer! I was finally able to go see A Quiet Place Part II and I loved it!

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you? 

I am obsessed with The Office!

Colleen Gill ’15 - Assistant Director of Enrollment

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet?

I was working for a nonprofit lobbyist in Nashville, TN.

What do you most like about teaching?

I love mentoring young women as they discover their values and passions.

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

The West Wing (for the third time)

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you?

I turned down law school to come work for Carondelet!

Nikki Griffith ’13 - Teacher

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet?

Danville, California. I was earning my Master’s degree in history at SDSU and my teaching credential at St. Mary’s.

What do you most like about teaching?

Working with young people and being a positive influence in their lives.

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

Mare of Eastown on HBO!

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you?

I have watched every episode of Friends at least 10+ times.

What else do you want to tell the Carondelet community?

I’m so excited to be back at my alma mater! Coming back to Carondelet has always been a dream of mine.

Stephanie Gutierrez - Attendance Officer

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet?

I’m from Southern California (Long Beach) and moved to the Bay Area three years ago. Before coming to Carondelet I was a preschool teacher at St. Patrick School in Rodeo.

What do you most like about teaching?

As a preschool teacher, I loved that I helped lay the foundation for students. It’s exciting to see them achieve milestones and help shape them into enthusiastic learners.

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

I love reading mystery/thriller books. I read and watched The Alienist.

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you?

I just recently got into photography. And have loved learning and embracing this new passion.

What else do you want to tell the Carondelet community?

I am super excited to start at Carondelet! I love sports, drawing, watching movies/shows, and nature. I can’t wait to meet and get to know all of you!

Audrey Richardson - Special Events Coordinator

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet?

I am from Oakdale, CA and I just graduated from Washington State University in May of 2020.

What do you most like about teaching?

While I won’t be teaching, I do love education. I am excited to be part of the support that contributes to the success of our Carondelet students.

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

Jane Austen’s “Emma” and Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights”

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you?

I studied abroad in Florence, Italy.

Adriana Smith ’14 - English/Religious Studies Teacher

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet?

I’m originally from the East Bay and a proud alum of CHS. I went to Loyola University New Orleans for my undergraduate degree and Saint Mary’s College of California for my Teaching Credential/Masters Program. In the years before joining the Carondelet faculty and earning my credential, I taught reading in Omak, Wa, and served as the Coordinator for an After School Program in Antioch.

What do you most like about teaching?

I love watching my students grow, explore the world through literature and become empowered to take on what matters most to them.

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

I loved listening to the Hadestown Soundtrack and reading Where the Crawdads Sing this summer!

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you?

One interesting fact about me is that I’ve been to several Mardi Gras Balls.

Tiler Templeton - Math Teacher

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet?

Temporary Math Teacher at Cal High in San Ramon

What do you most like about teaching?

Interacting with students

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

San Francisco Symphony and Tokyo Olympics

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you?

I have a passion for golf.

La’Ena Torrence - HR/Employee Employer Relations

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet?

Born and raised in Hawai’i–Previously I was a High Impact Manager for a large rental car company where I managed multiple locations.

What do you most like about teaching?

While I am not a teacher what I enjoy most about training team members is watching them apply and flourish with the new information.

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

The Rookie

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you?

I went to an all-girls Catholic school my whole life in Hawai’i so joining the Carondelet ohana feels like coming home!

What else do you want to tell the Carondelet community?

Looking forward to being a part of the Carondelet community!

Sonia Wilson - Front Desk Administration

Where are you from and/or what were you doing before joining Carondelet?

I grew up in Oakland and went to Bishop O’Dowd High School. Previous to Carondelet, I worked in magazine sales for 15 years.

What’s the favorite thing you read, watched, or listened to this summer?

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

What’s one interesting or surprising fact about you?

I was a coxswain for a men’s crew team in high school and college.

What else do you want to tell the Carondelet community?

Looking forward to being a part of the Carondelet community!

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