Fairfield Prep is pleased to announce Carlos Mesquita will be the Director of Innovation, a new position created to support Prep’s expanding STEM and Innovation programming beginning fall 2021.

As Director of Innovation, Mesquita will work with the Academic Dean and Department Chairs to create interdisciplinary learning experiences for students in the McLeod Innovation Center. He will provide direction and leadership in the development of a comprehensive Innovation program and curriculum, overseeing the development of the “Project Lead the Way” coursework. Mesquita will work collaboratively with the faculty to offer resources, programming and training opportunities.

Principal Tim Dee commended his background: “Carlos Mesquita is a dedicated and Jesuit-educated leader who possesses the knowledge and background to align our innovation initiatives at Prep with our Ignatian identity. As a classroom teacher, he currently works with our students to allow them to create technology that serves the greater good. As the new director, Carlos will be able to work with more students and our faculty to blend our Jesuit mission, innovation, science, math and the humanities. I am thrilled that Carlos will lead in this new position that will benefit our entire Prep community.”

President Christian Cashman added: “Carlos brings a tremendous depth of expertise in the integration of technology with the teaching and learning process. He is a creative thinker with an entrepreneurial spirit who fully understands and embraces our Jesuit way of educating the whole person. Carlos is universally respected by his peers and our students. I look forward to working with him as we embark on the first academic year in the McLeod Innovation Center.”

Mesquita has served at Fairfield Prep for two years as a Computer Science teacher and IT Department Specialist. At Prep, he has developed new courses in Web Development and Game Development that focused on empowering students to reflect on weak points to learn through an iterative approach. Mesquita also redesigned existing courses in Computer Programming and Foundations of Technology & Coding to incorporate modern applications and allow students to explore real-world problems that they may encounter in their future careers. Prior to Prep, he worked as a Security Engineer for Fairfield University Information Technology Services. Mesquita graduated from Fairfield University with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Software Engineering.