Following a thorough search which evaluated top candidates from Catholic and Jesuit schools across the region, Fairfield College Preparatory School has named Theresa Napoli as the next Academic Dean effective July 1, 2021. Napoli is a talented and highly experienced Ignatian educator with a long tenure in the former New York Province, now the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus. 

For the last three years, Theresa Napoli has served as Principal and Head of School at St. Barnabas School in the Bronx, New York. There, she has led every aspect of the academic, advancement and mission life of the school. Prior to her leadership at St. Barnabas, Napoli served for over twelve years as Assistant Principal for Academic and Student Life at Fordham Prep, adjacent to the campus of Fordham University.

In her distinguished career at Fordham Prep, Napoli supervised faculty, developed curriculum, led professional development in Ignatian pedagogy, and was active in the national Jesuit Schools Network for professional formation. At Fordham Prep, Napoli also collaborated with Fordham University to create dual credit courses for seniors. She additionally served as the Director of the Higher Achievement Program (HAP), where she focused on academic summer enrichment for middle school boys. Early in her career, Napoli taught grades 6-12 in the Science Department of the Ursuline School in New Rochelle, New York. 

President Cashman praised Napoli's background and abilities: "Theresa Napoli's wealth of teaching and leadership experience in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition will bring a welcome depth and richness to Prep's leadership team. Her fluency in Jesuit pedagogy and experience at a brother Jesuit school, which has a strong University collaboration, will be of tremendous benefit. Her recent role as a principal will bring an added layer of professional knowledge that will make her a key collaborator and partner with our new principal, Tim Dee. We are fortunate that Theresa Napoli's discernment has led her to Fairfield Prep."

In her new position, Napoli will partner with Principal Dee to address key areas of strategic growth in Prep's academic program. With the opening of the McLeod Innovation Center, she will build upon Prep's 21st century curriculum offerings in the Jesuit core as well as in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and STEM. She will also work closely with the Guidance and Academic Support staff to ensure growth of the Jesuit focus to care for the whole person and assure the future success of every Prep boy. All of this will support the strategic vision for Prep's 80th Anniversary beginning in 2022.

Principal Dee commended Napoli's talents: "We are honored to have Theresa join our community at Fairfield Prep. Her knowledge, love of students, and commitment to the Jesuit mission will allow our academic programs to flourish and our students to feel challenged and supported. Theresa's experience will be invaluable to our tremendous faculty as we look ahead to introduce even more engaging and creative opportunities for our students. I am excited to begin working with Theresa, and I know that our students and faculty will benefit from her dedication to academic excellence and passion for Jesuit education."

Excited to assume her new role, Theresa Napoli expressed her love of Jesuit education: "It is my honor and privilege to join the Fairfield Prep Community in order to continue its strong Jesuit mission. I am excited about the teaching and learning opportunities we will implement with state-of-the-art curriculum, enabling us to prepare the young men of Prep for the future. I am looking forward to collaborating with our partners at Fairfield University in order to expand academic avenues at Prep. I am ready to work with Christian Cashman, Tim Dee and the talented faculty and staff to support Prep's Ignatian identity as we move into our 80th Anniversary and many years to come."

Napoli brings a highly-qualified educational resume which includes a B.S. in Science and M.S. in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University. She has engaged in extensive post graduate professional development in Science education, Bioethics, Anatomy, Physiology and Ignatian leadership and teaching. Theresa Napoli is an active participant in the spiritual offerings of the Murphy Center for Jesuit Spirituality at Fairfield University along with her husband Ron Troyer.