Peddie Welcomes New Faculty
From left: Abigail Nickerson, Chad Miller, Amy Eberly, Jeremy Irzyk, Bob Amar, Lilly Castro, Emmett Grosland, Maclain Woodbury and Gillian Davis ’00
Get to know the newest members of the Peddie faculty family.
Bob Amar (Mathematics)
Amar comes to Peddie from the Lovett School in Atlanta, where he spent 11 years teaching and was a recipient of multiple teaching awards, including the STAR Teacher Award and the Woodward Award for Excellence in Teaching. Earlier in his career, he taught at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, where he received the Archbishop’s Award for Catholic Education and the Shuler Hensley Award for Music Direction.
Lilly Castro (Chemistry)
Castro joins Peddie from Pace Analytical Environmental Laboratory. A 2022 graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Castro majored in biology and environmental studies. She has worked as a summer program counselor at Tabor Academy, where she supervised camp activities such as sailing, soccer, squash and tennis. She also served as residential head and taught marine science. A graduate of St. Paul’s School, Castro played ice hockey and rowed crew.
Gillian Davis ’00 (Chemistry)
An alumna and former staff member, Gillian Davis ’00 returns to Peddie after building a career in microbiology and genetics. Inspired by a Peddie mentor to pursue higher education, she earned her B.A. from Rider University and her Ph.D. from Rutgers, where she has worked as a research scientist and senior data curator since 2017. Gillian is also co-owner of Brazen Martial Arts in Windsor, N.J.
Amy Eberly (Signature Experience Program)
Amy Eberly joins Peddie to lead the Signature Experience program. At Gateway Academy Charter School in Newark, she developed and managed a successful internship program, placing 30–40 students annually in meaningful roles. Her references praise her “unmatched” organizational skills, adaptability, and sense of humor. Amy earned her M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. from New York University.
Emmett Grosland (Visual Arts)
Grosland, previously a part-time scenic designer for Peddie stage productions, is now a full-time member of the Visual Arts department. Grosland’s experience spans scenic charge and designer at The New School, designer and teaching artist at Mile Square Theater, teaching artist and performer at California Theater Center, and scenic designer at Molloy University. A summa cum laude graduate of Washington University, Grosland earned dual degrees in Graphic Design/Illustration and Dance.
Jeremy Irzyk (History)
Irzyk joins Peddie from Pomfret School, where he served as Humanities Program Coordinator, dorm head, advisor, and head varsity baseball coach. A graduate of Regis High School and Williams College, Irzyk was recognized for both academic and athletic performance, earning spots on the NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team and All-Academic Team. He also taught in Choate’s Summer Program as program director.
Chad Miller (Mathematics)
Miller brings more than a decade of independent school teaching to Peddie, most recently from St. Edward’s School in Florida. His career also includes teaching roles in Indiana and with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. A graduate of Millsaps College (Mathematics and Spanish) and Ball State University (Education), Miller is known for his calm demeanor, dry sense of humor and strong commitment to community life.
Abigail Nickerson (Mathematics)
After teaching in Peddie’s Summer School in 2022 and 2023, Nickerson joined the Peddie faculty full-time. A Vanderbilt University graduate (B.A. in Mathematics, summa cum laude) with an MA in Educational Studies from the University of Michigan, Nickerson taught most recently at New Providence High School. As a student at Hightstown High School, she helped launch a successful campaign for federal legislation to reopen civil rights era cases for journalists.
Maclain Woodbury (History)
Woodbury comes to Peddie from The Holderness School, where he served as dorm head and coached lacrosse and football. He also worked at the Wolfeboro Camp School. He is a graduate of Michigan State University (B.A. in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy) and the University of Massachusetts (MA in Education). In his own words: “I will never turn down an opportunity to volunteer and give absolutely everything I have for my students.”