Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Spring 2017 | Page 6

“I cannot overstate how transformational the
Residential Life program has been to Thornton
Academy. The students are kind, polite, and they
take their studies seriously.”
the time. He presented the video at
the University of Southern Maine
where he continued his education by
enrolling in Media Studies. Immersed
in video editing, he basically “lived in
the computer lab” mastering Final Cut
Pro, which provided a strong technical
foundation and led him to sign up for
a very challenging
programming class.
Ben remembers it
as an invigorating
and humbling
experience. “I was
so scared, but I
remember saying, ‘I
really like C++ and
Java. I can do this.’”
assisting with solving problems,
they also work to empower staff and
students to be able to find solutions
independently, while encouraging
faculty to innovate their teaching
methods. Ben explained that they are
constantly asking questions like, “How
do we integrate? How do we get staff
After graduating
from USM in
2003, he seized
the opportunity to
return to his alma
mater to work in
tech support where
he could bring his
experience to “add
immediate value” to
the school. Henry
Beeukes was the
Director of IT at
the time. “It was so
fun to go to work
Students from all over
because it improved
the world love to spend
people’s lives. I
time in the Nasse Family’s
loved being able
apartment in Stasio Hall.
to add that value,”
said Ben. When the
Director position
opened in 2006 Ben transitioned into
to adopt new technologies into daily
the role, moving the IT Department
practices?” From devices in classrooms
more towards the network side
to locking doors to overseeing the
of operations because of the
Residential Program’s needs, the IT
interconnected nature of educational
Department’s responsibilities are far-
technology.
reaching. Now that Thornton has been
recognized as an Apple Distinguished
Ben’s team currently includes
School, what comes next? Technology
Technology Integration Specialist
doesn’t sit idly. The team is hard at
Amanda Doyle, IT Assistant Bruce Van work putting together long-term
Der Riet, and IT Assistant Amanda
strategic plans and partnerships with
(Tanguay) Normand ’06. Beyond
goals that include moving students and
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faculty to use the exact same devices,
and continuing to push forward with
initiatives that enhance classroom
experiences.
Whether he’s playing tug-of-war at
Hill Stadium for the Dorm Olympics,
watching his daughter dance
across Garland
Auditorium’s stage
in The Lion King,
or serving dinner
for students at his
apartment in Stasio
Hall on a snow day,
Ben goes above
and beyond any
job description
to ensure that the
Thornton Academy
experience
is rewarding,
distinguished, and
fun. His hard work
ethic carries over
to his free time as
he participates in
several triathlons,
including the iconic
half Ironman—a
demanding course
consisting of a
1.2-mile swim, a
56-mile bike ride,
and a 13.1-mile run.
He likes that it’s a
personal challenge
requiring stamina.
Motoring through
the water, pedaling
down a paved road, or leaping across
the finishing line, similar to when he’s
tackling a complicated technology
problem at school, he’s only competing
with one person: himself.
“Ben is a thoughtful, inspiring, and immensely supportive leader. His experience as an alum and TA parent
contribute to his dedication to student achievement and ultimately impact the TA experience in so many
(often invisible) ways. I once heard a fellow colleague say he’s the best example of what a dad should be. I’d
add to that by saying that’s true of him as a leader as well. He’s a person who asks the right questions even
when they’re tough ones.”- Technology Integration Specialist Amanda Doyle
“Ben is a pleasure to work with and for; he is a wealth of knowledge and always willing to help out in any
way he can. It is refreshing to work for someone who lets us get on with the job and who only wants the
best for his staff.”- IT Assistant Bruce Van Der Riet
“Whenever I’m asked about my job, one of the first things I say is how lucky I am to work with such
remarkable thinkers. Ben is one of the most thoughtful people I know! The attention he puts into every
decision, personal and professional, and its impact on others is profound and commendable.” - IT Assistant
Amanda (Tanguay) Normand ’06
So…how about a full Ironman?
“No, the half was enough for me!” he
said with a laugh. But with Ben, you
just never know.
Ben's family has strong connections to Thornton Academy. His mother, Mary Nasse, was an Associate Headmaster for Student Services at
Thornton for several years and taught special education. Ben’s brothers are Jeffrey ’90 who is a Dean of Broward College, and David ’95, who
is a lawyer in Washington D.C. Ben's daughters will all be TA alumnae. Top photo (L to R): Kelly Munyuza ’16 of Rwanda, Nil Berke ’15
from Turkey, Jodi Nasse, and Scout Nasse ’22 compete at the Dorm Olympics. Right photo: Ben celebrates the wedding day of his daughter,
Isabella Rosado ’11. Bottom left: Ben’s daughters congratulate him as he finishes a challenging half Ironman race.
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