Ashley Goliti-Chase

How does wearing both hats—Grade 12 Dean and Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement—give you a unique perspective on a student’s journey from senior year to life after Pingree?

As Grade 12 Dean, I have the privilege of walking alongside seniors as they reflect on their growth and the experiences that have shaped them during their time at Pingree, while also preparing them for their next chapter. In my alumni and parent engagement role, I hear from parents as they describe the evolution of their students, and I connect with alumni across generations who share how a Pingree education prepared them for life beyond our campus. Together, these conversations and relationships create a real-time feedback loop about the Pingree experience. I gain insight into what still resonates most with alumni long after graduation, and I have the opportunity to bring those reflections back to our current seniors. It's incredibly rewarding to help bridge the transition from student to alumnus, connecting today's seniors with the wisdom and experiences of those who walked in their shoes long before them.

Senior year involves huge transitions for both students and parents. How do you partner with families to navigate the decisions, challenges, and milestones of Grade 12 as students decide what comes next?

While our College Counseling office takes the lead in supporting students and their families through the college selection and application process, I view my role as one of helping both students and their families feel confident in “leaving the nest” and feel equipped with the skills they need to thrive in their chapter.

As the Grade 12 Dean, I host weekly Class Meetings with the full senior class to share timely, relevant information that I hope empowers them with the confidence they need to become independent. Class meeting topics range from financial literacy to digital literacy to hosting informational panels with young alumni focused on the college transition (advice about dorms, navigating roommate situations, adjusting to college life in the first few weeks of school, and managing the inevitable feelings of homesickness).

In my role with parents, I ensure that they have a roadmap for all of our end-of-year events and major milestones so that they aren’t stressed about the details but can instead focus on celebrating their soon-to-be graduate. I also host a dinner with senior parents about a month before graduation, where we review all of the logistical information for Senior Week events and Commencement, and at that event I invite our Director of Counseling to speak to parents about the rollercoaster of emotions that their student will likely be experiencing over the coming weeks and advice about how to navigate those feelings as a family.

In what ways do your roles work together to help seniors define the kind of community they want to be today, while keeping them and their families tied to the Pingree community for years to come?

When people ask me what I do at Pingree, I often jokingly reply that I do the "peopley things." While that's a lighthearted answer, I do feel that it captures the essence of my work. In many ways, I see my role as a connector of community. Everyone who walks the halls of this old home carries a piece of Pingree with them. Strengthening that community means creating opportunities for all of our constituent groups to connect: students learning from alumni, parents hearing stories of personal growth from current students, and alumni returning home to share the parts of Pingree they have carried with them long after graduation.

Having the unique opportunity to be both the Grade 12 Dean as well as working with alumni provides countless ways to bring the value of our alumni community into my meetings with seniors. Throughout the year, I encourage students to see alumni as a lifelong network of support and to recognize the value of staying connected after graduation. One of my favorite traditions is welcoming Tom Smith ’08 to speak with the senior class each November. As seniors finish their first trimester, Tom challenges them to be intentional about the time they have left at Pingree by asking, "What do you want from this experience? Who do you want to spend that time with? And what can you do for the Pingree community?" His message reminds students to invest in the relationships they are building now—relationships that will continue to support them long after they leave Pingree.

As seniors graduate and transition into alumni (and parents become alumni parents!), what do you hope they take away from their time at Pingree as they step forward into their next chapter?

One of the most important messages I hope seniors take away from our class meeting time is that the path forward won't always be linear—and that's okay. I want them to leave Pingree feeling less pressure to have it all figured out at 18. To help illustrate that idea, I host a second alumni panel each year that focuses on the transition from college to career. Rather than highlighting specific professions, the panel shares how career paths are often shaped by unexpected turns. Alumni share stories of changing majors, discovering new applications for their studies, or stepping into job opportunities they never anticipated. My hope is that seniors leave Pingree knowing they don't need a perfect plan—only the willingness to pursue their passions, remain open to new possibilities, and have the willingness to walk through the next door when it opens.

Beyond what I share in class meetings:

More than anything, I hope graduates take a piece of Pingree with them– the courage to try new things, the confidence to speak up when they encounter injustice, and the empathy and curiosity to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.

For families joining Pingree for the first time, how do we foster a sense of belonging from day one—and what opportunities exist for parents to get involved, build connections, and help shape our community?

One of the things I love about Pingree is the Pingree Parent Network (PPN). When I first joined the Pingree community in the summer of 2018, the existing Pingree Parents Association had just undergone an intentional reformation into the PPN. More than a change of name, the transformation into the PPN was a recentering of mission for parent engagement–the sole focus was to strengthen relationships in the parent community and build a sense of connection and belonging with one another. The PPN is an inclusive organization, every parent and guardian is automatically a member, and all PPN events are free-of-charge so that there are no financial barriers to participation.

The PPN hosts a number of different events and activities throughout the year to offer a wide range of options for parents to engage when and where it works best for them. From book clubs to walking groups and grade-level parent socials to volunteering in the Snack Shack, there are many ways to meet fellow parents and guardians, build community, and feel connected on campus and off.

In addition to the PPN, parents can also volunteer in our School Store or with our Admission department to support a number of our admission events and initiatives throughout the year. Parents are also invited to serve as Senior Project mentors or to host a Local LAB workshop.