Directory

Ryan S. Dahlem became Rivers’ ninth head of school in July 2023. Prior to joining Rivers, he held a number of administrative and leadership roles at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He spent 17 years at St. Margaret’s, serving as assistant head of school for the last seven of those years. Earlier in his career, he was an associate director of admission at Stanford University and a tenured math teacher at University High School in Irvine, CA. Ryan has published and presented extensively on innovation, purpose, and strategy in independent schools. He holds a BA in psychology from Stanford and a master’s degree in teaching and curriculum from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. An avid mountaineer and trained musician, he lives on campus with his wife, Anne; the Dahlems have three children.

Chris Dalton joined the science department in 2016 after working as a business strategy consultant at Accenture Strategy in Boston. Prior to that, he spent five years as a teaching fellow in evolutionary biology and ecology at Cornell University, where he received their inaugural school-wide teaching award for a teaching assistant, published 10 peer-reviewed manuscripts, wrote successful grant proposals, and presented at many conferences. Chris earned a BS in ecology and evolutionary biology from Yale University and completed a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell. He teaches science in the Upper School, advises, and coaches.

Ianka de la Rosa joined Rivers as creative director in 2023. Prior to Rivers, Ianka worked at The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she served as director of creative on the marketing and communications team, producing a range of marketing materials that furthered the conservatory's goals and mission. She has worked as a designer in the publishing and advertising industries, as well as in the higher education marketing departments at Suffolk University, Northeastern University, and Emerson College. She holds a BFA with a concentration in graphic design and a minor in art history from Boston University. A Brookline resident, Ianka enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, and creating art.

Megan Delano joined the Rivers Counseling and Wellness Department in 2022. She has extensive experience in the mental health field, including school-based therapy, child and family therapy, student support, trauma-informed care, and emergency psychiatry. A licensed mental health counselor, she has experience in clinical and educational settings. Before joining Rivers, Megan worked as a clinician and services coordinator at Bay State College, where she implemented program development training for faculty and staff, including workshops on DEI, cultural competency, and mental health trends on campus. Megan graduated from Lesley University with a BS in psychology and received her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Naropa University in Boulder, CO.

Diane DeVore is director of The MacDowell Library and teaches drama in the Middle School. As librarian, she manages both the library space and the selection of resources to support the curriculum and research in both digital and print formats. In addition to teaching sixth grade drama and theater arts, she is director of the Middle School play. Diane started her library career as a reference librarian in a public library before going on to work as Upper School librarian at The Seven Hills School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Diane received a BA in English and theater from Loyola University of Chicago, an MLS from Indiana University, and an MPhil in Irish theater and film from Trinity College Dublin.

Matt Dias Costa, a Rivers graduate, spent two years teaching algebra and precalculus at The Taft School, where he was a Penn Fellow in mathematics, before coming to Rivers. At Rivers, Matt teaches ninth and tenth grade math. Matt graduated from Bowdoin College with a BS in mathematics and earned an MS in education at the University of Pennsylvania. While at Bowdoin, he was a four-year varsity soccer player and was named most valuable player and varsity team captain in his senior season. Matt serves as assistant coach for boys' varsity soccer at Rivers.

Andrea Diaz joined the Upper School at Rivers in 2010. She teaches world history, US history, and electives in international relations. Additionally, Andrea is the assistant coach for the girls’ varsity cross-country team and is a member of the diversity committee. She graduated from Brown University with a BA in international relations and the history of art and architecture and earned an MA in art history from Boston University.

A graduate of Rivers, Melissa Dolan began teaching in the Middle School in 2005. She currently teaches eighth grade humanities and is an advisor. She also serves as Middle School curriculum leader. In 2015, she received the Mida van Zuylen Dunn award for teaching excellence. Melissa earned a BA in English at Dartmouth College and an ALM in history at Harvard.

Susanna Donahue P’03, ’06 has served in many roles at Rivers since joining the school in 2002. In addition to serving as interim athletic director, she is the assistant dean of students in the Upper School, the head coach for the girls’ varsity soccer team, director of the annual Holiday Tournament, and a Middle School lacrosse coach. In her time at Rivers, Susanna has also served as a grade dean. In 2024 she was awarded the Walter Family Award for her extraordinary contributions to the Rivers community. She graduated with a B.A. in human development from Boston University

Jane Dornbusch joined the Rivers communications office in January 2019, after spending two years as associate editor of Babson College’s alumni magazine. Previously, she worked in a similar capacity at Phillips Academy in Andover. Jane was the food editor of the Boston Herald for many years and later served as a correspondent for the Boston Globe, covering topics ranging from teatime to tattoos. She has a BA in English
from Brown University.

Kathy Dorrien joined Rivers in 1990 as a tutor and has been chair of the tutoring department since 1993. She oversees the tutoring program for grades 6-12, serves as a member of the curriculum committee, and works individually with students. Kathy was the recipient of the William F. Gallagher Teaching Chair in 2007. She earned a BA in history from Furman University and completed the teacher training program at the Carroll School. Before coming to Rivers, she worked in medical research and taught part time in the Boston Public Schools. An avid reader, she also enjoys travel and the study of language.

Amy Dunne joined the advancement office at Rivers in the fall of 2008 as the coordinator of parent relations. She manages all programs relating to current parents, grandparents, and friends, including the parents’ league auction, the annual fund, parent dinners, and other activities. Her two sons, BJ and Matt, are Rivers alumni, graduating in 2006 and 2008 respectively. Amy received a BA in psychology from Muhlenberg College and an MEd in counseling psychology from Boston College.