About

Faculty & Staff

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  • Photo of Brian O'Callaghan
    Brian O'Callaghan
    History, Deans Office
    Fourth Form Dean
    Year Appointed: 2024
    (860) 408-3725
    Squash
    Bowdoin College
    Columbia University
    Bio
     
    Brian O'Callaghan is a history teacher, squash coach and form dean for the Class of 2027. He comes to Westminster with more than 25 years of experience in independent school teaching and administration at middle and high schools in both boarding and day environments. Prior to joining the Westminster faculty, Brian was the interim middle school assistant principal and dean of fifth and sixth grades at Rye Country Day School in Rye, N.Y. While there, he mentored new faculty, assisted the principal in providing support in many areas, led two grade-level teams of faculty, taught history, revamped curriculum and served as the new student transition program coordinator and held other roles, including coaching Varsity boys' lacrosse and squash. Brian earned his B.A. at Bowdoin College and holds an M.A. in private school leadership from The Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.

    Brian lives in Gund with his wife, Alison, son, Aidan '26, and daughter, Lily '28. He enjoys reading, fly-fishing and running in his free time. Brian loves teaching and coaching because he enjoys helping students develop essential life skills.  
  • Photo of Whitney O'Donnell
    Whitney Moran O'Donnell
    Advancement Office
    Gift Administrator and Records Management
    Year Appointed: 2024
    (860) 408-3026
  • Photo of Shannon O'Shaughnessy
    Shannon O'Shaughnessy
    Advancement Office
    Director of Advancement Operations
    Year Appointed: 2011
    (860) 408-3057
    University of Notre Dame - B.A.
    University of Notre Dame - M.F.A.
    Rutgers University - M.I.
    Bio
     
    Having previously served as Westminster’s director of annual giving and director of donor relations, Shannon assumed new responsibilities in the Advancement Office in 2016 as director of advancement operations. In this role, she serves as co-director of the Advancement Office. Prior to her Westminster appointment, she served as associate director of annual giving at Yale University, where she engaged and educated alumni regarding Yale College’s philanthropic priorities. Prior to that, she worked as a literary agent with the Park Literary Group LLC and as an assistant at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, both in New York City. While she was earning her M.F.A. in fiction writing at the University of Notre Dame, she served in various capacities in the Development Department, including associate director of the annual fund and director of the phone center.
     
    Shannon, her husband, Tim, and their sons, Finn, Declan and Cormac, live in Canton, Conn. 
  • Christian O'Shea
    Physical Plant
    Rink Technician
    Year Appointed: 2024
  • Photo of Robert Oakley
    Robert Oakley
    Physical Plant
    Lead Rink Technician
    Year Appointed: 2024
  • Photo of Arnold Orschel
    Arnold Orschel Jr.
    Physical Plant
    Grounds Manager
    Year Appointed: 2012
    (860) 408-3086
  • Lisette Ortega
    Safety & Security
    Year Appointed: 2024
    (860) 408-3819
  • Carole Otypka
    Marketing
    Associate Creative Director
    Year Appointed: 2025
    (860) 408-3053
  • Photo of Mitch Overbye
    Mitch Overbye
    Admissions
    Senior Associate Director of Admissions
    Year Appointed: 1999
    (860) 408-3064
    Softball
    Swayze Award 2016
    Bates College - B.A.
    Middlebury College - M.A.
    Bio
     
    Mitch has 40 years of experience working in admissions, teaching and coaching in independent schools. A graduate of Bates College, where he was an English major, Dana Scholar and class president, he earned a master’s degree at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. He began his independent school career at Hebron Academy in Maine, where he taught English and coached three sports. Mitch was appointed director of admissions at Hebron in 1986. He was named director of admissions at Loomis Chaffee School in 1990, and also taught English and coached during his tenure at the school.

    Mitch has coached softball for many years, both at Westminster and with successful town and travel programs. His Westminster teams have won nine Class A Western New England Championships and 11 Founders League titles since 2007. Recently, Mitch was named an honorary member of the Class of 2019.

    Mitch and his wife, Kathy, are the parents of two Westminster graduates. Kelly ’05 is a graduate of Bowdoin College, and Andrew ’09 is a graduate of Bates College. The Overbyes reside with their Labrador retriever, Koosman, in a faculty home on campus.
  • Photo of Patrick Owens
    Patrick Owens
    Mathematics
    Executive Director, Horizons at Westminster & Hartford Partnerships
    Year Appointed: 2023
    (860) 408-3006
    Basketball
    Georgetown University - B.S.
    University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education - M.S.Ed.
    Bio
     
    After growing up in and around the Hartford area, Patrick attended Georgetown University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and psychology. While serving as a teaching assistant in the math department, he developed a passion for education and, upon graduating, secured a position as a teaching fellow through the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. Following his fellowship, Patrick spent nine years working as a math teacher, basketball and tennis coach, and dorm head at Milton Academy. He also served 10 years as the co-director of the SPHERE Summer Program, an academic enrichment program for Hartford students.
     
    At Westminster, Patrick serves as the Executive Director of Horizons & Hartford Partnerships, teaches math, coaches basketball, and lives in Squibb House with his Swiss Mountain Dog, Hank.

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In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. 
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