Matthew Lynch, President: Mr. Lynch began his career in education as a teacher at federal prisons in Virginia and Maryland. He later taught and coached at St. Ignatius Loyola Academy, a Nativity-model middle school in Baltimore. Upon returning to his hometown of Chicago, Mr. Lynch worked as a teacher and administrator at St. Ignatius College Prep. He was subsequently named the director of the Jesuit Alumni Volunteers-Chicago, a teacher-training program that serves St. Ignatius, St. Procopius Elementary School and Poder Learning Center. While at St. Ignatius, Mr. Lynch helped create the St. Ignatius Higher Achievement Program, a middle-school enrichment program for students from underserved backgrounds. Mr. Lynch holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Georgetown and a Master of Business Administration from Washington University. He has worked as an educational consultant to Lindbergh High School and Our Little Haven. Mr. Lynch is a past recipient of the Kraft Medal (1998) and the Landegger Grant (1998) for “outstanding service to the community, the nation, and the world”.  More recently, Mr. Lynch received the 2007 St. Josaphat Parish Unity Award for “commitment and dedication to Christian unity and the community at large” and was named one of Community Renewal Society's 35 under 35.

Catherine Cassidy, Vice President of Operations and Development: Ms. Cassidy began her career in sales, marketing and client service, during which she managed many major accounts including Home Depot, Target and General Mills.  A graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep, Ms. Cassidy views Chicago Jesuit Academy as an opportunity to use her sales skills to make a Jesuit education available to young men who would not otherwise have access to a quality, faith-based education.  Ms. Cassidy is also an active member of TEACH (Towards Educating America’s Children) and recently completed a trip to Guatemala where she worked with Claretian ministers to identify the needs of schools throughout the country and helped build critical infrastructure.  She continues to help sponsor students and schools in the region.  While earning her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from University of Illinois, she completed a service project to Appalachia and since college has volunteered with Children’s Memorial Hospital as a Kids First Marathon runner and The American Diabetes Association.  Ms. Cassidy will complete her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business in 2010.

David Diehl, Dean of Students: Mr. Diehl’s career in education began at the Academy of St. Benedict the African in the Englewood section of Chicago. He taught there for four years, teaching in the junior high department and third grade. Additionally, Mr. Diehl served as the physical education instructor for grades K-8, the technology coordinator, and a basketball and baseball coach. He graduated from the Inner-City Teaching Corps program in 2002. Mr. Diehl earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Villanova University and has used that degree to work both in the office and in the field executing design and construction projects. He has since earned his Master of Science in Education degree from Northwestern University. He has been afforded the privilege to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in the United States and Africa.

Maria Eidietis, Head of School:  Ms. Eidietis graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Notre Dame in 1999. Her work as an educator began at St. Sabina Academy where she taught fifth grade as a member of the Inner-City Teaching Corps. Ms. Eidietis was on the founding faculty of the Saint Ignatius Higher Achievement Program, a summer enrichment program for middle school students at Saint Ignatius College Prep. She later served as the director of the program. In 2003, Ms. Eidietis earned her Master in Humanities from the University of Chicago. She has directed middle-school productions of Macbeth and The Tempest and has expertise in middle school Reading and Language Arts curriculum development. Prior to arriving at Chicago Jesuit Academy, Ms. Eidietis spent three years teaching middle school English at Providence St. Mel.

Lauren Hogel, Director of Fifth-Grade Studies: Ms. Hogel earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Education from Northwestern University. As a member of the Inner-City Teaching Corps, Ms. Hogel taught fourth grade at St. Martin de Porres Elementary School on the West Side of Chicago, where she founded and coached the school’s soccer team and assisted with the publication of a junior high newsletter. Ms. Hogel has served as a counselor for the Books ‘n Hoops program at DePaul University and the National Youth Sports Program, an athletic and enrichment program for children from underserved backgrounds. In addition to serving as the assistant for the Summer Service Project Internship program at the University of Notre Dame, Ms. Hogel has participated in and led numerous service learning trips, such as the Appalachia Seminar and Urban Plunge Seminar at Notre Dame. She also traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe while earning her degree at Notre Dame.

Caela Carter, High School Counselor and Faculty Member: Ms. Carter graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Creative Writing and Philosophy.  She was accepted to the Alliance for Catholic Education, a graduate program created by Notre Dame to encourage aspiring teachers to make a contribution to needy Catholic schools, and spent the next two years teaching ninth- and tenth-grade English and Creative Writing at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, FL.  She also coached the district champion cross country and track teams at Bishop Kenny.  Ms. Carter has had other experiences with children and young adults, including instructing students enrolled in special education at a summer camp, tutoring in Notre Dame’s Teamwork for Tomorrow program, conducting numerous retreats for teenagers in the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., and working with criminally at-risk young men in Killarney, Ireland. She received her Master of Education from the University of Notre Dame in May 2006.

Clara Chu, Athletic Director And Volunteer Coordinator: Ms. Chu earned a Bachelor of Science from Santa Clara University and a Master of Education from Northwestern University. As a member of the Inner-City Teaching Corps, Ms. Chu taught the sixth grade and middle school math at Nativity BVM School.  Prior to joining Chicago Jesuit Academy, she taught English to students of all ages in the People’s Republic of China. At Santa Clara, Ms. Chu founded Sisters Speak, an organization empowering women of color through social action; volunteered as a coordinator within the Santa Clara Community Action Program; and, served through the Pedro Arrupe Community-based Learning Project as a coach and tutor at various schools in East San Jose, California. She was the 2003 recipient of the Center for Student Leadership Student Life award and is unceasingly inspired by her family and the sacrifices they have made for the opportunity to attain a quality education.      

Christopher Dwyer, Faculty Member: Mr. Dwyer attended Marquette University High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. At Macalester he conducted research on the chemistry of fossil dinosaur teeth and captained the basketball team. His undergraduate work in Earth Science has been published in the Geology Society of America.  After college, he spent two years in Jesuit Volunteers International living and working on the island of Weno in the Federated States of Micronesia.  At Xavier High School, a Jesuit institution, Mr. Dwyer taught English Skills, General Science, Biology, and Calculus. In addition, he coached the Xavier Navagators boys’ volleyball and basketball teams, served as the choir director, and assisted with retreat programs.

Brian Farmer, Faculty Member: Mr. Farmer comes to the Chicago Jesuit Academy with a background as an attorney for the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. As an attorney, he worked on over 40 criminal trials and was a member of the Forensic Sciences Division, focusing on cases involving scientific evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, and ballistics. Mr. Farmer earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame, a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, and a Master of Education from Northwestern University.

Sarah Finch, Faculty Member: Ms. Finch earned a Master in Education in July 2006 from the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE).  During her time in ACE, Ms. Finch taught fifth grade and coached at St. Mary’s School in Birmingham, Alabama, and helped to organize ACE teachers’ participation in the city’s annual marathon.  Over 20 ACE teachers ran in the marathon in February 2006, raising $40,000 to help keep an ACE school in Tucson, AZ open.  While earning a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame, Ms. Finch spent a semester studying and working at the State Department in Washington, DC. During studies at Notre Dame, Ms. Finch participated in many service opportunities including Teamwork for Tomorrow, student government, Summer Service Projects, and Urban Plunge.   

Marcy Haugh, Social Work Inter and Parent Outreach Coordinator:  Ms. Haugh comes to Chicago Jesuit Academy with a diverse number of experiences working with children and families. After receiving a degree in Education from the University of Illinois, Ms. Haugh volunteered in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) for two years in Juneau, working for Catholic Charities assisting pregnant and parenting teens. While in Juneau she also served as a member of the Domestic Violence Task Force, a group of concerned professionals working together to decrease domestic violence and assist victims of abuse. Ms. Haugh volunteered with AmeriCorps during the 2004 school year, implementing literacy interventions at an elementary school in Commerce City, Colorado. Ms. Haugh is pursuing a Master in Social Work, is a member of the Illinois Association of School Social Workers and is participating in the JVC Magis Program.

Jacqueline Hurley, Faculty Member:  Ms. Hurley graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Aquinas College and is currently completing a Master of Education at Northwestern University. As a member of the Inner-City Teaching Corps, Ms. Hurley taught at the Chicago Jesuit Academy. Formerly an AmeriCorps Service Scholar, Ms. Hurley served as a bilingual tutor to immigrants from Guatemala, and as a junior high retreat coordinator and leader. Ms. Hurley has volunteered throughout Central America with several orphanages and Habitat for Humanity. She is a past recipient of the Michigan Campus Compact Heart and Soul Award for “personal commitment to their community through service” and is currently a member of Teachers for Social Justice and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

Quincy Jones, Faculty Member: Mr. Jones comes to Chicago Jesuit Academy as a graduate of the Inner-City Teaching Corps (ICTC). Prior to being involved with ICTC, Mr. Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from James Madison University. While a student at James Madison University, he served as a resident advisor in the on-campus residence halls and was involved in Brothers of a New Direction (BOND), established to provide support for minority men as well as fostering cultural awareness throughout the university community. He also worked as a summer counselor at Fort Belvoir military base in northern Virginia. Mr. Jones serves the young men of the Academy as both a fifth-grade Fine Arts teacher and a sixth- and seventh-grade Social Studies teacher.  He also coaches the soccer and basketball teams. Mr. Jones is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Education at Northwestern University.

Bernina Sykes, Administrative Assistant: Ms. Sykes comes to Chicago Jesuit Academy with over ten years experience in customer service and office work.  She worked as a Financial Representative for Oak Park Hospital for three years where her duties included maintaining contracts with insurance companies, medical billing and maintaining medical records requests. Ms. Sykes previously worked as a claims adjuster and client service representative for United Healthcare and Unicare. Ms. Sykes is pursuing a Bachelor degree at Benedictine University, serves as a member of Toastmaster International (TMI), and has a child currently enrolled at Chicago Jesuit Academy.

David Szydloski, Director of Facilities and IT: Mr. Szydloski comes to Chicago Jesuit Academy following a year of volunteer service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Working at the Howard Area Community Center's Employment Resource Center in Chicago, Mr. Szydloski helped adults with job placement and worked to improve their computer-related job skills. The son of a career Army officer, Mr. Szydloski has traveled all over both the United States and the world an experience which developed his continuing interest in learning and meeting new people. Mr. Szydloski graduated from DePauw University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.