By Kate Getz ’21

Entering the 2020-2021 school year, Wyoming Seminary will be introducing a new class dean for the Class of 2024: Mrs Jessica Gensel. Mrs. Gensel has been teaching at Sem for the past four years. She is from Chengdu, China, and came to the U.S. seven years ago to get her Ed.M degree from Harvard. As a passionate, positive, open minded, modest, lifelong learner and world traveler, Mrs. Gensel loves teaching Mandarin because she gets to show people what China is really like while learning more about her own culture. Additionally, she enjoys learning about the cultures that her students come from. While taking on the new class dean position, she will continue to teach traditions, customs, modern technology, social changes, and slang, all of her favorite topics to cover in class.

What is something most people do not know about you? 

“I have an extensive collection of magnets from places I have been to. I love arts and contemporary dance. I am an only child in my family and the only one from my whole extended family to be in the U.S. (as of now).”

What are some of your favorite things about Sem? 

“I love how students and faculty from diverse backgrounds can interact with each other and grow together with genuine love, care, and respect – the International Assembly, student and faculty supporting teams on the bleachers at every game, Dance Marathon, Service Day. Little things/moments: saying hi to each other, hold[ing] the door for each other, etc.”  

What was your favorite part about virtual learning? Least favorite?

“[My favorite part was] seeing my students and their rather creative virtual backgrounds and being able to give more conference time to certain students.”

“It was not fun seeing students falling behind because they are overwhelmed and sitting and staring at the computer for way too long.” 

In the scenario that we have to go back to online learning, what changes would you make to your teaching approach? What changes would you make to your class dean approach? 

“[In terms of teaching], I want to give more mini learning tasks to help students internalize new subject content. I also aim to provide students with a self-reflective survey at the end of each unit not only to help them reflect on their own learning but also to collect timely feedback, so I can make changes to my teaching accordingly.”

“[As class dean] my goal is to maintain close communication with my cohort and their families through emails, phone calls, texts, as well as use Google form to collect individual feedback from students. Also arranging zoom meetings with students who might need additional help.”

What part of being a dean are you looking forward to the most? 

“Getting to know more students and helping them when needed to the best of my ability. I am also excited to be working with other amazing members of the deans team.”

Next year is going to be difficult and confusing as we continue dealing with the virus. What are some of your plans and goals in guiding the freshman class through their last year at Sem? 

“I have a lot of approaches planned: organizing a freshmen student panel mid-end of July to offer incoming freshmen important information and “survival tips,” providing a back to school checklist in early August to students and their families so they are not overwhelmed during the registration week, arranging a meet and greet with each freshman to get to know each other at the beginning of the fall trimester, maintaining ongoing communications with teachers and advisors to keep track of students’ academic progress and EXCOLO involvement, utilizing class meetings as a time for housekeeping items and class culture establishment and strengthening, and arranging meetings with individual students and their families when needed.” 

What were some of your favorite quarantine activities? 

“Watching the TV shows Blacklist and Unsolved Mysteries and the movies Ford v. Ferrari and I Still Believe, reading Fresh Fruit and Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers in the United States, and singing/karaoking!” 

Is cereal a soup or a salad? Please explain your answer.  

“If I have to choose one, I’d say salad. It is by itself dry (thus it won’t be soup unless combined with milk) and usually has different elements in it (flakes, dried fruit, nuts), thus more like a salad (because salad usually has different components).” 

Please provide as much information about your dogs and cats as possible.

“Felix. He is the real boss of the house. He is a little over a year old and is a white and fluffy mini poodle. He is smarter than any humans living in our house, and because of his intelligence and cute face he can pretty much get away with anything. His masterpieces include: chewed up tables and chairs, three of my slippers and countless no-longer-stuffed stuffed animals with missing body parts. He is very social and loves giving out kisses. He has taught me the lesson of perseverance: he never gives up chasing after squirrels and bunnies or any moving objects. He never gives up begging for more food/treat 5 seconds after his meal. His favorite toy is always the toy you play with him the most. He has many very, very interesting sleep posts. I am in the process of creating a collage for him.”

If you had to eat one food every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“Chicken strawberry poppyseed salad, and I think it will give me enough nutrients to actually live a long and healthy life.”