Alumni Profiles

Donald McCleary ’79 is a man who gives back. And he credits much of who he is today to his experiences— and “the beautiful people” he met— at Crossroads.

“The Crossroads music program really shaped me. The Upper School jazz program with Evan Avery, and even Middle School jazz with Tony Hundtoft, encouraged me early on to trust my original voice and explore whatever kinds of music interested me.”

The brothers share a deep appreciation for the School and its impact on their lives today.

“The liberal arts education, I believe, trained me to view the world in a very holistic manner.”

“The tremendous growth and success of Crossroads since [the] early days is such a beautiful testament to [the] original founders/dreamers.”

“It felt exciting. It was fun and upbeat, and everyone was friendly. It was a good learning experience—motivating—and the teachers were always available to help.”

Anthony credits his amazing teachers for promoting creative thinking and for nurturing his artistic gifts.

“Crossroads was fun, nurturing and challenging. It shaped who I am as a human being. There’s probably not a day that goes by that I don’t think back to some sort of Crossroads memory!”

“Crossroads’ equal emphasis on the arts and sciences in part enabled me to pursue simultaneous careers as a biologist and artist,” she shares.

“The vast variety of subject matters taught and the freedom to try new things created a curiosity in me that continued in college, until one day, journalism just clicked.”

“I was especially excited about having the chance to question everything.”

“I had kind of been interested in being a playwright before attending Crossroads, but my experience there really solidified it for me.”

“Open-minded, curious learners make for great teachers.”

“Crossroads saw me for who I was and said, ‘We like what we see.’”

“I remember classes and techniques that still influence how I approach my work decades later.”

Brooke is grateful to Crossroads for nurturing her artistic side while giving her a great education.

“Not only is Crossroads where we met; it's where we learned to set the bar high.”

“[Crossroads] was exciting, filled with people who had a passion for education. Its unconventional nature made it even more inspiring.”

“I can’t say enough about the impact Crossroads has had on my professional career.”

She cherishes the positive encouragement she received at Crossroads to be courageous in pursuing her interests.

“Crossroads creates experiences to help you think outside the box. These thought processes continue to shape my approach to patient care.”

“Crossroads made me feel anything is possible. It taught me the power of creativity.”

For Jordan Passman, “standing around in circles, socializing in the Alley” at Crossroads nurtured a skill set instrumental in his success as an entrepreneur.

“I think that Crossroads fosters a good deal of rebelliousness and a good deal of creativity.”

“You’re out there, fighting the good fight, doing something that will mean something to people’s futures. That feels good.”

“My time at Crossroads shaped some of the core values I have as an educator.”

As he builds his career in a competitive field, he carries with him lessons gained at Crossroads, in particular, “knowing there are mentors you can turn to who believe in you.”

“I really did walk around Crossroads for those four years feeling like I’d been handed a gift and should take advantage of it all before it disappeared.”

“I wanted to change the world in some way. Crossroads cultivated that in me.”

“The mission and values of Crossroads inform my work and relationships even now.”

“Crossroads, Jim’s classes in particular, is where I learned to think critically and to write persuasively in support of an argument.”

“Working with diverse groups is easy for me, and a large percentage of that is due to my Crossroads experience.”

Within what would become the Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute (EMMI), Thula found a home.

“Life Skills taught me so much about group work, how you interact with others, dealing with different points of view.”

Several courses he took at Crossroads helped to shape his creativity and perspective.