At the heart of NBSS are a diverse and dedicated team of staff, faculty, and strategic advisors. Together they provide a supportive environment for students to learn at the highest level, and they engage with a broad-based community of alumni and friends. In addition to the Staff and Faculty below, our community also includes dedicated Boards of Directors and Advisors.
Nelly is a higher education professional with over 24 years of expertise in financial aid, student employment, human resources, student accounts, and strategic Partnerships. Throughout their career, they have expanded access to economic resources, guided students through complex financial processes, and ensured compliance with evolving federal, state, and institutional regulations.
Partnering closely with cross-functional teams and departments, including compliance and process optimization, they have strengthened financial aid strategies, optimized student employment programs, and streamlined student account operations to support institutional effectiveness and student retention. Grounded in equity and accessibility, they develop policies and programs that remove financial barriers and empower students to achieve their academic goals.
Tracey is the Department Head of the Jewelry Making & Repair program and an Instructor. She is a 2005 graduate of the program and also graduated from Bridgewater State University with a BFA in 2001. Additionally, Tracey has studied various areas of design at the Art Institute of Florence and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
After graduating from NBSS, Tracey worked a variety of jewelry industry jobs from stone setting to casting. She also started her own business right out of school, specializing in custom engagement and wedding jewelry. In recent years she has been working on mastering various techniques of enameling to include in her work.
Fun Fact
Straight out of high school Tracey joined Up with People. She traveled and performed in 8 countries and 4 Hawaiian islands, and lived with 52 host families in one year.
Interim Cabinet & Furniture Making Department Head
Ellen is a custom furniture maker and graduate of the Cabinet & Furniture Making program. She owns Ellen Kaspern Design and is a member of the cooperative Charlestown Furniture Makers in Boston, MA. In addition to designing and building custom furniture, she has been teaching woodworking and furniture making for 20 years. Her workshop teaching experience includes NBSS, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Yestermorrow Design Build School and Florida School of Woodwork. Ellen demonstrates woodworking techniques throughout New England. She has given talks and demonstrations at the National Museum of Industrial Industry, Boston Design Week, Boston Athenaeum, Peabody Essex Museum, Old Sturbridge Village and Society of Arts & Crafts. She has written articles for Fine Woodworking Magazine and Woodcraft Magazine. Many of her lessons are featured in instructional videos for Fine Woodworking Magazine.
Alex is a Registered Piano Technician and has worked in piano technology since 2016 when they started as a work-study assistant in the Piano Technology department at Berklee College of Music. Since then Alex has spent time as a technician in the home, in piano showrooms, and on the concert stage. Now, as an instructor of Basic Piano Technology, Alex is excited to bring their experience to the classroom.
After graduating from the Cabinet and Furniture Making program in 2007, Nicholas built high end cabinetry and architectural millwork in the Boston Metro area. Later, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving active duty for eight years. Following military discharge, he enrolled at the Furniture Institute of Massachusetts, where he studied for three more years under the late Phil Lowe, an NBSS graduate and former Department Head. During his second year as a student, Nicholas began teaching various workshops at the Furniture Institute. Since then, he has taught woodworking classes across New England, for educators such as the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Lexington Arts Society, and Woodcraft of Woburn.
Erika McMahon is the founder and principal of Tidemark Philanthropy, an advisory practice supporting mission-driven institutions with philanthropy strategy, governance, campaign readiness, and leadership alignment. She brings senior advancement experience across independent schools and higher education, including leadership in major campaign environments. She is currently working with NBSS as a strategic advisor supporting advancement strategy and institutional momentum.
Bob is the Community Education Shop Manager, he provides technical and operational support for all Community Education programming. Bob is a 2011 graduate of the NBSS Cabinet & Furniture Making program. After graduation, Bob began working as an independent furniture maker. He returned to NBSS one day per week in 2014 as the Community Education Shop Technician. His position has grown alongside CE programming into his current full time role as Community Education Shop Manager.Â
In addition to his work at NBSS, Bob also manages the Charlestown Furniture Makers, a community woodshop where 19 tenants share space and equipment. He also continues to work as a toolmaker and custom woodworker specializing in custom workbenches for private and institutional clients under .
Rob O’Dwyer heads the admissions and financial aid team for the 9 career training programs at NBSS. Stewardship of the reputation of the school through recruitment, honoring the mission, and connecting individuals and organizations with training and scholarship are primary responsibilities. Identifying potential, working with faculty and other stakeholders, and witnessing transformation are the rewards in the work. Work in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion as well as with military veterans has been especially rewarding. Rob has been at NBSS for 11 years, and the team has achieved record enrollments. Rob has a BA in History from SUNY Potsdam, and an MA in Teaching from Emmanuel College.
Steven is a graduate of our Preservation Carpentry program, teaches first-year students, and is head of the department. He worked for for six years as a carpenter. During this time, he supervised NBSS students as summer interns. He earned a Historic New England President’s Award through his work with second-year NBSS students on the preservation of the Pierce House in Dorchester. He has also served as an instructor for Boston YouthBuild’s preservation carpentry component.
Steven has guided first-year students through restoration work on many historic properties in the Boston area, including the 1713 Old State House. In 2010, his class saved an 18th-century two-bay English barn from demolition in Hanover, MA.
Kristen has worked in the retail service industry for over 20 years. Prior to NBSS, she operated a high-end custom frame shop in Boston, where she managed design, merchandising, curation and fine art handling—working with clients of all kinds, including private collectors, artists, gallerists, and interior designers. In her four years with NBSS, she has supported our trade school students through retail, exhibitions, and public programming—most notably creating and serving as host ofIn the Making.
Kristen’s passion in life is making, whether it be painting, carving, home renovating, sewing, and crafting anything and everything with her hands. Originally from central Florida, Kristen performed in Boston and Cambridge as a young musician and grew an attachment to the history and architecture of an antique city—eventually moving to Boston to study cello performance at The Boston Conservatory.
Fun Fact
To the dismay of her friends and colleagues, Kristen is constantly talking about the divine southern delicacy known as the boiled peanut. She feels strongly that they’re really missing out.
Lance is a graduate of the program and a founding member of Boston’s cooperative. He has designed and built custom furniture for over 40 years. He is also a large format photographer and a contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine. Lance was named a 2016 Mentor in Design by Design New England Magazine.
Marlow (they/them) recently graduated from Smith College with a B.A. in Art: Architecture and Urbanism, and a minor in Landscape Studies. Marlow works at the front desk, greeting visitors and providing administrative support to staff, students, and faculty. Marlow’s background is centered in community work, food justice and sustainability, and administrative support. They are excited to bring aspects of all of those fields to their work at NBSS.
Fun Fact
Marlow is deeply passionate about walkable communities and public transit. Ask about their cat Webby!
Jamey is a 2006 graduate of the Cabinet & Furniture Making program where he is now an Instructor. Before becoming a custom furniture maker, Jamey was a general contractor. He currently manages a multi-tenant shop in West Concord, MA where he builds custom projects and musical instruments.
Will studied piano technology for two years in an apprenticeship before completing the Basic Piano Technology program in 2019, and is an Instructor in the Basic Piano Technology program. He has worked with the Sing For Hope foundation—a music outreach organization in New York City—since 2016, as both an intern and supervisor. After graduating, he worked as a field technician doing in-home service with Onigman Piano Craft in New Jersey, and is now the owner of here in Boston. He is also the Northeast Regional Vice President of the Piano Technicians Guild and a PTG board member.
