The running joke for Shamair Todman is, ‘What role hasn’t she held in the field of education?’ 

She’s been in the position of Office Coordinator, Executive Assistant to the Head of School, and a Director of Admissions,  just to name a few.

“I feel like I’ve held nearly every role possible in a school setting,” she said.

But all jokes aside, Shamair brings in a plethora of experience to the Academic Office as Westover’s Registrar, hired this fall.

“I’ve always dreamt of working at a boarding school,” Shamair said. “Whenever I visited boarding school campuses with my students, there was always a sense of community that I envied and rarely saw elsewhere. Westover has a reputation for grooming high quality young women of great character. Why wouldn’t I want to be a part of that?!”

A proud Caribbean-American born in the city of Boston and raised on the beautiful islands of the Turks and Caicos, Shamair received her undergraduate degree in criminal investigation, and a near-minor in multimedia design from the University of New Haven. After college, she moved to New Jersey and started her career in education administration at an independent school, Philip's Academy Charter School in Newark, where she was a Front Office Coordinator, Executive Assistant to the Head of School, and Director of Enrollment & Secondary School Counseling.

“As a way to fuel my passion for education (while working), I enrolled in a graduate program at Seton Hall University,” she said. “Two years later, I walked across the stage with a master’s degree in education leadership, management and policy.”

After a long stint in New Jersey, Shamair then moved to New York where she managed school operations for a new independent school. After a few years in New York, she found her way back to Connecticut as she accepted the job of Registrar at Westover.

“Ironically enough, my mentor’s daughter, whom I also have the honor of calling a friend, graduated from Westover in 2004,” she said. “She loved her experience at Westover and was thrilled when I told her that I accepted a position here.”

With her background and experience, Shamair was a natural fit for the position, working closely with the Academic Office.

“I don’t take student information systems lightly,” Shamair said. “I firmly believe that data should be accurate, maintained, protected, and treated with integrity. Given my technical skills and love for all things neat and tidy, I knew that I could be a valuable asset to Westover’s academic team. Once I get a grasp of things, I’d love to explore ways of taking systems, processes and documentation in the academic office to the next level.”

Outside of Westover, Shamair resides in New Haven and maintains a deep passion for the creative arts -- visual, performing or media.

“If anyone ever needs a soprano for background vocals don’t hesitate to call me,” she said. “I also know my way around a dance floor and am no stranger to teaching or learning choreography.”

Shamair also owns and operates a small handmade accessory business.

“There’s a high likelihood that any pair of earrings you witness me wearing were designed by me,” she said.

Called “an old soul” by friends, and also honest, open-minded, self-aware and always zen, Shamair is looking forward to her role at Westover and playing a part in the School’s evolving impact on the lives of its students.

“I learned many years ago that the behind the scenes work of any school is just as important as center stage,” she said.