Faculty Spotlight: Tom Juvan P'19

Tom joined the Westover faculty in 2008 and today serves as an English teacher, the Visiting Poets Coordinator, and Lantern magazine co-advisor. He also oversees the Westover Letterpress Collective which has been a staple on campus since 2013. Tom lives on campus with his family, teaches in Virginia House, and can often be found near the Red Hall steps shring poetry with the Westover community at Assembly. Curious to know what book he might recommend or what his favorite topic of conversation is? Read more about Tom below:

Favorite Westover meal: Butter chicken! Preferably with dal as well.

Favorite Westover tradition: The Lantern Ceremony

What inspires you as a teacher?  My students

What is a topic that you could talk about for hours? Weird, indie, and underground music of the past 50 years.

What is your favorite thing about working at Westover? It is impossible to pick one thing! The sense of a warm and accepting community was one of the first things that struck me about the school, and that feeling has persisted over all my years here. And how can I not mention Clare, our fabulous printing press?

What is the highlight of your year so far? The return of our visiting poet readings to the library!

What is a book you would recommend to the Westover community?  Amitav Ghosh, Gun Island: Ghosh is a marvelous writer who should be read by more people. This novel weaves together climate change, global trade routes since the Renaissance, species extinction, migration and refugees, Bengali myth and folklore, rare books, and a love story!