*Jason, Leslie and Wendy are already on the “Meet the Directors” part of the website.*
Mike Strahan, Program Director
This is Mike’s third summer as Camp Matoaka’s Program Director. Mike has two degrees from Cal State, Bakersfield and The University of LaVerne. For the past 20 years, he’s been teaching at a middle school in Bakersfield, California. He is a self-described “golf junkie” and “practical jokster.” He loves to travel, take photos and spend time with his wife and two daughters. He grew up playing sports, but is now his daughters’ biggest fan.
Ray White, Assistant Program Director
Ray White is from Corona, CA. He attends Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where he majors in Sociology and is involved in many clubs, including the Black Student Union, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and Class Counsel. Also, he works two jobs while at school. He has also played Football and participated in Track. He plans on getting a Masters in Education and being a part of programs that empower, encourage, and teach life skills to youth through education and athletics. This is Ray’s first summer working at Matoaka as the Assistant Program Director.
Jessinta Brown, Head Counselor
Jessinta is from Perth, Australia, and it will be her third summer at Camp Matoaka, and second as Head Counselor. When she’s not at camp, she works as a Research Assistant at Telethon Institute for Child Research working on a longitudinal study looking at child development. She loves to travel and has been to many different countries. Next January, she’ll begin school to receive her Masters of Occupational Therapy.
Dana Murray, Unit Leader (14s-15s)
Dana is 24 years old and from Holliston, Massachusetts. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Fitchburg State University. When she is not at camp she works in a research lab at Tufts University. This is Dana’s fourth summer at Camp Matoaka. She worked in the tennis department for 2 summers (2007 and 2009) and in 2010 she joined the office as the unit leader for bunks 13, 14, and 15. This summer she will be the unit leader for bunks 14 and 15. Dana is thrilled to be back for another wonderful summer and cannot wait for campers to finally arrive!
Camilla Hooper, Unit Leader (12s-13s)
This is Camilla’s 5th year at Camp Matoaka. Last year, she was the unit leader for 11s and 12s. Before that, she was the Head of the Photography Department for 3 years.
Born and raised in London, England, Camilla attended college to study graphic art and photography. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Photography. Camilla has been busy in the off-seasons between her summers at Matoaka. She has worked in a primary school, teaching two special needs children, which was highly rewarding yet challenging. This past winter, she worked in the French Alps supervising a child care program at a ski resort. Her love for the Camp Matoaka girls and East Pond always bring her back for the best summers of her life.
Wendy “Rubes” Rubin, Unit Leader (10s-11s)
Wendy “Rubes” Rubin will be the Unit Leader for the 10 and 11 year olds. This is her first year at Matoaka, however, for the past 20 years, she has been attending, and then working, at a camp in Connecticut. She is really excited to experience the Matoaka Magic this summer. Rubes graduated from Curry College in 2006 with a BA in Early Childhood Education and has been working in the Boston area ever since. When not at camp, she works as a nanny for a family with 2 young boys whom she adores. She loves to read, laugh, and be outdoors at camp.
Betsy Lewittes, Unit Leader (8s-9s)
Betsy Lewittes will be the Unit Leader for the 8 and 9 year-olds this summer. Although this is her first summer working at camp, she is not new to Camp Matoaka…She spent “5 amazing summers here” as a child. She feels lucky to be back at camp, and is excited to share the “Matoaka Magic” with a new generation of girls. As an undergraduate student, Betsy attended New York University, and majored in studio art and elementary education. She received a master’s degree in childhood education from Bank Street College of Education in New York. Currently, she is a kindergarten teacher at an independent school in New York City, where she has been teaching for 7 years. This fall, she will begin working towards a second master’s degree, specializing in literacy, at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Molly Kette, Events Coordinator
Molly Kette is our Events Coordinator. This is going to be her third summer at Matoaka, and she is thrilled to return to One Great Place! She spent her first two years working in the drama department teaching theatre, rehearsing shows, and “splattering nearly every piece of comfortable clothing [she] own[s] with bright-colored paint.” This summer, she is will be working as the special events coordinator, and promises to put on some amazing events that the campers enjoy! When not at Matoaka, Molly is a film major at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Paul Hopson, Scheduling Director
This is Paul’s 7th summer at Matoaka – he started in 2005 as the Head of Computers and then served as the Media Coordinator before tackling the Schedules. When not at camp, he’s a web designer. Paul grew up in Ontario, Canada, loves to travel, play the guitar and perform.
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