Jessica Dobrin

Mercersburg Academy is pleased to welcome Dr. Jessica Dobrin to the science department this year. With an extensive background in international education and four years of experience in boarding schools, Dobrin brings a global perspective to her teaching. She first learned of Mercersburg back in 2011, when a student transferred from her school in Tokyo, planting the seed for her own journey to campus more than a decade later.

From the moment she arrived, Dobrin was struck by the beauty of Mercersburg’s campus and surrounding area. But it has been the community that has made the biggest impression. “I love the philosophy of ‘high standards with high support’ that seems to be prevalent in all aspects of campus life,” said Dobrin. To her delight, she even discovered that several students from her former international school in Beijing now attend Mercersburg, including one she taught in sixth grade.

In the classroom, Dobrin’s teaching style is student-centered and adaptive. “There are days when a bit of lecture is unavoidable,” said Dobrin, “but I try to base pacing, tone, and even subject matter on where my students are with the material.” Because her PhD research focused on student experience, she makes it a priority to meet learners where they are.

Her goals this year include integrating real research into the classroom and taking advantage of Mercersburg’s strong lab program. Looking further ahead, Dobrin hopes to build a lasting AS Biology program that is flexible, engaging, and collaborative.

Outside of teaching, she enjoys reading, watching football (“Go Dawgs”), and spending time with her corgi, Henley. A fun fact: she is a huge Swiftie, and she also discovered her passion for rowing during her PhD program—proof, she said, “that you’re never too old to find your passion in life.”