As the 2026–27 school year begins to take shape, MBA is pleased to welcome three new members of our community who officially joined us on July 1.

Ms. Margaret Andrews, Dr. Brian Haworth, and Mr. Michael Via each bring impressive experience and unique talents to The Hill, and they are among the first of several new faculty and staff members we look forward to introducing in the weeks ahead.

Margaret Andrews joins MBA as our new Director of Special Events. A senior event manager and producer with a background in luxury weddings, corporate functions, and multi-day destination programs, Margaret brings extensive experience leading complex, personalized events. Most recently, she served as Senior Event Manager and Producer at The Social Office in Nashville, where she managed 25-plus high-end events annually and led cross-functional teams producing experiences for up to 1,000 guests.

Over the course of her career, Margaret has held roles across event design, sales, and operations at organizations including Sarah Blair Event Design, Please Be Seated, and AllSeated, where she managed major accounts such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Margaret holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, with an emphasis in Marketing.

“I've always loved the way events can bring people together, and I'm excited to do that in a community with such a strong sense of tradition and connection. I'm looking forward to building new relationships, supporting MBA's mission, and being part of an environment that has such a lasting impact on its students and families alike.”

- Margaret Andrews

Brian Haworth joins MBA as our new Director of Adolescent Development and Counseling. A licensed clinical psychologist with more than two decades of experience in adolescent mental health, school-based consultation, and performance psychology, Brian brings a rare combination of clinical depth and systems-level vision. He is the founder of First Light Counseling and Psychological Services in Brentwood, where for the past twelve years he has helped adolescents, families, and high-achieving individuals navigate anxiety, performance pressure, resilience, and identity development.

Earlier in his career, Brian served as an Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he provided clinical care within Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and developed DBT-based programs for teens, and as a counselor at an all-boys high school, giving him a firsthand appreciation for the developmental needs of boys. He later co-founded and led a psychological services division within a multi-specialty practice, building assessment protocols and training fellow clinicians. Brian holds a Psy.D. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College Graduate School, an M.A. in Counseling from Colorado Christian University, and a B.A. in Psychology from The Ohio State University. At MBA, he looks forward to helping form Gentlemen, Scholars, and Athletes through a whole-person culture of mental fitness and growth.

“As a father to three young men and someone who has always loved working with adolescents, I find joy in helping young people identify and strengthen their gifts to use them in a missional way that is bigger than themselves. MBA’s values and its excellent students offer plenty of opportunities to do what I love, and I am overjoyed to be a part of everything this place has to offer.”

- Brian Haworth

Michael Via joins MBA as our new Director of Enrollment Management. An experienced enrollment leader, teacher, and coach, Michael brings more than a decade of work across several independent school communities, most recently as Chief Enrollment Management Officer and Senior Leadership Team member at St. John's Episcopal School in Dallas. Over five years there, he modernized the school's admission and enrollment operation—strengthening systems, sharpening strategy, and partnering with advancement and communications teams—efforts that helped drive a roughly 90% increase in inquiries and applications, greater selectivity, and the school reaching full enrollment for the first time in over two decades.

Earlier in his career, Michael served in admission, teaching, and coaching roles at The Potomac School, Norfolk Academy, and St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, where he taught history, advised students, and led boys' lacrosse programs. A student-athlete himself at Norfolk Academy and Hampden-Sydney College, he brings a deep, personal commitment to values-based boys' education. Michael holds a B.A. in History from Hampden-Sydney College and a M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership from Vanderbilt's Peabody College. He and his family are delighted to join the MBA community.

"As someone whose life has been shaped by exceptional teachers, coaches, teammates, and mentors, I know firsthand the profound difference a school like Montgomery Bell Academy can make in a young man's life. The values embodied in MBA's motto—Gentleman, Scholar, Athlete—have long guided my own journey as a student-athlete, educator, coach, and now enrollment leader, and they reflect the kind of men my wife and I hope our own sons will become. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to join this extraordinary community and look forward to partnering with the next generation of families as we help boys discover their unique gifts, develop strength of character, pursue excellence with humility, and grow into young men who will lead lives of purpose, integrity, and service."

- Michael Via

Please join us in welcoming Margaret, Brian and Michael to the MBA community for the 2026-27 school year and beyond!

In addition to the new members of the faculty, Mr. Win Bassett and Mr. Thomas Wims have transitioned into their new roles as Dean of Faculty & Academics and Director of the Junior School, respectively.

Win has faithfully served MBA for the past decade as a teacher, coach, advisor, Associate Dean of the High School, and, most recently, Director of Summer School. As a member of the English Department, Win most recently taught 9th-grade English and has led curriculum initiatives, including the development of new grammar and vocabulary manuals and the redesign of core instructional materials. He has mentored new teachers and consistently invested in strengthening the craft of teaching at MBA.

A highly respected teacher, coach, and mentor, Thomas will begin his 35th year at MBA this fall. Since joining the faculty in 1992, he has served in a variety of teaching and leadership roles across both the Junior School and High School, earning the admiration of students, parents, faculty, and alumni alike. Mr. Wims currently teaches regular and honors pre-algebra and has recently served as the seventh grade class sponsor.

Congratulations to these two excellent examples of our outstanding teachers on campus as they expand their roles!