The Emerson College staff are also an international group of people with a variety of different backgrounds. Students often remark on how committed, interested in and excited by their work the staff are whether it be in the classroom, in the garden, in the kitchen or in the administration offices. All are grounded in anthroposophy, the work and philosophy of Rudolf Steiner.

Each year different members of staff are invited to teach, train and consult in organisations and with groups of people in many parts of the globe.

 

Derek Amos - Bursar

After a long and successful accounting career with Serco plc and subsequently smaller organisations including a local wildlife charity, Derek joined Emerson College in October 2008 in the Finance department.

Matt Blissett - Publicity 

 Matt arrived at Emerson in 2006, after studying Philosophy at Edinburgh University. He has moved from being a student in the Orientation Year and the Foundation Year, to being a Graduate Student in 2008-2009 and is now working on Emerson's publicity and marketing full-time. He also teaches choir and guitar and has taught and worked with young people in many different ways throughout his time at Emerson. He is currently training to become a Biographical Counsellor and has strong interests in Parzival, Bill Hicks and Carl Jung. 

Yvette Dellsperger – Head of Facilities

Yvette worked for 13 years at Forum Altenberg, an anthroposophical centre for adult education in Switzerland, as co-director. She is trained in Management, as a Waldorf Teacher, in Biography Work and Pottery. In 2005 she moved to England and since then works at Emerson College as administrative coordinator.

Julia Dreiseitl - Graduate Student

After an amazing sculptural experience developing a water fountain in Germany, Julia came to Emerson to study Arts and Sculpture - she graduated in 2009. She is now working as a post graduate student at Emerson while continuing her studies at Open University. She hopes to be a part of a very active student body in the coming year and help Emerson with its needs.

Stephanie Hall - Library

Stephanie is a graduate in modern languages with a keen interest in art and education.  She lived for four years in a Camphill Village Trust community during the 1990s and sees her work at Emerson as a natural continuation along the same spiritual path.

Rebecca Johns – Facilities Assistant

Rebecca has a background in agriculture and journalism. With two young children starting school, Rebecca began work at Emerson in 2007 to help with administration, and is now the Registrar.

Gideon Osimo – Kitchen

Emilie Salvesen – Joint Acting Director

An MA in Modern Languages from Cambridge University and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan equipped Emilie for the travelling life that lay ahead. She worked in Social Work in continental Europe, then trained at Emerson College in Waldorf education. She taught at Waldorf schools around the world and is now part of the College Administration.

Susanna Segnit - Coop

Susanna first came to Emerson in 1980 after spending 25 years in advertising. She spent two happy years at Emerson then left to open a bookshop by the sea. On retirement Susanna returned to Emerson as a Visual Arts student and has done various other courses. She now runs the Coop. Susanna is a grandmother and when not at Emerson she lives over looking the Hudson River in the USA.

Roswitha Shanahan - Biodynamic Organic Farming Administration

Roswitha's studies of Maths, Sports, Bothmer Gymnastic and Drama led her to teaching in a German Steiner School and at Peredur and Emerson College. In England, she added a study year at the Centre for Social Development and - besides raising her two boys - has completed a diploma in transpersonal Psychotherapy. She is happy to apply her experience in a great variety of secretarial and office jobs to administering the BD course at Emerson.

Jean Steele – Finance Assistant

After nursing and secretarial work, Jean joined Emerson College as an assistant to Michael Spence in the Finance Office in 1970. After a short retirement break from 1991-95, she returned to work with Charles Burkam and subsequently Simon Couldry.

Robert Tilsley – Gardener

Robert was a qualified engineer in Birmingham until he discovered a love for growing vegetables. He is also an alumni from the biodynamic training at Emerson. Since his completion of the training, he has been working at Fern Verrow in Herefordshire, growing high quality biodynamic vegetables for the Borough Market in London.

Annemarie Vinkhuyzen – Groundskeeper

Annemarie arrived from the Netherlands in 1972 to develop the vegetable garden and since “retirement” has been tending the College grounds with a team of student helpers to ensure the gardens continue looking beautiful, natural – but not too wild!

Deborah Watts (née Gravelle) – Registrar

Deborah is the administrator and registrar for Emerson's courses. Originally from California, Deborah came to England three years ago and lives here with her husband.