Mr. Velez speaks to the student body in Colony Hall.
After 19 years of teaching at Choate, Dean of Students Mr. Michael Velez ’00 will leave the School at the end of this academic year. On July 1, he will assume his new position as Head of Upper School of Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, New York City.
As a Choate alumnus of the Class of 2000, Mr. Velez returned to the School as a “boomerang kid” in the fall of 2004 after receiving his bachelor’s degree in history from Middlebury College. Primarily a History teacher for the first eight years of his Choate career, Mr. Velez taught classes such as Civil War and Reconstruction, Classical History, and World History.
Mr. Velez was named the Dean of Students for Summer Programs in June 2014, and thus began his journey in the Deans’ Office, where he remained after accepting the now-defunct role of Dean of Boys, then Form Dean of the Class of 2022, and finally Dean of Students in the spring of 2019. On campus, he is affectionately known as “MAV.”
As Dean of Students before and during the pandemic, Mr. Velez saw the School through a tumultuous period of change. Even with shifts in statewide laws due to Covid-19 and vaccinations, or the consumption of tobacco and marijuana, Mr. Velez helped protect students and their well-being. Ava Maha ’23, Student Body President, spoke to Mr. Velez’s commitment to the students: “MAV pushed to pass student initiatives, pulled ideas out of his archives, and brought an empathetic listening ear to our conversations.”
Aside from his dean duties, Mr. Velez has held titles in other areas of school life over the years, including Head of House in Combination House and Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey Assistant Coach. He also works closely with the Judicial Committee. Enforcing the honor code and upholding the rules of the School, Mr. Velez confers with members of the committee on how to proceed with disciplinary action.
According to Judicial Committee representative Sophie Park ’25, “Taking the recommendations given by the Judicial Committee, Mr. Velez makes … the final decision of the consequence a student is given, either accepting or rejecting the recommendation.” However, when a student faces possible expulsion, he attends and observes full meetings to ensure students’ voices are truly heard.
Ms. Mary Elizabeth Williamson ’94, Director of Day Students and Latin teacher, was one of Mr. Velez’s first teachers at Choate. Once a new fifth-former in Ms. Williamson’s Latin 300 class, Mr. Velez now works alongside her in the Dean’s Office.
Having interacted with him as both a teacher and a colleague, Ms. Williamson appreciates Mr. Velez’s ability to understand and empathize with students’ concerns while remaining true to both his own and the School’s values. “[He] has never been afraid to be vulnerable — with us, as colleagues, … [and] with students at school meetings. I think he puts his feelings out there,” said Ms. Williamson. “It’s really been helpful to have that as an anchor in our conversations about day student life [and] leadership on campus.”
Reflecting on his time at the School, Mr. Velez said, “I’ve enjoyed so many incredible memories at Choate. Personally, it is where my wife and I started our family and brought each of our four daughters home from the hospital. Professionally, the bookends to every school year (i.e., our return to campus and Commencement) have produced moments that I will cherish forever.”
Mr. Velez’s departure from the School will be bittersweet, but his impact will not be forgotten. Maha commented, “Although I am very excited for Mr. Velez to thrive in a new community, Choate will certainly miss him. MAV truly is the GOAT [Greatest of All Time].”
Ms. Williamson emphasized his dedication and hard work throughout his tenure at Choate and believes he will continue to approach the community at his new school with enthusiasm. “When the School has needed [Mr. Velez], he’s been there,” she said. “[Riverdale Country School] is going to be really lucky.”
As Mr. Velez has imparted many pearls of wisdom to fellow faculty members and students alike, he cites valuable lessons from his time at Choate. “I learned that it is important to have fun doing whatever it is that you do in life. Balancing a seriousness of purpose and fun is achievable, especially when you surround yourself with people who are passionate about the work they engage in together.”
After nearly two decades at Choate, Mr. Velez said he will miss the community the most: “My family and I are extremely fortunate to have forged so many wonderful friendships and connections with students, staff, faculty, and families over the years, and, fortunately, those relationships will continue in the years to come.”
Mr. Velez added, “Choate has been and will continue to be home, but Riverdale presents a new adventure.” He wishes a final farewell to the School: “Thank you, Choate, for taking me on a magical ride.
