Team MBA
Mount Bachelor Academy's success as an ideal learning environment and a place where students can safely develop their own identities lies in the dedication and commitment of its staff members. Each MBA staff member considers himself a mentor to students in all that they do. Teaching takes place not only in the classroom, but also at mealtime, during group sessions, in the evening during activities, and in the dorms. We consider it our responsibility to be purposeful and provide opportunities for learning in all that we do with students.
Teachers and mentors strive to integrate students' academic studies with their lessons in personal growth. Consistency and teamwork provide a supportive path on which students can confidently travel. These staff members go beyond their job description requirements to provide the kind of personal relationships that students can trust. For Mount Bachelor Academy staff members, assisting students in their journey of self discovery and aiding their arrival to a productive adulthood is more than a job worth doing, it's their mission.
Sharon Bitz
Executive Director
Sharon Bitz, MS, has been with Mount Bachelor Academy for 18 years and the Director for 11 of those years. Her love has been keeping the school fresh and dynamic by bringing the latest research and evidence based practice to the school curricula. On a personal note, she believes that gardening is the best therapy and that compassion is her best quality.
Bill Hoffman
Residential Director
Bill Hoffman has worked at Mount Bachelor Academy since 1990 and has served in many capacities over the years. Bill has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation Administration from San Diego State University. He started his career at Mount Bachelor Academy as wilderness director then over time was the Phase 1 Leader, Phase 2 Leader, Phase 3 Leader and then Program Director for 8 years prior to his current position. Prior to coming to Mount Bachelor Academy, Bill was employed as a senior counselor at an 18-24 year old young adult transition program in Southern California for 5 years. Bill loves to work with adolescents to help them develop strong leadership skills. He is loved by all for his compassion and wacky sense of humor.
Bill is married to Kelli Hoffman, our admission director. They have been blessed with 4 wonderful children and 1 grandson. He is passionate about football and recently played on a local semi-pro football team for 3 seasons.
Matthew Lovell
Program Director
Matthew Lovell has over 20 years of clinical counseling experience in acute-care, residential treatment centers, therapeutic schools and private practice, working with children, adolescents, and their families. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley, and his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. He became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California in 1998, and Virginia in 2007. He is license eligible as an LPC in Oregon. As an Adjunct
Professor at National University, Mr. Lovell has taught courses in child development and family therapy. His former positions include being a founding member of the clinical treatment team at Saint Vincent's Hospital in New York, Program Director at Cascade School, and private practice Family Therapist and most recently Dean of Advising at Carlbrook School. Matthew is married and has two adolescent children of his own.
Glenn Austin
Academic Director
Glenn holds a B.A. in English and Master of Music from Azusa Pacific University. He taught Music and English at APU for ten years before being hired at MBA. Glenn was hired at MBA in 2001, and has 15 years experience with youth.
Lisa Fairman
Special Education Director
Lisa earned her undergraduate degree in English at the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Science in Education at Duquesne University. She is an Oregon licensed teacher, in both Special Education and English. She came to MBA in 1999 from the Pressley Ridge Schools in Pittsburgh, PA. At Pressley Ridge, Lisa was a teacher/counselor in a residential treatment facility, and then started a therapeutic foster care program. Lisa’s goal at MBA is for students to rediscover their passion for learning and to become self-advocates. She believes that everyone naturally loves to learn, and through positive classroom experiences students can regain this. She tells her students that she is at MBA because she doesn’t want students to hate high school as much as she did! A true life-long learner, Lisa’s latest venture is in flower and vegetable gardening.
Alex Bitz
Alumni Services Director
Educated in Film and theatre arts in Romania, Alex Bitz became a political refugee and came to the USA in 1984. He is a founding staff member of MBA. Since 1988 he has brought his creativity and passion to every aspect of the school (workshops, training, mentoring, arts, etc.). After more than 20 years of successfully working with children and families, Alex is as consumed with the work as he was his first day. Presently, he still wears several hats within our community: Outreach Director, Staff Trainer, and Phase IV Leader, just to name a few.
Kelli Hoffman
Admissions Director
Kelli Hoffman is passionate about her job as Admissions Director. She comes to work each day with a desire to help families through a difficult time in their lives and rejoices with students and their parents at their successes. Kelli has worked at Mount Bachelor Academy since 1990 and prior to that worked at a young adult program in S. California for 18-24 year olds for 3 years.
Kelli is married to Bill Hoffman, our Residential Director. She loves spending time with her husband, 4 kids and grandson. In her spare time Kelli can often be found in her beautiful flower garden or sitting on the front porch of her bungalow enjoying a favorite book.
Krimsen Bauman
Admissions Counselor
Krimsen has worked at the school since October of 2006. Krimsen brings many years of experience with special needs youth to her position at Mount Bachelor Academy. Krimsen's favorite part of her job is watching the incredible transition from enrollment to graduation. "Seeing the measureable success within a child and their family is the best feeling in the world." In her spare time she loves to spend time gardening and doing recreational activities such as camping and hiking with her husband Erick and their and son Chase.
