Cushing Academy recently completed its third new dormitory construction project in the last four years. The connected Carlisle Hall and Hancock Hall, named for longtime faculty members Susie Carlisle and Wayne Hancock, sits in the center of campus above Quimby Field, facing Drew Common on the front side. It will house 60 students in 30 double rooms plus faculty members in four apartments beginning in late summer of this year.
The new building replaced Cooke Hall, which was built in 1961. To celebrate and preserve the enormous contributions to the Academy by that dormitory’s late namesakes—dedicated faculty members L. Clyde and Erma Wheeler Cooke—a photograph with a plaque honoring them has been installed in a prominent location in the center entrance of the new building.
Carlisle Hall honors Dr. Susie Carlisle, affectionately known by all at Cushing as "Sooz." Sooz began her 23-year career at Cushing in 1980, and, after a period away from Cushing, she returned in 2000 as a faculty member for 19 years before her retirement. She served in multiple roles: beloved English teacher, Art teacher, Dean of Academics, dance teacher, tennis coach, and mentor to her colleagues. She was twice named Teacher of the Year. At her final Commencement in 2019, Sooz was made an honorary member of the Class of 2019 and received this tribute by Olympian and women’s professional hockey player Meghan Duggan '06: “Truly one of a kind, Sooz is so much more than a dean, a teacher, an advisor, a mentor, a friend—she is a life changer. She has enriched the Cushing community in so many ways with her brilliance, kindness, acceptance, and genuine loving spirit.” A longtime resident of Ashburnham with her husband Mark, Sooz’s family tree boasts deep Penguin Nation roots, including two Penguin graduates—their daughter Heather '00 and son Andrew '04—plus their daughter Meredith, who worked in the Admissions Office for many years.
Hancock Hall recognizes Wayne Hancock, who began his distinguished Cushing career of 38 years in 1977. A native of Gardner, Wayne was hired to teach history and coach baseball. Until his retirement in 2015, he shared those dual passions, and in both, he shaped the lives of his students, receiving well-earned recognition as a Teacher of the Year and as a member of the Massachusetts High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. His players won eight Central New England Prep School Championships, and in 2018 the Wayne Hancock Baseball Diamond was dedicated in his honor on Adams Field. At the dedication, then Co-Head of School Peggy Lee reflected, “Wayne's example of setting high expectations in the classroom and on the field, as well as his strong support of both students and colleagues, has left an indelible mark on Cushing’s history.” Wayne’s many other roles included dorm parent and Director of Cushing's Native American Preparatory School (NAPS) program for several years. He is an honorary member of the Class of 2015. Wayne and his wife Maria are proud Penguin parents of Jaime '02 and Christina '05.
Carlisle and Hancock Hall, now our most energy-efficient building, is the first dorm to be tied into the new central heating plant located at the Fisher-Watkins Dining Commons, which was renovated in 2017-2018. Despite the challenges of building during a pandemic, the construction was on time and on budget, and feedback about the dorm has been overwhelmingly positive thus far. The Cushing community looks forward to incorporating Carlisle and Hancock’s modern spaces and an incredible view of Quimby Field—plus the renewed Drew Common—into campus life.
