Q&A With Marisa Echeverría ‘96, P‘30, ‘32, Poly Alumni Board Nominating Committee Chair

By Poly Advancement

Marisa Echeverría ’96, Poly Alumni Board Nominating Committee Chair, is an actor, tutor, and communications coach. She lives in Pasadena with her husband, Paul Siemens, and their daughters, Zoe ’30, and Alejandra ’32. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in literature and went on to earn a Master’s of Fine Arts in acting from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Ahead of Giving Day on April 15, PolyNews chatted with Marisa about her volunteer work at Poly and how the school has shaped her and her family’s experiences.

Poly taught me that there are opportunities to fall in love with learning everywhere. When I was in third grade, my music teacher, Rebecca Thompson, invited me to be part of her burgeoning children’s chorus and changed my life. Tina Cocumelli gave me confidence and vision as an artist. Mrs. Sillman brought history to life for me with the Oregon Trail. Mr. Stork and Mrs. Robinson made math make sense. Eric Stelter ignited my interest in chemistry. Mr. Pickering shaped my love for literature, and Mrs. Hamilton helped me find my voice as a writer. Sra. Pendorff, Mr. Geier…I could go on and on!

 

My middle-schoolers have great classmates and truly enjoy learning and working collaboratively with them. It is also exciting to see my kids dive into their own varied interests. Zoe is dedicated to debate, and Alex recently danced at Poly’s Lunar New Year celebration. With all the opportunities Poly has given them to perform, play instruments, participate in events like Science Olympiad, and compete in sports like volleyball, basketball, and track, they have enjoyed an amazing academic experience.

 

I have experienced firsthand what Poly offers students, and I’m grateful that my own kids are receiving the same education. Showing up in these ways is how I share my appreciation, and it has also proven to be a great way to meet more of the Poly community. I’ve made great new friends through my work on the Alumni Board and by volunteering.

 

I think giving to Poly is another way to show appreciation for the gifts that Poly has given me. 

Reconnecting to Poly after many years has been a wonderful surprise for me. You don’t really know the benefits until you jump in, but I guarantee that engaging with Poly––and witnessing just a little of what the students are doing these days—will inspire you.