Faculty Feature: Priyam Mavani Found His Home Under the Stars At Rectory

If you’ve ever walked past Rectory’s observatory on a clear night, you may already know why Science Department faculty member Priyam Mavani feels most at home with one eye to the sky. In this month’s Faculty Feature, Priyam shares how a passion for astronomy, mentorship, and hands-on exploration has shaped his work at Rectory — and inspired students to dream bigger than the horizon.

Priyam’s journey to Pomfret began with a love of science rooted in curiosity. In the video, he recalls how his early exposure to the night sky fostered a desire to understand “how everything in our universe connects.” Today, that same curiosity radiates through his teaching. Whether he’s demonstrating a lab experiment, leading an impromptu lesson about constellations, or answering the timeless question “What’s out there?”, Priyam encourages students to push past what they know and reach for what they don’t yet understand.

While astronomy is his specialty, Priyam’s impact goes far beyond the lens of a telescope. Students describe him as approachable, endlessly patient, and genuinely eager to help them learn. In the classroom, he emphasizes hands-on participation — curiosity isn’t something to be graded, but something to be fed. Outside the classroom, you’ll often find him supporting residential life, cheering on student events, and building the kind of relationships that define the heart of a junior boarding school.

Perhaps most inspiring is Priyam’s perspective on belonging. “Rectory is a place where students can be themselves,” he shares. “We learn from one another’s backgrounds, stories, and ideas. That diversity makes us stronger.” His experience reflects a community that values the whole child — where every student is known, seen, and lifted, just as the constellations lift his gaze.

As he continues to connect classroom learning to the stars above, Priyam embodies the spirit of exploration that defines Rectory: wonder, discovery, and the confidence to ask big questions.

And for any student ready to stay up a little later, look a little higher, and learn a little deeper — Priyam is always happy to point out the next bright idea.