Clifft and Forsythe Named Endowed Chairs
Headmaster Pete Sanders has announced the naming of two endowed chairs: Mr. Darin Clifft is the Donald Bailey Wiener Chair of Mathematics, and Mrs. Anna Forsythe is the Hess Chair of Excellence in English.
Since Mr. Clifft joined the faculty in 1999, he has distinguished himself as an engaging teacher, known for his ability to make lessons stick through games and humor. He has taught a wide range of math courses but specializes in statistics. He is also renowned for coaching competitive math teams, serving as a campus quizmaster, and promoting Incredible Hulk fandom. He received the John M. Nail Outstanding Teaching Award in 2010 and 2023 and the Distinguished Teaching Award in 2014. He served as Mathematics Department co-chair from 2018-25. Clifft has devoted summers to serving as an AP reader or question leader for 20 years. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from the University of Memphis.
Mrs. Forsythe joined the faculty in fall 2021 as an eighth- and ninth-grade English teacher, and she now focuses solely on eighth-grade English. She was named Lower School English chair in fall 2025. Forsythe exemplifies what it means to be an MUS teacher. She intentionally builds meaningful relationships with her students, and she demands the very best out of them. Under her leadership, Owls have dominated the Daughters of the America Revolution (DAR) writing awards. Through her exemplary work, she is laying the foundation for the next generation of MUS grammarians and writers. Forsythe earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and a minor in education from Cornell University and a master’s degree in education with an instructional focus in English language arts from Union University.
Back
Mrs. Forsythe joined the faculty in fall 2021 as an eighth- and ninth-grade English teacher, and she now focuses solely on eighth-grade English. She was named Lower School English chair in fall 2025. Forsythe exemplifies what it means to be an MUS teacher. She intentionally builds meaningful relationships with her students, and she demands the very best out of them. Under her leadership, Owls have dominated the Daughters of the America Revolution (DAR) writing awards. Through her exemplary work, she is laying the foundation for the next generation of MUS grammarians and writers. Forsythe earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and a minor in education from Cornell University and a master’s degree in education with an instructional focus in English language arts from Union University.
Embracing a Bold Vision. Building a Bright Future.
Memphis University School is a college-preparatory, independent, day school for boys in Grades 6-12.
Quicklinks
