Welcoming Mr. Umeadi

This year, St. Joseph's Prep welcomed a new math teacher, Mr. Philip Umeadi, to its faculty. He teaches Geometry and Algebra 1. Umeadi is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he was a member of the rowing team. He brings his own experiences as a recent college student into the classroom.

While he was at Syracuse, Mr. Umeadi became good friends with Prep alumnus Jack Gorman ’21.

“We rowed together, and he was an amazing guy,” Umeadi said. “He was a real role model, great athlete, great student, and he went to the Prep. We were very close friends”.

As they were graduating, Gorman let Umeadi know about an open teaching opportunity at the Prep. Gorman told him he would be a good fit for the Prep's faculty, and he encouraged Umeadi to apply. 

Math wasn’t always Umeadi’s favorite subject. However, during his studies, he became more interested in math concepts and wanted to help others understand them.  

“I love math,” he said. “I think my friends always say that I like explaining things. It is cool to see people learn. I wasn’t a big math guy in high school, so it’s kind of cool to come back to the subject that I really avoided, and I like to see it in a different context.” 

Since joining the Prep community, Umeadi has begun to admire the Jesuit tradition.

“I’ve really come to appreciate the Jesuit mission and how they approach education… how they care about you guys,” he said. “It’s truly an awesome place to learn and to teach.”

Umeadi is originally from Nigeria, but when he was young his family relocated to Missouri, where he attended Hazel West High School. After high school, he moved to Syracuse where he studied applied mathematics and modern economics.

Although Umeadi is new to the Prep, he already has some positive impressions of the school.

“My co-workers are amazing… the math department folks are incredible, they make it really fun,” he said. “Everyone is excited to come into work everyday.”  

Having only been here a short while, Umeadi said that he is already inspired and enamored by the Prep environment and its Jesuit mission.