About
Eric
Head of School, Eric F Niles joined ASIJ in 2025 and he brings over 25 years of experience in leadership roles in independent schools, including a 15-year tenure as the Head of The Athenian School in Danville, California. Prior to that he was the Assistant Head at Emma Willard School in New York. He holds a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from UCLA. Before moving into education, Eric completed a four-year stint as counsel to a subcommittee of the US House of Representatives.
Margaret spent much of their early upbringing in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, as well as a gap year of study in Greece. They graduated from Marietta College in Ohio and began work as a research associate at an investment bank in Washington DC. They later switched their career focus to become an Interfaith Chaplain. Through this work, Margaret has supported critically and terminally ill individuals and those in our homeless community across various faith traditions. Since 2019, they have served on the board of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County. As a Zen Buddhist, they look forward to continuing their practice and engaging with the spiritual and cultural opportunities that being in Japan will provide.
Both Eric and Maragret have a profound appreciation for cultural diversity and love to travel. Together they completed a year-long backpacking journey around the world and they are particularly eager to explore the western side of the Pacific Rim, with a special interest in immersing themselves in the culture and landscape of Japan.The couple’s daughter Hannah is an educator in Oakland, California, and their son Cade is an educator in Minneapolis, Minnesota.