One of the newest members of Belmont Hill’s Science Department is alumnus Mr. Petros Palandjian ’13, who joins the faculty to teach Computer Science, replacing Mr. Ryan, who departed to pursue a doctoral degree. A Belmont native, Mr. Palandjian spent his student years playing nearly every sport available, including tennis, squash, and hockey, and even helped introduce the blue recycling bins that are still used on campus today. As a student, he also helped organize fundraisers for cancer research, inspiring others to shave their heads to raise money and awareness.
After Belmont Hill, Mr. Palandjian attended Duke University, where he double-majored in Computer Science and Economics. At Duke, he continued his athletic pursuits by playing club tennis and volleyball and furthered his passion for philanthropy by founding Buzz for Bobby, a charity program supporting cancer research.
Following college, Mr. Palandjian built an impressive and varied career. In 2020, he founded an environmentally focused business that created zero-waste vending machines, which eventually expanded to over fifty locations across the United States. The company was a finalist for the Reusies Prize for Most Innovative Consumer Packaged Goods Company and won the 2024 U.S. Plastics Pact Award for sustainable packaging before closing in 2025 due to supplier bankruptcies.
Now returning to Belmont Hill as a faculty member, Mr. Palandjian teaches multiple computer science classes, advises the AI Club, and coaches both the Varsity Tennis and First Form Hockey teams. According to one of his AP Computer Science Principles students, John Pena ’26, “Mr. Palandjian is a great teacher who understands what it’s like to be a student and encourages us to look at problems in unique ways.”
Outside the classroom, Mr. Palandjian remains as active and curious as ever. He has lived in seven cities, including Boston, New York, and London, and has traveled to 39 countries, with plans to visit more. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, reading, gaming, and playing weekly sports such as volleyball and pickleball. He also loves spending time with his dog, Otis, and his cat, Milo, whom he hopes to bring to campus this year.
A dedicated teacher, coach, and innovator, Mr. Palandjian embodies the Belmont Hill spirit of curiosity, hard work, and service.