Kendra Stearns O'Donnell explained

Kendra Stearns O'Donnell
Office:12th Principal of Phillips Exeter Academy
Predecessor:Stephen Guild Kurtz
Successor:Tyler Chapman Tingley
Termend:1997
Termstart:1987
Alma Mater:Barnard College (BA)
Columbia University (PhD)

Kendra Stearns O'Donnell (born 1944) is an American educator and painter who served as the 12th principal of Phillips Exeter Academy.

Biography

She attended Emma Willard School, graduating in 1960, Barnard College, graduating in 1965,[1] and Columbia University, where she received an M.A. and Ph.D. degree in English. As an assistant professor of English at Princeton University, entering the faculty in 1971, she received, as the first woman to do so, the title of university marshal. She served as a program officer at the Markle Foundation, the program director of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and as a consultant and special assistant to the president of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. She became the first female principal of Exeter in 1987, and served until her retirement 1997.[2] [3] During her time at Exeter, she received significant press coverage over her handling of a scandal involving the firing of a drama teacher, Larry Lane Bateman, over child pornography charges in 1992.[4] [5]

She currently serves as a member of the board of trustees at the Hotchkiss School;[6] Emma Willard School,[7] where she served as the president of the board prior to becoming principal of Exeter; and the Currier Museum of Art. Past positions of hers include the director of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the vice-president of the board of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

O'Donnell is married to Patrick O'Donnell, with whom she has three children, two of which are from a previous marriage. She has received honorary degrees from New England College and Hamilton College.

References

  1. Web site: Full text of "Barnard" . archive.org . September 1995 . en . June 23, 2017.
  2. Web site: 2012 Heads, Board Chairs and Business Officers Conference: Kendra Stearns O'Donnell . Canadian Accredited Independent Schools .
  3. News: A Woman at Old Exeter . Schumer . Fran R. . October 11, 1987 . The New York Times . June 23, 2017 . en-US . 0362-4331.
  4. News: The School for Scandal . August 16, 1992 . Newsweek . June 23, 2017 . en.
  5. News: Teacher's Child-Pornography Arrest Raises Worry for Prep School . Daly . Christopher B. . August 5, 1992 . The Washington Post . June 23, 2017 . Daly . Christopher B. . en-US . 0190-8286.
  6. Web site: Head of School - The Hotchkiss School . www.hotchkiss.org . en-US . June 23, 2017.
  7. Web site: Board of Trustees Emma Willard School . Emma Willard School . June 23, 2017.