Campus News Q&A
WITH CHARLES A. TIERNEY III AFTER CHARLIE TIERNEY was asked by the board of trustees to lead NMH until a permanent head of school is appointed, NMH Magazine staff sat down with him for a conversation about the school and his place in it. Tierney’s boarding school career spans 25 years. He has worked at NMH for 13 years, seven as assistant head of school. Of the many roles you’ve played at NMH, which have you enjoyed most? Assistant head and history teacher rank at the top of the list, followed closely by student advisor and dormitory parent. What is your favorite spot on campus? I have several: the bench outside Memorial Chapel that overlooks the stunning sweep of the campus, Alumni Hall, and wherever my classroom is located. How did life change for you after you took the helm? The number of appointments on my calendar certainly increased, but I’ve always worked hard to be present and available on campus. What makes you most proud to lead the school? I am proud to work with such remarkable students, dynamic teachers, and dedicated staff. Few schools transform their students’ lives as NMH has for more than 130 years. The Moody legacy is certainly alive and well on our campus today in ways that never cease to impress and inspire me. We provide each student an opportunity to engage in hard intellectual and manual work; to stretch, grow, and strive to excel; to look beyond oneself and commit to serve as needed; to develop character and nurture a spiritual life; to act with humanity and purpose. It all adds up to such a powerful, relevant mission.
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NMH Magazine