Head of School

From the Head of School

LOOKING AHEAD TO ANDOVER’S FUTURE

I began this letter on March 11, one year after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Information was scarce, and uncertainty and fear were mounting. Andover, like all schools, was thrust into uncharted territory that, for months to come, would force us to reimagine how we deliver our program.

By no means have we conquered the pandemic, but we have learned a lot about how to create safe learning environments. With testing, PPE, distancing, and a number of other health and safety measures in place, Andover has begun to repopulate the campus.

All along, we have adjusted our approach as dictated by scientific evidence and public health guidance. Our fundamental challenge—balancing health risks against Andover’s mission to provide an exceptional, in-person residential education.

We have stumbled at times, but we have never lost focus on the well-being of our campus community. In addition to the extraordinary efforts of faculty and staff, I am also inspired by the commitment of alumni and parents.

Philanthropy helped to offset costs for necessities like testing and new technology. Local host families were essential in supporting students. Some alumni even returned to campus to serve as house counselors.

Alumni admission representatives pivoted to remote recruitment—every campus “visit” and every interview took place virtually. I am pleased to report that applications increased 18 percent over last year. Not even a pandemic could diminish demand for an Andover education!

As we look ahead, we must return our school to a more strategic focus. What will a post-pandemic Andover look like? Our vision will be informed by a number of factors, including what we experienced this past year. An assessment of what we did well and where we fell short will help us reimagine Andover for years to come.

What have we learned about our community and how we deliver education? What has the pandemic and its secondary effects revealed about the needs of our students? What changes might result in a deeper intellectual experience, a more equitable Andover?

Animated discussions around a table or next to a lab partner can never be replaced by Zoom. Still, I believe there is something to be gained from these remote interactions. Have students grown in their ability to engage in self-directed learning? If so, will that translate to accelerated learning when they return to the classroom? For those who struggled in remote settings, how might we rethink the support they need and deserve when they return to campus?

I expect the answers to these questions will guide us long after the pandemic has subsided, and we no longer have to worry about things like measuring the distance between us.

I am confident that Andover will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. After all, what makes Andover truly excellent is its eagerness to evolve and to recreate itself in the context of education and society today.

Thank you for playing a vital role in this evolution.

Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24 Head of School

Andover magazine reinforces the special connection alumni have with Phillips Academy and Abbot Academy. Through thought-provoking stories, contemporary design, and inspiring profiles of alumni, students, and faculty, we aim to highlight the school’s enduring values, recognize our unique history, and celebrate the rich diversity of our community.

PUBLISHER

Tracy M. Sweet

EDITOR

Allyson Irish

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Rita Savard

DESIGNER Ken Puleo

CONTRIBUTORS

Matthew Bellico Jill Clerkin Nancy Hitchcock

CLASS NOTES Anne Marino

© 2021 Phillips Academy, Andover, MA All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Andover, the magazine of Phillips Academy, is published four times per year. It is produced by the Office of Communication at Phillips Academy, 180 Main Street, Andover, MA 01810. Main PA phone: 978-749-4000 Changes of address and death notices: 978-749-4269, alumni-records@andover.edu Phillips Academy website: www.andover.edu Andover magazine phone: 978-749-4677 Email: magazine@andover.edu Postmasters: Send address changes to Phillips Academy 180 Main Street Andover MA 01810

ISSN-0735-5718

EDITOR’S NOTE

This issue celebrates the legacy of women’s leadership at Phillips and Abbot academies and introduces Amy Falls ’82, P’19, ’21, as the first woman to lead the Board of Trustees. Working on this story brought to mind many of the women who have inspired me over the years.

My Italian nana, whose gruff voice and stern manner often caught me off guard, taught me the value of independence. I still keep with me her charm bracelet with the “Serenity Prayer” imprinted on it. A former colleague at Simmons College taught me how to confidently share my perspectives, even if they were radically different from others’. She did so with grace and encouragement, often suggesting, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” And I’ve long been fond of Eleanor Roosevelt, whose quote “You must do the thing you think you cannot do” has felt particularly relevant this past year, when it seemed that every day has brought a new challenge.

These and other inspiring messages continue to uplift me, personally and professionally. And I have many of you to thank for that. In this second issue of the redesigned Andover magazine, we have collected four pages (“Voices” pages 4-7) of feedback ranging from appreciation of our new typography to comments on women leaders to critiques of feature stories.

Thank you for your continued engagement with the magazine, and with the Academy. We look forward to sharing more stories and more Andover inspiration in the future.

Best,

Allyson Irish Editor airish@andover.edu magazine@andover.edu @andovermagazine

“January 6 may be an inflection point, perhaps a renewal of American democracy or a signal of its accelerating decline.”

CHRIS JONES

PAGE 36

“What interests me is finding a solution to hunger that addresses the root causes instead of a band-aid solution.”

INES DURANT ’21

PAGE 12

JESSIE WALLNER

SPRING 2021

Volume 114, Number 2

ALL SCHOOL

10 Buzz 11 Off the Wall 13 The World Comes to Andover 15 Bookshelf

16 104

DEPARTMENTS

1 Head of School 4 Voices 16 Faculty Profile 30 Alumni Up Close 34 Philanthropy 36 At Issue 104 End Note

JENNIFER K. PIERCE

FEATURES 18

Wander & Wonder

Bob Muldoon ’77 takes us off the beaten path to find a treasure trove of inspiration scattered around campus.

20

Legacy of Leadership

Andover’s first woman Board of Trustees President, Amy C. Falls ’82, P’19, ’21, takes on this historic role and celebrates those who helped pave the way.

33

CLASS NOTES

37 Class Notes 95 Alumni Bulletin Board 96 Photo Gallery 98 In Memoriam