Carol Cahalane

 Interim Dean of Residential Life Carol Cahalane is a familiar face to many at Exeter. Whether she is leading health class, facilitating proctor trainings or advising Exeter’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Cahalane has dedicated the past 27 years to improving the student experience on campus. Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Cahalane grew up in a family of eight children. “That sense of community living and everyone working together toward a goal was a large aspect of my upbringing,” she said. “It’s not a coincidence that I ended up working in a boarding school after growing up in a busy household full of children.” Cahalane graduated with a degree in health education from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She served as the resident director of an undergraduate dormitory at the University before receiving a job offer from Exeter.After earning a Master’s Degree of Education, Cahalane joined PEA’s Health and Human Development team in 1990. She became a prominent voice in the health department, helping develop the curriculum. After only a year of piloting the “Teen Health Matters” program with the preps, Exeter sought a qualified individual to help develop the health course. “There were ideas, but they weren’t fully fleshed out. I thought working at Exeter would be an exciting opportunity,” Cahalane said.  Cahalane has instructed numerous health courses throughout her tenure, including the required “Teen Health Matters” sequence for lowerclassmen. She has also taught senior electives focusing on specific topics, such as sexuality and euphoria. She views health as a critical subject that all people should understand. “Students learn about how they structure their lives and how to find our best selves,” she said. “It’s important to develop good habits of thought and self-care. Health helps us decide how to best live with one another, and recognize the implications of our individual actions and the ripple effects that they have for those around us.” Students appreciate Cahalane’s insight into how to work hard while taking precautions for self-care. “Ms. Cahalane’s class was a great combination of educational and relaxing,” upper Chaitanya Vankireddy said. Having taken “Teen Health Matters” with Cahalane as a new lower last year, Vankireddy enjoyed being able to both learn and take a breath from the stresses of Exeter in her health class.  Though the Exeter health curriculum has significantly changed since Cahalane first arrived, the department continues to evolve. “If something happens on campus or in the wider world that we think had implications or needs to be discussed, we’ll change [the curriculum],” Cahalane said. “If we discover something, we’ll test it out in a couple of classes and see what we think. So we’re always changing.” Cahalane currently serves as Interim Dean of Residential Life and is “responsible for overseeing the overall experience for our boarders and day students.” More specifically, Cahalane focuses on student and advisor relationships, proctor training, dorm life, and disciplinary cases. Prior to assuming this her role as a dean, Cahalane advised student council, H4, Exeter’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance and Irish dance club. She described herself as an “Irish dance fanatic” and has been involved in the activity for years. “I danced competitively and up until this past year, was teaching a class regularly here in town,” she said. “All my daughters compete as well. There are things that drive me crazy about Irish dance, but I still love it.” Cahalane’s other hobbies include reading, meditation, baking and spending time with her family. “There’s nothing I like to do more than just sitting around and talking with people to just hear them reflect on their lives and current day issues,” she said. Cahalane has worked in Bancroft and Lamont Hall and Gould, Kirtland and Moulton houses. “My warmest memories have to do with the dorm, where you see students’ humanity on display,” she said. “You see students reaching out and supporting each other in ways that isn’t typical in life but I think happens all the time.” Bancroft faculty member Cameron Brickhouse praised Cahalane’s vibrant personality. “[Cahalane] has a wicked sense of humor that I really enjoy,” Brickhouse said. “I admire how accessible she is to her advisees and her dedication to their well-being emotionally and physically.”Brickhouse also appreciates Cahalane’s work as Dean of Residential Life. “She is quite invested in accountability and making sure that respect is present between faculty and students,” she said. After spending over two decades at Exeter, Cahalane remains attracted to Exeter because of what she learns from those around her.  “This is a community of learners, adult and students alike, and this is a community of educators, again both students and adults alike,” she said. Cahalane has spent the majority of her educational career at Exeter but continues to recognize unique aspects of Exeter. “We are above the curve in accepting all types of people, and I think we are far less cliquey than I’ve observed at other schools,” she said. “ I don’t think we’re perfect, but I think that’s one strength we can build upon.” Upper Jill Cloonan, who has been in Cahalane’s advisory since her prep year, commended Cahalane’s kindness and empathetic personality. “She will go above and beyond for her advisees and truly cares about students’ well being,” she said. “Ms. Cahalane is a lovely person and I am very grateful to have her in my life and in my Exeter experience.”