Tom Hutton ‘73 to Retire After Ten Years of Service
Trustees President Tom Hutton ‘73, who has served the Academy for the past ten years, will retire at the end of the academic year. Trustee Nicie Johnson Panetta ‘84, will assume the presidency in May 2015, said Principal Tom Hassan.
Hutton was elected president of the trustees during the world economic crisis of 2008-2009, and provided strong leadership for the Academy through an especially difficult time in which they were forced to make substantial budget cuts, Hassan said.
"Mr. Hutton has been the ultimate Harkness instructor for us all—leading trustees through careful conversations and making sure that every voice is heard. He has put in countless hours on behalf of Exeter with pride and enthusiasm—and he has been there, day and night, whenever he was needed...We will all miss his endless devotion, deep dedication and his outstanding leadership," Hassan said.
Trustee William Rawson said Hutton could bring others together.
"Tom first and foremost has been a great listener. He makes the most of the talent around him—a critical quality in any effective leader—and has a wonderful way of getting things done without appearing to do everything himself."
Hutton said serving as a PEA trustee has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of his career.
"It has been a true pleasure to spend 10 years engaging with the Academy, the administration, the faculty, the students, the various alumni groups around the world and last but certainly not least, my wonderful colleagues," he said.
Hutton plans to remain dedicated to PEA after his retirement, continuing his annual Exeter/Andover football party in Palo Alto, California, where he lives, and helping PEA reach fundraising goals for a new Performing Arts Center.
"I expect to continue this type of volunteer activity forever," Hutton said.
The 19-member Board of Trustees, is volunteer-based and plays a crucial role deciding major decisions at the Academy. Members meet each term to discuss school issues and finances. The trustee body always consists of legal, medical and financial experts, enabling a range of professional voices to weigh in on the decision-making process. Furthermore, they strive for a balanced mix of nationalities, backgrounds, ethnicities and gender.
"We plan ahead, to make sure that our mix of skills, backgrounds and diversity will be in balance in future periods," Hutton said.
William Jordan, head of the history department, hopes that the new head of the trustees will continue Hutton’s legacy of thoughtful and inclusive leadership.
"In the past, they have seemed to value input from other stakeholders in the community, especially the faculty, and I hope the person who takes Mr. Hutton’s place is also committed to that sort of democratic decision-making process," Jordan said.
The committee on trustees will be drawn from a well-known group of candidates who have been identified years in advance of Hutton’s retirement. Having a predetermined list of candidates eases the selection process, allowing the committee to focus on selecting individuals with the specific skills and qualities desired at the time rather than starting from scratch in the search for potential candidates.