Year in Review, Winter: PEA Welcomes New Principal

Vice President of the Trustees Eunice Panetta ‘84 announced current University of New Hampshire Provost Lisa MacFarlane as Exeter’s 15th principal during assembly on Jan. 30. The Principal Search Committee, formed in July after Hassan’s announcement to retire, worked diligently to find the most qualified new principal. While working with the search firm Spencer Stewart, considering opinions from faculty, staff, parents, alumni and students and keeping the values and needs of the school in mind, the committee narrowed the candidate pool down to two finalists. The finalists were interviewed in person to assess the potential in their qualities. After deliberation between the trustees, MacFarlane was chosen to take on the job. MacFarlane, an Andover graduate, previously worked as an English teaching intern at Exeter and both of her daughters graduated from Exeter.

MacFarlane will assume her position as principal in the fall of the 2015-2016 school year. During the winter term, MacFarlane visited campus to meet the members of the Academy community. Although the transition from Hassan to MacFarlane will come with some challenges, the search committee believes MacFarlane’s impressive qualifications and previous experiences will aid her in successfully leading the school.