Alumni Return to Campus For PEA Leadership Weekend

Alumni, parent volunteers and Academy staff gathered on campus for Exeter Leadership Weekend (ELW) this past weekend to participate in a series of conversations surrounding the current state of the school and how the community can best support it. In attendance were current class officers, members of the General Alumni Association (GAA), admissions representatives, regional association and reunion volunteers and Parent Committee members, as well as members of the classes interested in planning their 5 or 10 year 2017 reunions.

This year, the GAA directors held their annual meeting on the Thursday before the weekend of events began. Attendees were kept busy with a full schedule of meetings, talks and tours on Friday and Saturday. They had the opportunity to sit in on classes during Friday morning before taking a tour of the class of 1959 Music Center addition. That afternoon, alumni and parents heard from Chief of Planning and Facilities Roger Wakeman, who presented the plans and drawings for the south side of campus. Later, both a cocktail reception and an Alumni Leadership reception with the class of 2017 were held for the alumni, while parents of students were given the option to attend a parent committee reception. Alumni also attended the Alumni Leadership Dinner with the Class of 2017, where they joined the current seniors for dinner and conversation and celebrated the presentation of the 2016 General Alumni Association President’s Awards to Pablo Barrutia ’92, Ed Mills ’51 and David Rice ’51.

“I left feeling reassured the Academy continues to have a bright future by attracting some of the most talented students across the globe and actively supporting their mental health and well being.”

On Saturday, alumni and parents further reconnected over breakfast, while admissions representatives had a breakfast meeting led by Director of Admissions Bill Leahy. That morning, all attendees gathered for the Exeter Leadership Weekend Assembly in which trustee Tony Downer ’75 presented the financial state of the Academy and Principal Lisa MacFarlane gave the principal’s update. After some final business meetings for class correspondents, fundraising and regional volunteers, the weekend concluded with a closing lunch where several Exeter students performed live music.

For Emily Stone ’03, the weekend was an opportunity to “bring alumni volunteers together, create connections, foster reunion planning and look to the year ahead for alumni relations and fundraising.” As a volunteer for her class and GAA director, she learned a lot from the weekend and enjoyed meeting the senior class. “I love being back on campus and sharing happenings and updates with my classmates and fellow alumni from the weekend,” she said. Likewise, Monique Hassel found it to be a “good opportunity to stay connected to the academy, a place I have come to call home.”

Laura Shen, who serves as vice president for the class of 2007, felt that ELW allows the current administration and trustees to update the greater alumni network on recent initiatives, investments and vision for the Academy. It also serves as a forum to raise issues and ensure that alumni are connected to the school and its evolution. “Exeter is a special place and they [administration and trustees] do a great job of ensuring that alumni remain active as members of the community, through regional events, fundraising, alumni interviewing and reunion planning,” Shen said. Describing ELW as a way to “gain a pulse on the Academy,” she expressed amazement at how much Exeter has evolved in terms of the new opportunities in travel, courses and facilities available to current students.

Similarly, president of the class of 1957 Charles Nunez, who has been a class agent for over 40 years, felt that ELW allows him to learn more about the school and meet new staff and teachers. His connection to Exeter runs deep; he has four children who attended and two grandchildren currently enrolled. “My wife was a townie I met while here,” he added. According to Nunez, ELW is like “an annual booster shot.” “My booster shot gives me some immunity from stupidity for another year,” he said.

According to Hassel, the event made it possible to “connect the past with the present and the future,” and to “meet current students and understand the financial and cultural health of the Academy.” She particularly enjoyed eating dinner with the Class of 2017, which was cancelled when she was a senior due to an outbreak of swine flu. Stone listed the senior alumni dinner as a highlight and described the seniors as “an impressive group.” While here, Stone also “got lucky” to have coffee with her “very favorite [English instructor] Ralph Sneeden.” She came away with “a reinforced commitment to serving and volunteering for Exeter in the coming year as well as a wonderful weekend at home with classmates and friends.”

Stone also attended the GAA Director meetings with Principal MacFarlane and Nicie Panetta, the Chair of the Board, and emphasized that both are “extraordinary leaders.” She continued, saying “we are all grateful and fortunate to have them steering our ship and are excited for the future.”

For Ragini Luthra, the weekend was a “way to remind everyone of the community that is built here and the importance of continued alumni and parent support in accomplishing that.” Luthra serves as class correspondent for the Class of 2012 and is therefore in regular contact with her classmates, many of whom “have expressed huge disappointment and anger about the way Exeter has handled sexual assault cases.” According to Luthra, it was “hard to hear the distrust towards and feeling of distancing from a place that was our home for four years,” and she attended ELW to better understand how she could be a part of the solution to the challenges Exeter is facing. Echoing Stone’s sentiment, Luthra found it “reassuring to see firsthand that Principal MacFarlane appears to be a very nurturing and thoughtful person.” However, Luthra believed that there there is much action that needs to be taken “to give value to her comforting words.” She further explained, “while I think that she conveyed an understanding of this, I wish more concrete steps had been outlined.”

For members of the parent committee, ELW provided insight into their children’s school community. Through ELW, Susanna Krivulis “learned so much more about Exeter as an institution and made many new friendships with parents of current students and alumni alike.” Noting that there was “a great sense of unity and community,” she said, “I cannot wait to be back on campus for its energy and sparkle.” Aradhna Gupta Dayal was equally inspired by her weekend on campus, saying “I met some great folks and made some of my best friends through the Parent Committee and it feels like one big close knit family.” She added, “Perhaps that is why my suggestion of starting the lunches with Martinis and extending it to dinner was rather well received.”

For many, simply being back on campus was what made the weekend so special. Luthra said, “It’s always nice to just walk around campus and see familiar faces of teachers and former classmates and be reminded of the wonderful place Exeter was for me and has the potential to be for everyone.” After taking part in many productive conversations and spending time with the leaders who help Exeter advance its strategic goals, most attendees felt ELW was a success.

“I left feeling reassured the Academy continues to have a bright future by attracting some of the most talented students across the globe and actively supporting their mental health and well being,” Hassel said.