Dean Salcedo to Leave Exeter, Take Job at Cambridge School
Dean of Multicultural Affairs Rosanna Salcedo will be leaving Phillips Exeter Academy after an impressive tenure of promoting social justice in education.
Originally, Salcedo came to Exeter because she wanted to teach in an environment “that gives students and adults every opportunity to stretch themselves intellectually, and be challenged.” During her time at Exeter, Salcedo has dedicated her efforts to promoting social justice among both students and the greater Exeter community. Throughout her time as Dean of Multicultural Affairs, she has worked closely with student groups to promote all-school events like Black History Month.
“I’m so glad I got to work under her because I got to see that no matter what you’re doing, you can always be compassionate. I’m going to miss having a woman of color mentor that I can look up to who has been through so much.”
Salcedo is moving on in order to accomplish what she really wants to do: advocate for social justice in education. “The older I get, the less I am willing to compromise on the things that really matter to me,” Salcedo said. Though she has done much for Exeter in this vein, she believes that she can best impact the next generation by going to the Cambridge School of Weston, where she was offered a leadership opportunity that would allow her to satisfy this purpose. “I will be walking away from the privilege that comes from being at Exeter, in lieu of another type of fulfillment—a form of self-actualization that is aligned with my ideals,” she said.
However, there is much Salcedo will miss about Exeter. She will miss the comfort that comes with living in Exeter. However, what she will miss the most are the personal connections she has made with the people in this community, as well. “Witnessing students develop as human beings, inside and outside of the classroom, and watching them create and accomplish great things.” She will also be leaving a legacy at Exeter. “She has affected the Exeter atmosphere by generally encouraging us all to be more thoughtful and to be more compassionate and kind,” said Exeter’s intern at the Office of Multicultural Affairs Michelle Irukera. “When people come into the office, they know this is a different space, this is a space for caring and empathy.” Irukera added that Salcedo brought an immense amount of compassion to her role as the Dean of Multicultural Affairs and in her interactions with the student body. “She really loves her students and she cares for them very deeply,” she said, “and you can see that in all the things she does.”
When asked how Salcedo was significant in her life, upper Charlotte Polk said, “When I think about people who would always be pushing for progress at Exeter, a lot of times, [Dean Salcedo] was the first to come to mind.” She also talked about how active she was in conversations with administration about people of color and how she was integral to Exeter’s multicultural affairs. Upper Athena Stenor agreed. “Dean Salcedo has been a constant resource for students, especially students of color,” she said. Polk noted that she felt Salcedo’s departure on a personal level, but also as a student activist. “I will miss her as a person,” she said, “but I will also miss her dedication and diligence in pushing for racial reform at Exeter.” Irukera also commented on Salcedo’s unconditionally kind attitude. “I think that she approaches her job with so much compassion,” said Irukera. “You can see that in all the things she does and all the conversations she has with her colleagues. She takes that compassion and empathy and she takes it to everything she does.”
Stenor added, saying, “She's such a generous person, and she really cares about the students here.” Stenor mentioned that Salcedo never failed to go above and beyond for her students. “If an affinity group needs an adviser, she's there. If you need money for a winter coat, or track shoes, she's there,” she said. Stenor also recalled the time when a friend of hers, distraught that she would be away from home for her 15th birthday—a major milestone in Hispanic culture—went to Salcedo for advice. Salcedo, in response, threw the student a quinceanera in one of the club rooms.
Salcedo’s unconditional compassion for those around her has affected her community as well. Polk mentioned how Salcedo had helped her with an Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) workshop Polk had facilitated. Irukera also felt a personal impact from Salcedo, who she describes as her mentor. “I’m so glad I got to work under her because I got to see that no matter what you’re doing, you can always be compassionate. I’m going to miss having a woman of color mentor that I can look up to who has been through so much,” said Irukera.