Community Welcomes New Dean of Students Ashley Taylor

Courtesy of Exeter Communications Department

By  KAROLINA KOZAK, ALLEGRA LAI,  ALEX LIM,  LEVI  STOLL and SIMON TAYLOR

    Starting from the 2024-25 academic year, Ashley Taylor has assumed Russell Weatherspoon’s position as the new Dean of Students. She brings experience from working at the Episcopal High School in Virginia, where she has served as a teacher, coach, dorm head, student adviser, member of the senior leadership team, member of the student life and student health committees and a diversity task force. It has already been a month since she has been on campus for her new role and both her and faculty members have feedback to share.

    “My earliest impression is that Exeter is a dynamic, engaging, fast moving place!” Taylor observed. “I am blown away by how the students dive into the opportunities offered here, and it seems that no two students will experience Exeter in exactly the same way.”

    Taylor has always had an appreciation for the boarding school experience, and is especially fond of the communities built at these kinds of schools. “What I love about residential schools is that we have so many opportunities to get to know many different aspects of each other,” she said. “So far, I have loved getting to know students while we wait in line together at Grill or Elm Street, sit on the sidelines together at sporting events, chat about their activities or clubs, and walk to the Assembly Hall together. These are the small moments that add up over time, and I hope they help me understand the student experience here.” Using her past experience, Taylor has been able to quickly connect with the Exeter community.

    For example, after the opening assembly, Taylor had a chance to speak with students and adults who were “eager to talk about student balance and sleep, our dress code and our approach to cell phone use on campus,” she said. Taylor was impressed thus far that “students and faculty seem to identify the same areas of school life where we might be able to challenge ourselves to be better than we currently are.”

    While acknowledging that she was still in her “listening and learning” phase at PEA, Taylor shared some goals she has for the student body: “My plan for this year is to learn as much as I can about the student experience, and to identify opportunities for us to enhance it. Exeter is a fabulous school, we all know this, but where are the opportunities for us to be even better? I will have my own ideas, but those have to be informed by the stories of the students, and the lived experience of this place. I can only answer this question once I’ve asked enough students what they hope to see happen this term and this school year!”

    Dean of Student Health and Wellness Johnny Griffith recognized Taylor’s eagerness to immerse herself in Exeter’s deans’ team, and considered her contributions to further better Exeter’s community. “She has brought to her position a curiosity about Exeter’s policies and procedures, and that has allowed her to ask insightful questions regarding why we do things the way we do, and, moving forward, that is going to help us improve our policies and protocols,” he said. “She is doing a lot of listening, but she is also quick to act and issue decisions when needed,” he continued.

    Principal Bill Rawson also described the priorities that Taylor will undertake, especially pertaining to her collaboration with different voices around campus, specifying her “working with students to craft an updated dress code; working with other school leaders on strengthening relationships between students and adults; focusing on the impact of cell phones and social media; and planning for student support and activities around the election.”

    Furthermore, the deans’ team has expressed a warm Exeter reception towards Taylor and her family. “She is a very welcome addition to the deans’ team and to the Exeter community in general.  It’s a pleasure to be working with her,” Griffith said.

    “It has been an absolute delight to have Dean Taylor join our leadership team as our Dean of Students,” Rawson added. “She has had a wealth of experience at her prior schools, as a teacher, coach and dean of students, and brings a wonderful combination of energy, confidence and warmth to our school.  To some degree, she is still in a listening and learning mode, as one would expect, but she also already is making important contributions to our school and providing strong leadership for the Dean of Students Office.”

    As we all adjust back to life on campus, Dean Taylor is very eager to get to know everyone, and encourages students to reach out to her whenever and wherever. “Please let me know what you think I need to know!” she encouraged students. “I welcome opportunities to have lunch with you, attend your event or club meeting. I am eager to get to know you and your experience and your story.”