Kristyn Van Ostern ‘96 Sworn In As President of The Board of Trustees

By LILY RAMPE, MARVIN SHIM, and JANIBEK SUBKHANBERDIN

In July 2024, Kristyn Van Ostern ‘96 was sworn into her four-year tenure as President of the Academy’s Board of Trustees. Van Ostern was chosen for this position through a vote conducted by the Trustees in Oct. 2023. Before taking on this role, Van Ostern joined the Trustees in 2017 and has served as the Chair of the Budget and Finance (B+F) Committee since 2019. 

Courtesy of Van Ostern

Previously, Van Ostern described her time at Exeter as “transformative.” She arrived as a prep and a day student in 1992. Heavily involved, Van Ostern was a student head of Exeter Social Service Organization (ESSO), participated on the ski team, played the flute, and went to Washington D.C. for Exeter’s Washington Intern Program. 

Van Ostern feels that the Exeter values of Knowledge and Goodness resonate with her the most. “The value that resonates most for me is our mission to unite goodness and knowledge. This belief—that students can excel academically while leading purposeful lives of service—has always been at the heart of Exeter and is deeply personal to me. As a former financial aid student, Exeter transformed my life, giving me the tools to make a meaningful impact in my community. It’s this combination of goodness and knowledge that will prepare our students to thrive as they face the challenges and opportunities of the future.” 

Van Ostern also expressed her connection to the Academy’s value of inclusivity: “As President of the Trustees, my goal is to ensure Exeter’s financial sustainability while upholding our mission to serve youth from every quarter.”

Since Van Ostern’s time at Exeter, the Academy has undergone significant changes, and she specifically noted the increase in the use of technology on campus. Van Ostern explained that a focal point as she assumes her new position will be to carefully juggle the incorporation of technological advancements, among other developments in education, with the spirit and values of Exeter. 

“Technological changes have the potential to further enhance the learning experience at Exeter, but it needs to complement our Harkness pedagogy, which thrives on face-to-face interaction and collaborative discussion,” said Van Ostern.

“While advancements are reshaping education,” she continued, “they should serve as tools for innovation without replacing human connections. We should also explore how technology can scale Exeter’s impact beyond our campus, sharing our values and practices more broadly while preserving the personal engagement that makes Exeter distinctive.” 

Van Ostern’s experience on the Budget and Finance Committee has also informed her new role as President of the Trustees. “My experience as Chair of the Budget and Finance (B+F) Committee gave me an understanding of how essential long-term financial strategy is to ensuring our mission,” she said. “I learned the importance of balancing immediate needs (for example cost challenges during COVID) with long-term financial resilience. As President of the Trustees, I’ll continue to apply this strategy.” 

Principal Bill Rawson believes that Van Ostern will be an excellent President of the Trustees and support Exeter’s success and growth: “We have an outstanding group of trustees – very diverse in background, experience, talent, and identity.  Much of the trustee business is done in committees led by these trustees.  Ms. Van Ostern will set priorities for the board and provide overall leadership, including working closely with committee chairs and the principal to ensure progress against key goals.”

“One key goal this year will be to engage in long-range financial planning to ensure the financial strength of the school is preserved regardless of economic conditions,” he said. “This will enable the school to keep programs strong, tuition as affordable as possible, and compensation for faculty and staff highly competitive.”

The administration is also planning various large-scale renovations. “The renovation of the Academy Building will begin next summer,” he said. “Planning and preparing for that project begins now and will be a very important effort this year. We also will complete the renovation of the former Davis Library this spring, clearing the way for the Classics Department to move into that building next summer. That is a critical step that needs to occur before we start the renovation of the Academy Building.”

Van Ostern concluded that she would lead with a determined focus on the future. “As Principal Bill Rawson often says, ‘Exeter has never stayed strong by staying the same.’ This spirit of growth and adaptation has shaped us for nearly 250 years,” she said. “I encourage everyone—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents—to remember that the work we do here not only strengthens our community today but also defines our lasting impact as alumni. As Exeter’s 250th anniversary approaches, I am filled with gratitude for our journey and optimism for the future ahead.”