Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy

Principal Search

A message from the Principal Search Committee Chair

Dear Exeter Community,

Following Principal Rawson’s announcement of his intention to retire in June 2026, I write to share information about the process we will follow to appoint the 17th Principal of Phillips Exeter Academy. This is an important opportunity for the Academy to reflect on its mission and consider how we continue to evolve to deliver on our mission in years ahead, beginning with the selection of Exeter’s next principal.

While the Trustees have the ultimate responsibility for making this decision, we have formed a Principal Search Committee charged with identifying a group of outstanding candidates and making a recommendation of a preferred candidate to the Trustees. We hope to complete this process and introduce the next principal of Phillips Exeter Academy before Thanksgiving.

I am pleased to announce that the following individuals have agreed to serve on the committee:

  • Richard Aaronian ’76, ’78, ’97 (Hon.); P’94, P’97, emeritus science instructor
  • Jason Baseden, director of athletics and physical education
  • Suzi Kwon Cohen ’88, trustee vice president
  • Barbara Desmond P’26, instructor in English and department chair
  • Meg Foley, P’26, instructor in history and incoming dean of faculty
  • Paulina Jerez ’91, P’21, trustee
  • Genisha Saverimuthu ’02, trustee
  • Michael Schmidtberger ’78, trustee
  • Leroy Sims, M.D. ’97, trustee
  • Janney Wilson ’83, trustee (chair)

More information about the members of the Principal Search Committee and the Trustees’ Charge to the Search Committee can be found on a webpage we have created to update our community as the search progresses.

The Principal Search Committee will begin its work immediately. To assist us, we have engaged the global executive search firm, Perrett Laver. We will be working with Lucy Hayes who established their Schools’ Practice in 2011 and has led searches for heads of private schools around the world. Recently Lucy completed the successful search that brought us our new Dean of Students, Ashley Taylor.

A critical first phase of our process involves gathering input from across our community. We want to hear from all the Exeter constituencies including faculty, staff, alumni, students, parents and others. To facilitate this, Lucy Hayes will be spending several days on campus in late February, and we will also be inviting all of you to participate in a survey about the future of Exeter and what we seek in our next leader. Details on these opportunities to provide input will be forthcoming next week.

At any time, we welcome your ideas, candidate suggestions, and questions through a confidential email address: exeter@perrettlaver.com.

In order to attract the best possible candidates, our search will be confidential, and candidates’ names will not be made public. At the same time, the search committee will aim to be as transparent as possible about our progress and key milestones, providing updates to our community as appropriate.

As we launch this search, Exeter stands in an excellent position. We are grateful for the Exeter that is today, and we are excited to imagine the Exeter of the future. Over the next five years, we look forward to celebrating the Academy’s 250thanniversary, and together we have the opportunity to shape Exeter for generations to come. Thank you in advance for your support and for your engagement with this important work ahead.

Janney Wilson ‘83
Trustee
Principal Search Committee Chair

Principal Search Committee

Richard Aaronian ’76, ’78, ’97 (Hon.); P’94, P’97
Faculty Emeritus, Science

Richard Aaronian retired in 2020 after 49 years as a biology teacher in the Science Department where he also introduced marine biology and ornithology. He also chaired the department during the early planning of the construction of the Phelps Science Center. Recipient of the Founders’ Day Award in 2023, Aaronian served as dorm head in Amen and Bancroft halls and Williams House, and coached JV hockey and baseball. He has co-led student and alumni trips to the Peruvian Amazon, Costa Rica and Galapagos Islands. In retirement, he volunteers at a local food pantry and with a refugee resettlement group and enjoys leading early morning birding trips for PEA reunions.

Jason Baseden
Director of Athletics and Physical Education 

Jason Baseden is in his fifth year as the director of athletics and physical education at Phillips Exeter Academy. He is a member of the principal’s leadership team and the Curriculum Committee. Baseden previously served as the director of athletics and physical education at The Peddie School for five years and before that as the director of athletics at the International School of Brussels. He served on the board member for Hoops for Hope and on the International Association of Athletic Administrators and Coaches. Originally from Oregon, he resides on campus with his wife and two children.

Suzi Kwon Cohen ’88
Vice President of the Trustees 

Suzi Kwon Cohen is the chief investment officer for Mousse Partners, the investment division of Mousse Investments Limited, which is responsible for investing proceeds distributed by Chanel Limited. In addition to serving as a Phillips Exeter Academy trustee since 2017, she is a member of the school’s Investment Committee. Cohen is also a member of the Advisory Council on Economics for Brown University and a former trustee of the Stanford Business School Trust and the Collegiate School. She resides in New York City with her husband and their two sons.

Barbara Desmond P’26
Instructor in English and Department Chair 

Barbara Desmond is chair of the English department and Cowles Professor of Humanities.  She came to Exeter as an Instructor in English in 2005. She and her husband, Instructor in Classics Nick Unger, ’90, have lived in Abbot Hall and Wheelwright Hall, where she was dorm head for four years. Before coming to Exeter, she taught English and chaired the department at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Massachusetts.

Meg Foley P’26
Instructor in History and incoming Dean of Faculty

Meg Foley arrived at Exeter in 1999 as an instructor in history and since then has taught a variety of courses in history and economics. She has previously served as History Department chair. Foley was resident faculty in Bancroft and Cilley halls for 14 years, and served as Cilley Hall dorm head. Currently she is the co-director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and she lives on campus, serving as faculty affiliate in Bancroft Hall.

Paulina Jerez ’91, P’21
Trustee 

Paulina Jerez is an attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and has worked for the federal government for over 25 years. In addition to serving as a trustee for Phillips Exeter Academy since 2021, she serves on the board of Natural Lands. She currently resides outside of Philadelphia with her husband and two sons.

Genisha Saverimuthu ’02
Trustee 

Genisha Saverimuthu currently leads Product Strategy and Operations at Google, with a focus on growing core user products (Search, Maps, Gemini, Payments) in international markets including India and Japan. Previously, Saverimuthu was a leader in McKinsey & Company’s Media and Technology Practice, held executive roles at BuzzFeed and The Washington Post, and was the co-founder of a nonprofit providing technology access and education to children in Sri Lanka. While at Exeter, she was a four-year resident of Merrill Hall and participated in Concert Choir and the study abroad program in Cuernavaca, Mexico. She has a B.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.

Michael Schmidtberger ’78
Trustee 

Michael J. Schmidtberger is the chair of the executive committee of the global law firm Sidley Austin LLP. He has been with the firm since 1990 and served in various leadership positions, including as co-leader of the investment funds practice and managing partner of the New York office. From 2012 – 2023, Schmidtberger served as a member of the board of directors of the United Way of New York City, co-chairing that board for seven years. He currently is chair of the Columbia College Board of Visitors, is a member of the Partnership for New York City and a trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission. Mike, his wife, and two daughters, live in New York City.

Leroy Sims, M. D. ’97
Trustee

Dr. Leroy Sims ’97 is the director of player performance and health for the Los Angeles Lakers. He previously served as senior vice president, head of medical operations for the NBA. He has represented Team USA Track and Field and Team USA Basketball as a team physician at the last three summer Olympic Games. In addition to serving as a Phillips Exeter Academy Trustee, Dr. Sims serves on the board of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Foundation and previously served on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Janney Wilson ’83 (Chair)
Trustee

Janney Wilson ’83 formerly served as executive dean at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government where she oversaw all financial and operational aspects of the school, as well as its Executive Education programs. Prior to her work at Harvard, Janney spent over twenty years in leadership positions in the private sector, including senior executive roles at Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. She is in her seventh year as an Exeter trustee and previously served as president of the General Alumni Association. Janney has two adult children and lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with her husband.