Head of School
![Flame Ceremony]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1748452817/emmawillardorg/udbwvr18egngs99uujrd/FlameCeremony_2025_10.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1748452817/emmawillardorg/udbwvr18egngs99uujrd/FlameCeremony_2025_10.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1748452817/emmawillardorg/udbwvr18egngs99uujrd/FlameCeremony_2025_10.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1748452817/emmawillardorg/udbwvr18egngs99uujrd/FlameCeremony_2025_10.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1748452817/emmawillardorg/udbwvr18egngs99uujrd/FlameCeremony_2025_10.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1748452817/emmawillardorg/udbwvr18egngs99uujrd/FlameCeremony_2025_10.png","width":2200}])
Head of School Elect Dr. Karen Lassey joined the community for Flame Ceremony where she received the flame of leadership from Head of School Jenny Rao. This annual tradition celebrates the passing down of knowledge and experience as student leaders hand off their responsibilities. For more photos, read more below.
![Dr. Karen C. Lassey Named 18th Head of Emma Willard School]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733168381/emmawillardorg/rxioggk9ycssuj9qmap1/KL-horizontal_crop1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1733168381/emmawillardorg/rxioggk9ycssuj9qmap1/KL-horizontal_crop1.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1733168381/emmawillardorg/rxioggk9ycssuj9qmap1/KL-horizontal_crop1.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1733168381/emmawillardorg/rxioggk9ycssuj9qmap1/KL-horizontal_crop1.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1733168381/emmawillardorg/rxioggk9ycssuj9qmap1/KL-horizontal_crop1.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1733168381/emmawillardorg/rxioggk9ycssuj9qmap1/KL-horizontal_crop1.png","width":2200}])
Emma Willard School is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Karen C. Lassey as our eighteenth head of school. After a rigorous national search and enthusiastic approval by the Head of School Search Committee and the Board of Trustees, board chair Megan Toohey Scremin ’00 shared the selection with the Emma Willard community today. Dr. Lassey will officially join us on Mount Ida on July 1, 2025.
Head of School Dr. Karen C. Lassey
Join us in celebrating the
Installation of
Emma Willard School’s
18th Head of School
Dr. Karen C. Lassey
Thursday, October 16, 2025
1:30–3:15 p.m. Academic Panel Discussions
4:00 p.m. Installation Ceremony
6:00 p.m. Dinner followed by a musical performance
Watch for more information coming soon!
Emma Willard School welcomes 18th Head of School Dr. Karen Lassey on July 1, 2025. Karen is excited to begin getting to know you and would like to help you get to know her as well. Please take a moment to watch the following video for some of Karen’s thoughts on Emma Willard as she prepared to join us.
![Jenny, Lisa, Susie, Megan, and Renata on stage with a portrait]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1745952137/emmawillardorg/nrb6lwpwrhehjoadltmd/ADWPAC_Thurs_Selects_Edits_57.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1745952137/emmawillardorg/nrb6lwpwrhehjoadltmd/ADWPAC_Thurs_Selects_Edits_57.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1745952137/emmawillardorg/nrb6lwpwrhehjoadltmd/ADWPAC_Thurs_Selects_Edits_57.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1745952137/emmawillardorg/nrb6lwpwrhehjoadltmd/ADWPAC_Thurs_Selects_Edits_57.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1745952137/emmawillardorg/nrb6lwpwrhehjoadltmd/ADWPAC_Thurs_Selects_Edits_57.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1745952137/emmawillardorg/nrb6lwpwrhehjoadltmd/ADWPAC_Thurs_Selects_Edits_57.png","width":2200}])
![Head of School Jenny Rao]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1716474072/emmawillardorg/ikrp1acnzoazgdb2xwx5/EmmaWillard58-crop.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1716474072/emmawillardorg/ikrp1acnzoazgdb2xwx5/EmmaWillard58-crop.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1716474072/emmawillardorg/ikrp1acnzoazgdb2xwx5/EmmaWillard58-crop.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1716474072/emmawillardorg/ikrp1acnzoazgdb2xwx5/EmmaWillard58-crop.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1716474072/emmawillardorg/ikrp1acnzoazgdb2xwx5/EmmaWillard58-crop.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1716474072/emmawillardorg/ikrp1acnzoazgdb2xwx5/EmmaWillard58-crop.jpg","width":2200}])