Leading With Purpose

Nurture a learning environment defined by creativity, deep inquiry, and wellbeing.

Our distinctive experiential education gives our students opportunities to deepen their knowledge and gain a global perspective. Intellectual inquiry across disciplines and creativity throughout the curriculum do more than benefit our students: they reinforce our role as a global thought leader in girls’ education. Transformational residential and student life programs are equally pivotal to meaningful learning. We are committed to creating deliberate and carefully crafted programs that will foster a student life culture that values differences, encourages dialogue, and fosters respect.

We will: 

• CREATE a state-of-the-art performance and gathering space that amplifies the arts to promote creativity and benefit all disciplines. 
• DELIVER a unique Advanced Studies program to allow students more freedom to discover their strengths and the opportunity to go further in pursuit of their passions.
• ESTABLISH a partnership with a research university to expand our expertise as a thought leader on developing wellbeing and resilience in adolescent girls. 
• BROADEN experiential learning opportunities for students, locally and globally. 
• TRANSFORM our student life program, prioritizing resilience, wellbeing, and a sense of belonging for all students.

Cultivate faculty excellence and curricular innovation.

Building on our historical strengths, creative, inspiring, and unmatched teaching continues to distinguish the Emma Willard experience. Our faculty expose students to a curriculum that cultivates intellectual curiosity, helping them understand the complexities of diverse viewpoints. In creating a teaching and learning environment that examines biases and challenges systems, we ensure that our community upholds its ideals of academic excellence, equity, and inclusion. We are also committed to providing our faculty with access to exceptional professional development and the dedicated time to cultivate their disciplinary expertise. Increased compensation and better housing will further affirm our faculty’s incomparable professionalism and dedication.

We will:

• ESTABLISH a Center for Teaching and Learning that ignites innovation and creativity in pedagogy and curriculum.
• ENCOURAGE faculty to develop deeper expertise in their fields through partnerships with institutions of higher education.
• DEVELOP an exceptional employee experience that starts with recruitment and extends through the arc of each teacher’s journey at Emma Willard.
• BROADEN and diversify candidate pools for all positions and provide support and mentorship for all employees. 
• CULTIVATE an inclusive community in which all feel welcomed and valued.
• RENOVATE and expand existing faculty housing to better support our living and learning community.

Value and affirm each person in a community that reflects the world.

The power of being known and recognized—cultivating connections with others from across the country and around the world—stays with Emma Willard graduates throughout their lives. We know tomorrow’s global, ethical citizens hone their skills most effectively in a profoundly diverse community. As we prepare students to thrive in a complex world, we will encourage dialogue across differences and deep curiosity about others; this fuels learning and empathy, and creates a sense of belonging. We must also actively cultivate anti-racist practices to build an equitable and inclusive environment. By examining our established systems and leveraging financial aid, we can ensure all students benefit from the full Emma Willard experience.

We will:

• CREATE a department of Institutional Equity and Inclusion to intentionally foster change by examining our status quo to advance our vision of purposeful, informed action.
• CULTIVATE the promise and possibility of a profoundly diverse community by dedicating financial resources to enhance our campus and provide students access to equitable opportunity. 
• GROW our resources for financial aid, increase the number of full scholarships, and expand the areas where we actively recruit.

Deepen and expand our local, national, and global networks.

Alumnae, parents, and friends of Emma Willard School are a precious resource, with a shared sense of purpose and commitment to uphold the mission and values of the school. Our community’s strength lies in the relationships we develop, providing global perspectives and the awareness necessary to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world. Our own connections with each other lift our lives in immeasurable ways. Enhancing these relationships will keep our school vibrant, relevant, and distinctive.

By communicating and amplifying the unique attributes of our programs, we can expand our reach in attracting future generations of students who will benefit from an Emma Willard education.

We will:

• BOLSTER our position in the marketplace by articulating who we are with authenticity and clarity, with help from expert partners in market research and communications.
• STRENGTHEN the alumnae experience through cross-generational, multicultural, and purposeful connections and opportunities to participate, volunteer, and engage with current students and each other.
• INCREASE a sense of community for parents by working in partnership to enhance the living and learning experience of students.

Build a physically, financially, and environmentally sustainable future.

Our magnificent and iconic campus is an asset that distinguishes our school from all others. We must care for our beloved campus in ways that ensure its brilliance and grandeur, preserve its historic distinction, and support our entire program and community.

Imagine the aspirational goals Emma Willard School could achieve with plentiful, well-managed resources. As careful stewards and inspired educators, we already achieve great things with the resources we have today. Identifying new sources and levels of funding will strengthen our capacity to dream big, deepen our impact, and draw wider audiences into our mission. A comprehensive campaign will be essential to providing the means to fulfill this strategic vision and secure the future of Emma Willard School for generations to come.

As a distinctive leader in girls’ education, we are also responsible for being the positive change we want to see in the world. This requires us to deepen our commitment to sustainability and environmentally conscious practices.

We will:

• DOUBLE the endowment.
• GROW the Emma Fund through expanded engagement with alumnae and parents..
• EVALUATE our current tuition model to ensure access, sustainability, and mission alignment.
• CREATE a more diverse set of revenue streams to amplify the impact of our mission.
• ESTABLISH a comprehensive facilities plan that preserves our historic campus and supports program goals, while ensuring that all buildings remain structurally and mechanically sound, and that campus safety is paramount.
• GUIDE and measure environmental sustainability efforts, while incorporating this critical global issue throughout the curriculum.