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Trustees Return to Campus To Discuss Campus Strategic Plan

Members of the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Council experienced the whirlwind of projects and initiatives that make up the strategic plan during the Fall Trustee gathering last weekend. Nearly 250 alumni leaders participated in presentations covering each of the three missions of the strategic plan: “Equity and Inclusion,” “Empathy and Balance” and “Creativity and Innovation” between November 5 and 6.

Walking through the newly constructed Sykes Wellness Center on a tour led by Amy Patel, Medical Director, and Carol Israel, Director of Graham House Counseling Center, alumni guests and trustees said that they witnessed the transformation of the old Isham Health Center into a bright and welcoming new facility. The Wellness Center will open for use in late November.

The trustees also discussed the future of Andover’s Athletics Master Plan during a discussion led by Leon Modeste, Athletic Director, and architects from Perkins + Will. Modeste explained the four-phase mission of the plan, which includes new construction, renovation and expansion projects of the athletics facility. The fundraising effort of constructing a 96,000 square-foot field house has already begun, and the Board of Trustees will vote on whether to proceed with the plan at its spring meeting.

Trustees also discussed plans for renovation included in the Campus Master Plan.

“Topics included enlivening George Washington Hall as a more student-centered space, creating faculty residential neighborhoods, modernizing Oliver Wendell Holmes Library and Morse Hall, weaving sustainability throughout our planning and addressing safety concerns along Route 28,” according to a press release on Andover’s website.

The board is scheduled to vote on a final version of the plan at its winter meeting.

Participants of “Learning in the World” programs gave multimedia presentations for the trustees of Andover’s off-campus immersive learning opportunities, including Brazil PLACES, Niswarth and HUACA Project.

The student cast of Hairspray also welcomed the trustees with a performance of “You Can’t Stop the Beat” on Friday evening’s dinner, setting the stage for a night of celebration and appreciation. Board President Peter Currie ’74 opened the evening by commemorating former president David Underwood ’54 and Donna Brace Ogilvie ’30, founder of the Brace Center for Gender Studies, two esteemed benefactors of Andover who recently passed away. Currie also honored Dan Cunningham ’67, who recently concluded 15 years as a charter trustee. Cunningham’s work as a board member focused most notably on financial aid, according to the press release.

The evening closed with a brief award ceremony, during which Pat Farrell, Dean of Faculty, thanked the faculty recipients for their teaching and devotion to Andover.

“We know that you stand for and you represent so many great instructors and so many great role models here on this faculty,” said Head of School John Palfrey at the dinner.

Several positions were awarded during the weekend: the Donna Brace Ogilvie II Teaching Foundation to Elizabeth Aureden, Instructor in Music; the Harkness Instructorship to Nikki Cleare, Instructor in Math, Statistics and Computer Science; the Class of 1946 Teaching Foundation to Jerry Hagler, Instructor in Biology; and the Harris Family Instructorship to Thomas Kane, Instructor in English.