Emma Willard School Appoints Rachel Connell Director of Advancement

TROY, NY (05/11/2011)(readMedia)-- The Emma Willard School (Emma), one of the nation's leading college preparatory boarding and day schools for young women, has appointed Rachel Connell Director of Advancement after a national search.

Connell joins Emma with more than 14 years of advancement leadership experience in education. Most recently Connell served as Regional Director of Major Gifts at Phillips Exeter Academy where she implemented successful fundraising strategies that secured major monetary commitments to the school as part of its $352 Million comprehensive campaign.

"Rachel has exactly the kind of energy and vision to lead our advancement efforts into a new era," said Trudy Hall, Head of School. "She will help us mobilize Emma's highly loyal alumnae and donors in celebration of our recently completed $75 million capital campaign and point us toward the school's Bicentennial in 2014."

Connell has been a senior analyst with EDUVENTURES, a Boston-based consulting company that partners with more than 300 colleges and universities worldwide to help them increase operational efficiencies, find new revenue streams and develop new degree programs. In addition, she has been Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at Landmark College in Putney, VT a unique school for students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD.

As Associate Director of Development at World Learning in Brattleboro, VT, she and her team created the Fulbright International Experiment program, a leadership/community service/homestay experience for U.S. High School students. Rachel earned World Learning's professional development award for her accomplishments.

"I am thrilled to join Emma Willard at such an exciting time in its history," said Connell. "As a product of single-sex education I consider myself fortunate to be able to represent one of the pioneers in the field."

A graduate of the Olin School of Business at Babson College with a bachelor of arts from Wellesley, Connell is a Trustee of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, serves as treasurer of the New Hampshire Wellesley Club and is a member of the supervisory committee of the Seacoast Credit Union

About Emma Willard School

Emma Willard School has been empowering girls since 1814. Pioneering educator Emma Hart Willard envisioned a world where girls had the same opportunities as boys and where girls could receive unparalleled educational leadership. Emma Willard School will celebrate its Bicentennial in 2014.

In keeping with the tradition of educating and empowering girls, Emma Willard School is the founding sponsor of Audacia - The Global Forum for Girls' Education, co-chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah. On September 26–28, 2011, global philanthropists, education and human development experts, along with country, business and religious leaders, will gather in New York City to find solutions to the violence, poverty, and cultural beliefs that prevent more than 90 million girls from going to school. Emma Willard and Audacia's shared goal is: "Education for every girl, everywhere."