Welcoming Dr. Palmer
BY KEVIN FARMER ‘24
This summer, Milton welcomed its new Upper School Principal, Dr. Palmer, to campus. Dr. Palmer brings to Milton a myriad of experiences from her various backgrounds in theater, education, and independent school administration. She received her undergraduate degree in Dramatic Arts and Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara and two masters degrees from Columbia: an M.F.A. in Theater and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the Klingenstein Center for Private School Leadership. Dr. Palmer earned her Doctorate in Education and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
Last week, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Palmer about her own formative experiences and her work with diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. In high school, she participated in a number of sports including track, where she jumped hurdles; she appreciates how her experience as an athlete taught her discipline and collaboration. During her senior year, however, she was unsure about what lay ahead of her, so a teacher recommended that she try out for the fall play. Looking back, Dr. Palmer values that opportunity as not only an introduction to theater but a chance to learn from those with whom she had not spent much time. She recognizes how participating in the fall play helped her understand the role and responsibility of an individual within a greater production.
Dr. Palmer brought these lessons into professional theater, higher education, and independent schools. Dr. Palmer began her career in private education at the Madeira School, in McLean, Virginia, where she taught performing arts and quickly became the parent liaison for the Head of School, enrollment manager for diversity outreach, head dorm adult, and department chair. She then became the Director of the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Lake Forest Academy in Illinois, establishing the endowment for the arts; she also served on their residential team. Before coming to Milton, Dr. Palmer worked as the Dean of Faculty at Governor’s Academy while continuing to teach in the Theater Department and work with the residential life programs. Dr. Palmer joined the Governor’s Academy senior leadership team and supported the Head of School in overall management and oversight of the school.
Dr. Palmer shared with me her understanding of diversity as an invaluable asset to academic institutions. Serving on the board of Fessenden School and the Association of Independent Schools of New England, she recognizes that diversity immeasurably strengthens a school environment. Defining diversity beyond its traditional sense, Dr. Palmer finds value in the mosaic of backgrounds that each student brings to campus, especially as it relates to how we learn. She elucidated how, for us, being advised with a great variety of students fosters empathy as well as communication and problem solving skills. We learn how to support each other.
In closing our interview, I asked Dr. Palmer if she had a message for Milton students as the daily routine comes into full swing. She wants us to be kind to ourselves and others. As her son attends a school like Milton, Dr. Palmer understands the pressures of academics, athletics, extracurriculars, testing, college applications, relationships, and everything else characteristic to attending an elite private school. Thus, she asks that we take care of ourselves and do what’s right for ourselves, which does not necessarily mean getting an A.
The Milton community welcomes Dr. Palmer and her family and looks forward to seeing the impact of her leadership as the new Upper School Principal.