Hotchkiss welcomes Shannon Clark as the new dean of faculty, effective on July 1, 2024.   

The role of dean of faculty is a critical one, providing overall leadership for the faculty as well as the School’s academic program. Working with Associate Head of School Amber Douglas, Ph.D., Head of School Craig Bradley, Dean of Academic Life Richard Davis, and heads of departments, the dean of faculty is charged with leading innovative curricular efforts that align with the School’s academic mission. The dean of faculty will also be highly involved in the recruitment, retention, professional development, and evaluation of faculty. 

Clark is a deeply experienced, data-driven, and culturally competent leader who will bring strong consultative skills to the position. She joins Hotchkiss from Noble and Greenough School where she has most recently served as the upper school director of studies. Prior to this role, she was director of the Academic Steering Committee for three years and served as head of the English Department for six years. She has been a member of the Disciplinary Committee and the Faculty Evaluation Redesign Committee. In addition, she has served as assistant coach to the girls varsity cross country team for the past 16 seasons, and she spent six years as a dormitory resident. Before joining Nobles, Clark held a variety of roles at Deerfield Academy from 1995 to 2008. She earned her M.A. in comparative literature from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her B.A. in music and English from Dartmouth College.

In accepting the position, Clark said, “I am so excited to come to Hotchkiss and join this wonderful community of educators committed to their craft, students, and learning. There is work to be done, and I am delighted to be a part of it.”

"The process that led us to Shannon was a comprehensive one," Douglas said. "I am deeply grateful to all who served on the search committee and to those who expressed their own interest in the position. I also extend sincere thanks to Charlie Frankenbach P’12,’16 for his good work, counsel, and leadership as interim dean of faculty this year."

Clark will be moving to Lakeville with her family this summer. She will reside on campus with her husband, Greg, and the Hotchkiss community can anticipate seeing their three young adult sons making frequent visits. Among interests outside of work, Clark loves trail running, biking, and reading. She often spends downtime with her husband exploring and seeking adventures.