Phillips Exeter Academy Picks New Interim Principal

EXETER, N.H. - The Phillips Exeter Academy announced this week it has chosen a new interim principal to take over for the Lisa MacFarlane, who announced in February that was returning to the University of New Hampshire.

Trustees of the Phillips Exeter Academy picked Bill Rawson, who comes from the L. Haynes Public Charter School.

MacFarlane was in charge at Phillips Exeter Academy while revelations of past sexual misconduct came to light.

In a release, Tony Downer, president of the Trustees, said Rawson's leadership experience at other schools, paired with his passion for, and understanding of, Exeter are a "combination that will enable the community to come together and to continue to advance the good and important work underway at our school.”

Rawson practiced law at the international law firm of Latham & Watkins in the Washington, D.C, office, where he progressed in responsibility from associate attorney to partner from 1982-2014. In addition to co-founding and chairing the firm’s environmental department in Washington, he served on several firm management committees, including recruiting, finance, and associate career development and training. While there he was a frequent lecturer and author on environmental and health and safety topics. Prior to joining Latham, Rawson clerked for a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Rawson has been a member of the board of directors for the Environmental Law Institute since 2010, and he was a member of the Stanford Law School Board of Visitors from 2005-11. Rawson earned a B.A. in American Studies from Amherst College, and his law degree at Stanford Law School.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to immerse myself in the community and move the school forward over these next two years," Rawson said. "My experience at Exeter as a student, made possible thanks to the benefit of financial aid, was transformational; and I’m committed to ensuring access to academic excellence for others as well.”

He and his wife Mary are looking forward to relocating from Washington, D.C., for a July 1 start date.

Courtesy Photo / Phillips Exeter Academy