In July 2015, Dr. Tara Christie Kinsey was appointed the eighth head of school at The Hewitt School. Dr. Kinsey is committed to granting girls and young women access to the kind of education and leadership development that expands their confidence, capacities, and sense of purpose in forging a better world. A lifelong learner, educator, feminist, coach, and leader, Dr. Kinsey received her A.B. in English from Princeton University, where she was a Division-I All-American Scholar Athlete and a four-year All-Ivy selection in softball, and her Ph.D. in English from Emory University. Dr. Kinsey is a teacher and published scholar of modern and contemporary British and Irish literature. She began her teaching career at Peddie School and has taught at Emory University, Oxford University, Georgetown University, and Princeton University.
Prior to her appointment at Hewitt, Dr. Kinsey served as associate dean in the Office of the Dean of the College and the Office of the Vice President for Campus Life at Princeton University, where she worked closely with students to help them realize their full potential through advising and programs such as the Princeton Perspective Project and the Princeton Women’s Mentorship Program. As chair of Princeton’s Advisory Committee on Women’s Leadership, Dr. Kinsey was the recipient of two awards: the Nannerl O. Keohane Women’s Mentor Award, given to “the member of the Princeton University community who has done the most to mentor Princeton women students for leadership,” and the Marvin Bressler Award, given to “that member of the Princeton family who through heartfelt support of the University’s student-athletes and coaches, embodies a belief in the lifelong lessons taught by competition and athletics as a complement to the overall educational mission.” Prior to her work as an associate dean, Dr. Kinsey partnered with faculty, senior administrators, and the university president on Princeton’s $1.88 billion Aspire fundraising campaign.
Dr. Kinsey and her family live in New York City, where she enjoys going to restaurants, theaters, concerts, and exhibits, cooking, meditating, and watching her children play sports.
To learn more about Dr. Kinsey’s thoughts about Hewitt, the advancement of girls and young women, and the future of education, you may read her head of school blog or follow her on social media: @tara_kinsey.