StC News

Edwin Cowell announced as the next Director of Community and Inclusion

5/10/2019

Dear St. Christopher’s Parents,

I am thrilled to share that Edwin Cowell will be the next Director of Community and Inclusion at St. Christopher’s, beginning his work with us this July.

Ed comes to us with rich and varied experience in education, with over 25 years of teaching and leadership experience, including five years as headmaster at the Salisbury School, a K-12 independent school in Maryland; and 15 years as a dean of students, chief diversity officer, and director of multicultural affairs at Salisbury University, Bucknell University, and the College of William and Mary, respectively.

Experienced in developing institutional diversity plans, creating and conducting workshops and trainings, and engaging in community outreach, Ed believes that facilitating an intentional and inclusive school environment in which all members feel welcome and valued is critical. He has seen firsthand how diversity, broadly defined, brings unlimited potential to workplaces, educational institutions, and the broader community. Lauded by former colleagues and supervisors for his leadership abilities and for the degree to which he connects quickly and meaningfully with students and adults, Ed will bring impressive diversity-practitioner experience and leadership abilities to the St. Christopher’s administrative team.

Ed earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Virginia Wesleyan College, a master of education administration degree from VCU, and has completed additional graduate work in education policy, planning, and leadership from William and Mary. Ed and his wife, Charmaine, an educator, as well, live in Richmond and have two sons, Zach (23) and Ryan (20).

In joining the St. Christopher’s community as Director of Community and Inclusion, Ed will:

Sponsor and facilitate diversity, community, and inclusion programming and professional development, ensuring that our students and entire community are exposed to best practices in teaching and reaching boys through this important lens, consistent with our School mission and Second Century Vision

Build relationships and serve as a mentor and point of contact for all of our students JK-12, with a particular emphasis on supporting students who hail from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented at St. Christopher’s, broadly defined

Act as an integral member of our Admissions Office and as a liaison to our many Community Partners throughout the metro area, ensuring that St. Christopher’s benefits from a diverse and talented applicant pool that translates into a diverse and talented student body; and to perform the same function for our faculty and staff recruitment efforts

I would like to extend my thanks to our outstanding search committee, listed below. This group, along with additional faculty and staff members, screened over 75 candidates and chose among six impressive finalist candidates during campus interviews. I appreciate their care and dedication to finding an exceptional match for St. Christopher’s. I am particularly grateful to the students from all three divisions who participated in the screening process and who provided valuable input for each candidate to the search committee.

Ed will be at St. Christopher’s on occasion this month and next for introductory meetings and will join our community officially in July. There will be plenty of opportunities over the summer and fall to introduce him to you and your sons. Until then, please join me in welcoming Ed as our newest Saint!

Yours,