Farra Ungar '02

Larry Filippone, current assistant headmaster for residential life at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, has been appointed to dean of students.

"Mr. Filippone is a seasoned veteran," said Assistant Head Pamela Bonanno, and his large list of credits certifies this statement. Mr. Filippone has worked at the Hill School for twenty years. He has lived as a boys' dorm resident and taught history, both of which he will continue to do at Deerfield.

When asked about Mr. Filippone, Headmaster Eric Widmer responded, "I enjoyed my home meeting with him, and was struck by how well informed he was about Deerfield. He was passionately committed to everything Deerfield stands for." In truth, Mr. Filippone's interest in Deerfield Academy extends further than his appointment as dean of students. Early on in the application process, Mr. Filippone made clear how strongly he felt about Deerfield: "I continue to be happy at the Hill School and I'm not in the market for any other opening, but I've wanted to work at Deerfield since I began my career in boarding schools...It is a school that I too have always admired and I hope to win the opportunity to serve."

The committee that selected Mr. Filippone studied seventy-five candidates, and narrowed the pool to four finalists. During the winter term, each finalist visited Deerfield where they met and interviewed with Mr. Widmer, the present deans, and a group of student representatives. The student representatives met with the finalists and discussed with them their feelings about the role of the dean of students. Breck Garrett '02 commented, "It's nice that they included students in the process." He stated that Mr. Filippone appeared to be completely qualified for the role of dean of students and seemed especially interested in getting to know the student body on a personal level: "He told us that when the kids want to go to town at the Hill School, he is the first person they call for a ride." Each finalist also had the opportunity to meet and share opinions with junior and senior class presidents, Brandon Berkeley '02 and George Craft '01.

After the committee of students and faculty discussed each finalist at length, they recommended to Mr. Widmer that Mr. Filippone be made new dean of students. Mr. Widmer accepted this recommendation without reservation. It was the committee's opinion that Mr. Filippone would not only be the type of man to succeed in the position dean of students, but more importantly, "the student's dean."

Already Mr. Filippone is preparing for his arrival at Deerfield Academy. He will be making a spring visit to Deerfield and begin work as the dean of students on July 1, 2001.