On Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, Keith Evans, president of the Westminster Schools, announced his plan to retire at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year. The news marks the beginning of the final chapter in a transformative 12-year presidency—one that has profoundly shaped Westminster’s identity, growth, and trajectory.
As the community reflects on Evans’s legacy, the search for Westminster’s next leader is now underway. To guide the search, the board of trustees has partnered with Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), a globally respected educational consulting firm that specializes in independent school leadership transitions. CS&A’s president Devereaux McClatchey and senior consultant Marsha Little visited campus during JanTerm, engaging with students, faculty, staff, trustees, and administrators to better understand Westminster’s culture and values.
In partnership with CS&A, an internal search committee has been assembled, consisting of trustees, alumni, and former board chairs. This committee will screen and evaluate candidates before making a recommendation to the full board. Members of the board include R. Brand Morgan ’94 (Chair), Mike Egan ’74, Rand Hagen ’95, Ira Jackson ’83, Katharine Kelley ’82, Stephen Lanier ’96, Jenny Latz ’91, Joel Murphy ’79, Floyd Newton III ’73, and Dana Ugwonali.
While Evans’s retirement marks the end of an era, many at Westminster see it as a continuation of the growth he’s fostered.
“He’s had a large impact on our school by increasing the connectivity of the campus,” said Stan Watkins, a senior who has attended Westminster since pre-first. “He’s done a good job by making sure we interact across all three divisions of our school.”
Rather than reinventing Westminster, Evans is often credited with strengthening its core values and building on its existing foundations.
“There’s not a lot that Mr. Evans has changed about Westminster,” Watkins continued. “He’s built on what we had: a great location, a strong community, and a diverse student body. Someone that can build upon these values will take Westminster from being one of the best schools in the state to one of the best in the country.”
One of Evans’s most visible legacies is his transformation of Westminster’s physical campus.
When he arrived, most Upper School buildings consisted of utilitarian structures with long hallways lined with lockers, offering little opportunity for students to gather or collaborate. His leadership changed that. The construction of Blake Hall established more than just a new building; it became a symbolic and literal front door to the school. New spaces in Barge and Campbell now give students room to work on group projects, study together, and socialize.
“Keith’s most lasting impact on Westminster is his vision for how our physical spaces can foster connection and community,” said Chanley Small, head of the Upper School.
Small also noted the culture grounded in relationships and belonging that Evans helped shape during his tenure.
“Keith’s leadership style is relational and collaborative; he leads with warmth and approachability,” Small said. “Over time, he’s helped shape a culture where students and faculty feel like they truly belong. He also cares deeply about helping students grow as leaders, not just in the classroom, but in life.”
Evans’s JanTerm leadership class reflects this commitment, creating a space for students to learn from local leaders, think about their own values, and envision their own leadership paths.
As the search for the next president continues, students are also considering the values that matter most in a future leader.
“Love for the students and a focus on improving the culture of Westminster and the well-being of the student body,” said sophomore Jackson Harless when asked what he hopes to see in the school’s next president.
While any leadership transition brings a sense of uncertainty, the Westminster community is optimistic that the next chapter will build on the momentum that Evans helped strengthen.
“The best is always yet to come at Westminster,” Evans wrote in his farewell letter.
Edited by Lahiri Nooka
