Kendra Stearns O’Donnell
Painter, Leader in Secondary Education, Philanthropy and Non-profit Governance
Paris Window.
Portrait of Patrick.
Kendra Stearns O’Donnell is a painter now, in what she calls the “second part of her life,” since she has until recently been busy as a leader in secondary education, philanthropy and non-profit governance.
O’Donnell broke barriers as the first woman to serve as principal of Phillips Exeter Academy, shaping a more inclusive vision of education. Beyond her academic career, she has been a dedicated supporter of cultural and nonprofit communities, serving on boards including the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and 23 years of service as a Trustee and Trustee Emerita of the Currier Museum of Art, where she was also founding Chair of the museum’s Collection Committee. She is also a Trustee Emerita of The Hotchkiss School.
O’Donnell spent her high school years at the Emma Willard School, a preparatory school for young women founded in 1814, which she calls “a great feminist institution where I received a rigorous liberal arts education.”
She is an honorary trustee of the school.
O’Donnell’s career reflects a sustained commitment to educational institutions and cultural engagement. A graduate of Barnard College and Columbia University, she taught at Princeton University and held leadership roles at the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, in addition to her tenure at Phillips Exeter (1987-1997).
Here is an interview conducted in September 2020 at Exeter where she looks back at her tenure as principal and talks informally about her philosophy of encouraging students to have a strong sense of belief in their abilities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AotwhMlcEA
An accomplished and prolific painter, O’Donnell has maintained a lifelong belief in the power of the arts to inspire, educate, and connect. Her leadership, generosity, and advocacy have made a lasting impact in the arts community. She has had a number of solo shows, and her paintings are in private collections across the country. Here are some of her recent works.
Peonies.