Breaking Ground on New Faculty Housing

On Thursday, May 8, members of the Emma Willard School community came together with the teams from Consigli Construction (Jenn Rand, Chris Harkin, Chris Parrott, and Tom Harrigan) and SWBR Architects (Geoff MacDonald and Sara Neyman) for a ceremonial groundbreaking behind Wellington-Lay, near the site of the new construction. The project will begin in June 2025, with a goal of providing 12 new townhouse-style homes by next summer. 

“This project truly reflects our deep commitment to our faculty,” Head of School Jenny Rao commented. “I am thrilled to be together for this occasion, honoring the importance of community at our school.” 

Honorary Infinite Horizon Campaign Co-Chair and Honorary Trustee Vicky Thompson Winterer ’61, who made the lead gift to this project, has previously stated our purpose well for this endeavor: “As long as Emma Willard offers a residential boarding experience, there will be a need for amazing teachers and other adults to be present on campus around the clock. This initiative will make the Emma living and learning environment that much more attractive to those who might call Mount Ida home.”

Peg Hyde Wachtel ’72, who, along with her mother Joyce Wyman Hyde ’42 and her niece Sarah Hyde ’05 also provided significant support to faculty housing with their campaign gifts, shared this about her inspiration for giving: “The school's ability to provide appealing, ample faculty housing is crucial to acquiring, supporting, and retaining the type of excellent faculty needed to provide a high-quality education to Emma girls for generations to come. I can't think of a better way to honor my mother and our alma mater.”

The project also honors the legacy and service of Clementine Miller Tangeman (1923), one of the school’s most dedicated volunteers, and her family, Elizabeth “Betsy” Miller ’66, Margaret “Mim” Miller ’61, Catherine Miller ’64, and AnnaCatherine Miller ’04. Mrs. Tangeman’s ties to Emma Willard included leadership roles on the Board of Trustees, the Alumnae Association, The Emma Fund, The 1814 Association, and the school’s first capital campaign, which in the 1960s and early 1970s built the Dietel Library, Snell Music Wing, and Maguire Arts Wing. 

Mrs. Tangeman’s name was given to the faculty housing built in1966 to honor her dedication to the school. For years, site assessments have indicated that the aging and uninhabitable Tangeman complex should be removed for the safety of the community. Therefore, it was announced during the groundbreaking ceremony that Mrs. Tangeman’s name will be transferred to the new housing complex. The removal of the previous Tangeman building has been included in Phase One plans. 

Associate Head of School Dr. Meredith Legg, who leads the Faculty Housing Committee, spoke of what led the school to this pivotal moment. “This incredible faculty housing project started several years ago as a modest conversation about how we might reimagine a playground,” she began. Central to the subsequent conversations was the desire to create community spaces for the educators, staff, and their families living on campus—to build upon the neighborhood feel of homes that already exist in order to make on-campus living an even better choice for our faculty. “This project represents a transformational expansion of faculty housing and the creation of a true neighborhood community for faculty.”

Not only will this faculty housing project provide exceptional new homes for the faculty who give generously of their time on evenings and weekends, but it will also expand the resources available to our boarding students by adding faculty to the residential life program. These homes represent a 25% increase in the faculty residential life staff, a remarkable investment in a thriving residential life program.

Our goal of $10 million will fund the first phase of building. If you are interested in learning more or would like to make a gift to support faculty housing, contact the Office of Advancement at 866-833-1814 or go to infinitehorizon.org/give.