Linda Daley

I joined the Exeter Admissions team in August 2010, after spending eight years at Brooks School as a math teacher, advisor, dorm head, field hockey and squash coach, and as the Director of the International Exchange Programs.  Prior to my tenure in independent schools, I worked as a management consultant, managed several non-profit organizations, and served as the Director of Career Services at Harvard Business School.  I love to travel, hike, and bike, and have led several Sierra Club trips in Wyoming and Colorado.  I live in Portsmouth, NH with my husband, Mike, a math teacher, and our daughter, Ryann.  I can be reached by email at: lcdaley@exeter.edu

 

Eleanor Down

I joined the Exeter Admissions team in August 2010 where I'm delighted to be part of a team devoted to recruiting "youth from every quarter". Throughout the fall, I look forward to recruiting in 13 states predominantly in the southeast, including the Carolinas, Georgia, Kansas, Texas and Virginia.  I'm eager to share PEA's tremendous opportunities with prospective Exonians and their families. I grew up in beautiful inland Maine where, by chance, I attended an independent secondary school which changed the direction of my life. My experiences there inspired my current career path.  I earned my MA in Cultural Anthropology from Bates College which cultivated my love of people and appreciation for diverse life experiences. While at Bates, I served in the admissions office throughout my four years, most recently as a Senior Fellow. I live in Exeter and enjoy running, being outside, practicing yoga and curling up with a book. Ironically, my favorite is Owen Meany.  I can be reached by email at: edown@exeter.edu.

Michael Gary

I joined the Academy in 2002, after working in two other wonderful boarding schools.  I have been in the admission profession for twenty-one years because I enjoy talking about the powerful, transformative nature of boarding school education; I am a product of it.  After graduating from boarding school, I attended Trinity College where I majored in Economics.  After working in the business world for several years in marketing and advertising, I joined the admission profession, lived in a dorm, coached basketball, and earned a masters degree from Harvard School of Education.  I am filled by the enormous amount of time I spend with my lovely wife Trina and my three kids, Milan, Tammara and Andre, all of whom keep me humble.  Traveling, camping and golfing are activities I enjoy most.  I can be reached by email at: mgary@exeter.edu.

John Hutchins

I began my career in independent schools as a teacher at Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine.  I taught mathematics, coached soccer, skiing and lacrosse, served as a dorm head and student advisor.  While at Gould I helped to implement the eighth-grade program, an optional winter term for competitive ski racers, as well as the rock climbing program.  After seven years of teaching and coaching, I joined the admissions office and was, over time, an assistant director, associate director, director of financial aid, and director of admissions and financial aid.  Prior to coming to Exeter, I spent 5 years at Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, PA where I was Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid and my responsibilities included, among other things, oversight of the schools financial aid program.  At Mercersburg I got involved with the outdoor program and led a student climbing trip to the Cordillera Blanca in Peru, where I have been on three personal climbing trips.  In addition to climbing and skiing, I enjoy spending time with my wife Susan and two children, Jack and Elizabeth. I can be reached by email at: jmhutchins@exeter.edu

 

Abdul-Qadir Islam

I've been in Admission since August 2011, but I've been creating opportunities for many years. I came to the Academy in 2010 as an intern in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. While at Exeter, my  position has allowed me to understand the culture of this diverse community. I am also responsible for overseeing the Islamic religious opportunities as the Muslim Student Association adviser. I reside in Wentworth Hall as Dorm Faculty, and those gentleman are a ball of laughter.  A native Philadelphian, I moved to Washington, DC to complete my BS in Human Development at Howard University. During my 3 years in DC, I worked at Georgetown Day School as a substitute, and Instructor of West African Dance, Drama, and Art in the After-School Program. While at Howard, I dove into the field of Psycho-educational Studies. I focused my studies in literacy development with regards to African-American males in primary schools. I helped establish the Brilliant Boys Book Club, and served as the Dean of Literacy to this monthly literature circle that assisting inner-city male youth with reading development skills.

In addition to working, I love to write poetry and backpack. I've been fortunate to study poetry at St. Peter's College, University of Oxford. Additionally, I've backpacked across 42 countries in over 4 continents. I've even bumped into Exoinans along the way. As Dr. Seuss would say "Oh' the places you'll go". I can be reached by email at aislam@exeter.edu.

 

Hal Lynch

I began my Exeter career in September 1981 when I was hired as a teaching fellow in the Drama Department.  For the next twenty years I taught classes in acting, directing, filmmaking, playwriting, and speechmaking along with directing over twenty main stage productions in Fisher Theater.  After serving as a dormitory faculty member in Soule Hall for four years, I was appointed dorm head of Browning North where I lived for six years.  At various points, I also served as chair of the Attendance Committee and member of the Executive Committee and Admissions Committee.  In September 2001 I joined the Admissions Office in Bissell House where I have interviewed hundreds of students and have traveled extensively recruiting candidates in places such as Bangkok, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Jamaica, and Singapore.  I can be reached by email at: hlynch@exeter.edu.

Idris McClain'03

I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.  I first arrived at Exeter in 1999 as a student beginning my prep year.  After spending four years at Exeter, I attended Amherst College where I received a BA in Psychology, played football and introduced the first West African Drumming course to the school's curriculum.  Before working in the Exeter Admissions Office, I worked for St. Vincent's Charity Hospital in Cleveland and Goldman Sachs in New York as well as chaperoning a group of students to study in Taiwan.  Since returning to Exeter in 2007, I have been an Assistant Coach for the varsity football team working specifically with the wide receivers, running backs, and defensive backs.  I advise two student clubs on campus, take Chinese, and am a dorm affiliate.  I also have advisees in Wentworth Hall which is Exeter's largest boy's dormitory.

I enjoy being active beyond my Exeter life.  I play in local leagues for various sports, love to travel and hang out at the beach.  My favorite color is blue, I love dogs, and my favorite movie is Ghostbusters.  I also work part-time as an SAT prep instructor and tutor.   You can find me around the Admissions Office talking nonstop about Cleveland sports news and spinning stories about my recent travels. I can be reached by email at: imcclain@exeter.edu.

 

Jonathan Pierce '06

I am currently serving as an intern here in the Admissions Office. I worked in the office as an external interviewer during the fall and winter of 2010. That experience, combined with my year of post graduate education here at the Academy in 2005, has made my transition into this new role very comfortable. I grew up all over the country. I was born in Kansas, raised in Kansas and California, and attended high school in Indiana. I came to Exeter to expand my athletic horizons and I was fortunate enough to leave this school with an expanded sense of self. I went on to attend Tufts University where I majored in sociology and was a member of the men's basketball team. I left Tufts as a three time Division III All-American and the school's all-time leading scorer. My experience as an Exonian was instrumental in my mental preparation for both athletics and academics. 

 I also serve as an assistant basketball coach here at the Academy and relish the opportunity to mentor young men and prepare them to move forward with their academic and athletic careers. I enjoy writing, reading, and attending sporting events in my spare time. I can be reached by email at jbpierce@exeter.edu

Jay Tilton

Why the Admissions at Phillips Exeter? That's easy. I've discovered a place that reflects my past experiences, shares the passions I have and the values I believe in. I've always had a love for athletics and, as the son of educators, learned at an early age how important a role education and sports could play in my life. The notion of "Team" has always been important to me. And the Bissell House Team is a good one. Every day provides a new challenge. Whether it's travelling to Middle America in search of talented students or greeting prospective candidates on campus, our Admissions Team takes great pride in helping others learn how Phillips Exeter could impact their lives.

After spending half of my early education in a public high school in Berlin, NH, I moved on to spend my final two years at New Hampton School. It was there that I first experienced dormitory life with students from all over the world. I've always valued both my public and private school experiences, and I frequently lean on them when discussing the merits of attending Phillips Exeter with candidates. It was during my undergraduate days at Hobart College and, later as a graduate student at Dartmouth College, where I learned what it's like to be part of a Harkness class. It was definitely challenging at first, but once I found my voice it afforded me the confidence to handle many of the future challenges that I'm faced with now, whether interviewing students, hosting Exeter Evenings on the road and even in my passion for coaching. I have coached Men's basketball at Dartmouth College and, for the past eight years, have coached the Boys' Varsity team at Exeter. It's incredibly gratifying to see our student athletes compete at a high level while balancing their academic challenges.  When I think of the passion my colleagues share for working with bright, motivated kids, and the amount we get to laugh in the process, it's easy for me to want to be a part of this team.  I can be reached by email at: jtilton@exeter.edu.

Lee Young

I have been at Exeter over half my life.  I know that's hard to believe since I don't look a day over 29.  Originally from Kensington, NH, I began my career as a 10th grade day student at Exeter before becoming a boarding student my last two years at the Academy when my family moved to South China, ME.  After Exeter, I attended Hamilton College where I double majored in psychology and sociology and captained the field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse teams.  Knowing that I wanted to be part of a residential secondary school environment, I returned to Exeter as an Admissions Officer.  Twenty-four years later, I'm still in my first job since college and never tire of the job because I continually meet people from all over the world, and I feel privileged and invigorated to be a match maker for Exeter.  During my time as a faculty member at Exeter, I have coached the girls' varsity ice hockey team, served as a dorm head for both a boys' and girls' dormitory, been an advisor to hundreds of students, and acted as the athletic liaison for the Admissions Office.  I reside on the edge of campus with my two children and Australian Shephard.  My interests include running, traveling with my children, coaching my son's lacrosse team, enjoying western art, and gardening.  I can be reached by email at: lyoung@exeter.edu.