Kent Place School Appoints Debbie Fermo as New Director of the Upper School

Kent Place School is proud to announce the appointment of Debbie Fermo as the next Director of the Upper School, effective July 1. A passionate academic leader, decorated U.S. Navy veteran, and lifelong mentor and advocate for girls and women, Ms. Fermo brings to Kent Place a combination of purpose, vision, and experience. She is succeeding Evelyn Hanna, who has led the Kent Place Upper School since 2023.

Ms. Fermo’s career is as remarkable as it is inspiring. After graduating with distinction from the United States Naval Academy, she went on to serve with honor as a helicopter pilot and mission commander, leading humanitarian and combat search-and-rescue operations, with two operational deployments to the Persian Gulf. As a member of the U.S. Naval Academy faculty and associate chair of the English Department, Ms. Fermo’s belief in the importance of women’s leadership drove her to cofound the Naval Academy Women’s Network, a program designed to provide mentorship to women as they navigate their careers in a male-dominated profession. As a master instructor, she also designed and taught a course on gender and leadership that combined academic inquiry and research on the impact on and barriers faced by women as they aspire to senior leadership roles.

Since 2017, Ms. Fermo has led with distinction as the dean of faculty at The Pennington School, a 6th- to 12th-grade day and boarding school outside Princeton. There, she oversees faculty hiring and evaluation, supports faculty initiatives and professional growth, engages with students in the classroom and beyond, helps lead the school as a member of the executive leadership team, and works diligently to make sure the key stakeholders at Pennington feel like valued members of the community. A passionate teacher at heart, she has taught all levels of Upper School English, served as an academic advisor, and coached varsity girls lacrosse.

With a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s in school leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Fermo has seamlessly integrated her leadership skills, acquired in the military, into every facet of academia. She says her capacity to care for and nurture the people in her life is one of her greatest strengths, and her experience makes her uniquely qualified to serve as the next Director of the Upper School at Kent Place.

“I’m honored to take on the role of Director of the Upper School at Kent Place, a community that embodies a commitment to empowering young women through education,” says Ms. Fermo. “The school’s mission and sense of social responsibility resonate with my values and professional journey both as a former naval aviator and as an educator, and I look forward to empowering our girls to, indeed, advance the world.”

The school extends deep gratitude to the members of the Search Committee for their thoughtful and tireless work throughout this process, as well as all members of the community who participated in open forums and offered candid reflections that helped shape the search and, ultimately, this appointment. The search drew an incredibly competitive pool of 75 candidates. Special thanks to search partner, Molly King at RG175, for guiding the process with care, professionalism, and wisdom.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Debbie and her family into our community and eager for the leadership, warmth, and perspective she will bring,” says Jennifer Galambos, Head of School. “I look forward to the many ways she will help Kent Place empower girls to advance the world.”