In The News

On March 3, 2026, Head of School Alex Curtis announced that Will Gilyard ’98 has been appointed Choate Rosemary Hall’s next Head of Student and Academic Life, effective July 1, 2026. Gilyard returned to Wallingford in 2020 as a Form Dean and Senior Associate of Alumni Engagement before being appointed Dean of Students in 2023. Throughout his career, Gilyard has also held key leadership roles at The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine, where he served as Dean of Students and Head of the Upper School, and at Kingswood Oxford School, where he was Dean of Students. 

The winter production of Airness transformed the former Student Activities Center into a high-energy celebration of creativity, vulnerability, and growth. Directed by Bari Robinson, the comedy about competitive air guitar became a lesson in ensemble trust, technical precision, and artistic risk-taking as students, staff, and faculty piled into their seats for three straight sold-out shows.

From original songs to student-directed short plays, the 2026 Choate Fringe Festival put the creativity and artistic prowess of the entire student body on display. Faculty advisor Kate Doak breaks down this year's performances and explains why this year's festival holds a special place in her heart after nearly 20 years of leading the annual showcase.

What began as a quiet Sunday morning at Larry Hart Pool became a celebration of connection, joy, and inclusion as Choate Rosemary Hall students partnered with swimmers from the North Haven Special Olympics community for a two-hour Swimathon. Organized by Josh Pan ’27 with the support of the Choate Swimming and Diving teams, the event highlighted a broader vision of athletics, one centered on impact and community rather than wins and losses. 

Robin Sparkman ’87 returned to campus in February as part of the 50th anniversary of the Stevenson Lecture Series, celebrating leadership, courage, and public service. The ProPublica CEO reflected on formative moments from her student years, recalling lessons that shaped her fearless approach to journalism.

On January 7, 2026, Choate Rosemary Hall student Johnny Guo ’26 was named one of the top 300 scholars in the 85th Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s premier science and math competition for high school seniors. Recognized for his project, “Global Spatiotemporal Analysis of Interactions Between Urban Heat Islands and Heat Waves,” Guo studied how cities experience hotter temperatures than rural areas. Mentored by Yale climate scientist Dr. Xuhui Lee, Guo’s research highlights the growing urgency of climate change and showcases Choate’s continued excellence in environmental science and student-led innovation.

Dr. Jamil Zaki, director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, made his way from Palo Alto to Wallingford as part of the Thalheimer Educator in Residence Program. His lecture, “Building Empathy in a Fractured World,” explored the importance of empathy for happiness, relationships, and community.

On the nation's 40th annual observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Choate's Diversity Day honored his life and legacy with workshops, film screenings, and panels focused on building a sustainable future with special guests Sophia Kianni (Founder, Climate Cardinals), Jerome Foster II (Founder, WaicUp.org), and Carissa Cabrera (CEO, Futureswell).

As the featured speaker for the Phillips Lecture Series, Robin Wall Kimmerer joined the Choate community for a day of dialogue and experiential learning grounded in ecology, reciprocity, and the relationships that shape our natural world.