Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Anne Bruder Named The Hotchkiss School's 16th Head of School

COURTESY OF DEERFIELD COMMUNICATIONS

Dr. Anne Bruder, Deerfield Academy’s current Dean of Academics, has been appointed as the 16th and first female Head of School of The Hotchkiss School. She will succeed Craig Bradley, who is retiring after a decade of service to the Hotchkiss community, in the 2026-2027 academic year. 

As Deerfield’s Dean of Academics since 2022, Dr. Bruder has overseen its academic life, from shaping its curriculum to developing faculty and refining pedagogical practices. “I have immensely enjoyed my time at Deerfield, and I was not looking to depart after my fourth year,” she said. “I could have imagined a very long career here. I’m super excited about the work I’ve done.”

The opening of the role didn’t come to Dr. Bruder’s attention until she was contacted in the spring by an educational search firm, a professional organization that recruits candidates for school leadership positions. Hotchkiss had tasked the firm with identifying candidates who fit their needs, and the firm had solicited anonymous nominations from the educational community; Dr. Bruder had been one of the nominees. 

Though initially hesitant, Dr. Bruder found herself convinced to continue with the selection process after she spoke with Tim Sullivan, President of Hotchkiss’ Board of Trustees. “We started a conversation that was really exciting, and it seemed as though my particular interests aligned nicely with what [Hotchkiss] was seeking,” she said in an interview with The Scroll. 

Indeed, in her first address to the Hotchkiss community, Dr. Bruder outlines her vision for secondary schools as “places of growth and transformation where young people prepare not merely for college or career but for lives of deep meaning.” 

“That kind of school revolves around a rigorous academic and co-curricular program that cultivates lifelong habits of curiosity, judgment, resilience, and joy,” she writes. “It thrives when the community commits to this shared purpose while also celebrating the range of ideas and practices that make schools vibrant learning laboratories.”

Dr. Bruder also recognized how rare such an opportunity was. “These jobs turn over infrequently. If I wanted to lead a school, this was likely the optimal school for me,” she said. “I had spent time in my early twenties there as a teacher, so I knew the school and was really excited to return."

Dr. Bruder’s enthusiasm is rooted in familiarity—her career began with two formative years at Hotchkiss, where she taught English, coached, and served as a dorm resident. “Hotchkiss schooled me: when to listen and when to lead, how to build an educational culture elevated by curiosity while grounded in diligence, and why living in a community that collectively teaches the whole student is so deeply rewarding,” Dr. Bruder wrote in the same address. 

Dr. Bruder will also be Hotchkiss’ first female Head of School. “The title role being female is meaningful to me. I spent much of my career studying unusual forms of women's education and women educators. It's particularly satisfying to join that crew,” she explained. “When I visited last week, young women—especially ninth and tenth graders—came up and said, 'We're so excited to have a woman lead our school.' That was gratifying."

However, she recognizes the role that women have played throughout Hotchkiss’ history. “It's important to remember that there have been women leaders throughout the school's history—the founder [Maria Hotchkiss] was a woman, and even as a [previously] all-boys school, there were women in leadership roles,” she said. 

Still, Dr. Bruder’s experiences at the Academy will accompany and aid her in her new role. “One of the things I've most loved about Deerfield is living, learning, and working in a tight-knit community, which takes incredible intentionality and care,” she said. “I hope to bring that same intentionality to all aspects of campus life—academics, residential life, advising, athletics, and the arts. I'm also interested in coherence across these areas, so the school feels unified.”