Moravian Academy Installs Adrianne Finley Odell as 7th Head of School

On Friday, April 14, Moravian Academy's seventh Head of School, Adrianne Finley Odell, accepted the charge of the Board of Trustees during her Installation Ceremony. 

The day was as much a celebration of Adrianne Finley Odell and the historic milestone her appointment marks for our school as it was a celebration of our unified community. For the first time, students from all three campuses sang, played, and laughed together at the Merle-Smith Campus. School spirit and a strong sense of community shone everywhere, carrying into the Installation Ceremony from a morning of student-centered activities. 

From the interlude to the recessional, the ceremony was buoyed by musical performances from more than 300 students playing in the Merle-Smith Campus, Middle School, and All-School Orchestras, the MA Ringers, Swain and Downtown Choruses and combined Orff Ensemble, All-School Chorus, and Pep Band. 

Murals featuring the handprints of our early childhood students hung above the stage in the Athletic and Wellness Center. Ms. Finley Odell would sit upon a Lego chair comprised of 9,600 pieces, made by Downtown and Swain students. 

Following an introduction from Amy Ahart P '28, Secretary of the Board, Lafayette College president Dr. Nichole Hurd delivered the invocation. Trustees Carole Devey Schacter '76 and Christine Perrucci P '23, '24 introduced the first guest speaker, president of Moravian University Dr. Bryon Grigsby, who spoke of the shared progressive histories of Moravian Academy and Moravian University. Nacho Abia, CEO of Olympus Corporation of the Americas and MA parent of Max '27 and Ian '30 Abia, expressed his utmost confidence in the many ways Moravian Academy prepares children for the future of our complex world. 

Upon accepting the charge from Board Chair Chris Weiler P '18 and Vice Chair Lori Schoeneman P '25, 28 to serve our school faithfully, Adrianne Finley Odell was presented the key. Alicia Gordon '24, Krish Gupta '24, Olivia Laible-Warner '27, Wenlan Zhao '32, JJ Kim '27, and Lily Richardson '32 gifted Adrianne Finley Odell with special charms, each one symbolic of one of our three campuses. 

In her response, Ms. Finley Odell shared her immense gratitude for the many people who helped to make the event a success before expressing pride in the progressive history of our school and excitement in the possibilities of our future. Just like our students, Moravian Academy sets out to answer the questions: Who am I and who can I become? 

She said:

"We know our destiny relies on people like them who have been a part of our legacy for hundreds of years. The Moravian of tomorrow depends on the people here in this room, both adults and students who will graduate from our school and go on to do remarkable things. As we look ahead to the future, one that is complicated by the rise in exponential technology, the effects of climate change, mental health challenges, and the inability of our leaders to engage in civil discourse, I believe that Moravian Academy can take a leadership role among schools to contribute to a transformation in how we approach these important issues with young people."   

To close the ceremony, president of DeSales University Rev James, J. Greenfield, OSFC, led the benediction. The Moravian Academy Pep Band broke into a rendition of Ronald Nathan Bell's "Celebration" to signify the recessional. The ceremony ended as it had begun--overflowing with school pride, joy, and appreciation for Ms. Finley Odell and the path she's already begun to chart for Moravian Academy's inspired future.