This year will mark the end of an era as it will be the last on Taft’s faculty for Peter ’75 and Baba Frew, who will retire in June 2024. Peter, who has served on Taft’s faculty since 1985, began as an admissions officer, English teacher, and boys’ varsity tennis and boys’ varsity squash coach. He was named Director of Communications in 2000 and Director of Admissions in 2010. Baba joined the Taft faculty in 1988. She teaches in the World Language and Global Studies and Service departments, is Director of the Global Leadership Institute, and Director of Community Service.

“The Frews have been such an essential part of Taft, nurturing Taft students and serving as generous colleagues for almost 40 years,” said Head of School Peter Becker ’95. “Their impact in the classroom, on the court, through service, and on the very makeup of the school cannot be overestimated. They have shaped Taft and will always be a part of the school. We look forward to celebrating them in their final year at Taft and know they will remain close to the school.”

The school has benefited from incredible continuity and experience in the Director of Admissions role, with three people in that position over 72 years. The legacy of Joe Cunningham, Ferdie Wandelt ’66, and Peter Frew ’75 is without peer in American boarding schools. 

Finding the next strategic leader for the admissions office at such a dynamic and exciting moment for boarding schools and Taft is an incredibly important task, and the school is excited to partner with Isaacson, Miller, one of the country’s premier executive search firms. With a nationally leading practice in PreK-16 Education, IM has demonstrated excellence in enrollment management leadership placements in independent schools and colleges. The IM search team is looking forward to visiting campus in the coming months to meet the Admission Office, school leaders, faculty, and students and to get to know the Taft community as they create the profile for the search.