Boston, MA
Background: Rebecca Upham brings more than 40 years of experience to RG175. Her leadership positions run the spectrum of west coast, mid-Atlantic, and east coast schools, and include preK-12, 9-12, coed, and girls’ schools.
She retired from Buckingham Browne & Nichols, a co-ed school for 1,000 students in preK-12th grade on four campuses in Cambridge, MA, in 2018 having served 17 years as Head of School. During her tenure at BB&N, she led the School through multiple strategic plans including the largest fundraising initiative ($70+M) in the School’s history. In addition to several physical improvements (campus renovations and expansion, land acquisition), the School undertook ground-breaking work in equity and inclusion, including a major study on the achievement gap.
A global perspective came to infuse many program aspects and BB&N became a leader in global education. She is proudest of her work on the School’s culture, helping to craft and support a climate where kindness was valued and practiced, and where innovation flourished comfortably alongside tradition.
Other leadership positions include Vice Chancellor of Whittle School and Studios as it prepared to launch campuses simultaneously in Shenzhen, China and Washington, DC; Nine years as Head of The Ellis School in Pittsburgh, PA (450 students, preK-12, all girls); Two years as merger coordinator of Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, CA, and several years in various administrative roles at The Branson School (320 students, grades 9-12 in Ross, CA) including that of Assistant Head.
Rebecca holds degrees from Middlebury College (B.A.) and Columbia University (M.A.) and studied at the University of Edinburgh. Her professional trusteeships include PAIS, Headmistresses of the East, Country Day School Heads Association, Headmasters Association, Cum Laude, and Chair of the G30, an organization of 30 prominent schools from around the world.