News
Welcome Dr. Kevin. J Ruth, the next Executive Director of NJAIS
9 February 2024
NJAIS Colleagues and Friends,
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Kevin J. Ruth will serve as the next Executive Director of NJAIS, beginning on 1 July 2024. With a distinguished career spanning various facets of educational leadership and advocacy, Dr. Ruth brings an unparalleled wealth of experience and insight to the association.
Kevin Ruth launched his career as a teacher, coach, and advisor over 27 years ago at Newark Academy. Other schools he has served in both teaching and various administrative roles include Tower Hill School and Saint Edmond’s Academy in Delaware, in addition to serving as a Trustee at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in Virginia for four years. His transformative leadership as the Executive Director of the Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) speaks volumes about his ability to inspire and empower educational communities across diverse cultural landscapes. Under his leadership, ECIS flourished as a global hub for quality independent and international education, serving 425 schools in 90 countries, on five continents. His tenure in higher education as President of Moreland University, an online graduate school of education specializing in teacher preparation, as well as an accreditation Commissioner, further exemplifies his adaptability and foresight in navigating complex regulatory environments and scaling educational institutions effectively.
Dr. Ruth earned his bachelor’s degrees in French and German at Penn State, where he also earned his master’s in Comparative Literature. His Ph.D. is from Rutgers University, also in Comparative Literature, and he has completed executive education programs at Stanford University and the University of Oxford. Dr. Ruth is known by many in NJAIS already. He has been a speaker at Trustee Enrichment Day for many years, and also presented to other school leaders. In his current consulting work, he has been advising and supporting NJAIS member schools in governance, operations, strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and even closure. He is well acquainted with the NJAIS accreditation protocol.
NJAIS had a remarkably strong pool of candidates for this position, and the Search Committee engaged in a robust and thoughtful process. With input from the current NJAIS staff, Kevin Ruth emerged as the unanimous choice of all involved in the process and received a unanimous vote of approval from the NJAIS Board.
Dr. Ruth will begin his tenure at NJAIS on 1 July 2024, expanding on the firm foundation established over the 14 years of Carole Everett’s visionary and transformational leadership. In the next months, he and Mrs. Everett will work closely to ensure a smooth transition. There will be a celebration of Carole Everett on 2 May 2024, during the NJAIS Head of School Conference.
Kevin Ruth shared, “It is an honor and privilege to join NJAIS, standing on the shoulders of Carole Everett, whose prescient leadership has positioned the organization at the forefront of independent school accreditation, programming, and advocacy. I look forward to getting to know the NJAIS community more deeply, and to supporting and advancing the nourishing and meaningful work that is the hallmark of NJAIS member schools, as we educate and prepare children for a dynamic world.”
Special thanks to the Search Committee: Jennifer Galambos, Head of Kent Place School, and Steve Loy, Head of Rutgers Prep, as Co-Chairs; Rob Connor, Head of Christina Seix Academy; Heather Hoerle, Executive Director and COO of EMA; Doug Lyons, retired Executive Director of CAIS-CT; Rose Neubert, CFOO of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart; and Amy Ziebarth, Head of Far Brook School.
I invite you to join me in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Kevin Ruth as our new Executive Director. Together, under his guidance, I am confident that we will continue to uphold the highest standards of excellence and service to our member schools. Please join in congratulating Kevin Ruth on his appointment and offering him full support as he leads NJAIS into a future filled with promise and possibilities.
Sincerely,
Nat Conard
Nathaniel Conard
NJAIS President of the Board of Trustees