Jasmine Liu ‘25
What comes to mind when you first think about our new Head of School, Dr. Ivory Hills?
You may associate him with his past role at Deerfield Academy as the Dean of Faculty and Assistant Head of School for Strategy and Planning. You may know him as an outstanding chemist who hailed his Ph. D from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Perhaps, for third formers, you may also know him as your Integrated Science teacher.
Well, did you know he is also a comic book enthusiast? Or that he has around a dozen patents in Organic Chemistry? How about his favorite aspect of student life?
Stay tuned until the end of this article to learn more fascinating facts about Dr. Hills!
A Brief Overview of Dr. Hills
On July 31st, 2023, the St. Mark’s Board of Trustees officially appointed Dr. Hills as the new head of St. Mark’s School. Before his position at SM, Dr. Hills served in various roles at Deerfield Academy where he excelled as both a dedicated classroom teacher and an influential academic leader.
However, Dr. Hills has worn many other hats outside of his role as an educator. For one, he is a distinguished scientist, holding a B.S. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from MIT. Before his tenure at Deerfield, he served as a senior research chemist at Merck Research Laboratories, leading medicinal chemistry teams involved in drug development for Alzheimer’s disease, migraine, schizophrenia, and colorectal cancer.
A Deeper Dive
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Hills to explore his unique perspectives and experiences beyond his role as Head of School at St. Mark’s. In our conversation, he shared insights into his journey and the passions that shape him. Read on to discover more about the multifaceted individual behind the title!
How did your high school experience shape who you are as a leader?
“I went to two different high schools. Grades 8-11, I went to a fine arts high school. My dad was in the military, so when he moved, I moved to a new school just for my senior year. I have very little memory of that year, so I don’t feel very strongly connected to that school. In my whole school experience, I went to seven or eight different schools between K-12.
My educational experiences have allowed me to become more nimble in my leadership; I can go to new places without feeling so confused. As an educator and school leader, I care deeply about stability and reliability for students rather than change because it can help remove some of the friction of moving and growing up. Afterall, being a teenager is already difficult.”
What’s a fun fact about yourself that most students wouldn’t know?
“I like comic books, and I play the ukulele. I also used to be a legitimate research chemist, so I have nearly a dozen patents and a dozen peer-reviewed research papers in professional journals.”
Feel free to search up some of his articles if you’re interested in learning more about his insightful research!
How do you normally unwind after a busy day?
“Oh, I just read! I used to read a lot of science fiction, but in the last 10 years, I actually just read nonfiction now–a lot of finance and investing, which may also be something students don’t know about me.”
In fact, Dr. Hills has read so extensively on finance and investing that he offers to become a great advisor to anyone who is starting a finance club at St. Mark’s.
“Running our school is like a small business,” Dr. Hills remarks. “We can curate the finances at the school to keep expenses and tuition under control while offering more financial aid.”
Wow, you’re incredible! Speaking about St. Mark’s School, do you have any student initiatives that resonate with you or that you would like to bring to the St. Mark’s community this year?
To answer the first question, Dr. Hills responds that he would like to support initiatives that “harmoniously fit in with everything that's already present,” and if done well, have “nothing to do with me so that they will last after I leave.”
As for initiatives he plans to integrate into the student community, he states that he has “no interest in starting an initiative that just disappears” and people must “be very thoughtful before starting something new.”
“I’m not against creativity,” Dr. Hills notes, “but most new things are inferior to old things.” Afterall, it’s easier to maintain something that has “incumbent status” rather than start something from the ground up.
However, one project he is planning to start includes a podcast that aims to give prospective applicants and families a more authentic view of the SM Community outside the crafted tours and meticulously-structured open houses. He plans to interview students and faculty alike to share their individual experiences and life at SM, starting with the core student leaders: the monitors!
And finally, what is your favorite part of student life?
“Oh, that’s a difficult question! One thing I love is how St. Mark’s is a small and tight-knit community. It’s always nice to see students in the morning walking to classes and interacting together. These small interactions can signal a lifelong bond.”
Wrapping Up
In summary, Dr. Ivory D. Hills brings a tapestry of experiences and a remarkable array of “hats” to his role as Head of School. As an inspiring leader, accomplished chemist, dedicated educator, comic book enthusiast, finance aficionado, and engaging conversationalist, he embodies the spirit of lifelong learning and curiosity.
We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to connect with Dr. Hills in his office. Whether you’re eager to discuss his groundbreaking research published in top chemistry journals, share insights about your own high school experiences, or delve into his passions for comics and finance, you’ll find him approachable and eager to engage.