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KINGSTON — Kevin P. Rea was formally installed as the 12th president of Wyoming Seminary on Friday, a year and three months since his appointment.
“I believe that my aim is not to seek only the efficiency of one design but to appreciate every single tree,” Rea said during his remarks, noting he equates the school to the forest and his students trees. “One of the most exciting parts of my job during the last year has been rambling with many of you through interesting areas of forest growth.”
The installation ceremony, at the school’s Kirby Center for Creative Arts, was attended by close to 400 faculty, staff, students, community figures and alumni.
Those who spoke touched upon Rea’s willingness to be a part of the school community, especially how he and his wife, Jennifer, enrolled their three children — Stella, Oliver and Imogen — at the lower school.
“He has been everywhere,” Grace Leahy, upper school senior and president of the upper school’s government, said. “From eating lunch with us to riding his bike on Sprague Avenue after hours.”
Local colleges, universities and other schools had representatives on hand to take part in the graduation-esque ceremony. State Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, also part of the school’s board of trustees, was on hand to offer the commonwealth’s congratulations on formally becoming president.
“It’s evident this is his passion not profession,” Baker said.
Rea took the president’s position in July 2015 from the retiring Dr. Kip P. Nygren. According to a Seminary press release from November 2014, Rea’s selection was the culmination of a national search process that began in February 2014.
The new president had previously served as assistant headmaster at Hackley School, a New York day and boarding school.
Prior to Hackley School, Rea served as chair of the English department at University College School, London.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Providence College, Providence, R.I., and Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English language and literature from Oxford University. He also holds a second Master of Arts degree in cultural and critical studies from Birkbeck College, University of London.
“I see so many exciting future opportunities for Wyoming Seminary to take full advantage of the Wyoming Valley and greater northeast Pennsylvania as part of the way we develop our students to reach their full potential,” Rea said.
