Devondra McMillan Appointed Lawrenceville Dean of Students

The Lawrenceville School has appointed Devondra McMillan as its Dean of Students effective July 1, 2021. In this role, McMillan, who has nearly two decades of experience as a boarding school educator, including 16 with Lawrenceville, will be responsible for promoting a healthy, inclusive campus culture, for the overall safety and wellbeing of the student body, and for leadership and coordination of all dimensions of student services. In overseeing and partnering with the Heads of House in the School’s residential House system, McMillan will play an essential role in creating a support structure and a sense of belonging for every student.

“I could not be more pleased to welcome Ms. McMillan back to Lawrenceville. Driven by heartfelt convictions, she is a passionate advocate for students, and with her deep affection for the School, she invites us to work together to make it even better. I look forward to partnering with her and supporting her,” said Head of School Steve Murray, co-chair of the Dean of Students Search Committee.

McMillan returns to Lawrenceville from The Walker School (Marietta, Ga.), where she was the Assistant Head of the Upper School for the past year. She is a familiar face to Lawrentians, having served the School in roles that include Chair of the Language Department and classics teacher. As Second Form Level Director, she drew on her experience as an Assistant Head of House in Second, Third, and Fourth Form residences. One of her most significant areas of impact in this role was the design and implementation of a robust orientation and residential curriculum program, building a deliberate and thoughtfully curated community for the Second Form. In collaboration with colleagues, she guided residential policy within Second Form Houses, overseeing and evaluating associated Advisors and Heads of House. McMillan was also part of the Academic Review Committee, where she monitored student performance and created support plans and interventions to help Lawrentians thrive.

As a Lawrenceville classics teacher, McMillan taught all levels of Latin, Greek I, and a Second Form humanities course. She initiated Harkness travel programs in Greece, Italy, and Morocco, and was a co-leader on journeys to Austria, China, and Germany. McMillan was also a Big Red varsity outdoor track and field coach, girls’ junior varsity soccer team assistant coach, and a yoga instructor.

McMillan is a two-time Fulbright Grant recipient and earned a B.A. from Yale University. At the University of Georgia, where she is completing her master’s degree in classical language, she received the Graduate School Dean’s Award and, from the University of Chicago, the Outstanding Educator Award. She also received numerous honors during her time at Lawrenceville, including the Doll Family Teaching Chair for Promising Young Faculty and a Joukowsky Grant.

“Lawrentians are an amazing group of people and I am excited by the opportunity to be back with them,” said McMillan. “When I was at Lawrenceville, I would often remind Second Formers that our School is about building community. We can shape the Lawrenceville community to be what we want to be and, as Dean of Students, I will be honored to spearhead that effort.”

For additional information, please contact Lisa M. Gillard Hanson, director of Public Relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.