“To educate and nurture young people to the highest standard we are able and to do so consistently with the Quaker values that are at the very soul of this school—not least rigor in the pursuit of knowledge, including self-knowledge.”

J. Samuel Houser, Ninth Head of School

Aug. 1, 2016

In 2016 J. Samuel “Sam” Houser was appointed Head of School, George School. Sam received his BA magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, where he majored in Latin and spent an undergraduate year at University College London, in the Departments of Greek and Latin. He holds a PhD in Classical Philology from Brown University.

After teaching Latin and Greek for eleven years in the Classics Department at Franklin & Marshall, Sam was appointed vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff in 2007. He chaired the strategic planning committee, stewarded the integration of a donor’s private nature conservancy into Franklin & Marshall, supported the college’s strategic marketing initiative, mentored Franklin & Marshall’s Rouse Leadership Scholars, and oversaw the college’s relationship with the Lancaster community.

Sam also has served on the Board of Trustees of Wilson College, chaired the Board of Directors of the Millport Conservancy, Lititz, PA, and is a member of the Board at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), and Friends Council on Education.

Remarks Sam, “George School graduates are highly respected among the country’s top colleges and are known to represent rigorous academics, strong character, and Quaker values.

“From the moment I first set foot on campus, George School impressed me as a family as much as a school. Building on the inspiring leadership of Nancy Starmer and continuing to strengthen this incredible educational community will be exhilarating responsibilities and a great pleasure. I am inspired by being a leader and advocate for George School and the values that make it distinctive.”