On a beautiful Friday morning in the Graduation Garden, Susan Thompson Sadler was officially installed as the tenth Head of School at The Bryn Mawr School. The special ceremony featured an invocation from Peggy Mock Obrecht ’56, a former trustee, and remarks from Bill Christ, the head of school at Hathaway Brown from 1987 to 2016 and one of Sue's most impactful mentors, as well as a speech from Sue herself.

Sue also received gifts from each division, presented by students – a handcrafted book from the Little School, a "field of daisies" created by the Lower School, divisional photos from the Middle School and a painting of daisies from the Upper School.
“Sue charmed us all with her upbeat, positive attitude, her at-ease way, sense of humor, and quickness on her feet. When parents, faculty, students, and alumnae pitched questions to her in various forums in Centennial Hall during the finalist interviewing process, Sue responded with so much knowledge, thought, warmth and sincerity. It was clear that she was connecting with the whole community.”

-Hadley Hubbard Feiss ’82, Chair of the Board of Trustees
“Sue brings decades of experience in changing the world for the better by liberating the potential of girls, and no doubt will continue to lead Bryn Mawr’s great tradition of pursuing all that is best in girls’ education. She is endlessly curious, fascinated by ideas, and gifted at making those ideas come to life. She is a huge advocate for faculty, a resourceful mentor, and is a masterful builder of community – a caretaker of every heart and soul.”

- Bill Christ, former head of Hathaway Brown

The Installation Charge


For 133 years, The Bryn Mawr School has been preparing young women to be resilient in the face of complexity, ambiguity, and change; to become responsible and confident participants in the world; and to lead considered and consequential lives.

Under your leadership, we entrust, our mission will continue. Sue, on behalf of the Bryn Mawr School Board of Trustees, it is a great honor to officially install you as the Head of School. As the tenth leader of our 133-year-old institution, I hereby charge you:

  • To honor and uphold the mission and traditions of The Bryn Mawr School;
  • To be a champion for the education, development, and wellbeing of our students;
  • To support and guide the faculty and staff in their essential work of inspiring curiosity, achievement, and a lifetime of learning through our academic program;
  • To engage and connect with our diverse student, parent, and alumnae communities; and
  • To lead The Bryn Mawr School into the future with strength, compassion, and vision.
At the conclusion of the installation pledge, Feiss presented Sadler with the “Key to the School,” an antique key with 10 silver charms, each one engraved with a signature of one of the 10 heads of The Bryn Mawr School:
  •     Edith Hamilton, 1896 – 1922*
  •     Amy Kelly, 1922 – 1933
  •     Janet Howell Clark, Class of 1906: 1935 – 1938
  •     Katharine Van Bibber, Class of 1920: 1939 – 1962
  •     Diane Howell, 1962 – 1973
  •     Blair D. Stambaugh, 1973 – 1980
  •     Barbara Landis Chase, 1980 – 1994
  •     Rebecca MacMillan Fox, 1995 – 2001
  •     Maureen E. Walsh, 2002 – 2017
  •     Sue Sadler, 2017 – Present
*For the first 11 years, Bryn Mawr was overseen by a series of “academic secretaries” appointed by the board of managers.

“The names represented on this key have led the school for 133 years with foresight and determination as generations of young women have passed through our doors. We have the utmost confidence that you will continue to lead Bryn Mawr with this spirit. You are now part of our school’s history and legacy, forever. Sue, may this key unlock many years of joy, fulfillment, and prosperity for you, and for Bryn Mawr.”

-    Hadley Hubbard Feiss ’82
Above, left: Two Lower School girls present Sue with a painting of a field of daisies that the entire Lower School created.

Middle: Dayseye performs "Home" to welcome Sue to her new home

Right: Two Little Schoolers and teacher Suzanne Pugh present Sue with a handcrafted book from the Little School students and faculty
“Over the years, what I have learned far exceeds what I have taught. I’ve learned that each student is unique, with her own dreams, and has something to teach me. I’ve learned that the smallest kindness can help someone at a critical moment, and that we may not even know when we make a difference. I’ve learned that being brave and trying something is better than making no effort at all, because fear of failure will keep us from ever getting started. I’ve learned that we need to have enough confidence to try again when, first, we fail. I’ve seen firsthand that if you want something badly enough, and you are willing to keep working at it, you can make it happen...

Today, more than ever, we need the insight and leadership of girls and women. We often take our rights and privileges for granted, but even now, 60 million girls still don’t have access to education. For them, this dream is yet to be realized. For civilization to thrive, we must strive to educate our young women, and Bryn Mawr can light the path for others.”

- Sue Sadler, Head of School
Above: Sue celebrates with members of her family after the ceremony.
Located in Baltimore, Maryland, The Bryn Mawr School is a private all-girls pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school with a coed preschool for ages 2 months through 5 years. Bryn Mawr provides students with exceptional educational opportunities on a beautiful 26-acre campus within the city limits. Inquisitive girls, excellent teaching, strong student-teacher relationships and a clear mission sustain our vibrant school community where girls always come first.