Isaacson, Miller Recruits Chief Advancement Officer for the Taft School
September 5, 2025 – Nicole Poe, Maureen Perry, and Ryan Cheung of Boston-based Isaacson, Miller have recruited Kathleen Cleary as the new chief advancement officer of the Taft School. The appointment follows a nationwide search led by the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, with guidance from an advisory committee that helped shape the position description, review candidate materials, and interview semifinalists and finalists.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kathleen to the Taft community,” said Peter Becker, head of school. “The depth and breadth of her advancement leadership experience—most recently as director of major gifts at Phillips Academy—reflect a deep understanding of the critical mission of advancement and a true passion for the transformative impact of philanthropy. Through her commitment to education and community, mission-driven leadership, and ability to cultivate relationships across global networks, Kathleen effectively develops and executes strategic, comprehensive, and collaborative plans for institutional growth. We are excited about what this means for Taft’s future.”
During her decade at Phillips Academy, Ms. Cleary oversaw the major and principal giving operation. Her work and leadership were integral to Andover’s $400 million Knowledge & Goodness campaign, and to the growth and elevation of their advancement operation. Ms. Cleary distinguished herself through her work on a women’s philanthropic initiative, metric development and implementation, philanthropic mentorship, and strategic programming. She was instrumental in progressively increasing Andover’s philanthropic success, as she and her team were responsible for nearly half of Andover’s annual fundraising goal.
Prior to Andover, Ms. Cleary served The Nature Conservancy (TNC) as director of philanthropy. In this role, she led a team across major, annual, and planned giving; operations; and prospect management. She played a key role in recruiting new members to the regional boards of trustees, developing and executing a $50 million regional fundraising endeavor, and contributing to the planning and strategy of an organization-wide $4 billion comprehensive campaign. Ms. Cleary started her more than 20-year career in advancement at the Mayo Clinic in major and principal gift officer roles.
At Taft, Ms. Cleary will report to the head of school and serve as a key member of the senior administrative team. She will bring leadership and strategic vision to all aspects of Taft’s constituent relations and fundraising activities through the broad and comprehensive work carried out by our 20-member alumni development team, including major, endowed, leadership, and planned giving; the Taft Fund and the Parents’ Fund; reunion and class campaigns; advancement services and operations; development and campaign communications; and constituent relations and special events. Ms. Cleary will continue to strengthen and grow relationships with Taft’s more than 10,000 alumni, current and former parents, trustees, and friends and keep them actively engaged in the life of the institution.
“It’s an incredible honor to be selected to serve as Taft’s chief advancement officer,” Ms. Cleary said. “I am inspired by Taft’s rich history, vision for the future, and the talents of its community. I’m excited by all we will accomplish together.”
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The Taft School is a co-educational college-preparatory boarding and day school in New England for students in grades 9-12. More than 600 students from 51 countries and 34 states prepare for college at this academically rigorous school set on 226 acres.
A nationally recognized search firm focused on recruiting transformational leaders for mission-driven organizations, Isaacson, Miller has conducted thousands of placements over more than three decades. More than half of the firm’s work has been in academia, involving university presidents, college chancellors and deans. The firm has filled top leadership posts at Wellesley College, Washington State University, Miami University, Howard University, Bowdoin College, Dartmouth, NYU, Virginia State University, and the University of North Carolina, among others.
Ms. Poe joined Isaacson, Miller’s advancement practice in 2015 as a search coordinator. In this role, she provided administrative structure for a high volume of searches and acted as a liaison for clients, candidates, and the advancement team at large. With an understanding of logistical planning and search processes, Ms. Poe transitioned into the recruiting role in 2017. As a managing associate, she serves a diverse range of clients including Bowling Green State University, Quinnipiac University, the University of Chicago, United Way of Greater Atlanta, and Washington University in St. Louis. Over the course of her tenure, she has also partnered closely with The Kresge Foundation to recruit new members to the board of trustees.
The Search Team
Ms. Perry joined Isaacson, Miller in 2023. She began her career in the development office at Massachusetts General Hospital. Ms. Perry brings experience in cultivating relationships with faculty and donors within a grateful patient fundraising model.
Mr. Cheung joined Isaacson, Miller as a search coordinator in 2021. Prior to joining the firm, he interned at State Street Corporation’s employee engagement office. Previously, he provided constituent service support for the MA Office of Consumer Affairs.
Related: Why Universities Have Stepped Up Efforts to Involve Search Firms
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
