William McMullen’s distinguished experience includes over four decades of teaching, coaching and leadership in boarding schools. From 2001 to 2023, he served as the Head of School at The Taft School in Connecticut. His two decades of work transformed the school: he helped lead a $175 million capital campaign; he expanded commitment to financial aid and drove a dramatic change in the diversity of the student body, faculty, and board of trustees; he shepherded several curricular changes, including a new grading scale, the move away from Advanced Placement classes, and an innovative approach to feedback on student effort and engagement; and he oversaw a complete transformation of the campus through new construction and renovation. His true passion was in school culture: how to create a healthy, supportive, fun, inclusive and challenging learning community on a campus marked by diverse experiences and perspectives.  

Willy began his teaching career in 1983 as an upper school English teacher at Taft, where he introduced innovative electives such as Wilderness Literature, inspired by his prior experience teaching in an outdoor wilderness program. For over fifteen years he coached varsity boys’ soccer and developed the program into one of the most successful in New England. Coming from a family deeply rooted in academia—his parents were Yale professors, and many members of his extended family pursued teaching—Willy’s passion for education runs deep.

Throughout his tenure at Taft, Willy held numerous leadership roles, including Class Dean, College Counselor, Director of Teaching Fellowships, Dean of Faculty, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Coordinator of the NEASC Accreditation Self-Study. He was the recipient of the Edwin C. Douglas Chair and the Abramowitz Award for Teaching Excellence. He served as chair of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Independent Schools (CIS) and has led decennial accreditations at numerous schools. At his retirement, the new soccer/lacrosse field was named in his honor, and the school raised $25 million in scholarships in honor of Willy and his wife Pam.

Willy also holds degrees from Yale University and Middlebury College. He and his wife Pam, who also taught English for many years at Taft, live on Cape Cod. In his free time, he enjoys offshore fishing, hiking, gardening, birding, and woodworking.