Courage
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Faculty and Staff
McCain-Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage Welcomes New Director
Taking over the leadership of Episcopal’s McCain-Ravenel Center is Ryan Pemberton, who comes to EHS from Hampden-Sydney College (H-SC) where he is presently the director of The Wilson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest. While Pemberton and his family will officially land on the Hill in late December, he has provided thoughtful insight about our upcoming MRC programming in November.
Pemberton brings to Episcopal not only significant experience in academic leadership, program development, and experiential teaching and learning, but also a passion for connecting students with real-world experiences that enrich their academic and personal lives.
Assistant Head of School for Academics Nate Ebel said, “Coming directly from higher education and leading a complex program like the Wilson Center for Leadership, Ryan brings expansive and relevant experience to his new role directing the McCain-Ravenel Center. It is clear already that Ryan believes deeply in the importance of the EHS mission to develop our students, both intellectually and morally, and he has already embraced the challenge of connecting all areas of the school to help our students embody the portrait (of a graduate) qualities that are so integral to the EHS education.”
During his time at H-SC, Pemberton successfully built a four-year co-curricular leadership program that sought to provide students with the enhanced skills needed for an enduring service mindset. Essential to this work, Pemberton actively sought to develop in students four foundational competencies that align with Episcopal’s educational mission: active citizenship; leadership in diverse contexts, ethical decision-making, and civil discourse.
When reflecting on his excitement in joining EHS, Pemberton said, “A lot of schools talk about character development, character formation, and holistic student development. It is clear to me, in looking at the Portrait of a Graduate and the School’s strategic plan, that this is at the forefront of what Episcopal wants to do. Thinking about the specificity in which these goals are discussed and planned for, and the way they are embraced by the entire community really turned my head.”
No stranger to the DC area, Pemberton is eager to add his substantial personal, professional, and academic connections in the region to the resources already utilized by the McCain-Ravenel Center. “With more than 500 flex block excursions last year, over 50 speakers engaging with students, and an amazing array of externship opportunities provided for the seniors, this MRC team is really doing impressive work,” said Pemberton. “They also have incredible ideas as we look to the future, and to expanding the infrastructure to help all the faculty provide the Portrait of a Graduate qualities to our student body. I could not be more excited about partnering with them and joining the Episcopal community.”
