Head of School James A. Hamilton is awarded the ceremonial key to the school.
The Installation of James A. Hamilton
Ceremony honors Peddie’s past and charts its next chapter.
On Saturday, September 27, Peddie formally installed James A. Hamilton as its 17th Head of School in a ceremony attended by students, faculty, alumni, trustees, families and friends, with hundreds more joining via livestream. Former heads of school, Peter A. Quinn, John F. Green and Anne L. Seltzer, also attended, joining in the celebration of tradition and continuity.
The program included reflections from student leaders and colleagues, greetings from distinguished guests and a charge to Hamilton to lead Peddie into its next chapter.
In his Installation address, Hamilton acknowledged the leaders who came before him and expressed gratitude for the colleagues, family and friends who shaped his journey. He called on the Peddie community to honor tradition while embracing change with courage and conviction.
Drawing inspiration from Peddie’s motto, “We finish our labors to begin them anew,” Hamilton emphasized that education is an ongoing pursuit.
“It means we don’t measure ourselves by what we did yesterday, but by what we choose to do next,” Hamilton said. “At Peddie, we teach not only to prepare students for college or careers, but to prepare them for community. To give them the skills to listen, to question, to respect differences.”
Hamilton also introduced a guiding principle for his tenure: “humbition,” a balance of humility and ambition. “Humility to recognize that the work is bigger than you,” he said, “and ambition to push that work further.”
(Top) Hamilton celebrates with his family. (Bottom Left) Former Peddie Heads of School Anne L. Seltzer, John F. Green and Peter A. Quinn. (Bottom Right) Hamilton greets Board Chair Emeritus Elizabeth Silverman.
Looking ahead, Hamilton painted a vision of a Peddie where graduates are recognized for both academic excellence and their ability to lead with empathy, engage in meaningful dialogue and contribute significantly to a complex world. He pledged to work alongside students, employees, alumni and trustees to ensure Peddie remains a place where young people learn to live and thrive together.
Hamilton offered a pledge to the community:
“I will work for this community with humility and ambition. I will listen before I decide. I will celebrate our wins and face our challenges head-on. And every time we finish something together, I’ll be the one asking, ‘What’s next?’”
The Installation concluded with a sense of shared purpose and optimism for the journey ahead.