Wanda Holland Greene ’85 is the Head of School at The Hamlin School in San Francisco, a position she has held since 2008. She is also a current trustee at Columbia University and Head-Royce School, an advisor to Common Sense Media and a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow at The Aspen Institute. Earlier in her career, Ms. Holland Greene taught at Chapin and served as the School’s first Director of Student Life. She was also a senior administrator at The Park School and a teacher at The Columbia Greenhouse Nursery School. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a master’s degree in curriculum design and instruction from Columbia’s Teachers College.
*Published in the 2016 Alumnae Bulletin
In what ways did your Chapin years inform your sense of yourself and the world?
At Chapin, I learned that being a strong woman was an asset and that being a smart, confident and empathic leader was a requirement. My self-efficacy, sense of purpose and proclivity for civic engagement were shaped at Chapin.
Chapin’s school-wide theme this year is “Our Future, Our Voices.” What does this mean to you, personally and professionally?
As the head of a girls school [The Hamlin School in San Francisco], this theme resonates with me deeply. To me, it means that strong female voices are essential for the success and stability of our country and the world. If women's voices are silenced, there will be a tragic loss of human capital, and the future will be bleak for everyone. I also like the emphasis on the collective “our,” which means that we are often stronger when standing together.
What advice would you have for Chapin students today?
I have seven pieces of advice:
1. Love yourself. Be proud of where you come from. Don’t cloak your identity to make others comfortable.
2. Work hard. The path to success is paved with sweat and grit. (But don’t forget to get enough sleep!)
3. Challenge and interrupt racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Semitism and any kind of injustice. Stand up.
4. Examine your own power and privilege, and understand where you stand relative to others. Be empathic.
5. Discern the truth. Don’t settle for superficial statistics and data. Go deep and discover what is real.
6. Resist the addiction to social media. Remember to embrace solitude and in-person conversations.
7. Take risks. Do something that scares you.
According to the School mission, Chapin prepares young women “to thrive and lead in a global society.” Does this statement resonate with you? How?
The statement does indeed resonate with me. I am thriving and leading in a global society, so I am living the mission! I wish I could say that thriving and leading is without complexity or challenge. In every industry, including education, women are underrepresented in leadership positions. Chapin women need to defy the odds, challenge the status quo and walk boldly forward. Fortiter et recte!