Hired in the late summer of 2019, Hillary Dooley has been a part of the Westover community for a little more than a year now. Though most of her experience has occurred during the pandemic, limiting on-campus time, it hasn’t taken long for her to recognize what a unique place Westover is.

“Westover is a special place, and every member of the community plays an important role in bringing the School experience to life,” she said. “This includes the internal community on campus each day like the students, teachers, staff, dorm parents and coaches. But this also includes the overarching community like the trustees, alumnae board, volunteers, and each and every alumna.”

Working in Hillard House for the Alumnae and Development Office, Hillary spent her first year as the Donor Engagement and Stewardship Manager, but this fall transitioned to the role of Assistant Director of the Westover Fund. Previously employed at Taft School, working with the Communications and Alumni and Development offices, Hillary’s excited to bring her experience and passions for education and community connections to the Westover Fund.

“The Westover community is deeply dedicated, and we've seen this in so many ways throughout the pandemic as alumnae work to help each other and to be of service to anyone who needs it. The ways that alums have stepped up is inspiring,” she said.  “When I was at Taft, I worked very closely with the class secretaries, and I look forward to bringing this experience to working with Westover's awesome and dedicated volunteer groups, including class agents and governors, as well as our newly created Student Ambassador group.”

Originally from Pennsylvania, about an hour outside Philadelphia, Hillary attended college at Elon University in North Carolina, where she majored in professional writing. She spent a few years in North Carolina after college before moving to Connecticut. 

“(I) started my career working as a copywriter and I wrote everything from product descriptions, blog posts, SEO content, web pages, and paid advertisements,” she said. “I wasn't passionate about working in the corporate world, though, so when I moved to Connecticut I focused my job search on roles in the nonprofit and education sectors.”

As Hillary has gotten to know more about the impact that the Westover experience has had on the lives of alumnae, she feels she can more effectively connect with current students and other community members.

“I love meeting or Zooming with alumnae and hearing about their Westover experience,” she said. “Everyone has a teacher they love, a class that challenged them, or a story about how Westover made them who they are today. I think it's important to note that we also hear from people who didn't have the best Westover experience, but even so, these alumnae are just as dedicated and passionate about improving Westover for students today. There is truly something powerful in a group of women united towards a cause, and I am grateful that every day I get to interact with this great group of women to help support the amazing and impressive Westover students.”

As Assistant Director of the Fund, Hillary just finished up a successful Giving Tuesday campaign earlier this month, where Westover raised $108,000 from more than 200 donors.

“I think donating to Westover if you can (no gift is too small!) or volunteering your time is a great way to give back and do your part as an alum to bring the Westover experience to life,” she said. “As a young alumna, you can start supporting Westover early on and impact countless students over the years!”

Described by her closest friends as loyal, thoughtful, and creative, Hillary said that outside of Westover she’s been big into re-watching early seasons of the “Great British Baking Show.”

“My pandemic priorities have also been about finding time to connect with my family more often and staying active,” she said.

And of course, working in the Alumnae and Development Office, Hillary happens to have a Westover-related connection.

“When I was applying to Westover, my grandmother told me that her stepmother went to Westover,” Hilary explained. “I mentioned this in my interview, excited that I had a Westover connection. But then my grandmother informed me that my step great-grandmother was actually kicked out of Westover for talking to a boy through the window! I'm grateful the team didn't hold this against me and hired me anyway.”