Leila Govi will be the first women to serve as the President of the Deerfield Board of Trustees. Ms. Govi has served as a Deerfield Trustee for eight years and will assume her new role on July 1st, 2022, as current Board of Trustees President Brian Simmons P. ’12, ’14 retires from the position.
Originally from Chicago, raised in Saudi Arabia, and recently having moved to New York after residing in London for over 23 years, Ms. Govi was once one of the first international female students to attend the Academy since the school’s return to coed- ucation in 1989.
When asked about the personal significance behind being elected Board President, Ms. Govi told the Scroll that the role is an “incredibly humbling responsibility. I never would have imagined myself in a position to be able to help and give back to the Academy at such a high level and I am acutely aware of those who have come before me as Board Presidents.” Ms. Govi added, “In terms of being the first female president, I think that’s a wonderful thing and I think it’s about time! If I can be a role model even in a small way for other girls, I will be grateful. I want every Deerfield girl to feel that the school is as much theirs as [it is for] every Deerfield boy.”
The Board of Trustees President, as described by Head of School John Austin, is responsible for the future of the school by leading the preparation and organization for Board meetings, working closely with the Head of School, and collaborating with other trustee members to appoint chairs of various committees within the Board.
When asked about the characteristics of a strong working relationship between the Board President and the Head of School, Dr. Austin said, “There have to be really strong and robust levels of trust. I can go to [the Board] with any question that I am trying to make sense of and I know that they will give me their honest perspective and wisdom while trusting me and my team to make the best decision on behalf of the school.”
Among the qualities Deerfield looks for in a Board of Trustees President, Dr. Austin emphasized “dedication to the institution, exceptional judgment, financial acumen, and an ability to steward the resources of the school with the rest of the Board.” Dr. Austin said Leila S. Govi ’93 not only possesses “tremendous love for and dedication to the Academy,” but Dr. Austin is also confident she will also offer a cosmopolitan point of view to the Board.
Describing how her story has shaped her desire to give back to the Deerfield community, Ms. Govi explained, “I grew up with a very strong mother; she herself was the only girl to attend an all boys high school in Tunisia.” She continued, “Unlike many [parents] in her generation, she pushed my sister and I more than my brothers. I think that feeling of never settling comes from her and it’s always pushed me to do more for others and for myself.”
As illustrated by the goals she has outlined for Deerfield, Ms. Govi is determined to preserve Deerfield traditions that proved to be a hallmark of her Deerfield experience.
“I think traditions really matter,” Ms. Govi explained. “They give us that sense of identity and connect us to one another; they can also be really comforting when we go through hard times because they remind us that we have a strong community that we can lean on when we need to. And for me they bring some of the best memories I have at Deerfield. I want to make sure we con- tinue to protect these traditions.”
For example, it has recently proven challenging to fit the entire study body and faculty into the dining hall during sit down meals. By planning for a Dining Hall renovation, Ms. Govi hopes to ensure that sit-down meals include the entire school contribute to memories made by future generations of Deerfield students.
For the long term, Ms. Govi emphasized, “One of my big goals is to be more connected to the students and faculty to better understand the things they care about so I in turn can be a better Trustee and Board President. I want it to be a very connected tenure. Dr. Austin cares first and foremost about student wellbeing and their experiences and so I want this board to continue driving forward with this most crucial agenda, of putting students first.”
In order to achieve these goals, Ms. Govi understands that it is imperative to foster and maintain a healthy board culture. When asked about how she hopes to promote a collegial board and productive working environment, Ms. Govi stated, “My goal as President is to tap into every one of [the trustees] ideas, harness all the talent in the room and make sure the best ideas move to the top.” She concluded, “My job is more of a listener than a talker.”
Looking ahead, Ms. Govi’s passion for giving back to Deerfield will propel her further in her quest to preserve the Academy’s traditions that embody the school’s culture and core values. As a community, it is important to recognize and celebrate the Board of Trustees’ dedication and hard work, especially as Mr. Simmons steps down and the community welcomes Ms. Govi as the new President.