Willy MacMullen is a Senior Consultant in our Search & Consulting Group.

Willy’s distinguished experience includes over four decades of teaching, coaching and leadership in boarding schools. From 2001 to 2023, he served as the Head of School at The Taft School in Connecticut. His tenure was marked by significant contributions to the school:  leading a $185 million capital campaign, growing the endowment and expanding financial aid initiatives, diversifying its student body and faculty, and building and renovating its historic campus, including a $50 million dining hall and academic renovation and expansion.  In addition, his tenure was marked by changes in curriculum and campus life, including developing a new daily schedule, moving the school away from Advanced Placement courses, changing the grading scale and academic effort rubric, deepening resources around student health and well-being, and establishing both a Global Scholars program as well as DEI office. Willy began his career as an upper school English teacher at Taft, where he introduced innovative electives such as Wilderness Literature, inspired by his experience teaching in an outdoor wilderness program. Willy also was the boys’ varsity soccer coach for fifteen years and recognized as Connecticut Coach of the Year. Coming from a family deeply rooted in academia—his parents were Yale professors, and many members of his extended family pursued teaching—Willy’s passion for education runs deep.

Throughout his tenure at Taft, Willy held numerous leadership roles, including Class Dean, Co-director of the Senior Seminar, College Counselor, Director of Teaching Fellowships, Dean of Faculty, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Coordinator of the NEASC Accreditation Self-Study. He was also the recipient of the Edwin C. Douglas Chair and the Abramowitz Award for Teaching Excellence. Renowned for his exceptional leadership, Willy is known for his energy, optimism and presence, as well his ability to build deep, lasting connections with students and families–and the many faculty whom he has mentored over the years. On his retirement, a new soccer/lacrosse field was named in his honor and the school raised over $20 million in financial aid in his name.

Willy’s career has been marked by deep engagement in school improvement and accreditation. He served on and then chaired the NEASC Commission on Independent Schools (CIS), leading the accreditation of hundreds of schools. Additionally, he has served on or chaired decennial accreditations at Lawrence Academy, Westminster School, Pomfret School, Holderness School, Groton School, Middlesex School and School Year Abroad. He has served as trustee at the Rumsey Hall School and Cheshire Academy and as an advisor for the Positive Connection Initiative (PCI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching, advocating for, and investigating the role of positive connections in strengthening individuals and communities.

During Willy’s time at Carney Sandoe & Associates, he has partnered with a diverse range of independent school clients through the search process, including School Year Abroad, Friends Academy, and Upland Country Day School. His work reflects a strong understanding of the independent school landscape and a commitment to helping schools identify exceptional educational leadership and talent.

A Taft graduate himself; Willy also holds a degree from Yale University and a master’s degree from Middlebury College. Willy and his wife Pam, who also taught English for many years at Taft, live on Cape Cod. In his free time, he enjoys offshore fishing, hiking, gardening, birding, and woodworking.