Friends Academy welcomed Alfred F. (Rik) Dugan III as the new Head of School on Wednesday, July 1, making him the 26th person in Friend’s illustrious 150-year history to lead the longest-running independent school on Long Island.
Day 1 on the new job felt like just another day at home for Mr. Dugan, who has been at Friends Academy for two years as Principal of the Lower School and Middle School.
“I am honored and inspired to serve as Friends Academy’s 26th Head of School,” he says. “This is a school that I love, with a mission that I believe in, and a community that my family and I are grateful to be a part of. As we pursue excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts, our students will grow as moral and ethical leaders, contributing positively to our world with purpose. They will learn to let their lives speak.”
As Friends Academy plans to commemorate its 150th anniversary throughout the upcoming school year, Mr. Dugan steps into the office previously held by Paul J. Stellato, who had served as Head of School since July 1, 2023, and retired at the end of June from a 40-plus-year career with independent schools.
“From the moment Rik arrived on campus two years ago, he has been a source of warmth, optimism, deep connection with our students, an authentic embrace of Quaker values and tradition, and genuine ambition for our school’s future,” says Frank Ingrassia, Co-President of Friends Academy’s Board of Trustees. “We could not be more excited about Rik’s leadership as we celebrate such an historic milestone.”
Steve Witthuhn ’01, Co-President of the Board of Trustees, adds, “Rik has worked closely with Paul on a thoughtful transition plan. Paul’s tenure with us was brief but impactful. His determined leadership delivered and laid the groundwork for a range of investments in our school’s future, including our new Science and Innovation Center. There is much to do in the year ahead, and Rik is ready to step in and carry forward the work underway across the school.”
As he stepped into his new role as the Head of School, Mr. Dugan reflected on his connection to Friends Academy. He highlighted the Matinecock Friends Meeting House, which has been a community gathering place for twice as long as Friends’ 150 years. Throughout the school’s history, students from all divisions of Friends Academy have regularly convened in the Meeting House across the street from campus to share their thoughts, reflect inwardly, and build the bonds that lead to lifelong friendships and a deep connection to the school.
“As I breathe in the 300-year-old air of the Matinecock Friends Meeting House, I feel the energy of the future sitting on the benches around me,” Mr. Dugan says. “I live a grateful life. When I hear our students stand and share publicly who and what they are thankful for, those that help them be and become, my heart fills with goodness. Schools are not about bricks and mortar — schools are about people in community, learning and living together every day, and they are meant to be joyful places. I am so grateful to call this school my home, and I am so inspired and prepared to lead our beloved school into the future.
“As we begin our 150th year,” he adds, “we celebrate this meaningful milestone, honor all that has come before us, and look with inspiration toward all that we can become. Community is at the heart of our school. Together, we will build a shared vision for the future of Friends Academy.”
Photos and video by Alvin Caal / Friends Academy