Cheshire Academy’s own Peter White ’07 has returned to his alma mater as the Office of Advancement’s newest Director of Alumni Relations.

White, who has served in similar capacities at Westminster School and Fairfield University, started on Sept. 3. He earned a B.A. in English with a professional writing concentration from Washington & Jefferson College (Washington, Pennsylvania).

As the Director of Alumni Relations, White will manage the Academy’s relationship with its nearly 6,000-strong global alumni community and work to enhance CA’s program to keep alumni involved with the Academy.

“I believe I have the best job in the world,” reflected White. “I have a chance to meet so many passionate, exciting, and interesting Cheshire Academy alumni, and help them to reconnect—or stay connected—with the school.”

In his role, White plans to establish Cheshire Academy chapters in major cities and countries where alumni are located.

“We want chapters that kind of operate on their own so that alumni are getting together annually for regional events sponsored by the Advancement Office, but also connecting and networking on their own,” White explained.

White also intends to develop an international alumni relations program that focuses on global cities with a large concentration of CA alumni. He is currently planning a trip in December to Korea, where several current families and over 100 alumni are living.

“It’s all about getting people in a room,” he said. “As we continue to get alumni together, that nostalgia comes back. You start to remember how enriching Cheshire was, how special it was for them, and the unique experiences it offered everyone.”

Reflecting on his time at the Academy, White said he and his family had moved to Cheshire the summer prior to his freshman year. When the school year began, White immediately became an active part of the Academy’s community.

“You have no problem getting to know people,” he said. “…It quickly became like a home-away-from-home for me.”

To this day, some of White’s closest friendships were made during his four years at Cheshire Academy, he admits.

“You really do have an opportunity here to make long-lasting relationships,” White said. “It’s true what they say, ‘It’s a community,’ it really is.”

Having graduated from Cheshire Academy, White recognizes the importance of remaining connected with the school. He believes that the Academy is in an exciting place with a lot of momentum. While faculty, staff, and students at the Academy are immersed in the action day-to-day, White believes alumni off campus remain an integral part of the school and should remain connected to it.

“The extended (off campus) community that is Cheshire Academy—including alumni, current parents, and parents of alumni—are doing awesome things, are waving the Cheshire Academy flag, and continuing to represent the Eight Pillars of Bowden. It’s impressive,” he said. “I look at my position as a way to be a resource for that community, off campus, and reconnect them with each other.”

White credits Head of School Julie Anderson P’19, ’23 in part for his excitement to return to Cheshire Academy.

“To have that leadership at Cheshire right now, to rejoin the Cheshire community with her leading the way is inspiring,” he said. “It really gives me, our office—the Advancement Office—a great story to tell when we’re connecting with alumni.”

Advancement is currently planning the annual Homecoming & Family Weekend for Oct. 18-19, inviting alumni and parents to Cheshire Academy for a weekend full of events, including the varsity football game against Choate. The office is also scheduling a reunion event that will welcome all alumni, and focus in particular on the classes ending in “0” and “5,” for June 5-6.