Governor’s alumnus and former faculty member Michael Mulligan ’71 received the prestigious The Ruzicka Compass Premier Leadership Award (The Award) at The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) Annual Conference held last week in Washington, D.C. This award is the highest leadership award that TABS presents.
The Award recognizes extraordinary contributions to the excellence, advancement, and success of boarding schools by an individual. The Award is named in honor of the late Steven D. Ruzicka, TABS' Executive Director from 1995-2007, who dedicated his life to these remarkable communities. The Award itself, an elegant, handcrafted artisan box with an inlaid compass, is presented on behalf of TABS’ Board of Directors to one individual each year at the TABS Annual Conference. A larger, compass-themed plaque, bearing the names of each annual recipient, is maintained at TABS offices.
After graduating from Middlebury College, Michael Mulligan ’71 joined the faculty at The Governor’s Academy (then Governor Dummer Academy) in 1977. He taught English and History, and coached soccer, wrestling, and lacrosse. After marrying his wife Joy Sawyer Mulligan in 1981, Joy joined him at Governor’s, where she took on the roles of Assistant Director of Admission, Co-Dean of Students, and English teacher.
In 1986, Michael and Joy moved from Byfield to The Thacher School in Ojai, California. After holding several positions at Thacher including Dean of Administration and interim Head of School, Michael became the Head of School in 1993, a position he held until his retirement this past July.
Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Michael!