Athens Academy is pleased to announce that Dr. Diana Murdock will be joining the administration this summer as director of the Academic Affairs department. Murdock currently serves as the director of middle school at Oak Hall School in Gainesville, Florida.

Murdock will take over direction of Academic Affairs from Pat Cuneo, who has accepted a position as director of accreditation for the Southern Association of Independent Schools beginning this summer.

“When we learned of Pat’s new position with SAIS, we knew that finding the right person to replace him would be an important process for the school and for our community,” says Head of School John Thorsen. “We are excited for Pat and his new role with a national organization that will allow him to work with over 400 schools across the Southeast, and we appreciate his good work and experience in curriculum and personnel development over the past nineteen years at Athens Academy.”

Thorsen is pleased to welcome Murdock: ““We knew almost immediately that Diana was a great fit for Athens Academy. We had a very talented pool of finalists, and Diana’s enthusiasm, energy, and experience made this an easy selection. Her knowledge of the independent school environment will allow her to navigate this position and meet the needs of our community confidently. While I know that Oak Hall will be sad to lose her, I am delighted to welcome Diana and her family to Athens.”

Prior to working at Oak Hall School, Murdock served as an associate professor of early childhood education and curriculum and instruction at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for ten years. She began her career as an elementary teacher in the public school systems in Georgia. Murdock has a Ph.D. in elementary education from the University of Georgia as well as a Master of Education and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, both from Berry College in Rome, Georgia.

Murdock and her husband have two children who will join Athens Academy’s Lower and Middle Schools. The family will relocate to Athens this summer.

Athens Academy is an independent, co-educational school for students in K3 through 12th grade, located on a beautiful 152-acre campus in Northeast Georgia. Now in its 56th year, Athens Academy pursues its mission of “excellence with honor” through academics, athletics, fine arts, and service and leadership. Ranked the #1 private school in Athens, #9 college prep school in the state of Georgia, and #1 private school in Northeast Georgia (Niche.com).