Harpeth Hall Welcomes Dr. Barbara Bell

As one of the first female graduates of the United States Naval Academy, Dr. Bell maintains an impressive resume with professional foundations as a Naval Officer, Naval Aviator, Naval Captain, and business consultant. Combining the skills she acquired in the aerospace sector for more than 25 years, along with her doctorate in education, Bell will join the Harpeth Hall community as a passionate and experienced advocate for the next generation of women and girls in STEM.

On top of her extraordinary Naval achievements and awards, Bell is a speaker and an active member of several nonprofits dedicated to empowering women. In her favorite speech, "Learning to Fly," she seeks to give girls and women the tools they need to soar in their lives.

Quite notably, Bell supported the National Organization of Women (NOW) on Capitol Hill to successfully repeal U.S. Combat Exclusion laws pertaining to women in aviation and on combat ships. Bell currently serves as board member for Wings 4 U, a nonprofit committed to providing leadership development for underserved middle and high school girls in Lubbock, Texas.

Bell holds a Bachelor of Science in systems engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in astronautical engineering from the United States Naval Postgraduate School. During her Naval career, she flew more than 1,600 hours in 35 different types of aircraft. Additionally, Bell received a Master of Arts in theology from Marylhurst University in 2015, and most recently obtained a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University in May 2018.

Bell is thrilled "beyond measure" to join Harpeth Hall to help launch the next generation of women thought leaders and STEM professionals.