Dr. Patricia Scott has been named Padua Academy’s inaugural president, marking a historic milestone in the Wilmington school’s 72-year history. She will officially assume the role on Aug. 10, 2026. Photo courtesy of Padua Academy.
By Jamie Kleman, Contributing Journalist, Delaware LIVE
Padua Academy has announced a historic milestone with the appointment of Dr. Patricia Scott as the school’s inaugural president, a new leadership position that marks the beginning of a President-Principal model designed to strengthen the Wilmington Catholic high school’s long-term mission and sustainability. Dr. Scott will officially assume the role on Aug. 10, 2026.
The appointment was announced by the Padua Academy Board of Trustees and St. Anthony of Padua Parish following a comprehensive national search.
“Today, we are honored to share historic news for Padua Academy,” said Jennifer A. Cuva ’99, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Fr. Vincent Kumar, O.S.F.S., Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, in a letter to the school community. “Dr. Scott brings a deep commitment to Catholic education, a collaborative leadership style rooted in service, and a clear vision for advancing Padua Academy’s mission while strengthening its future.”
Scott most recently served as president of Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania, where she oversaw strategic planning, institutional advancement, enrollment growth, financial stewardship, and operations. During her tenure, the school expanded philanthropic support, increased community engagement, improved enrollment, and completed several major campus improvement projects.
Before that, Scott spent more than a decade as principal of Saint Edmond’s Academy in Wilmington, where she earned recognition for fostering academic excellence, innovation, and a vibrant school community. She also serves on the Board of Directors at Salesianum School and has remained active in Catholic education leadership throughout the region.
The appointment also represents a significant evolution in Padua Academy’s leadership structure. Under the President-Principal model, the president will oversee strategic planning, advancement, financial stewardship, and community relationships, while the principal will continue leading the school’s academic programs and student life. School leaders say the model is intended to strengthen both academic and operational leadership while ensuring the school’s continued excellence for future generations.
School officials said Scott distinguished herself throughout the national search because of her strategic vision, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to Catholic education. She also brings a personal connection to Padua as the parent of alumna Haley Scott, Class of 2019, and an appreciation for the school’s motto, Suaviter sed Fortiter(“Softly, but Strongly”), which reflects Padua’s tradition of leading with both compassion and strength.
“Rooted in the Franciscan and Salesian traditions, Padua has remained steadfast in its purpose while preparing generations of young women to lead and serve,” the Board added. “We are confident that Dr. Scott will build upon this legacy and help carry Padua’s mission forward with faith, vision, and purpose.”
Scott brings more than 35 years of experience in Catholic education, serving as a teacher, principal, and president. A lifelong Delawarean, she graduated from Archmere Academy before earning her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Delaware.
“I am honored to serve as Padua Academy’s first President,” Scott said. “As a proud parent of a Padua alumna, daughter Haley, Class of 2019, I have experienced firsthand the extraordinary impact a Padua education has on young women and their families. I have long admired the school’s unwavering commitment to developing women of faith, compassion, confidence, and purpose. I look forward to partnering with the faculty, staff, students, families, and benefactors who make this community so special, and to building upon Padua’s strong tradition while guiding it confidently into the future.”
Learn more about Dr. Patricia Scott and Padua Academy’s first president: Padua Academy
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