May 08, 2025
A trailblazing alumna
Betsy Powell '56 leaves a legacy of leadership on the Andover boardby Allyson Irish
Facem praetendit ardentem. She holds aloft a burning torch.
This Latin inscription curves around the oval border of a vintage Abbot Academy logo. The design depicts a woman draped in flowing Grecian robes with a torch—symbolizing enlightenment and knowledge—held high in her right hand.
The logo and its words have inspired generations of Abbot alumnae to persevere and look to education as a means for progress and betterment. There could be no better representation of Trustee Emerita Betsy Parker Powell ’56, P’84, ’90, GP’19 and her lifetime accomplishments.
On committees and boards, raising funds and running a business, Powell has left a profound impact on the many people and places she has served.
Known for her keen vision, vivacious personality, and meticulous preparation, Powell was a mainstay on Phillips Academy’s Board of Trustees for 45 years, serving as a bridge to Andover and Abbot’s institutional histories. This past fall she decided to step away from attending regular meetings.
Good judgment, manners, and respect never go out of style. Betsy is a beacon for those traits. She has incredible acuity and work ethic and is ageless in terms of her interests and commitment.
”Powell came to Abbot Academy by way of Denver. Her parents, visiting her older sister at the Emma Willard School in New York, heard about Abbot’s impressive curriculum and traveled north to meet with Principal Marguerite Hearsey. They decided Abbot was a good fit and so, in the fall of 1953, 15-year-old Betsy was sent to Massachusetts by train, chaperoned by her mother’s Smith College friends.
This early expression of independence spawned a lifetime of resourcefulness and practicality—traits that Powell would lean on time and again, especially in the many spaces where she was one of few women.
Powell was the first woman on the board of BayBank Norfolk in 1988, the second woman elected to PA’s Board of Trustees, and likely one of very few women in the machine manufacturing industry in 1974, when she and husband David founded Diamond Machining Technology, Inc. Together they ran the successful business for 28 years, with Betsy managing the finances, staffing, and marketing while her husband oversaw manufacturing.
For decades, Powell has supported Andover through annual giving, endowed funds, and her work on the board, where she chaired many committees. She was president of the Chapel Cemetery Association and—through her fundraising, leadership, and vision—was able to transform what had been an overlooked area of campus. This work was honored with a bench in the cemetery engraved with her name.
“That bench is meaningful,” Powell shares. “All of my children [Parker ’84, Clare, and Liz ’90] have sat there with me.”
As Powell begins to slow down, she reflects on the “thrilling” experience of contributing to the many boards, committees, and organizations over her lifetime. She is proud of her work at Andover—especially in helping attract more women to leadership roles—and hopes the Academy will continue its focus on diversity and financial strength.
As for advice for future Andover trustees, Powell answers as only she can.
“If you are a leader and you want to accomplish something, you need to believe in and build your team. Don’t be too pushy. Listen and learn and speak up.”
Betsy with Min Xiao ’88 at Commencement
Friends for Life
Min Xiao ’88 considers Betsy Parker Powell ’56 a lifelong friend and her “American mom.”
The pair first met in China in 1987 when Powell and other Andover trustees were visiting the Harbin Institute of Technology where Xiao had been selected to take part in the Phillips Academy – Harbin Institute of Technology Exchange Program. Soon after, Xiao arrived on the Andover campus and Powell has been a constant in her life ever since.
Arriving in the United States without relatives or friends was difficult, but Xiao says “Betsy anchored me and turned this foreign country into a home.”
From welcoming Xiao to her house during school breaks and including her in family trips, Powell was not only a mother figure but also an important mentor.
Through postcards, phone calls, letters, and visits, Xiao and Powell have stayed connected and remained close friends for nearly 40 years. And Powell has been with Xiao for her major life moments, such as attending graduations from Andover and the University of Pennsylvania; visiting her at her first job in San Jose, California; and attending Xiao’s wedding. Powell even hosted a first birthday party for Xiao’s son at her Nantucket home.
“I’ve learned so much from Betsy,” Xiao says. “She genuinely cares about people and generously gives of her time and attention.”
(Photos: Allyson Irish, Courtesy)
Categories: Alumni, Leadership, Magazine
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