A
scholarch (,
scholarches) was the head of a
school in
ancient Greece. The term is especially remembered for its use to mean the heads of schools of philosophy, such as the
Platonic Academy in
ancient Athens. Its first scholarch was
Plato himself, the founder and proprietor. He held the position for forty years, appointing his nephew
Speussipus as his successor; later scholarchs were elected by members of the Academy.