President Emeritus Matthew Derr is nationally recognized in higher education for his expertise in leading institutional change and for strengthening mission-based focus. In 2011, He was awarded a Council for Advancement and Support of Education Chief Executive of the Year Award. Derr led the effort to divest the Sterling endowment from fossil fuels, founded the Rian Fried Center for Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, and recently launched an effort with The Berry Center to expand the reach of farmer education. Prior to Sterling, Derr served as Interim President of Antioch College, where, he developed a concept for a new curriculum focused on issues related to environmental stewardship, inspired by Sterling. Derr’s presidency ended on October 31, 2021, but he continues to serve as an advisor and friend to the College.
Profile
| Award | Institution |
|---|---|
| MSW Community Organizing | University of Michigan |
| BA in History | Antioch College |
| Publications |
|---|
| The Civic Role of Higher Education (Huffington Post) |
| Sterling College: Aligning Our Investments with Our Values (Trillium Investment newsletter) |
| Endorsement for Civil Rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People Among Heterosexual College Students: Informing Socially Just Policy Advocacy (Journal of Community Practice) |
| 24/7: The New Role of Food in American Life (presentation at New York University, October 2013) |
| Where the Opportunities Exist for Improved Socially Responsible Investing and Environmental Social Governance Returns (11th Annual Foundation, Endowment, & Not for Profit Investment Summit, January 2014) |
Interests:
Issues related to food systems, social justice, and sustainabilityMatthew's Recent Blog Posts
President Matthew Derr: The First Five Years
Matthew Derr’s office on the second floor of Mager has pictures of himself with his partner, Julian Sharp, currently studying at seminary in California, as well as pictures of Harper,…
View moreJared Nunery, Orleans County Forester, Now on Campus
South House is now more than a dormitory; it also houses the office of the Orleans County Forester, Jared Nunery. Nunery has been the Orleans County Forester since 2013, but…
View moreSterling College Celebrates Another Record Year in Enrollment & Fundraising
September 3, 2015 • Craftsbury Common, VT • As headlines across the country declare that “small colleges are in trouble” and highlight dire predictions for small, private higher education institutions,…
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