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Our Leadership

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."—Margaret Mead

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Leadership at Sterling College

Everyone at Sterling College is dedicated to helping our students succeed and become stewards of the environment. Our leadership team fosters a framework that promotes honesty, trust, and integrity. We keep our students and our mission at the heart of everything we do.


President Matthew Derr

Learn more about Matthew by clicking here.


Board of Trustees

The College is also governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. Through their work, the College is able to fulfill its mission of environmental stewardship and meet its aspirations for the future.

Get to know them better by clicking here.


President’s Cabinet

The Cabinet meets weekly to discuss and advise the President on issues related to the current and future needs of the college. In particular, this council focuses on issues related to institutional planning, operational budget, risk management, and general college initiatives.


Nicole is wearing a bright red scarf and her curly dark hair is flowing around her shoulders.

Nicole Civita

Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

Lori is wearing a blue blouse and sporting a short haircut; she stands in front of a bookshelf.

Lori Collins-Hall

Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Photo of president Matthew Derr standing in front of a green hedge and a white birch tree

Matthew Derr

President & Faculty

Favor Ellis

Favor Ellis

Interim Dean of Student Life

Christina is in the snowy woods hiking, wearing a blue hat and backpack

Christina Goodwin ’02

Dean of Advancement & Alumni Relations

profile picture of Maxine Kelly, standing in front of a spruce tree smiling for the camera

Maxine Kelly

Dean of Finance & Operations

Moxie Mehegan

Dean of Admission & Financial Aid

photo of CFO Peter Merrill standing in front of a gate leading to a green pasture with mountains in the background

Peter Merrill

Senior Advisor to the President

photo of Dean of Academics, Dr. Laura Spence, standing in front of a green hedge and a birch tree with white bark in spring time

Laura Spence

Dean of Academics & Faculty in Ecology

Matthew Derr

Our President

Matthew Derr Sterling College President   Sterling is a small college that thinks big and acts on its convictions. As the leading voice for ecological thinking and action, for nearly…

Sterling College Admission Policies

Office Directory

Academic & Work Program Administration Laura Spence Dean of Academics lspence@sterlingcollege.edu (802) 586-7711 ext. 116 Carol Dickson Associate Dean of Academics & Faculty cdickson@sterlingcollege.edu (802) 586-7711 ext. 110 Jeff Richardson…

Contact Sterling

Contact Sterling

Contact us! Have some questions?  Want to visit?  Feel free to call or email at any time.  Whatever you need, we’re here to help and looking forward to hearing from…

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Connect with Sterling Sterling College
PO Box 72
Craftsbury Common, VT 05827
(802) 586-7711

About Sterling

Sterling College uses education as a force to address critical ecological problems caused by unlimited growth and consumption that is destroying the planet as we have known it. Our mission is to advance ecological thinking and action through affordable experiential learning that prepares people to be knowledgeable, skilled, and responsible leaders in the communities in which they live.

Sterling acknowledges that the land on which we gather is the traditional and unceded territory of the Abenaki people on our Vermont campus, and the Shawnee, Osage, and the Eastern band of the Cherokee on our Kentucky campus.

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  • Institutional COVID Updates
  • About Sterling
    • At a Glance
    • Accreditation
    • Mission and Vision
      • Ecological Thinking and Action
      • Strategic Initiative
      • Sustainable Sterling
      • Back
    • Our Leadership
      • Our President
      • Board of Trustees
      • Board of Advisors
      • Alumni Association Board
      • Back
    • Sterling Timeline
    • Employment
    • Back
  • Admissions and Aid
    • Apply
      • Admission Requirements
      • Admission Deadlines
      • Transfer Applicants
      • Vermonters
      • Veterans
      • Homeschooled Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Visiting Students
      • Back
    • Inquire
    • Experience Sterling College
      • Interactive Campus Map
      • Open House
      • Family Weekend
      • Accommodations
      • Back
    • Financial Aid & Scholarships
      • Scholarships
      • Net Price Calculator
      • Work College
      • Back
    • Tuition, Room & Board
    • Back
  • Academics
    • Find your program
      • Ecology
      • Environmental Humanities
      • Outdoor Education
      • Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
      • Self-Designed Major
      • Climate Justice Minor
      • Draft Animal Power Systems
      • Education Studies
      • Natural History Minor
      • Natural Resources Conservation Minor
      • Back
    • Faculty
    • Field Studies
    • Rian Fried Center
    • The Foundation of Sterling’s Curriculum
    • Course Catalog
    • Academic Calendar
    • Graduation Requirements
      • Senior Capstone
      • Back
    • Advising
    • Brown Library
    • Back
  • Wendell Berry Farming Program
    • Wendell Berry Farming Program Open House
    • Back
  • Professional Studies
    • The New American Farmstead
    • Back
  • Life at Sterling
    • Work College
    • Community
    • Safety and Security
    • The Sterling Kitchen
    • The Farm
    • Student Activities
    • Athletics
    • Health & Wellness
    • Residence Halls
    • Back
  • Alumni & Supporters
    • Sterling Outcomes
    • Back
  • Parents & Families
  • Make A Gift
  • Online Store
  • More
    • Contact Sterling
      • Office Directory
      • Back
    • Directions
    • News & Events
    • The Blog
    • Corporate Foundation and Government Relations
    • Intranet
    • Back