Biography
Scott L. Thomas, Ph.D.
Dr. Scott L. Thomas holds a BA in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Leadership, and Research Methods from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Importantly to Sterling, an avid surfer, Nordic skier, and outdoor adventurer, Dr. Thomas has led a life exploring and engaging with environments and cultures around the world. He understands firsthand the importance of place-based experiences, that scale matters, and has learned to hold deep respect for indigenous ways of knowing.
Scott has more than 25 years of teaching and leadership experience at private and public institutions. A first-generation college student, Scott has devoted his career to advancing programs and policies to expand access to quality college opportunities, ensure student success, and build diverse organizations.
His work in Hawai’i, California, Wyoming, and Vermont has given rise to innovative programs supporting rural communities, world-class competency-based learning, college and career pathways programs in dozens of rural high schools, and strengthened relations and knowledge exchange with the indigenous communities in these regions. Hallmarks of Scott’s work include community-engaged programming, deliberate international partnerships, and program development emphasizing indigeneity, place-based, and experiential education.
A lifelong educator and an advocate for our environment and outdoor education, Scott’s leadership experience include large-scale strategic planning, financial management, student success, government and community relations, fundraising, and enrollment management. He has direct experience with more than a dozen regional and national accrediting agencies. His data-driven approach to strategic planning and continuous improvement has been commended by accreditors at several institutions and held up as an exemplar nationally.