President 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 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, President 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. Unusually for a college president, Derr also fulfills a role as a faculty member and teaches community organizing.
Profile
| Award | Institution |
|---|---|
| MSW Community Organizing | University of Michigan |
| B.A. 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
Sterling College President Responds to Climate Emergency
Greta is Coming. An Open Letter to Higher Education Leaders in the United States I’m a college president, and I’m looking at a wave of Greta Thunbergs. They are building…
View moreMatthew Derr and Mary Berry Speak at The Land Institute’s 2018 Prairie Festival
Sterling College Trustee and Executive Director of The Berry Center, Mary Berry, and President Matthew Derr had the privilege of presenting together at this year’s Prairie Festival at The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. Click…
View more33 Graduates for May 2014
In May 2014, Sterling College graduated 33 students, its largest graduating class in history. Under a sky that threatened rain, thirty-one of the thirty-three graduates paraded in behind piper Robert…
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