Matthew Derr

Matthew Derr
Derr in 2018
11th President of
Sterling College
In office
2012–2021
Preceded byWill Wootton
Succeeded byLori Collins-Hall
President of Antioch College
In office
2007–2010
Preceded bySteven Lawry
Succeeded byMark Roosevelt
Personal details
Born (1967-07-12) July 12, 1967 (age 59)
Flint, Michigan
EducationAntioch College, University of Michigan, New York University
ProfessionAcademic

Matthew Derr (born July 12, 1967) is an American educator. He presently serves as Deputy Publisher at Chelsea Green Publishing, an imprint of Rizzoli International, and was a trustee and executive director of the company's philanthropic foundation.

From 2007 to 2010 he served as interim president of Antioch College in Ohio and from 2012 to 2021 as President of Sterling College in Vermont.

Early life and education

Derr was born on July 12, 1967, in Flint, Michigan. His grandparents and parents were autoworkers. He attended public schools before earning a Bachelor of Arts in History from Antioch College in 1989 and Masters of Social Work in Community Organizing and Social Systems from the University of Michigan in 2012. He has also studied at the George Heyman Center for Philanthropy at New York University.

Career

Interim President of Antioch College (2007–2010)

After the closure of his alma mater Antioch College in 2007, Derr led an alumni drive to reopen the institution and raised $25 million. He served as interim president of Antioch from 2007 to 2010.

In 2010, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education awarded Derr with the organization's Chief Executive Leadership Award for his efforts "in saving Antioch College from permanent closure." The Great Lakes Colleges Association recognized his efforts on behalf of liberal education with a visiting fellowship.

President of Sterling College (2012–2021)

Derr was hired as president of Sterling College in Vermont in 2012. During his nearly decade long tenure the college achieved record enrollment and fundraising success.

Under his leadership, Sterling expanded its emphasis on global field studies. In 2015, it created a continuing education program named the School of the New American Farmstead. In 2016, with support from the Endeavor Foundation, the college launched the Rian Fried Center for Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems.

References

  1. ↑ "Episode 146 – Matthew Derr, Executive Director, Chelsea Green Foundation – Y on Earth Community". yonearth.org. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  2. ↑ "Vt.'s Sterling College names new president". Associated Press. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Antioch College Presidents". Antioch College. 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  4. ↑ "Matthew Derr - Sterling College". Sterling College. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  5. ↑ "Derr recognized for efforts in Antioch's re-opening". The Yellow Springs News. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  6. ↑ "Matthew Derr". Schumacher Center for a New Economics. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  7. ↑ "Contributor - Matthew Derr - President, Sterling College".
  8. ↑ "Want to Start a New American Farmstead? Go to School". Civil Eats. 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  9. ↑ "Sterling College Receives $225,000 Foundation Grant to Expand Global Field Studies". VTDigger. 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  10. ↑ Albright, Charlotte (13 September 2014). "Sterling College Cuts Ribbon On Expanding Ag and Food Center". Retrieved 2016-08-11.