Terrain V01 - Journal - Page 9
Sterling College | 7
Of Necessity
Written By
Reid Bryant ‘00
In late summer of 2021, Matthew Derr announced his intent to step down from his role as Sterling’s 11th
president as of October 31, 2021 - a post he’s held for nearly a decade. He arrived at this decision after
a long period of consideration that could not have foreseen the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic
or the recent meteorological events that punctuate a mounting climate crisis. The current moment is
one in which few would choose a path of purposeful, personal change, or would take a road less traveled. Indeed, Derr is a bit apprehensive about the context surrounding his departure, but timing has
a way of being imperfect, and change is essential for growth. Looking around him, one chapter of his
life just closing as another opens wide, he reflects on a love for Sterling that remains evergreen, and a
concurrent need to move on to other aspirations; he has writing projects to pursue, and an American
Birding Association Big Year challenge to embark upon. These pieces of work, like a decade at Sterling,
demand his full attention. As the sidehills of the Lowell Mountains achieve the yellow-golds and reds
that foretell winter, Derr finds himself contemplative about his departure, but full of hope. In this he is
characteristically self-deprecating. “In moving on, I just want to see Sterling thrive. I leave it as a living,
breathing, strong institution…maybe more of a movement. I hope Sterling takes every opportunity to
put me in the rearview fast.”
Many, perhaps most, college presidents step down after a long tenure with a flourish, leaving behind
them an endowed chair, a namesake building, or some other concrete tribute to their efforts. Not so
Matthew Derr. He looks back at work well done, and the potential for good work not yet undertaken. He
sees himself as an instrument of both, in league with so many faculty, staff, benefactors, and students.
This outlook, however, is not solely emblematic of humility, or a moderated ego; Derr’s willingness to
step aside as Sterling puts on muscle represents his belief in an institution, a community, a way of being
that must, in his words, persist. He has confidence in the necessity of Sterling; for that reason alone,
he has unflinching faith that the institution will succeed. He considers his role in Sterling’s ongoing
success as non-essential. His parting gift, wonderfully, is gratitude. “I was very lucky,” he says of his
time. “I was surrounded by people who I got to watch make amazing creative leaps, people who made
remarkable personal and professional sacrifices just to get good work done. Being a part of that experience was extraordinary; that will be hard to leave.”
The intersection of necessity, institutional confidence, and gratitude lies at the heart of Derr’s legacy.
It helped steer the College through tumultuous waters, in a period when institutions of higher education were facing unprecedented challenge. During his tenure, Vermont alone witnessed the demise of
several small colleges, most of them far older, larger, and historically better endowed than Sterling. In
that same ecosystem, Sterling went from 90% tuition dependence to 40%, raised over $22 million, stabilized enrollment, and saw the addition of programming that included the no-tuition, Kentucky-based
Wendell Berry Farming Program of Sterling College. Derr’s addition of faculty, degree programs and
minors, and expanded Global Field Studies offerings is credited at a macro-level for a 24% increase in
enrollment over the last decade. Sterling bucked a headwind, doing so by remaining focused on its mission “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.” It
also persevered because Derr was at the helm, steadfast in his commitment to that mission, and unblinking in his passion for communicating its value. “We are teaching the most important things that can
be taught,” he is quick to say. A growing network of students and supporters tend to agree, and those
knowledgeable, skilled, and responsible leaders are radiating out from Sterling daily, doing good work in
the communities where they live.