Good Fortune, Next Time: Life, Death, Irony, and the Administration of Very Small Colleges

“There may never have been a funnier or more honest account of life in higher education.” —Jonathan Larsen, former editor of High Times and the Village Voice

“Will Wootton reminds us of the joys and the value of small liberal arts colleges…(and) why we should fight – as he did mightily – for their survival.” Dr. Paul LeBlanc, President and CEO of Southern New Hampshire University

Will Wootton was President of Sterling College – the smallest liberal arts college in the nation – from 2006 to 2012. The college, located in Craftsbury Common, Vermont (the Northeast Kingdom, as well as the college, was facing dire financial prospects and possible closure when he arrived). In relatively short order, Wootton was successful in obtaining significant grants, while putting into place policies and initiatives that set the college on a strong economic footing At the same time, he was instrumental in invigorating Sterling’s commitment to combining traditional and experiential academics, so that it is now receiving national recognition. Prior to coming to Sterling, Wootton served as Vice-President for Institutional Advancement at Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, Massachusetts, and for 19 years before then, he was at Marlboro College (southern Vermont), first serving as Director of Development and then Vice-President for Institutional Advancement. After retiring from Sterling College, Wootton took an interim position as Vice President of Advancement at New Mexico Highlands University and Executive Director of Highlands Foundation. He and his wife Lulu live in Craftsbury Common, Vermont.