Meet Sandy Colhoun, NOLS’ Interim President

By Anne McGowan Advancement Communications Coordinator

Sandy

Colhoun, NOLS grad, former Trustee, and a firm believer in leadership lessons learned at NOLS, has been named the school’s Interim President in the wake of President Terri Watson’s departure. Sandy’s post will be a temporary one, lasting until a new president is chosen, projected to be about a year from now.

Sandy brings deep experience in fundraising and strategic planning for non-profit organizations, most recently as chief campaign officer at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. A NOLS Wind River Mountaineering graduate, Sandy’s resume includes work as a ski patroller in Park City, Utah; editor-in-chief of the Antarctic Sun in McMurdo Station; and a staff reporter for The Christian Science Monitor . His outdoor adventures include climbing in Alaska, Nepal, and Bolivia, and cycling over the Himalayas from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal.

Sandy called his NOLS course, as a 16-year-old, the hardest thing he ever did.

“I lost weight, walked with blisters, and had to learn what it meant to be part of a team and how to lead,” he said. “Like thousands of NOLS graduates worldwide, I took something very special away from those four weeks in the mountains. I gained a lifelong passion for the outdoors, a commitment to wild places, and a deep desire to explore. I also started my journey as a leader, which connects directly with this community today.”

In listing his priorities for his time as president, Sandy named these items:

• Start the search for a new president—an effort, he said, that is ongoing. Trustees have formed a Presidential Search Committee with support from Spencer Stuart, a global executive search firm.

• Continue to invest in the Transformation project, building the school’s Information Technology systems, focusing on internal culture, and organizational structure to support the mission.

• Begin a comprehensive strategic planning process that will guide the school’s vision for the next decade. NOLS has partnered with Ian Symmonds and Associates to carry out this work. Sandy expects this effort to conclude in January 2024.

Sandy said he is humbled and grateful to be able to serve NOLS in this time of transition.

“I will work with the Board of Trustees, the Executive Team, and staff to develop our strategic direction to support planning and to envision the decade ahead,” he said. Sandy said he will engage and learn from the insights and perspectives of the whole NOLS community as the school continues to move into its vibrant future.

In a tribute to Terri, Sandy thanked her for her leadership, especially through the challenges of the last three years. “Terri’s legacy as the leader who guided NOLS through the global pandemic is unassailable and serves as a testament to her dedication and character,” he said.

Sandy, his wife, Selina—a NOLS Southwest Graduate—and their two children live in Maine.