ON THE EVE OF 60 years
Dear Prescott College Community,
After considerable reflection, I have made the difficult decision to retire effective November 2025. After serving in higher education upper administration for twenty years, I conclude my career having served as a president for eight years across two institutions. My desire to spend more time with my family, in the outdoors, and taking to heart experiential, lifelong learning through travel is the impetus for my decision.
I began my time at Prescott College by engaging our community to evaluate our mission. It is no surprise that the result was an updated mission statement that begins with the word “together.” That really is the Prescott College way. Together we create interdisciplinary, experiential, and diverse learning environments that inspire future leaders to create a healthy, just, and sustainable world. And I am truly proud of the work we have all accomplished. Together we have nurtured substantial growth in several of our graduate programs and embraced a reinvigoration of our curriculum. We have acted to deepen our connections within the City of Prescott and Yavapai County, and demonstrated that our work at Prescott College produces an economic impact of $19 million each year. We have invested in the infrastructure of our campus, improving its functional and physical landscape to be
beautiful and sustainable. Nationally, we have been a voice in our nation’s capital during troubling times, advocating for academic freedom. And most importantly, we have educated and mentored students who have grown to become educators, activists, counselors, researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs - individuals who will continue to be the changemakers the world needs. That is our greatest success.
On the eve of our 60 year anniversary, I am exhilarated for the work to come: another 60 years of education rooted in experiential learning, community, and purpose. It has been my honor to serve Prescott College.
Let us continue our commitment as changemakers to move forward as part of the solution.
With deep gratitude,
Barbara J. Morris, Ph.D. Past President Prescott College
Prescott College Welcomes
Dr. Dan Garvey to Serve as Next President
Returning to Prescott College after a previous tenure as the College’s longest serving president, (2000-2010), Dr. Dan Garvey will assume the presidency beginning on January 1, 2026.
“I am honored and excited to have been asked to return as the president of Prescott College. During the next month or so, I will be getting up to speed on the current issues and opportunities facing the college. I will also be rearranging my current responsibilities so that I can focus my attention on the college fulltime when I assume my position January 1. My wife, Barbara, is also eager to reconnect with the college community.
My deepest appreciation to all those who are trusting me with this responsibility. The Prescott College community has achieved so much in its brief 60 years. I’d like to recognize our accomplishments but envision that the best is still ahead of us. There may never have been a time when the values and contributions of our college have been more needed in American education.
Thank you all for your support and I look forward to working with you as we write the next chapter of our story.”
Dan Garvey, Ph.D. President Prescott College
OCTOBER 14th-17th 2026
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott College is turning 60. This milestone celebration will reflect on six decades of transformative education, environmental stewardship, and social leadership—while looking ahead to the next 60 years of impact. We can’t wait to celebrate this historic moment with you! We welcome alumni, friends, and family back to campus for a once-in-a-lifetime experience honoring the past, present, and future of Prescott College.
The four-day celebration will feature:
• Inspiring keynote speakers highlighting the impact and legacy of Prescott College.
• Family-friendly activities for guests of all ages.
• Reunions and gatherings with alumni, faculty, and friends.
• Special events and performances that capture the spirit and creativity of our community.
And so much more!
Alumni River Raft Trip
Oct. 9th-13th 2026
For exclusive updates, event schedules, options to connect, and ways to support, log in to the official alumni community. Find your connection at:
a year of reconnection
Our Alumni Community Rallies in 2025
What an incredible year it has been for the Prescott College alumni community! From the forests of the Pacific Northwest to the bustling streets of New York City, and from the sunny shores of San Diego to the vibrant arts scene of Santa Fe, 2025 has been a year defined by one powerful theme: reconnection.
This spring and fall, we crisscrossed the country to meet with you. We shared stories and swag at breweries from Barbarian in Boise to Burlington Beer Co., and enjoyed profound conversations over deli sandwiches in Manhattan and coffee in Connecticut. In every city, we were met with the same inspiring warmth, candid feedback, and unwavering affection for the unique education that binds us all together.
The stories you shared were a testament to the enduring power of a Prescott education. We heard from Phoebe Robinson ‘25 in Portland, ME, who has woven her wilderness leadership degree into a career in nursing and wilderness medicine. In Providence, James McSweeney ‘05 inspired us with his journey from agroecology at Prescott to becoming a nationally recognized composting expert and author. We celebrated deep historical ties with alumni like Joe and Francie St. Onge ‘94 in Hailey, who recounted running backcountry courses with the legendary David Lovejoy, and we were energized by educators actively connecting their students to Prescott’s experiential model.
A major highlight was introducing our new alumni platform, connect.prescott.edu, a tool designed
to help you find each other locally and build the professional and personal networks that make our community so strong. The enthusiasm for our upcoming 60th Anniversary in 2026 is already building, with many of you excited to celebrate this special event back on PC’s campus.
Most importantly, this year confirmed that the heart of Prescott College isn’t just the campus in Arizona, but the collection of your stories, your resilience, and your work in the world. You are conservationists, artists, educators, healers, and community leaders. You are the living legacy of this college.
As we head into the winter season and the new year, we carry the optimism from every handshake, hug, and heartfelt story with us. Thank you for your passion, your honesty, and for welcoming us into your communities. The torch of Prescott’s unique spirit burns bright within you all, and we cannot wait to see what we build together in 2026.
With gratitude and excitement for the journey ahead, Cheers,
Aaron Wilson ‘12 Alumni Relations Director Prescott College
alumni
Sandra Darling ‘21
Professionally, I am lucky to blend a love of Labor Studies and my Prescott College MA in Social Justice and Community Organizing in workforce development. I completed that program while working as a program manager for a disaster response organization during the pandemic and was grateful for the flexibility to be creative and serve while learning. I hold a BS in Labor Studies and always hoped to find my way back to using my academic passion to earn a living.
In my community, I sit as Treasurer for the Flagstaff Pride board and am building an outreach program to grow opportunities for community education. I also sit on the board for the Community Assistance Teams of Flagstaff serving our unhoused relatives and as the partner liaison for our twice annual Pop-Up Care Villages. I hold the title of Commissioner Darling for the city’s Commission on Diversity Awareness – after completing a national cohort with Answering the Call, I found that volunteer work was the way I wanted to serve but that does not mean that running for local office is off the table forever!
Justin Zych ‘97 & ‘02
Hi! My name is Justin Zych (“JZ”). With over two decades of experience in empowering youth and fostering their growth, I have been a dedicated leader committed to creating safe and supportive environments for adolescent development. Throughout my career, I have held numerous leadership roles, advocating for holistic approaches to healing, learning, and healthy relationships. I hold a Master’s degree in Education Leadership from NAU and a Master’s degree in Community Development from Prescott College. I’m currently working with several other Prescott Alumni from the undergrad program, as well as current PC students at “The Launch Pad Teen Center”, to nurture the potential of local youth.
I firmly believe in the transformative power of relationships, recognizing them as the cornerstone for building personal resilience and personal development. My philosophy centers on cultivating environments where students feel valued, heard, and empowered to explore their unique strengths and capabilities. Integrating mindfulness and collaborative problem-solving into educational journeys, I am passionate about nurturing the academic, emotional, and social well-being of ALL of our young people. I am dedicated to shaping a brighter future for generations to come by unlocking the potential of youth and guiding them toward a healthy future.
updates
Laura McClemy ’95
Laura McClemy ’95 has been selected by the U.S. Department of State for a prestigious 10-month English Language Fellowship in Chaitén, Chile. As part of the 2025-2026 cohort, she will train local teachers and teach English, focusing on cultural patterns and English for ecotourism in collaboration with a local tourism association.
A long-time instructor of sociology at several regional colleges, McClemy’s international experience is extensive. She previously served as a teacher trainer with World Teach in Colombia, where she earned an advanced TESOL certification, and most recently participated in the State Department’s Virtual Educator Program in collaboration with a Russian university.
Her Master’s degree in Intercultural Communication from Prescott College has been a cornerstone of her global career. The fellowship will leverage this expertise to foster meaningful, sustainable changes in English language instruction abroad.
Administered by Georgetown University and sponsored by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the English Language Fellow Program sends experienced educators worldwide to enhance English teaching capacity and promote cultural exchange. Since 1969, the program has connected the U.S. with over 80 countries, allowing Fellows to teach, train
educators, and develop resources while gaining invaluable professional development.
Prescott College celebrates Laura McClemy as she represents the best of the U.S. TESOL community and embodies the college’s commitment to intercultural understanding and impactful global engagement.
Shawna Weaver
(PhD 2015 graduate) discovered Prescott College when she was looking to study the intersection of mental health and climate change. As a psychologist and environmental rights activist, she was seeing an increase in anxieties about climate change, and she wanted more tools to help both people and the planet. Frustrated by the lack of academic options, she was relieved to find a PhD program that would not only facilitate her unique goals but give her the opportunity to learn from the diverse studies of the other cohort members. It was this shared, interdisciplinary learning experience that would illuminate her career trajectory. She finally felt at home academically, professionally, and socially, with peers whose areas of study all informed her in new and unexpected ways.
After graduating, Weaver conducted case studies about climate grief, built a network with other environmental rights activists, and even completed a 300+ mile trail run through rural Northern Minnesota to interview community members about their experiences with climate change. When the Covid 19 pandemic hit, she retreated to the mountains of Southern California to write everything she’d learned about climate change and grief. As the pandemic lifted in 2023, she published her first book, Climate Grief: From coping to resilience and action.
The week of publication, a perfect example of Prescott College’s special community magic happened in the Denver Airport, when she literally ran into friend and fellow 2015 graduate Meg Ferrigno. Signing one of the first copies, for a fellow Prescott Alum, was the perfect start to this book’s journey into the world.
alum ‘15 Shawna Weaver
Since publication, Weaver has led countless book events, presentations, and discussions about climate grief. She has woven grief work into her career as a sustainability educator and climate grief coach. She works with wellness clients to develop climate grief resilience and action plans. (For more information on coaching and the book, visit shawnajweaver.com.)
The book has boosted another PC alum collaboration forged between Weaver and fellow 2015 alum, Lindsey Rudibaugh. Rudibaugh and her partner Travis Harding co-founded Tenderfoot Learning Lab, a sustainable living center near Athens, OH. At Tenderfoot they offer a range of programs to college students and people of all ages interested in sustainability, honoring generations of subsistence living skills developed in the Appalachian region. Since graduating from Prescott College, Rudibaugh, Ferrigno, and Weaver have all focused their work on sustainable community development. While they live separately in San Diego, Duluth MN, and Ohio, they and their cohort members distill the skills and values they learned together; each with their own strategies to advocate for equity, justice, and sustainability in their communities. This fall, Ferrigno will co-lead San Diego Climate Week October 1-8 and Tenderfoot Learning Lab will host several events, festivals, and internships. Weaver will complete her tenure as the interim sustainability officer for the city of Duluth, MN, and continue her work as the director of learning and engagement at the Great Lakes Aquarium. Forge more PC alum magic and join Weaver and Rudibaugh in the fall of 2026 for an eco retreat at Tenderfoot Learning Lab.
More information can be found at:
tenderfootlearninglab.org/eco-retreats
Shawna Weaver and Meg Ferrigno, Denver Airport Baggage Claim, August 2023.
2024 maasailand alumni reunion UPDATE
In true Prescott fashion, the alumni and friends who gathered at the 2024 Maasailand Alumni Reunion, came away from that experience with a better understanding of the issues faced by their new and old friends in Maasailand, and myriad plans for projects to work with them. One of the projects is the Maasai Scholarship Fund.
The focus of the Maasai Scholarship Fund is on Maasai children and teens the elders and community believe will be future leaders. These qualities are already being nurtured through traditional indigenous methods. Being steeped in both indigenous and western knowledge enables these individuals to advocate for their land and the animals in both cultures.
The cost of education is prohibitive for Maasai families. There are no free public schools in Maasailand, so children must go to boarding schools. The costs of tuition, books, school supplies, uniforms, room and board, and transportation are much more than the average Maasai family can afford. The Maasai Scholarship Fund has already covered these costs for the past year for 37 students, 19 boys and 18 girls. Twenty-six are in secondary school and eleven are in university.
We have kicked off our 2025 Safari of Education to raise $15,000 to support these students in the coming school year and thereby support social and environmental justice in Maasailand. Any and all donations will have a major impact not only on an individual, but on the entire culture.
deb matlock
Alum ‘04
Wild Rhythms: Honored with Prestigious Environmental Education Award
Prescott College is proud to celebrate alumna and Associate Faculty Emeritus Deb Matlock (‘04, MA) as the distinguished recipient of the 2025 Enos A. Mills Award for Exemplary Contributions to Environmental Education.
Deb’s lifelong journey with the wild began in the foothills of Colorado, where childhood experiences at environmental discovery camps and her time as a student counselor at an outdoor education laboratory ignited a profound passion for facilitating nature connection—a passion that would define her career.
A devoted member of the environmental education community for over 25 years, Deb has woven her Prescott College education into her work with organizations like Walking Mountains Science Center, Colorado State Parks, and the City of Boulder Open Space. It was during her decade with Boulder Open Space that one of her most creative initiatives, “Inspired by the Land,” was born. This program, which merges public art with environmental awareness, earned a CAEE Award for Excellence and continues to thrive today.
Her commitment to the field is deeply intertwined with her Prescott College roots. Deb was instrumental in helping the college develop its graduate degree in Environmental Education. As an adjunct and associate faculty member, she designed and taught foundational courses such as Foundations of Environmental Education, Ecological Identity, and Spirituality and Environmental Education, shaping the practice and philosophy of countless graduates. In recognition of her enduring contributions, she was honored as Prescott College’s first Associate Faculty Emeritus.
Beyond the classroom, Deb’s vision led her to found Wild Rhythms, an enterprise dedicated to exploring the spiritual connection between people and the natural world. Through Wild Rhythms, she now offers intensive professional training for educators, counselors, and coaches seeking to integrate innovative nature-based practices into their work.
Her legacy includes monumental policy work, such as chairing the task force that laid the groundwork for incorporating environmental education directly into Colorado State Teaching Standards. A sought-after presenter and writer, she co-authored the paper “Spirituality and Sustainability Education: A Natural Partnership,” published in the journal Sustainability.
Currently, Deb is completing her doctoral dissertation with Antioch University New England, researching how to integrate the “more-thanhuman” voice into environmental education. This work has garnered international attention, leading to an invitation to a research symposium on Wild Pedagogies in Norway and a virtual presentation at the World Environmental Education Congress in Prague.
At her core, Deb is a field educator who believes environmental education is a sacred calling with the power to foster a more compassionate, empathetic world. Her work embodies a philosophy of partnership with the wild, natural world, and Prescott College is immensely proud to call her one of our own.
Congratulations Deb, on this well-deserved honor.
on the river: sharing the spirit of prescott college
By Lidia Etemadi, Current Masters of Science in Counseling Student
In March, I joined a first-of-its-kind Prescott College river trip that brought together alumni, current students, and a group of prospective students experiencing our community firsthand. At the time I was serving as the Associate Director of Admissions, and the goal was simple yet ambitious: to share the spirit of experiential education not through words or brochures but through lived experience.
What unfolded on the river quickly became one of the most meaningful moments of my time at PC, reaffirming that the essence of Prescott College is best understood when it is experienced in motion.
The trip was designed and led by Prescott College students Sage, Ethan, and Dorje under the mentorship of alumna Julie Munro. For Sage and Ethan, the journey served as the culmination of their senior capstones, while Dorje participated as part of an independent study in his junior year. Together, they worked closely with Julie and alumnus Bob Tremblay from Greenfield Community College in Massachusetts, who brought eighteen adventure education students to join the expedition.
everyone in our on-campus housing before setting out together for the San Juan River.
The gear warehouse was alive with energy as the group gathered for final preparations. The Prescott College students leading the trip showed professionalism and composure, guiding everyone through equipment checks, safety briefings, and logistics with confidence. Supporting them was our exceptional warehouse logistics team and alumni including Kathy Young, Steve Munsel, and Rachael Peters, whose behind-the-scenes coordination ensured that every participant had what they needed.
“What unfolded on the river quickly became one of the most meaningful moments of my time at PC, reaffirming that the essence of Prescott College is best understood when it is experienced in motion.”
-Lidia Etemadi
In recent years, the gear warehouse has added new clothing and equipment and refined its systems to help students enter the field safely and confidently. It remains a space defined by teamwork, care, and the belief that everyone deserves to feel ready and supported before heading into the wilderness. That sense of preparation and support from our students and alumni made all the difference, both for me camping in the backcountry for the first time and for all of our visiting students.
Their collaboration reflected the strength of Prescott’s extended community and the way our alumni continue to build bridges between institutions that share our values of experiential learning and environmental stewardship.
In addition to the Greenfield group, we were able to add seven prospective students to the trip. Some were preparing to graduate from high school, while others were exploring a return to education later in life, including one participant considering a transition from the tech industry. They traveled from across the country, from Washington to Maine, drawn by curiosity and a shared desire to experience learning in motion. Upon arrival, we accommodated
At the launch site, the Prescott College students took charge with confidence. They reviewed safety protocols, outlined the day’s route, and made sure everyone felt ready before we pushed off. Their leadership created an immediate sense of trust and capability that carried through as we began moving downstream together.
Once on the river, the sense of connection was immediate. The Greenfield Community College students brought incredible energy and enthusiasm, many experiencing the desert canyons and Indigenous landscapes of the Southwest for the first time. Under the guidance of the Prescott College students, the group moved with rhythm and purpose, working
together to navigate the river, set up camp, and prepare delicious meals in a fully equipped outdoor kitchen.
During four nights and twenty-six miles on the river, the student leaders demonstrated a blend of skill, knowledge, and teaching that brought the experience to life. They introduced Leave No Trace principles and spoke about the Indigenous history of the region, connecting place, story, and responsibility.
They also explained the geological formations that surrounded us, transforming the landscape into a classroom. Along the way, students learned the fundamentals of rafting, taking turns rowing oar rigs or guiding paddle rafts through the canyon’s moving water.
Between stretches on the river, we stopped for short hikes and quiet moments of reflection, surrounded by wildlife and sandstone walls. One evening, the sound of wild burros echoed through camp, a reminder of the life that continues to move through these spaces. Each night closed with a circle and a fire that brought new perspectives forward.
The conversations were as rich as the scenery. People from different life paths reflected on education, purpose, and growth. For the high school students, these exchanges offered a new way to imagine college and community, prompting genuine reflection on their next steps and the possibilities ahead. For everyone else, they reaffirmed what learning looks like when it is grounded in experience, curiosity, and intention. Many could see themselves in our soon-to-be graduates, inspired by their leadership and authenticity.
Even after returning home, the impact of the trip stayed with me. It captured what makes Prescott College so distinctive: learning that happens through
connection, collaboration, and direct experience. The students who led this journey modeled not only technical skill but the confidence, empathy, and environmental awareness that define a Prescott education.
This October, alumna Julie Munro will once again lead a river trip alongside three new student guides, continuing the current that began last spring. There is no doubt these three students will bring the same care and professionalism that made this experience so meaningful.
The heart of this community is not found in classrooms or in literature, and it certainly cannot be captured on the road at a college fair. It lives in the shared experiences where learning and life meet. These are the moments that shape who we become and remind us of what is possible when people come together with purpose.
Alumni, students, staff, and friends of the college all help keep opportunities like this alive. By continuing to invite others into these spaces where transformation happens, we carry forward the spirit that defines Prescott College.
is more than a tagline. It’s the shared foundation of everything we do at Prescott College — and a call to action for our entire community.
At Prescott, justice begins with unlearning. As a community, we are continuously challenging inherited assumptions and questioning inequitable systems of power, privilege, and identity. We unite by building a campus culture rooted in collaboration, trust, and inclusion — connecting across roles, backgrounds, ages, and disciplines. We uplift by supporting students and one another in the pursuit of justice, sustainability, and collective transformation.
Together, we foster changemakers who think critically (unlearn), work collaboratively (unite), and create a better world together (uplift).
The Prescott College Roadrunners competitive cycling team launched for the 2024-2025 season. We compete in the Southwest Collegiate Cycling Conference in the MBAA Mountain Bike series. The Roadrunners competed across Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, including the annual Whiskey OffRoad in our home city of Prescott, AZ.
the prescott college dopoi center has arrived!
If you have visited Dopoi before, you will be amazed by its growth. The Center now fully embodies its original vision: a community organizing hub, a home for decolonizing education and research, and a demonstration that tourism can reflect an Indigenous community’s self-knowledge and support its sustainable development. It is simply beautiful. Dopoi’s small herd of cows roam the grounds, wildlife gathers outside the fences at night, and dozens of bird species nest in the canopy of indigenous trees. Constructed with local rock and sand, the Center feels as if it emerged from the land itself.
We can now host over 50 people comfortably. Our expanding reach demonstrates that Indigenous African communities can do more than benefit from tourism’s crumbs—they can direct its course. Longtime friend Prescott College, Dan Boyce, has developed a detailed Operations Plan with community leadership to ensure tourism is profitable, and a Marketing Plan is underway.
Those involved in our community advocacy over the past 21 years will be thrilled by its current reach. Land rights work continues, with negotiations underway for the return of Amboseli National Park to Maasai community stewardship. Dopoi and our partner MERC, led by Director and Prescott PhD alum Meitamei Olol Dapash, are leading a movement to protect the wildebeest migration from illegal overdevelopment in the Maasai Mara. That case is now in court.
Dopoi has hosted the Maasai Grassroots Justice Clinic for two years, plus an annual Paralegal Training Program taught by PC PhD alum and lawyer Perry
Stern. These trainees have since trained 60 more Maasai youth, identifying and addressing countless community issues.
In 2024, friends of the college led by Gillian Coats and Willa Thorpe created a thriving Scholarship Fund for Maasai children and youth. We are eager to connect with anyone interested in getting involved.
Recent Prescott College classes have helped create the Maasai Museum of History, Culture, and the Environment at Dopoi. The structure is complete, and exhibits have been created through a partnership with ASU faculty. Our next challenge, in the spring of 2026, will be creating exhibits for artifacts. If you have experience in this area, we would love your help!
You may have read about the first book written from Dopoi, a co-authored project by Meitamei and myself: Decolonizing Maasai History: A Path to Indigenous African Futures (Zed Books, Bloomsbury, 2025). Thank you to those who attended launches in Prescott, New York, Tucson, or Nairobi! More are coming, beginning Thursday, November 20 at Simon Fraser University. Please let me know if you would like to attend.
Meitamei and I will be in Portland on Tuesday, November 18, and would welcome alumni to join us. We will also be in London in early March to speak at the International Sustainability Centre. We love any chance to connect with our broader College community.
I can speak from the heart in sharing the profound gratitude our Maasai friends express for the depth and integrity of Prescott College’s partnership.
Ashe oleng oleng!
Mary Pool Director of Social Justice Studies
Kino Bay Center for Cultural & Ecological Studies
This season, the Kino Bay Center celebrates 35 years of field-based, experiential learning and community-led conservation on the shores of the Gulf of California. What began in 1991 as a small field station has evolved into a dynamic binational institution where education, social justice, science, and community collaboration come together to protect one of the most biologically and culturally rich regions in the world.
Over more than three decades, 16,000 students, staff, faculty, community members, partners, and donors have contributed to the Center’s story, each leaving a lasting mark on its evolution. Many began their journey as Prescott College students or volunteers and later returned as educators, researchers, or coordinators. The Center is a place where people are encouraged to grow personally and professionally while contributing to real, measurable change. As challenges in coastal conservation grow more complex, it is this spirit of shared purpose and “can-do” optimism that defines the Prescott College Kino Bay Center and continues to inspire action across cultures, communities, and landscapes.
Now entering its 35th year, the Center continues to demonstrate what’s possible when learning is hands-on, relationships are reciprocal, and conservation grows from the ground up. Together, we’ve
gained momentum leading to the results shared in the 2024-25 annual report. The Kino Bay Center integrates education, research, community collaboration, and information sharing toward biocultural conservation goals.
We are proud to share these highlights from the 2024-25 season:
• Educating ~300 local and Indigenous participants, Prescott College students, and lifelong learners through experiential education programs.
• Supporting 14 collaborative, communitybased conservation initiatives with ~200 active participants.
• Advancing legal protection and management in two Ramsar sites, safeguarding critical wildlife habitat.
• Sharing long-term ecological data through four publications and two conference presentations.
• Building leadership through 27 workshops on conservation, science, education, and communication.
• Reaching broad audiences through murals, theater, radio, and digital storytelling that amplify local voices.
These accomplishments reflect more than outputs— they represent a thriving culture of hope, collaboration, and continuity that continues to embody Prescott College’s founding vision. The Center’s resilience and unity serve as a reminder that education rooted in community can transcend borders, institutions, and even moments of uncertainty.
Education that Inspires Action
At the Kino Bay Center, experiential education isn’t just a teaching approach, it’s the way we do conservation. Every class, research project, and community initiative is grounded in direct engagement with the natural and cultural landscapes of the Gulf of California. Students don’t just study ecosystems; they paddle through them, record data alongside local fishers, and learn from Indigenous mentors whose knowledge deepens scientific understanding. This immersive model embodies Prescott College’s core philosophy.
In Memoriam:
A Legacy of Land and Learning
The Prescott College community mourns the passing of three extraordinary individuals who, in their unique ways, shaped the very soul of our institution. We honor the rugged spirit of faculty legend Jim Stuckey and the nurturing generosity of donors Ann Dorman and her partner, Annette Tracy. Together, they represent the dual pillars of a Prescott College education: a deep connection to the natural world and a profound belief in human potential.
Jim Stuckey: A Guiding Spirit of Prescott College
Jim Stuckey was a foundational force and a beloved leader who embodied the college’s spirit. A natural-born leader with a keen sense of humor and a sharp mind, his true classroom was often the field, where he was always alongside the students. He believed in experiential learning and became a mentor in countless lives. Demanding in his determination, Jim operated on the principle that “where there was a will, there was a way,” and his legendary commitment was key to pulling the college from bankruptcy and building it up. His deep appreciation for the natural world, cultivated from a young age, followed him throughout his life. An avid hiker and runner, he found magnificence in the outdoors. His legacy lives on in the countless students and lifelong friends he inspired and in the very existence of Prescott College, which he happily dedicated his time and energy to, treating it like his own child. The enduring heart of Prescott College beats with his presence.
Ann Dorman & Annette Tracy: Cultivating Community
Where Jim championed the external landscape, Ann Dorman and Annette Tracy dedicated themselves to nurturing our internal, human ecosystem. Ann was a visionary philanthropist of quiet strength and deep intelligence. Her transformative gifts created The Anne Sterling Dorman LGBTQ Fund of Horizons Foundation, providing critical support for the college and providing students access to our unique learning model. She believed fiercely in unseen potential.
Annette was Ann’s steadfast partner in life and purpose, bringing warmth, grace, and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity. They were not distant donors but engaged community members, eager to hear students’ stories and celebrate their successes. Together, they championed a culture of belonging, ensuring every student felt seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Jim Stuckey taught us to navigate canyons and read the stars; Ann Dorman and Annette Tracy ensured we had a community to return to, a place where every student could find a home. Their collective legacy is the holistic Prescott College experience— challenging, supportive, wild, and kind. We are eternally grateful for their profound and enduring gifts. Their memories bless our community, and their work continues to inspire us all.
Annette was Ann’s steadfast partner in life and purpose, bringing warmth, grace, and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity. They were not distant donors but engaged community members, eager to hear students’ stories and celebrate their successes. Together, they championed a culture of belonging, ensuring every student felt seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.
The Collective Legacy
Jim Stuckey taught us to navigate canyons and read the stars; Ann Dorman and Annette Tracy ensured we had a community to return to, a place where every student could find a home. Their collective legacy is the holistic Prescott College experience— challenging, supportive, wild, and kind. We are eternally grateful for their profound and enduring gifts. Their memories bless our community, and their work continues to inspire us all.
lloyd hopkins
New Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations
Dear Prescott College Community,
Since joining Prescott College in August, I’ve had the absolute pleasure of immersing myself in this incredible community—and what an amazing experience it has been. From my very first day on campus, I’ve been greeted with open arms, meaningful conversations, and an overwhelming sense of purpose. The warmth and generosity I’ve experienced from faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners have made Prescott feel like home in every way.
By way of introduction, my name is Lloyd Hopkins, and I’m honored to serve as your Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations. For nearly two decades, my career has been dedicated to education and nonprofit leadership, building partnerships, and developing programs that strengthen schools and communities. At my core, I believe deeply in the power of education to transform lives—and nowhere is that belief more alive than at Prescott College.
Outside of work, I’m a proud husband and father. My wife is an entrepreneur who runs her own business, and together we’ve raised two incredible children—a son who is an architect, and a daughter who is a dedicated student pursuing a degree in political science. They inspire me daily and remind me of the transformative impact education can have on one’s life and future.
Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many amazing people who make Prescott College such a special place. Each story I hear reaffirms the profound impact this institution has had over the past six decades. As we prepare to celebrate our 60th Anniversary in 2026, I’m excited to contribute my energy and experience to help shape the next 60 years of Prescott College’s legacy—one built on innovation, inclusion, and impact.
I’d love to hear from you—your stories, your memories, and how Prescott College has influenced your journey. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. I look forward to connecting, collaborating, and continuing this meaningful work together.
With gratitude and excitement,
Lloyd Hopkins Executive Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations
Prescott College
WE WANT TO UNITE & UPLIFT OUR ALUMNI BUSINESSES
Our hope is to unite people and businesses to foster alumni relationships. Complete this form to participate. would you be interested in an alumni business directory?
Thank