President Torti to step down

Sylvia talking at a podium

College of the Atlantic President Dr. Sylvia Torti will conclude her tenure at the end of the 2025–26 academic year and become president of Westminster University.

Torti has served as COA’s eighth president since June 2024. She will take on the lead role Westminster, in Salt Lake City, Utah, this summer. She said that she is proud of the collaborative work she’s done with COA students, staff, and faculty, and that the college is in a strong position as she moves on.

“I continue to believe deeply in the mission of College of the Atlantic. Its human-ecological approach, its connection to place, and its commitment to linking learning with real-world challenges make it not just relevant, but essential,” Torti said. “The foundation is in place for what comes next, and I’m excited to see where that work leads.”

Torti came to COA after serving as the dean of the Honors College at University of Utah, where she received her Ph.D., for more than a decade. Before serving as college dean, Torti was the director of the university’s Bonderman Field Station.

“My decision to leave COA is deeply personal,” Torti said. “Utah has been home for me for more than 30 years. The chance to return, to be close to my son, my community of friends, and the natural environments that have shaped me, felt like a calling I was compelled to follow.”

As the transition begins, the COA Board of Trustees is working with senior leadership to ensure the college is well‑positioned for continued progress, said board chair Cynthia Baker.

“Sylvia has provided thoughtful and bold leadership during her time at COA, and we are grateful for her service,” Baker said. “The college is on strong footing, and we are confident in the educational mission, the community, and the work ahead. We will move quickly and carefully to ensure a smooth transition.”

The Executive Committee of the COA Board of Trustees will recommend the appointment of COA Vice President of Institutional Advancement Lynn Boulger as interim president at the board’s spring meeting this Saturday, April 18, Baker said. Boulger served as dean of institutional advancement at the college for 13 years before leaving in early 2021 to become executive director of the Authors Guild Foundation. She returned to COA in 2025 in her current role.