Amber Degn
Development Director - Appointed 2019
Graduate Degree
M.A. Early American Culture, Winterthur Program, University of Delaware
Undergraduate Degree
B.A. English, Trinity University, magna cum laude, double major in History, minor in Art History
Activities in College
- Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity
- Ropers Country Western Dance Troupe
- Art History Club
- Peer Tutor
Honors and Awards
- Phi Beta Kappa – Trinity University
- E. McClung Fleming Outstanding Thesis Prize – Winterthur/University of Delaware
Best VCS Moment
Many moments in my first week – all the smiles and warm greetings each day from the students and faculty. VCS is a very welcoming community.
Hobbies and Interests
Travel, museums, fitness, reading, cooking, gardening, Maine, and spending as much time as I can with my two kids and husband.
Brief Biography
I’ve lived in Vermont since 2011, but grew up on the central coast of California and hail from a family of educators and librarians. My childhood was filled with travel all over the west and abroad, and our visits to museums, historic sites and national parks inspired my passion for cultural history. After college in Texas, I made my way east for grad school and delved deeply into early American culture at Winterthur Museum where students use the collection as a hands-on laboratory. I’ve lived in Ohio, California, Texas, Delaware, Connecticut, North Carolina, Maine, and Vermont and worked in history and art museums as a curator until I fell into fundraising. It is incredibly rewarding to meet people who are passionate about learning and care deeply about Vermont Commons School. My experience attending a small independent high school had a profound impact on me and I am delighted to be in that setting once again, surrounded by a community of engaged and inspired learners.