Samuel W. Adams ’77, P’18 President

Sam is a Gould alumnus who graduated in 1977.  He lived in Davidson all four years and was a Proctor.  He was Captain of the Nordic Ski Team and jumped as well as raced XC.  Sam studied in France the fall semester of his Senior year, which had a big impact on his life. Sam chose Gould over Milton Academy because he wanted to be in the mountains and didn't want to wear a tie.  He feels that was one of the best decisions of his life. His Gould education is always with him and has played a big role in his desire to serve as a Trustee.

Sam and his wife Kelly have one son, Nick, who graduated from Gould in 2018.  Nick lived in both Davidson and Holden, but preferred Holden, which he insists is the "cool" dorm.  Nick was a lacrosse goalie and raced alpine prep.  He enjoyed acting and was in several plays at Gould, but loved the art program above all.  He attended RISD's summer program while at Gould, but preferred the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he attended to focus on film studies.  There he won the Brown Family Scholarship and has excelled.  He is graduating this May and is looking forward to Gould Reunion.  Because of Nick's love for SAIC Sam volunteered to Co-Chair the Parent and Family Council there, and eventually became a Member of the Board of Governors at SAIC.

After Gould Sam attended Kenyon College, where he graduated with honors in History.  He then worked for Congressman McKernan of Maine as a Legislative Assistant covering banking and business issues, and then attended Washington & Lee University where he was on the Law Review.  Sam spent the next dozen years working as a corporate finance lawyer for large firms like Shearman & Sterling in New York City.  Since then, except for a few years hiatus working as an Investment Banker in Portland, Sam has been a hedge fund manager in New York and environs.  The work is interesting and intellectually demanding, which reminds him daily how fortunate he is to have attended Gould and followed the path he did.

While Sam grew up in Connecticut, his family's connections to Maine are strong.  One side of the family is from the Camden area, and they have always had a family place in Small Point.  This has been the base camp for four-season adventures around the state, including skiing, hiking, fishing, and sailing.  Sam loves to flyfish Maine's coast for striped bass.  In preparation for one day retiring in Maine, Sam became a Registered Maine Guide and is currently studying for his Captain's License.