About Sam MacDonald

Mr. Sam MacDonald has more than 20 years of experience as a leader in conservation, education and healthcare.

One of the first two employees of the PA Wilds, he worked closely with local communities to explain, guide and develop the initiative. He later served on the organization’s board of directors for a decade, helping it to become a national model for conservation and economic development.

Mr. MacDonald served as president of Elk County Catholic School system for 11 years, managing four schools across three campuses. He previously served as Director of Business and Fund Development at Elk Regional Health Center, where he successfully coordinated a community campaign to build a new floor on the hospital.

Prior to moving back to his hometown of Ridgway, Mr. MacDonald had a successful career as a journalist. He has written two books, including The Agony of an American Wilderness, which explored the history and politics of logging on the Allegheny National Forest. He previously served as Washington Editor of Reason magazine, and his work has appeared in a wide variety of national publications.

Mr. MacDonald’s community involvement has included board membership and/or chairmanship of Ridgway Borough Council, the Ridgway Heritage Council, Northcentral, Penn Highlands Elk, and St. Leo School, among others. He also founded the Boulder Dash, a reckless but entertaining 20-mile trail run headquartered in Ridgway.

Mr. MacDonald lives in Ridgway with his wife Michele and their 9 children. He graduated from Yale University, where he was a double major in history and economics, and earned his MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of Pittsburgh, where he taught for four years.