We’re thrilled to announce the appointment of Alexander Leslie Thompson as the next Executive Director of Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge.
Alexander brings a unique blend of personal history and national leadership to the role. The grandson of Shadowcliff founders Patt and Warren Rempel, Alexander grew up spending summers in Grand Lake, surrounded by the spirit of service, community, and transformation that have defined Shadowcliff since its founding in the 1950s. Now, with over a decade of experience in arts leadership, philanthropy, and program design—including serving as Program Director at the Foundation for Contemporary Arts—he returns to help lead Shadowcliff into its next chapter.
“It is an extraordinary honor to step into this role,” Alexander shared. “Shadowcliff is part of my personal history, but more importantly, it is a decades-long experiment in what becomes possible when people come together to create a space for healing, growth, and transformation. I’m humbled by the opportunity to honor that legacy and to build upon it.”
Alexander has already helped launch several new initiatives at Shadowcliff, including a nationally recognized artist residency program that brings creators to Grand Lake to engage with local ecology, history, and community.
In the coming year, he will work with Shadowcliff’s Board of Directors to focus on priorities that include expanding accessibility across the historic campus, strengthening operations and partnerships, and laying the foundation for Shadowcliff’s long-term sustainability and growth.
“There has never been a moment in my lifetime when places of refuge and sanctuary have been more vital—spaces where people can gather across differences, reconnect with the land, and imagine how to nurture community, move through grief, and hold onto beauty and joy in difficult times,” said Thompson. “I believe Shadowcliff can be a national model for place-based retreat, creativity, and connection.”
We’re excited to welcome Alexander into this role and look forward to sharing more as we prepare for the 2026 season.