Members	Hometown	Titles	Term
Betsy Ide Bloomer	Rutland, VT		2/28/27
Janette Bombardier	Colchester, VT	Chair, Nominating Committee	2/28/25
Megan Cluver	Hinesburg, VT	Vice Chair of Board / Chair Education, Personnel & Student Life Committee	2/28/27
Rep. Eileen “Lynn” Dickinson	St Albans, VT	Chair of the Board	2/28/24
David Durfee	Shaftsbury, VT	Vice Chair, Audit & Risk Management Committee, Investment Sub-Committee	2/28/26
Bob Flint	Springfield, VT		2/28/27
Shirley Jefferson	South Royalton, VT	Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee	2/28/25
Karen Luneau	St Albans, VT	Secretary of Board / Vice Chair, Education, Personnel & Student Life Committee	2/28/25
Rep. Jim Masland	Thetford, VT		2/28/26
Rep. Marc Mihaly	East Calais, VT		2/28/28
Jason Musal	Castleton, VT	Student Trustee	5/30/25
David Silverman	Morrisville, VT	Treasurer of Board / Chair, Finance & Facilities Committee, Chair, Investment Sub-Committee	2/28/26
Shawn Tester	Lyndonville, VT	Vice Chair, Finance & Facilities Committee	2/28/25
Sue Zeller	Montpelier, VT	Chair, Audit Committee, Investment Sub-Committee	2/28/25
Governor Phil Scott	Berlin, VT	Ex Officio

Committee Assignments

Audit

Sue Zeller (Chair), David Durfee (Vice-Chair), Bob Flint, David Silverman, Shawn Tester
Faculty/Staff Liaisons: James Brassard (CCV faculty,) Ryan Dulude (CCV staff,) Jen Jones (VTSU staff,) Dennis Reilly (VTSU faculty.)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Shirley Jefferson (Chair), Betsy Bloomer, Megan Cluver, Bob Flint, Jim Masland, Jason Musal
Faculty/Staff Liaisons: Marianne Dimascio (CCV staff,) Alex Northern (CCV faculty,) Lisa Zinn (VTSU faculty.)

Education, Personnel & Student Life

Megan Cluver (Chair), Karen Luneau (Vice-Chair), Betsy Bloomer, Janette Bombardier, Shirley Jefferson, Jim Masland, Jason Musal
Faculty/Staff Liaisons: Meaghan Meachem (VTSU faculty,) Katherine Penberthy (CCV faculty,) Denise Rhodes (VTSU staff,) Erin Wetherell (CCV staff.)

Executive

Lynn Dickinson (Chair), Megan Cluver (Vice-Chair), Karen Luneau, David Silverman

Finance & Facilities

David Silverman (Chair), Shawn Tester (Vice Chair), Lynn Dickinson, David Durfee, Bob Flint, Marc Mihaly, Sue Zeller
Faculty/Staff Liaisons: Alexis Anderson (VTSU staff,) Rick Arend (CCV faculty,) Ryan Dulude (CCV staff,) Marybeth Lennox-Levins (VTSU faculty.)

Nominating

Janette Bombardier (Chair), Lynn Dickinson, Marc Mihaly

Board Member Profiles

Betsy Ide Bloomer

Betsy is the Manager of Communications and Strategy at VELCO, Vermont’s statewide transmission-only utility. VELCO is owned by Vermont’s 17 local electric utilities and a public benefits corporation, the Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity. It is a for-profit company with a cooperative revenue structure that benefits every grid-connected customer in the state. In her current role, Betsy helps to create and promote the corporate identity guided by VELCO’s Mission, Vision, and Values to employees, strategic stakeholders, and the public. She is also leading the evolution of VELCO’s innovation process and advancement of company initiatives. Betsy grew up in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Skidmore College. Her career began in Washington, DC where she worked for over a decade. In Washington, Betsy served as a Congressional staffer and as a Vice President at Cassidy & Associates, one of the nation’s premier lobbying firms. Betsy’s clients included institutions of higher education, major medical systems, and a host of non-profit organizations. When she returned to Vermont in 2011 she was immediately recruited by Governor Peter Shumlin and then-Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott to serve in the Irene Recovery Office. Betsy then was the first executive director of the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund, raising over $7 million for Vermonters in need of additional financial support to rebuild their homes and lives after the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene.In addition to the Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees, Betsy is currently Chair of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors. She has previously served on the boards of the Rutland Free Library, the Rutland Redevelopment Authority, and Housing Vermont. She was named as a Vermont Business Magazine Rising Star in 2016.Betsy and her husband Matt live in Rutland City with their three young children, Will, Zach, and Beatrice. She enjoys chasing her kids at little league practices, Rutland Youth Theatre rehearsals, and all the community playgrounds they can find.

Janette Bombardier

Janette Bombardier, P.E. is Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer at employee-owned Chroma Technology and 89 North, a rapidly growing optical filter and associated products company based in Rockingham, and Williston, Vermont. In this position, she is responsible for operations and the advancement of manufacturing, product design and development, as well as the strategy for emerging technologies and markets.  She oversees the technical direction of the organization, including project and priority management, leading Chroma Technology to optimize its growing manufacturing base and accelerating innovation to benefit customers.  Bombardier had an extensive career with IBM and subsequently GLOBALFOUNDRIES Vermont and East Fishkill, N.Y., semiconductor sites, and was the Senior Location Executive for the Vermont facility.  In addition, she was Senior Vice president for Green Mountain Power supporting commercial and industrial customers and driving cost performance. Ms. Bombardier is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Vermont. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Vermont and has a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering. She started her career with IBM and has held a variety of positions, including construction management, bridge engineer, manufacturing engineering, product development, product quality, as well as positions in cost reduction and continuous improvement.In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET), the Vermont Futures Project and VMEC.  She also serves on the State of Vermont Workforce Development Board and is a Corporator for Mascoma Bank.Ms. Bombardier has been recognized for her commitment to Vermont as the recipient of the 2013 C. Harry Behney Lifetime Economic Development Achievement Award and was named the 2015 Vermont Citizen of the Year for her extensive community involvement and continued commitment to the betterment of Vermont. In 2019 she was named Vermont Engineer of the Year. Ms. Bombardier lives in Colchester, with her husband, Greg, and has two adult children. She enjoys spending time outdoors running, biking, gardening and enjoying lake and beach time.

Megan Cluver

Megan is a part of the leadership team of Deloitte Consulting’s Higher Education practice.  Megan has more than fifteen years of experience in assisting universities and academic medical centers with institutional strategy, organization design, and operations.  Her work has included transformational projects to increase service effectiveness and reduce administrative overhead across all facets of the university, as well as targeted service delivery redesign projects.  Megan’s current clients include university systems, community colleges, as well as public and private research institutions.Megan has presented on the topics of transformational change and service delivery at National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) and American Council on Education (ACE) events, and published on higher ed topics thought Deloitte’s Center for Higher Education Excellence.Megan lives in Hinesburg with her husband Greg and four children, Teddy (10), Sylvie (8), Wynn (5), and Vivi (2).  In their free time you will often find the Cluvers in the Vermont mountains, skiing and hiking. Megan joined the VSCS Board of Trustees in 2019, and serves as the Vice Chair of the Board, as well as the Chair of the Education, Personnel, and Student Life Committee.

Eileen “Lynn” Dickinson

Lynn Dickinson is a Representative of the Vermont General Assembly and became a resident of St. Albans in 1973. She was educated at John F. Kennedy High School in Katonah, New York and received her BA in Chemistry at Manhattanville College, Purchase, New York. Ms. Dickinson is the Business Manager at Dickinson & Branon Dental Care. She is married to Richard A. Dickinson, DDS, and they have two girls and one son. She and her husband own a farm in St. Albans Town.Ms. Dickinson has been a member of numerous organizations over the past 38 years, including: the CCV Advisory Board in Franklin County; Franklin-Grand Isle Mental Health Agency; St. Mary’s Parish Council, Chair – Education Committee; Incorporator of Northwestern Medical Center; Board of Trustees, Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans, Chair for 4 years; School Director, Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans UHS District 48; Public Oversight Committee that made recommendations to the Commissioner of BISHCA.

David Durfee

David Durfee of is a member of the Vermont General Assembly.  First elected in 2018, he currently is the Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency & Forestry. A consultant to community-based organizations, he has held management roles in publishing, hospitality, and cooperatively owned retail grocery.  He has taught at the secondary-school and community-college level, and as an instructor in English as a Foreign Language in Japan.  He graduated from New Lebanon (N.Y.) Central School and holds a BA in Mathematics from Williams College and an MBA from Cornell University. Rep. Durfee is the Treasurer of the Mount Anthony Union School District and the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union.  He serves on the board of directors for BROC Community Action and is a past board member of Southshire Community School, Neighboring Food Cooperative Association, Shaftsbury Elementary School, and Mount Anthony Union High School, where he chaired the Education Committee.  He is a recipient of the Cleveland and Phyllis Dodge Community Service Award from United Counseling Services and has volunteered as a youth soccer coach, race director, and member of the Shaftsbury Budget and Ancient Roads Committees. Rep. Durfee lives in Shaftsbury, Vermont, with his wife Melanie.  They have three grown sons.

Bob Flint

Bob has served as the Executive Director of SRDC since 2005. During that time, he has facilitated several projects including the remediation and redevelopment of the One Hundred River Street property, the successful sale and redevelopment of the North Springfield Fellows Gear Shaper facility and the construction of Blake Hill Preserves and Vermont Farmstead Cheese in Windsor. He is currently overseeing the redevelopment of the former Park Street School in Springfield, that houses the Black River Innovation Campus (which Bob helped to create and continues to serve as Vice-Chair) as well as the cleanup and redevelopment of the former J & L Plant 1.He is the Past-President and current Treasurer of the Regional Development Corporations of Vermont, the Chair of the River Valley Technical Center School District Board, the Chair of the North Star Health FQHC Board as well being a gubernatorial appointee to the Vermont Aviation Advisory Council, Vermont State College Board of Trustees and the state Clean Water Board. Prior to SRDC, Bob was the Executive Vice-President of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce for 7 ½ years.  During his time at the Chamber, Bob was elected to 3 terms as the President of the Vermont Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and served 2 terms on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. He also worked in broadcasting for 20 years, including 14 years as the Operations Manager/Program Director of WCFR Radio in Springfield. Flint has a B.S. (Telecommunications Management) from Syracuse University and is member of the WJPZ Radio Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the 2001 Class of the Vermont Leadership Institute through the Snelling Center for Government.

Shirley Jefferson

Shirley Jefferson joined Vermont Law School in 1999. She served initially as a special assistant to admissions and the Director of Alumni Affairs before becoming the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Diversity.  Dean Jefferson is now vice president for community engagement and government affairs and an associate professor currently teaching Race and the Law and has taught Non-Profit Organizations and Civil Rights Seminar “Eyes on the Prize”. As the Dean for Student Affairs, Dean Jefferson serves as the law school’s senior student affairs officer. She reports to the dean/president on fostering and advancing a strategic and integrated approach to student affairs. She also is responsible for advising and mentoring the Student Bar Association and 30 other student organizations as they develop leadership abilities and practice life skills, self-governance and organizational management, and student activities. As the Dean for Diversity, Dean Jefferson serves as a member of the president’s/dean’s administrative cabinet creating a unique environment for manifesting a commitment to cultural diversity, promoting law school-wide diversity goals and initiatives and highlighting the value of diversity throughout the school as it relates to the school’s diversity plan.Prior to joining Vermont Law School, Dean Jefferson served as General Counsel for the United Black Fund, Inc.; as Associate Counsel in the Law Office of Wilhelmina J. Rolark; and as a legislative assistant, Committee on Judiciary, to Council Member Wilhelmina J. Rolark. While attending Vermont Law School, Dean Jefferson received both the Alumni Association Award and was a Debevoise Family Scholarship recipient. Dean Jefferson also founded the Minority Student Group at Vermont Law School. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southeastern University and was named to the Dean’s List. On a more personal note, as a young girl, Dean Jefferson met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma, Alabama. At the age of 17, Dean Jefferson integrated her high school in Selma, Alabama.

Karen Handy Luneau

Karen Handy Luneau is co-owner of Handy Toyota and Handy Chevrolet in St. Albans, Vermont. She is a former high school teacher. She currently serves Samaritan House, Franklin/Grand Isle counties homeless shelter, as member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Fundraising Committee. She has extensive service on community boards as past chair of the Bellows Free Academy Board of Trustees, Franklin County Supervisory Union Board, St. Albans City School Board, St. Albans City Zoning Board, and St. Albans City Community Development Board. In addition, she is a past member of the Franklin County Workforce Investment Board, St. Albans City Board of Civil Authority, and has been a religious education instructor at St Mary’s in St. Albans. Mrs. Luneau is a Franklin County native who graduated from St. Anne Academy in Swanton. She graduated from Albertus Magnus College in 1972 with a BA in History. She has done post-graduate work at St. Michael’s College and UVM. She lives in St. Albans with her husband, Daniel. She is the mother of three grown sons, Joseph, Peter, and Adam, and grandmother of five. Mrs. Luneau has been a member of the VSCS Board of Trustees since 2005.

Jim Masland

Jim Masland is a Representative of the Vermont General Assembly and became a resident of Thetford Center in 1979. He was educated at Hanover Elementary, Hanover, New Hampshire and the Williston Academy, Easthampton, Massachusetts and received his BS and MS at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California. Mr. Masland is currently a work-based learning consultant and builder. He is married to the former Suzanne M. Sheldon, and they have five daughters and two sons. Mr. Masland is a former Site Supervisor of the Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity. He is a member of the ECFiber Executive Committee, the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation, and the Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste District. He is the past president of the George D. Aiken Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, and past chair of the Thetford Select Board. He is a graduate of the Vermont Institute at the Snelling Center for Government. Mr. Masland was elected to the VSCS Board of Trustees in 2010.

Marc Mihaly

Marc Mihaly is emeritus professor of law at Vermont Law School.  He served as Vermont Law School’s eighth president and dean from 2012 to 2017, and previously as associate dean for VLS’s Environmental Programs and director of its Environmental Law Center where he initiated the VLS Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, the Institute for Energy and the Environment, and VLS on-line Masters degrees. Mihaly, who joined VLS in 2004, received his BA degree from Harvard College and his JD degree from the University of California, Berkeley. After service in the U.S. Peace Corps in Central America, he served with the San Mateo County Legal Aid Society and the environmental unit of the California Attorney General’s Office. In 1980, he co-founded Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger in San Francisco, one of the nation’s leading public interest environmental law firms, served as its managing partner for 17 years, and oversaw its growth to 25 attorneys and planners. There he represented farmers, environmental community groups, progressive cities, environmental state, regional and local agencies, and Native American tribes. He is an expert in the areas of land use, land conservation, urban planning, and energy law and policy. He serves on the board of the Vermont Land Trust.

Jason Musal

Jason Musal is currently a senior undergraduate student at Vermont State University – Castleton campus. He is originally from Mount Olive, New Jersey, attending Mount Olive High School.
Before attending Vermont State University, he briefly attended Coastal Carolina University, in Conway, South Carolina, as an honors student. Through Coastal Carolina University, he had
the opportunity to study abroad in Europe, spending time in four different countries. He has leadership experience in several different programs throughout his time in university, heading
several organizations across both institutions. He also spent time in the Castleton Student Government Association, serving on the Campus Activities Board, and as a Senator for the new
system-wide Student Government. In 2024, Jason had the opportunity to do independent research through the Vermont State University – Castleton Biology department, spending time
identifying genes and proteins associated with transduction in the genome of a bacteria. Jason plans to attend law school after completing his undergraduate degree in the Spring of 2025.
Outside of education, he is an avid skier and hiker, spending several days a week in the mountains of Vermont.  He was appointed to the Board of Trustees as the student representative in 2024, serving on both the DEI and EPSL committees.

Governor Phil Scott (ex officio)

Gov. Phil Scott is a native Vermonter who grew up in Barre, and is a graduate of Spaulding High School and the University of Vermont. In 2000, he was elected to the Vermont Senate, where he represented Washington County for five terms. During his 10-year service in the Senate, he was Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee and Chair of the Institutions Committee. Phil was elected Vermont’s 79th Lieutenant Governor in 2010, serving until January, 2017.Throughout his years of public service, Phil has listened to, and learned from Vermonters, and is always willing to roll up his sleeves to help make a difference in people’s lives. As Lt. Governor, he launched the Everyday Jobs Initiative, and Vermont Economy Pitch sessions, for the opportunity to learn from Vermont’s employers and workers. And in 2011, in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, he organized the removal and disposal of mobile homes around the state, which were destroyed by the flood, all at no cost to homeowners and without spending any taxpayer dollars. Through the Everyday Jobs Initiative, Phil has worked in 35 different professions around the state – working alongside a host of professionals and business owners, from manufacturing floor technicians and beekeepers to emergency room workers and second grade teachers. The Vermont Economy Pitch sessions, started in January 2015, provided businesspeople the platform to pitch ideas directly to legislators on how to improve Vermont’s business climate. Many ideas from those sessions were introduced into the 2015 legislative session, several of them passed into law. Phil is also active in community service projects. In 2005, he founded the Wheels for Warmth program, through which Vermonters donate tires they no longer need. The tires that meet state inspection standards are offered for resale at affordable prices, with all proceeds benefiting heating fuel assistance programs. More than $367,000 has been raised in total, and tires that are not reusable are recycled. For more than thirty years, Phil was a co-owner of his family construction business, and raced the #14 car at Barre’s Thunder Road for more than two decades. He has the most career wins as a Late Model driver at the track. He’s also an avid cyclist, logging more than 4,000 miles in the last year alone. Phil lives in Berlin with his wife Diana McTeague Scott and their two dogs, a spoiled golden retriever and a loving black lab. He has two grown daughters, Erica and Rachael.

David Silverman

David Silverman is a 1985 alumnus of Johnson State College and has retained long and strong connections with the college. He has supported internship and career opportunities for students, served on the President’s Roundtable, and participated in panels supporting Johnson as it works with Lyndon State College to become Northern Vermont University.  He has been instrumental in making Union Bank one of the most profitable banks in New England. He was founding Chairman of the Community Health Services of Lamoille Valley, President of the Lamoille Economic Development Corporation, and Chairman of the Vermont Bankers Association.   He and his wife live in Morrisville.

Shawn Tester

Shawn Tester is the Chief Executive Officer at Northeast Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH). Before joining NVRH in November 2018, Tester served as CEO of Northern Counties Health Care (NCHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center with five medical and three dental practices and a Home Health & Hospice division. Prior to his time at NCHC, he spent nine years at Ammonoosuc Community Health Services (ACHS) in Littleton, NH, most of that time in the position of Chief of Operations & Information Services.. While working at ACHS, Tester earned his Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University. He also holds a degree in Business Administration from Bentley College. Tester grew up in North Kirby and graduated from Lyndon Institute in 1989. In his spare time, he enjoys biking, hunting, skiing, agricultural pursuits, and spending time outdoors with his family.  He lives in East Lyndon with his wife, Loralee, and two sons, Timothy and Patrick.

Sue Zeller

Susan Zeller was born and raised in New Jersey, moving to New England in 1978. She lived and worked in MA, NH, and ME, arriving in VT in 1997.  Her career spanned a diversity of organizations and industries over 25 years in positions such as Accounting Manager, Controller and Vice President of Finance for both Fortune 500 companies and private corporations. For the last 15 years, Zeller served as Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Finance and Management, a position she held under two administrations and as the State’s first Chief Performance Officer  until her retirement in May 2021.Sue resides in Montpelier, first moving there in 1998. She serves as Vice President of Kellogg-Hubbard Library (formerly the Treasurer) and as a long-time volunteer for Lost Nation Theater in the Box Office, housing visiting artists and as a former Treasurer and Board Chair. Sue is excited to join the Vermont State College Board of Trustees.

Committee Liaisons

Committee Liaisons include one faculty and one staff member from each institution, who serve as non-voting members of the committee.  Liaisons have been identified by the Presidents through their respective governance groups.  Their participation is intended to improve the connection between the Board and staff and faculty and for the liaisons to contribute their expertise and perspective to the meeting topics.

Profiles

Alexis Anderson – Finance & Facilities (VTSU Staff)

Alexis Anderson is a fourth generation Vermonter committed to enriching the local communities.  She has over fifteen years of experience in Facilities and Operations.  She currently holds the VTSU title of Associate Director of Campus Operations for Johnson and Lyndon.  She served as the Director of Operations for Ronald McDonald House Charites of BTV.  She recently worked in Chittenden, Washington, Addison, Lamoille, and Franklin counties as Director of Property Management for a privately owned real estate firm.  Her industry experience spans from residential, commercial and institutions.  Capital Project Management has been in the forefront of her experience ranging from HVAC, FACP, well drilling, septic installation, stormwater systems, elevator modification, foundations, roofs, lighting, and efficiency projects.  In 2023 she completed the NHIC (National Home Inspector Course).  She holds the VT IRC inspection certification.  She is a CCV alumni with an A.S in Administrative Management.  Alexis lives in Chittenden County and enjoys hiking the unspoken trails with her family.

Richard (Rick) Arend – Finance & Facilities (CCV Faculty)

Richard joined the CCV faculty in 2012 and teaches a variety of business and economics courses. He is currently the faculty co-chair of the Business and Mathematics Curriculum Committee and a member of the CCV Academic Council. He has also served on the Faculty Advisory Committee on Technology since its inception, serving as chair for four years.  Rick was a member of the CCV Strategic Planning Committee that developed the CCV strategic plan for the 2024 through 2029 academic years.Prior to joining CCV, his 40-year business career included management and executive positions in large Fortune five hundred companies, small business organizations, entrepreneurial start-up companies, and Rick has also founded and managed three of his own companies. These companies include: a data processing company of 100 plus employees providing a wide range of data processing, billing, and financial services as well as sophisticated software products for the telecommunications industry; a property management company which developed, built, and managed an 18,000 square foot office building in Colorado; and a publishing company which produced hard cover and audio books in business and self-help genres.He is a U.S. Army veteran, and holds an Associate of Arts degree from Ventura College, a Bachler of Arts degree from California State University-Fresno, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University.

James Brassard – Audit & Risk Management (CCV Faculty)

James Brassard is a combat veteran who proudly served his country in both Afghanistan and Iraq. After his military service, James earned his associate’s degree at CCV and continued his education at the Florida Institute of Technology and later graduated with his MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University. Throughout his extensive and award-winning career in the senior living industry, James has successfully managed the startup and turnaround of numerous senior living communities throughout the United States. His experience also includes operations management, strategic growth, associate retention and development, and the implementation of operational efficiencies and performance maximization across diverse platforms.

Marianne DiMascio – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (CCV Staff)

Marianne DiMascio has worked at the Community College of Vermont since 2001. She is the Senior Director of Engagement and Academic Centers for CCV Middlebury, St Albans, and Winooski centers. She is constantly in awe of students and their perseverance in working towards their educational and career goals at CCV. She currently serves on the Academic Council and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at CCV. Marianne is a proud graduate of the Vermont Leadership Institute through the Snelling Center for government. In her spare time, she writes comedy for a sketch comedy troupe she cofounded in 2011.

Ryan Dulude – Audit & Risk Management and Finance & Facilities (CCV Staff)

Ryan Dulude is the Director of Financial Aid at the Community College of Vermont, overseeing all financial aid functions across 12 academic locations in Vermont. He holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from Saint Michael’s College, an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University, and is a Certified Financial Aid Administrator. Ryan has worked in financial aid for 17 years, first as a counselor at Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) and, since 2011, at CCV. He is a past president of the Vermont Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (VASFAA) and has represented Vermont on three separate occasions on the Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator’s (EASFAA) management council. He has served as a member of several state, regional, and national financial aid committees, including as a past chair of the EASFAA Federal Relations Committee and current chair of the VASFAA Government Relations Committee. He is a past recipient of VASFAA’s Special Recognition Award. Ryan’s volunteer work includes serving as a gubernatorial appointee on the VSAC Board of Directors, founding board member of the Early Learning Center in Colchester, and as a youth baseball coach. Ryan, a lifelong Vermonter, former Pell Grant recipient, and first-generation college student, lives in Milton with his wife and two children.

Jen Jones – Audit & Risk Management (VTSU Staff)

Jennifer-Kristina Jones, Assistant Vice President of Academic Support and Educational Opportunity Programs at Vermont State University, holds a rich academic background with a Master of Business Administration (2022), a Master of Arts in Education (2011), and a Bachelor of Arts in History (2002), all from Castleton University, where she graduated summa cum laude. In her role as AVP, Jennifer provides direct leadership for federal TRIO programs, AmeriCorps initiatives, and their staff, including Student Support Services, McNair Scholars, Upward Bound, and Lyndon Economic opportunity AmeriCorps Program (LEAP). She collaborates closely with university leadership to ensure student success and the fulfillment of all grant objectives. Her impressive grant-writing track record includes securing millions of dollars in competitive federal funds such as the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development grant and multiple TRIO Upward Bound grants from the U.S. Department of Education. She has also successfully obtained smaller grants from the Vermont Foodbank, T3 Alliance, Carris Foundation, and Stewart’s Shops to support local student services. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, she previously served as Director of Academic Support and Director of Upward Bound at Castleton University, where she managed multi-hundred-thousand-dollar budgets and ensured compliance with federal and state regulations. Jennifer is dedicated to fostering educational opportunities and advancing student achievement across Vermont.

Professor Marybeth Lennox-Levins – Finance & Facilities (VTSU Faculty)

Professor Lennox-Levins began her career in higher education and sport as the Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach and the Assistant to Athletic Fiscal Systems at her alma mater, Binghamton University (SUNY) in 1994. After four years of coaching, which ended with an appointment as Interim Head Women’s Soccer coach from 1997-1998, Professor Lennox-Levins moved completely into the athletic administration ranks. During her eleven years professionally at Binghamton she moved steadily up the administrative ladder, assisting in the university’s transition from an NCAA Division III program to Division I. From 1998-2003 she served as an Assistant Athletic Director and from 2003-2005 she worked as Associate Athletics Director at Binghamton before moving to Washington D.C. where she served as Director of Athletics at Trinity University. While living in the Washington, D.C. area Professor Lennox-Levins also spent almost three years working for the Human Rights Campaign, including a brief placement in Albuquerque, NM. Most recently, Professor Lennox-Levins served as the Director of Athletics at Green Mountain College (2009-2012) and was a part-time professor at Castleton University during the 2010-2011 academic year.Professor Lennox-Levins began her career as a full-time faculty member at Castleton in the Fall of 2012. She was the lead developer on the M.S. in Athletic Leadership program from 2013-2015 and serves as the Program Director for that program as well as for the B.S. in Sport Management. She also teaches in both programs. She has presented at numerous conferences on topics such as: Team Building: Alternatives to Hazing in the World of Athletics, Event Management, Risk Management in Sport, and Building Strong Organizational Culture, among others. Professor Lennox-Levins’s outside interests include trail running, hiking, golf, coaching youth soccer, boating, and spending time with her family. She has completed five marathons, one Half Ironman Event (70.3), and participated in numerous half marathons and other road and trail races. Lennox-Levins resides in Rutland, VT with her wife Kim and their daughter Lucy.

Meaghan Meachem – Education, Personnel & Student Life Committee (VTSU Faculty)

A Vermont native, Meaghan Meachem graduated from VTSU Lyndon (then Lyndon State College) in 2003 with a Bachelors degree in Television Design and Production and went onto work in Hartford, Connecticut and Syracuse, New York as a photographer, editor and live truck operator.  She graduated with a Masters degree in Educational Technology from Marlboro College in 2007 before returning to her Alma mater in 2008 to teach in the then Television Studies program.  She was a major player in launching the web-based arm of the nationally award winning News7 broadcast that is a part of the programs experiential learning component.  Since that launch, she has grown the web-arm to include social media and podcasting.  Meaghan is a current board member for the New England Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), and frequently judges high school student work for NATAS and Student Television Network.  Meaghan is the current program coordinator for the Communications program on the Lyndon campus and is also the Moderator of the faculty for the 2024-2025 academic year.  She lives in Greensboro with her husband and parents.

Alexander Northern, JD, MPA, CFO, Fire Chief – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (CCV Faculty)

Alex began his journey advocating for DEI several years ago as a faculty member with CCV.  He is now faculty co-chair of CCV’s DEI committee. Although his career has varied experiences, his focus has been the Fire Service.  Alex began his career in the late seventies as a volunteer and then professionally with the District of Columbia FD in the eighties having served in the 2^nd Battalion with Engine 9/Truck 9 in the busy U St. NW corridor. Alex left this position after six years to pursue his education.  He attended UConn as an undergraduate, and then NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where he was a Deans’ Scholar. While at Post graduate school, he worked in the nonprofit world before attending Vermont Law School. Subsequently, he returned to the fire service as an academic and program director. During his tenure there, he was offered his current position as Fire Chief. Alex places education and proactive learning at the forefront of his professional goals.  He is an instructor with the Vermont Fire Academy, and teaches on a regular basis at CCV where he has been a faculty member for approximately thirteen years. When not working, Alex enjoys being a husband, and father of a wonderful 7-year-old who keeps him active. He enjoys fitness and dabbles in collecting fire department antiques.

Katherine Penberthy – Education, Personnel & Student Life Committee (CCV Faculty)

Katherine Penberthy moved to Middlebury, Vermont in 1975. Before that, she lived mostly in New England and in Mexico and Peru where her parents were missionaries. She attended then Johnson State College (now, Vermont State University, Johnson) for a bachelor’s in psychology and then UVM for a master’s in counseling. She has worked in educational opportunity programs for most of her 30-year professional career as Coordinator of Student Support Services at Community College, Director of Upward Bound and Director of Academic Support Services at Johnson State College. All of these are TRIO programs designed to support students who are first-generation, low-income college students. She has also taught at the Community College of Vermont since 1989. Most recently, Katherine taught college courses at both the Women’s Correctional Facility in South Burlington and the NWCF in St. Albans.
She has served as faculty liaison on the EPSL committee since 2022. She has been the faculty co-chair of the Social Sciences committee at the Community College of Vermont since 2010. In that role, she also serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She has served in leadership roles on many committees during her career including Chair of the Women’s Council at then Johnson State College and President of the Vermont Education Opportunity Committee. The most fulfilling aspect of her professional career is to provide the opportunity for disadvantaged individuals to be successful.

Dr. Dennis Reilly – Audit & Risk Management (VTSU Faculty)

Dr. Dennis Michael Reilly is an Assistant Professor at Vermont State University’s Castleton campus, where he serves as the MBA Program Director and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in business, leadership, and management. In addition to teaching, Dr. Reilly holds several key roles, including serving as a VTSU Faculty Executive Council member, Chair of the VTSU Graduate Council, and program coordinator at the School of Business and Professional Studies. Dr. Reilly earned a doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University and a master’s in international management from Colorado State University. Before transitioning into higher education, Dr. Reilly had a distinguished career in the Aerospace and Defense industry, where he held executive positions such as president, senior vice president, and vice president. Eight years ago, he shifted from the boardroom to the classroom, bringing his students a wealth of real-world experience. An active Academy of Management (AOM) member, Dr. Reilly focuses his research and teaching efforts on strategic management, organizational behavior, educational leadership, and management science. Beyond academia, Dr. Reilly is a veteran of the USAF and a lacrosse coach at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, NH, demonstrating his commitment to leadership on and off the field.

Denise Rhodes – Education, Personnel & Student Life Committee (VTSU Staff)

Denise was raised in a large family that placed great emphasis on higher education and is a graduate of Green Mountain College.  She started at VTSU Castleton in 2008 as a Staff Assistant working for the Upward Bound program.  She has since worked in a number of departments which include Financial Aid, Wellness, and currently Student Finances as a Student Financial Support Specialist.  Prior to working at VTSU, she managed the technology and computer equipment at Rutland Town Elementary School.  Meeting students’ needs has always been her number one focus in all of her roles.  It is her goal that all students feel that their respective campus is their home. Denise also helped her husband run his construction business before he retired from such and moved into a second career.  While at RTES and continuing at VTSU, she has held numerous leadership roles in her bargaining units.  She and her husband have three adult children and two grandchildren; and, they live in beautiful Middletown Springs with their dog and cat.

Erin Wetherell – Education, Personnel & Student Life Committee (CCV Staff)

Erin Wetherell is a Coordinator of Student Advising at CCV Upper Valley. She was a member of the 2025-2030 Strategic Planning Committee, currently co-chairs the VSCSA and works closely with students in employer-sponsored nursing pathways. She was co-chair of College Council from 2021-2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College, an MEd from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and is a proud graduate of the Vermont Leadership Institute (’21). She is a current board member of the Governors Institutes of Vermont and Central Vermont Adult Education. Locally, she volunteers for EverybodyWins! VT and Willing Hands.

Dr. Lisa Zinn – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (VTSU Faculty)

Dr. Lisa Zinn is an Assistant Professor in the Natural Sciences department at the Vermont State University Johnson campus.  Lisa teaches Biology, Environmental Science, and Wildlife and Forest Conservation classes.  She is a licensed bird bander, and she has been banding birds with students for twenty years.  Prior to coming to Vermont, Lisa worked at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College in Indiana where she taught college and served as the Director for Sustainability Leadership Semester Program.  Lisa lives in Morrisville, VT with her wife Hannah. She enjoys hiking, reading, birding, drawing, and woodworking.