Donny Bazluke is a Network and Security Analyst at the Vermont State Colleges – Office of the Chancellor. He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Security and Forensics. A lifelong Vermonter, he is now learning the skills of a network administrator and is also committed to ever increasing the information security posture of the Vermont State Colleges.
Alexandra Bergeron is a software engineer and database specialist for OC IT. Part of her duties include database analysis and developing new software solutions facilitating workflow for our colleges’ team members. She joined the Chancellor’s Office in 2015 bringing with her 25 years of experience in computer technology, having worked with organizations like Honeywell, Southwest Kidney Institute, Arizona Department of Transportation, Logibec, and more. As a proud new owner of land in Vermont, Alex is enjoying some of her favorite passions, architectural design and property engineering.
Jonathan Black is a System Administrator for the Chancellor’s Office, he has worked here since 2015. He has an AS degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Vermont Technical College as well as a BS in Computer Information Systems from Champlain College.
Jill Carroll is a Colleague Specialist in the Chancellor’s Office IT Department (OCIT). Her main responsibilities include supporting Ellucian’s Colleague in the student area, interface development between Colleague and third party software, and Colleague integration processing. Jill has over 25 years experience working with higher education administrative Information systems, with 18 years of programming/analyst experience working with Ellucian’s Colleague software. She has a BA in Business Administration from Rutgers College, Rutgers University. Jill is also a Yankees and NY Giants fan.
Kevin Conroy is the Chief Information Officer. His over 25 years of engineering and information systems experience in healthcare, education and the private sector includes integrating information technology into all aspects of mission and business. Kevin earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Norwich University and Master of Public Administration from Marist College. He enjoys design and installation of solar electrical systems and teaching as an adjunct professor of engineering and technology.
Doug Eastman is the Director of Information Technology. Before coming to the Chancellor’s Office Doug spent 20 years at Johnson State College/NVU, including 12 years as Registrar. Doug earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Springfield College. In his spare time Doug enjoys spending time on Cape Cod with his family and playing ice hockey.
Tony Hashem brings over 25 years of IT experience mainly in Financial Services. For the last 5 years Tony was the Director of IT Security at National Life and prior to that he spent 15 years with Genworth Financial in a variety of IT and security roles. Originally from Nova Scotia, Tony and family live in Richmond where his daughter Katherine is Sophomore at MMU and his son is in 7th grade at Camel Hump middle school. Tony enjoys wood working, off road motorcycles, skiing, camping, fishing, hunting and most other outdoor activities.
Jedediah Hock is the Lead Systems Administrator in the Chancellor’s Office. He manages numerous servers and applications including ImageNow, ServiceDesk, EMS, PGP, and SQL servers as well as providing local helpdesk support to the Chancellor’s Office. He joined the VSCS in September 2006 after working for 5 years at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY as a System Administrator. Jedediah graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2001 with a BS in Mathematics and Computer Science and completed an MS in Information Technology from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY in 2004. He lives with his family in Montpelier.
Richard Lee is a Lead Systems Analyst in the Chancellor’s Office. He has worked full time for the Vermont State Colleges System since 1973. Richard brews beer in his spare time.
Tom Maguire is Director of Network Services and has managed the Vermont State Colleges’ state-wide network infrastructure for over 25 years, including WAN, Internet, Internet2 and 3rd party collaborations. He works closely with IT staff at all of the colleges, ensuring that the network is designed to support the needs of students, faculty, and staff. Access to system-wide resources and the Internet is centrally located, making a robust, reliable network infrastructure critical. Under Tom’s leadership, the network has evolved from a simple point-to-point to a fully-redundant architecture that includes multiple paths to the Internet, I2 and WAN circuits to our colleges. Tom began his career at GTE Government systems in Needham, Ma., working in IT/Network support roles in both the manufacturing and engineering organizations. He holds a BS in CIS and an MBA, both from Bentley University.
Michael Martel is the Director of Data Center Administration for the Vermont State Colleges Office of the Chancellor. Michael joined the VSCS in 1994 after his graduation from VTC, and has been an integral part of the Information Technology staff since his arrival. In his free time, Michael can be found with his dogs or on the coast of Maine.
Meg Walz is the Director, Project Management for the Vermont State Colleges system, and leads complex cross-functional projects across our four member institutions. She is a PMP certified project manager with 6 years of experience in higher education. Meg’s professional interests include student experience and academic technology. Outside of work her hobbies include baking, knitting, and bowling.
The department manages and oversees finance, accounting, facilities management, human resources, payroll, fiscal reporting, internal and external audits, and the pro-forma development and implementation of the operating and capital budgets for the system.
Staff monitor all financial accounts, budgets and financial conditions for compliance with national accounting standards, budgetary and policy requirements and plans; direct the implementation and ongoing maintenance of automated financial systems, system controls and user training and support; coordinate and develop the annual financial statements and provide system office financial and business office support functions.
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Shannon Billings serves the VSCS as a Business Services Assistant. Her duties include working with the Accounts Receivable Team and Grant Managers within the System. She joined the VSCS in 2018 after 22 years managing the financial operations of a small construction company. Shannon received her BS in accounting from Thomas College in Waterville, ME. In her free time, you will find Shannon with her Quarter Horse, Skylar, practicing the art of horsemanship.
Linda Davis joined the Chancellor’s Office from Johnson State College, where she spent over nine years. In addition to accounts payable, Linda has a depth of knowledge and understanding of many other important aspects of the Vermont State Colleges, such as student financial services. Linda is passionate about employee wellness and served as the Wellness Coordinator at Johnson State College for several years. Prior to her VSCS experience, Linda and her family owned three successful businesses in the Cambridge, VT area.
Dick Ethier is the VSCS Director of Facilities. He started working for the VSCS system in 1973 at Vermont Technical College. In 1989 he became the VTC Director of Physical Plant. He held that position until 2004, when he came to the Chancellor’s Office as Director of Facilities. Dick lives in Braintree with his wife and in his spare time enjoys collecting and working on antique cars and tractors.
Brenda Flint is the Director of Business Services. Among other responsibilities, she works very closely with accounts payable and accounts receivable. Brenda worked at Vermont Tech where she spent eight years working in the business office. Her prior experience includes accounting and human resources in an engineering firm and health insurance organization. Brenda lives in Brookfield with her husband and daughter and enjoys running and Spartan races.
Jocelyn Haley serves the VSCS as Senior Staff Accountant. She joined the VSCS in 2020 with 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and public accounting sectors in Central Vermont. She has a BS in History from Truman State University and a MBA from the University of Vermont. She currently is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Jocelyn lives in Middlesex with her husband and two kids.
Chassidy King joined the VSCS in June 2017 and works in the Accounts Payable Department. Chassidy lives in Fletcher with her husband and children where they own a maple sugaring business. In her spare time, Chassidy loves NASCAR races, gardening, and spending time with friends.
Sharron Scott is VSC’s Chief Financial and Operating Officer. Sharron began her career with the Vermont State Colleges System in 2003 serving as the system’s first Director of Administrative Information Systems. In 2004, Sharron transferred into the Dean of Administration role with Johnson State College and in 2017, Lyndon State College was added to Sharron’s portfolio where she served, jointly, as the Dean of Administration for both institutions until the colleges were fully unified into Northern Vermont University in 2018. In addition to her institutional roles, Sharron has served as a member of the system-wide policy setting bodies for information technology, human resources, and business affairs. She also served as the system lead for Internal Audit, and as an external evaluator for NECHE, specializing in the areas of finance, facilities, information technology and human resources.
Prior to joining the Vermont State Colleges System Sharron worked for Ecolab, Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota where she was a director of information technology. In that role, Sharron specialized in software development, business process reengineering, and institutional mergers. Sharron is a native Vermonter and a graduate of the University of Vermont. She and her family reside in Morrisville, and she is excited about the prospect of serving all of the institutions in the Vermont State Colleges System.
Tracy Sweet is a Payroll Specialist for the VSCS system. She joined the VSCS in 1990, starting at CCV in the business office. She worked as an accounts receivable clerk for five years before moving to payroll, eventually becoming CCV’s payroll director. Tracy joined the Chancellor’s Office in her current role in 2005. She has an associate’s degree in accounting from Champlain College.
Betsy Ward is the Grants Compliance Officer for the VSCS System. She splits her time between the Chancellor’s Office and the VSCS institutions, where she works with faculty, administrators, and staff who are developing grant proposals or managing grants. She has a BA in English and an MA in American Studies, both from Utah State University. She has spent most of her career in higher education, with previous positions at the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College. She also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Poland and an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in rural Washington State. She lives in Burlington with her family.
Human Resources Human Resources at the Chancellor’s Office serves as a resource and a partner for all the Colleges in the VSCS system. HR staff are responsible for oversight of all areas of human resources in the Vermont State Colleges, including bargaining unit agreements, benefits, compensation, classification, training, and employee relations.
Marissa Greene joined the Chancellor’s Office in March 2020 as an Employee Services Specialist. She brings over fifteen years of experience, most recently with Vermont Creamery where she was instrumental in adding over 50 positions, guiding them through 38% growth year over year. She also spent many years with ADP in their payroll division. Marissa is a local yoga and fitness instructor whose love of anything movement and health oriented leads her to volunteer teaching yoga for people in recovery and at the St. Johnsbury correctional institute. She also works part time at the local domestic violence coalition. Marissa loves to hike the local spots and spend time with her 3 kids and 3 dogs.
Laura Macieira joined the Chancellor’s Office in March 2020 as an Employee Services Specialist. She has been in the field of human resources for ten years, which she enjoys fully. She has an honors degree in architecture from Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto, Portugal. In her free time, Laura can be found with family and friends gardening, hiking, skiing or swimming in lakes.
Kathryn N. Santiago is Assistant General Counsel and System Investigator for Vermont State Colleges. She provides legal support and advice at the direction of the VSC General Counsel on a wide variety of legal issues and acts as the primary investigator for the VSC on complaints of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct and other improper or unprofessional behavior whether involving students, staff, faculty, administrators or third-parties, as well as providing training and planning for VSC to comply with state and federal requirements. Prior to joining VSC in 2020, Kathryn served as Title IX Investigator and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Stony Brook University. Her past experience includes that of Assistant Town Attorney and private law practice. Kathryn is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz and Hofstra University School of Law.
Patty Turley is General Counsel for the Vermont State Colleges, providing a wide range of legal services for the Chancellor’s office and the state colleges. Before joining VSC in 2020, Patty spent more than twenty years in private practice with Zalinger Cameron & Lambek in Montpelier, where her legal practice included areas such as employment, civil litigation, labor, and business transactions. Patty worked as a paralegal for fifteen years at the same firm and successfully sat for the Vermont Bar examination after her four-year clerkship in 1999. She has an MS in Higher Education Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as degrees from Norwich University, Woodbury College and Vermont Technical College. She served as adjunct faculty at Champlain College and earlier at Woodbury College, writing and teaching law-related courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Patty is an Examiner for the Vermont Board of Bar Examiners and is a member of the Central Vermont Chapter of the American Inns of Court. She is a native of Montpelier and lives there with her husband.
In addition to our departments, Chancellor’s Office staff are responsible for several other areas of work, including academic affairs, Board of Trustees support, grants administration, institutional research, and legislative affairs.
Katherine Levasseur is the Director of External and Governmental Affairs for the Vermont State Colleges. She is charged with building public support for and raising the profile of the Vermont State Colleges, developing partnerships and alliances to support the VSC, liaising with state and federal elected officials, and leading VSC’s communications strategy. Katherine is a graduate of the University of Vermont and a justice of the peace in her hometown of Hinesburg. Before joining VSC in 2020, Katherine spent four years working as Chief of Staff to Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson in the Vermont Legislature. Additionally, she has over a decade of experience on political campaigns, serving a campaign manager, volunteer, and statewide campaign director. Katherine grew up in the NEK and enjoys exploring Vermont with her husband, daughter, and rescue pup.
Jen Porrier is the Administrative Director to the Office of the Chancellor. She provides support and management to the Chancellor, Leadership staff and is the liaison to the Board of Trustees. Prior to coming to the Chancellor’s Office Jen worked for IBM for 18 years, most recently as Business Operations Specialist for Watson Health. Jen earned a Master’s Degree in Education from University of Nevada, Reno and is excited to be back in the world of Academics. She lives in Montpelier with her husband.
Juan Zhang is the VSCS Institutional Research Analyst. She has primary responsibility for the IPEDS and other required reporting and is working to transform routine operational reporting needs across all the colleges. Juan was a data analyst at Cathedral Square in Burlington, Vermont where she was responsible for creating an internal data warehouse, developing reports, assuring data quality and integrity, and conducting outcomes evaluation for grants. She has a master’s degree in public administration from UVM and a second master’s of economics in information economy from the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, China.
Yasmine Ziesler serves as the VSCS Chief Academic Officer. She supports the work of the Education, Personnel, and Student Life (EPSL) Committee of the Board and works closely with several VSCS-wide teams including academic deans, institutional research, registrars, teaching and learning technologies, and advising technology. Prior to coming to the Chancellor’s Office in 2015, Yasmine served as Dean of Technology and Associate Academic Dean for first year programs at Castleton University, and she began her VSCS career at the Community College of Vermont Burlington site as an academic coordinator in 2003. Yasmine received her Ph.D. in anthropology from Boston University and was a Fulbright English teacher in the Republic of Korea in 1995-1996.
