Northern Vermont University announced the members of the NVU Strong Advisory Committee this afternoon. The committee, chaired by NVU Provost Nolan Atkins, includes 16 members chosen from 286 nominations. The NVU Strong Advisory Committee is said to have equal representation of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members, as well as equal geographical representation.
“The overwhelming response to the committee’s open nomination process was yet another example of the fierce commitment that our communities have to NVU,” said NVU President Elaine Collins. “The committee is made up of a wide variety of notable and influential leaders and I have no doubt that they will successfully tackle the challenging task before them and develop financially sustainable solutions that will ensure a strong and thriving future for NVU for generations to come.”
In a presentation with the community, Provost Atkins defined the job of the committee. The committee will be responsible for identifying a sustainable model or models for Northern Vermont University at a 15-25% budget reduction for the financial year of 2022. They will also be tasked with identifying “core programs” of study on each campus. Provost Atkins’ presentation can be watched here starting at 6:03.
The committee is expected to propose a model or models to President Collins at the end of May. She will move forward with these ideas, proposing them to the Vermont State Colleges System in mid-June.
The NVU Strong Advisory Committee members are as follows, organized alphabetically by last name:
· Nolan Atkins, Committee Chair, NVU Provost
· David Bradbury, President, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, Lamoille County
· Keith Chamberlin, Alum and co-founder of Flek, a St. Johnsbury-based design and marketing firm
· Melissa Ann Clark, Sophomore, Math, NVU-Johnson
· Isaac Eddy, Assistant Professor, Performing Arts, NVU-Johnson
· Mary Fafard, Alum and Digital Content Coordinator, Marketing and Communications, NVU-Johnson
· Alan Giese, Professor, Natural Sciences, NVU-Lyndon
· Janel Hanrahan, Associate Professor, Atmospheric Sciences, NVU-Lyndon
· Elaine Harvey, Director, Student Engagement and Persistence, Academic Affairs, NVU-Johnson
· Beth Hill Foy, Project Manager, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group, Lamoille County
· Brian Lamoureux, Senior, Outdoor Education, Leadership, and Tourism, NVU-Lyndon
· Robbie Maher, Sophomore, Political Science, NVU-Johnson
· Anna Maziarz, Assistant Director, Admissions and Enrollment Services, NVU-Lyndon
· David McGough, Professor, Education, NVU-Johnson
· Brian Michaud, Director, Public Safety, NVU-Lyndon
· Katherine Sims, Director of Northeast Kingdom Collaborative
· Patrick Wickstrom, Sophomore, Atmospheric Sciences, NVU-Lyndon
Sabra Anne
I’m really excited to see what the skills of our Atmospheric Science, Public Safety, and Education Staff will bring to the table. It’s great we have other persons with financial, community, and leadership skills, too. However, when I think forward about the future, key items that come to mind are the safety of our campus participants, the quality and purpose of the education provided, and especially, how our planet’s constant changing climate will affect our Northeast Kingdom and our schools. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to trek through all of the nominations, so congratulations to our new NVU Strong Committee. Thank you for stepping up and serving our northeast kingdom and our Vermont institutions.