Sarah Sprayregen ‘71, University of Vermont (̽̽) Foundation Director of Major Gifts for the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, will retire June 30, 2020 after more than 25 years of successful and fulfilling alumni relations and development work at ̽̽. For nearly a decade, she worked closely with three Deans in the Rubenstein School — Mary Watzin, Jon Erickson, and currently Nancy Mathews — to establish long-lasting relationships with alumni and supporters of the School.
In 1994, Sarah began working in the former Development and Alumni Relations Office at ̽̽. As part of the newly incorporated in 2011, she joined the Rubenstein School as an affiliate around the time the School finalized the green reconstruction of the George D. Aiken Center in late 2011 and early 2012. Sarah came onboard to help Dean Watzin manage the final stages of the Greening of Aiken project, including the official re-opening of the Aiken Center in April 2012 with building namesake Lola Aiken present, among other state dignitaries.
Sarah also worked with Dean Watzin to begin the process of developing the School’s campaign priorities at the start of the University’s eight-year Move Mountains campaign during ̽̽ President Tom Sullivan’s term which concluded in 2019. Sarah secured large gifts for the School to support student scholarships; faculty research, teaching, and development; and School infrastructure.
One of her greatest accomplishments during the campaign was to work with David Blittersdorf ‘81, Chair of the School’s Board of Advisors, who established the Blittersdorf Professor in Sustainability, Science and Policy with a .
Sarah spent much of her time and many weekends traveling to meet with alumni and potential donors and often accompanied the Dean on these visits. She worked closely with School board members and with many ̽̽ alumni, parents, and friends who have an affiliation with the Rubenstein School and a passion for natural resources and the environment. She became a matchmaker of sorts to pair philanthropic interests with programs, projects, or faculty in the Rubenstein School.
“Through conversations, visits, and friendships, I helped to connect potential donors to an area where they feel they could make an impact,” said Sarah. “There is a kind of magic when we discover that connection. Philanthropy really helps the School and University to grow.”
Sarah became an expert on Rubenstein School faculty projects and could quickly match faculty work with donors’ interests. She worked with several donors interested in Lake Champlain research resulting in a multimillion-dollar estate gift to the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory and a number of major gifts to support research at the Lab. She also worked with donors to garner support for academic programming and student scholarships from generous School benefactors.
“I am so happy to have made such lasting friendships with so many amazing alumni, parents, friends, and the entire Rubenstein School community,” said Sarah.
During retirement, Sarah looks forward to working in her gardens at her Burlington home, long-distance walking in Europe, and especially spending time with her three children and four grandchildren.
Kurt Reichelt will fill Sarah’s role as the ̽̽ Foundation’s affiliate in the Rubenstein School.