��̽̽ - University Communications - ucommall

��̽̽ Receives $1 Million Gift for Theatre Renewal Project

saa — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:25:29 +0000

With the first production of the 2024-25 theatre/dance season— Spirits to Enforce—set to open this week, University of Vermont (��̽̽)’s School of the Arts, located within the College of Arts and Sciences, is announcing a $1 million gift to launch much-needed upgrades to the Royall Tyler Theatre.

The anonymous donation comes from a ��̽̽ Class of 1983 alum who is committed to seeing the arts thrive at the university and has made past gifts to help fund the renovation of Cohen Hall and the redesign of the Colburn Gallery. “We are so grateful to the donor for their incredible support of the arts in the College,” said William Falls, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Royall Tyler Theatre, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in March, was constructed in 1901 for use as ��̽̽’s gymnasium. In 1973-74, it was renovated to house the university’s growing theatre department. The building contains a 291-seat theatre, lobby, classrooms, dressing rooms, a green room, costume and scene shops, and offices for faculty and staff. The theatre space is used for theatre and dance performances, rehearsals, classes, and university events and ceremonies.

Aside from some renovations to the theatre performance space a decade ago, no interior updates have been made to the Royall Tyler Theatre since 1974. “This gift will help renew the heart and soul of this beloved cultural venue—and is absolutely crucial for getting this much-needed work started. We will continue to fundraise for it because the theatre’s needs are pretty substantial,” said Kelley Di Dio, executive director of the School of the Arts.

The renovations will be overseen by Scott + Partners Architecture of Essex Junction, VT. They will begin by redesigning the layout and lighting in the lobby space to be more accessible, useful, and welcoming. Initial plans also include renovating the bathrooms and other spaces on the first floor outside the main theatre space.

“With this renovation, we’ll be even more of a resource to our campus,” said Rob Shimko, head of the Program in Theatre and Dance. “We’ll be able to host receptions, lectures, and all sorts of other public events.” ��̽̽ will not be the only beneficiary of these improvements, either, said Di Dio. “This ties directly into the mission of the School: to increase access to the arts for the larger community.”

“There’s also a tangible benefit in terms of attracting new students,” Shimko said. “Having up-to-date facilities absolutely matters when prospective students are deciding where to study. Of course, there’s a big, obvious impact on student experience for current students, too.” The Program in Theatre & Dance offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in both theatre and dance, as well as minors in theatre, musical theatre, and dance.

The renovations will put Royall Tyler Theatre on par with the other major art spaces at ��̽̽, including the Recital Hall and Cohen Hall, that have been renovated in recent years. “This is a really important leading gift that will help make this a better place to work, a better place to make art, and a better place to teach and study,” Shimko said. “It's a value statement that says that the arts matter on this campus.”

“Theatre is such a great catalyst for community and shared experiences,” Di Dio said. “It can really change how we move forward together within the arts to see that kind of investment in our theatre space.”

The first phase of the renovation is expected to begin in May 2025, after the end of the academic year. In the meantime, fundraising for the remainder of the estimated cost for renovations will continue. Visit this link for more information and to donate.

Spirits to Enforce, a surrealist comedy about oddball superheroes putting on a production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, was written by Mickle Maher and directed by Rob Shimko; it runs October 2 through 6. You can purchase tickets right here.

Subhead

Gift from University of Vermont alum will kickstart Royall Tyler Theatre renovations.

royall_tyler_theatre_fall_exterior_crop.jpg

Groups audience

- Private group -

Social Media

��̽̽ Research Sets $266M Record

saa — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 13:22:13 +0000

For the fifth consecutive year, ��̽̽ (��̽̽) has achieved a new record for research funding: attracting $266 million in extramural support for the 2024 fiscal year. More than doubling the university’s annual research funding of five years ago, ��̽̽ faculty members garnered nearly 700 research awards to launch over 1,000 new projects confronting head-on some of society’s most pressing issues, from climate change to public health, supported by government agencies, corporate partners, foundations and donors.

“The talent, motivation, and commitment of our faculty and staff are the key to this outstanding achievement,” ��̽̽ President Suresh Garimella said. “Their groundbreaking work not only advances discovery and creates knowledge but also provides ��̽̽ students with expansive opportunities for hands-on, innovative research here in Vermont, throughout the region, and across the globe. All of this work reflects ��̽̽’s exceptional commitment to people and planet.”

This historic level of funding underscores ��̽̽’s rapid ascent as a leader in research and innovation and the remarkable growth of the university’s research enterprise, said Kirk Dombrowski, ��̽̽ Vice President for Research and Economic Development. As the state’s only research university and only medical college, ��̽̽ aims to fulfill its mission as a land grant university, prioritizing nationally distinctive research that is broadly impactful and closely connected to the state's communities, businesses, organizations, and government.

Researchers at ��̽̽’s Larner College of Medicine — traditionally a top-performing pillar of ��̽̽’s research enterprise — were awarded over $100 million in support, a 7.6% increase over last fiscal year. ��̽̽’s College of Education of Social Services, meanwhile, showed an impressive 59.5% growth, fueled by several multi-million-dollar awards like the Building Effective Supports for Teaching (BEST) program, led by ��̽̽’s Cassandra Townshend.

In this fiscal year, ��̽̽ researchers successfully won over 50 grants of $1 million or more, another university record. Other highlights include:

Teresa Leslie of ��̽̽ Extension received one the year’s largest awards— over $10 million—for the Northeast Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program.
Stacey Sigmon, a professor of psychology and psychiatry, received over $5 million to launch an opioid response program for rural communities.
Heather Darby, Extension professor and agronomy specialist, was awarded $2.4 million for enhancing the viability of U.S. grass-fed dairy production.
Bryn Loftness, a complex systems graduate student, won the $15,000 Lake Champlain Chamber Award for BioBe, her childhood mental health startup company, at LaunchVT’s Demo Night.

“The research funding totals are a great indication of our research growth,” ��̽̽ Vice President for Research and Economic Development Kirk Dombrowski said. “But it is the myriad efforts across hundreds of new projects that impresses me every year. The university has developed tremendous energy and focus on critical areas of concern for our time—including water resources, environmental sustainability, vaccine development and infectious disease, community schools, cancer research, and so many other areas. And as importantly, nearly all of our work involves advancing knowledge across disciplines and pushing the boundaries of innovation and research development in transdisciplinary spaces.”

Brynn Loftness, the complex systems graduate student who won the $15,000 Lake Champlain Chamber Award for BioBe, spoke about her company during a National Science Foundation (NSF) site visit in June.

Over the last several years, the Office of Research has significantly expanded and invested in its administrative and support capabilities. The office now employs nearly 200 people who support all aspects of the research enterprise. For example, the Office of Research Development – which offers a suite of services to assist researchers and investigators in their pursuit of extramural funding – was once just a team of two people in 2020. Now, 11 people work full time on project proposals and connect scholars to partnerships and programs.

National science partnerships

As ��̽̽’s research enterprise grows, national and federal agencies are taking notice. In June, National Science Foundation (NSF) representatives visited ��̽̽’s campus and other Vermont businesses to learn about the broad, vibrant community of educators and innovators that exist in the region. Erwin Gianchandani, Assistant Director of the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships —which is focused on promoting U.S. competitiveness and impact by nurturing partnerships between educational institutions, corporations, and federal labs — visited ��̽̽’s Innovation Hall, Burlington’s Hula, and South Burlington tech company OnLogic.

“We’re eager to ensure that the NSF — and many more federal agencies — understand the resources and opportunities that exist in our region, including a long list of research, education, and non-profit and corporate organizations that ��̽̽ works closely with every day,” Dombrowski said. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to show the NSF leadership the research facilities and the incredible momentum that ��̽̽ and its partners have created and how these impact the growth and impact of the high-tech companies that surround us.”

The convergence of research excellence, technological development, economic and workforce development, and rural partnerships culminated in the Vermont Gallium Nitride (GaN) Tech Hub, a consortium led by ��̽̽, GlobalFoundries, and the State of Vermont, focused on developing and commercializing next-generation GaN-based semiconductor technology to drive opportunities in education, research, and commerce, and spur vital workforce expansion across Vermont and the region. The Tech Hub, which was selected out of more than 300 applications, was recently given a $500,000 Consortium Accelerator Award from the Biden-Harris Administration through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.

“This accelerator award from the EDA will not only drive further momentum for the V-GaN Tech Hub but showcase ��̽̽’s capacity for innovation through partnerships,” Garimella said. “As we continue to grow our ambition and our achievements—cementing our status as a premier, flagship research university—��̽̽’s impact on our region will be immeasurable.”

Research partnerships on the RISE

As part of this engagement and partnership work, ��̽̽’s new Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships announced earlier this year a wave of grants to tackle challenges rural communities face statewide like wastewater infrastructure, migrant health, and water quality enhancement.

Over 900 individuals from across Vermont and beyond gathered at ��̽̽'s Davis Center in June for the Leahy Institute’s second annual Research, Innovation, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship (RISE) summit. The theme, "Partners in Place," drew a diverse group of professionals eager to share their experiences working with local governments, schools, businesses, and other community partners to leverage creative problem-solving that draws on unique community needs, strengths and opportunities.

“Instead of imposing top-down solutions, we want to collaborate with entrepreneurs and problem-solvers on the ground who have the best shot at making an impact,” said Patricia Coates, director of the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships. “We are piloting engagement in new ways, in new parts of the state and bringing together multiple partners—on campus and off—to solve important challenges.”

alpineplants-6685_web.jpg

Groups audience

- Private group -

Featured Photo Caption

��̽̽'s research enterprise encompasses the region, including the top of Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in the state. (Photos by Joshua Defibaugh)

Social Media

2024 Vermont Legacy and Family Enterprise Award Winners Commemorated at Grossman School of Business

saa — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 20:05:26 +0000

��̽̽ (��̽̽) Grossman School of Business (Grossman School) honored four businesses on Friday, September 27, 2024 at the 13th edition of the Vermont Legacy & Family Enterprise Awards. The ceremony celebrated enterprises that excel in their innovative practices, corporate governance, and contributions to their communities and industries.

Each year, an open call for nominations is made and selected companies are invited to apply. Submitted applications were reviewed by a judging committee composed of past winners of these awards, including Archana Chaudhary, Molly Heaney, Jen Fleckenstein, Paul Ligon, and Steve Schlesinger. Dr. Pramodita “Dita” Sharma, University Distinguished Professor and Schlesinger-Grossman Chair of Family Business, at the Grossman School of Business, served as the non-voting Chair.

"Each winner celebrated this year demonstrates an exceptional commitment to sustainability and community values. While Bead Industries is run by the fifth generation of family leaders, OnLogic – our celebrated Vermont Legacy Award winner – is led by the founders. Cascade Engineering and Supreme Creations are run by second generation family leaders,” said Dita Sharma.

The ceremony began with welcoming remarks from Dr. Dita Sharma, as well as Dr. Patricia Prelock, provost and senior vice president, University of Vermont, and Dr. Sanjay Sharma, dean, Grossman School of Business. Together they commemorated and celebrated the impact of enterprising legacies across the world.

The 2024 award winners were:

Multi-Generation Family Enterprise: Cascade Engineering, presented by Jen Fleckenstein, Clearwater Filtration. Cascade Engineering is a large tonnage plastic injection molding manufacturing company based in Grand Rapids, MI that specializes in producing a wide range of products using sustainable materials and practices. Founded in 1973 by Fred Keller, it has since grown into a diverse business with operations in multiple industries, including automotive, waste and recycling, office furniture, and other custom applications. Cascade Engineering is known for its Triple Bottom Line philosophy and commitment to environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and community engagement.

Multi-Generation Family Enterprise: Bead Industries, Inc., presented by Molly Heaney, JM Huber Corp. In early 1910, Calvin Bryant developed the first electric light pull. He and his son Gerald formed the Bead Chain Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1914. From developing “dog tag” chains for the US and Canadian armed forces to being at the forefront of the development of fluorescent lighting, today Bead Industries, Inc. manufactures end-to-end, wire, and tubular connector pins for the automotive, medical, communications, and lighting industries.

Global Multi-Generation Enterprise: Supreme Creations presented by Archana Chaudhary, Jaipur Rugs, India. Headquartered in the UK, Bags of Ethics/Supreme Creations has been a pioneer in manufacturing reusable products for over 25 years. Known for producing reusable packaging and merchandise for leading brands like Nike, Dior, and Sephora, among others. With a mission to reduce single-use plastic, the company eliminated 30+ billion single-use plastic bags and expanded into reusable merchandise across food, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle categories. Dr. R. Sri Ram, founder of the business, works alongside his daughter Smruti Sriram, CEO and part of the international management team.

OnLogic, presented by Paul Ligon, Casella Waste Systems, was recognized for its commitment to social responsibility, sustainability, and the State of Vermont. OnLogic is a global industrial computer manufacturer that designs highly configurable, solution-focused computers engineered for reliability at the IoT edge. Their systems operate in the world’s harshest environments, empowering customers to solve their most complex computing challenges, no matter what their industry. Founded in 2003, the company has offices in the U.S., the Netherlands, Germany, Taiwan and Malaysia. OnLogic has helped more than 70,000 customers worldwide advance their ideas with computers that are designed to last, built to order and delivered in days. Learn more at onlogic.com/company or on youtube.com/onlogic.

Nominations for the 2025 Vermont Legacy and Family Enterprise Awards are now open at uvm.edu/business/vlfea. Learn more about the Grossman School’s Family Business Institute, where family enterprise, entrepreneurship and sustainability meet, at uvm.edu/business/fbi.

Subhead

13th edition of annual awards recognized innovative enterprises for their sustainable economic and societal contributions

2024_vlfea_winners_dsc02375_news.jpg

Groups audience

- Private group -

Featured Photo Caption

Winners of the 2024 VLFEA stand in front of the ��̽̽ Grossman School of Business.

Social Media

��̽̽ Community Gathers for “Our Common Ground: Israel and Palestine” Symposium

saa — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:42:28 +0000

Perhaps no topic has emerged front and center on college and university campuses in the past year as has the challenging issue of Israel and Palestine, and the escalating conflict in the Middle East. It has driven intense conversations and demonstrations across the nation and, indeed, the world, and concerns have only intensified with the recent escalation of fighting. Against this background, members of the ��̽̽ community gathered on September 25 for a special symposium, “Our Common Ground: Israel and Palestine,” an effort to engage in thoughtful dialogue to cultivate self-reflection, critical thinking, and cross-cultural understanding.

Convening the symposium in ��̽̽’s Ira Allen Chapel, Provost Patricia Prelock (soon to assume the interim presidency of the university) thanked ��̽̽ students she met with earlier this year for suggesting the need for this kind of gathering. “They talked to me about bringing us together for several events like this where we can expand our knowledge and educate ourselves about difficult issues,” said Prelock. “In this discussion students shared openly and respectfully. They offered their varying perspectives, and they listened to those of others. In doing so, they modeled what we want to see happen today.”

Amer F. Ahmed, ��̽̽’s vice provost for inclusive excellence, spoke next, first welcoming the participants and then giving a history of the rise of the nation-state as a socio-political entity, contrasting it with aspects of his own life story as someone who experienced the close cooperation and mutual respect between Muslim and Jewish communities in his Ohio hometown. “People point to Israel/Palestine and frame it as a Muslim-Jewish conflict,” he said. “Actually, that framing is not helpful in understanding the role of a nation state in relationship to the people of the region, who may be of various faith traditions.”

The symposium’s keynote address was delivered by Simran Jeet Singh, assistant professor of interreligious histories at Union Theological Seminary, former executive director for the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program and author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life.

“What I want to offer you all today is actually not history or politics or religion,” Singh said. “To me, it's the animating question of our time. Which is: how do we learn to live alongside one another again? How do we learn to be in relationship with one another? And in some ways, you can see it as avoiding the question of what's your opinion on this issue. And in other ways, it feels to me more fundamental in Step One of getting to a place where we can talk about the hard stuff.”

Singh then explained his thoughts about fostering the combination of “curiosity, courage, and connection” to change the way participants in difficult discussions interact with one another. “And it can also change our experience of one another,” he said. “That’s what I want to offer you all in terms of thinking about or laying the groundwork for your conversations today, around something that is one of the most contentious, painful, difficult conversations of our time.”

Panel discussion members (left to right) Thomas Borchert, Foroogh Farhang, Peter Henne, and Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst.

The keynote was followed by several breakout sessions in the Waterman Building. Later in the afternoon, back at Ira Allen Chapel, a ��̽̽ faculty panel discussion titled “The State of Things” explored the role played by states as institutional and political forms in relation to the current conflict in the Middle East. Participating in the panel were Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst, associate professor of religion, Peter Henne, associate professor of political science, Foroogh Farhang, assistant professor of anthropology, and Thomas Borchert, professor of religion.

The symposium concluded with a round of breakout discussions–frank but respectful talk sparked by the issues raised in the panel discussion, and an example of a key aspect of the day’s event that keynote speaker Singh had noted earlier in his remarks. “I hope you realize how special it is to have this conversation today,” Singh said. “You should appreciate yourselves and one another for showing up, because it’s not happening much today.”

keynote20240925_11073840.jpg

Groups audience

��̽̽ Today

Featured Photo Caption

Simran Jeet Singh, assistant professor of interreligious histories at Union Theological Seminary delivers the keynote address at the September 25th "Our Common Ground: Israel and Palestine" symposium. (Photos by Adam White)

Social Media

Call for Innovative Teens: ��̽̽ Announces 2025 Vermont Pitch Challenge

saa — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:27:27 +0000

��̽̽ is excited to announce the 2025 Vermont Pitch Challenge, an extraordinary opportunity for high school entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative ideas and drive impactful change. This prestigious competition, inspired by the renowned ‘Shark Tank’ format, offers talented young visionaries the chance to win a full-tuition scholarship to ��̽̽ and receive crucial support for their groundbreaking ventures.

Building on the success of its inaugural year, the Vermont Pitch Challenge will officially open for submissions from Oct 15, 2024, through Feb 15, 2025. High school students in grades 10 – 12 worldwide are invited to submit their business proposals online at no cost, focusing on ideas that make a positive impact on the world. Last year’s competition saw nearly 200 applicants from seven countries and 27 states, with finalists representing diverse regions such as New York, Florida, Vermont, Pennsylvania and St. Croix. The inaugural winner, Pippa Scott from Killington, Vermont, impressed judges with her initiative, Ride for Mental Health, and this year, ��̽̽ is eager to discover and support the next generation of innovators.

“My experience with the Vermont Pitch Challenge impacted me greatly,” 2024 Vermont Pitch Challenge finalist Danny Philip said. “It helped me to not only grow in knowledge of business but develop relationships with others and set myself up financially.”

Important Dates:

Application Period: Oct 15, 2024 – Feb 15, 2025
Final Pitch Event: Apr 10, 2025

Why Apply?

Make your college application stand out
Build the skills today’s employers are looking for
Receive valuable feedback on your business idea
Learn from entrepreneurial experts about how to build your business
Challenge yourself to make a lasting impact in your community and beyond

“Last year, nearly 200 participants from across the world showcased the extraordinary potential of young entrepreneurs to drive meaningful change,” Jay Jacobs, ��̽̽ Vice Provost for Enrollment Management said. “We are eager to discover new visionary ideas and continue building a vibrant community of young innovators who are passionate about creating a better world.”

This is a chance for young entrepreneurs to make a mark on the world. Our free submission process is the first step towards turning innovative ideas into impactful solutions.

Subhead

��̽̽'s premier competition for high schoolers returns to empower young entrepreneurs

vtpitchannouncement_1149x647.jpg

Groups audience

��̽̽ Today

Social Media

��̽̽ $15M Gift from Grossman Family Foundation to Launch Undergraduate Business Co-op Program

saa — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 10:44:19 +0000

A $15-million gift to the University of Vermont’s (��̽̽) Grossman School of Business will create the university’s largest experiential Co-op program, providing students with real-world experiences working in leading companies to better prepare ��̽̽ Catamounts for impactful careers and leadership in business and entrepreneurship.

Thanks to this gift from the Grossman Family Foundation—led by Steven Grossman ’61, HON’22—��̽̽’s Grossman School of Business will become one of a few U.S. business schools with a major undergraduate business Co-op program. The new Co-op program will set a new standard of excellence for business education at ��̽̽ and continues a legacy of support that has propelled ��̽̽’s business school to national prominence.

“The Grossman Family Foundation has had a profound impact on ��̽̽, and today marks another significant milestone in their visionary leadership and generosity,” said ��̽̽ President Suresh Garimella. “The new undergraduate business Co-op program reflects our deep commitment to student success and will strengthen and enhance the standing of the Grossman School of Business among the best programs in the country.”

The Grossman School of Business is distinguished from other business programs by its emphasis on experiential learning, providing real-world education through internships, case and pitch competitions, career panels, company projects, class speakers, student trips, and opportunities such as ��̽̽’s Schlesinger-Global Family Enterprise Case Competition that attracts the world’s top business schools. Over 200 Grossman School alumni return to campus each year as speakers, panelists, competition judges, and to network with students. Grossman School students lead the university in work experience outside the classroom, with more than 90 percent of business undergraduates participating in at least one internship before graduation.

The new undergraduate Co-op program will enhance experiential opportunities for students in the school’s four concentrations (accounting, finance, marketing, business analytics) and themes (entrepreneurship, sustainable business, and global business). More immersive than a typical internship, a Co-op is a rigorous academic experience through which students alternate between classroom education and full-time employment, gaining practical, hands-on experience in their field of study as part of their undergraduate degree. Working in a partner company for a full semester, students apply their classroom knowledge to meaningful, real-world business situations.

“Our best students frequently request high-impact, real-world educational experiences, while employers have told us repeatedly, they prefer hosting students during the fall and spring semesters, when there are more meaningful work and learning opportunities,” said Grossman School Dean Sanjay Sharma. “The Co-op solves both of these objectives and moves the Grossman School onto a short list of business schools that offer the full breadth of learning opportunities available to undergraduate students.”

The Grossman School will hire three full-time staff members to support the Co-op program, beginning with an experienced director who will work with faculty to develop a detailed operational design, curriculum integration, and a rigorous assessment process to ensure that students have high quality academic experiences. This fall, staff will work to forge partnerships with a long list of leading companies in Vermont, the U.S. and beyond.

Launching in fall 2025, the experience will allow students to hone their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the high-quality employment experience they gain will provide a competitive advantage in launching students into successful careers.

Beyond enriching the educational offerings at ��̽̽, Sharma says that the advent of the Co-op in the Grossman School will increase the number of undergraduate applicants who choose ��̽̽. Sharma believes the offering will expand the business school’s recruitment area and successfully attract more students outside of the Northeast.

“The ability to make these transformational changes is only possible with a donor who has a vision for something better for our students, and ultimately the future business leaders of our state, region, nation, and beyond,” said ��̽̽ Provost Patricia Prelock. “The Grossman Family Foundation’s continued generosity shows the strength of our alumni, their success, and their interest in leaving a legacy that will benefit people and planet.”

Steven Grossman and the Grossman Family Foundation have now made several major gifts to the university, including matching funds for philanthropic efforts that motivated hundreds of donors to give. In total, the Grossman Family Foundation has contributed or incentivized nearly $90M in gifts to the Grossman School, leading to the school’s substantial, sustained climb to national and international distinction. As a result of their generous support, the Grossman School is now ranked among the top nine business schools internationally—and one of the top three in the U.S. for social impact. The school’s Sustainable Innovation MBA consistently ranks among the world’s best.

“The Co-op program will be an important asset in helping the business school set students up for success and satisfaction in their careers,” said Steven Grossman. “The business community will provide our students with meaningful experience, and sponsors will be the beneficiaries of valuable input from the immensely capable and creative undergraduates who study at ��̽̽.”

Steven Grossman graduated from the ��̽̽ School of Business in 1961 and was the CEO of Southern Container Corporation until its sale in 2008. He has served the university as a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and Leadership Council, and the Business School’s Board of Advisors. In 2015, ��̽̽’s School of Business Administration was renamed in recognition of Steven Grossman and the Grossman Family Foundation’s philanthropy. In 2022, ��̽̽ awarded Grossman an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of his philanthropic leadership and wise programmatic counsel that has helped the Grossman School become a leader in business education.

Learn more about the Grossman Co-op program at uvm.edu/business/co-op and the impact of the Grossman Family Foundation and other ��̽̽ donors at www.uvmfoundation.org.

About ��̽̽: For People and Planet

Founded in 1791, ��̽̽ is the leading public research university where discovery, creativity, community, and action coalesce to secure a thriving future for people and planet. Vermont’s state flagship and land-grant university attracts $260 million annually in groundbreaking research and enrolls approximately 14,000 students from 50 states and 75 countries. At ��̽̽, students, faculty, and staff work together in pursuit of a healthier, greener future. Learn more at uvm.edu.

Subhead

Grossman School of Business to launch new business Co-op program, thanks to the Grossman Family Foundation, which has contributed or inspired nearly $90M to ��̽̽

uvm_gsb_accounting_club_trip_1_web.jpg

Groups audience

- Private group -

Featured Photo Caption

The new Co-op Program that will launch Fall 2025 will further expand the many learning opportunities already available to undergraduate students at the Grossman School, including the Accounting Club's annual networking trip to Boston (pictured here) to meet with alumni and professionals in the field.

Social Media

��̽̽ Awarded $2.7M for National Climate Measurements Center of Excellence

saa — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 20:03:57 +0000

Temperature, precipitation, wind speed—the U.S. government has plenty of ways to measure our climate. But how do we measure the impacts of climate on our communities, economies, and ecosystems? The new Climate Measurements Center of Excellence (CMeC) at ��̽̽ (��̽̽) will answer this need, thanks to a $2.7M investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The new Center at ��̽̽ will advance U.S. climate impact assessment and planning by providing national, state, tribal, and local governments with standardized methods and metrics, addressing a lack of standards in regional climate change measurement.

“��̽̽’s new Climate Measurements Center delivers critical tools for the fight against climate change and a new model of leadership for the effort,” said ��̽̽ President Suresh Garimella. “I thank Senator Peter Welch and our federal partners for their support and recognition of ��̽̽’s strengths in climate impact research. This new Center will provide urgently needed solutions for people and planet, driven by the outstanding researchers and students at Vermont’s flagship research university.”

The Center will mobilize scientists and experts at ��̽̽ and nationally to measure and respond to the diverse ways that climate affects U.S. communities, water resources, human health, and food systems. Researchers will work with partners in 13 states and jurisdictions—including Alabama, Nebraska, and Washington—who will provide vital insights during the research and can implement solutions in their communities. More regions will be added over time.

“As the climate crisis creates sweeping challenges for people around the world, we need more reliable tools to help communities prepare,” said U.S. Senator Peter Welch. “��̽̽’s new Climate Measurements Center will help local communities make more informed decisions as they design, develop, and complete climate resiliency efforts in the future. I am incredibly proud of the important task ��̽̽ is undertaking, and I am proud to secure $2.7 million towards these research efforts.”

The Center builds on ��̽̽’s leadership in climate measurement, including the Vermont Climate Assessment, says Gillian Galford, inaugural director of the ��̽̽ Climate Measurements Center of Excellence.

Professor Gillian Galford will be the new Center's Director. Photo credit: Andy Duback, Vermont Climate Assessment

“This is a tremendous opportunity to apply our experience quantifying the effects of climate change at the state level,” said Galford, who led the two most recent Vermont Climate Assessments. “This Center will provide national leadership to ensure that our responses to climate change are science-based, practical, and equitable in diverse communities across the U.S. We will continue to grow a network of experts, stakeholders, and climate assessment leaders to build national expertise in local climate assessment.”

“Responding to the worldwide impact of climate change is among the most fundamental scientific and social challenges of our time,” said ��̽̽ Vice President for Research Kirk Dombrowski. “��̽̽ research spans local and global issues, so we are uniquely positioned to play a leadership role in developing consistent, comparable metrics that can link the climate impacts in one area to those across the country and the globe. “

The new Center will address the lack of consistency across local climate change assessments, which can hinder attempts to mitigate climate change effects on the ground. While most current data on climate change damage covers large geographical areas, local detail is needed to prepare locally for extreme climate events. By connecting experts who can address climate resiliency needs at local levels, the Center will generate and disseminate assessment frameworks and toolkits that officials can use to meet the challenges of a changing climate.

“��̽̽ has led the way in state-level climate impact assessments,” said Taylor Ricketts, Director of the Gund Institute for Environment, which will house the new Center. “This new national center has grown from our investments in the Vermont’s Climate Assessment. It's wonderful to see this idea blossom into a national effort, in partnership with the federal government. The Vermont Climate Assessment has inspired concrete action in our home state, and now we can scale this up to a national network.”

Learn about the Climate Measurements Center of Excellence, which is recruiting postdoctoral researchers in climate impacts and food systems.

Subhead

New Climate Measurements Center of Excellence will provide leadership on regional measurement of climate impacts across the U.S.

uvmsal_uvmcampus_may132020-8.jpg

Groups audience

Gund Institute for Environment

Social Media

October 1 & 2 ��̽̽ Leahy Public Policy Forum Examines the Vietnam War Experience

saa — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:20:34 +0000

In early 1975, a young Patrick Leahy, only recently elected to his first term as a United States senator from Vermont, cast a deciding vote on the Senate Armed Services Committee that helped effectively end funding of the U.S. war effort in Vietnam. Many years later Leahy, who would go on to become the third-longest serving U.S. senator in history, worked with fellow senators John McCain and John Kerry, prominent veteran activists, and others to reopen U.S. relations with Vietnam. This long, intimate involvement with the U.S.-Vietnam relationship helps frame a two-day forum at ��̽̽ that will examine many aspects of the Vietnam War, from the experience of those on the ground in Southeast Asia and the U.S. during the conflict, to current relations between the two countries.

The 2024 Leahy Public Policy Forum, titled “The U.S. War in Vietnam: Looking Back After 50 Years,” will take place October 1 and 2 on the ��̽̽ campus, and is hosted by the university’s Patrick Leahy Honors College.

The keynote lecture on October 1 will be delivered by David Maraniss, author of the book They Marched into Sunlight: War and Peace Vietnam and America October 1967. Maraniss is an associate editor at the Washington Post, where he was the winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. The lecture will take place at 7:00 p.m. in Carpenter Auditorium in the Given Building.

On October 2, the forum will present three panel discussions examining the different experiences of those who fought in the war, or protested it, or worked to deal with the problems and issues that persist for decades after the conflict. These panel discussions will each last one hour and will take place sequentially, beginning at 8:45 a.m. in Memorial Lounge in the Waterman Building. Opening remarks for the event will be delivered by Senator Leahy and the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, His Excellency Nguyen Quoc Dzung.

Erica Heilman, producer of “Rumble Strip” on Vermont Public, will moderate the first panel, which will focus on the experiences of Vermonters who fought in the war. The second panel will be moderated by Jane Lindholm, Vermont Public host and executive producer, and will examine the anti-war movement on U.S. campuses. Tim Reiser, who served as foreign policy aide to Senator Leahy and as Democratic clerk for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, will moderate the third panel, titled “The Things We Left Behind: Dealing with the Legacies of the War.”

Both the October 1 keynote lecture and October 2 panel discussions are free and open to the public. More information is available at the Leahy Public Policy Forum site.

Subhead

Free events will feature Pulitzer Prize-winning author, U.S. veterans, activists, the Vietnamese ambassador to the U.S., and Senator Leahy.

vietnamwar_1149x647.jpg

Groups audience

��̽̽ Today

Social Media

A Wave of Summer Humanities Research

saa — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 18:36:42 +0000

When planning fun things to do on summer break, surfing may come to mind, but research? It doesn’t usually make the cut, but this past summer some ambitious students studying the humanities in ��̽̽’s College of Arts and Sciences learned a way to do both, so to speak.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program, administered through the FOUR Office (Fellowships, Opportunities, & Undergraduate Research), offers grants to award winners in several programs across the university. Student applicants present project proposals in the spring, which are judged on the project’s intellectual and/or artistic substance, the promise of results, how well prepared the applicant is, and how feasible the project is. The Humanities Center typically provides two of these SURF awards, but this year, the Center was presented with so many outstanding project proposals that it increased that number to three. Allow us to introduce you to the winners: Greta Powers, Nina Pschar, and Katie DiPalma.

Name: Greta Powers
Year: Senior
Major: English / Minor: Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies

Her project: Writing a Life, Writing Herself: An Investigation of the Experience of the Reader, Nonlinear Narratives, and the Creation of Selfhood in Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home

The details: Powers (shown above) used her SURF award to begin working on her Honors College thesis, which centers on Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, a graphic memoir about Bechdel’s relationship to her father, a closeted gay man who took his life shortly after Bechdel came out as gay herself. “My thesis is a literary analysis of both the book and the musical adaptation that came to Broadway in 2015,” she says.

Why she chose it: Powers initially read Fun Home during her first year in an Honors College class taught by her thesis advisor, Lisa Schnell. She admired the book tremendously, wrote her final research paper about it for the class, and then couldn’t shake it from her mind.

What she learned: Powers says there was something different about working from home with no structures in place to energize her learning. This prompted her to prioritize conversations with her advisor, “which always moved me forward when I was in a rut.” She also learned the importance of stepping away from work for periods of time.

Thoughts from her advisor: “Just applying for a Humanities SURF grant set Greta apart,” says Lisa Schnell, Ph.D., associate professor of English. “But it is her project that truly distinguished her grant. She’s working on the cutting edge of genre studies and contributing in valuable ways to the growing body of work that acknowledges the importance of graphic literature in general, and the genius of Alison Bechdel (a Vermonter!) specifically.”

Name: Nina Pschar
Year: Senior
Majors: English and French

Her project: Sujets précieux: La comédie et la conversion à travers Agathonphile martyr, tragi-comédie de Françoise Pascal (Comedy and Conversion in Françoise Pascal’s Agathonphile martyr, tragi-comédie)

The details: For Pschar’s essay, written in French, she researched Françoise Pascal, a 17th-century playwright, and the context of religious instruction for women at that time. In the essay, Pschar argues “for a more serious consideration of the worldview presented by the précieuses, women writers who rejected a tradition of being subjected to male interests and who prioritized their own refinement and learning, the expression of true love, and a Christian conception of charity.”

Why she chose it: Pschar began this research in her sophomore year, thinking it would become the subject of her Honors College thesis. “I love to study the Early Modern period in my English classes, especially works that feature women characters and pieces written by women,” she says. She ultimately changed the topic of her thesis, so she applied for the SURF grant hoping to develop this earlier idea.

What she learned: Pschar says she learned to develop systems to schedule her workload in a productive way. She specifically learned a lot about what it means to design, research, and compose an article over a period of 10 weeks.

Thoughts from her advisor: “What’s striking about Nina is her independence as a budding scholar,” says Joseph Acquisto, Ph.D., professor of French and director of the School of World Languages and Cultures. “She formulated the SURF project out of her independent scholarly reading on a topic not covered in our French literature courses. This, along with her undergraduate Honors thesis, will be an excellent indicator to Ph.D. programs that she is capable of sustained, independent, and high-quality scholarly work in French literature.”

Name: Katie DiPalma
Year: Senior
Majors: History and Psychology / Minor: Sociology

Her project: Smuggling Across the New England Border During Prohibition

The details: DiPalma researched alcohol smuggling across the Vermont-Canadian border during Prohibition and how this was affected by the history of temperance (a movement of the rejection of alcohol on moral grounds) in New England. She focused on archival research with physical documents, the Special Collections at ��̽̽, the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Natick Historical Society, and some digital newspaper databases.

Why she chose it: “My topic is very closely related to the thesis I am currently working on for the Honors College,” DiPalma says. She had some background knowledge on Prohibition but had never gotten the chance to study it closely. She adds that Vermont is a unique case because of its proximity to the Canadian border, its long history of alcohol restrictions, and its sense of close-knit community.

What she learned: DiPalma spent a lot of time working to narrow down information to what was most enlightening and important. She says her goal was to expand her archival research skills and use them to build a diversified collection of sources.

Thoughts from her advisor: “Katie’s project led her to a variety of different types of archives over the summer, and since she's interested in becoming an archivist or librarian, it was great for her to have an opportunity to experience that range,” says Nicole Phelps, Ph.D., professor of history. “She is really taking advantage of unique, locally available resources to produce original research, in addition to garnering experiences that are directly useful for her post-��̽̽ career.

greta_powers_hero_crop.jpg

Groups audience

- Private group -

Featured Photo Caption

Greta Powers '25

Social Media

Appointment of Acting Provost During Leadership Transition

saa — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:38:53 +0000

We are pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees approved today the appointment of Linda Schadler to serve as acting provost for the university. Her appointment begins October 1, coinciding with President Garimella’s departure for a new role and the start of Provost Prelock’s appointment as Interim President.

As dean of ��̽̽’s College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS), Linda has shown strong and steady leadership on par with her excellence as a researcher and expert in polymer composites. She has led outstanding growth in CEMS research and graduate education and played a pivotal role in the launches of ��̽̽’s semiconductor lab and the exciting V-GaN Tech Hub project. Her dedication to student success is admirable, exemplified by her prominent role guiding efforts for the Driving Change grant ��̽̽ earned this year from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to support leadership development programs and grow inclusive excellence in CEMS and across the university.

Many thanks to the members of the advisory committee for their careful assessment of candidates. We are grateful for the willingness of all applicants to step into the important role of acting provost, and we thank Linda for her readiness to contribute to the entire academic community at ��̽̽ during this transitional period for the university.

Sincerely,

Suresh Garimella President, University of Vermont

Patricia A. Prelock Provost & Senior Vice President, University of Vermont

20180727_linda_schadler-005-edit_2.jpg

Groups audience

- Private group -

Featured Photo Caption

Dean Linda Schadler will become acting provost October 1. (Photo by Andy Duback)

����̽̽ - University Communications - ucommall

����̽̽ Receives $1 Million Gift for Theatre Renewal Project

Subhead

Groups audience

Social Media

����̽̽ Research Sets $266M Record

National science partnerships

Research partnerships on the RISE

Groups audience

Featured Photo Caption

Social Media

2024 Vermont Legacy and Family Enterprise Award Winners Commemorated at Grossman School of Business

Subhead

Groups audience

Featured Photo Caption

Social Media

����̽̽ Community Gathers for “Our Common Ground: Israel and Palestine” Symposium

Groups audience

Featured Photo Caption

Social Media

Call for Innovative Teens: ����̽̽ Announces 2025 Vermont Pitch Challenge

Subhead

Groups audience

Social Media

����̽̽ $15M Gift from Grossman Family Foundation to Launch Undergraduate Business Co-op Program

Subhead

Groups audience

Featured Photo Caption

Social Media

����̽̽ Awarded $2.7M for National Climate Measurements Center of Excellence

Subhead

Groups audience

Social Media

October 1 & 2 ����̽̽ Leahy Public Policy Forum Examines the Vietnam War Experience

Subhead

Groups audience

Social Media

A Wave of Summer Humanities Research

Groups audience

Featured Photo Caption

Social Media

Appointment of Acting Provost During Leadership Transition

Groups audience

Featured Photo Caption

Social Media

��̽̽ - University Communications - ucommall

��̽̽ Receives $1 Million Gift for Theatre Renewal Project

��̽̽ Research Sets $266M Record

��̽̽ Community Gathers for “Our Common Ground: Israel and Palestine” Symposium

Call for Innovative Teens: ��̽̽ Announces 2025 Vermont Pitch Challenge

��̽̽ $15M Gift from Grossman Family Foundation to Launch Undergraduate Business Co-op Program

��̽̽ Awarded $2.7M for National Climate Measurements Center of Excellence

October 1 & 2 ��̽̽ Leahy Public Policy Forum Examines the Vietnam War Experience