edu@uvm — a Signature Staff Development Event
About the Presenters
ALAN FINKBEINER has been at UVM for 26 years. He started his career as a refrigeration mechanic, worked on UVM's HVAC systems and now serves in a leadership role in UVM's physical plant. Alan teaches refrigeration and other topics in the community.
AMANDA MCINTIRE is a member of the HRS Management Consulting Solutions team. She has worked for over a decade in the HR profession as a Recruiter, Training Coordinator, Employee Advisor and, most recently, Management Consultant.
AMANDA WAITE is Web news editor in University Communications. She writes for and edits UVM Today and ThisWeek@UVM and helps manage the University's Twitter (@uvmvermont), Facebook (facebook.com/UniversityofVermont), and YouTube (youtube.com/universityofvermont) accounts.
BARBARA L. JOHNSON lectures extensively in human resource management at the graduate level. She is a frequent speaker at professional conferences on change management, ethical practices, innovative pay practices, career development, and women in management.
BETH WALSH is a former Staff Council President who has worked at UVM for over 8 years, most recently in the Psychiatry Department and in Career Services. During her time at UVM, Beth has taken full advantage of educational opportunities available to her through tuition remission while balancing her personal and professional responsibilities. She successfully completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology in 2009 and her Masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs in 2012.
BRETT NEAL is a Trainer in HRS Learning Services, where his focus is on developing and delivering technology/application training for staff. Before joining UVM, Brett worked in corporate Learning and Development for over 20 years, in industries that included Hospitality, Life Sciences, Telecommunications, Consulting and Wholesale Food Distribution. He has created and conducted training globally, and has focused on assessing employee and organizational needs and developing effective programs that improve employee skills and performance. Brett is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a certified Training Generalist.
CATHI CODY-HUDSON is the HR/Facilities Manager for Continuing Education and the Assistant Director for OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at UVM. Cathi has been working at UVM/CE for 30 years.
DAN BRISSON serves as a Network Engineer in ETS Telecommunications and Network Services. He's been with the University for approximately 4 years, formerly spending 10 years as a Network Engineer at IDX Systems/GE Healthcare. These days he's staying busy increasing WiFi coverage across campus as well as working with other Northeast based schools on a regional research and education network.
DANA HUTCHINSON's academic passion is the study of literature, film and theory with a concentration on postcolonial response, global legacies of imperialism, cosmopolitanism and xenophobia. Her professional passion and expertise are in the areas of Equal Opportunity, affirmative recruiting and retention.
DARCY PIENTKA is the Assistant Director of College of Medicine Technology Services, where she has served for the last nine years. She started in academia at Middlebury College and then worked at Dominican University near Chicago before returning to Vermont. Her current work includes enhancing security measures at the College of Medicine.
DEAN WILLIAMS serves as the University's Information Security Officer. He works with the Information Security Operations Teamto address a wide range of information security needs. He's also responsible for ETS Account Services, the group that helps people with forgotten passwords, calendar accounts, e-mail lists, and other aspects of their UVM digital identities. He views his job as helping students, faculty and staff work with information safely and securely.
DON TRIPP is UVM's PeopleSoft System Administrator. He is also a member of the Information Security Operations Team and has been with the University for 11 years. He previously worked in IT consulting for 6 years, providing onsite technical expertise to clients in 7 US states plus a pleasant stint in Ireland. Prior jobs included IT work in the Finance and Government sectors. His college education and first IT job were right here at UVM.
DONNA MARTIN is a member of the HRS Research and Analysis Team and has 15 years of experience in classification at UVM.
EMMA SWIFT is a member of the International Student Services team in the Office of International Education. She is interested in issues of acculturation, immigration, student development, cross-cultural communication, and helping international students create enriching and meaningful experiences during their time in the USA.
ERIC HOEFEL is currently the Internal Change Consultant with UVM's Business Process Re-engineering Team. He has over 20 years experience in helping a variety of organizations successfully navigate change.
GINNIE GUDE leads the HRS Research and Analysis Team. She has 25 years of experience in classification and compensation at UVM.
GIOIA THOMPSON began working on sustainable practices at the University of Vermont with the creation of the Environmental Council in 1996, and became Director of the new Office of Sustainability in 2008. Gioia serves on the steering committees of the Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium and the Burlington Legacy Project. Gioia received a B.A. from UVM in Environmental Studies in 1987 with an honors thesis on municipal leaf composting, and an M.S. in Natural Resources in 2000, also from UVM, with a focus on sustainability in higher education.
HE GUOFANG is a visiting scholar from Lijiang, China, where she is a teacher at the Jinhong School in the Gucheng District. Guofang is a member of the Chinese minority Pumi, one of 58 minority cultures in China. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at Vermont Academy where she shares aspects of her Pumi and Chinese culture with Vermont students.
HONGXIA ZHAO arrived in the United States in 2007 with very little knowledge of the English language. She worked as an accountant in China and owned her own business before coming to the United States. Today she works in UVM's Custodial Services Department where she serves as the lead for a team that is responsible for several buildings. She is currently pursuing an accounting degree at UVM, splitting her class time between UVM and CCV.
HOPE GREENBERG is an Information Technology Specialist in the Center for Teaching and Learning. During her 20-plus years at UVM she has introduced faculty, students and staff to innovative educational technologies, supporting them as they integrate these technologies into their teaching and scholarship.
INGRID TEMER is a Senior Account Representative with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont.
JEFF BUKOWSKI is the Administrator for the Staff Council at the University of Vermont and a Doctoral Candidate in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program in the College of Education and Social Services, focusing on refugees and higher education.
JENNIFER FATH is an Academic Advisor and a member of the Student Services team in the School of Business at UVM. She co-advises the first-year class, USPP students, works with prospective and admitted students, and provides guidance to upperclass students regarding their curriculum and degree requirements.
JES KRAUS has direct oversight and administrative leadership responsibilities for all AA/EO compliance functions, including preparing plans and reports. He is responsible for resolving discrimination complaints, ensuring ADA compliance, and monitoring recruitment and employment practices. Prior to his career at UVM, Jes worked as an attorney and the Director of a public sector labor union for nine years, and as a police officer for five years. He earned a B.S. in government from the United States Coast Guard Academy, and a Juris Doctor (cum laude) from Vermont Law School.
JILL JEMISON is the Director of Technology Services at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. She served as the 2011-12 chair of the Association of American Medical College's (AAMC) Group on Information Resources (GIR). Jill joined the UVM College of Medicine staff in 2002, helped launch the College's COMET system, and serves as a member of the AAMC GIR Professional Development Subcommittee. A former chair of the AAMC Education Technology Special Interest Group, she was selected as one of 30 Fellows nationwide to participate in the AAMC GIR Leadership Development Institute in July 2006.
JOE BEAUDRY is a Life Safety Technician in the Physical Plant Department, responsible for the inspection and testing of fire protection equipment at UVM. Joe is a Certified Fire Education Officer. He served the City of St. Albans for 37 years as a Firefighter and Fire Lieutenant, before retiring as the city's Fire Chief.
JOEL SHAPIRO serves as the Director of HRS Organizational Services. He has been with the University over 20 years, formerly serving as the Director of the Employee Assistance Program and Work/Life Services. His current work involves providing HR consultation services with a special emphasis on organization development.
JOHN MARCUS is the University Fire Marshal working in the Department of Risk Management and Safety. John is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist and a Charter Member of the Center for Campus Fire Safety. He earned an AAS in Fire Science Technology from Pikes Peak Community College (CO) and a BA from the University of Vermont. Before returning to UVM, John was a part-time ski patroller and full-time firefighter/EMT for 21 years, retiring at the rank of Battalion Chief.
JUEFEI WANG, Professor Emeritus in education, is an experienced leader in programs for teaching about Asia. Beginning to teach about China in Vermont schools in 1985, he has assisted in establishing the China Project that trained more than 300 teachers in the state between 1986 and 1992, founded the Asian Studies Outreach Program at the University of Vermont, created a statewide program for Asian studies in schools in Vermont, designed dozens of programs on China and Asia for educators and students, organized programs for more than 1,000 educators and students to visit China, Japan, and Thailand, received hundreds of visiting educators from China and other Asian countries, and initiated many school-to-school exchange programs. Dr. Wang has published extensively in international education and comparative education. He holds two Master's degrees in education and a doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy studies.
JULIA RUSSELL is the Director of the Business Process Re-engineering Team. In her role, Julia has been involved in both large and small scale change projects with a variety of campus constituents.
KIM MARTIN has been in the field of Student Affairs for 15 years and has a wide array of interests including coaching, reading, parenting, resolving conflict and spending time outside.
KIT ARDELL graduated from UVM in 1970 and has worked in Student Financial Services for 18 years. Her great joy is helping students create a plan to be financially successful during their time at UVM and following graduation. She is married to a UVM alumni and has three daughters—all graduates of UVM.
LARA SCOTT spends time studying and thinking about ethics and integrity, social justice and leadership. Her interests include athletics, nature and wellness.
LAURIE FAY is a Customer Service Supervisor in Student Financial Services (SFS) at UVM. Among other duties, Laurie monitors the accuracy of SFS daily contacts with students and their families and oversees the processing of financial aid. She is the primary contact for Veteran inquires and serves as a member of the UVM Veteran Assistance Committee (VAC), and Chair of the VAC subcommittee for Veteran's Welcome and Events. She sits on the Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrator's Committee on Military Financial Advice and Benefits (COMFAB) and on the UVM President's Commission for Diversity and Inclusion (PCDI) and the UVM PCDI subcommittee on New American and International Citizens (NAIC).
LESLIE PARR has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources at the University of Vermont. Her interests include performance management, supporting faculty and staff with disabilities, and staff recognition.
LUCY A. SINGER joined the UVM General Counsel's Office in 2005 and currently serves as Senior Associate Counsel. She holds a bachelor's degree from Southwest Missouri State University, a graduate degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Juris Doctor degree from St. Louis University School of Law.
LYNN BUDNIK is the Talent Acquisition Expert in Human Resource Services. She has over thirty years of experience in recruitment, hiring and community outreach.
LYNNE MEEKS is a Network Engineer in Telecommunications and Network Services who devotes significant time to her role on the Information Security Operations Team. She has been with the University of Vermont for 30 years, previously working in ETS Systems and Desktop support.
MELODY BROWN BURKINS is the Senior Director for Research and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Vermont. Committed to the successful advancement of high-impact research across disciplines, Melody has held a variety of strategic management and administration roles at UVM, including Associate Dean in the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences and UVM Director of Federal Relations. Since 2008, she has also served as Interim Director of the Vermont Advanced Computing Center (VACC), connecting university researchers to state-of-the-art, high-performance computing (HPC) cyberinfrastructure and facilitating valuable public-private technology and innovation partnerships that benefit both UVM research and the state of Vermont.
MICHELLE SMITH is the Green Building Coordinator at the University of Vermont. She assists in facilitating the LEED process for a variety of campus projects, is involved in strategic capital planning, and works collaboratively across campus to advance sustainability initiatives. She is currently co-teaching "Green Buildings: Science and Practice," and has co-taught an undergraduate campus sustainability course. Michelle has been active in the UVM Staff Council, including serving as Vice President, and is also a founding board member of the Vermont Green Building Network, the USGBC VT chapter. Michelle is a LEED AP who graduated from UVM in 2002 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a focus in ecological design and green building practices.
MIKE KESSLER is a member of the HRS Management Consulting team who has been drawing diagrams of complex business, process, and systems issues throughout his career. His diagrams have been used for everything from boardroom presentations to business reorganizations and research projects. He learned the power of visual presentation as an internal auditor presenting findings to a diverse audience—if agreement upon the written word seemed impossible, the same information could often be agreed to spontaneously when presented as a "visual."
MIV LONDON is a Senior Staff Psychologist serving the Center for Health and Wellbeing. Miv earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Yale and her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Stanford. She had a variety of positions prior to coming to UVM including staff psychologist at two psychiatric hospitals, a faculty member at Northern Arizona University, and Director of Adult Outpatient Services at Washington County Mental Health Services in Montpelier. She enjoys helping UVM students from all walks of life. Her greatest interest is in the practice of mindfulness and its application to address anxiety, depression, and other life difficulties. In 1999 she co-founded the UVM Mindfulness Practice Center and continues to be involved in its growth and development.
RICHARD DUFRESNE is Vice President of Clinical Operations at the Wellness Corporation. For over 20 years he has been providing team development programs, management coaching, workplace mediation services, facilitation services, management training programs, and wellness seminars. His workshops are described as energetic, informative and helpful. Richard graduated from Holy Cross College, in Worcester, MA and has a Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston University.
ROBIN GRONLUND is the Director of Recruitment and Operations for Continuing Education at UVM. Robin has an MBA from UVM and is currently a doctoral candidate in organizational studies in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. With expertise in business strategy and marketing management, Robin has industry experience in consumer products, technology and education.
SAM HOOKER is UVM's Information Security Engineer. He returned to his alma mater almost five years ago to work in ETS Systems Architecture and Administration after a decade of consulting and engineering for Internet service providers. He works to support security efforts throughout the University. Sam dreams of a time when consumer-facing information services are invisibly and meaningfully secure so that he can get back to being a musician.
STEPHANIE DION is Director of the Administrative Business Service Center. In this role, she leads the team in its mission of providing an enhanced level of service and expertise in administrative core services such as finance and human resource processes. She is a longtime proponent of Ai and uses it both in her work life and in her personal life to make positive changes.
STEPHEN LUNNA is currently an HRS Learning Services Trainer. He provides skills-based professional development classes to staff. Prior to that he served in the Army and retired in 2011 after 29 years of service. His skills include operations and training with a strong background in adult experiential learning. He's traveled extensively throughout the US and Europe, as well as Greenland, Argentina and Afghanistan. He's climbed Mt. McKinley (Denali) three times. His interests include refereeing soccer; he's a nationally certified college referee who also instructs advanced and entry level referee courses.
SUE ROBERTS serves as a Patrol Officer and Crime Prevention Coordinator with UVM Police Services.
TRACEY GAUTHIER is the Operations and Enrollment Management Representative for Continuing Education at the University of Vermont. Tracey has been working at CE for over 16 years.
TRACY GALLO is the Health Management Consultant for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont where she provides guidance for developing tailored wellness strategies for BCBSVT employers. She conducts risk assessment of employer populations—performing environmental, organizational and health assessments—and provides strategic recommendations for the delivery of health management solutions to help clients mitigate their health risks. Tracy has extensive experience in the development and implementation of worksite wellness programs, health promotion, and bringing together leaders, boards and volunteers for the successful completion of wellness initiatives and organizational changes.
VICTORIA (VIKA) PLESHAKOVA is an academic adviser for Continuing Education. She has been working in CE for 9 years. She graduated from UVM in 2009 with a Master's degree in Education.
WANG PING is from Shandong Province in China, where she is a senior and advanced teacher. She has taught English in secondary schools for more than 20 years. She has published many articles on education and has received awards and prizes at school, city, and provincial levels.
Last modified February 28 2013 10:15 AM