The Dean's Corner - Spring 2011

The end of each academic year is bittersweet for us in the College of Education and Social Services for we must bid farewell to students with whom we have worked for at least four years. We send our students out to work in their chosen profession or to attend graduate school with the knowledge, disposition, and experience that makes them more than ready to assume the position for which they have been hired or to excel in their graduate studies. We congratulate our students on their accomplishments and wish them well as they begin to do work that is so important for the economic and social health of our nation, of the world.

Much occurred during the 2011 academic year. In this e-newsletter, we have chosen to focus on a few of the outreach and engagement efforts of the College. We share with you new school partnerships, efforts to encourage high school students to attend an institution of higher learning or to expand their horizon by participating in the Governor’s Institute on the Study of Asia that is housed in the College, or the work of our students who are actively involved in making UVM a better place.

There is no other profession besides education that permeates throughout every aspect of our daily lives. For it is a teacher, whether attached to school or home, who opens the young mind to the many possibilities of the world. It is a teacher who on the first day of school takes that young person, who is both excited about starting school and nervous at the same time, by the hand encourages them to look forward, and guides them on their path of discovery and the generation of new knowledge. It is a teacher who helps provide each young person with the skills necessary to be contributing—economic, social, civil−members of society.

Our students who will graduate in the social and human service areas are no less important. For they have been prepared to assist families and children who have difficulty or little knowledge about how to access services or survive when funds are limited and housing is non-existent. They are prepared to provide critical mental health services for those with a deployed or returned military member. They are ready to respond to the needs of the service members’ child who is trying very hard to be a good student and staunch the tears that threaten to run down their little face.

The students in the College of Education and Social Services stand ready, each and every day, to “Make a Difference” in the life of someone else. Our students each year show their commitment to making a difference by contributing more than 176,000 volunteer hours to the Vermont community. We wish our departing students a fond farewell and look forward to continuing to work with our returning and welcoming our new students to the wonders that is UVM and the College of Education and Social Services.

Sadly, we also share with you our loss. On April 13, 2011, Dr. Janet Bossange, Associate Dean of Outreach and Engagement in the College of Education of Social Services passed away. There are no ways that can be written or stated that can express the true depth of our loss our Janet’s impact on the College, UVM and the Vermont community. So we simply continue to hold her in our hearts and try to remember her by dedicating this e-newsletter, focused on outreach and engagement activities, to her. Janet , we love you. Rest in Peace, my friend!

 

Last modified May 16 2011 02:09 PM