The Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont proudly celebrated the graduation of the Sustainable Innovation MBA (SI-MBA) Class of 2025 in a ceremony held at the Grand Maple Ballroom. The event marked the culmination of a rigorous one-year program designed to prepare students for leadership in sustainable and socially responsible business practices.

Over thirty graduates completed the SI-MBA curriculum, which integrates lectures from global thought leaders, extensive experiential learning opportunities, and real-world problem solving. The program concluded with the capstone Practicum Project in July, where students applied their knowledge to address complex challenges in sustainability and innovation.

Dean Sanjay Sharma welcomes friends, families, and students to the SI-MBA iauguration

“Around 14 years ago, the faculty at the Grossman School of Business established a focus and a mission to prepare all the students to become successful, responsible managers in a changing, complex, global, multistakeholder and sustainable business environment. We set out to educate business leaders for the future,” remarked Dean Sanjay Sharma. “The SI-MBA program was designed to be unique and distinctive - not just to be world class, but to the to be the best such program in the world.”

SI-MBA Students at the 2025 Inauguration

The SI-MBA program has received significant recognition, including being named the top AACSB Accredited Green MBA by both Corporate Knights and The Princeton Review, underscoring its global impact and academic excellence.

The ceremony also honored outstanding contributions from students and faculty. Valentina Hidalgo-Mendoza received the Malcolm Severance Graduate Excellence Award. Faculty accolades included Rick Vanden Bergh as Faculty Member of the Year and Anjanette DeCarlo as Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year. Several graduates were inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma international business honor society, reflecting their academic achievement and commitment to ethical business leadership.

Valentina Hidalgo-Mendoza receives the Malcolm Severance Graduate Excellence Award
Beta Gamma Sigma Inductees at the 2025 SI-MBA Inauguration

Speakers at the event included Dean Sharma, class speaker Paige Flanagan, and guest speaker Donna Carpenter, Owner and Chair of the Board at Burton Snowboards. Carpenter shared insights from her entrepreneurial journey and offered encouragement to the graduates: “You are now poised at the threshold of new challenges and new dreams. We encourage you to be ambitious, creative, and compassionate,” she said. “Treasure today's inauguration as a celebration of your hard work and launch of your role in the new era of business.”

Paige Flanagan shakes hands with program director Srinivas Venugopal

This year’s ceremony marked the graduation of the 11th SI-MBA cohort. The Grossman School of Business extends its gratitude to the SI-MBA community and to the many donors and partners who supported the program, including Mr. Steven Grossman, Robin Tauck, Greg Hunt, Dennis Meany, Robert M. Phillips, the Bain family, Curtis Packaging, and Seventh Generation. Special thanks are also extended to Donna Carpenter and the UVM Davis Center for their contributions to this memorable event.

 

The SI-MBA Class of 2026 will begin their academic journey in mid-August. Prospective students and those interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to visit the Sustainable Innovation MBA academic program page.