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The Career Champion Award annually recognizes one (1) UVM staff member and one (1) UVM faculty member who are not Career Coaches, but dedicate a portion of their time to supporting the career development of students (graduate or undergraduate) by consistently empowering them to seek meaningful opportunities for work, service, and/or advanced studies with confidence, courage, and curiosity.
About
- help students plan for their future by encouraging self-discovery, clarifying values and/or gaining meaningful experience.
- help students articulate their skills, transferable skills, and professional identity.
- connect students with people, opportunities, and/or resources within their field/industry.
- compassionately provide support for students’ needs using a diversity, equity, and social justice lens.
Eligibility
We appreciate all the work that goes into career development across campus, AND in order to be eligible, nominees must...
- be faculty or staff at the University of Vermont
- support career development beyond of their job description
(i.e. nominees should not have career support as part of their position description) - not be a previous Career Champion award recipient
Nominations for the 2026 Champions open now until March 2026
2025 Faculty Winner - Jeremy Sibold
Nominators say:
"Jeremy actively supports students in identifying their career interests by fostering a process of self-discovery and reflection. Through personalized coaching, he encourages students to explore their passions, strengths, and values, connecting interests with career paths."
2025 Staff Winner - Zyakkiriah Rhoden
Nominators say:
"Zyakkiriah somehow bounces between being a source of sage wisdom, people connector, and my biggest cheerleader. She also created a space from the ground up where first-generation students and their peers can represent themselves and explore their interests."
Past Winners
2024 Career Champions Winners
- Jaz Routon - Lecturer in Department of Counseling, Human Development & Family Science, CESS (faculty)
- Allison SPain - Food Systems Graduate Education & Research Programs Coordinator, CALS (staff)
2023 Career Champions Winners
- Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne - Director of UVM's Spatial Analysis Lab, RSENR (faculty)
- Tiffanie Spencer - Director for Diversity & Community Engagement, CESS (staff)
2022 Career Champions Winners
- Meghan "MJ" Jaird - Director of Student Services and Retention, CESS (staff)
- Amy M. Tomas - Director of Undergraduate Programs, Senior Lecturer, GSB (faculty)
2021 CAREER CHAMPIONS WINNERS
- Denis Garcia Reyes – Assistant Residence Director at the University of Vermont (staff)
- Sarah Heiss – Associate Professor for Public Communication and Food Systems, CDAE (faculty)
2020 CAREER CHAMPIONS WINNERS
- Sarah Childs – Assistant Director of the Mosaic Center for Students of Color (staff)
- Alice Fothergill – Professor of Sociology (faculty)