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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 April 3, 2026.
2026 Faculty Winner - Dr. Ellen Martinsen
Dr. Martinsen connects her undergraduate researchers with “their love for biology, and helps them translate it into jobs or grad opportunities that fit their specific interests. She brings in speakers, encourages us to expand ours horizons, and inspires resilience by sharing about her own journey."
2026 Staff Winner - Leddy Gallagher
Leddy "enthusiastically encourages 100+ student employees to explore our interests & hone our skills in Campus Rec. She frames learning opportunities around how these can help shape our future lives and careers, and she listens intently when students come to her with ideas regarding their future."
Past Winners
2025 Career Champions
- Zyakkiriah Rhoden - First Scholars Program Coordinator (staff)
- Jeremy Sibold, Associate Professor & Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, CNHS (faculty)
2024 Career Champions
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Sarah Childs – Assistant Director of the Mosaic Center for Students of Color (staff)
- Alice Fothergill – Professor of Sociology (faculty)