Meet a Few CESS Alumni

Success After Graduation: Celebrating the CESS Class of 2022

Meet a few of our CESS Class of 2022 graduates and see how they are beginning their post-UVM journey to make a difference for schools, families and communities near and far.

Akirah Bradley

As vice chancellor of student affairs at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Akirah Bradley oversees some thirty-three departments united by the common goal of promoting student success, in and out of the classroom. Bradley gives much of the credit for her development to “a brilliant, diverse cohort of fellow learners in the in Higher Education Student Affairs (HESA) graduate program at UVM."

Tom Payeur

"Allowing students the opportunity to embrace change, become frustrated, and struggle to articulate what they are going through is an awe-inspiring experience." See how the 2019 Vermont Teacher of the Year Tom Payeur is working to address educational inequities in his culturally diverse classroom in Winooski.

Shawna Wells

“UVM changed my trajectory as a person because I got the opportunity to work with a lot of people who really cared about humanity," says Shawna Wells, who is passionate about her work to transform schools in underserved communities around the country. See how Shawna is working to build schools and opportunities.

Nydia Guity

“It’s rewarding to hear that I helped someone get back in touch with their own light to work towards their desired goal. I really believe in helping people to help themselves and take the lead in their life.” Find out how Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Nydia Guity is guiding the healing process in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Darrell Goodwin

“At UVM, I immediately saw invitations to those inclusive conversations that I couldn’t have imagined happening in college,” says Darrell Goodwin, a graduate of the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) master's degree program. Building connection is a key part of the work in his new role as the United Church of Christ’s Executive Conference Minister for Southern New England. Goodwin is the first African-American LGBT individual to hold this rank in the church nationwide.

Nick Walket

“I owe a lot to UVM. The encouragement and dedication from professors motivated me. When I graduated, the support and mentoring I received helped to provide me with the tools necessary to enter the teaching world confidently." Find out how Nick has been teaching abroad and exploring the world since graduating from UVM.

Where are they now?

CESS alumni are making a difference all around the world. Here are just a few of them:

• Robert Kelly G'96, President, University of Portland
• Samantha Serrantonio '20, Teacher, Highgate Elementary School, Vermont
• Abby Smith ('20), Teacher, Fort Morgan Middle School, Colorado
• Dan French (G'14), Vermont Secretary of Education
• Ben Lovelette ('20), Teacher, St. Albans City School, Vermont
• Kia'Rae Hanron ('20), Arts Learning Advisor, Clemmons Family Farm
• Gina Abbiati ('16), Employment Consultant, Vermont Association of Business, Industry, and Rehabilitation
• Winny Looby (G'13, '17), Disability Studies Project Coordinator, Center on Disability and Community Inclusion
• Leo Lambert (G'78), President Emeritus, Elon University, North Carolina
• Mark Olofson (G'17), Director of Educator Data and Preparation Program Management, Texas Education Agency
• Luke Quinn ('08), Early Headstart Home Visitor, Children's Home Society of Washington
• Austin Brown (G'16), Associate Director of Research and Programming, Center For Young Adult Addiction and Recovery at Kennesaw State University, Georgia
• Kathryn Haber ('09), Therapist, Summit Achievement Wilderness Program, Maine
• Marielena Szumowski ('10), Services Coordinator, Pathways Vermont
• Joseph Peters ('02), Counseling Services Leader, Cape Fear Hospice and Lifecare Center, Wilmington, North Carolina
• Erin O'Keefe ('13), Program Manager, Vermont Dept of Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs