Patricia is responsible for providing leadership to the Institute, overseeing its strategic development, plan, budget, and resources, while also managing staff within the Institute and acting as first line of contact for all matters relating to the Institute.

Kristen’s role as internship coordinator at UVM is informed by her experience building community through social service, the non-profit sector and experiential education in K-12 schools and higher ed. She holds a BA in chemistry from Williams College, an M. Ed in creative arts in learning from Lesley University and an MS in leadership for sustainability from UVM. Her areas of specific interest and expertise are ecological leadership models, regenerative agriculture, medicinal herbalism, food access and nutrition and food waste management. Kristen is inspired by Nature’s wise embrace of diversity, interdependence and self-organization as she engages in practices which cultivate reciprocity, connection and gratitude.

Kevin Coburn has worked as a content creator at UVM since 2017, and began working with the Office of Engagement shortly after it was created in 2020. He manages the OoE website, writes feature stories about OoE activities and develops the office’s monthly newsletter. He holds a BA degree in history from UVM and a web marketing certification from UVM Professional and Continuing Education. He has broad experience in higher education and non-profit communications—he was director of communications at Green Mountain College, leading an office that won several Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) excellence in publications awards. and the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vt. He also works in UVM central communications and for the Office of Sustainability at UVM.

Maureen Hebert is the current employer partnership manager for PACE at UVM. Prior to joining PACE, she was the former associate dean of continuing education & workforce development division of Vermont Tech. Maureen has worked in higher education, focusing on workforce and professional development, for over 27 years to support business and industry in realizing strategic and organizational goals through well-planned and implemented training programs. Before joining Vermont Tech, Maureen worked with the University of Vermont Division of Continuing Education as the regional director of the UVM Center in Montpelier where she coordinated both credit and non-credit programming utilizing, in part, distance learning technologies. Maureen has a B.A. and an M.P.A. from UVM. She received a certificate in workforce development from the University of Virginia and is a DDI certified trainer. She is a board member of CVHHH CVEDC, and was appointed by the Governor to the GWEDC board. Maureen has been a long-time member of UPCEA and former Commissioner and a member of NERHRT, ASTD and Rotary. In 2019, Maureen received the Above and Beyond award from the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, given to individuals who have taken that extra step in their profession, industry, or community work, thus contributing to a more vibrant state for Vermonters to live, work and play.

Michele Karode’s role as an outreach professional focuses on the non-profit, municipal government and education sectors in Vermont. Having earned her bachelor of science degree in the school of Education and Social Services at UVM in 2012, she is eager to reconnect and engage the university’s community in their outreach and job retention goals and help the developing workforce in Vermont grow. As a recipient of the Patriot Award in 2020 in her previous role as the executive director of a Heartworks Preschool, Michele’s focus around leadership, workforce development, teamwork and supporting the community is her highest priority. She looks forward to utilizing the university’s talent and resources to further engagement throughout the state.

Daria Jarani is the program manager for the Institute for Rural Partnerships (IFRP) out of the Office of Engagement, helping to build and manage the IfRP grant program. Prior to UVM, Daria worked for the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania as a regional philanthropy officer, with a focus on foundation giving. Her previous experience was with The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Penn., as their membership & grants manager. Daria’s experience as a grant writer has given her a focus on accessibility and transparency in grantmaking—which she is bringing to the creation of the IFRP grant program. Daria received her masters in arts management from Carnegie Mellon University, which was her doorway into the fundraising and grants world, and a BFA in English literature from the University of Pittsburgh. A former lifelong Pennsylvanian, she is excited to begin this next chapter in her new home state.

Wayne Maceyka was appointed as the office’s first dedicated outreach professional in October, 2021. Maceyka earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He went on to earn his M.B.A. from Presidio Graduate School in sustainable management. Most recently, Maceyka served as director of sales and marketing for AllEarth Renewables in Williston, a solar energy company creating solutions for homes and businesses. Prior to joining AllEarth, he worked for SunCommon in Waterbury, Vermont (recently acquired by iSun.) As a solar home advisor, he helped Vermont homeowners migrate to solar power or share in a community solar array. In the non-profit sector, Maceyka founded the HinesburgHub, a pop-up shared workplace/coworking community space for remote workers, work-at-home professionals, and local entrepreneurs in his home town of Hinesburg. 

Naomi Parekh (she/her), a native of Massachusetts, worked in the United Nations system for nine years where she focused on the political prioritization of Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 6, and 11. At the U.N., Naomi managed protocol and curated communications campaigns for high-level meetings around the world and several events during the United Nations General Assembly. She served as an advisor to the president of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. Naomi also worked at the Fulbright Association as senior director, membership development, where she advocated to members of the U.S. Congress for an increase in federal funding for international education and exchange programs. She was a Fulbright fellow in Jamaica and holds a master’s degree in sustainable development and international policy management and a B.A. in anthropology. Naomi has been an active volunteer for over 30 years raising funds to support abandoned children in areas of Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa.

Emma Spett is a graduate student at the University of Vermont. In 2020, she completed an MS in community development and applied economics, and began doctoral studies in sustainable development policy, economics, and governance in 2021. As a MS student, Emma was a member of the International Joint Commission’s Social, Political, and Economic technical working group, which explored the acceptability and feasibility of transboundary flood mitigation options in the transboundary Lake Champlain Richelieu River basin. She is a member of UVM's Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security's Transboundary Water In-Cooperation Network, and recently completed a graduate certificate in Community Resilience and Planning. Prior to arriving at UVM, Emma worked as a farm-based educator at Shelburne Farms, and as a community organizer for Environment Colorado. She graduated with a BA in environmental policy from New York University in 2016. In her current role, Emma carries out research on community resilience and economic development in Vermont, on behalf of the Office of Engagement.