We are proud to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the College of Education and Social Services (CESS) Class of 2021. Facing unprecented challenges, they rose occasion, demonstrating perseverance, purpose and compassion in pursuit of their dreams. Here we shine the spotlight on a few of our graduates as they complete their UVM journey and begin their quest to make a difference for schools, families and communities near and far.
Maia Hendrickson, Early Childhood Education with minors in Special Education and Spanish (Hometown: Huntington, Vermont)
“I am passionate about early childhood education because I value teaching young children how to be people, first and foremost. Their curiosity and excitement for life is infectious, and I find great joy in watching their personalities unfold and their knowledge expand.”
Maia says her mother, who is an early childhood special educator herself, was a source of inspiration and encouragement from the start, and a major reason for her decision to pursue teaching. Along with her major, Maia completed minors in Special Education and Spanish.
As a recent Class of 2021 graduate, she’s thrilled to have just accepted a position teaching Kindergarten at Georgia Elementary and Middle School in Georgia, Vermont. “I feel humbled and grateful to land such a dream position as a new graduate,” says Maia, who will be working as the lead summer camp teacher at Turtle Island Children's Center in Montpelier before taking on her role in Georgia this fall.
“My time in the Early Childhood Education program has been filled with positive, supportive relationships and numerous formative practicum experiences across various settings. Being a part of a relatively small program, I benefitted from individualized feedback, attentive supervision and personalized support and direction from the faculty. They have been instrumental pieces of my success, and each taught me valuable lessons about being a great educator that I will carry with me for years to come. I’m feeling very grateful for all the time and energy each of them has poured into my development as an educator.”
Ama Sika, Social Work (BSW) major with minor in Chinese (Hometown: Bronx, New York)
“Coming to UVM, I feared that I might not fit in with everyone,” Ama recalls. “But over time, I was able to build communities and interpersonal relationships with others. And eventually, I was able to build my home away from home. I was challenged every day which pushed me out of my comfort zone, which helped me grow and learn about myself and my life goals. As a CESS student, I was able to find my passion in Social Work, which became my home and my calling.”
Next, Ama will be continuing her journey as a student in the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (MSW) program at New York University starting in the fall. She feels gratified about her choice to pursue a career in Social Work where she can influence social change and work actively every day to support others, especially people from marginalized and vulnerable communities.
Ama recognizes how crucial it was to have ongoing support from her Social Work cohort peers and her advisors, JB Barna and Celia Cuddy, throughout her time at UVM. “I wouldn't be where I am without them. I am grateful and blessed to have them rooting for my success.”
Megan Faber, Human Development and Family Studies (Hometown: Wayne, New Jersey)
Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) graduate Megan Faber is excited to be heading to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall. “I will work toward my Master's of Public Health, concentrating in Maternal, Child, and Family Health,” she explains. “Along with the HDFS major, I minored in Health and Society, Nutrition Food Science, and Behavior Change Health Studies at UVM, which I think comes together naturally to point to a career in public health.”
Actively involved with the UVM campus community through various student leadership roles, Megan served as a tutor and learning session leader for HDFS classes, as a research assistant in her Behavioral Change Health Studies Minor, and as a volunteer with the UVM Medical Center’s Child Life Program. She also coordinated student outreach programs and events as an intern with the CESS Student Services Office, and helped to amplify student voice as a member of the CESS Student Advisory Board.
“CESS encouraged me to explore my interest in children, families, and communities beyond the classroom, which is where my true interests are. I found a new passion for maternal, child, and family health, and I couldn't imagine finding this path without the people who make this such a supportive community.”
JAKE Small, Higher Education and Student Affairs (Hometown: New York City)
“It has been an honor to serve as both a student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration program and as a Graduate Assistant for the UVM Career Center since August 2019,” says HESA Class of 2021 graduate JAKE Small. “I met some of my greatest friends, mentors, and colleagues through my affiliation with UVM and CESS.”
JAKE is thrilled to continue learning about and impacting career readiness in the college context as the Assistant Director for Career Communities at Suffolk University in Boston, MA. In this role, he will support the career education-related goals of students, faculty, employers and alumnx who focus on journalism, media and communication.
“Personally, I am excited to begin the healing process after spending my whole life up until this point as a student in formal education settings. I am eager to heal from some of the trauma of being a Black learner in largely white-serving classrooms and educational contexts.”
JAKE says there are too many people to name everyone at UVM who helped him to get to this point in his academic and professional journey, but he felt compelled to give a shout-out to a few who were integral to his success.
“Emily Hagan-Howe and Adler Chris have taught me how to strive for balance, decenter perfectionism, and commit to friendships that fill my bucket. Dr. Deborah Hunter, my academic advisor, taught me that educational leadership cannot start and end in the classroom, and her support motivated me to cross the finish line of this program. To all of the HESA faculty, your compassion and love for education contributed deeply to my understanding of what it means to be a student affairs practitioner. The UVM Career Center prepared me to be playful, dynamic, and intentional in my work within career education. And finally, to my family, the sacrifices you've made to uplift my educational pursuits are a testament to your love. Thank you for everything.”
Talia Knutsen, Secondary Education: English Concentration and Special Education endorsement (Hometown: Maplewood, New Jersey)
“I feel this was always my path, and it is who I am. I just needed to realize it,” says Talia Knutsen, who launched her career right after graduation as a Special Educator at Centerpoint School in Winooski, Vermont. The senior from Maplewood, New Jersey says she plans to continue working in special education throughout her career, and that she will most likely pursue a master’s degree eventually.
“CESS was amazing. Professors were so caring, understanding and facilitated learning in such a positive and successful way. I would recommend this program and college to anyone, and it’s a great place to make friends. The Secondary Education program is so close knit that you really know and appreciate everyone in your class in a meaningful way. As cheesy as it sounds, it feels like in this program you're all in this together, and it is such a positive community. I felt like there was never a competitiveness about our group, but instead we worked to support one another and enjoy the journey.
"I had many wonderful professors at UVM. Lia Cravedi was absolutely the best. She took me through being a nervous first-year student, unsure what was next, to becoming confident new teacher I'm becoming. I felt very supported through the whole process. Other professors that went above and beyond in my educational journey were Mika Moore and Glenn Patterson. They really worked to make learning fun and relevant, and they were supportive and approachable the whole time.”
Ali Rosen, Secondary Education: English Concentration with Education for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity minor (Hometown: Montpelier, Vermont)
Ali Rosen recently accepted a position as an English Language Arts teacher at Garrett Heights Elementary and Middle School in Baltimore, Maryland where she will begin in mid-August. As Secondary Education major with an English Concentration and a minor in Education for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, she feels well-prepared to begin her career as an educator.
“I am so excited for this position and will forever be thankful for the amazing CESS community that supported me. Transferring to UVM at the start of my sophomore year, I felt welcomed since transfer orientation, and I will miss this wonderful community of peers and professors. Supportive friends like Annie Bedell, Colleen Wilson, and Caelynn Carroll have been my rocks. Shout outs to CESS faculty Lia Cravedi, Jen Prue, and Cynthia Reyes as well. I could not have asked for better cheerleaders these past three years.”
Jordyn Michaud, Early Childhood Education with Special Education minor (Hometown: Barre, Vermont)
Jordyn Michaud will begin pursuing her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at UVM. Her goal is to become a Speech-Language Pathologist.
She is passionate about bettering future generations. “Research has proven that high-quality early education is so valuable for development in children,” she explains. “I want to be a part of this field in order to provide high quality services to the children who need them most.”
Looking back on her experience, Jordyn remembers feeling right at home after transferring to UVM for the second semester of first year. “Lauren Mackillop is the best. With her as my advisor, I never missed a beat. She always knew how to best support me academically and emotionally. She tackled my hectic transfer schedule with ease. It is obvious that Lauren not only cares about how her advisees' academic success, but also personal success.”
Gaining experience in the field through placements in the community was a critical part of her success, she believes. “I live in Barre, and completed my student teaching semester at Barre City. Being placed in a school setting for my internship allowed me to make important connections before graduating.”
Rachel Seaver, Secondary Education: Spanish Concentration and Education for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (Hometown: Quechee, Vermont)
“I am excited to move away and experience a change in scenery and culture, and I look forward to communicating with the people of Spain,” says Rachel Seaver, who will begin teaching English in a school in Madrid, Spain for a year starting in September..
Transferring to UVM at the beginning of my sophomore year came with some challenges, she recalls. “But CESS welcomed me with open arms, and I felt at home immediately. Throughout the whole program, I felt supported by my peers and professors. I honestly cannot thank Lia Cravedi, my advisor, enough for being such an amazing cheerleader and supporter during my time at UVM. She was always available if I had any questions or concerns, and I always left her office feeling confident and reassured.”