Dear students, faculty, and staff,

We are pleased to announce that Christopher Berger has been appointed Dean of the Graduate College and Postdoctoral Studies, effective July 1. 

A highly collaborative leader with extensive experience in graduate education administration, Dr. Berger currently serves as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Innovation in the Graduate College with leadership responsibility for graduate academic affairs, interdisciplinary programs, and initiatives that promote student success and institutional advancement.

Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics in the Larner College of Medicine, Dr. Berger earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania before joining UVM in 1994. Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, he has built an internationally recognized research program in biophysics, focusing on molecular motors and intracellular transport, supported by sustained external funding from the National Institutes for Health. A dedicated educator, Dr. Berger has taught extensively and mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. In 2023, his commitment to mentorship was recognized with the Larner College of Medicine Dean’s Excellence in Research Award in the Research Mentor category.

Dr. Berger brings extensive leadership experience in graduate and postdoctoral education, having served previously as Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Training at the Larner College of Medicine and as Director of the campus-wide Cell and Molecular Biology Ph.D. program. In these roles, he led the development of interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs, expanded access to graduate education, and established innovative, evidence-based approaches to mentoring, career development, and student success.

Dr. Berger’s strong working relationships with deans, associate deans, faculty leaders, and other campus partners, his extensive knowledge of both the college and the broader university, and his values-driven advocacy and solutions-oriented approach make him an excellent choice as the next leader of UVM’s Graduate College and Postdoctoral Studies.

Thank you to all the members of the search committee, ably chaired by Peter Newman, Dean of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, for volunteering their time and expertise to this search process.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Berger on his new role at the University of Vermont.

Marlene Tromp
President

Linda S. Schadler
Interim Provost and Senior Vice President