Dear UVM Faculty and Staff,

Last summer, Cynthia Belliveau indicated her desire to step down after 14 years as dean of Continuing and Distance Education (CDE). After many thoughtful discussions with me and others aimed at ensuring that we maintain the forward momentum and growth of CDE, I was able to persuade Cynthia to stay on for another semester. However, she has recently confirmed that she will leave her current role as dean, effective January 2, 2022.

CDE has grown and flourished under Cynthia’s leadership, today offering hundreds of courses and programs to thousands of students each year in subjects as diverse as integrative health, digital marketing, leadership, and artisanal cheese tasting. Perhaps one of the greatest endorsements of the value of CDE was last summer’s launch of Upskill Vermont in partnership with the state. The program filled $1 million worth of courses in less than 24 hours, underscoring the appetite for professional development in our state. Cynthia has built lasting partnerships with countless employers, educational institutions, and government organizations that will benefit the university for years to come.  

After this semester, Cynthia will continue her work at UVM partnering with university leaders on key program initiatives in health and environment. She has longed for the opportunity to put 100% of her energy into these strategic areas and stepping down from the deanship will allow her to do so. We can expect her to apply her inimitable creativity and innovation to expand UVM’s signature program offerings nationally.

After learning of Cynthia’s desire to step down, President Garimella, Cynthia and I began discussing how we might position CDE for further growth while also reinforcing its importance to our land-grant mission. We look forward to updating you soon. In the meantime, please join me in thanking Cynthia for her visionary leadership and tireless service. I will find a time for us later this year to celebrate Cynthia’s many accomplishments.

Warm regards,
Patty