RISE Summit

Overview

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How can research and community-university partnerships be used to solve pressing rural challenges? How do we make research work for communities?

In this one-day summit, representatives from UVM, other universities, community organizations, municipalities and regions, businesses and government will come together to consider how collaborative research can provide critical tools to solve problems in their rural places.

RISE 2025 will include:

Keynote from Dr. Mark Becker, President of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU)
Interactive breakout tracks
Presentation of the Leahy Institute Partnership Award by Senator Patrick Leahy
Science communication and storytelling workshop
Student innovation pitches
Reception and Networking sessions

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

8:30am - 5:00pm

Grand Maple Ballroom, Davis Center
University of Vermont

Virtual attendance options availableRegister for FREE Today

Agenda

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Register for FREE Today

Arrive and Settle In

8:00 - 8:30 am

Welcome to RISE

8:30 - 8:35 am | Tricia Coates - Director, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships

Grand Maple Ballroom

Presidential Welcome

8:35 - 8:45 am | Dr. Marlene Tromp - President Designate, University of Vermont

Grand Maple Ballroom

Keynote Address: "Research as a Public Good"

8:45 - 9:30 am | Dr. Mark Becker - President, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities

Grand Maple Ballroom

Preview of the Day

9:30 - 9:45 am | Tricia Coates - Director, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships

Grand Maple Ballroom

Move to Breakout Panels

9:45 - 10:00 am

Breakout Panels

10:00 - 11:00 am

Track 1: Asking the Right Questions

Facilitator: Ernesto Mendez - UVM Institute for Agroecology

Panelists:

Jackie Pratt - Stowe Electric
Samantha Koehler - UVM Water Resources Institute

Track 2: Building Effective Teams

Facilitator: Bettyjo Bouchey - Chief Officer, UVM Professional and Continuing Education

Panelists:

Dan Kopin - Vermont Electric Power Company
Roz King - UVM Medical Center / Larner College of Medicine
Alex Farrell - State of Vermont

Track 3: Communicating the Work

Facilitator: Susan Evans McClure - Vermont Arts Council

Panelists:

Ben Cooley - Vermont Complex Systems Institute / Center for Community News
Karen Anderson - Vermont Public
Christopher Kojzar - UVM College of Arts and Sciences

Networking Break | Local Food and Craft Market

11:00 - 11:30 am

Breakout Workshops

11:30 - 12:30 pm

Track 1: The Question Lab

Facilitator: Abigail Crocker - UVM Justice Research Center

Track 2: Recipes for Good Partnerships

Facilitator: Sarah Henshaw - Leaves of Change Vermont

Track 3: Creative Communication Strategies

Facilitator: jen berger - At the Root

Lunch

12:30 - 2:00 pm

Lunch & Learn Sessions

12:45 - 1:45 pm

It Takes a Village: How Schools and Health Partners Team Up

Bernice Garnett - UVM College of Education and Social Services / UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Heidi Schumacher - UVM Larner College of Medicine / Vermont Child Improvement Program

Pathways to Housing

Alex Farrell - Department of Housing and Community Development, State of Vermont
Miro Weinberger - Let’s Build Homes / UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College

From Innovation Hubs to Co-Working: Creative Solutions for Vermont's Rural Economy

Andrew Van Leuven - UVM Dept. of Community Development and Applied Economics
Lucia Campriello - Hula
Chris Maggiolo - Black River Innovation Campus

About the RISE Menu - A focus on sustainable and locally-sourced foods

2:00 - 2:05 pm | Nicole Reilly - Sustainability and Campus Partnership Manager, Sodexo

Grand Maple Ballroom

Student Entrepreneur Pitches

2:05 - 2:20 pm | Student teams from UVM's ARC (Academic Research Commercialization) Program

Grand Maple Ballroom

Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships Distinguished Community Engagement Award

2:20 - 2:40 pm | Presented by Senator Patrick Leahy

Grand Maple Ballroom

Performance - Front Porch Follies

2:40 - 3:10 pm

Grand Maple Ballroom

Keynote Panel: "Research as a Public Good"

3:10 - 4:10 pm | Moderated by Mike Pieciak - Vermont State Treasurer

Grand Maple Ballroom

Panelists:

Kirk Dombrowski - VP for Research and Economic Development, UVM
Jennifer Stromsten - Director of Programs, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation
Sky Barsch - CEO, VT Digger

Closing Remarks and Wrap-up

4:10 - 4:15 pm | Tricia Coates - Director, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships

Grand Maple Ballroom

Reception and Poster Session

4:15 - 5:30 pm

Livak Fireplace Lounge

Register for FREE Today

Keynote Speaker

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Dr. Mark Becker

President, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities

Dr. Mark Becker is president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), an organization that works to advance the mission of public research universities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Prior to his leadership of APLU, Dr. Becker served as president of Georgia State University. His data-driven approach to advancing the university became a hallmark of his tenure as was his work to ensure the benefits of the university were felt by all.

His engagement with community, business, and government leaders, along with the university’s growing footprint in the city, helped revitalize downtown Atlanta while fostering a deep engagement with the greater region.

Dr. Becker will speak from rich experience with university-community partnerships as he kicks off RISE 2025 and our theme, "Research as a Public Good."

Read Dr. Mark Becker's full bio