On behalf of the entire school, I want to thank you for your unwavering support this past year. You have been a source of inspiration and your creative and thoughtful approaches to growing the School have been aspirational for me. While reflecting on the fall semester, I particularly enjoyed this slideshow of our 217 first year NR1 students engaging in the many experiential learning opportunities the Rubenstein School has to offer. A big thanks to professors Walt Poleman and Chris Brooks for sharing this beautiful recap.

Looking ahead to the Spring semester, we are preparing for growth and change. The school has seen an astonishing 44% increase in our early admissions applications, and we are preparing for the evolution of Environmental Studies and Sciences. We are also excited to implement a name change for our Natural Resources degree to more accurately reflect its focus on sustainability. This coming year I look forward to working closely with you to gain your insights on new areas of growth for the school, while continuing to center equity and justice in everything we do.

In these times of reflection and change, I am personally inspired by our mission question: How can the Rubenstein School unleash empathy, passion, innovation, and creativity to heal and radically change human-environment systems in a just, equitable, and ecological direction?

I hope that each of you are able to find moments of rest and joy during the holiday season. I look forward to taking on new challenges and opportunities with you in 2022.

Season's greetings and happy solstice,

Nancy Mathews
Dean and Professor 
Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources

University of Vermont
81 Carrigan Drive
Burlington, Vermont 05401  
www.uvm.edu/rsenr