Elizabeth (Ibit) Wright, staff member in the UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, served as student services coordinator and professional advisor in the Environmental Program since 1995. For more than 23 years, she spent countless hours advising and mentoring students along their academic and career paths in the environmental studies (ENVS) major, one of the largest undergraduate majors at UVM. In August 2018, Ibit left her longtime role in the Environmental Program to pursue other interests.

"I worked with Ibit for over twenty years,” said former colleague Rick Paradis, Lecturer Emeritus in the Environmental Program. “She was always so dedicated to our students’ welfare, both academically and personally. When my own daughter transferred to UVM following a rocky start elsewhere, it was Ibit who guided her through the intricacies of the University and our Program's requirements that led to her having a high-quality experience here. As a colleague (and a parent) I heartily thank her." 

For the cross-campus Environmental Program, Ibit provided academic and personal advising to students majoring in environmental studies from the Rubenstein School, College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and to prospective first-year and transfer students. She helped them find a program of study and develop an individually-designed major plan that best matched their goals and interests. She made sure that students understood academic requirements and opportunities related to the environmental studies major and minor, their college or school, double majors and minors across campus, and course selection.  

“I so enjoyed all the academic advising I did over the years,” Ibit said. “I loved connecting students with courses and teachers from departments across the university and with opportunities on- and off-campus that were a good fit for them.” 

“Ibit was the first person I talked to at UVM the week before fall semester classes started, and she was extremely welcoming, kind, and expertly helped me to register for courses and to plan out my academic career,” said Lilla Fortunoff ‘18, a College of Arts and Sciences student who transferred to UVM her sophomore year and worked as an assistant with Ibit for two years. “Ibit was a constant source of guidance and kindness during my three academic years. She inspired me in the ways that she was able to directly and warmly advise any student who came to her, whether they were a first-year undecided major or a senior ENVS student. Ibit's wealth of knowledge about the Environmental Program and the energy she devoted to connecting with students made her a treasured and integral part of the ENVS experience.” 

Ibit took a strong interest in students’ career paths, helped them to make decisions about their senior capstone projects, and led resume writing and career building workshops. She guided students into internships, off-campus and study abroad, graduate school, and other experiential and career choices. She also coordinated the Program’s student scholarships and awards, many that enabled students to fulfill internship, research, and other experiential opportunities. 

“While in the ENVS program, I have turned to Ibit for support in a number of transformative times in my academic, professional, and personal experiences,” said Rubenstein School student Mike Perrin ’19, who with Ibit’s encouragement secured an independent research project studying declining bird species at a UVM Natural Area. “Ibit guided my course-selection process for many semesters, helped solidify my educational and career aspirations, and prepared me for after-college through her assistance writing resumes, searching for job and research opportunities, and pushing me to follow my passions. I am eternally grateful for Ibit and know I will carry her influence throughout my career and beyond.” 

Perhaps most importantly, Ibit took her job to heart and became mentor and friend to more than a generation of students in the Environmental Program. 

“No matter where I was at when I showed up in her office, or how messy and fallen apart I felt as I navigated school, Ibit was like my lighthouse, giving me the confidence, compassion, and trust I couldn’t find amidst some great challenges,” said Rubenstein School alum Brittany McManamey ’15, who is now a nature connection mentor with the Burlington nonprofit Crow’s Path. “‘Bird by bird,’ she’d say, and I’d finally catch my breath. I don’t know if she ever knew how much she meant to me!” 

“The first time I met Ibit, she invited me to her house for Halloween,” said College of Arts and Sciences student Izzy Lisle ’20. “Her hospitality, genuine passion for learning, and dedication to mentoring students shines brightly through her welcoming personality. She inspired me to pursue my goals of Zero Waste, go abroad to New Zealand with EcoQuest, and stay connected to the wonderful environmental program at UVM. Ibit is truly a gem, and she will be dearly missed by the ENVS community.” 

Behind her day-to-day interactions with current students, Ibit coordinated and hosted Admitted Student Day visits, student panels, and information sessions. She provided a critical link between Environmental Program faculty, cross-campus college and university administrations, and the public. She collaborated with faculty to develop academic policies, maintained communications and public information, and developed web, admissions, and advising materials.  

"She put countless hours into program communication through many years producing a beautiful newsletter and then many years managing our web presence and ongoing announcements,” said Professor Emerita Stephanie Kaza, who directed the Environmental Program from 2008 to 2015. “She served on a number of search committees and collaborated across campus to build strong advising programs. Across all these many years at UVM, Ibit showed unflagging dedication to the Program, carrying the spirit of environmental studies to thousands of students.” 

“Ibit always was the outspoken champion and advocate for students and kept them in the forefront throughout the Program at all times,” said Professor Emeritus Ian Worley, Program director from 1994 to 2008. “A wonderful listener with bountiful empathy, Ibit was a student magnet, especially for those with needs who flocked to her at any time of day ... and for years thereafter spoke her praise in how she influenced their lives. In times of rapid growth in student numbers, Ibit energetically served the program in diverse ways well beyond her title and job description.” 

A graduate of Middlebury College and Antioch New England Graduate School, Ibit stepped beyond her role as advisor to teach several different three-credit environmental writing courses and the online course, Careers in Environment. She developed and taught ENVS 101 Academic Planning Workshop, a one-credit, six-week required course for environmental studies majors to develop an interdisciplinary plan of study that aligned with their emerging academic, personal, and professional goals and interests. 

Ibit received several University-wide awards for her tireless support of students on campus. She was honored with the UVM Women’s Center Outstanding Staff Woman Award in 2014 for significant contributions to the lives of women on campus through service, advocacy, and feminist programming. 

Stephanie Kaza wrote in her nomination of Ibit for the Outstanding Staff Woman Award, “Ibit is well known among environmental studies majors and alums for her kind ear, her willingness to take time with students, her capacity for problem solving, and her advocacy for students in general."  

Ibit also earned the Star Award for Supportive Academic Staff in 2012 for her exemplary commitment to the academic success of UVM students. In 2001, Ibit received UVM’s prestigious Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award in recognition of her outstanding commitment to teaching, advising, and the engagement of students in the pursuit of knowledge. 

“Ibit certainly was an iconic figure in the Environmental Program for many years and positively impacted thousands of students’ lives and careers,” said Rubenstein School Dean Nancy Mathews.

Like Hayden Smith ’17, a graduate of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, who turned to Ibit for career guidance as a student and young alum. “After almost two years of job searching, I now hold the position of land protection and stewardship coordinator at the Lake Champlain Land Trust,” he said. “I consider myself a UVM Environmental Program success story, and I owe it all to the continued support from Ibit Wright and the memorable faculty at the University of Vermont.” 

Ibit worked tirelessly to maintain relationships with ENVS alumni, and she continues to enjoy hearing from alumni about their lives beyond college. While on sabbatical and special trips overseas, Ibit traveled to learn about other universities’ environmental studies programs and study abroad opportunities to bring back new ideas and experiences to enhance the UVM Environmental Program.

“My life has been enriched by the people and the work I engaged with during my years at UVM,” said Ibit. “I was able to serve in many kinds of ways in my position. As I move on to other challenges and opportunities, I am excited to see where they take me.”