Christopher Berger has been appointed the new Dean of UVM’s 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, providing senior leadership for graduate academic affairs, interdisciplinary programs, and initiatives that promote student success and institutional advancement. 

“Dr. Berger’s strong working relationships across campus, his extensive knowledge of both the college and the broader university, and his values-driven, solutions-oriented approach to leadership make him an excellent choice as the next Dean of UVM’s Graduate College,” President Marlene Tromp said. 

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. His commitment to mentorship was recognized with the Larner College of Medicine Dean’s Excellence in Research Award in 2023.

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 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.

Reflecting on this appointment, Provost Linda Schadler said, “Dr. Berger’s strong relationships across the university, coupled with his operational experience and his vision for the college’s continued evolution as an R1 research driver, will sustain the Graduate College’s momentum and position the college as a collaborative hub as UVM’s Green, Gold, and Bold Strategic Plan begins to take shape across the university.”