The University of Vermont Board of Trustees today elected Cynthia Barnhart to serve as chair and welcomed four new members following a special meeting.

Barnhart was first elected to the Board on August 1, 2014, then re-elected in December 2019 and October 2024. Her current term expires in March 2030. Barnhart succeeds Ron Lumbra, who served as chair since 2020 and will remain a member of the Board.

Barnhart graduated from UVM with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1981 before going on to earn an SM in Transportation Systems and a PhD in Civil Engineering (Transportation Systems and Operations Research) at MIT. Her former UVM affiliations include serving as a member of the advisory board for Civil and Environmental Engineering and for the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. 

“UVM is a special place for me, and my 11 years on the Board of Trustees have been filled with deep connections and meaningful work,” Barnhart said. “It is truly a privilege for me to take on the role of chair, and I look forward to working with my fellow trustees as we guide and support the university through its next chapter of progress and success.”

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Ron Lumbra for his five years of service as chair,” Barnhart continued. “He has led the board with consistency and collegiality as our UVM community navigated the pandemic period, experienced leadership transitions, and together reached significant milestones, including our recent R1 designation.”

Barnhart has been vice chair of the Board of Trustees since 2020. She currently serves as provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as well as the Abraham J. Siegel Professor of Management Science and Professor of Operations Research. She previously served as MIT's chancellor, as associate and acting dean of MIT's School of Engineering, and as co-director of the Operations Research Center and the Center for Transportation and Logistics at MIT. 

Barnhart is married to Mark Baribeau (UVM, 1981); they have two daughters, Olivia and Julia.

“A warm welcome to our newest trustees, and congratulations to Cynthia Barnhart on her election as chair. She is the ideal trustee to lead the board as the university looks to build upon our strengths in the coming years,” said Interim President Patricia Prelock. “Her knowledge and deep experience in higher education will be an invaluable resource for UVM leadership.”

At their February meeting, trustees elected Donald McCree to serve as vice chair of the board, effective March 1. McCree is a graduate of the class of 1983 and is Vice Chairman and Head of Commercial Banking at Citizens Financial Group, Inc. He has been a member of the board since 2014 and has been serving as chair of the board’s Budget, Finance and Investment committee. Trustees also reelected Catherine “Kitty” Toll as secretary of the board in February as well.

New members who officially joined the board on March 1, include:

• Jason Maulucci, who was appointed by Governor Phil Scott for a six-year term expiring in March 2031.
• Senator Scott Beck and Representative John Bartholomew, each elected by the Vermont General Assembly for six-year terms expiring in March 2031. Representative Bartholomew previously served on the board from 2017-2023.
• McKenzie Hart, an undergraduate Political Science major, Class of 2027, was appointed by the Associate Directors for the Appointment of Student Trustees, Inc., to serve on the board for a two-year term.
• Representative Carol Ode was re-elected for a second consecutive six-year term.
• Kevin “Coach” Christie, Carolyn Dwyer, Katelynn Giroux, and Sam Young completed their terms on the board on February 28. 

Bios and photos for all board members can be found on the Board of Trustees members website.