Vermont Business Magazine A high-ranking Shumlin Administration official is leaving his position. The Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees today announced the appointment of Jeb Spaulding as the next Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges, following the retirement of current Chancellor Tim Donovan at the end of the calendar year. Since, 2011, Spaulding has served Governor Peter Shumlin as Vermont’s Secretary of Administration. During the prior decade, he was elected five times as the Vermont State Treasurer. As a State Senator from Washington County from 1985-2001, Spaulding chaired Appropriations, Education, Joint Fiscal, and Joint Administrative Rules Committees.
VSC Board Chair Martha O’Connor said: “We are thrilled to have someone of Jeb's character, integrity, skill, and experience to lead the Vermont State Colleges in the coming years. This appointment will provide the leadership continuity that our college presidents have asked for. With the appointment of Jeb Spaulding, the VSC has the opportunity to move forward into a future that will continue to benefit all of Vermont and all Vermonters.”
Governor Shumlin issued the following statement: "I am very happy for Jeb personally and professionally. He is the ideal person to take the helm of the Vermont State Colleges, and will continue the effective leadership at VSC and the strong partnership between the state and the colleges. The State College system has been near and dear to his heart since his tenure in the Vermont State Senate, where for many years he chaired the Education Committee even while in the minority party. Over the years and throughout his time as Administration Secretary, Jeb has been a strong proponent for affordable, quality higher education. He believes deeply that the State College system should meet the educational needs of Vermonters who want to fill the good paying, high skilled jobs many of our employers offer. Jeb recognizes that the Community College of Vermont, Vermont Technical College and the other state colleges strengthen our state’s economic future through their focus on providing high quality education and jobs skills. Finally, as Administration Secretary, Jeb fully understands the fiscal pressures facing the system and will bring his sound fiscal management to the challenges of operating our entire State College system.
"Jeb has been a good friend since our first days working together in the Legislature 24 years ago. As my Administration Secretary, he has been a rock-solid partner, creating a balanced budget year after year, and preserving Vermont’s exceptional fiscal management and bond rating. He has also been a close personal advisor, a role I know he will continue to play. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Jeb when he takes on his new role as Chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges next January."
In 1976, Spaulding founded the WNCS-FM radio station in Montpelier and served as President and General Manager until 1987. He and his wife Susan have resided in Montpelier since 1976. They have two grown children.
Board Chair O'Connor added, “We are also extremely grateful for the service of outgoing Chancellor Tim Donovan. Tim has dedicated his professional career to the Community College of Vermont and the Vermont State College system as a whole. He has served the Board, the Colleges, and the people of Vermont with great distinction.” Vermont's state colleges include Castleton State College, Community College of Vermont, Johnson State College, Lyndon State College and Vermont Technical College. The Office of the Chancellor is in Montpelier.
The union which represents faculty, however, was not happy about the process that led to this decision. Linda Olson, president of the Vermont State Colleges Faculty Federation (AFT Vermont), issued this statement: "Faculty and staff were promised they could play a role in this process for a 'permanent' replacement by the Executive Committee. I am more than disappointed that the board has chosen not to honor that promise and that a permanent Chancellor was selected with absolutely no faculty or staff input. That said, we look forward to working with Chancellor Spaulding as faculty and staff continue to advocate for high quality, affordable education for Vermont students, and we hope that he will advocate strongly for a more robust state investment in higher education in Vermont."
PHOTO: Jeb Spaulding explains the process and implications of budget cuts to the Emergency Board in July.