Incoming Vermont State Colleges (VSC) Chancellor Jeb Spaulding announced today two new members of his leadership team. Yasmine Ziesler has been named Chief Academic and Academic Technology Officer and Tricia Coates will become theDirector for External and Governmental Affairs. Dr Ziesler currently serves as Dean of Technology, Business, and Physical Education at Castleton State College. She oversees Castleton's information and learning technologies, First-Year Seminar, and Study Away programs. Ziesler has previously served in a number of academic and student life leadership roles at the Community College of Vermont and at Castleton. In her new role, she will provide leadership for academic policy, program delivery, professional development, institutional research, and use of technology in academic programming and delivery across the Vermont State Colleges system.
Tricia Coates has served for eight years as State Director for Congressman Peter Welch, managing constituent service and outreach, and advising on policy issues important to Vermont, including education. She has maintained productive relationships with key government, business, education, and community leaders at the State and local level for Congressman Welch and will continue to do so in her new role for the Vermont State Colleges. Raising the profile of the VSC, maximizing external support, and building meaningful partnerships to support programming and increase enrollment at individual colleges will be priorities for Coates.
"We were so fortunate to be able to attract Tricia and Yasmine to the Vermont State Colleges at an important time. They are both extremely well respected in their fields and are passionate about higher education and the important role of the VSC in Vermont. I look forward to working with them to build a strong future for each of our five colleges," Spaulding said.
Spaulding will assume the Chancellor role officially in Mid-January. Coates and Ziesler will begin their new assignments before the end of the month.
The Vermont State Colleges include Castleton State College, the Community College of Vermont, Johnson State College, Lyndon State College, and Vermont Technical College. The VSC currently serves over 12,000 students, including more than 10,000 Vermonters. In addition, it offers programs for high school students, business and industry, and returning students throughout the state. For more information, please visit www.vsc.edu.