Vermont Tech’s Office of Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD) is proud to announce two recent hires to their staff. Lyle Jepson of Rutland has joined CEWD as the Director of the Vermont Career and Technical Teacher Education Program. Prior to joining Vermont Tech, Lyle was the Dean of Entrepreneurial Programs at Castleton University, which involved opening a Castleton Downtown Office in Rutland and overseeing activities for the Castleton Center for Schools. As part of his role as Dean of Entrepreneurial Programs at Castleton, Lyle took on the Executive Director position at Rutland Economic Development Center. Lyle has also been a teacher, an elementary principal, and a high school principal. He spent 16 years as a technical center director, working closely with industry sectors to create educational opportunities for both high school aged students and adults. Lyle earned a BS in Secondary Education and Master's Degree in Educational Administration and Planning from the University of Vermont.
Katherine Barwin of Essex Junction is the Project Manager for Green Trainings. Her main focus is to work with area businesses and agencies to set up practical, and immediately useable, workforce trainings related to safe and sustainable environments. Topics include weatherization, renewable energy (solar), lead safety, and wastewater systems. She also is a co-trainer in the area of leadership, with Dianne Percy, as part of the CEWD team. Prior to joining CEWD full-time, she served in a variety of roles at both local colleges and public schools, predominately in the areas of curriculum design, training development, leadership, and project management. Katherine has a BS from the University of Vermont, an MEd from Harvard, and has a certificate from the Snelling Leadership Institute.
“We are very excited to have two amazing professionals join Vermont Tech in their roles,” says Associate Dean Maureen Hebert who leads the CEWD department. “Their respective backgrounds and expertise fit with the training needs of the schools, employers and employees we serve,” adds Hebert.
Continuing Education and Workforce Development brings the hands-on, applied learning taught by faculty who are experts in their field to a wide range of professions and professionals. CEWD designs and delivers workforce education and training through customized workshops, and courses that can lead to nationally recognized credentials, certificates or degrees, and more.
About Vermont Tech – Vermont Technical College is a leading public college with a mission of applied education and student-centeredness. One of the four institutions of the Vermont State Colleges System, Vermont Tech serves students from throughout Vermont, New England, and beyond at its residential campuses in Williston and Randolph Center, regional campuses in Brattleboro and Bennington, and at six nursing sites located throughout the state. Vermont Tech features state-of-the-art laboratory experience and a highly personalized classroom and student-life experience. All of our programs utilize a technological educational component, from the simulators used by our nursing program around the state, to manufacturing laboratories in Randolph Center and Williston. Our academic programs encompass a wide range of engineering technology, agricultural, health, and business fields that are vital to producing the knowledgeable workers needed most by employers in the state and in the region. www.vtc.edu.