Rep. Peter Welch announced Tuesday a set of staff transitions geared toward supporting his work on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, to which he was appointed in January.

Welch hired Stephanie Krenrich as Senior Legislative Assistant with a focus on health, education, housing and the environment. Mary Sprayregen, who previously served as Welch’s Business Liaison in his Vermont office, has joined the Congressman’s Washington office as a Legislative Assistant with a focus on business, energy, telecommunications and appropriations.

Dr Sara Dillon, professor of law at Suffolk University Law School, was inducted into the Saint Michael's College Alumni Academic Hall of Fame at ceremonies held on the campus of the liberal arts residential Catholic college. Professor Dillon graduated summa cum laude from Saint Michael's, and went on to complete a master’s degree in English literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Stephen A. Unsworth, senior partner of Unsworth & Barra, PLC in Essex Junction, has, for the second year in a row, been named a Super Lawyer in Estate Planning and Probate by New England Super Lawyers. Attorney’s identified as “super lawyers” are considered to be in the top five percent of New England attorneys and the best in their profession. Unsworth’s mission is to provide excellence in service and the highest quality documents available in Vermont.

Vermont Law School, known for its top-ranked environmental law program, has announced that James Gustave Speth, currently dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, will be joining its faculty as of July 1, 2010. Speth has served as dean and professor at Yale since 1999. Prior to his time at Yale, he served as administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and chair of the UN Development Group. Earlier, he was founder and president of the World Resources Institute; professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center; chairman of the U.S.

A family farm that employs more than 20 relatives has become the sixth farm in Vermont to join the CVPS Cow Power family. Gervais Family Farm Inc., a family owned and operated dairy farm in Bakersfield, has begun generating electricity from cow manure and signed on as the newest CVPS Cow Power producer. Robert and Gisele Gervais originally purchased their farm in 1960, starting with 200 acres and 35 milking cows. Over the years, the farm has grown considerably along with the family.