Vermont Woodworking School (VWS) has hired Daphne Zencey to fill the new role of Administrative Director. Zencey will run the day to day operations at VWS, to include managing the programs, community classes and the 15,000 square facility—a historic dairy barn turned woodworking school— located in Fairfax, Vermont. Daphne comes to Vermont Woodworking School with a wide variety of relevant experiences. Most recently she worked in the Museum Division at the Army’s Center of Military History in Virginia. Prior to her work with the Army, Zencey worked as the Operations and Gallery Manager at Frog Hollow, a designated Vermont State Craft Center located on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont. Previous achievements include a Masters degree in Art History from Syracuse University and over four years served in the United States Coast Guard. A native Vermonter, she was born and raised in Calais, Vermont.
“I am thrilled to return to the state and to once again be a part of the creative community that has become synonymous with Vermont. I look forward to continuing Vermont Woodworking School’s role in contributing to the local creative economy” said Zencey.
Zencey will report to Carina Driscoll, Co-Founder/Executive Director of Vermont Woodworking School. “During the interview process, Daphne stood out with her commitment to and love for Vermont, her experience with another Vermont State Craft Center and Vermont’s creative economy, and her military experience,” said Driscoll. Zencey’s hire will allow Driscoll to focus on strategic partnerships and long-term plans for the woodworking school.
Vermont Woodworking School offers a full-time, semester-based Immersion Program offering Certificates in furniture-making, design and entrepreneurship with programs from one semester to two academic years of study. VWS also offers short-term introductory workshops in woodworking and turning open to the general public.
Starting this fall semester, Johnson State College will offer an AA and a BFA degree in Fine Woodworking and Furniture Design in collaboration with the Vermont Woodworking School.
Vermont Woodworking School was founded by Carina Driscoll, Blake Ewoldsen, and Bob Fletcher in 2007 to offer fine woodworking and furniture design education in the tradition of the apprenticeship as a way to ensure the future of Vermont’s woodworking heritage. The woodworking school now employs seven employees, plus community faculty. For more information about Vermont Woodworking School visit www.vermontwoodworkingschool.com.