The 23 members of the Vermont Leadership Institute Class of 2024 celebrated their completion of the nine-month professional-development program at a June graduation ceremony at Basin Harbor in Vergennes. Tracy Zschau, president and CEO of the Vermont Land Trust, delivered the keynote address at the event.
The institute is one of three major programs of the Snelling Center for Government, a nonpartisan organization committed to fostering responsible and ethical civic leadership, encouraging public service by private citizens and promoting informed citizen participation in shaping public policy in Vermont.
Sarah Launderville (pictured), executive director of the Vermont Center for Independent Living and a 2014 VLI graduate, was presented with the Snelling Center's 16th annual Excellence in Leadership Award during the ceremony. She was recognized her work on behalf of disability justice, a movement that focuses on examining disability and ableism as they relate to other forms of oppression and identity such as race, class and gender.
Following is a list of graduating members of the Class of 2024:
- Sarah Audsley, Johnson, Vermont Studio Center.
- Ashley Berliner, Charlotte, Department of Vermont Health Access.
- Chris Cadorette, East Calais, Vermont Department of Corrections.
- Krista Chadwick, South Burlington, South Burlington School District.
- Justice Elijah, Williston, Spreading Justice.
- Ursula Georgeoglou, Essex Junction, University of Vermont.
- John Gordon, Woodbury, Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living.
- Sandi Hoffman, Essex Junction, Department of Vermont Health Access.
- Megan Hoke, Essex Junction, Vermont Department of Health.
- Katie Keszey, Waterville, Community College of Vermont.
- Pelin Kohn, Montpelier, Norwich University.
- Nick Kramer, Corinth, Vermont Department of Finance and Management.
- Andy Lange, Barre, Vermont Department for Children and Families.
- Emily Lev, Stowe, Vermont Historical Society.
- Christy Liddy, Jeffersonville, Arvin A. Brown Public Library.
- Abby Long, East Burke, Kingdom Trail Association.
- Emily Mahar Cannon, Bristol, Integrated Medicine.
- Jason Maring, Moretown, Vermont Foodbank.
- Chrysta Murray, Barre, Vermont Department of Corrections.
- Jessica Pinkans, Barre, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont.
- Julia Scheier, Montpelier, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
- Thea Schwartz, Middlesex, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
- Angela Smith-Dieng, Burlington, Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living.