The Community College of Vermont is pleased to name Deborah Stewart as the new dean of academic affairs. She will succeed current academic dean Linda Gabrielson, who announced her April 11, 2014 retirement last year.
A search committee whittled the initial 51 candidates applying from all over the country down to three finalists who were invited to CCV to meet with students, faculty and staff at the Montpelier, Upper Valley (White River Junction) and Winooski academic centers. Broadcasted to all centers online, each candidate hosted a presentation in Montpelier focusing on their strategies for active learning and keeping students engaged in classrooms.
After careful deliberation, Stewart, a CCV graduate, longtime faculty member and current dean of students, was chosen to succeed Gabrielson. Stewart served as the College’s associate academic dean from 2001-2010, and co-chaired the NEASC accreditation team in 2011-12.
During her time at CCV she has worked with national organizations such as the Kahn Academy and the Lumina Foundation’s Achieving the Dream initiative to improve student retention and persistence. She has been instrumental in transforming the placement and assessment process for incoming students and a driving force for student support during their time at CCV advancing the peer-tutoring and mentoring programs and associated with CCV’s learning centers.
Stewart brings decades of experience and leadership in effective teaching practices, curriculum development and student services to her new role. As a published poet, with numerous academic publications and presentations to her credit and a rich history of service to CCV, her perspective on and contributions to planning, implementing, managing and supervising all academic programs and personnel at the College will be invaluable.
Stewart will transition starting in April and officially begin her new role on July 1, 2014.