The University of Vermont Board of Trustees has re-elected Ron Lumbra as its chair. Cindy Barnhart was re-elected as vice-chair. John Bartholomew was elected secretary of the Board, succeeding Curt McCormack, who completed his term of service.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as the chair of the UVM Board,” Lumbra said. “These are difficult times in higher education, but UVM is thriving despite the challenges. I look forward to helping continue its advance. This university has given so much to me and I am committed to continue to give back as much as I can for the benefit of current and future UVM students.”
Lumbra, who was appointed to the UVM board in 2014, is a partner in the CEO & Board Practice of Heidrick & Struggles and based in New York. He was previously managing partner of the firm’s Center of Excellence and the firm’s Americas region. He has more than 22 years of executive search and succession consulting experience, and an extensive track record of recruiting board directors and chief executive officers to a broad variety of clients. Born and raised in Vermont, in St. Albans and Montgomery respectively, Lumbra completed his undergraduate studies at UVM, and earned a master of business administration degree from Harvard University.
The board also added several new members.
Three trustees were elected to six-year terms by the Vermont General Assembly: Stephanie Jerome, representing the Rutland-6 district; Lucy Rogers, representing Lamoille 3; and Catherine “Kitty” Toll, who represented Caledonia-Washington counties. They succeed Curt McCormack, Tristan Toleno and the late Bernie Juskiewicz.
Kisha Kalra, a medical student in UVM’s Larner College of Medicine, was elected by the Associated Directors for the Appointment of Student Trustees, Inc. She succeeds David Gringeri and will serve a two-year term.
The new appointments increase diversity on the Board considerably. The number of women on the Board has nearly doubled, from five to nine. Additionally, four members of the Board are people of color, including the chair.
Ed Pagano, a partner at the law firm of Akin Gump in Washington D.C. was re-appointed by Governor Phil Scott for a second six-year term in February.