Ben Mirkin, associate professor of business administration at Vermont State University, has been named Educator of the Year by the American Mountain Guides Association.
Mirkin received the award for his transformative work with the university's Adventure Education program, which equips students with the skills and certifications needed to succeed in the outdoor industry. Thanks to Mirkin's efforts, students at VTSU's Lyndon campus can now earn credentials in areas such as avalanche safety, wilderness medicine, rock climbing instruction, canoe and kayak instruction, ropes course facilitation, and ski lift operations.
The Adventure Education program is now the only one of its kind accredited by the AMGA, solidifying its status as a top program in the nation.
“Through his work over the past decade with Vermont State University’s Outdoor Recreation,
Leadership and Tourism Department, Ben has built a high-quality program dedicated to excellence and professionalism in the guiding industry,” said one of his nominators.