Greetings, Swans!

I hope this newsletter finds you and yours happy and healthy this holiday season. Vermont Law and Graduate School and the Master's Only Committee have been busy this semester. It's exciting to support master's students and all the progress being made in the new graduate school.

Thanks to your generosity, the Master's Only Scholarship Fund continues to grow and provide support to our inspiring students. The needs and opportunities still exceed our current resources, however, so we kindly encourage you to consider making a gift to this important fund as you evaluate your year-end giving priorities.

Moreover, the committee continues to offer mentoring support to students and alumni. We welcome both volunteers and advice-seekers at all times. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please share them with us or consider joining the committee.

On a personal note, it has been a pleasure to serve VLGS and all of you as chair of the Master's Only Committee these past few years. I look forward to supporting Helene Combes MELP'16, who is stepping into the chair role. Swans fly together!

Thank you for all you do and happy holidays,

Brenda Brickhouse MERL'18
Master's Only Committee Chair

VLGS NEWS

DEAN'S UPDATE

I arrived in South Royalton in early July. Eager to get rolling in my new position, I entered an emergency response scenario as catastrophic flooding was taking place across the region. It was amazing to witness such an incredible team of faculty and staff come together to support our students, engage with our alumni, and provide assistance to those in need.

The Vermont Law and Graduate School's Entrepreneurial Legal Laboratory was particularly impressive, providing support to Vermont small businesses and helping them navigate the complex web of federal and state aid. As the flooding receded and normalcy reemerged, I was able to immerse myself in the VLGS community, connect with our exceptional summer environmental faculty, attend events, and much more.

Orientation offered the opportunity to greet all of our incoming graduate students, who I taught twice per week in a policy research and writing class during the fall semester. As the day-to-day activities continue, I also have my eyes set toward the future.

Regular meetings take place to design new programming—including conversations about a new Master of Public Policy—and think creatively about how to build our graduate school with a student-centered, strategic approach. While bumps in the road are inevitable, and flood waters will occasionally rise, I am confident that we will continue to weather the storm.

I am honored to hold the position as your inaugural dean of the graduate school and remain optimistic for what lies ahead.

Dan Bromberg
Dean, Vermont Graduate School

CALL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS

MASTER'S ONLY SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Your Generosity Helps Master's Students Succeed

Did you know that your Master's Only Committee established the first and only scholarship fund specifically for students pursuing a master's degree at Vermont Law and Graduate School? Since 2018, we have awarded more than $20,000 in grants to students, and we need your ongoing support to sustain this fund.

We understand that there is a lot of asking going on these days, but this is a special fund that truly depends on your continued participation. Please consider donating any amount that feels comfortable to you to further this cause.

On behalf of the committee, we are extremely grateful for your generous support of this meaningful initiative. To donate, simply click the button below and select the Master's Only Scholarship Fund designation.

ALUMNI PROFILE

Jenna Koloski MELP'13

Jenna Koloski is the engagement and policy director at the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the state's rural communities. VCRD is committed to establishing partnerships at multiple levels, including local, state, federal, and private. Jenna’s work is centered on community and state policy, where she facilitates collaboration and coordination to connect to critical resources.

At the community level, Jenna and her team support local groups as they brainstorm, establish priorities, and find the means to implement their goals. She is particularly fond of working with a variety of local leaders throughout Vermont and is inspired by the strength, determination, and grit of the people she works with.

SHARE YOUR JOB OPPORTUNITIES

SWAN CONNECTIONS

Swans Flock Together, Wherever We Are:
A Q&A With Helene Combes MELP'16 and Natasha Dickrell MELP'15

With a growing alumni community, there are now more of us across the U.S. and around the world. This offers even greater opportunities for connection. Whether it's on holiday, a business trip, or in your everyday life, VLGS alumni may be closer than you think.

Helene Combes and Natasha Dickrell—both members of the Master's Only Committee—recently had a chance to meet in person for the first time in Edinburgh, Scotland. Click the button below to learn more about their time together and how this connection came to fruition.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Emily Wayne
Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy Student

Emily Wayne embarked on her journey to Vermont Law and Graduate School long before she stepped foot on campus this past August. Emily grew up splitting her time between Saint Barthelemy, in the Caribbean, and Quebec, Canada. She ultimately landed in Florida, eager to pursue an undergraduate degree in environmental studies and anthropology from Rollins College.

After earning her degree, she briefly worked in the City of Orlando's Sustainability Department before eventually making a life-changing move to Peru to work for the School of Field Studies. In Peru, Emily worked in the Amazon and aided in facilitating the day to day needs of students studying tropical ecology. While working and living in the remote landscape, Emily noticed the resilient and communal nature of small-scale farming happening all around her. This inspiring experience drew her to engage with the field of food systems.

UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS