Champlain Appoints Six New Members to Board of Trustees

Joining the Board are Scott Duncan, head of people and culture at The Realest; Stephen P. Groff, an internationally recognized economist and development finance leader; Patricia Pomerleau, a Burlington business and community leader; Susie Posner-Jones MHA ’17, vice president and chief development officer at Boston Medical Center Health System; Ray Rouleau, director of strategy and supplier sales at Vermont Information Processing; and David Tabaruka ’10, senior director for financial planning and analysis at Vermont State Colleges System.

“At Champlain, our Board of Trustees champions our students so they can turn their passions into a profession and graduate ready to make a difference,” said Alex Hernandez, President of Champlain College. “Our new trustees are deeply committed to our mission and are accelerating our progress.”

The newly elected trustees add a wide range of professional experience and personal connections to the College, from Champlain alumni and parents to leaders whose work has spanned local nonprofits and international institutions.

“Our newest trustees bring a remarkable breadth of leadership experience, professional expertise, and commitment to service,” said Sara Byers, Chairperson of the Champlain College Board of Trustees. “Their perspectives will strengthen our ability to support Champlain’s strategic priorities and deepen impact so that the institution continues to innovate and support students, alumni, and our greater community.”

Duncan is head of people and culture and a board member at The Realist, a startup focused on the sports and music collectibles industry. Previously, he served as senior vice president and general manager at Capital Group and has spent more than 40 years as a strategic business leader  in the financial services,, sports, and entertainment industries. In addition to his corporate leadership experience, Duncan was a working screenwriter, with projects developed by major Hollywood studios and two feature films released in theaters. He has also served as chair of WHRO Public Media and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.

Duncan is a graduate of Cornell University, an Eagle Scout, an enthusiastic amateur drummer, and a lifelong Red Sox fan. He and his wife, Christina, are the parents of two adult children, including a Champlain alumnus.

Groff is an economist and development finance leader whose career has spanned global development institutions, government service, and public policy. Most recently, he served as the inaugural governor of Saudi Arabia’s National Development Fund. His distinguished career has also included senior leadership positions with the Asian Development Bank, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Earlier in his career, Groff worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer. He is a Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow, a member of the Brenton Woods Committee, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. 

A multi-generational Vermonter, Groff grew up in the Mad River Valley, and he now lives in Burlington. He serves on many advisory boards, including World Learning, Good Growth Company, and the Institute for Sustainable Communities, and recently wrote a book on climate policy. Groff is a graduate of Yale University, the Harvard Kennedy School, and holds a Ph.D. from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Outside of work, Groff is an avid skier and sailor. 

Raised in Burlington just steps from Champlain’s campus, Pomerleau built her career in healthcare administration and strategic planning after earning degrees from Georgetown University and Boston University. Throughout her career, she led initiatives focused on healthcare operations and information systems designed to improve care and effectiveness. After returning to Vermont in 2020, she joined the board of directors of Pomerleau Real Estate and Cathedral Square, where she supports efforts to expand senior housing opportunities for aging Vermonters. Her civic involvement has also focused on downtown Burlington’s vitality and strengthening connections between the city’s businesses and higher education communities. 

Outside of her professional and philanthropic work, Pomerleau is an accomplished photographer whose travels have taken her around the world.

Posner-Jones serves as vice president and chief development officer at Boston Medical Center Health System, where she leads philanthropic strategy for one of the nation’s largest safety-net hospitals. She brings more than two decades of fundraising and nonprofit leadership experience, including senior roles at Cambridge Health Alliance, the University of Vermont Health Network, and the University of Vermont Medical Center. Earlier in her career, Posner-Jones worked with Champlain Housing Trust and United Way of Northwestern Vermont. 

Posner-Jones earned a Master of Healthcare Administration from Champlain College, and undergraduate degrees in public relations, mass media communications, and psychology.

Tabaruka ’10 serves as senior director for financial planning and analysis at Vermont State Colleges System, where he leads planning, budgeting, and forecasting. He recently held the role of controller at Community College of Vermont. Before entering higher education, Tabaruka spent more than a decade in corporate finance, holding leadership roles at Bombardier Transportation, Alstom, Volvo Group’s Prevost and Novabus products. His experience spans financial planning, project accounting, manufacturing operations, and capital budgeting across the United States and Canada. 

Tabaruka also serves on numerous boards, including the Vermont Professionals of Color Network and the Vermont Futures Project, where he is vice chair. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Burlington, and is fluent in English, French, and Kinyarwanda.