Contact the SMART Space
Email: smartspace@champlain.edu
About Us
Meet the Staff
Lauren M. Bruneau, MA, M.Ed.
Director, Academic Support and Coaching Services
SMART Space - 2nd Floor of the Miller Information Commons (MIC)
(802) 865-6422
lbruneau@champlain.edu
Lauren Bruneau is the Director of Academic Support and Coaching Services. She joined Champlain College in Fall 2012 as a part-time Academic Coach and was subsequently hired as a full-time staff member and manager in March of 2013.
Prior to joining Champlain College, Lauren worked as an Instructor for four years at the Stern Center in Williston, Vermont. During that time, she was also privately contracted as an Academic Coach for several Champlain College students. With 14 years of experience teaching English, Social Studies and French in public high school and middle school, Lauren was well prepared to move into higher education.
Lauren earned her master’s degree from Middlebury College and completed post-baccalaureate teacher certification from the University of Vermont, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree. In addition to possessing a great deal of international study-abroad experience, Lauren is a certified Wilson Level 1 instructor and is a professional coach through Wellcoaches International and International Coaching Federation. She has served on numerous local and state committees to advocate for students of all ages and is passionate about coaching to help students make the most of their education and be the best they can be.
Lauren is a busy mother of three children and loves to spend free time skiing, baking, crafting, biking and playing with her kids!
Leslie Van Wagner, MAT
Associate Director, Academic Support and Coaching Services
SMART Space - 2nd Floor of the Miller Information Commons (MIC)
(802) 865-8449
lvanwagner@champlain.edu
Leslie Van Wagner is the Associate Director of Academic Support and Coaching Services. Prior to joining Champlain in Spring of 2019, she was the Director of the Academic Support Center at Rivier College in Nashua, NH for 12 years, overseeing the Writing Center, Peer Tutoring Center, and Peer Mentoring Program. Leslie also taught many English Literature and Writing classes during her 25+ years at Rivier.
Leslie holds a MAT in Teaching from Rivier University and completed her undergraduate work at St. Lawrence University. She also holds a Certificate of Copyediting from University of San Diego online. Currently, Leslie is president of the Learning Assistance Association of New England.
Throughout her career, Leslie has drawn energy from helping students discover their potential and succeed in college and beyond. During her free time, Leslie enjoys reading, watching films, making trips to NYC to see plays, exploring her new home town of Burlington, and playing with her grandson, Sam.
Megan Sheldon, M.Ed., ACC, CPCC
Academic Coach and Tutoring Coordinator
SMART Space –2nd Floor of the Miller Information Commons (MIC)
(802) 865-5720
msheldon@champlain.edu
Megan is thrilled to be joining Champlain College in Fall 2021 as an Academic Coach and Tutoring Coordinator after several years in private coaching practice with youth and adults, focused on executive function skills and holistic productivity. She is a happy and successful coach, professional educator, and dance fitness instructor with an intentionally diverse professional background. She is also a skilled curriculum designer, instructional coach, and facilitator. She can't wait to support Champlain students as they discover new skills, tap into their strengths, and step into their vision for their lives at Champlain.
Megan is known for her big laugh, her zest for life, and her commitment to working at the crossroads of body, mind, emotion, and spirit. She's passionate about social justice and about liberation, radical self-approval and wellness for all. Her professional background includes 13 years as a literacy specialist and teacher leader in rural public schools, a background in crisis counseling and service coordination, and intensive leadership training. Megan holds a master's degree in education from St. Michael's College and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from Kenyon College. She is accredited by the International Coach Federation as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC).
In addition to her work at Champlain, Megan teaches lively, inclusive dance fitness classes and maintains a small private coaching practice. All of Megan's work aligns with her life's mission: helping creative people live joyful, productive and satisfying lives filled with embodied delight and significance, in connection with the natural world and marked by the accomplishments that matter most—as defined by them. Megan is a voracious learner who loves reading, parenting, traveling, gardening, studying traditional Irish shamanism, and trail running—and makes a mean apple pie.
Elaine O'Reilly
Academic Coach and Student Success Coordinator
SMART Space -2nd Floor of the Miller Information Commons (MIC)
eoreilly@champlain.edu
Elaine O'Reilly began working at Champlain in November of 2022, bringing with her 28 years of experience in higher education. Although most of her career has focused on advising and teaching, she has also been a social worker, a therapist, an educational programmer, a hiking guide, a cook, and a writer. Elaine's true passion is guiding students towards success, and she is excited to be working with Champlain students.
Elaine holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Southern Maine, a Master's in Counseling Psychology and Dance Movement Therapy from Antioch Graduate School, and a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has also developed a side gig of consulting in higher education and wellness, and has written and published a guide for transfer students.
Elaine characterizes all of her work as assisting people to shift their perception so they can become the navigator of their path. She has a grown daughter and takes frequent trips to NC to hang out with her. Previously, Elaine lived in MA, Vermont, Maine, and North Carolina, but she is super happy to be back in Vermont!
For more information, contact:
academiccoaching@champlain.edu