Office and People Directory

Anne Allen

Biography

Anne currently works in CCO as a Senior Course Producer. Anne started working at Champlain in 2013 in eLearning. Anne received her B.A. degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder in Art History. After finishing college in Colorado, Anne moved to Jackson, Wyoming for 3 years to study the social behavior of coyotes. After Wyoming, she moved to Seattle, Washington for 6 years where she worked for the Geophysics Department studying Mount St. Helens. While in Seattle, Anne also volunteered with SARDA, Mountain Search and Rescue Dogs. Anne has lived in Burlington Vermont for over 37 years. When she is not producing online courses for CCO, she can be found “enjoying” her daughter, Mollie, her Scotch Collie, CinnBreagh, and her Champlain College Community garden plot.

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Phylise Banner

Biography

Phylise Banner is a learning experience designer with more than 25 years of vision, action, and leadership experience in transformational learning and development approaches.

A pioneer in online learning, Phylise focuses her explorations and research on the synergy between the evolution of educational theories and technologies. The gemstones she treasures most in her career portfolio are the relationships she has built with the global network of talented colleagues she interacts with throughout industry and academia.

Phylise holds a BA in Information Visualization from New York University and an MSEd from Nova Southeastern University. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), certified Learning Environment Architect (CLEA), Adobe Education Leader (ALE), and Fellow of the Society for Technical Communication. Her most recent book, “The Language of Learning,” is available from XML Press.

Her hobbies include general aviation (she co-pilots a 1968 Piper Cherokee), fire-torch enameling, performance storytelling, playing the theremin, and learning to play the accordion. She’s also the proud owner of a 1967 Amphicar.

What are your hobbies?

General aviation, fire-torch enameling, performance storytelling, music, baking

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Marnie Behrendt

Biography

Joining Champlain in 2021, Marnie has spent the majority of her professional career serving students in higher education. As a non-traditional, first-generation student herself, she is passionate about the opportunities higher education offers people who embark on that journey. She has served in multiple roles at a variety of colleges, but is most impressed with the student-centric focus of the leadership at Champlain.

What are your hobbies?

Dogs, crafting

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Ezra Demers

Biography

Ezra is from Vermont and went to Champlain for their undergrad. He worked as an Area Coordinator with Champlain’s Housing and Residential Life team before coming to Lakeside to work with Champlain College Online. Being part of the Champlain community has been a wonderful component to Ezra over the years. He likes being outdoors, going for walks, listening to music, and working on his cooking. Ezra has two older sisters who live locally and can often be found spending time with family and dogs. Ezra is an aspiring pet owner and while he doesn’t own a dog yet, he pet sits often in the meantime. In addition, he really likes to travel and has spent time living in Ireland and China with Champlain’s study abroad programs. Ezra is excited to travel more in the future, and also always know Vermont is a place to return home to.

What are your hobbies?

Listening to music, going for walks, hikes, doing yoga, and cooking

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Go for a walk along the bike path!
Check out what’s going on along the waterfront
Foam (on the waterfront)
Go to a berry farm or apple orchard

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Danielle Duerr

Biography

Danielle earned a BFA in Dance and a BA in French from SUNY Brockport in 2015. Before starting at Champlain College Online, Danielle worked as a manager at Barnes & Noble. There, she found a passion for building relationships with people to help them with their needs. She is eager to take that skill and begin her career in higher education as an Academic Advisor. She is excited to build relationships with the students to help them realize their academic and personal goals. When she is not working, Danielle enjoys camping, reading, and baking delicious treats.

What are your hobbies?

Baking, camping, reading, and dancing

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

I love Pizza 44 and trying all the local creemee places!

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Ellen Emery

Biography

Ellen received her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont in both Spanish and math and her M.Ed. from Saint Michael’s College. Following her 22 years as a classroom teacher, 10 years working with new teachers, and 27 years training new teachers, Ellen brings an exceptional level of expertise in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to the TAP program. Even after 35 years of instruction, she is passionate about teaching and working with pre-service and novice teachers! Ellen serves on several state and national boards in the service of making schools better for both teachers and students.

What are your hobbies?

Zumba, gardening, reading, scrap booking, furniture refinishing, games, and walking the dog

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Love to walk local bike paths and Fellowship of the Wheel trails, eat sandwiches from Martone’s Market and spend time on Seymour Lake.

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Laura Ennis

Biography

Laura Ennis joined the Financial Aid team at Champlain College in 2021. Laura is the Financial Aid Counselor for the online and graduate students.

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Matt Huwiler

Biography

Matt Huwiler is a seasoned web developer with over two decades of experience at Champlain College, currently serving as a senior-level Web Developer in the Information Systems department. His work spans SSO management, custom reporting, cloud infrastructure, React Native development, and online payment forms.

Matt is also an Adjunct Professor for Champlain College Online, teaching courses in JavaScript, iOS development, web media, and animation. Passionate about online education, he enjoys empowering students with practical skills.

Based in Michigan, Matt remains closely connected to the Champlain community, with aspirations of returning to Vermont. In his free time, he explores emerging technologies like AI and DLTs and enjoys physical fitness, chess, and skiing.

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Joel Lenoir

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Samuel McClernon

Biography

Samuel earned a B.A. in German from Arizona State University in 2016 and a M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the same institution in 2017. Prior to starting at Champlain College Online, Samuel worked as an instructor at ASU, teaching English as a second language to international students in both face-to-face and online contexts. His passion for higher education and the opportunities that it offers led him to the world of academic advising. Having experienced online education from both the student and instructor perspective, he is excited to provide students with the best guidance on their own academic journeys. Outside of work, Samuel enjoys spending time with family and friends, brewing coffee, and growing his vinyl record collection.

What are your hobbies?

Golf, paint by numbers, hiking, coffee, collecting vinyl records

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Visiting the waterfront and Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

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Tracy Mendham

Biography

Tracy is an aspiring instructional designer with a background in higher education teaching, advising, and academic support. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, an MEd in Special Education from Franklin Pierce University, and a BA in Psychology from Smith College. Based in southern New Hampshire, she lives with her partner and their Australian Shepherd, Cache. In her free time, Tracy enjoys gardening and reading.

Hobbies

Gardening and reading

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Brady Mueller

Biography

Brady earned a B.S. in Psychology from SUNY Oneonta and his Master’s degree in Student Affairs & Higher Education from SUNY Plattsburgh. Brady’s path to working in higher education started at SUNY Plattsburgh where he gained experience as a Residence Director and Career Coach. Prior to his start in higher education, Brady worked in both social work and recreation fields. Outside of higher education, Brady enjoys hiking, photography, collecting music, playing guitar, and exploring the Vermont area.

What are your hobbies?

Guitar, hiking, photography, collecting music, and writing songs.

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Some of my favorite spots in VT would be August First for amazing baked goods, getting maple creemees from Shelburne Sugarworks, picking berries at Full Belly Farm, skiing at Sleepy Hollow, and swimming at Bristol Falls.

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Kaelyn Murray

Biography

Kaelyn earned her BS in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont. While working for local education organizations, she earned her Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning from Norwich University as an online student and later returned for her Master’s in Educational Leadership from UVM. Kaelyn transitioned to advising for CCO after teaching part-time at the community college and working to support out of school youth in Chittenden County. Kaelyn is continually inspired by the commitment and persistence that CCO students show as they juggle their own combination of work, life, and learning. She believes education can transform lives and admires her students for taking this exciting step in their academic and professional careers. Kaelyn spends her free time seeking sunshine and fresh air with friends, family, and 4 legged pals.

What are your hobbies?

Walking, hiking, house projects, soccer

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Rock Point is my favorite place in Vermont. Myers bagels are delicious.

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Susan Paquette

Biography

Susan is a Senior Course Producer on the eLearning team in Champlain College Online. She has worked for Champlain College since 2000 and in eLearning since 2016. She earned a BA in Studio Art from the University of Vermont and an AS in Accounting from Champlain College. She worked in the Champlain IS department for over 15 years where she was a Senior IT Analyst before transferring to the eLearning team. She loves music and flower gardening.

What are your hobbies?

Singing in chorus, flower gardening, & baking.

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Richard Pickering

Biography

Dr. Richard Pickering is an Assistant Professor and the Program Director for Technology here at Champlain College Online. Richard has a PhD in Teaching and Learning coupled with an MBA and numerous technology-related certifications.

Prior to Champlain, Dr. Pickering enjoyed a distinguished career blending pedagogical expertise with strategic leadership in program management and product development within the educational business sector.

Dr. Pickering also has held positions as Chief Executive Officer at Virtual High School Global Consortium, Chief Operating Officer at Victory Productions, various Program/Product Manager posts as well as Adjunct Professor appointments.

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