Danielle L'Esperance

Staff Member	Compass Student Services
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Education	University of Vermont, Master of Education; University of Vermont, Master of Education; University of Vermont, Bachelor of Science; University of Vermont, Bachelor of Science in Education
Home State	Vermont
Fun Fact About Me	After spending eight hours in the car with me, my uncle said to my dad "wow, Danielle is really smart." I hope you get that impression interacting with me, but in less time. Efficiency is key!
Contact	Perry Hall Welcome Center

Biography

Danielle has been the Compass Student Services Manager since 2019. She has her M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Vermont (2012). Danielle also has extensive experience in the Hospitality industry. She loves her job because it combines her knowledge of Customer Service with her passion for Higher Education.

Danielle is a native Vermonter and a first-generation college student. During her personal time, she can be found meandering along nature trails with Levi, her small but mighty four-legged companion. She also enjoys Fantasy and Science Fiction novels, baking treats for family and colleagues, & traveling to new and exciting places.

What are your hobbies?

Baking, Hiking, Reading & Traveling

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Summer outdoor concert series (Williston, South Hero, SoBu), Kountry Kart Deli, Folino’s, Cafe Dim Sum

Meet Danielle

More Staff in Compass Student Services

Kathleen Ehlers

Vice President Enrollment Strategy & Marketing

Compass Student Services, Office of Admissions, Office of Financial Aid, Office of Marketing and Office of Veteran & Military Services

Nathaniel Orvis

Compass Student Service Representative

Compass Student Services

Kathleen Ehlers

Vice President Enrollment Strategy & Marketing

Staff Member	Compass Student Services Office of Admissions Office of Financial Aid Office of Marketing Office of Veteran & Military Services
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Home State	Massachusetts
Contact	Perry Hall

Biography

Kathleen A. Ehlers is a high-impact, results-driven senior college management professional with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Renowned for her innovative thinking and commitment to enhancing educational opportunities, Kathleen excels in identifying and leveraging untapped opportunities to improve services, streamline operations, and reduce costs without compromising academic quality. She combines business acumen with a deep devotion to education, ensuring responsible budget management, effective policy establishment, and compliance with legal mandates.

Kathleen has a proven track record of driving significant improvements in key performance metrics. Under her leadership, admissions applications increased by 169%, and total traffic grew by 141% over one academic year. She developed and implemented a highly effective admissions team, introduced cutting-edge lead management tools, and launched successful digital advertising campaigns, achieving click-through rates of 15.75% and conversion rates of 6.32%. Her strategic initiatives have consistently exceeded enrollment and registration goals, securing substantial grants and deepening community partnerships.

Throughout her career, Kathleen has demonstrated exceptional strategic leadership in traditional, online, graduate, and professional studies, resulting in notable enrollment growth. She successfully reduced operational expenses by $500K through strategic evaluations and implemented new intake sessions to expand enrollment opportunities. Kathleen’s efforts have consistently led to increased retention rates, higher student satisfaction, and remarkable revenue growth.

Kathleen’s relentless dedication to education and strategic leadership have driven consistent success in her career. She remains a transformative force in higher education, championing diversity and inclusion while improving processes and outcomes for students and institutions alike.

What are your hobbies?

Travel, read, spend time with family, Rotary member and community advocate.

Nathaniel Orvis

Compass Student Service Representative

Staff Member	Compass Student Services
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Home State	Vermont
Fun Fact About Me	Can mess up a spreadsheet just by looking at it.
Contact	Perry Hall Welcome Center

Biography

Nathaniel Orvis was born in Lincoln, VT. He grew up in Middlebury, VT, and attended Middlebury Union High School. Nathaniel currently lives in Middlebury with his beautiful 2 dogs and 3 cats. His favorite season in VT is Fall. Fall is a sign of change; the seasons are changing, children are starting school, but most importantly there are a lot of fall festivals. Nathaniel enjoys festivals and concerts, but Country music is his choice although he listens to a little bit of everything. In March of 2022, he came to Champlain to work and loves his job. When he’s not busy working, he enjoys traveling the United States and is particularly fond of California.

What are your hobbies?

Walking and Geocaching

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Fire and Ice

Walking the Robert Frost Trail

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