Office and People Directory

Brianna Newman

Biography

Brianna Newman is a Champlain College alumna, having received her BS in Communications in 2021. As a believer in the power of stories and community, she is passionate about sharing and celebrating the Champlain experience to further the college’s mission. She loves being able to create connections and engage with parents, alumni, and friends in the Champlain community.

What are your hobbies?

Musical theatre, dancing, crafting

Tell us about your favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Painting by the waterfront

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Jennifer Nicholls

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Matthew Nicoletta

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Chris North

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Corinne Novetti

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Kelsey O’Connor

Biography

Kelsey O’Connor currently serves as the Director of Residential Life & Student Engagement at Champlain College. A 2014 Champlain graduate with a BS in Event Management, Kelsey has dedicated her career to enhancing the student experience at her alma mater, where she has worked since 2015. Throughout her time at Champlain, she has held multiple roles, from Associate Director of Student Engagement to Area Coordinator, gaining a broad perspective on student activities and residential life. She also holds a Master of Science in Executive Leadership from Champlain College Online.

Originally from Bedford, Massachusetts, Kelsey moved to Vermont to attend Champlain and fell in love with the state’s vibrant community. Outside of work, she enjoys kayaking and spending time with her two golden retrievers, Maple and Frankie.

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April O’Dell

Biography

April O’Dell, CPA, is the Chief Financial and Business Officer at Champlain College, bringing over 12 years of experience in financial leadership within complex operational environments. With expertise spanning financial reporting, budgeting, internal control frameworks, and federal compliance, April has a proven ability to strengthen organizational productivity through transparent communication, collaboration, and holistic problem-solving.

During her time with Champlain, April has overseen initiatives such as an initial public rating with Standard & Poor’s and the issuance of bonds in public markets, reflecting her commitment to innovative financial stewardship. Additionally, her leadership has driven multiple system integrations to enhance efficiency and transparency across financial operations.

April began her career in public accounting at KPMG, LLP, advancing to Audit Manager, where she developed expertise in risk assessment, compliance, and client relationship management. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Vermont, graduating cum laude with recognition in accounting.

April is committed to fostering financial resilience in higher education and is known for her holistic thinking, collaborative leadership, and dedication to strengthening institutional outcomes.

Hobbies

Traveling, reading and watching my children play sports

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Connor O’Brien

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Nathaniel Orvis

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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Roland Palmer

Biography

Roland is an alumnus of Champlain College (Class of 1990) and is a native Vermonter who currently resides in Brookfield, Vermont (home of the floating bridge). Roland started at Champlain College in August 2006.

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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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Paige Paradise

Biography

Paige Paradise is a higher education leader with a strong foundation in strategic marketing, inclusive programming, and academic operations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Marketing and a Master of Business Administration in General Management from Plymouth State University.

Paige currently serves as the Academic Operations Manager for the Stiller School of Business and the Game Studio at Champlain College, where she oversees faculty onboarding, event coordination, and cross-functional support to ensure smooth academic delivery and student engagement. Her work bridges strategic planning with creative execution, supporting both business and game development programs in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

Before joining Champlain, Paige held multiple DEI leadership roles at Plymouth State University, where she helped co-found the IDEA Center (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access)—a campus hub for equity-driven programming, student support, and institutional change. As Assistant Director, she led initiatives to foster belonging, mentored underserved student populations, and facilitated over a dozen workshops on topics ranging from antiracism to interfaith dialogue. Paige also taught credit-bearing and professional development courses focused on social justice and inclusive leadership, blending theory with real-world application to empower learners at every level.

Paige is known for her collaborative spirit, operational savvy, and commitment to building inclusive, student-centered environments. She has chaired university councils, contributed to statewide DEI committees, and continues to advocate for equity and excellence in higher education.

Hobbies

Reading, Gardening/Floristry, Crafts

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Tami Patnode

Hobbies

Skiing, Biking, Hiking and anything outdoors

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Jen Perlee

Biography

Jen moved to Vermont in 1992 and has never looked back. She joined Champlain in 1994 and has never left. While always being on the Information Systems team she has done just about every job there is in IS. Currently she is our Sr. Salesforce Administrator and enjoys helping make our staff jobs easier which in turns helps our students succeed.

What are your hobbies?

Anything outdoors especially hiking, travelling, golf, finding the best maple creemees and volunteering.

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

So many great farm to table restaurants and breweries in VT. I love to travel all over our beautiful state trying them all.

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Adrienne Phillips Luhr

Biography

Adrienne is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and has worked in the Champlain College Counseling Center since 2017. Her professional interests include identity exploration and concerns, family of origin issues, interpersonal relationship issues, emotional awareness and education, trauma, anxiety and depression. Her professional training and approach is trauma-informed, drawing on attachment, emotion-focused/somatic based therapies and mindfulness strategies. She enjoys helping people examine their personal values, affirming their resilience and inner strengths. She works collaboratively with her students to explore how systems of oppression, power differentials and social location impact mental health and wellbeing. She strives to establish safe and supportive therapeutic relationships based in humility, curiosity and compassion.

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