Office and People Directory

Jennifer Supple

Biography

Jennifer Supple has been teaching at Champlain College since 2017. She teaches classes in Environmental Science, Nutrition, and Biology. Jennifer received an M.S. in Ecology/Plant Ecology from the University of Connecticut and an M.S. in Natural Resources/Forest Health from the University of New Hampshire. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Colby College in Maine.

Jennifer’s graduate work analyzed tree ring growth and needle health to help understand the effects of air pollution and climate on white pine trees in New England. She has worked in science curriculum development with a special interest in forest health and global climate change. She is also interested in the impacts of nutrition and environmental problems on human health.

In addition to helping her students expand their knowledge of important biological, health, and environmental topics, Jennifer is committed to helping her students understand the scientific process and appreciate the relevance and impact that science has on their lives and society.

Outside the classroom, Jennifer loves to hike, trail run and ski with family and friends.

Distinctions & Awards

Space Grant Fellow, UNH Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, & Space

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Donna Swartwout

Biography

Donna Swartwout has worked on 7 different college campuses over the past 40 years. She is currently serving at the Interim Director for the Office of Accessibility. Donna has served in a variety of roles including Director of Residential Life at Colgate University, Associate VP for Student Affairs/Dean of Campus Life at Merrimack College. During her 7 years at Champlain College, she has been the Director of Community Standards, and a Wellbeing & Success Coach. At the heart of all her positions, regardless of title, is trying to do what is best for students. Some days have been more successful than others.

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Melyssa Sweet

Biography

Dr. Melyssa Sweet is an adjunct professor at Champlain College, bringing extensive practical experience to her teaching. She holds a Master of Science in Educational Psychology & Methodology, a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology, and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in School Psychology from the University at Albany, SUNY.

Dr. Sweet currently works full-time as a school psychologist in the Burlington School District. Her professional journey also includes roles in teaching, school psychology in various PreK-12 public schools, counseling and case management in a residential treatment center for at-risk youth, and autism evaluation. This diverse background enables Dr. Sweet to provide students with a unique perspective enriched with real-life examples. Her research interests encompass trauma, effective program implementation, and wellness practices. Passionate about teaching psychology at the college level, she emphasizes the subject’s relevance to everyday life and relationships, aiming to empower students with knowledge that enhances their personal and professional lives.

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Rebecca Swem

Biography

Becky earned her BS in English and Psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh and an MST from SUNY Potsdam. After teaching middle school for three years, Becky returned to SUNY Plattsburgh to earn her MS in Higher Education and Student Affairs Counseling. Becky then worked at a university LGBTQ center providing student support, training, and event programming. Joining CCO in 2019, Becky first served as an academic advisor before moving into admissions. She is committed to helping students with their education goals, and providing support. In her free time, Becky enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

What are your hobbies?

Hiking, reading, petting dogs

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Nicholas Szumowski

Biography

Nick lives in Burlington, VT with his wife and two children. He is an aspiring mycologist, audio engineer, and skateboarder.

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Helen Tanona

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Casey Tatro

Biography

Casey is a part time campus public safety officer. He graduated from Champlain College in 2002 and holds a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and A.S. in Computer Networking. He currently is employed full-time as systems coordinator for the federal government.

What are your hobbies?

Volunteer Firefighter, Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding, Hiking, Obstacle Course Racing

Favorite local eateries in Vermont:

Leunig’s Bistro & Cafe and Pizza 44

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Tiffany Taves

Biography

Tiffany has spent 30++ years in the field of education, establishing academic programs, institutional policy, and procedure, designing curriculum, faculty development, and instructing classes. In that time, she has worked to help institutions and organizations understand strategies to continue growth and expansion. She has extensive leadership experience in relationship and team building; hiring professional, sales and technical staff; strategic planning; change management, systems, and policy; implementing budget performance and accountability systems; and creating effective professional development programs.
In her time teaching at the college level, she has had the pleasure of teaching at Quincy College, Massasoit Community College and the Boston Architectural College where she taught Writing 1 (Expository Writing), Writing 2 (Research Writing), Introduction to Literature, American Literature, British Literature, Western Civilization, Shakespeare, and the first-year seminar for entering architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture students. At Champlain College Online, she has taught: CREW I (Writing 1), CREW II (Writing 2), Writing in the Workplace, Introduction to Literature, Shakespeare, Introduction to Fiction, Rhetoric: Using Evidence from Sources, The Writing Process, and Survey of Fiction. She has also been a subject matter expert (SME) for several courses where she created curriculum based on learning objectives, collaborated with other faculty and content administrators to ensure the best implementation of the product, and created engaging and integrative curricula or assessment to keep students engaged and improve student outcomes.

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Monique Taylor

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Ashley Taylor

Biography

Ashley graduated from Champlain College in 2024 with a degree in Business Administration and concentration in Human Resource Management. As a Human Resource Generalist, Ashley supports the Champlain community through various responsibilities, including student employment, recognition programs, and orientation and onboarding processes. Ashley also manages immigration matters and communications to ensure a seamless experience for our staff and students. With a commitment to promoting employee engagement and development, Ashley strives to create a supportive and inclusive culture. Ashley is dedicated to helping individuals thrive within our organization while aligning HR strategies with Champlain’s overarching goals.

Hobbies

Mountain biking, skiing, backcountry skiing, hiking, baking, and cooking.

Favorite Things to do in Vermont

Traveling across VT in search of all the great skiing and mountain biking networks in Vermont.

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MaryEllen Tedesco

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Tina Tenney

Biography

Tina is an experienced HR Business Partner with more than 25 years of diverse experience in human resources across a range of industries, including higher education, financial services, software development, and consumer goods.

As an HR Business Partner, Tina serves as a strategic advisor, aligning human resources strategies with overall business objectives in the areas of talent acquisition, professional development, performance management, employee relations and workplace best practice.

Tina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Johnson State College and earned professional certification as a SHRM-CP. Her dedication to fostering a positive work environment, building strong teams, and aligning HR strategies with business objectives has earned her a reputation as a trusted partner and leader in the organizations she serves.

Tina calls South Burlington home, where she lives with her husband, Shawn. Together they’ve raised two grown children who are now off on their own adventures. Passionate about exploring new places, Tina has traveled to destinations like Peru, France, Spain, Portugal, Jamaica, and Scotland. When she’s not traveling, she enjoys gardening, cooking, watercolor painting, and making memories with family and friends.

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Vikas Thammanna Gowda

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Morgan Thibodeau

Biography

Morgan is a graphic designer and illustrator who thrives on creating meaningful, impactful designs. As an alum, they’re excited to contribute to the creative community that helped shape their journey.

With a BFA in Graphic Design & Visual Communication, Morgan has gained experience working on a variety of design projects, including branding, marketing materials, and educational content. They enjoy finding creative solutions that communicate ideas in ways that feel fresh and accessible, while staying true to the brand or message being conveyed.

In their role at Champlain College, Morgan looks forward to supporting the college’s visual identity, collaborating with colleagues across departments, and bringing their creative vision to a wide range of design projects. They are always excited to take on new challenges and continue growing as a designer in an environment that fosters creativity and innovation.

When not designing, Morgan enjoys being in nature—whether kayaking, hiking, or camping—and is always keeping an eye out for new ways to stay inspired, connect with others, and keep learning.

Hobbies

Printmaking, kayaking, hammocking, and reading!

Favorite Local Eateries

My favorite local eateries are Sneaker’s Bistro, Daily Planet, Bluebird Barbecue, and Leunig’s Petit Bijou (the truffle fries, specifically)!

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Trellany ThomasEvans

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