Staff

Liz Gillis

Biography

Historian Liz Gillis is from the Liberties in Dublin. She is Student Life Manager at Champlain College Dublin and teaches the Irish History class. She is the author of six books about the Irish Revolution and has worked as a researcher/contributor on numerous publications, television and radio documentaries covering the Irish revolutionary period.

Liz was the Historian in Residence for South Dublin County Council for the Decade of Centenaries and worked as a Researcher for the History Show on RTE Radio. She was a Historical Consultant for the new Custom House Visitor Centre and was a Curatorial Assistant in RTE, specializing in researching the Easter Rising and a tour guide for many years in Kilmainham Gaol.

In 2018 Liz was a recipient of the Lord Mayor’s Award for her contribution to history.

Hobbies

History and going to Theme Parks

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Raelyn Gladstone

Biography

Raelyn is passionate about working closely with students to ensure that all their needs are met when they come through the doors of Champlain College. Understanding how students define their own success and providing them with the tools they need to achieve their goals is part of the job she really enjoys. She also works hard to ensure that all students learn what self-advocacy looks like for them. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Sociology, and she also pursued a minor in Special Education. Staying in the Burlington, VT area was a no-brainer because of all the opportunities for growth and development, both personally and professionally. Before coming to Champlain College in 2023, she had worked with students of all ages. From preschoolers to college students, her experience working with students is comprehensive. The desire to work with students utilizing the services of the Office of Accessibility came from the knowledge that education is not always accessible to students, and she wants to make that less of a reality for our students.

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Marla Goldstein

Biography

Quite a few years ago, Marla was a reference department assistant in high school until she graduated and left home for college. She has always appreciated the wonder, resourcefulness, and peaceful environment of a library, and was thrilled when a part time position opened at MIC. Outside of the library you can find Marla walking down by the lake and talking on the phone with her long distance friends, using her air fryer, and watching niche YouTube videos of international homesteading, gardening, and off-grid living.

What are your hobbies?

Experimental/maximalist fashion, closet organizing, swimming in rivers with flippers and goggles, playing Koosh with my best friend Sarah, talking on the phone, listening to gossip podcasts, painting decorative birdhouses and stretching

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

Pho Hong, Namaste Garden in Essex, Athens Diner, and A Single Pebble.

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Andrea Gunther

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Matt Hagberg

Biography

Matt is the Gifts Administration Specialist within Champlain College’s Advancement team. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 2021, majoring in Psychological Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. His previous experience with donors and gifts began with his role as Operations & Outreach Coordinator at Pride Center of Vermont, before starting his current role at Champlain in 2025.

Hobbies

Record collecting, reading, and snuggling with my cat, Grimmel

Favorite Local Eateries

BKK in the Alley has the best ga pow in Burlington!

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Heather Hanson

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Skip Harris

Biography

Skip Harris is the director of the Champlain College Counseling Center. Skip is a compassionate professional with a wealth of experience in counseling and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by college students. Skip is dedicated to promoting mental health and fostering a supportive environment for the campus community. Skip has been at Champlain College for 14 years and has overseen the Counseling Center for the past 10 years. Skip works closely with a team of gifted clinicians, ensuring the highest quality of care is provided to address a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, academic stress, and relationship concerns to name a few. In his spare time Skip enjoys spending time with his family, running, cycling and coaching his daughters high school lacrosse team.

What are your hobbies?

Spending time with my family, Running, cycling, hiking, Skiing hanging out on the lake, cooking, eating, coaching high school woman’s lacrosse

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Splash on the dock by boat, JCAT, farmhouse, Halverson’s. Summer I try to spend time on the lake with family and friends or other fun river swimming holes. Nordic and Alpine skiing in the winter. Love hiking in the fall and coaching lacrosse in the spring

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Zachary Harrison

Biography

Zach Harrison currently serves as the Associate Director for Housing Operations at Champlain College. He has a Bachelors Degree from East Carolina and a Masters Degree from Eastern Michigan University. In his role as Associate Director, Zach oversees all housing systems and processes. Some of these processes include housing selection, room changes, damage billing, housing transition, new student housing assignments, etc.

Hobbies

Working out at the Champlain College Fitness Center, playing video games, and cooking

Favorite Local Eateries

Al’s French Fry, Kru Coffee Collective, and Casa Grande

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Annika Hawkins-Hilke

Biography

Annika Hawkins-Hilke is a per diem Nurse Practitioner at the Student Health Center. Prior to this role, she served as the Assistant Vice President of Student Health & Wellbeing and Medical Director. Annika is a trained Family Nurse Practitioner and her background includes additional training and years of experience in mental health and psychiatry. Annika is passionate about building community and supporting our students as they explore the relationship between their personal wellbeing, academic success, and life goals. Annika finds joy in exploring the mountains and lakes of Vermont with her family in all seasons, gardening in her backyard, and sourdough bread toasted with butter.

What are your hobbies?

Skiing, camping, boating! Reading, cooking, gardening!

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

I love to go for runs in the Intervale, swim in Lake Champlain and swimming holes in rivers around the state, and ski our mountains in the winter. Vermont honey crisp apples and maple syrup make my heart sing!

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Alex Hernandez

Biography

Alejandro (“Alex”) Hernandez was born to a family of public educators in Stockton, CA. His parents journeyed from Mexico and the Philippines, and, at each step of the way, education brought opportunity-through skilled trades, nursing certificates, education credentials and degrees. These experiences shaped Alex’s belief that career-focused education can change lives and help communities thrive.

Hernandez comes to Champlain College from the University of Virginia, where he served as the Dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) and Vice Provost of Online Learning. At UVA, Hernandez championed access, affordability, and opportunity through its bachelor’s completion, professional certificate, and graduate programs. Alex helped SCPS enroll its largest undergraduate class in school history, launch its first master’s degree, and pursue a strategy that combined in-demand digital skills with the human skills needed for long-term career success. He also taught undergraduate courses in entrepreneurship (SCPS) and education innovation (School of Education and Human Development).

Before joining UVA, Hernandez worked for the Charter School Growth Fund, a national education foundation, where he built the nonprofit’s Innovative Schools practice, one of the largest efforts in the country focused on personalized learning and career readiness. Hernandez began his education career teaching high school mathematics in South Los Angeles. He later became an administrator for Portland Public Schools in Oregon and then an area superintendent for Aspire Public Schools in California. Prior to entering the field of education, he worked at Steamboat Ventures, Disney’s venture capital arm, and at J.P. Morgan. Hernandez has an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA from Claremont McKenna College. He is a moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a Pahara Institute fellow.

Alex is married to Michelle Moore Hernandez and is the proud father of twin boys, Akari and Mekhi.

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Connor Holtkamp

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Carrie Houlihan

Biography

Carrie brings over a decade of experience managing graphic design teams and projects for print, events, and online products. Carrie’s background includes everything from brand identity to large-scale production.

Hobbies

Anything art-related!

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Jimena Huaco

Biography

Jimena is a member of the Institutional Research team at Champlain under the Provost Office. Jimena provides analysis for institutional metrics and data reporting. She’s been part of the Champlain family since 2008 when she joined as an undergraduate student. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she later became a Financial Sophistication Specialist educating Champlain students on personal finance topics. Before joining the IR team, Jimena managed Champlain’s extracurricular career education program called InSight. During this time, she discovered her passion for data, and data-driven decision-making. She completed her MBA from Champlain College in 2018, and in 2024 she completed a graduate certificate in Data Science.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy mountain biking and gardening. In winter, I like to winter hike or to pick up a new craft.

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

My new favorite local spots are the Mini Factory in downtown Bristol, and lulu’s ice cream in Vergennes.

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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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Chikomborero Jeso

Biography

Chikomborero (Chiko) Jeso graduated from Champlain College in December of 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration; Chiko continued his education at Champlain College, and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity in May of 2024. During his time at Champlain he has also worked as a Data Intern, Course Producer, and Senior Enrollment Operations Coordinator.

He really likes making processes more efficient and solving problems, and he also found joy in working with numbers in Excel and Google Sheets.

In his free time Chiko reads cybersecurity articles, watches videos about cybersecurity and computer hardware, and continues to learn about different business topics online. Chiko also loves making music, and he enjoys watching comedy and action movies. He may also watch a rom-com once in a while, don’t tell anyone.

Hobbies

Making music, cooking, fixing computer and network settings, thinking about cybersecurity, the economy, and the state of the world, making jokes that are definitely funny

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