Staff

Liz Gillis

Staff Member	Study Abroad for Current Students
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Fun Fact About Me	I love Disney and Wonder Woman and Jaws is my favourite film
Contact	Remote

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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Andrea Gunther

Staff Member	Office of Finance & Administration
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Vermont
Contact	Miller Center at Lakeside

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Matt Hagberg

Staff Member	Office of Institutional Advancement
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Contact	Miller Center at Lakeside

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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Skip Harris

Staff Member	Counseling Center
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Education	Southern New Hampshire University, Master of Science; Johnson State College, Bachelor of Science
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Home State	Woodstock, VT
Contact	Whiting Hall

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

Staff Member	Office of Housing & Residential Life
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Home State	North Carolina
Contact	Skiff Hall

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

Staff Member	Student Affairs, Diversity & Inclusion  Student Health Center
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Education	Johns Hopkins University, Master of Science in Nursing & Public Health; Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Arts; University of Vermont,
Home State	Vermont
Contact	Whiting Hall (Medical Center Portion)

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

Staff Member	Office of the President
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Areas of Expertise	Entrepreneurship Education Innovation
Contact	Freeman Hall, Room 300

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

Staff Member	Career Collaborative
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Contact	Perry Hall Schedule an Appointment

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Carrie Houlihan

Staff Member	Office of Marketing
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Home State	Vermont
Contact	Remote

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

Staff Member	Office of Institutional Research & Assessment
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Education	Champlain College, Master of Business Administration; Champlain College, Bachelor of Science
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Home State	Peru
Fun Fact About Me	My secret dream is to have a homestead and raise alpacas, ducks, chickens, grow vegetables and wild flowers and just live off the land!
Contact	Joyce Hall

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

Faculty Member	Champlain College Online
Staff Member	Champlain College Online  Information Systems
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Education	Champlain College, Bachelor of Science; Champlain College, Associate in Science
Connect Online	Facebook X Personal Website
Contact	*Remote Email Me

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

Staff Member	Student Accounts
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Education	Champlain College, Bachelor of Science Business Administration; University of Vermont,
Connect Online	LinkedIn YouTube
Contact	Perry Hall

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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Danni Johnson

Staff Member	Office of Marketing
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Education	Champlain College, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Connect Online	LinkedIn Personal Website
Home State	Pennsylvania
Fun Fact About Me	I'm writing a novel!
Contact	Remote

Biography

Danni is a creative writer, editor, and digital designer who graduated from Champlain College with a BFA in Creative Media as Summa Cum Laude. She was born in Honesdale Pennsylvania and grew up in a small town of 1800 people before moving to California with her husband Sam and two cats, Wonton and Nori.

Her journey in storytelling equipped her with a passion for crafting compelling and meaningful narratives worthy of remembering. She nurtured a keen understanding of the profound impact storytelling can have and is driven by a passion for creating stories that forge lasting connections and evoke emotions. While studying, Danni worked as a student worker for the Marketing Department at Champlain and the Miller Information Commons Library, and continued contracting for her alma mater after graduating before accepting a position as an Assistant Content Producer at Champlain. She specializes in CMS, web design, web administration, writing and editing, and digital content.

She enjoys crocheting, playing narrative-driven games, listening to music, and sipping the occasional hot cup of tea from her vast collection of teapots.

Distinctions & Awards

2022 Champlain College – “William J. Everts Jr. Wild and Outside Award”

2022 Champlain College – Division of Communication and Creative Media “Excel Award”

Publications & Abstracts

Darkfire Chronicles Podcast

Apples – 2019, Wingless Dreamer Poetry Anthology

Attack – 2021, Willard & Maple

Blackjack – 2021, Willard & Maple

Snowman – 2021, The Haunted Horrorstorian

Postage – 2021, The Haunted Horrorstorian

It’s Just an Actor – 2021, The Haunted Horrorstorian

 

 

What are your hobbies?

Reading & writing, listening to music, skiing, crocheting, playing video games, and 3D printing/painting.

Favorite Local Eateries

Dobra Tea, Gaku Ramen, and Three Needs on Church Street!

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Samantha Kassel

Staff Member	Office of Admissions
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Home State	Vermont
Contact	Perry Hall Welcome Center

Biography

Sami joined Champlain College in the fall of 2022. She earned a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Boston University and spent many years traveling the world. A Vermont native, Sami has lived in Boston, Alaska, Hawaii, and San Diego, but is happy to be calling the Burlington area home once again. She enjoys spending her time skiing, hiking, reading, pet-sitting, and watching reality TV.

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Skinny Pancake, Cucina Antica in Shelburne, Barrio Bakery

Favorite Champlain tradition:

Apple Picking

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Jennifer Kennelly

Staff Member	Office of Finance & Administration
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Contact	Miller Center at Lakeside

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