Record of service
Fifty-plus years
A life of service to Vermont.
Three branches of government. One state. The same set of people, showing up year after year, challenge after challenge.
1970s
Educator & Alderman
Guidance Director, administrator, and teacher at Mt. St. Joseph Academy. Rutland City Board of Aldermen. Rutland Corrections volunteer. Justice of the Peace.
1980s
Principal & Senator
Principal at Barstow Memorial School in Chittenden. Elected Rutland County State Senator, serving 1988–1992. Vermont State Colleges Board.
1990s
Public service in three branches
Director, Vermont LEAD Project. Chief of Policy, Vermont Governor’s Office. Principal of Rutland High School. Assistant Superintendent, then Superintendent of Rutland City Schools. Service on VSAC, UVM, RAVNAH, Rutland Mental Health, and Rutland Economic Development boards.
2000 – 2001
Commissioner of Education, State of Vermont
Appointed to lead the State’s education department, working across districts and the legislature on policy.
2001 – 2017
President, Castleton University
Sixteen years as president — the longest tenure in the institution’s history. Concurrent service on the Weston Playhouse, Make-A-Wish, Factory Point National Bank, and Vermont Business Roundtable boards.
2010s
Civic boards & healthcare
Board of Rutland Regional Medical Center, alongside the second half of the Castleton presidency.
2019 – 2020
Interim Superintendent, Rutland City Schools
Asked to steady the district during a one year leadership transition, 25 years after the first stint as Superintendent, at the outset of COVID.
2023 – 2026
Rutland County Assistant Judge
Elected in November 2022 as an Independent. Sat alongside Vermont families in civil and family court. Resigned February 2, 2026 as required by judicial rule to run for Senate.
2024
Castleton Athletic Hall of Fame
Inducted in September 2024.
2025
VT Schools Task Force
Appointed by Governor Phil Scott to the State’s school-district redistricting task force.
2025
Castleton University President Emeritus
Conferred by the Vermont State Colleges System Board of Trustees.
Recognition
A few honors along the way.
A selective handful — recognition from across education, government, and the Rutland community. Not a full list.
- 1988Vermont Principal of the YearVermont Headmasters Association
- 1989Vermont Legislator of the YearVermont League of Cities and Towns
- 1991Citizen of the YearVermont Police Chiefs Association
- 1995Doctor of Humane Letters, honorary degreeFranklin Pierce College
- 2006Distinguished American AwardNational Football Foundation Hall of Fame
- 2008Business Person of the YearRutland Region Chamber of Commerce
- 2012Doctor of Letters, honorary degreeMiddlebury College
Elected to the Vermont Senate in 1988. Running again in 2026.