With summer session in full swing, a new pace has settled in across campus, and I’m finding time to reflect on a fantastic spring semester. I want to express my immense gratitude for the students, faculty, and staff who supported and encouraged me through my first year as Interim Dean of the Rubenstein School. We welcomed our largest first-year class to date—a wonderful opportunity to expand our impact as a School working to create a just and sustainable future.

This past semester was full of exciting activities and accomplishments throughout the Rubenstein School, many of which are highlighted below and on our website. I hope you will read on and join me in celebrating all of the great work taking place at UVM!

Lastly, don't miss our save the date announcement at the end of this newsletter for an exciting weekend on campus this fall. From September 29 to October 1, we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the School of Natural Resources (now the Rubenstein School) at UVM! 

Allan Strong, Interim Dean and Professor

On May 21, 2023, more than 150 Rubenstein School students received their Bachelor of Science degrees. Joined by their families and friends, the graduates gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and hear inspirational words from their faculty, Dean, and guest speaker—Rubenstein School alumna Nathaly Agosto Filión.

Jonah Stern ’23 enriched his Environmental Sciences major with place-based educational and outdoor experiences. Jonah earned the UVM F.T. Kidder Medal for his extraordinary campus leadership. He brought students together through community-building experiences.

Dr. Bill Keeton, Professor of forestry in the Rubenstein School and UVM Gund Institute for Environment Fellow, has spent decades studying old forests in New England and around the world. In recent years, he’s worked with partners in several European countries to better understand and map the remaining tracts of old forest there.

Casey Cullen-Woods ’11 earned a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the Rubenstein School and chose to concentrate her major in ecological design. Through coursework and real-world experiences, she forged a path into the field of building, construction, and corporate sustainability. She now leads sustainable design and operations in the real estate division of Barclays International, the British multinational bank and investment firm.

A study co-authored by Rubenstein School Assistant Professor Dr. Mindy Morales-Williams and Rubenstein School PhD candidate Katelynn Warner, documents cold-water cyanobacterial blooms and factors that influence development. 

In 1972, UVM created the Environmental Program, aimed at creating a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to teaching about the environment that involved colleges and researchers across the university. The program celebrated its 50th anniversary at a ceremony on April 21 at Ira Allen Chapel. Environmental Program Director Dr. Brendan Fisher opened the presentation with an overview of the past half-century of accomplishments for the program, describing the growth in student interest, research, scholarship, and engagement.