Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees
Members
M. Jerome "Jerry" Diamond (2/28/2019)
Eileen "Lynn" Dickinson (2/28/16)
Michelle Fairbrother (2/28/15)
Kraig Hannum (2/28/17)
Tim Jerman, Vice-Chair of the Board (2/28/14)
Bill Lippert, Jr. (2/18/16)
Karen Luneau (2/28/17)
Chris Macfarlane (2/28/2019)
Jim Masland (2/28/14)
Linda Milne, Chair, Audit Committee (2/28/15)
Gary W. Moore, Chairman of the Board (2/28/15)
Martha O'Connor, Chair, Finance & Facilities Committee (2/28/17)
Heidi Pelletier, Secretary and Treasurer of the Board; Chair, EPSL Committee (2/28/13)
Nick Russo (6/30/13)
Governor Peter Shumlin (ex officio)
Board Committees
Finance & Facilities
Martha O'Connor (Chair), Michelle Fairbrother, Tim Jerman, Linda Milne
Education, Personnel & Student Life
Heidi Pelletier (Chair), Karen Luneau (Vice-Chair), Lynn Dickinson, Kraig Hannum, Bill Lippert, Jim Masland, Nick Russo
Priorities
Gary Moore (Chair), Linda Milne, Martha O'Connor, Heidi Pelletier
Audit
Linda Milne (Chair), Michelle Fairbrother, Tim Jerman, Karen Luneau, Martha O'Connor
Board Member Biographies
M. Jerome Diamond
Jerry Diamond served as the Attorney General of Vermont for three terms (1975-1981), won the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1980, and has served as the President of the National Association of Attorneys General.
Jerry founded the law firm Diamond & Robinson in 1981, successfully representing both businesses and individuals in the areas of family law, personal injury, utility law, commercial and employment law, and consumer fraud. Widely respected in the legal profession, he shifted his focus in 1997 to his strong relationships with state Attorneys General across the country, working closely with multi-national corporations and state officials to develop strategies that resolve issues and avoid litigation.
Jerry oversees the Diamond & Robinson team as a senior advisor. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vermont State Employees Credit Union, is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Vermont Law School, and is a member of the District 5 commission of the Vermont Natural Resources Board, considering development requests in the State of Vermont. In his free time, he enjoys fishing and spending time with his wife and grandchildren.
Lynn Dickinson is a Representative of the Vermont General Assembly and became a resident of St. Albans in 1973. She was educated at John F. Kennedy High School in Katonah, New York and received her B.A. in Chemistry at Manhattanville College, Purchase, New York. Ms. Dickinson is the Business Manager at Dickinson & Branon Dental Care. She is married to Richard A. Dickinson, DDS, and they have two girls and one son. She and her husband own a farm in St. Albans Town.
Ms. Dickinson has been a member of numerous organizations over the past 38 years, including: the Advisory Board, CCV in Franklin County; Franklin-Grand Isle Mental Health Agency; St. Mary’s Parish Council, Chair - Education Committee; Incorporator of Northwestern Medical Center; Board of Trustees, Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans, Chair for 4 years; School Director, Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans UHS District 48; Public Oversight Committee that made recommendations to the Commissioner of BISHCA.
Ms. Dickinson was elected to the VSC Board of Trustees in February. She is a member of the Education, Personnel and Student Life Committee.
Michelle Fairbrother
Michelle Fairbrother is a Vice President/Vermont Regional Manager for Berkshire Bank in Rutland, Vermont. She joined Berkshire Bank in 2007 and has been in the financial industry since 1999. Ms. Fairbrother holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology; and Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Education from the University at Buffalo; and a Master of Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism, Service Management from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.
Ms. Fairbrother is a board member of the Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice; a board member of the United Way of Rutland County; an advisory board member for Rochester Institute of Technology, School of Hospitality and Tourism; and a committee member of the Rutland City Financial Advisory Board. She resides in Rutland, Vermont after moving here from Western New York in 2002.
Ms. Fairbrother has been on the VSC Board of Trustees since 2009. She is a member of the Finance and Facilities Committee and the Audit Committee.
Kraig Hannum
Kraig Hannum is a teacher at Manchester Elementary/Middle School in Manchester Center and a teacher consultant for the Vermont Geographic Alliance. He received his B.A. in Political Science at the State University of New York, College at Oswego and a Master of Arts in Education at Castleton State College.
Mr. Hannum has been a member of the VSC Board of Trustees since 2011. He is a member of the Education, Personnel and Student Life Committee.
Tim Jerman
Tim Jerman is a Representative of the Vermont General Assembly and became a resident of Essex Junction in 1982. He was educated at Stamford High School, Stamford, Connecticut, received his B.A. in Political Science at the University of Connecticut and an M.Ed at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Jerman retired from VSAC in 2008, where he held the position of Director of Human Resources. He is married with two grown daughters and a stepson.
Mr. Jerman is a member of the Judicial Nominating board; an elected Justice of the Peace and Board of Civil Authority member; co-president of his local historical society and a Board member of the Vermont Historical Society. He currently serves on the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee.
Mr. Jerman was elected to the VSC Board of Trustees in 2010. He is a member of the Education, Personnel and Student Life Committee and the Audit Committee.
Bill Lippert, Jr.
Bill Lippert is a Representative of the Vermont General Assembly and is a resident of Hinesburg. He was educated at Williamsport High School, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, received a B.A. in History at Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, a M.A. in Counseling Psychology at Antioch University New England, Keene, New Hampshire, and attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University - Senior Executives in State & Local Government. Mr. Lippert was employed for over twenty years by the Counseling Service of Addison County, serving as executive director from 1984-1996. In 1992 he founded the Samara Foundation of Vermont, where he was employed from 1997- 2007. Mr Lippert married his partner of 21 years, Enrique S. Peredo, Jr., in 2009.
Mr. Lippert was elected to the VSC Board of Trustees in February. He is a member of the Education, Personnel and Student Life Committee.
Karen Luneau
Karen Handy Luneau is co-owner of Handy Toyota and Handy Chevrolet in St. Albans. She is a former high school teacher. She currently serves on the Franklin County Workforce Investment Board and has extensive service on community boards as past chair of the Bellows Free Academy Trustees, Franklin Central Supervisory Union Board, St. Albans City School Board, St Albans City Zoning Board and St. Albans City Community Development Board. She is also a past member of the St. Albans City Board of Civil Authority and has been a religious education instructor at St. Mary's in St. Albans.
Ms. Luneau is a Franklin County native who graduated from St. Anne Academy in Swanton. She graduated from Albertus Magnus College in 1972 with a B.A. in History and has done post graduate work at St. Michael's College and UVM. She lives in St. Albans with her husband Daniel. She is the mother of three grown sons, Joseph, Peter and Adam and a grandmother of two.
Ms. Luneau has been a member of the VSC Board of Trustees since 2005. She is the vice-chair of the Education, Personnel and Student Life Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.
Chris Macfarlane
Chris Macfarlane was born and raised in Vermont and has spent 99% of his adult life in the state. He has lived in the Village of Essex Junction for the last 15 years. He has three daughters. Chris is employed by Hood Distribution, a privately owned distribution company specializing in building materials and finished lumber located in Milton, Vermont. He has been managing the facility since 1996.
Jim Masland
Jim Masland is a Representative of the Vermont General Assembly and became a resident of Thetford Center in 1979. He was educated at Hanover Elementary, Hanover, New Hampshire and the Williston Academy, Easthampton, Massachusetts and received his B.S. and M.S. at Stanford University, Palo Alto, California. Mr. Masland is currently a work-based learning consultant and builder. He is married to the former Suzanne M. Sheldon, and they have five daughters and two sons.
Mr. Masland is a Site Supervisor of the Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity. He is a member of the Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Planning Commission, the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation, and the Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste District. He is the past president of the George D. Aiken Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, and past chair of the Thetford Select Board. He is a graduate of the Vermont Institute at the Snelling Center for Government.
Mr. Masland was elected to the VSC Board of Trustees in 2010. He is a member of the Finance and Facilities Committee.
Linda Milne
Linda Milne is a Certified Public Accountant who provides assistance to other CPA firms and businesses for audits and special projects. She is a member of the Vermont Society of Certified Public Accountants and the AICPA. A resident of Montpelier, she is an active member of the Rotary Club of Montpelier. Ms. Milne received her B.A. from Dickinson College (1978) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She is married to George Milne.
Ms. Milne has been a member of the VSC Board of Trustees since 2004. She is Chair of the Audit Committee, a member of the Finance and Facilities Committee and the Priorities Committee.
Gary W. Moore
Gary Moore is president of the consulting firm Gary W. Moore Associates. He teaches Weapons of Mass Destruction Incident Management around the U.S. for TEEX, a division of the Texas A&M University System. Mr. Moore also instructs for the Vermont Fire and Police Academies and he currently serves on the Vermont Hazardous Materials Response Team.
Previously, he had a 22-year career at St. Johnsbury Academy, the last 16 as Assistant Headmaster. Mr. Moore was a long time member of the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team. A former Commissioner of the Vermont Fish & Game Department, Mr. Moore has chaired the Vermont Water Resources Board, the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and served on the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission. Mr. Moore has also served on the Vermont Mental Health Board, the Vermont Fish & Game Board and on the boards of the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium and the Green Mountain Council of Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Moore represents Vermont on the bi-state Connecticut River Joint Commissions and on the four-state Connecticut River Valley Flood Control Commission. He and his wife Linda reside in Bradford where he is the Chairman of the Police Commission and the town's Emergency Management Director. Dedicated to the fire service, Mr. Moore retired from the Bradford Fire Department in 2006 after 33 years, much of which he served as Chief or Assistant Chief. He then became Chief of the West Newbury Fire Department where he remains an active member.
Mr. Moore received a Bachelor of Science degree from Lyndon State College, a master of arts from Dartmouth College and a CAGS in Administration and Planning from the University of Vermont and has done graduate work at many other colleges and universities.
Mr. Moore has been a member of the VSC Board of Trustees since 1991 and was elected Chairman of the Board in June 2006.
Martha O'Connor
Martha O'Connor currently chairs the State Lottery Commission and is a former chair of the State Board of Education and trustee at the University of Vermont. She lives in Brattleboro with her husband, Timothy O'Connor, and has three adult children.
Ms. O'Connor has been on the VSC Board of Trustees since 1999. She is the Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee and a member of the Priorities Committee and the Audit Committee.
Heidi Pelletier
Heidi Pelletier is currently a member of the Central Vermont Medical Center Board of Trustees, serving on the Community Relations Committee, Development Committee and the Quality Council. She is President of the CVMC Auxiliary and manages the CVMC Gift Shop. Previously she has served on the Board of Directors for the Onion River Arts Council and the Vermont Children's Aid Society.
Before moving to Vermont, Ms. Pelletier worked for the Portland Public School System in Maine and participated in many volunteer efforts, including Chair of the Portland Partnership, an educational collaboration among the business community, parents, educators and the Portland Public Schools. She was a recipient of the Partnership Award presented in recognition of service to the children of the Portland Public Schools, and also received the Portland School Committee Excellence Award for outstanding service to the Portland Public Schools. She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maine, Orono.
Ms. Pelletier is an avid skier and loves to travel. She and her husband, Tom, live in Montpelier and have two grown sons, James and Sam.
Ms. Pelletier has been on the VSC Board of Trustees since 2007. She serves as Treasurer, chairs the Education Personnel and Student Life Committee and is a member of the Priorities Committee.
Nick Russo
Nick Russo, Lyndon State College student, is the 2012-2013 Student Trustee for the Vermont State Colleges.
Mr. Russo is President of the VSC Student Association and a member of the Education, Peronnel and Student Life Committee of the VSC Board of Trustees.
Governor Peter Shumlin (ex officio)
Public Service
Peter Shumlin is the 81st governor of Vermont.
His career in public service began in Putney almost 30 years ago. In 1980 at the age of 24 he was elected to serve on the town's select board. In 1990 Montpelier came calling when Governor Madeleine Kunin appointed Peter to fill an empty seat in the Vermont House of Representatives.
After 3 years in the House he ran for one of Windham County's two Senate seats. He was elected in 1992 and would represent Windham County for the next 10 years. During his second term he was elected Democratic leader and in 1997 his colleagues chose him to serve as the President Pro Tempore, the chamber's top leadership post.
Peter ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2002. After a 4 year absence he returned to the Senate in 2006 where he was again selected to serve as the President Pro Tempore. During his 13 years in the Senate Peter served on the Rules Committee, the Finance Committee, the Transportation Committee and the Appropriations Committee.
A Record of Accomplishments
Peter has made a career of advocating for policies that reflect the needs and values of Vermonters ' ones that will benefit Vermont in the long term and give future generations the same opportunity that he had to make Vermont their home.
He has worked to fight global climate change, bring broadband to every corner of the state and provide health care for every Vermonter.
He worked with Governor Dean to balance the state budget. During the current economic crisis he stood up to the Douglas administration, working alongside Speaker Shap Smith to pass responsible legislation that trimmed programs where possible, while reinvesting in programs and services that Vermonters need now more than ever.
And believing that all Vermonters deserve to be treated equally, he played a leading role in the passage of the first in the nation civil unions law and the 2010 Marriage Equality Act.
In Putney
Peter, 54, is the father of two daughters Olivia, 20, and Rebecca, 19. In his free time he enjoys running, hiking and cross country skiing. He likes to fish, hunt and garden and can sometimes be found spreading manure and cutting hay at the dairy farm where he is a partner.