Working Groups
Each of the working groups will focus on a specific area of questioning within an overarching theme as outlined below.
Strengthen the Core
Middlebury is many remarkable things, springing from a core: our teaching, research, and creative mission and the special bond between faculty and students that defines a residential liberal arts college. The following groups will engage to strengthen that core by exploring these key areas:
Build on Middlebury’s strong Liberal Arts Teaching Mission
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representative | James Calvin Davis |
| SLG Liaison | Jeremy Ward |
| Chair | Steve Abbott |
| Members | Steve Abbott, Mathematics & Statistics Hannah Burnett, Class of 2010, Middlebury College Alumni Association president Ninive Calegari, Class of 2026 Clint Cave, Neuroscience James Calvin Davis, Religion Jon Isham, Economics/Environmental Studies Michelle Leftheris, Studio Art Heather Lovejoy, Innovation Hub Otilia Milutin, Japanese Studies |
Expand Access/Ensure Student Success
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representatives | Sebastian Cruz Loaiza, Jerry Philogene |
| SLG Liaisons | Nicole Curvin, Smita Ruzicka |
| Chair | Kim Downs-Burns |
| Members | Tanya Byker, Economics Sebastian Cruz Loaiza, Class of 2026 Kim Downs-Burns, Student Financial Services Mike Leonard, Athletics Alex Lyford, Mathematics & Statistics, midd.data Amy Morsman, CTLR, First-Year Seminar Program, History Ursula Olender, Engaged Learning Centers Elaine Orozco Hammond, Student Affairs Jerry Philogene, Black Studies Joe Russell, Student Affairs Daniza Tazabekova, Class of 2026 Jen Thompson, Registrar’s Office |
Attract Outstanding Teacher-Scholars/Ensure Faculty Success
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representative | Noah Graham |
| SLG Liaison | Roberto Lint Sagarena |
| Chair | Rick Bunt |
| Members | Rick Bunt, Chemistry Lexie Carlson, Academic Affairs Natalie Eppelsheimer, German Noah Graham, Physics Rebekah Irwin, Library Isabelle Langrock, Sociology Chuck Mason, Grants & Sponsored Programs Martin Seehuus Psychology Edward Vazquez, History of Art & Architecture |
Attract Outstanding Staff/Ensure Staff Success
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representatives | AJ Vasiliou, Asa Waterworth |
| SLG Liaison | Caitlin Goss |
| Chair | Derek Doucet |
| Members | Eamon del Giacco, Advancement Kelly Dinan, Human Resources Derek Doucet, Student Life Karen LaFlamme, Dining Services Kate Livesay, Athletics Ethan Murphy, Film & Media Culture Jen Nuceder, Academic Affairs Jody Smith, Sciences Technical Support Services Lisa Terrier, ITS Luther Tenny, Facilities Services AJ Vasiliou, Chemistry Asa Waterworth, International Programs & Off-Campus Studies |
Build a Vibrant and Engaged Learning Community
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representative | Kirtley Cameron |
| SLG Liaison | David Provost |
| Chair | Erin Sassin |
| Members | Martin Beatty, Athletics Kirtley Cameron, Board member Jess Crossman, Dining Services Anne Hopkinson, Counseling Center Demi Kirby, Public Safety Sierra Lane, Facilities Services Brian Lind, Student Affairs Mike Moser, Facilities Services Pete Nelson, Geography Clare Rados, Class of 2027 Erin Sassin, History of Art & Architecture Katy Smith Abbott, History of Art & Architecture/Museum Stephanie Winkler, Advancement |
Connect the Whole
As we strengthen our core, how can we also better connect the whole of Middlebury? Locally and globally, how can we create deeper connections among Middlebury College, the Language Schools, the Bread Loaf School of English and Writers’ Conferences, and our C.V. Starr Schools Abroad? How can we reaffirm and reimagine our global mission even as we wind down our programs in Monterey? How can we more deeply advance our civic commitments to our surrounding worlds: our town, state, nation, globe, and planet?
With this framing, the following groups will work to map out our response to these challenges:
Define Global Mission and Strategy
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representative | Amy Yuen |
| SLG Liaison | Michelle McCauley |
| Chair | Sunder Ramaswamy |
| Members | Sam Byrne, Biology Katharine DeLorenzo, Athletics Hang Du, Chinese Sam Flint, Human Resources Jeffrey Lewis, Center for Nonproliferation Studies Obie Porteous, Economics Liz Ross, International Programs & Off-Campus Study Sunder Ramaswamy, College Professor Yuvraj Shah, Class of 2026 Julien Weber, French & Francophone Studies Amy Yuen, Political Science |
Better Define Our Role in Advanced Education
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representative | Thor Sawin |
| SLG Liaison | Carlos Velez |
| Chair | Bettina Matthias |
| Members | Emily Bartels, Bread Loaf School of English Christina Johnston, Education Studies Courtney Krahn, Addison Central School District Sarah Lohnes-Watulak, DLINQ Bettina Matthias, German and German School Megan Mayhew-Bergman, English/Environmental Studies and Bread Loaf Environmental Conference Amit Prakash, International & Global Studies Thor Sawin, Language Schools David Torres, Global Health |
Strengthen External Ties to the Local, State, National, and Global Community
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representative | Jessica Holmes |
| SLG Liaison | David Provost |
| Chair | Liz Robinson |
| Members | Kailee Brickner-McDonald, Center for Community Engagement Jonathan Brooks, Class of 2026 Minna Brown, Sustainability & Environmental Affairs Amy Carlin, President’s Office Kevin Chu, Class of 2014, Vermont Futures Project David Cole, Class of 1992, Mechanical Advantage Rebekah Keating Godfrey, Neuroscience Jessica Holmes, Global Health Andy Hooper, Town of Middlebury select board Lily Jensen, Class of 2028 Matt Lawrence, Sociology Tyler Nottberg, Class of 1998 Liz Robinson, Class of 1984, former Associate Dean, Student Creativity Engagement & Careers Olga Sanchez Saltveit, Theatre |
Meet the Moment
What does it mean for us to meet this moment, as a liberal arts institution, not only in this time in American history but in an age of artificial intelligence, climate change, and other major currents of global transformation? The following groups will focus on how we resolve to meet and help lead our moment:
Advance Academic Freedom
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representative | Lida Winfield |
| SLG Liaisons | Hannah Ross, Jeremy Ward |
| Chair | Bert Johnson |
| Members | Mandy Berghela, Class of 2026 Joe Brown, Board member Ignacio Gamero, Class of 2026 Bert Johnson, Political Science Sujata Moorti, College Professor Ellen Oxfeld, Anthropology Ioana Uricaru, Film & Media Culture Lida Winfield, Dance Gary Winslett, Political Science Zu Zhai, Neuroscience |
Articulate DEI Values and Strategies
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representatives | Michole Biancosino, Nicole Meyers |
| SLG Liaison | Roberto Lint Sagarena |
| Chair | Dima Ayoub |
| Members | Santana Audet, Admissions Dima Ayoub, Arabic Michole Biancosino, Theatre Derisa Collymore, Centers for Belonging Alex Elias, Athletics Alison Finch, Director of Health Center Chris Keathley, Film & Media Culture Nicole Meyers, Class of 2026 Greg Pask, Biology Makayla Reed, Class of 2026 |
Engage and Lead in an Age of AI and Technology
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representative | Joe Durante |
| SLG Liaison | Chris Norris |
| Chair | Carrie Anderson |
| Members | Carrie Anderson, History of Art & Architecture Amy Collier, DLINQ Paul Dicovitsky, ITS Joe Durante, ITS Tim Juvshik, Philosophy Shelby Kimmel, Computer Science Mihai Lazar, Sciences Tech Support Services Mary Lothrop, Health Professions Advising Germán Reyes, Economics Aaron Smith, ITS Hector Vila, Writing Program |
Address Urgent Issues of Our Time
See the questions this working group will explore.
| Steering Representative | Leilani Brown |
| SLG Liaison | Michelle McCauley |
| Chair | Andrea Vaccari |
| Members | Therese Banks, French & Francophone Studies Jason Blazakis, Center on Terrorism, Extremism, & Counterterrorism Leilani Brown, Board member Kate Crawford, Environmental Studies Sebnem Gumuscu, Political Science Tracy Himmel Isham, Center for Careers & Internships Will Pyle, Economics Charlotte Tate, Rohatyn Center Andrea Vaccari, Computer Science |
Join Us!
If you are interested in joining a lunch discussion on one or more of the topic areas, please let us know by completing this form.