Office and People Directory

Adnane Adossama

Biography

Adnane was a first-generation college student, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Science from Vermont State Universities Castleton Campus in 2019. He went on to work for their TRIO Upward Bound and McNair Scholars Program. As an Admissions Counselors, he enjoys working with students and families throughout the admissions process, helping them realize the amazing endless possibilities at Champlain.

Adnane is enjoying his return to Burlington Vermont, reliving some of his favorite childhood memories down by the waterfront.

Territory

Vermont (Addison, Bennington, Rutland, Windham, Windsor), New York (Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagra, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, St Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates), Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire), Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois

Favorite local eateries

Pho Dang Vietnamese Cafe

Hobbies

Basketball, Snowboarding, Hiking and Road Trips

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Gabriel Affonso-Wagner

Biography

Gabriel joined Champlain College in the winter of 2025. As a New York City resident, he brings the personalized admission experience Champlain is known for to High Schoolers, their families, and School Counselors of the Five Boroughs, Long Island, Westchester and Northern New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with a concentration in Theology from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. At his Alma Mater, Gabriel earned experience in college admissions through student ambassadorship, internships and student employment in the office of admissions. As a college admissions professional with over a decade’s worth of experience, he’s worked for many colleges and universities in his career helping countless amounts of talented young people find their best-fit college to become future professionals and achieve meaningful success. Always happy to have a conversation about what makes Champlain so special (especially over coffee or a meal!), Gabriel’s here for your student every step of the way in their college search and discernment.

Territories

New York (Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester), New Jersey, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas

Hobbies

Spending time with family, traveling, camping, going to the beach, swimming, fishing, eating.

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Anne Allen

Biography

Anne currently works in CCO as a Senior Course Producer. Anne started working at Champlain in 2013 in eLearning. Anne received her B.A. degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder in Art History. After finishing college in Colorado, Anne moved to Jackson, Wyoming for 3 years to study the social behavior of coyotes. After Wyoming, she moved to Seattle, Washington for 6 years where she worked for the Geophysics Department studying Mount St. Helens. While in Seattle, Anne also volunteered with SARDA, Mountain Search and Rescue Dogs. Anne has lived in Burlington Vermont for over 37 years. When she is not producing online courses for CCO, she can be found “enjoying” her daughter, Mollie, her Scotch Collie, CinnBreagh, and her Champlain College Community garden plot.

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Nic Anderson

Biography

Nic is the AVP of Planning and Operations. He helps the Campus Operations teams of Facilities (buildings and grounds), Campus Services (Foodservice, Custodial, Transportation, Campus Store, Mail Center and other services), Office of Sustainability and the Conference and Event Center create world class places and services for our students, employees and visitors. He also manages all long range planning and construction projects at the college.

Nic has been at Champlain since 2014, previously working in the City of Burlington Zoning Office. He gained a Bachelor of Resource Studies, Majoring in Planning from Lincoln University, New Zealand in 2002. Nic moved to the United States in 2003 and has lived in Utah, New York state and Vermont ever since. He earned a Master of Science in Human Relations and Organization Development from Champlain College in 2020 (what a year to do a masters degree…thanks Covid).

Nic lives in South Burlington (a short bike ride away, regardless of the season) with his wife Amy and two children Sage and Cora. We proudly bike to work and school every day of the year, yes even in deep winter.

What are your hobbies?

Nic loves riding bikes (any kind), snowboarding and playing golf. He is also excited to do almost any outdoor activity. Is drinking coffee a hobby?

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

The dirt roads of the Vermont countryside are some of the best places to ride a bike in the world.

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John James (JJ) Anderson

Biography

John James (JJ) Anderson supports everyone within the Champlain community through his role within ChampSupport, the campus IT support helpdesk. Following a successful undergraduate tenure in the CIT program at Champlain, JJ continually aims to provide friendly and insightful assistance wherever possible. JJ also continues his education through Champlain’s Online program (CCO), and he works with fellow Champlain graduates to provide contract IT solutions in the greater Vermont community as well.

Outside of his professional life, JJ often spends time with friends discovering a new board game, reading a book, or enjoying a leisurely bike ride when weather allows. He can sometimes be found grabbing a bite at Sneakers Bistro in Winooski.

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Kevin Andrews

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Sarah Andriano

Biography

Sarah Boston Andriano is the Vice President for Advancement and Community Engagement at Champlain College, bringing 19 years of experience in higher education across advancement and enrollment roles. Sarah’s career includes significant contributions at St. Lawrence University and Boston University, where she developed expertise in building impactful community partnerships and driving strategic growth in higher education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Union College and a Master of Education from Boston University. Sarah is dedicated to fostering connections that enhance educational opportunities and community engagement.

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Michael Angel

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Tara Arneson

What are your hobbies?

Snowboarding, mountain biking, knitting

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Leslie Averill

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Kari Banas

Biography

Kari Banas grew up in Massachusetts and then lived in Rhode Island with her husband and three boys until her whole family made the wonderful move to Vermont in 2012. They had been camping in VT for many years and once they moved never looked back. She has a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts from Adelphi University in New York and loves to dance. She joined Champlain College in 2018 as a Compass Student Services Representative and has been with Student Accounts and Billing for over a year now. You will find her most days rain/snow or shine, walking all over campus during her lunch as she loves to see and engage with our students.

What are your hobbies?

Dancing, walking all over campus

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Any coffee shop that can make a coconut decaf latte

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Phylise Banner

Biography

Phylise Banner is a learning experience designer with more than 25 years of vision, action, and leadership experience in transformational learning and development approaches.

A pioneer in online learning, Phylise focuses her explorations and research on the synergy between the evolution of educational theories and technologies. The gemstones she treasures most in her career portfolio are the relationships she has built with the global network of talented colleagues she interacts with throughout industry and academia.

Phylise holds a BA in Information Visualization from New York University and an MSEd from Nova Southeastern University. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), certified Learning Environment Architect (CLEA), Adobe Education Leader (ALE), and Fellow of the Society for Technical Communication. Her most recent book, “The Language of Learning,” is available from XML Press.

Her hobbies include general aviation (she co-pilots a 1968 Piper Cherokee), fire-torch enameling, performance storytelling, playing the theremin, and learning to play the accordion. She’s also the proud owner of a 1967 Amphicar.

What are your hobbies?

General aviation, fire-torch enameling, performance storytelling, music, baking

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Chauncey T. Beaver

Biography

Dam, I love being a Champlain College Beaver!

Hey everyone! I’m Chauncey T. Beaver, Champlain’s official mascot. You’ll often see me around campus at events, taking selfies with my friends and throwing out high-fives left and right. I love all of my fellow Beavers and it makes my day when we get to hang out! Seeing your faces light up when you see me really fills me with joy. You are what makes Champlain so special, and I’m eager to meet new friends at every event I attend, so don’t be afraid to say hi! I can’t talk, but I’ll be sure to wave back. 🙂

My school spirit is off the charts and I’m always there to rally you for the big life events: move-in, orientation, graduation, Spring Meltdown, Dare to CARE Wellbeing Week, you name it: I’m cheering you on. I’ve got some pretty sweet dance moves, too, so get ready!

Do you want me to make an appearance at an event you’re hosting? Email my friends at studentengagement@champlain.edu. They’ll check my schedule and get back to you. See you soon for a dam good time!

Let’s play corn hole together!

I’ll never say no to a photo with friends! Catch me at campus events like the Fall Career Fair.

Not gonna lie, I’m a pretty big hit at Orientation.

You might even catch me hitting the slopes come winter!

You can call me Captain Chauncey! The Lake Champlain Ethan Allen boat cruise is my favorite Champlain tradition—we get to ride it together during Orientation and during Senior Week! The perfect bookend to your Champlain journey.

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Brittany Beck

Biography

Brittany graduated from a small liberal arts college in upstate New York, St. Lawrence University, with a B.A. in Sociology and German Studies. While at St. Lawrence University, she played field hockey and studied abroad in Vienna, Austria. After graduating, she spent the next thirteen years working in the international education field sending students to study abroad at various universities overseas and working in the international travel field sending clients to travel around the world on customized luxury trips. Though travel is still a passion of hers, she’s excited to be back in the higher education field and sharing her love for Burlington, Vermont with students! When she’s not speaking with students, she can often be found skiing, riding her bike, or catching the newest must-see film.

Territories

Maine, Massachusetts (Barnstable, Bristol, Duke, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth counties), New Hampshire, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, International Students

Hobbies

Skiing, Traveling, Biking, Hiking, Walking my Dog, Watching Movies, Decorating

Favorite Local Eateries and Things to do in Vermont

Favorite local eateries: Poco, a Single Pebble, BKK in the Alley, Myer’s Bagels

Favorite things to do in Vermont: biking along Lake Champlain on the Burlington bike path, enjoying an outdoor concert at Shelburne Museum, strolling through the Burlington Farmers Market, skiing at Bolton Valley

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Marnie Behrendt

Biography

Joining Champlain in 2021, Marnie has spent the majority of her professional career serving students in higher education. As a non-traditional, first-generation student herself, she is passionate about the opportunities higher education offers people who embark on that journey. She has served in multiple roles at a variety of colleges, but is most impressed with the student-centric focus of the leadership at Champlain.

What are your hobbies?

Dogs, crafting

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