Jessica Turner

Programs	Integrative Professional Studies Major
Class	2022
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Massachusetts

Concentration

Cybersecurity and Social Justice

Internship

NuHarbor Security

How have you benefited from the Upside-Down Curriculum?

I can’t imagine being at any other institution and not taking major-specific courses right off the bat. Taking a deep dive into your field of study so early on allows for more opportunities within your field. By the end of my sophomore year, I was an intern at NuHarbor Security doing information assurance. I feel as though I would not have been able to get that opportunity elsewhere.

Can you discuss your internship experience?

I have worked as an intern at NuHarbor Security in Colchester, Vermont, since January 2020. The president of Champlain’s Womxn in Technology Club at the time, Mackenzie Marsocci, was interning there and put in a good word for me with her boss. I got an interview after submitting my rèsumè at the Career Fair, and I received an offer less than a day after. I’ve been working there ever since, and in November 2021, I got a full-time job offer after graduation as an information assurance analyst.I’ve also interned as a research assistant for Professor Duane Dunston, and we have completed many different projects together. One of these projects was on an expert system for identifying victims of human trafficking. I’ve also worked on building a virtual reality application for a local non-profit organization, Vermont Works for Women, aimed at teaching members the necessary skills to work on a construction site.

Have you volunteered or participated in a service-based experience?

I am a part of Techdren, Champlain’s student-run nonprofit. My role is to gather a group of volunteers and refurbish donated technology for students in need. We distributed about 65 laptops to students, as well as to the Boys and Girls Club and a local nursing home.Volunteerism emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community. I strongly believe in using your skills for the greater good and serving others.

Jess Turner works on her laptop — **Jessica Turner**, Class of 2022

More Student in Integrative Professional Studies Major

Abaigael Lebrun

Class of 2023

Integrative Professional Studies Major

Katherine Taddeo

Class of 2023

Environmental Studies & Policy Minor and Integrative Professional Studies Major

Abaigael Lebrun

Class of 2023

Class	2023
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	New York

Concentration

Broadcast Media Production

What do you like about your major?

I love that everyone is passionate about what they are pursuing. Since there is so much choice involved in the program and curriculum, you never feel like your work is done in vain. This creates passion for the work, and that energy is shared with peers.

What projects have you worked on in classes that you’ve found particularly rewarding/useful?

In the Fall of 2020, my project design class was given the opportunity to work with local organizations working to improve food access in Vermont. From that experience, the class created an online resource website where Champlain community members could go and find information on education, volunteering, and assistance with food insecurity. It was rewarding to create a product that real people could and would use.

What advice do you have for students thinking about coming to Champlain for college?

Whether you come for a tour or an open house or some other admissions event, take a few minutes to sit and observe the school in action—there’s an energy about this place that you can’t find anywhere else.

Katherine Taddeo

Class of 2023

Class	2023
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Home State	Maine

Concentration

Professional Writing

What made you choose your major?

I really like to write and create stories, but I also enjoy learning about science. Why not create stories that teach about the planet?

What projects have you worked on in classes that you’ve found particularly rewarding or useful?

Creating posts for one of my environmental classes in collaboration with the Emergent Media Center. It was a good exercise to try to distill scientific facts to the size of a post and make them entertaining. It was satisfying to see them published. I also liked working on a food website with my classmates in my Project Design course.

What is your favorite class you’ve taken at Champlain?

I’ve enjoyed the classes where I have learned a lot, and there are a good number of those. I think the one that I learned the most in is Screenwriting I. I really love cinema, and have lots of ideas for films, but you can’t get anywhere without a good script.

Do you have a favorite spot on campus?

Living on campus gives you the feeling that you’re not alone and that there are other people like you studying. I don’t have a spot in particular that is my favorite, but I like walking around Maple Street and South Willard Street because it’s the center of campus and you’ll see other students.

What do you like about Burlington?

Burlington is big enough to explore but small enough to be safe and it is physically beautiful.

More Inside Academics

Majors & Programs
With more than 100 professional areas of study—and career-relevant work experience built into each and every program—a Champlain degree offers a huge advantage when marketing yourself to prospective employers.
Different by Design
Fueled by purpose, our future-focused education is relevant today and years ahead of its time.
Career-Focused
You need an education that will do more than simply prepare you for a theoretical world; it needs to get you ready for the real one.
Schools & Divisions
Where career-focused academics meet a culture of collaboration, innovation, and hands-on experience.
Study Abroad
Become a globally engaged professional. Our study abroad programs provide many pathways to life-changing experiences.
Academic Support
Make the grade, make your mark, and make the most of your experience with Champlain support right from the start.
Graduate School Partner Programs
Options for Champlain undergraduate students to obtain an advanced degree through simplified admissions processes and articulation agreements.
Faculty