Leandre Waldo

Staff Member	Office of the President
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Education	Bachelor of Arts; Master of Business Administration
Fun Fact About Me	I attended a few years of elementary school with Angelina Jolie.
Contact	Freeman Hall (802) 923-6195 Email Me

Biography

In her role as Chief of Staff, Leandre is the orchestrator behind the scenes of the President’s office and the leader of the College’s institutional communications. As Secretary of the Corporation, she also helps ensure the Board of Trustees is supported, informed and engaged.

Grounding her work in values like curiosity, inquiry and empathy, Leandre blends strategic vision with relentless authenticity. Her audience-focused approach to communications drives her to distill great ideas into clear, concise roadmaps and carefully crafted slide decks.

Leandre previously served as Chief of Staff to the President at St. Michael’s College and the Director of Client & Media Relations at Champlain. She holds an MBA from Brandeis University and a BA from Hamilton College.

Leandre has lived on both coasts and several states in between but is happy to call Burlington, VT her permanent home. When not herding cats, Leandre spends her time running, cycling, hiking, snowboarding and dreaming about her next SCUBA trip. She lives with her partner and two teen-aged children.

More Staff in Office of the President

Leslie Averill

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Office of the President

Liza Geduldig

Director of Operations

Office of the President

Alex Hernandez

President of Champlain College

Office of the President

Jennifer Nicholls

Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives

Office of the President

Angelika Koukoulas

Innovation Hub Project Manager

Hula Partners and Office of the President

Leslie Averill

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Staff Member	Office of the President
Education	University of Vermont, Doctorate of Education; University of Vermont, Bachelor of Science

Liza Geduldig

Director of Operations

Staff Member	Office of the President
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Home State	Vermont
Fun Fact About Me	I drove Robert Redford around in a golf cart during one of Brown's Commencement Weekends.
Contact	Freeman Hall (802) 860-2735 Email Me

Biography

Passionate about creating unforgettable experiences, Liza is a seasoned event professional with a flair for turning visions into reality. With over 20 years in the dynamic world of event planning (including 10 years in NYC), Liza has brought her broad multi-tasking skills back to her home state of Vermont, orchestrating a diverse range of successful institutional and engagement events for Champlain’s Faculty, Staff, Students and friends of the college. Known for meticulous attention to detail and a creative touch, Liza has a proven track record of transforming concepts into seamless, engaging events. A true collaborator, she thrives on building strong partnerships and ensuring every detail exceeds expectations. Liza is dedicated to crafting events that leave a lasting impact and cherished memories for the Champlain community. When she is not running around planning events, Liza can usually be found somewhere outside with family and friends and her two cute rescue pups Jack and Buttons.

Alex Hernandez

President of Champlain College

Staff Member	Office of the President
Pronouns	He/Him/His
Areas of Expertise	Entrepreneurship Education Innovation
Contact	Freeman Hall, Room 300

Biography

Alejandro (“Alex”) Hernandez was born to a family of public educators in Stockton, CA. His parents journeyed from Mexico and the Philippines, and, at each step of the way, education brought opportunity-through skilled trades, nursing certificates, education credentials and degrees. These experiences shaped Alex’s belief that career-focused education can change lives and help communities thrive.

Hernandez comes to Champlain College from the University of Virginia, where he served as the Dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) and Vice Provost of Online Learning. At UVA, Hernandez championed access, affordability, and opportunity through its bachelor’s completion, professional certificate, and graduate programs. Alex helped SCPS enroll its largest undergraduate class in school history, launch its first master’s degree, and pursue a strategy that combined in-demand digital skills with the human skills needed for long-term career success. He also taught undergraduate courses in entrepreneurship (SCPS) and education innovation (School of Education and Human Development).

Before joining UVA, Hernandez worked for the Charter School Growth Fund, a national education foundation, where he built the nonprofit’s Innovative Schools practice, one of the largest efforts in the country focused on personalized learning and career readiness. Hernandez began his education career teaching high school mathematics in South Los Angeles. He later became an administrator for Portland Public Schools in Oregon and then an area superintendent for Aspire Public Schools in California. Prior to entering the field of education, he worked at Steamboat Ventures, Disney’s venture capital arm, and at J.P. Morgan. Hernandez has an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA from Claremont McKenna College. He is a moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a Pahara Institute fellow.

Alex is married to Michelle Moore Hernandez and is the proud father of twin boys, Akari and Mekhi.

Jennifer Nicholls

Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives

Staff Member	Office of the President
Education	The University of Vermont, Doctorate of Education; University of Vermont, Bachelor of Science; Champlain College, Master of Business Administration; Champlain College,
Contact	Freeman Hall

Angelika Koukoulas

Innovation Hub Project Manager

Staff Member	Hula Partners Office of the President
Pronouns	She/Her/Hers
Connect Online	LinkedIn
Contact	Hula Lakeside (214) 686-1742 Email Me

Biography

Angela joined Champlain in June of 2023 as part of the innovative partnership between Champlain College and Hula (a co-working space on Lakeside Ave). In this role, Angela works with businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profits to bolster their teams with Champlain talent. Angela helps students land internships, work on client facing projects, and generally get connected to the Burlington business community. Angela also supports the development of Burlington’s Innovation District by forging intentional connections between students, academics, and industry.

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