Office and People Directory

Zoltan Sachs

Biography

Starting with his immigration from Hungary at a young age, Zoltan’s life story is marked by transitions, each building on the skills and experiences from the previous one. His time in the Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller not only gave him a foundation in managing critical situations but also prepared him for the complexities of managing computer centers during the infancy of the digital age.

His role at the University of Vermont’s computer center during the 1980s, a pivotal time in the development of computing technology, highlights his early engagement with technology. This experience set the stage for his subsequent position at SymQuest Group, where he started an intrapreneurial business that generated significant recurring revenue, demonstrating not just his technical acumen but also his business savvy and innovation.

After SymQuest, Zoltan’s move to lead a recurring revenue practice within an e-commerce company underscores his adaptability and foresight in navigating the tech industry’s evolution. His subsequent role as IT Director at a global bioscience company before returning to academia at Champlain College reflects a broadening of his interests and skills, bridging technology with science and education.

Throughout his career, Zoltan’s commitment to community service, exemplified by his involvement with local nonprofits and community justice initiatives, adds a dimension to his professional achievements. It’s a testament to the belief that success is not just about individual advancement but also about lifting others and giving back to the community.

Zoltan’s engagement with activities like sailboat racing, wreck diving, skiing, and working on cars and electronics shows a love for challenges outside the workplace. These hobbies, alongside his dedication to family and friends, round out an individual whose professional success is in harmony with personal fulfillment and community impact.

Zoltan has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business, an MBA in Information Technology, and a Project+ Certification.

What are your hobbies?

Sailing, sailboat racing, technology, mechanics, wreck diving

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Eric Sample

Biography

Eric Sample teaches Fundamentals of Music, Film Scoring, and Synthesis & Sound Design. He also facilitates the recording studio at Champlain College.

He is thrilled to have just completed a worldwide sabbatical, researching the music of the African diaspora and traveling to Cuba, Brazil, Kenya, Ghana, Gambia, and Senegal. He received his initial music training on the island of Jamaica, starting at the Jamaica School of Music before studying privately in Kingston with the amazing Michael Dyke (a lifelong mentor). After leaving Jamaica, Sample moved to the bright lights of New York City, and freelanced at 100+ different advertising agencies over a five-year period, getting a fascinating look at the New York media and marketing landscape.

A relentless lifelong learner, Sample has attended the following schools: the Jamaica School of Music, the Brooklyn Conservatory, the School of Visual Arts, UC Berkeley, the Berklee College of Music online, and the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Sample also loves architecture and design, having designed the layout of the Champlain Music Studio and his parents’ cottage. He is looking forward to his next project (with his mentor) entitled “Rock Hall Trilogy,” a cross cultural musical extravaganza featuring Love, Sex, Death and the Devil—all set in the teeming vibrant wondrous land of Jamaica.

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Aubrie Sauer

Biography

Aubrie was born and raised in Southern Vermont where she developed her love of history from learning about local Revolutionary War battles. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in History and in Archaeology, Technology, and Historical Structures at the University of Rochester in 2016. In 2017, Aubrie moved to Boston to attend graduate school at Simmons University where she graduated in 2021 with dual-masters degrees in History (MA) and in Library and Information Science: Archives Management (MS).

After finishing graduate school, Aubrie moved back to Vermont and into the Burlington area. She began working at Champlain College shortly thereafter in 2022 in the position she currently holds as a circulation coordinator at the Champlain College Library.

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Gary Savard

Biography

Gary has over 30 years experience as a software engineer and 25 years teaching college. He is a successful entrepreneur and has a passion for passing his knowledge on to his students.

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Leading Geeks
• Mythical Man Month

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Eileen Schiffer

Biography

Eileen Schiffer is an Industrial Organizational Psychologist (PhD) who has been fortunate to have had a wide range of opportunities to support students’ and clients’ in their pursuits of their professional goals. Those experiences have included individual counseling, comprehensive project management, program development and evaluation, and training and support of others who shared a commitment to facilitating academic and professional growth of students and clients.

She began her career consulting for several Fortune 100 companies, creating career resources centers and services, developing leadership succession programs, and counseling and coaching employees at all levels in their career planning processes, including those who were in crisis as a result of organizational reductions in force. Eventually she transitioned into higher education, where she has served as a professor, course designer, program administrator and innovator, and faculty trainer, mentor and coach.

Since her transition to the world of academia, she has been an advocate and driver for high quality online adult education. She has developed processes, guides and tools that facilitated faculty and student transitions during significant change initiatives. She has served as the Curriculum Specialist for School of Business undergraduate and graduate programs, as a contributor to the School of Business Strategic Planning, Curriculum Mapping, and Accreditation processes, and as Faculty Lead for both Development in Excellence Initiatives and for New Faculty Onboarding and Support. In the past few years, as a Higher Education Consultant, she has partnered with Instructional Designers at several Universities in the creation and revision of undergraduate and graduate online courses across multiple disciplines. The focus in each of those roles was on program innovation, quality assurance, and ““ always – on support of faculty and students.

She is a lifelong learner. She has completed graduate hours in education and assessment, curriculum development, instructional design, research methods, and psychometrics, and earned a graduate certificate in Sustainable Food Systems Management. She also participated as a selected member of a year-long Online Teaching Innovations Cohort, focused on assessing and improving online course quality, and served an appointment as a peer reviewer of submissions made to the Scientific & Paper Review Committee of the Global Conference on Business and Economics. She has published articles in Faculty Focus, Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, and Supervision.

Distinctions & Awards

Recipient of Champlain College merit award and recognition for Exemplary Teaching.

Publications & Abstracts

• Schiffer, E. F. (February, 2018). Time-saving tips for teaching large online classes. Faculty Focus Premium.
• Schiffer, E. F. (November, 2017). Teaching adult students with considerable professional expertise. Faculty Focus.
• Schiffer, E. F. (2017). The dreaded team assignment: developing essential leadership skills. Techniques: Connecting Education & Careers, 92(4), 30-35
• Schiffer, Eileen (February, 2017). Tapping into the power of your introverts. Supervision, 78 (2), 23-26. (February, 2017)
• Schiffer, E.F. (Feb, 2013). Tips for online instructors: Managing files, feedback, and workload. Faculty Focus.
• Schiffer, E.F. (Feb, 2013). The learning relationships of online education. Marylhurst University Blog.
• Schiffer, E.F. (May/June, 2012). Is an online MBA a worthwhile investment in your future? Oregon Planner’s Journal (23-24).
• Schiffer, E.F. (2011). Resistance to Change: Implications of Individual Differences In Expression of Resistance to Change. Dissertation. University of South Florida, 123; 3443923

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Edward Schlak

Biography

Edward Schlak is a Champlain College Alum of the class of 2013 graduating with a degree in Secondary Education. After graduation Edward spent several years working for the USPS as a Mail Carrier as well as managing shipping and receiving for other institutions. He returned to Champlain in 2021 as the Mail Center Coordinator managing a team of student workers who process all incoming and outgoing deliveries for the college. In his spare time he enjoys disc golf and gardening.

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Paul Schnabel

Biography

Paul Schnabel is an actor/director based in Vermont. In his long career, he has performed in leading theaters throughout the US and Europe and appeared in many feature films and shorts. More recently, he has shifted focus from performance to teaching. His work with Courageous Stage in Middlebury has taken him statewide as a teaching artist in schools at all levels. He has been at Champlain College since 2019 teaching directing and acting. He particularly enjoys working in this department and considers it his mission to strengthen the directing and acting components.
He is a long-standing member of the internationally acclaimed Riot Group out of NYC and has toured extensively with them. As part of the Riot Group, he has garnered many awards over the years, including twice for Best Ensemble from the Stage in London, and 5 Fringe First Awards from the Scotsman in Edinburgh including a First of the Firsts Award. He was a finalist for an Irene Ryan Excellence in Acting Award, and awarded Best Actor in the Vermont Stage and Screen awards.
He is co-founder and past president of Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, an incubator performance venue in the New North End of Burlington.
He has been a member of SAG AFTRA for over 25 years.

Distinctions & Awards

Irene Ryan Excellence in Acting Award, finalist
Vermont Stage and Screen Awards Best Actor, winner
Scotsmen Fringe Firsts Awards x4
First of the Firsts Award
The Stage London Best Ensemble x2
Herald Angel Awards x2

Curriculum Vitae

READ MY CV

Favorite Quote

“The stars are matter. We are matter. But it doesn’t matter.”

—Don VanVliet

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Elizabeth Scott

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont

Lifelong skier at Smugglers Notch, big fan of breakfast at Sneaker’s in Winooski, and there’s nothing better than a maple creemee from Palmer Lane Maple in Jericho.

Hobbies

hiking, skiing, walking, and reading

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Shaylea Scribner

Biography

Shaylea Scribner has been serving in the Office of Institutional Advancement since 2019. Prior to this, she spent six years in the President’s Office. In her current role, she wears many hats but her focus is spent on event management, prospect management, and research. She loves being able to interact with not only staff, faculty, and students, but parents, alumni and donors on a regular basis. During her time at Champlain, Shaylea has served on the Staff Council in numerous roles including as President for four years.

Shaylea is a two-time Champlain alum, having received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 2010 and her MBA in 2017. In her free time, Shaylea likes to read, binge watch the latest TV shows, take walks, and play with her goldendoodle, Kenzie.

What are your hobbies?

Reading, travel, cooking

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

Favorite VT Eateries: The Whip, Burlington Beer Company, Folino’s, Grazers, The Village Scoop, Archie’s

Favorite things to do in VT: Get a creamee, walk at Shelburne Farms, go to Stowe, take in the foliage, check out local bookstores

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Gary Scudder

Biography

During his 20+ years at Champlain Professor Scudder has taught classes on topics such as history, literature, art, evil, film, and a variety of classes dealing with the Islamic world. He initiated and ran Champlain’s award-winning Global Modules program. In addition, he has created, taught, and led student classes with trips to Jordan, India, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, Spain, and Portugal.

Distinctions & Awards

Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Vermont Professor of the Year, 2010.

Community Contribution Award, National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE), 2010.

Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education for Internationalizing the Curriculum, 2008-2009.

Edward Phelps Lyman Professorship, Champlain College, 2007-2008.

Teaching About Islam and Middle Eastern Culture Seminar, CIC Grant, Amman Jordan, January 2005.

Georgia Board of Regents Distinguished Professor for Teaching and Learning, 1999-2000.

Outstanding Award for Teaching, Georgia Perimeter College, 1997-1998.

Most Appreciated Faculty Member Award, Georgia Perimeter College, 1993-1994.

Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing

• Charles Dickens, Bleak House
• Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet
• Marcel Proust, Remembrance of Things Past

Favorite Quote

“It was in vain that I lingered before the hawthorns.”

—Marcel Proust, Remembrance of Things Past

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Michael Sealy

Biography

Mike is the Creative Director of his own graphic design business in Burlington, Vermont. Following the completion of his Studio Art degree at the University of Vermont, Mike has been working in the local design community. Working in small design companies as well as medium sized agencies, he has more than 25 years of experience fulfilling clients’ needs. Mike is a versatile art director and graphic designer, making sure every detail is scrutinized from project conception through completion, constantly striving to deliver better solutions for his clients.

Mike loves the creative energy inherent in education; he enjoys staying involved, having taught graphic design and web design as an adjunct professor since 2014.

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Marie Segares

Biography

Marie Segares is a career intrapreneur in the non-profit health and education industries with expertise in program development, launch, and expansion. Her experience includes deployment as an assistant officer in the Community Relations unit at the American Red Cross in Greater New York during Disaster Response 787 (September 11 World Trade Center); managing administrative operations of a federally-funded public housing community health center for an academic medical center in the South Bronx; co-founding a public high school in Downtown Brooklyn; and developing an online bachelor’s degree-completion program for a faith-based, historically Black college in Dallas.

Dr. Segares earned her AB in Sociology from Barnard College, her MPH in Sociomedical Sciences with a concentration in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from Columbia University, her MBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Leadership & Change Management from New York University, and her EdD in Organizational Leadership Studies from Northeastern University. Dr. Segares has taught business, entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, human resources, management and organizational behavior, marketing, health education and public health, and health care management courses at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate levels in traditional/face-to-face, online, and hybrid learning environments. Her previous appointments were as an associate professor and director of the MS in Management program at St. Francis College and as an auxiliary professor and coordinator of the Health Care Management MBA program at Molloy College.

Dr. Segares is also an artisan entrepreneur, creating digital content to self-publish and for major crafts manufacturers and publishers. Her areas of research interest include artisan entrepreneurship, creative business, microenterprise, leadership, small business marketing, and gender and diversity in entrepreneurship and organizations.

Publications & Abstracts

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RMOcEWyWDomWOefX0yLzqk514dxlOZRc/view?usp=sharing

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Daniel Selicaro

Biography

Daniel Selicaro is an Assistant Professor and Program Director for Technology at Champlain College Online. He oversees bachelor degree programs for Software Development, Web Design and Development, and Computer Science, as well as the graduate program in Software Engineering and Project Management.

Dan has been at Champlain College since 2007, and has been teaching web design and development for Champlain since 2015. He began his career in print journalism as a newspaper reporter, and was the news editor for Upside magazine and the Red Herring magazine in California. After moving back to the East Coast, he worked on digital marketing at Champlain College, and was an active part of two redevelopments of the College website, champlain.edu, before he took a role in the Information Systems department.

Outside of Champlain, Dan runs his own website development company, and is on the board of directors for several local organizations — including as marketing chair at the Fellowship of the Wheel mountain biking club, the Green Mountain Montessori School, and the Essex United Soccer Club. He is an avid mountain biker, and loves to spend his time adventuring in Vermont with his two young children.

Distinctions & Awards

Outstanding Community Partner Award, ODI, 2009; Intercultural U Program 2013

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Jean-Marie Severance

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page 

Kerry Shackett

Biography

A Massachusetts transplant, Kerry became hooked on Vermont while attending Saint Michael’s College for her undergraduate education. Holding two undergraduate degrees—a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology— two worlds with seemingly disparate career paths. After stints in a large marketing firm, the non-profit sector, and public schools, Kerry discovered a connection within her diverse experiences. This journey led her to the realization that her true passion lay in career coaching.

Presently, Kerry serves as the Associate Director for Career Education and as a Career Coach for the Division of Information Tech & Sciences. She earned her Master’s of Science degree in Executive Leadership and is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator. Beyond her professional life, Kerry embarks on adventures with her husband, Chris, and their two daughters, Kenna and Maeve. Alternatively, you might find her attempting a new British Baking Show recipe, with very varying results, or finding the best cup of coffee in Vermont.

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

All about the treats and coffee! Madeleine’s Bakery, West Meadow Bakery, and Box Car Bakery are a few of my favorites

• Copy Link to Share 
• View this Person's Detail Page