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Lauren Bruneau

Biography

Lauren Bruneau is the Director of Academic Support and Coaching Services. She joined Champlain College in Fall 2012 as a part-time Academic Coach and was subsequently hired as a full-time staff member and manager in March of 2013. She has been the Director of Academic Support & Coaching ever since.

Prior to joining Champlain College, Lauren worked as an Instructor at the Stern Center in Williston, Vermont. During that time, she was also privately contracted as an Academic Coach for several Champlain College students, worked with elementary children, and directed a preschool program. With 14 years of experience teaching English, Social Studies, and French, she still maintains her teaching credentials for high school and middle school instruction. Fun fact: she has taught at all levels of instruction—pre-K through the first year of college!

Lauren earned her master’s degree from Middlebury College and completed post-baccalaureate teacher certification from the University of Vermont, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree. She also earned a Masters of Science in Human Resources and Organizational Development in 2022. In addition to possessing a great deal of international study-abroad experience, Lauren is a certified Wilson Level 1 instructor and is a professional coach through Wellcoaches International and International Coaching Federation.

As an adjunct faculty member in the School of Social Innovation for 6 years, she still enjoys being in the classroom and working with first-year Champlain students. She has served on numerous local and state committees to advocate for students of all ages and is passionate about coaching to help students make the most of their education and be the best they can be.

Lauren is a busy mother of three children and loves to spend free time doing community service, skiing, baking, crafting, swimming, and hanging out with her kids!

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Michael Coleman

Biography

Mike Coleman began working just recently at Champlain in August 2023. He has 30+ years of experience in higher education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. He was a Senior Lecturer in mechanical engineering at the University of Vermont for 13 years. Most recently, Mike got his first experience in K-12 education as a math tutor at the Rock Point School in Burlington, where he spent several years. Mike has also worked for IBM as a research and development engineer and was the co-founder of a company in Vermont that developed and produced freehand drawing tools and learning materials for the blind and visually impaired. In his work, he has been an academic advisor and mentor on student projects. Mike loves working with students to help them be the best versions of themselves in school, work, and life in ways that make sense to them.

Mike has a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University and a doctorate in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Cornell University. As a graduate student and post-doc, he was very fortunate to work on a team studying the physics of how humans walk on two legs and how apes swing from branch to branch. Using construction toys such as Tinkertoys and Legos was a big part of his work! Mike has also done coursework in the fine arts.

Mike is a serious athlete outside work, competing in bike and cross-country ski racing. He has also played a lot of soccer and racquet sports. He is also an artist, pianist, and photographer. Currently, he volunteers as a gallery docent for Burlington City Arts and the Old Spokes Home as a bike mechanic. Mike loves spending time with friends, getting to know new people, and hearing people’s stories.

What are your hobbies?

Biking, cross-country skiing, photography, fine arts, piano, reading

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Elaine O’Reilly

Biography

Elaine O’Reilly began working at Champlain in November of 2022. She came to Champlain with 28 years of experience in higher education. Her career history includes having been a social worker, therapist, educational programmer, hiking guide, cook, writer, and mostly an advisor and a teacher. She is excited to be where her values in guiding students toward success is a true passion!

Elaine holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Southern Maine, a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and Dance Movement Therapy from Antioch Graduate School, and a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has also developed a side gig of consulting in higher education and wellness, and has written and published a guide for transfer students.

Elaine characterizes all of her work as assisting people to shift their perception so they can become the navigators of their path. She has a grown daughter and takes frequent trips to NC to hang out with her. She has lived in MA, Vermont, Maine, North Carolina, and currently lives in Colchester!

What are your hobbies?

Reading, writing, paining, cooking, hiking and enjoying nature

Favorite local eateries and things to do in Vermont:

I love the nature all around us in Vermont.

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Megan Sheldon

Biography

Megan Pow Sheldon, M.Ed, PCC, CPCC is a happy and successful ICF-certified coach, professional educator, instructional coach, and licensed dance fitness instructor who loves supporting Champlain students as an Academic Coach.

Megan is known for her big laugh, her zest for life, and her commitment to working at the crossroads of body, mind, emotion, and spirit. She’s passionate about social justice and liberation, radical goodwill, and wellness for all.

As a voracious and neuro-spicy learner whose executive function skills were not well-developed in college (read: my papers were not turned in on time), Megan is passionate about helping people develop the organizational skills, self-awareness, and embodied habits that deeply support a well-lived academic and professional life.

In addition to her role at Champlain, Megan maintains a thriving private coaching practice specializing in ADHD-friendly, holistic productivity and academic wellness coaching. She also teaches lively, inclusive dance fitness classes that have become a community touchstone. (www.meganpowcoaching.com)

All of Megan’s work aligns with her life’s mission: helping creative people (in college and beyond) build joyful, productive and satisfying lives filled with delight and significance, in connection with the natural world and marked by the accomplishments that matter most – to them.

What are your hobbies?

Dance fitness, yoga, gardening, traveling, reading, writing, baking apple pie, hanging out with friends, and trying new restaurants

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Leslie Van Wagner

Biography

Prior to joining Champlain in 2019, Leslie was the Director of the Academic Support Center at Rivier College in Nashua, NH for 12 years, overseeing the Writing Center, Peer Tutoring Center, and Peer Mentoring Program. Leslie also taught many English Literature and Writing classes during her 25+ years at Rivier.

Leslie holds a MAT in Teaching from Rivier University and completed her undergraduate work at St. Lawrence University. She also holds a Certificate of Copyediting from University of San Diego online. Currently, Leslie is president of the Learning Assistance Association of New England.

Throughout her career, Leslie has drawn energy from helping students discover their potential and succeed in college and beyond. During her free time, Leslie enjoys reading, watching films, making trips to NYC to see plays, exploring Vermont, and playing with her grandson, Sam.

What are your hobbies?

Reading, watching films, going to live theater

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