Alec Julien, Extension Communications Specialist/Assistant Webmaster
Julien is a graphic designer, web designer/developer, typographer, educator, musician, and mathematical anti-realist.
Before coming to UVM Extension, he was a freelance designer for a decade, working on a broad swath of projects including websites, print projects, book design, game design, and font creation. In his spare time, he teaches philosophy and music, writes novels, composes jazz tunes, and sits in front of his fireplace, trying to get warm.
He lives in Burlington, VT with his wife, three cats, and the occasional desire to move to Hawaii.
Sam Boudreau, Student Success Advisor
In this role, Boudreau intends to provide professional academic advising for first-year and undeclared students. He will also work alongside the CALS Student Services team on recruitment and retention efforts for traditional, nontraditional, international, and transfer students alike.
Boudreau received a Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, and Psychology from Middlebury College. He graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Montana, where he taught beginner and intermediate English composition and a poetry workshop. His work predominantly focused on the parallels between environmental degradation and interpersonal, traumatic conflict within poetic structures and styles.
Currently, Boudreau is pursing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at UVM, where he is focusing on how to deploy feminist and narrative therapy tactics to sustain and bolster the lives of queer families, couples, and youth.
Tammy Bender, Student Success Advisor
Bender was recently hired as a student success advisor in the CALS Dean’s Office. In this role, she will provide professional academic advising for first-year and undeclared students. She will also work with the CALS Student Services team on recruitment and retention efforts.
Bender began working as an academic advisor at UVM following a 10-year career in higher education. She previously served as a career counselor and held roles in accessibility services and data management at Green Mountain College. Most recently, she served as interim director of student services in the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Bender is completing her master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies at UVM, with a focus on helping students overcome educational barriers when faced with trauma and adversity.