The College of Education and Social Services welcomes you.

We are committed to preparing outstanding professionals in the fields of education, social work, counseling, and human development; engaging in scholarship designed to address the world’s most pressing problems; and providing exemplary professional service to Vermont, the nation, and the world. I am honored to serve as the dean of our extraordinary community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The College of Education and Social Services (CESS) strives to create a more humane and just society, maximizing human potential and the quality of life for all individuals, families, and communities. We do so through innovative programming that emphasizes academic quality, experiential and place-based learning, community-engaged research, and inclusive excellence. Our outstanding faculty and alumni play leading roles in teaching, scholarship, policy, and service that empowers others to create healthy societies and environments.

Our nationally accredited and highly ranked undergraduate and graduate programs are distinguished by nationally and internationally recognized research and scholarship activity, and long-standing partnerships with state and federal agencies, schools and districts, and community-based organizations. We focus on the power of interdisciplinary research and collaborations that solve complex problems to uplift people and the planet.

At our core, CESS is all about community and connection. Our faculty and staff take time to get to know our students, learn about their interests, and promote their success. We take pride in the open, inclusive, and action-oriented culture of CESS, as well as in our ability to connect students to the many opportunities to learn, work, live, and play at UVM and in Vermont’s vibrant environments.

Our students have multiple opportunities to work directly with children and youth, families, and community partners—in fact, they spend about 200,000 hours per year in service to Vermont communities! Students also explore an array of exciting international opportunities, including local engagement with global communities, semester long study abroad opportunities, and short-term travel study courses occurring all over the world. 

Our graduates are well-prepared for careers in education, social work, human services, counseling, and more in the public and private sector. In a survey of recent alumni of our undergraduate programs, 98% of respondents were employed or continuing their education within 6 months of graduating, and 98% of those employed found their employment to be somewhat or closely related to their career goals.

I invite you to explore the College of Education and Social Services at the University of Vermont. We look forward to speaking with you, answering your questions, and helping you arrange an on-campus or virtual visit. 

Welcome to CESS!

Best regards,

Katharine G. Shepherd, Ed.D., Dean and Levitt Family Green and Gold Professor