On March 3, UVM announced that Cynthia Barnhart was appointed the new chair of the UVM board of trustees, succeeding former chair Ron Lumbra. 

Barnhart, who graduated from UVM in 1981, recently announced she will be stepping down from her role as provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in July, where she has worked since 1992. She is also an 10-year veteran of the UVM board of trustees. 

“It’s a privilege for me to take on the role of chair, “ she said. “UVM is a very special place for me.”

As chair of the board, Barnhart’s responsibilities include presiding over board meetings, working with UVM’s president to prepare the agenda for meetings and being a spokesperson for the board.

The University has priorities that allign with the board’s goals, such as attracting more students and expanding its newly minted R1 research programs, Barnhart said. 

“We at the board are there to help the University do that,” she said.

Barnhart hopes to utilize the position to help connect the board with the University’s administration.

“A strong connection like that is very important to the advancement of the University,” she said. “I’m passionate about helping UVM continue to build its reputation.”

As a first-generation college student, Barnhart said she has an appreciation for the importance of higher education.

“I know firsthand the truly transformative power of higher education,” she said. “I’ve spent my entire career dedicated to higher [education] and all of the opportunities that it affords.”

Barnhart said her administrative work at MIT has allowed her to recognize the importance of an administration having the support and collaboration of the board for it to be successful.

“I very much look forward to continue working with my fellow trustees and the UVM community,” she said.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 1:03 p.m. on April 11 to correct the dates of Barnhart’s time at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Additionally, the article was updated at 4:45 p.m. on April 14 to correct a description regarding Barnhart’s position at MIT.