Jane o'meara sanders, In all aspects of her career, Dr. Jane O’Meara Sanders has focused on transformational leadership and social change, choosing opportunities to make a real difference in her community.
Dr. Sanders earned her Ph.D. with a concentration in leadership and policy studies from Union Institute & University in 2000. She also attended Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management and Presidents Seminar.
In 2004, she accepted the position as president of Burlington College where she expanded the college’s social and economic involvement in the community and stressed the need for students to graduate as engaged citizens. Under her leadership, the college developed nine new undergraduate majors, and moved to a higher degree institution by establishing four Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees and an Individualized Master’s Degree program. As part of her legacy, the college developed partnerships with Vermont Law School, the Vermont Woodworking School, University of Havana in Cuba and established an Institute for Civic Engagement.
In her final year as president, Dr. Sanders acquired a beautiful 32-acre lakefront campus and relocated the small college to historical buildings, resulting in a transformative achievement that will expand the college’s growth and collaboration with the community.
Dr. Sanders retired as president of Burlington College in the fall of 2011. In recognition of her many accomplishments, the college bestowed upon her the title of President Emerita, until now, a distinction only given to the college’s founder.
In 1996, Dr. Sanders was recruited to be Provost and Interim President of Goddard College, her undergraduate alma mater. Dr. Sanders guided Goddard through a difficult transition period focused on accreditation, governance and financial management. During her brief tenure, she also eliminated all debt and implemented two new master’s programs. The college rewarded her success by providing sponsorship to complete her doctoral studies at Union Institute & University.
In addition to her work in higher education, Dr. Sanders has spent much of her career in public service, primarily focused on community development. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Economic Development Authority and represents Vermont on the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission.
A former municipal department head in the City of Burlington, Dr. Sanders represented Burlington’s young people on all city issues, created a citywide vision for children and families, drafted legislative initiatives and addressed concerns such as youth unemployment, substance abuse and juvenile crime. She founded many programs and non-profits which continue today, such as The Children’s Place child care center/kindergarten, 242 MAIN teen center, CityKids after-school program and Kids Day. As a member of two mayoral cabinets, she was involved in many aspects of local government, including organizational, budgetary and political decisions.
Dr. Sanders has also worked in the private sector. She has run her own small business as a media and political consultant working on local, statewide and federal campaigns, and as a consultant on educational and system of care issues.
Civic engagement has been a constant in her life, from being a school board commissioner to founding the Mayor’s Youth Office to serving Vermont by working in her husband’s congressional office on an unpaid basis over the years.
Family has always been, and continues to be, the most important aspect of Dr. Sanders’ life. She is married to Senator Bernie Sanders with whom she shares four children and seven grandchildren.
Dr. Sanders earned her Ph.D. with a concentration in leadership and policy studies from Union Institute & University in 2000. She also attended Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management and Presidents Seminar.
In 2004, she accepted the position as president of Burlington College where she expanded the college’s social and economic involvement in the community and stressed the need for students to graduate as engaged citizens. Under her leadership, the college developed nine new undergraduate majors, and moved to a higher degree institution by establishing four Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees and an Individualized Master’s Degree program. As part of her legacy, the college developed partnerships with Vermont Law School, the Vermont Woodworking School, University of Havana in Cuba and established an Institute for Civic Engagement.
In her final year as president, Dr. Sanders acquired a beautiful 32-acre lakefront campus and relocated the small college to historical buildings, resulting in a transformative achievement that will expand the college’s growth and collaboration with the community.
Dr. Sanders retired as president of Burlington College in the fall of 2011. In recognition of her many accomplishments, the college bestowed upon her the title of President Emerita, until now, a distinction only given to the college’s founder.
In 1996, Dr. Sanders was recruited to be Provost and Interim President of Goddard College, her undergraduate alma mater. Dr. Sanders guided Goddard through a difficult transition period focused on accreditation, governance and financial management. During her brief tenure, she also eliminated all debt and implemented two new master’s programs. The college rewarded her success by providing sponsorship to complete her doctoral studies at Union Institute & University.
In addition to her work in higher education, Dr. Sanders has spent much of her career in public service, primarily focused on community development. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Economic Development Authority and represents Vermont on the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission.
A former municipal department head in the City of Burlington, Dr. Sanders represented Burlington’s young people on all city issues, created a citywide vision for children and families, drafted legislative initiatives and addressed concerns such as youth unemployment, substance abuse and juvenile crime. She founded many programs and non-profits which continue today, such as The Children’s Place child care center/kindergarten, 242 MAIN teen center, CityKids after-school program and Kids Day. As a member of two mayoral cabinets, she was involved in many aspects of local government, including organizational, budgetary and political decisions.
Dr. Sanders has also worked in the private sector. She has run her own small business as a media and political consultant working on local, statewide and federal campaigns, and as a consultant on educational and system of care issues.
Civic engagement has been a constant in her life, from being a school board commissioner to founding the Mayor’s Youth Office to serving Vermont by working in her husband’s congressional office on an unpaid basis over the years.
Family has always been, and continues to be, the most important aspect of Dr. Sanders’ life. She is married to Senator Bernie Sanders with whom she shares four children and seven grandchildren.
