UVM Selects Elizabeth Dumont as Next Provost
The University of Vermont named Elizabeth Dumont its next provost and senior vice president, pending trustee approval.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
The University of Vermont has selected Elizabeth Dumont as its next Provost and Senior Vice President, succeeding Linda Schadler, who has served as interim provost since October 2024. Dumont previously served as Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at the University of California-Merced.
Why it matters
The appointment fills the university's top academic leadership role after an interim period and brings in a leader with extensive experience in higher education administration. The selection follows a national search guided by listening sessions with the campus community.
Dumont spent 16 years at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, rising from assistant biology professor to senior vice provost for academic affairs. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers across more than three decades of research.
The players
Elizabeth Dumont
Dumont previously served as Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at the University of California-Merced and has a background in biology and natural sciences research.
Linda Schadler
Schadler has served as UVM's Interim Provost since October 2024 and has announced her retirement after 34 years in higher education.
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont is a public research university in Burlington, Vermont.
The details
The search committee was co-chaired by Abby McGowan and Alicia Estey. Dumont's appointment is expected to be formally approved on Nov. 16 and she would begin on campus Jan. 4.
Timeline
October 2024: Linda Schadler began serving as UVM Interim Provost.
November 2, 2026: UVM announced Dumont's selection.
Nov. 16: Board of Trustees executive committee scheduled to approve the appointment.
Jan. 4: Dumont scheduled to begin on campus.
Leadership Transition
The selection moves UVM from an interim provost arrangement that began in October 2024 to a permanent academic leader. Dumont's move from UC-Merced to Vermont continues a pattern of senior academic administrators relocating between public research universities.
The provost oversees academic programs and faculty for UVM's students and Burlington-area residents, so the new leader will shape course offerings and academic policy. The appointment is pending approval, so students and staff will not see changes until Dumont takes office in January.
The takeaway
Academic leadership changes can signal shifts in priorities for a university's students and faculty. Watch for the trustee vote on Nov. 16 to confirm the appointment.
What happens next
The Board of Trustees executive committee is scheduled to vote on Dumont's appointment on Nov. 16, and she is set to begin on campus Jan. 4.
Further reading
For more on campus leadership moves, see People coverage in Burlington.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Vermont Business Magazine.
