When you arrive on the Saint Michael's campus, the first thing you encounter is the central green space. Flanked to the east by the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Durick Library to the west, it’s awe inspiring. When you step back and see the peaks of the Adirondacks, look down at the Winooski River, and take in the surrounding forests, a sense of tranquility washes over you. You can even hear the sound of student athletic groups, such as the recently added track team, warming up.

And when you meet the students and faculty that live and breathe the Edmundite Mission, to contribute through higher education to the enhancement of the human person and the advancement of human culture through the Catholic faith, there is a realization that Saint

Michael’s College is a local institution focused on bettering the community and translating these improvements globally.

 Luwago Kaiza Kipingi ’26 of Leominster, Massachusetts, holds up his diploma after crossing the stage during Commencement at Saint Michael's College on Sunday, May 10, 2026.

SAINT MICHAEL’S MISSION

In an age when artificial intelligence can generate information instantly, Saint Michael’s responds by saying, “Graduates must be able to discern what is true, engage across differences, and act with purpose in conditions of uncertainty—capacities that cannot simply be downloaded,” says Saint Michael’s president, Richard Plumb, PhD.

 Hannah Bennett ’26, center, of Bedford, New Hampshire, sits among her classmates during Commencement in May 2026

Dr. Plumb carried this ideology with him throughout his career in Catholic higher education, and it inspired him to create the Division of Edmundite Mission, a collection of departments and campus organizations that work collectively to promote social justice and prepare students to find purpose in contributing to the common good. This commitment is not only philosophical but is also visible in the many ways the college serves and strengthens the Burlington community.

THE COURAGE TO SERVE

The most iconic of these examples is the Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue Department. Established in 1969 as a response to the lack of emergency services in the community. Shannon Maloney, Rescue Unit chief, says, “The Edmundite Mission is reflected in everything our Fire and Rescue students do.

“At its core is a call to serve those most in need, and our students live that out every time they respond to a call in the community.” And with calls reaching over 3,000 last year alone, students have plenty of opportunities to respond. Besides responding to emergencies, students train new members and sustain operations, taking ownership and investing in more ways than one. Saint Michael’s administration recognized this level of investment and matched it with a transformative academic plan: the introduction of an Emergency Services degree path.

This plan is part of a larger academic restructuring, initiated by the college, to include degree paths targeting disparities in the workforce. In the last decade, requests for emergency services have increased by 22 percent statewide, according to the Vermont Department of Health, but the number of trained emergency professionals has dwindled.

It is not just emergency response teams that are suffering shortages; as the job landscape evolves, there is also a growing need for knowledgeable STEM educators, policymakers, and data analysts.

When asked what sets these academic tracks apart from standard certifications, Kate Soons, an Emergency Services/Health Science instructor, says, “Ultimately, certifications teach students how to respond in the moment, while the degree prepares them to lead, adapt, and help build more resilient systems over time.”

She goes on to say that these specialized tracks are informed by public health, psychology, ethics, and other social science coursework to develop a deeper understanding of care disparities and cultural competencies.

With such a commitment to building a strong EMS response force, it is no wonder that Saint Michael’s College’s Fire & Rescue is among the top college-affiliated fire and EMS services in the country.

 Saint Michael’s College Rescue member Joelle Cameron ’26 practices treatment procedures on a volunteer patient in spring 2026.

RESEARCH AND LIVING LABS

STEM education at Saint Michael’s is exemplified by the work being done by professors and students alike. While comparing past research on the brains of Alzheimer’s patients and spiders dying of the same affliction, Dr. Ruth Fabian-Fine, professor of Biology and Neuroscience and her team, discovered similarities in neurons.

When asked what these findings might mean for medicine, she replied, “Based on these findings, we have identified drug targets. Testing one of these drug targets in preliminary studies, we have promising findings. We hope to team up with biotech to pursue this avenue; this is the biggest challenge at this point.”

These results are exciting not only for Dr. Fabian-Fine but also for her students. Many of the students have a personal connection to the research, including some who have family members or know someone close to them affected by neurodegenerative diseases.

However, the hardest challenge to date has been a lack of published research on the subject, which has driven down visibility. Says Dr. Fabian-Fine, “I wish the scientific community was more open to looking into this to collectively drive forward our understanding of neurodegeneration more quickly.”

Besides working on research projects like Dr. Fabian-Fine’s, Saint Michael’s also gives students the opportunity to utilize its outdoor and living classrooms (OLCs), 440 acres of outdoor learning space, both on and across from campus, much of which is used by students and locals alike.

 Biology and Neuroscience Professor Ruth Fabian-Fine works with students in summer 2025 involved in a research project focused on how Alzheimer’s disease develops in the human brain.

Part of the Patrick ’61 and Marcelle Leahy Institute for the Environment, it includes a 360-acre Natural Area of conserved forests, wetlands, trails, and overall restored ecosystems. Students often utilize these spaces for internships, research, coursework, volunteer opportunities, and more. And Saint Michael’s often hosts workshops, classes, and activities for the public to enjoy the same natural resources as the students.

When asked what makes these outdoor classrooms distinct from other facilities, Kristyn Achilich, Leahy Institute director and senior sustainability officer, says: “They help students move beyond theory and develop the skills, habits of mind, and sense of responsibility needed to address complex environmental and social challenges collaboratively and compassionately.”

A prime example can be seen in the collaboration between The Farm & Food Program, Chemistry Department, and Undergraduate Research Program for the Saffron Project, where all students involved must not only navigate collaboration but also understand the various aspects of agriculture and business needed to harvest a sustainable and profitable crop annually.

The project’s goal is to develop a testing mechanism for saffron that ensures the spice’s purity in the broader marketplace. The results from this project not only teach students but also improve outcomes for Vermont-based and national farmers in real time.

 Saint Michael’s College Biology professor Mark Lubkowitz, center, works with student researchers on a project related to corn genetics and food production.

 An aerial view of Saint Michael’s College campus in October 2024.

RESULTS DON’T LIE

These are just a few examples of how Saint Michael’s College’s commitment to the Edmundite Mission benefits the greater Burlington community, and, potentially, the world. The college’s students boast a 98 percent rate of student employment or enrollment in higher education six months after graduation, and over 80 percent matriculate into specialized pathways, such as medical school (double the national average). The school supports nearly 3,000 jobs, 60,000 hours of community service, and makes $185 million in total economic impact.

When asked how all these improvements achieve the ultimate goal of Saint Michael’s, Dr. Plumb says: “At every level, this work reflects the enduring vision of Saint Michael’s: preparing graduates not only for professional success, but for lives of purpose, integrity, and service to the common good.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE

Saint Michael’s College

1 Winooski Park

Colchester, VT

www.smcvt.edu