UVM CALS

One of today's 2026 RISE Lunch and Learn sessions was "Data That Delivers: Using data for community impact work."
Panelist and UVM Extension Professor of Community and Economic Development Mariya Shcheglovitova shared several examples of technical assistance that she's providing community partners not only in accessing, understanding, and interpreting existing public data, but also generating new data to fill in gaps of knowledge.

Among Shcheglovitova's projects: the Vermont Assessment of Assets, Angles and Need (VAAAN). Led by Extension and funded by the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, the VAAAN is examining what Vermonters have and need to thrive, and where there might be opportunities for partnership.

As part of the data-gathering process for the VAAAN, Shcheglovitova is working with Local Minutes founder Duane Millar Barlow. Local Minutes uses large language model technology to gather Vermont municipal meeting minutes and make them searchable. From there, Shcheglovitova can map the specific ways that different Vermont communities discuss what they need.

You can learn more about the VAAAN at the link in our bio.

It takes a battalion behind the scenes for graduation!

Big thanks to Kate Finley Woodruff and the student services team: Sean Levy, Stephanie McConnell, and Kaylee Boutin for all the hard work and dedication leading up to this exciting day!