Vermont College of Fine Arts#History

Vermont College of Fine Arts traces its roots to the Newbury Seminary, which first opened in Newbury, Vermont in 1834.{{Cite book |last=Davenport |first=Walter Rice |url=http://archive.org/details/montpeliersemina00dave |title=Montpelier Seminary and its students with brief sketches of Newbury Seminary, Springfield Wesleyan Seminary, Bakersfield North Academy and the celebration of the First Centennial |publisher=Montpelier Seminary, Capital City Press |others=Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center |year=1934 |pages=123}} One of the earliest faculty members and principal for two years was Clark T. Hinman who later became the first president of Northwestern University.{{Cite web |title=Hinman, Clark T. (Clark Titus), 1819-1854 {{!}} Archival and Manuscript Collections |url=https://findingaids.library.northwestern.edu/agents/people/1687? |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=findingaids.library.northwestern.edu}}

The seminary moved in Montpelier in 1868.{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://vcfa.edu/about/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}} After existing in several forms including a Wesleyan Seminary and a Methodist Seminary, using the name Montpelier Seminary,{{cite web |title=History |url=https://vcfa.edu/about/history/ |publisher=Vermont College of Fine Arts |access-date=24 April 2021}} it became Vermont Junior College in 1941. In 1958, it became Vermont College. In 1972, Vermont College merged with Norwich University.{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://vcfa.edu/about/history/ |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}

Union Institute & University acquired Vermont College in 2001 and in 2008, the MFA programs separated from Union Institute & University, and Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) was formed as an independent institution.

Vermont College of Fine Arts ended on-campus residencies in Vermont in June 2022.{{Cite web |last=D'Auria |first=Peter |date=2022-06-15 |title=Vermont College of Fine Arts plans to end on-campus programs, may sell buildings |url=http://vtdigger.org/2022/06/15/vermont-college-of-fine-arts-plans-to-end-on-campus-programs-may-sell-buildings/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=VTDigger |language=en-US}}

Summer residencies in 2023 and 2024 were held on the campus of Colorado College.{{Cite web |title=Summer Residency |url=https://vcfa.edu/summer-residency/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Summer 2024 Residency |url=https://vcfa.edu/summer-2024-residency/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}} A January 2024 residency was held at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania.{{Cite web |title=Winter Residency |url=https://vcfa.edu/winter-residency-recap/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}

In April 2024, VCFA began a long-term affiliation with the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), and began hosting its residences on the CalArts campus in Santa Clarita, California beginning in January 2025.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=David Delcore Staff |date=2024-04-02 |title=VCFA poised for new partnership |url=https://www.timesargus.com/news/local/vcfa-poised-for-new-partnership/article_937aca45-603a-556d-82ec-2a38d8979c1c.html |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Times Argus |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Safford |first=Grace |date=2025-01-14 |title=Message from the President: Our New Home, Our Next Chapter, Highlights from Winter Residency |url=https://vcfa.edu/our-new-home-our-next-chapter/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}

Programs feature writers-in-residence, artists-in-residence, and artist-scholars such as Richard Russo,{{Cite web |date=2013-07-11 |title=VPR Presents Richard Russo |url=https://www.vermontpublic.org/programs/2013-07-11/vpr-presents-richard-russo |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Vermont Public |language=en}} Andrew Blauvelt,{{Cite web |title=Andrew Blauvelt |url=https://vcfa.edu/visiting-faculty/andrew-blauvelt/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}} Susan Cooper,{{Cite web |last=Bluemle |first=Elizabeth |date=2018-09-18 |title=Middle-Grade Murders |url=https://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/shelftalker/?p=27112 |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Shelf Talker |language=en-US}} Gregory Maguire,{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Sarah Blake |date=2010-08-09 |title=Explorations: Vermont College of Fine Arts Residency and summer travels |url=https://sarahblakejohnson.blogspot.com/2010/08/vermont-college-of-fine-arts-residency.html |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Explorations}} Holly Black and Meredith Davis,{{Cite web |title=Meredith Davis |url=https://vcfa.edu/visiting-faculty/meredith-davis/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}} who give lectures, readings, and workshops.

Approximately 98 authors, designers, filmmakers, composers, artists, and scholars teach at Vermont College of Fine Arts in a part-time capacity and all have terminal degrees in their field.{{Cite web |title=Institution Data Profile - Vermont College of Fine Arts |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/institution-profile/455992 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250528024958/https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/institution-profile/455992 |archive-date=2025-05-28 |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=nces.ed.gov |language=en}} There are currently no full-time professors at VCFA.

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Writing program was established in 1981 and the MFA in Visual Art in 1991. The MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults, the first "MFA program in writing for young readers," began in January 1997. In 2011, it launched an MFA in Music Composition program and an MFA in Graphic Design program{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Shannon |title=College Hall |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/centralvermont/cv22.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901220215/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/centralvermont/cv22.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 1, 2007 |website=www.nps.gov}} The MFA in Film program was established in 2013. In 2014, the residential MFA in Writing and Publishing began, and the Graduate Studies in Art & Design Education Program was established in 2015. The newest program is the International MFA in Creative Writing & Literary Translation, which enrolled its first students in 2018.

In the low-residency structure, students earn their graduate degrees through brief on-campus residencies at CalArts, self-designated study, flexible scheduling, and personalized attention through one-on-one guidance with a faculty mentor. The on-campus residencies consist of workshops, lectures, readings, panel discussions, student-teacher conferences and critiques, and presentations of works in progress."Vermont College of Fine Arts, Progress Report: January 2007-January 2008 (Montpelier., Vermont, 2008) A faculty member works with five or fewer students through written correspondence and electronic/video/telephone communication in between residencies.

1. Charles Adams (1834–1839)
2. Osmon Baker (1839–1844)
3. Clark T. Hinman (1844–1846)
4. Harvey Wood (1846–1847)
5. Francis Hoyt (1847)
6. Henry Sanborn Noyes (1853–1854){{Cite web |title=Noyes, Henry S., 1822-1872 {{!}} Archival and Manuscript Collections |url=https://findingaids.library.northwestern.edu/agents/people/4077 |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=findingaids.library.northwestern.edu}}

1. Thomas Green (2006–2020){{Cite web |last=Safford |first=Grace |date=2019-05-31 |title=President Greene Announces Plans to Step Down in 2020 |url=https://vcfa.edu/president-greene-to-step-down/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}
2. Leslie Ward (2020–2023){{Cite web |last=D'Auria |first=Peter |date=2023-11-13 |title=Vermont College of Fine Arts president to step down |url=http://vtdigger.org/2023/11/13/vermont-college-of-fine-arts-president-to-step-down/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=VTDigger |language=en-US}}
3. Andrew Ramsammy (2023–present){{Cite web |last=Ramsammy |first=Andrew |date=2024-11-25 |title=To survive, pubmedia must embrace personality, co-ownership and connection — before it's too late |url=https://current.org/2024/11/to-survive-pubmedia-must-embrace-personality-co-ownership-and-connection-before-its-too-late/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Current |language=en-US}}

• Horace W. Bailey{{Cite book |last=Carleton |first=Hiram |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Genealogical_and_Family_History_of_the_S/8Cr5seuiQ2wC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA642&printsec=frontcover |title=Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation |date=1903 |publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com |isbn=978-0-8063-4794-3 |language=en}}
• George C. Chamberlain{{Cite web |title=Chamberlain, George C. "G.C." - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=11614 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}
• James M. King{{Cite news |date=1907-10-04 |title=DR. JAMES M. KING DEAD.; For Many Years a New York Pastor F'lgured in a Church Scandal. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/10/04/archives/dr-james-m-king-dead-for-many-years-a-new-york-pastor-flgured-in-a.html |access-date=2025-06-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
• Caroline Burnham Kilgore{{Cite web |title=Biographical Sketch of Carolyn Burnham Kilgore {{!}} Alexander Street Documents |url=https://documents.alexanderstreet.com/d/1010922233 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=documents.alexanderstreet.com}}
• Janette Hill Knox{{Cite web |title=Woman of the Century/Janette Hill Knox - Wikisource, the free online library |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Woman_of_the_Century/Janette_Hill_Knox |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=en.wikisource.org |language=en}}
• George McKendree Steele{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

• Linda McCartney (Associate of Arts, 1961){{Cite web |last=Shaffer |first=Micah |title=Kreitzberg Library: Mining for Old: Mining for Old |url=https://guides.norwich.edu/miningforold/home/linda-mccartney-at-vermont-college |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=guides.norwich.edu |language=en}}

• Millicent Borges Accardi (1993){{Cite web |title=Writing Alumnx Virtual Reading Series |url=https://vcfa.edu/event/writing-alumnx-virtual-reading-series-3/2022-01-20/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}
• W.E. Butts (1995){{Cite web |title=Obituary information for Walter E. Butts |url=https://www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=12285149 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com |language=en-US}}
• Marcus Cafagna (1998){{Cite web |title=Marcus S. Cafagna |url=https://english.missouristate.edu/missouristate.outputDocumentLocation(); |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=english.missouristate.edu |language=en}}
• Allison Hedge Coke (1995){{Cite web |title=Allison Adelle Hedge Coke |url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/allison-adelle-hedge-coke |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=The Poetry Foundation}}
• Olena Kalytiak Davis{{Cite web |last=nvu2021 |date=2015-10-27 |title=Poet Olena Kalytiak Davis to Read from Work |url=https://www.northernvermont.edu/poet-olena-kalytiak-davis-to-read-from-work/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=Northern Vermont University |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Vermont College of Fine Arts |url=https://creativewritingmfa.info/rankings/VermontCollegeofFineArts.html |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=creativewritingmfa.info}}
• Alison Hawthorne Deming (1983){{Cite web |title=Alison Hawthorne Deming {{!}} English |url=https://english.arizona.edu/person/alison-hawthorne-deming |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=english.arizona.edu |language=en}}
• Ted Deppe{{Cite web |title=Children of the Air |url=https://www.alicejamesbooks.org/backlist/children-of-the-air |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Alice James Books |language=en-US}}
• Frank DiPalermo (2021){{Cite web |title=Writing Alumnx Virtual Reading Series |url=https://vcfa.edu/event/writing-alumnx-virtual-reading-series/2021-04-08/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}
• Frank Giampietro (2002){{Cite web |title=Frank Giampietro |url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/frank-giampietro |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=The Poetry Foundation}}
• Pamela Harrison (1983){{Cite web |title=Pamela Harrison - Artist |url=https://www.macdowell.org/artists/pamela-harrison |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=MacDowell |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Women |first=Pro |date=2021-05-10 |title=PAMELA A. HARRISON |url=https://lfcdypol.elementor.cloud/pamela-harrison/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Professional Women |language=en-US}}
• Katherine Hastings{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}
• Patricia Spears Jones (1992){{Cite web |title=Patricia Spears Jones {{!}} FCA Grant Recipient |url=https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/recipients/patricia-spears-jones/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org}}
• Nancy Lagomarsino (1984){{Cite web |title=Sleep Handbook |url=https://www.alicejamesbooks.org/backlist/sleep-handbook |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Alice James Books |language=en-US}}
• Moira Linehan{{Cite web |title=MOIRA OUNJIAN Obituary (1945 - 2023) - Winchester, MA - Boston Globe |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/moira-ounjian-obituary?id=51909988 |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Legacy.com}}
• Alyce Miller (1995){{Cite web |title=Alyce Miller - Poet Alyce Miller Poems |url=https://www.poemhunter.com/alyce-miller/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Poem Hunter |language=en-us}}
• David Mura{{Cite web |title=David Mura |url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/david-mura |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=The Poetry Foundation}}
• Jamie Parsley{{Cite web |title=Jamie Parsley {{!}} West Fargo Area Education Foundation |url=https://www.wfaed.foundation/jamie-parsley/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |language=en-US}}
• Bill Rasmovicz{{Cite web |title=Bill Rasmovicz |url=https://brooklynpoets.org/community/poet/bill-rasmovicz |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Brooklyn Poets |language=en-US}}
• Tim Seibles (1990){{Cite web |last=Poets |first=Academy of American |title=Tim Seibles |url=https://poets.org/poet/tim-seibles |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=poets.org |language=en}}
• Betsy Sholl{{Cite web |title=Betsy Sholl |url=https://vcfa.edu/faculty-staff/betsy-sholl/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}
• Janaka Stucky (2003){{Cite web |date=2009-03-27 |title=Sextant Launches |url=https://www.blackocean.org/blog/2009/3/27/sextant-launches.html |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Black Ocean |language=en-US}}
• Jennifer K. Sweeney{{Cite web |last=Poets |first=Academy of American |title=Jennifer K. Sweeney Receives the James Laughlin Award |url=https://poets.org/jennifer-k-sweeney-receives-james-laughlin-award |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=poets.org |language=en}}
• Martha M. Vertreace-Doody
• Marjorie Welish{{Cite web |title=Marjorie Welish |url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/marjorie-welish |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=The Poetry Foundation}}
• Valerie Wohlfeld (1993){{Cite web |title=Valerie Wohlfeld |url=https://agnionline.bu.edu/about/our-people/authors/valerie-wohlfeld/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=AGNI Online |language=en}}

• Gail Gregg (1998){{Cite web |title=Vermont College of Fine Arts announces new chairman of its board {{!}} Vermont Business Magazine |url=https://vermontbiz.com/people/february/vermont-college-fine-arts-announces-new-chairman-its-board |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=vermontbiz.com}}
• Tracy Krumm (1995){{Cite web |date=2015-11-20 |title=Fiber Artist Tracy Krumm to Present Lecture, 3D Workshop at UK |url=https://uknow.uky.edu/arts-culture/art/fiber-artist-tracy-krumm-present-lecture-3d-workshop-uk |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=UKNow}}
• Kapulani Landgraf{{Cite web |title=Kapulani Landgraf {{!}} Smithsonian American Art Museum |url=https://americanart.si.edu/artist/kapulani-landgraf-33449 |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=americanart.si.edu |language=en}}
• Don Swartzentruber{{Cite web |title=SPLIT ROCK REVIEW — DON SWARTZENTRUBER |url=https://www.splitrockreview.org/don-swartzentruber |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=SPLIT ROCK REVIEW |language=en-US}}

• Julie Berry (2008){{Cite web |date=2009-03-09 |title=Julie Berry, A Young Mother of Boys Finds Happiness Writing For Teen Girls |url=https://latterdaysaintmag.com/article-1-1796/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=Meridian Magazine}}
• Mary Clyde{{Cite web |last=Guest |date=2024-10-09 |title=The Question of Sad, by Mary Clyde |url=https://www.associationmormonletters.org/2024/10/the-question-of-sad-by-mary-clyde/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=Dawning of a Brighter Day |language=en-US}}
• René Colato Laínez (2005){{Cite web |title=René Colato Laínez |url=https://www.fullcircleliterary.com/rene-colatolainez/ |access-date=June 28, 2025 |website=www.fullcircleliterary.com}}
• Carolyn Crimi ( 2000){{Cite web |title=Carolyn Crimi About |url=https://www.carolyncrimi.com/pages/about.html |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=www.carolyncrimi.com}}
• Alicia Erian{{Cite book |last=Erian |first=Alicia |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Towelhead/yZg7PgAACAAJ?hl=en |title=Towelhead |date=2009-07-10 |publisher=Baker & Taylor, CATS |isbn=978-1-4395-6595-7 |language=en}}
• LeAnne Howe (2000){{Cite web |title=LeAnne Howe {{!}} Department of English |url=https://www.english.uga.edu/directory/people/leanne-howe |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=www.english.uga.edu}}
• Darrell Kipp{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Beacon |date=2013-11-24 |title=Kipp, Leader in Preserving Blackfoot Culture, Dies |url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2013/11/24/kipp-leader-in-preserving-blackfoot-culture-dies/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Flathead Beacon |language=en}}
• Wally Lamb{{Cite web |last=Reports |first=Combined |date=2013-10-18 |title=Wally Lamb – A New Book At Last |url=https://today.uconn.edu/2013/10/wally-lamb-a-new-book-at-last/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=UConn Today |language=en-US}}
• Martine Leavitt (2003){{Cite web |title=Martine Leavitt |url=https://www.nationalbook.org/people/martine-leavitt/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=National Book Foundation |language=en-US}}
• Jo-Ann Mapson{{Cite web |last=Smith {{!}} |first=Wendy |title=PW: Jo-Ann Mapson: Love, Grief and Horse Sense |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/34971-pw-jo-ann-mapson-love-grief-and-horse-sense.html |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}
• Lou Mathews (1987){{Cite web |title=Lou Mathews, 1987 MFA in Writing |url=https://vcfa.edu/stories/lou-mathews-1987-mfa-in-writing/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}
• Yamile Saied Mendez{{Cite web |last=kanopi_admin |date=2020-10-08 |title=The PEN Ten: An Interview with Yamile Saied Méndez |url=https://pen.org/the-pen-ten-yamile-saied-mendez/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=PEN America |language=en-US}}
• An Na{{Cite web |title=An Na |url=https://vcfa.edu/faculty-staff/an-na/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}
• Sandra Novack{{Cite web |last=Call |first=The Morning |date=2009-03-15 |title=Valley native returns to roots for novel |url=https://www.mcall.com/2009/03/15/valley-native-returns-to-roots-for-novel/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=The Morning Call |language=en-US}}
• Elizabeth Powell{{Cite web |title=Elizabeth Powell |url=https://www.northernvermont.edu/about/our-people/directory/elizabeth-powell/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Northern Vermont University |language=en}}
• Melissa Pritchard{{Cite web |title=Melissa Pritchard {{!}} ASU Search |url=https://search.asu.edu/profile/66776 |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=search.asu.edu}}
• Kali Vanbaale{{Cite web |title=Kali White VanBaale {{!}} The Loft Literary Center |url=https://loft.org/artists/kali-white-vanbaale |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=loft.org}}
• Deborah Wiles (2003){{Cite web |title=FAQ |url=https://deborahwiles.com/faq/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Deborah Wiles |language=en-US}}
• Ibi Zoboi{{Cite web |last=Cary |first=Alice |date=2017-01-21 |title=Ibi Zoboi |url=https://www.bookpage.com/interviews/20940-ibi-zoboi-ya/ |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=BookPage {{!}} Discover your next great book! |language=en-US}}

• Mark Cox{{Cite web |last=Colin |date=2021-02-11 |title=Mark Cox |url=https://servinghousebooks.com/mark-cox/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=Serving House Books |language=en-US}}

• M. T. Anderson{{Cite web |last=constructive |date=2016-06-02 |title=M.T. Anderson receives Horn Book Award honor |url=https://vcfa.edu/m-t-anderson-receives-horn-book-award-honor/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Vermont College of Fine Arts |language=en-US}}
• Jean Valentine{{Cite web |title=Jean Valentine |url=https://artyard.org/artists/jean-valentine/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=ArtYard |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://vcfa.edu/}}

{{Colleges and universities in Vermont}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vermont College Of Fine Arts}}

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