[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8284]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JOHN BRAMLEY

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, at the end of this month, John Bramley will 
step down as provost of the University of Vermont. From a day-to-day 
standpoint, the provost of a university is more important than the 
president of a university. The provost is the chief of operations who 
embraces the president's vision and implements ideas into reality. By 
ensuring that academics, research, and student life are running 
smoothly, the provost creates an environment that enriches the lives of 
students, faculty, administrators, and the community.
  As provost of the University of Vermont since 2002, John Bramley has 
not only excelled as provost, but also set a standard that will serve 
as a benchmark to measure other provosts around the country.
  I have known John since he came to the University of Vermont from 
England in the early 1990s. I believe that John excelled as provost 
because of his leadership in earlier positions that he held at the 
university. John is first and foremost an animal science scholar who is 
known internationally for his groundbreaking research on bovine 
mastitis. He is also an excellent teacher who genuinely enjoys the 
interaction between and challenges from students--both undergraduate 
and graduate. That became evident when he was recognized with the 
Joseph Carrigan Teaching Award in 1998.
  John easily made the transition to administrator. He directed the 
university's farm programs, cochaired the agricultural extension 
programs, chaired the Department of Animal Sciences and, perhaps most 
notably, was chair of the Faculty Senate--a position held by election 
among his faculty peers.
  I jokingly think that his early demonstration of these administrative 
skills likely led to his demise as being tapped interim provost and 
then eventually as provost in 2002. And we are so grateful that John 
was at his position, as this turned out to be a critical time in the 
history of the University of Vermont.
  It is no secret that during the 1990s UVM suffered from several years 
of unstable and rocky leadership. Not surprisingly, such a rapid 
turnover at the helm of a major university led to many problems 
including budget shortfalls; low morale among faculty, staff and 
students; and, less than stellar relations with the local Burlington 
and statewide communities. The work of both interim president Ed 
Colodny and John guided the university to calmer waters during that 
difficult time, and helped to build a strong and valuable foundation 
for the incoming president.
  Under President Fogel's administration, the university has been 
reinvigorated and its prestige restored. I am sure that President Fogel 
would agree when I say to all my colleagues that we owe much to John 
Bramley for bringing the university into this new, promising chapter in 
its history.
  John is stepping down as provost, but I am glad that I do not have to 
end this speech with a farewell. John will be returning to what I think 
he enjoys most, his teaching and research. I know he will continue to 
be an important part of the University of Vermont community and I look 
forward to continuing to see him on campus.

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