Meghan “MJ” Jaird (she/her) serves as the Director of Student Services in the College of Education and Social Services’ Student Services Office; prior, MJ assumed the Assistant Director of Student Services in 2018 and CESS Student Services Coordinator position in summer 2017.  Additionally, MJ’s growing interest and work with neurodiverse students compelled her to complete the JST ADHD Coaching Training, and is currently in pursuit of the ACC coaching credential through the International Coaching Federation.

MJ’s professional arc has centered on pillars of diversity, social justice and educational access; a commitment to innovative program development; and student-centered recruitment, retention and holistic advising and coaching practices.

Prior to UVM, MJ served as an Assistant Director of Admission for Saint Michael’s College (SMC) for four years. This position strengthened and refined her established skill sets in student engagement and development, particularly through her leadership in piloted campus diversity and inclusion initiatives and her advisory role on the SMC First Generation Council.

MJ worked for two years as an Assistant Director of National Service Programs through the Washington County Youth Service Bureau in Montpelier, VT.  She recruited, advised, and evaluated over 100 national service members through the AmeriCorps VISTA and National/State programs.  The members were placed in education and youth development initiative and organizations across the state of Vermont.  Additionally, MJ worked as a collaborative team member to conceptualize, coordinate and facilitate extensive monthly professional and skill development trainings, rooted in evidence-based leadership development theories.

MJ earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, during which she became interested in non-profit work and community development through her volunteer experiences within the Winooski and Burlington refugee communities. Upon graduation in 2010, MJ embarked upon a unique, year-long experience to create community needs assessments and establish educational and community-based programming in Selma, AL.

Originally from Saint Albans Town, MJ currently resides in Essex Junction and enjoys running, paddle-boarding, traveling, and hiking with her dog, Pace. MJ also volunteers for the Essex Community Justice Center’s Restorative Justice panel. MJ is completing her M.Ed. degree in Educational Leadership at the University of Vermont, with a thesis project focused on the ways in which public, selective U.S. universities provide support for neurodiverse undergraduate learners in their website presence.