Today, the Board of Trustees of Vermont Law School and its President and Dean, Thomas McHenry, jointly announce his decision not to seek renewal for another term and that he will step down at the end of June 2021. "The Board of Trustees is grateful for all that Tom has accomplished for the School and the intensity of his commitment to the success of VLS," said Glenn Berger, Chairman of the Board. McHenry will continue to lead the School while the Board immediately commences a search for his successor.
Since his appointment in July 2017, McHenry has directed and overseen a variety of measures that have made Vermont Law School financially stronger and enhanced its educational programs. At the Board's instruction, McHenry has achieved budget surpluses while increasing employee benefits and maintaining the nationally recognized environmental program. During his service, he also led a significant programmatic and financial restructuring and established an Immigration Clinic, an Environmental Justice Clinic, a partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and our Environmental Advocacy Clinic, secured a multi-million dollar grant to establish the National Center on Restorative Justice, and established a satellite office in Burlington. He also led and engaged in several initiatives to support and improve mental health for students and for those in the legal profession, including his service on the Vermont Commission to Improve Well Being of the Legal Profession.
Over the last 13 months, he and other members of the leadership team have worked closely with the Board to develop a set of forward-looking strategic initiatives. McHenry said: "I’m so pleased to be leaving VLS stronger financially and, with the newly endorsed strategic initiatives, poised for future growth. VLS is a great school, attracting and educating some of the most environmentally and socially committed law and policy students from around the country and the world."
The School will continue to advance those strategic initiatives in cooperation with the faculty and staff. "Among his many accomplishments, Tom assembled an extraordinarily talented leadership team, and we have enormous confidence in their ability to continue to advance the mission of the School," added Chair Berger.