Vermont Humanities
Toussaint St. Negritude wears a gray newsboy cap and tan jacket with a green collared shirt, blue tie, and tortoise shell round glasses standing in front of a green outdoor background

Toussaint St. Negritude

Community Programs Officer

802-262-1361

Toussaint St. Negritude comes to Vermont Humanities with a lifetime’s breadth of community enhancement, advocating the essential intersectionality of perspectives on the arts, spirituality, justice, sustainability, ethnicity, queer life, and the restorative benefit of our connection to Vermont’s landscape.

Cathleen Barkley

Accounting Assistant

(802) 262-1359

Cathleen holds a Masters in Art History from Goddard College. She has spent nearly two decades as an adjunct faculty, community educator, and organizer.

Chelsea Cockrell Lafayette wears a green sweater with long dark blonde hair and smiles standing in front of a green outdoor background

Chelsea Cockrell Lafayette

Director of Development & Communications

(802) 262-1360

Chelsea joins us with over 15 years’ experience working in the arts and culture sector in Vermont. She started at Vermont Humanities in July 2022 as the lead fundraising and communications strategist to grow support for Vermont Humanities and the cultural organizations we fund.

Noel Clark wears a blue and black checkered shirt standing in front of a green outdoor background

Noel Clark

Communications Officer

(802) 262-1357

Noel holds a Bachelor’s in Professional Journalism from the University of Minnesota and spent over a decade as a radio journalist and a communications professional for diverse arts and cultural organizations. He has served in nonprofit communications roles in both Minnesota and Massachusetts.

Student making an Abenaki burn bowl using a blow stick

Jonny Flood on East Corinth Humanities Camp

From our 2021 year-end highlights video, Literacy Programs Manager Jonny Flood describes attending the “Indigenous Peoples and the Environment” Humanities Camp hosted by the Blake Memorial Library in East Corinth, Vermont.

Leanne Porter stands in front of a wooden wall with hung instruments holding a white coffee mug wearing a jean jacket

Leanne Porter

Early Literacy Associate

Leanne is an accomplished author, teacher, and education consultant. In addition to her role at Vermont Humanities, she is an assistant professor and the coordinator of Early Childhood Education online at Northern Vermont University.

Wendy Martin in a red top and checkered raincoat standing in front of a green outdoor background

Wendy Martin

Early Literacy Associate

Wendy co-develops professional development opportunities for early childhood educators through the new Foundations of Educational Philosophy and Literacy Development and Never Too Early programs. She also works closely with public librarians through the Vermont Early Literacy Initiative.

Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup wears black glasses and a purple shirt and smiles standing in front of a green outdoor background

Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup

Executive Director

(802) 262-1351

Christopher became Vermont Humanities’ third executive director in August 2018. He previously served as a Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Vermont Community Foundation for 10 years and has held leadership roles at the Flynn Center, Outright Vermont, Rural Vermont, and the Pride Center.

Elizabeth Malone wearing a blue top standing in front of a green outdoor background

Elizabeth Malone

Director of Finance and Administration

(802) 262-1359

Elizabeth has worked in mission-driven organization management since 2010, most recently as the Executive Director of Northwest Access TV. She is pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration from Norwich University.

Jacob Pelletier wearing a blue and white patterned shirt and smiling, with a dark beard and grey black hair standing in front of a green outdoor background

Jacob Pelletier

Community Programs Officer

(802) 262-1353

A seasoned program manager and community organizer, Jacob Pelletier joined Vermont Humanities in 2022. He is primarily responsible for the management of our First Wednesdays, Fall Conference, and Words in the Woods programs and works with other Program Team members on Vermont Reads.