CCV Honors Founding President Peter Smith

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Last week, the Community College of Vermont (CCV) honored its founding president, Peter Smith, by dedicating a room in his name. A celebration was held on Friday at the Montpelier academic center, where a large meeting space has been renamed the Peter Smith Gathering Place.

CCV was created in 1970 by a special commission charged by then-Governor Deane Davis to deliver postsecondary education to Vermonters in their local communities. Smith was hired as the first president of CCV, which was seen as a bold experiment in higher education.

“He had the right set of skills, the right character, and most importantly the grit and determination to make CCV a success,” current CCV President Joyce Judy said. “With Peter’s vision and leadership at its foundation, CCV has grown beyond what anyone could have imagined in 1970.” Today, CCV is the second-largest institution in Vermont, serving more than 10,000 students each year at locations across the state.

Smith’s forward-thinking legacy continues in CCV’s student-centered approach to higher education, which honors learners by meeting them where they are and helping them reach both their educational and career goals. The College’s mission remains focused on access, particularly for marginalized populations. Its diverse student body includes traditional-aged students as well as working adults, students who are parents, new Americans, military veterans, high school students, senior citizens, first-generation college students, and Vermonters who are incarcerated.

“We did create something out of nothing…many people thought we wouldn’t succeed,” Smith said. “As CCV has grown and changed, it has only gotten better. That’s not just about education—it’s about how we all feel about people.”“I am so thankful and excited for what CCV has become,” Smith said, “and for what it’s continued to do, and to teach, in terms of ‘we’re here with you; we’re here for you. We’re not gonna do something to you, we’re gonna do something with you.’ And that has power to unlock the human potential.”