Jennifer Kaulius
36 | Senior Government Relations Officer, University of Vermont Health
Residence: Chittenden
Career Highlights: The career highlight I’m most proud of is serving as campaign manager in Mayor Miro Weinberger’s successful re-election bid in 2015. I had worked in the mayor’s office since graduating from UVM in 2012 and serving as campaign manager was a real leap — I learned so much and was lucky to be surrounded by such good people doing their all to help our city.
Community Involvement: My community involvement includes board membership with two organizations I have been proud to be part of. I participated in Leadership Champlain during the 2019-2020 cohort year, and I have served as an Advisory Board member since 2022. Leadership Champlain’s mission is to foster growth and leadership in professionals who will serve our community now and in the future.
During my time working for Mayor Miro Weinberger, I forged many close relationships with staff throughout the City of Burlington. I’ve always respected the work of Burlington City Arts — and the educational and celebratory opportunities BCA makes possible for our community. I have served on the Burlington City Arts Foundation Board since 2021.
What motivated you to live and work in Vermont: My family and I visited Vermont for the first time to tour UVM the summer before my senior year of high school; after walking down College Street and seeing Lake Champlain, I knew that this was a special community that I’d want to be part of. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to study at UVM, and to build a professional career here in Vermont.
Favorite part of your job: My favorite part of my job is getting to work with such respected colleagues of mine — across our three Vermont hospitals and across our health system — whom I continually learn from, as we work on our annual regulatory and budget submissions to the Green Mountain Care Board over the course of each hospital fiscal year.
Favorite Vermont escape: My favorite Vermont escape is anything at the end of a long (preferably dirt) road, with the windows rolled down (spring through fall, but not in winter!). My top spots include Lake Willoughby, Blueberry Lake Cross Country, and Hill Farmstead Brewery.
Favorite downtime activity: My favorite downtime activity is cross country skiing — my friends and I started going religiously every weekend during the pandemic as a way to safely spend time together. Five years in and we still meet up each weekend!
What is your favorite smell: My favorite smell is wood smoke wafting from nearby houses on the first cold day of fall.
Person you would most like to share a Vermont beverage with: The person I’d most like to share a Vermont beverage with is Samin Nosrat — I think she’d appreciate the beautiful simplicity of a Barr Hill cocktail.
What one song is on your playlist that are you embarrassed to tell your best friend: The song on my playlist I would be embarrassed to tell my best friend is actually an entire a list of songs. The Paw Patrol Movie soundtrack is a bop!