From left, top row: Michelle Weissman, Azulena Godeck and Melanie Centeno. Bottom left to right: Heather Ayres, Jan Murray and Juliette Britton.
Vermont Business Magazine The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont (GIV, https://giv.org), a nonprofit organization inspiring more than 600 high school students each summer to envision meaningful careers in topics from healthcare to engineering to graphic design, welcomes six new trustees, four of whom are alumni of GIV Institutes: Heather Ayres of Quechee, Juliette Britton* of Manchester Center, Melanie Centeno*** of Hinesburg, Azulena Godeck* of Essex Junction, Jan Murray of Shelburne, and Michelle Weissman* of South Burlington. * GIV alumni ** Parent of a GIV alum ***Both!
Heather Ayres, owner and Educational Consultant at Ayres Education, Quechee, VT, is a highly accomplished educational leader with extensive experience developing innovative programs to promote student success. She holds degrees from Brown University, Simmons University, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, including a doctorate in education. Heather’s insights into student growth and development along the high school to college continuum anchor her research interests and align powerfully with GIV’s mission. She states, “I am committed to Vermont’s next generation and GIV’s efforts to ensure that all Vermont high schoolers have access to the experiential learning opportunities and mentorship they need to thrive.”
Juliette Britton is a graduate of Burr and Burton Academy and an alum of GIV’s Arts Institute, an experience which inspired her to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Maine College of Art in Portland, ME. She has a career background in philanthropy and nonprofit service from the Boston area and throughout Vermont, including purchasing and revitalizing the historic J.J. Hapgood General Store & Eatery in Peru, VT – successfully operating it for a decade before passing it on to new custodians who continue its role as a vital community hub. Juliette is the owner and Consultant at Juliette Britton Creative Direction in Manchester Center, VT.
Melanie Centeno, a Higher Ed Program Development Associate for WorldStrides, has studied, lived, and worked abroad in Europe, Australia, Central & South America, in both high school and higher education settings, and has a passion for blending experiential education with academic learning to create life-changing experiences for both students and teachers. Melanie has a MA in Intercultural Education Management from the School for International Training / SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT and has worked for SIT Study Abroad as a Program Development Assistant. Melanie is a proud GIA Alum (circa 1991) and a parent of a more recent Alum of GIV Environmental Science & Technology (2023).
Azulena Godeck of Essex Junction has a passion for math and serving her community. As a mom and financial advisor, she helps individuals, families, and organizations develop personalized financial solutions to grow, protect, and transfer wealth with confidence. She holds a BS in Mathematics from the University of Vermont and is currently a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with Hickok & Boardman Capital Management, holding her Series 7, 63, and 24 securities licenses. She explains, “I’m excited to join the Board for the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont because, as a local Vermonter and alumna, I’m eager to give back to the program that helped shape my path and support the next generation of Vermont students.”
Jan Murray is an experienced health care attorney who has represented hospital systems and academic medical center clients in numerous complex transactions and regulatory projects and has advised on matters such as Medicare reimbursement, Stark and anti-kickback compliance, nonprofit corporate law and governance, federal tax exemption, health care reform, and research matters. Ms. Murray has been selected for inclusion in industry directories such as The Best Lawyers in America, Legal 500, and Super Lawyers in Massachusetts and Ohio, and has lectured and written on a wide variety of legal issues on health care and life sciences. Jan retired in 2024 and resides in Shelburne, VT.
Michelle Weissman, South Burlington, is the Vice President of North America Business Intelligence at NielsenIQ, where she leads a high-performing team focused on delivering actionable insights, optimizing data operations, and driving commercial growth through scalable analytics solutions. Her passion for STEM education was strengthened in high school when she attended GIV’s Engineering & Math Institute, later returning as a staff member at the Technology Institute. These formative experiences deepened her interest in technology and inspired her to pursue a degree in Software Engineering from Champlain College. Michelle is eager to advance GIV’s mission by fostering empowering, imaginative, and immersive experiences for Vermont’s next generation of leaders.
They join a thriving board of trustees in overseeing this 43-year-old nonprofit. GIV Institutes take place on Vermont college campuses and give attendees the opportunity to dive deep into a topic of interest for an intensive 1-2 weeks. Each Institute is focused around a career-oriented topic including Arts, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Global Issues & Youth Action, Health & Medicine, Mathematical Sciences, Technology & Design, and Weather & Climate Science.
The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that welcomes business sponsorships and individual donations to help fund GIV’s efforts to deliver high-quality programming to all interested Vermont students, regardless of their family’s finances. In 2025, more than 55% of students were low-income. If you are in a position to give, please call 802-865-4448 or visit www.giv.org/support
12.15.2025. Governor’s Institutes of Vermont
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