Early in October, Becky Davis, Class of 1975, stopped by campus for a chat with us about her memories of UVM during the 70s, what made her time here so special, and how those years were informed by the events in the US more broadly.
We talked about everything from how she chose UVM initially, to how her experience in the 70s closely mirrors the experience that current students are having on campus today.
A Good Match
Becky was the third of six girls in her family, growing up outside of Cleveland, Ohio. So, when it was time for her to think about college, she felt she had already seen some of the options out there. She had seen what a small liberal arts college looked like, and heard about her sister’s experience at a larger state college in Kentucky.
When her family took a trip to Nova Scotia one summer, and they toured through a few New England schools, she knew this was where she wanted to be. And, it helped that her father was encouraging her to think about it more seriously.
“He saw an opportunity, because Vermont was a great size school. And I hadn’t quite decided what I wanted to focus on, whether it was PT or adaptive education, working with kids. He saw that UVM had different colleges, a good price for the opportunity, and pushed me to consider it as a good match.”
She began in the College of Education, but realized fairly quickly that it wasn’t the right match for her. And, once she began looking around for the program that would enable her to follow her passions, it became clear that Nursing was the right fit.
Becky credits the close personal connections she made during this time made the difference for her. She joined a sorority, Pi Beta Phi, and eventually served as President of the Panhellenic Council.
Because of these opportunities, she formed relationships with professors, she met weekly with the Dean of Students, Jackie Gribbons. Becky had the opportunity to sit on the Presidential Selection Committee which would go on to select Lattie Coor as the 21st UVM President.
Freedom to express herself. To become herself.
Don’t let all that achievement convince you she wasn’t also out there having adventures with her friends.
From dining hall capers, to spur of the moment weekend trips to the Craftsbury Fiddler Contest with the man who would go on to become her husband of 50 years – Becky was at UVM to get an education and start her career, but she was also here to learn about who she was as an individual, and to start living.
The freedom of coming to college allowed Becky to consider who she wanted to be when no one knew her name. How did she want to dress? Did she want to wash her hair or throw it in a bandana?
When she came home at Thanksgiving, she was ‘a completely different person.’
“All of a sudden, it was like ‘I’m not playing the game of dressing up and looking and acting. I’ll behave, but I’m but going to look the way I want to look.’”
She found freedom to express herself. To become herself.
Random moments during your college career can define so much of your life
An overwhelming theme of our conversation, as wide ranging as it was, came back to the unique circumstances of those four years at UVM, and how seemingly random moments during your college career can define so much of your life.
That freshman year dormmate could go on to still be your closest friend 50 years later.
Those sorority sisters could go on to become the group you vacation with once a year.
That man you met by chance in Winooski could go on to be your husband.
So many of the things that happen during college feel like they contain magic. These things could only happen here, in this tucked away college town in the corner of Vermont.
But there’s another side to that coin. So much of what was happening at UVM during those years in the early 70s was heavily influenced by events and changes from far beyond the borders of campus.
Having grown up in Ohio, Becky graduated high school in the shadow of the events at Kent State, and the protests across the country around the war in Vietnam. She remembers many of her classmates getting involved with protests and finding their voice – but it was coupled with a real fear of how that could impact their lives.
UVM was navigating through uncharted waters. There was a budget shortfall after years of a growth mindset, meaning capped admissions and cutting programs. The drinking age had just changed, there was no longer a curfew for the women’s dormitories, traditions were changing.
Looking back, for Becky, it becomes clear that the University was trying to find its way just like she and her classmates were.
And, for me, it’s clear that there are so many more similarities between the UVM of the early 70s and the UVM of today than we often realize.
Students are still coming here to find themselves, to explore their political beliefs, to find their voice, to find their career. And the University is once again finding its way through a changing political landscape, and dealing with challenges it hasn’t seen before.
But, if Becky and the class of 1975 are anything to judge by, I think we’re all going to find our way through - and find ourselves better for it.
A Chance to Revisit and Reconnect after 50 years
When I asked Becky what she’s most excited about for this year’s coming reunion, her response made me smile:
“I’m excited for my classmates who haven’t been back to campus to see the changes. I really want them to see the neat things that are going on and the buildings. It’s sounds dorky, but take the tour! Go look at these buildings. This is a university that is totally different from when we were here 50 years ago. And, I can’t wait for them to see the Alumni House.”
We can’t wait to welcome all of you back to campus in June. In the meantime, if Becky’s reflection got you thinking about your years on campus, and you’d like to talk to us more about them - don’t hesitate to reach out!
Go Deeper
If you are in the Classes of 1975 or 1976 and you have questions about your upcoming 50th reunion in June, check out your reunion webpage or reach out directly to Sydney Rybicki at sydney.rybicki@uvm.edu.
And if you aren't receiving regular email updates about your reunion, update your contact information here.
You can read other stories from others who are celebrating their golden reunion:
50th Reunion Reflection Random Moments That Turn Out To Define A Life
Kathryn Meader '15
Nov 12, 2025