On October 9, 2024, Professor Malcolm Severance celebrates a milestone few ever reach - his 100th birthday.

A man whose life and legacy are intricately woven into the fabric of the University of Vermont, Severance has become a living legend, revered for his transformative impact on UVM’s Grossman School of Business and for the countless lives he has touched over the decades.

A Legacy of Leadership: From Student to Architect of UVM's Business School

Born and raised in Colchester, Severance’s connection to UVM spans nearly 80 years, beginning when he first set foot on campus as an undergraduate in the 1940s. His education at UVM paused for a few years during WWII when he enlisted, but he returned to finish his undergraduate degree in 1949.

He came back to campus in 1953 to join the faculty in the Department of Economics and Commerce after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin.

Although age has softened the clarity of his earliest memories, his influence has never dimmed. Reflecting on his time at the university, Severance shared, “I don’t remember much about my undergraduate years,” but his modesty belies the monumental role he played in shaping UVM’s future.

In 1981, Severance was instrumental in the creation of the School of Business Administration - a lasting testament to his vision and leadership. The plaque commemorating this achievement still hangs in his home, a daily reminder of the institution he helped build.

He retired from the faculty in 1986, but he did not retire from his life of service. He went on to serve on the UVM Board of Trustees and as a state legislator for several terms. And at age 91, he wrote a book titled A Pursuit of Excellence: A History of the University of Vermont School of Business Administration.

Severance’s former students, colleagues, and friends hold him in the highest regard, many calling him their favorite professor, mentor, and guide. Al Glazier ’62, a former student, captured this sentiment perfectly when he said, “Professor Severance shaped me in a way that made all the difference. He was my favorite professor, and I’ll never forget the impact he had on my life.”

Glazier is just one of the many who found Severance’s wisdom and teaching transformative, a testament to the living legacy that continues to thrive in classrooms and boardrooms across the world.

That living legacy was recognized in 2008 with UVM's highest honor. Both Malcolm and his wife, Gladys (also a graduate from the Class of 1949), received an honorary degree at commencement.

Yet Severance’s impact extends beyond the classroom. A thoughtful and generous man, he and his late wife, Gladys, established the Malcolm and Gladys Severance Graduate Excellence Fund in 2015, supporting outstanding students in UVM’s Master of Business Administration program.

This fund embodies Severance’s deep belief in the power of education and his unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of business leaders.

As he prepares to celebrate this remarkable birthday, Severance has graciously given permission for those who wish to honor him to contribute to this fund, ensuring that his legacy of excellence lives on in future generations of UVM students.

Wisdom and Reflection: A Life of Thoughtful Impact

Reflecting on his extraordinary life, Severance is as contemplative as ever. When asked to offer advice to current UVM students, he paused, not wanting to give a quick answer. “I want to give a thoughtful response,” he said, embodying the same careful consideration that has characterized his life’s work.

For Severance, advice is not something to be given lightly; it is something to be weighed, shaped by experience, and spoken with intention. It is in this careful thoughtfulness that Severance’s greatness shines - a reminder that a life well-lived is one built on wisdom and reflection.

Severance may humbly describe himself as “just a farm boy from Colchester,” but the breadth of his contributions tells a far more remarkable story. As a professor, dean, trustee, and mentor, he has shaped UVM into the thriving institution it is today.

For generations of students, colleagues, and friends, he is far more than an educator; he is a living legend - a figure whose legacy has become inseparable from the university’s history and future.

On his 100th birthday, we celebrate a man whose life has been dedicated to service, education, and the pursuit of excellence. Professor Severance’s influence, kindness, and brilliance have left an indelible mark on the University of Vermont, and for that, we are forever grateful.

Happy 100th birthday, Professor Severance. Your remarkable legacy will continue to inspire for years to come.