John Tansey is 7th‑generation Vermonter with deep local roots. He was born and raised in Windsor, Vermont, and Windsor has always been his home. Even when he lived overseas for several years, he kept his residence in Windsor and returned home. His deep roots in the community shape his strong love for Vermont and his commitment to public service.

He and his wife, Nida, have been married for 39 years. Together they have three children and six grandchildren. Family is very important to John and Nida. All three of their children graduated from Windsor High School and went on to attend college in Vermont. Today, their children all live in Vermont, and their six grandchildren attend Vermont public schools. John understands the value of strong schools, safe communities, and opportunities for young people because his own family, friends, and neighbors depend on them.

After graduating from Windsor High School in 1980, John attended Cornell University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Economics and Management (also referred to as Agricultural Economics). Later, he attended Dartmouth College and earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, with a focus on regional economic development. His education helped prepare him to understand budgets, local economies, and long‑term planning.

John’s professional career has focused on leadership and administration. For more than 20 years, he has been the Executive Director of the Frank J. Guarini Institute for International Education at Dartmouth College, working closely with faculty to design strong educational programs that run smoothly. Through this work, he has learned the value of safety, efficiency, teamwork, and learning from people and cultures around the world. Earlier in his career, he worked in research administration at Dartmouth and spent seven years overseas with the Peace Corps. He served first as a volunteer in the Philippines and later as staff in Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, and the Republic of Georgia.

For nearly 40 years, John has been involved in local and regional public service. He has served on and chaired several boards, including the Windsor School Board, the Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union Board, the Windsor Selectboard, the Windsor Improvement Corporation, and the boards of trustee for Mount Ascutney Hospital and Valley Regional Hospital.  Additionally, John served on the boards of directors for Windsor on Air, the local public access television station, and the Springfield Regional Development Corporation for many years. He also served for 3 years on the state Building Bright Futures Council after being appointed by Vermont Governor James Douglas.

Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, walking, reading, traveling with his wife, and cutting and stacking firewood. He is a lifelong Boston sports fan and loves baseball, basketball, and football. He played football at Cornell and later coached football in Windsor at both the varsity and peewee levels.

John brings strong values, honesty, and hard work to everything he does. Known for his fiscal and social responsibility, he combines proven leadership, careful financial management, and a deep respect for listening to others, he is ready to serve Vermont with energy, integrity, and common sense.