The House concurrent resolution No. R-40 honors the memory of Mary Jane Dickerson, a former associate professor at the University of Vermont (UVM), poet, and community leader who passed away on October 3, 2024, at the age of 87. A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Dickerson had a distinguished career at UVM, where she held various roles including director of freshman English and associate professor of English. She was known for developing innovative courses, such as women's autobiography and African American literature, and received accolades including the George V. Kidder Outstanding Faculty Award. Additionally, she established the Mary Jane Dickerson Scholarship Fund to support English majors and was recognized by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Beyond her academic contributions, Dickerson was actively involved in her community, teaching reading and writing at local libraries, participating in the New England Young Writers Conference, and publishing two volumes of poetry. She served on several boards, including those of UVM's Fleming Museum and the Jericho Zoning Board of Adjustment, and was engaged in local Democratic politics. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's condolences to her family and directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to them and the Jericho Town Clerk.