CONTACT Winter 2022-23

preparedstudentstogrowandadapttothe evolvingdemandstheywillfaceintheirlivesand careers.

Thatspiritofconstantgrowthisdemonstrated inthelaunchofournewestacademicmajor,digital mediainnovation.Thisnewprogramtranscends disciplinarysilos,incorporatingsocialmedia, informationdesign,datastudiesandmultimedia storytelling,amongothertopics.Itsgraduateswillbewell-preparedforcareersas socialmediamanagers,digitalcontentcreators,multimediaproducers,andother developing elds.

ThatsamespiritofgrowthinformsthearticlesinthisissueofContact,where weshinethespotlightonourgraduateprograms.Inthepagesthatfollow,we sharejustafewofthemanythousandsofstoriesofindividualswhotakethatnext steptocontinuetheiracademicjourneysbeyondtheirbachelor’sdegrees. Whethertheystudyinouron-campusclassroomsorjoinusfromacrossthe countryandtheworldthroughourrobustonlineplatforms,weareproudtocall themallFalcons.

Finally,longtimereadersofContactwillknowwecirculatedasurveyatthe timeofourlastissuetoinquireaboutreaders’habitswiththemagazine.Weare continuingtoexploreahybridmodelforfutureissues,withprintanddigital componentsthatwillhelpustelltheongoingFitchburgStatestoryinthemost timelyandcompellingways.Wewillkeepyoupostedasthesetoolstakeshape.

Inthemeantime,Iencourageallofyoutovisitourwebsiteat tchburgstate.edutokeepapprisedofwhatistakingplaceatourbeloved institution.

RichardS.Lapidus

CAMPUS NEWS

NEWDMIMAJORLAUNCHES

Theuniversitylauncheditsnewbachelor’sdegreeindigital mediainnovationthisfall,preparingstudentsforemployment incontinuallyevolvingandintersecting eldsincluding media/journalism,socialmediaandcontentdevelopment.

The33-creditmajorwillexploredigitalmediaandhow digitaltechnologyandcomputingarechangingsocialand culturalsystemsinemploymentmarketsasnewtoolsreshape industriesacrosstheglobe.

“The beautyoftheDMIprogram is inhow it combines digitalpracticesfromdiverse eldslikeGeographical InformationSystemsandBiologytoGameDesignand Storytelling,” said AssociateProfessor EliseTakehana of the university’sEnglishStudiesDepartment,whohelpedcreate thenewprogram.“It’safreshapproachtogettingstudents involvedinbuildingamorehumanedigitalsocietyinahandsonwayintheirowncommunities.”

“Findingsolutionstothechallengesourworldfacesinthe 21stcenturywillrequirecriticalandcreativethinkingthat combines knowledge from across many di erent elds,” said Assistant Professor J.J.SylviaIVoftheCommunications Media Department,anotheroftheprogram’screators.“Ourgraduates willbeequippedwiththetoolstotacklethesechallenges,and Ican’twaittoseetheimpactthattheymake.”

Thecoursesinthenewmajorwillallowstudentsto developalargecross-sectionofdisciplinarypracticesanda rangeofnewdigitalskillsthatspansocialmedia,multimedia storytelling,informationdesign,datastudies,coding,and more.Itwillculminateinacommunity-engagedcapstone projectthatdemonstratesthechangingwaysweconstruct narrativesusingdata,andequipsstudentswithskillsto employtechnologiesandpracticesinadigitalage.

SALVATORETALKSFUTUREOF STORYTELLING

Best-sellingauthoranddoublealumnusR.A.Salvatore’81, ’91returnedtocampusthisfallforaday-longresidencythat includedaddressestostudentgroupsandapublicaudience onthetopicof“TheFutureofStorytelling.”

Salvatore,whodeliveredthecommencementaddressat theuniversity’sgraduationceremonyin2011,talkedaboutthe expandingmediafootprintofstorytelling.With20million bookssoldsincehewas rstpublishedinthe1980s,Salvatore nowplieshistrade acrossmediaplatforms, includinggraphic novelsandgames.

Hisnewestbook,TheDaoofDrizzt,isacollectionofjournal entrieswritteninthecharacterofSalvatore’smostpopular creation,thedarkelfDrizztDo’Urden.

DuringSalvatore’svisittohisalmamaterinSeptember,he spokeabouttheevolutionofstorytellingasmediahas evolved,includinghisownworkinnewplatformslike videogames.

Watchhiswholepresentationontheuniversity’sYouTube channel,youtube.com/FitchburgState.

OATHSOFHONOR

The5thRecruitO cerCourseoftheuniversity’s groundbreakingpoliceprogramgraduatedfromthepolice academyinSeptember,readytoreportfordutyinmunicipal policedepartmentsacrossMassachusettsandNew Hampshire.Most ofthe 21 members were hired by police departmentsbeforetheygraduated.

ClassleaderMichaelMastersonofPepperellspokeon behalfofhisfellowo cers.

“IcanproudlysaythatIwouldn’ttradethisgroupforthe world,”saidMasterson,whothankedtheacademysta for beingrolemodelsandmodelingthehigheststandards.“The lessonstaughtby allofyouwillforever beingrainedinhow weperformourduties.”

Mastersonsaidthenewo cersshouldholdtheirnew professiontothehighestpossiblestandards.“Trueperfection isunattainable,”hesaid.“Striveforexcellence,notperfection, becausetheworldweliveinisnotperfect.”

FitchburgStatehasalongandgrowinghistoryof helpingprofessionalsadvancetheircareersthrough onlineandin-persongraduateprograms.Hereare someoftheirstories.

MakingaBiggerImpact

JoshuaRomano‘10,‘14waslookingforwaystomakea biggerimpactonstudents.Forthecareereducatorwho hadbeenteachingatareahighschoolsforyears,itwasa postasdeanofstudentsatLunenburgHighSchoolthat inspiredhimtoenhancehisadministrativecredentials.

Forthis,heturnedtoFitchburgState,wherehereceived amaster’sdegreein2010.HealsogottoknowFitchburg StateundergraduateswhowerecompletingtheirownprepracticumexperiencesatLunenburgHigh.“I’veenjoyed thatI’vealwayshadthatconnectiontoFitchburgState,”he said.

TwoyearslaterhewasanassistantprincipalatMurdock HighSchoolinWinchendon,andlateritsprincipal.

Additionaladministrative postsfollowedatother schools,asdidRomano’sowncontinuingeducation.He completedacerti cateofadvancedgraduatestudyfrom FitchburgStatein2014,andearlierin2022he nisheda doctorateatUMassLowell.Thisfallhegreetedthe1,800 studentsatLeominsterHighSchoolasitsnewestprincipal.

ThesizeanddiversityofLeominsterHighrepresenteda welcomechallengeforRomano.

“Iwantedtogosomewherelarger,whereyou’remaking abiggerimpact,”hesaid.

AtLeominsterHigh,Romanolooksforwardto helping studentsnavigatebeyondthedisruptionsofthepandemic andrestoretheschool’straditionsandculturewhilealso supportinginstructionalobjectives.“Thesestudentstook suchahitonexecutivefunctioningskillsandtheirabilityto setgoalsandmeetthem,”hesaid.“Buildinguptheir resilienceisgoingtobeahugee ort.”

Hesaidhefeelsreadyto take on the challenges thanks tohisownscholasticexperience.

“FitchburgStatewasaphenomenalplaceformetoget thepreparationforwhatI’vedoneineducation,”Romano said.“What’sproducedinFitchburgState’seducation programarepractitioners, peoplewhoaregoingtogoout andactuallydoit.Youwill ndwhatyouneedtobe e ectiveininstruction,indevelopingcurriculum,andin helpingstudents.ThesuccessI’vehadasaneducational leaderissoinvestedinFitchburgState. Ilookbackvery fondlyatmytimethere.”

No Turning Back

KatieRichards’20keptherMBAgoalinsightdespite challenges

Afewshortyearsago,KatieRichardsandherhusband, Nate,wereusedtowalkingthetightropeofwork-life balance.ParentsoftwindaughtersHannahandMaddie, theywerealsonavigatingfull-timecareersinbusinessand humanresources.In2018,theydecidedtopursuetheir MBAdegrees.

“ManypeopletoldmethatIwascompletelycrazyfor wantingtogetmyMBA,”Katierecalled.“But,whenI rst foundoutIwaspregnantwithtwinsin2011,andtold peopleIplannedtoreturntomygrowing,full-timecareer, theresponsefrommanywasthatI’dhavetogivesomething up.I’vealwaysjustrefusedtoacceptthatIcouldn’thaveit all.Iknewtherehadtobeaway.”

KatiesaidNatewassteadfastinhisencouragementthat shewouldprovethedoubterswrong.

Theywerewellintotheirstudieswhenthepandemic struckin2020.“Isaid,‘I’msofarin,Ican’tturnbacknow.’So wedidwhatNateandIdobest:westrategizedandmadea crazyplan.”

Theplanincludedgettingupat5:30a.m.,workingin shiftstobalancehomeschoolingtheirthen-6-year-old daughterswithconferencecalls,professionalobligations, andschoolwork.

Katiewouldstart,gettingherdaughtersreadyforschool, thencounting,singingpreschoolsongs,learningtoread, usescissors,andcolorworksheets.At 10 a.m. she and Nate wouldswitch,andshewouldmanageemployeerelations formorethan750hospitalsduringthehealthcarecrisis.

Somethingswerenon-negotiable,includingfamily dinnertimeandputtingthekidstobed.

Withtheirdaughtersinbedby8p.m.,itwasKatieand Nate’sturntohitthebooks.“Weweresogratefulthat FitchburgStategaveus exibilitywithscheduling,”shesaid. “Wefoundaveryrealsta ofprofessorsthat‘gotit.’Theyjust metthemomenttheywerein,withtonsofempathyand respectforeachindividual’sposition.Ittaughtmethat leadershipisaboutleaningin,andmeetingthemoment.”

Itwasn’teasy.“Therewerealotofmomentsofsheer vulnerability,”saidKatie,recallingonenightwhereshe typedpaperswhilehersickdaughtersleptontopofher. “Mymomlatertoldme,‘Somedayyourstorywillbepartof someone’ssurvivalguide.Maybeit’llbeyourowngirls.’”

Withthatfacultyandfamilysupport,shesaid,itwas achievable.Thecourseworkalsopaido inhercareer,as Katiedescribedputtinglessonsfromhereducationinto practice.“I’vebeen inmanyimportantroomssincethen,for somevitaldiscussions,andIwasabletoleveragemy knowledgefromFitchburgStatetoparticipateatahigher

level,”shesaid.

Thecouple nishedtheirMBAdegreesin2020.Absenta traditionalcommencementceremony,theymadetheirway tocampusthefollowingfall,whentheuniversityhosteda FalconWalkforgraduateswhohadn’tgottenthechanceto crossastage.Katiehadsmallcapsandgownsfortheirtwin daughters,whosesupporthadbeenintegraltotheir parents’success.

“Itwastheirmomentjustasmuchasitwasours,”Katie said.

“Ihopemystory remindspeople,andespeciallyother women,thatwereallycanhaveitall,”Katiesaid.“Having educationalandprofessionalgoalsisn’tsel sh,andrelying onasupportsystemwillonlypropelyoutowardsthe nish line.TherearetwowordswhenIthinkofthatseasonofmy life:gritandgrace.IhadtoapproachcompletingmyMBA withasenseofperseverance,passionandhustle, but Ialso hadtogivemyselfgracebecauseperfectionwentoutthe window,andthat’sOK.Ijusthopewhenmy girlslookback, theyareproud,andknowthatmomdidn’tquitbecause theywerewatching.Whensomeonetellsyouyourplateis toofull,remindthemthatit’snot,andtheyjustaren’tas hungryasyou.”

SOARINGHIGHER

Bringing Art to Everyone

JonAllen’12triedhishandatthetraditionalartgame. TheMassachusettsnativemovedtoBrooklynin1999and “didthegallery grind” for10years.Hewasdisillusionedby the politics of theartworldatthattime,anddissatis edby the“soul-crushing”experienceofbeinganarthandlerand museuminstaller.

“ImovedbacktoMassachusettswithnothing,”Allen recalled.

Lookingto ndhispath,hetookacourseinFitchburg State’sgraduateprograminappliedcommunications.“Isaw theprogramasanopportunitytogrow,”hesaid.Through theprogramhehopedhewould ndwaystodevelop intellectuallycreativeconceptswithoutbeingtiedtoa speci cdiscipline.

Andhedid,withpublicartamongthosecreative concepts.Hismaster’sthesisfocusedonusing publicartasameansofeconomic developmentingatewaycities suchasFitchburg.

Sincegraduatingin2012,hehaspursuedthat philosophyinearnest.Allen’sworkisquiteliterallyallover downtownFitchburg,withlarge-scalemuralsadorning buildingsandbridgesthatarepasseddailybythousandsof people.

Oneofhis rstworksdowntownwasalargemuralof environmentalistMarionStoddart,adorningtherearofa buildingonLaurelStreetfacingthecity’sRiverfrontPark. StoddartwasamajorforceinthecleanupoftheNashua Riverwhichpassesthroughthecity.

Morelarge-scaleworksfollowed,includingamuralof the rearmsandbicyclemanufacturerIverJohnson(on MainStreet)and,thissummer,asprawlingworkalong BoulderDrivefromwhichhedrewinspirationfromstudents inthelocalYMCA’s“Spartacus”afterschoolprogram.The muralitselfwaspartofamajorcityinitiativepromoting publicart,andAllenwastheleadartistonthework,which featuresbright,smilingfacesandaspirationaltext.

“Seeingmyworkembeddedinthecommunityfeels good,andIamproudofeachpiecethatIhavedone,”said Allen,whojust nishedhis10thyearteachingatLittleton HighSchool.“Theeuphoriaofcompletinganewmural alwayshappensthe rstmomentsafteryou nish thelastbrushstroke,butasaprofessionalI amalwayslookingforwardtothe nextproject.”

Patient-Centered

HopeMiller‘22wasafan ofthetelevisionshow “Quincy,M.E.”asakid.The 1970sseriesstarredJack Klugmanasamedical examinerwhoworkedwith policeto solve crimes.“I saidatage9Iwantedtobe aforensicpathologist,” Millersaid.

Alas,herprofessional pathwasn’tdestinedto emulatethetidycontours ofscriptedtelevision.Butit wasnolessrewarding.

Millerhasworkedin nursingformorethan20 years,mostlyinIndianaand inTexas.Whileworkingin theemergency department,sheundertookthetrainingtobecomeasexual assaultnurseexaminer(SANE).“Emergencyroomnursing wasmy rstlove,butSANEnursingismypassion,”Miller said.“Wedon’tdoanythingcurative,perse,butwhatwedo

o erisvaluableifit’sdonewell,ifit’spatient-centered,ifit’s trauma-informed,ifit’sadministeredwithmindfulnessand empathy.It’snotsomethingyoulearnovernight.Ittakes beingabletohyper-focusonthepersoninfrontofyou. That’soneofthethingsIlikeaboutit.Thisisoneofthefew areasinnursingwhere youhavetheluxuryoftimetospend withthepatientwhichismissingfrommostofhealthcare today.Beingpresentinthatspacewiththepatientand havingtimetobuildtrustisimperativetothecarethat SANE/Forensicnursesprovide.”

Toadvancehercareerinthe eld,Millerbeganexploring heroptionsforanadvanceddegreeinforensicnursing.She knewshewantedanonlineprogram thatwouldo er exibilityofschedules,andfoundFitchburgState.In additiontoitsformat,shewasattractedtotheprogram’s a ordablepriceandsolidreputation.

“Thefactthatsomanyofthefacultyarewell-knownin the eldandhavebeendoingthisalongtimewas de nitelyaplus,”Millersaid.

Miller’sstudiesweredisruptedbyCOVID-19,butshe wasn’tgoingtogiveuponhergoals.Theprogramwasalot of work,shesaid, but inspired her togrow.Shealso enjoyed meetingotherstudentsandthenetworkingopportunities thatfollowed,includingin-personencountersat conferences.

Milleriscurrentlyworkinginasexualassaulttreatment centerinIndiana,puttingherdegreeandherphilosophyof patientcaretowork.“WhenIhaveapatient,whenthat personisinfront ofme,they’remyonlythought,”shesaid. “Whatweo er ourpatientsissomethingyou’reprobably notgoingtogetunderanyotherconditionofnursing.My hopeis,whentheyleave,theyknowitwasn’ttheirfault,and thatsomehow,theyfeelempoweredinsomewaytomove forwardwiththeirlife.Justiceandhealinglooksdi erentfor everyperson.IfIcanmaybegivethematinybitof foundationforthosethingstohappen,thenI’vedonemy job.”

Learning Together

SharonSimmons‘22foundacommunityoflearnersin herMBAprogram

SharonSimmonsisabelieverinlifelonglearning.The healthcareconsultanthadalreadycompletedtwomaster’s degreesandwasbetweenjobswhenshedecidedtopursue anMBAdegree.

ShetestedthewaterswithamarketingclassatColumbia Universityandenjoyedtheexperience.Sinceshewas betweenjobs,shedecidedtomakethebestuseofthetime shehadbeengiven.“IdecidedIamnotgoingtobethat personwhojustsitsaroundandcomplainsabout everything,”shesaid.“Iliketobethatpersonwhotriesto seeeverythingasanopportunity.Itestedthewatersand lovedit,butIdidn’t want toputmyselfinapositionof startingaprogramthatwasuna ordable.”

SoSimmonsdecidedtodosomeresearch.

“Onawhim,Iwentonlineandlookedtoseewhatkind

ofMBAprogramswereoutthere,”sherecalled.Shefound FitchburgState’sprogramand lledoutanonlineformin searchofinformation.Averypositivecustomerservice experiencefollowed.“Therepresentative was phenomenal, aboveandbeyondanythingIhadeverimagined.Shehad me,andIamahardsell.”

SimmonswasintriguedbyFitchburgState’scourse o erings,itsacceleratedpaceandasynchronousformat. Shestartedtheprogramin2021.

“Ireallylovedthisprogram,”shesaid.“Igotatremendous amountoutofit.Ilovedtheexperience,everythingabout theprogramworkedforme.Theprofessorswereextremely accessible.”

That’snottosay itwasan easyjourney.Simmons navigatedpersonalhealthcrisesinthecourseofherstudies, aswellaslosinglovedonesandchangingjobs,withthe globalpandemicalsocastingashadowovertheexperience. Simmonswasnotshyaboutreachingouttofaculty membersforhelp.“Ifaprofessoro ersthemselvesup,I’m there,”shesaid.“ItookadvantageofeverythingIcouldtake

Shealsocollaboratedcloselywithherclassmates, organizingstudysessionsanddiscussionsaround someofthemorechallengingcoursework.“It wasagreatgroup,”shesaid.“Peoplerealized whatweneededtodoandwerewillingto

Thehumanexperienceshave provedasvaluableasanycourse material,Simmonssaid.

“Iprobably learned more aboutstrategy,inavery tacticalway,withthe applicationina universitysettingand self-organizing,”shesaid.“By applyingitinaverydi erent setting,IprovedtomyselfthatI gotit.Mylevelofselfcon dencetooko inadi erent directionandhaspushedme

All Is Possible

MaryNankyahopeshergraduatedegreeincomputer scienceopensdoorsforwomen

AfterlivinginUgandaherwholelife,MaryNankya decidedtoexpandhereducationandenrollingraduate schoolatFitchburgState.

She rstlearnedaboutFitchburgStatein2016,from friends she had met at aWomeninTechnologyconference inTexas.Nankya,whohasabachelor’sdegreeincomputer sciencefromMakerereUniversityinhernativecountry, workedwithWomeninTechnologyinUganda,whereshe taughtwomenhowtousecomputersinavarietyofcareers.

Nankyasaidapassionforsolvingcommunityproblems acrossindustriesinspiredhertostudycomputerscience.

“I nditsofascinatinghowamazingtechnology advancesfromlowleveltohighlevel,andinthisindustry, youhave toknowalllevels,”shesaid.

NankyaplanstopursueaPhDaftercompletingher master’sstudies.Whileshepursuesherdegree,sheis workingoncampusasthe graduateassistantfortheCenter forDiversityandInclusiveness.

Investinghertimeandresourcesinamaster’sdegree hascomewithchallenges.Shehastwosons,Christianand Japheth,backhomeinUganda.“Beingamom,Icreate timetocommunicatewiththemonvideoduringthe week,andit’sabeautifulexperience tobehereand communicatetothemstillwhileattendingschool,”she said.

Nankyasaidthatherfamilyishermotivationto workhard.

“It’s a decision I had tomake,andschoolis temporary,”shesaid.“BeforeIknowit,itwillbe doneandIwillbewithmychildrenagain.”

Shesaidshealsoknowshernew credentialswillhelpjump-starthercareer, andlooksforwardtobeinganinspiration tootherwomen.

“Ilookforwardtoshowingother womenthatallofthisispossible,”she said,“andtoparticipateinprogramsthat willbringwomencloser,and llthat gendergapbetweenwomenandmen intechnology.”

—CarolineLanni

Where Opportunity Meets Ambition

DayanaCarlson‘99,‘06isrealizinghergreatestambitions asthe rstLatinaprincipalatMontyTech DayanaCarlsonmaynothaveanticipatedthecareer paththatshehasfound,butshewouldn’ttradeitfor anything.

ShehasworkedattheMontachusettRegionalVocational TechnicalHighSchool(“MontyTech”tothestudentsfrom the18citiesandtownsitserves)fornineyears,butinfall 2022becameits rstgraduate, rstfemale,andthe rst Latinatoserveasitsprincipal.

A rst-generationcollegestudentherself,Carlsongotto knowFitchburgStatebytakingdualenrollmentcourses whilestillastudentatMontyTech.“Theteachersheresaw mypotentialandpushedmetocontinuewithmy education,”shesaid.

AnativeofUruguay,shebeganhercareerineducation asaliaisonforstudentslearningEnglishasasecond languageatLeominsterHighSchool.Theschoolhadan unexpectedopeningforaSpanishteacher,andCarlson found herself with a new role.

Asshelookedtobuildhercareerineducation,Carlson returnedtoFitchburgStateanditsmaster’so erings.“Itwas a ordable,itwaslocal,andIwasabletocontinueinmy careerwhileenhancingmyresume,”shesaid.Sheworkedat schoolbyday,andtookhermaster’sincounselingcourses atnightandduringthesummer.“Thewonderfulthing aboutbeingintheschoolsystemwhileIwasinthe graduateprogramwasIwasabletoimmediatelyapply whatIwaslearning.”

Carlsonwasaguidance counselorfor11yearsbefore joiningtheMontyTechadministrationasanassistant principal,andnowitsprincipal.

Fromhernewo ce,Carlsonsaidsheenjoystimespent inclassroomsandvocationalareas,continuallyinspiredand proudoftheteaching and learning that takes placeinher building.Carlsonalsoenjoysopportunitiesforface-to-face interactionwithstudents,fromlunchdutytoextracurricular events.Andasanadministratorshelooksforwardto buildinguponastrongnetworkofcollaborationtoincrease careerandcollegeopportunitiesforthem,including encouragingthemtoexploretheopportunitiesavailableto thematheralmamater.

“Iwantstudentstoleavehereprepared,withasmany doorsopentothemaspossible.Iwantthemtobeboth career-andcollege-ready.”shesaid.“WhenIwasaguidance counselor,ifIwastalkingtostudentsaboutnursing,I’dtell themwehaveoneofthegreatestnursingschoolsinour backyard.Providingthoseopportunitiesandidentifying thosepathwaysissoimportant.”

Class Notes

ThisClassNotessectionincludesnewsthatwasreceivedbetweenMarch2,andOctober8,2022.Becauseofthenature ofabi-annualpublicationandthevolumeofnoteswereceive,youshouldexpect toseeyournoteaboutsixmonthsafteryousubmityourinformation.

1970s

CatherineE.Rollins‘79 wasnameddirectoroftheUrban LandInstitute(ULI)Boston/New England.Rollinswasthe manageroflocalpublicpolicyat theMassachusettsAssociationof REALTORSandpriortothat,she wasthedirectorofoperations andspecialprojectsattheRhode IslandCommerceCorporation.

1980s

long time friendships. This past yeartheymetattheBeaconHill TaverninBostonandthe followingfolksthatgraduated fromFitchburgStateinthemid1980sjoinedinthefun(from left):BillFarrington,Steve Canova,ChrisCoutreau,Dana Nemes,MikeSergio,Bob Collins,JohnReddy,Mike Barlow,TimFitzgibbons,John Morgan,KathyGrady,Paul Morrison,MaureenGrady Canova,PaulJohnson.

Mary-Frances Tintle ’87, ’01 hasbeenappointedthenew principalofHellenicAmerican AcademyinLowell.

Michele(Thomas) Sommers’89,’95,’01, publishedherchildren’sbook, TheAdventureofDharmaDoxie Thomas-SommersandDharma mademanynewfriendswhen theyvisitedyoungreadersatthe FitchburgPublicLibraryandthe SouthStreetElementarySchool.

Patricia A. Sherrill ’89 was appointeddeputychiefof administrationwiththeCanton PoliceDepartment.

1990s

Anthony“Tony”Crowley ’95,’21 hasbeenpromotedto staffproductowner,amanager levelpositionwiththe transportationITgroupatTJX Companies.Crowleyhasbeen withthecompanyfor17years.

DeborahA.(Lasek)Reidy ’82,retiredfromteachingon June1,concludinga40-year careerinelementaryeducation. UpongraduationfromFitchburg State,shebeganhercareerat SaintMary’sSchoolinWare.She then taught in the Dartmouth schoolsystemuntilmovingto Floridain1989.Forthelast33 years,shetaughtatfourdifferent schoolsinthePascoCounty SchooldistrictedinTampaBay areaofFlorida.

Candace (Candy) Race ’88 hasbeenelectedtotheBoardof DirectorsatRollstoneBank& Trust.

Jane M. Nikander ’91,has been named the new interim directoroftheWilton Public/GreggFreeLibrary.

FitchburgPublicSchool

educator Krenlly Rodriguez’95,’03,was honoredonOct.5asa“Latino LeaderinEducation”attheState ofLatinoEducationeventatthe StateHouse.Rodriguezisa counseloratMemorialMiddle SchoolinFitchburg.

David A. Anwar ’98 joined thebasketballcoachingstafffor MississippiState.

ShaunBrennan’85 and Mike Barlow ’85 hostan annualgettogetherinearly DecemberinBostontorenew

JackSherman’88 received histrophyforBestSound Design—ShortFilm“Beautiful Violence”attheSeoul,South KoreaInternationalMonthlyArt FilmFestival(April2022).

MichelleJ.Tynan’92 has beenappointedAssistant PrincipalatElmwoodSchoolin Hopkinton.

2000s

Triple Falcon Tonya J. Jarrett ’99, ’05, ’18,made historyasthe rstfemaleleader atFitchburgHighSchool, servingasinterimprincipalfor the2022-23schoolyear.

Dayana Carlson ’00, ’06 wasnamedthenewprincipalat MontyTechinJune.

KevinF.Tavares’00,was appointedasthenewprincipal of Old Hammondtown School in Mattapoisett.

RichardE.Simoneau’01, joinedtheConValSchool DistrictinPeterborough,N.H.as theassistantprincipalatConVal HighSchool.

ThomasW.Higgins’06, ’13,wasnamethenewprincipal fortheNourseElementary SchoolinNorton.

2010s

Tracey (Betts) Sarefield ’15 recentlytransitionedfrom theCoordinatorofStudyAbroad toAcademicAdvisoratMount WachusettCommunityCollege.

Amy L. Fini ’17,islicensed mentalhealthcounselorat ThriveworksLeominster.

SamanthaR.Woodman ’19 recentlystartedteachingasa specialeducationteaching assistantfortheEssex ElementarySchool.

BrianF.Moriarty’20 was hired by the Hanover Insurance Groupasasenior nancial analyst.Moriartybringsover sevenyearsofexperienceasa nancialanalystatBaystate Health.

Joshua M. Romano ’10, ’14, wasappointedprincipalof LeominsterHigh.Inthemilitary, LTCRomanojustcompleted threeyearsascommanderof1st Battalion,101stRegional TrainingInstitute,running coursesfordronepilots,medics, truckdrivers,andnew commanders.Romanoalso teachesleadershipclassesfor of cercandidatesandisnowa DeputyBrigadeCommander.

EricP. Gobiel ’13,washired byAssumptionUniversityas directorofathletics.

Joseph P. Flanagan ’14, untilrecentlytheassistant directorofstudentdevelopment atFitchburgState,transitioned tothepostofcasemanagerinits divisionofstudentaffairsin August.Flanaganhasbeenwith theuniversityforfouryears.

Skarlet M. Ramirez ’16 was crownedMissMassachusetts USA2022andrepresented Massachusettsatthe2022Miss USApageant.

Sgt. Derek Nikander ’17, waspromotedtoasupervisory roleinthemodularcompound ofWorcesterCountyjail.

Andrew Leblanc’18,has beenpromotedtoassistantvice presidentinformationsecurity of cerofLeominsterCredit Union(LCU).Leblancjoined LCUinApril2018asitsITrisk manager.

Tyler J. Scipione ’18,was hiredastheassistantvisitcenter coordinatoratClarkUniversity. PriortojoiningClarkUniversity, ScipioneservedFitchburgState forsevenyears.Hestartedasa leadbuildingmanagerforfour years,beforeinterningasan operationsassistant.

Caylynn A. Paquette ’19, ’21,aseniorbehaviortechnician atShapiroEducational& BehaviorConsultants,LLC., startedworkingasQBSSafetyCareTrainerinMarch2022. Paquettehasbeenwiththe companyformorethanfour years.

FaganR.Forhan’20 was promotedtodeanofK-12 partnershipsandcivic engagementatMountWachusett CommunityCollege.Priortoher promotion,Forhanwasthe assistantdeanandwasalso directorofexperientiallearning opportunities.Shehasbeenwith thecollegeforoversixyears.

Karilyn Masters ’20 was promotedfromoperations managerofradiologyand proceduralservicestosenior manageratBostonMedical Center.Mastershasbeenatthe centerforoversixyears,starting asaninternin2016.

’16 washonoredatthe2022 Black Excellence on the Hill virtualeventinFebruary,hosted bytheMassachusettsBlackand LatinoLegislativeCaucusto commemorateBlackcommunity leaderswhohavemadean outstandingcommitmenttotheir communities.

Hailey R. O’Brien ’19 was hiredbyAssumptionUniversity asthenewresidentdirector. O’Brienhasmorethanthree yearsofexperienceworkingin highereducation.

Michael J. Testa ’19 has beenappointedthenewCEOof ChautauquaHospiceand PalliativeCareinLakewood, N.Y.

Nicholas J. Bryant ’20, recentlyjoinedthePitts eld PoliceDepartmentasapatrol of cerfollowingasix-month stint at the police academy.

SusanP.Foley’20 was promotedtoacademic administratorIIIforthe BiochemistryandMolecular BiotechnologyDepartmentat UMassChanMedicalSchool.

PHOTOREQUIRMENTS

Photosshouldbeatleast3.5 incheswideandhavearesolution ofatleast300dpi.Ifyoumaila glossyprinttous,pleasemake suretoincludeyourcontact information and

TheodoreDemosthenes

Foleyhas13yearsofexperience atthemedicalschool,working herwayupfroman administrativeassistanttoan administrativemanager.

Vanessa C. Pressat ’20, ’21 joinedAliraHealthasasenior proposalmanager.

ZacharyA.Tatro’20 was hiredbytheTJXCompanies, Inc. as a human resources businesspartner.Previously, Tatroworkedforthecityof WorcesterandVenture CommunityServices.

ZeddieE.Eisenhaure’20, ’22,formercoordinatorofGreek LifeandFABatFitchburgState, startedatAMCNetworksasthe of ceproductionassistant.

Brena (Parry) Espinosa ’21,anMRItechnologistat MassachusettsGeneralHospital (MGH)wasrecentlypromotedto technicalmanager.Espinosahas beenwiththehospitalformore thaneightyears,startingin2014 asanuclearmedicine technologistII.Priortoworking atMGH,sheworkedat Wentworth-DouglassHospital, CambridgeHealthAlliance,and St.Peter’sHealthPartners.

Christian T. Orlando ’21 wasnamedthedirectorof intramuralsportsforBoston PublicSchools.Orlandoisthe girls’soccercoachandhasbeen ateacherandsubstituteforthe publicschoolssince2018.

Leslie P. Tkaczek ’21 joined CommonwealthCareAllianceas theclinicalmanager,bringing withherover11yearsof managerialexperienceinthe healthcare eld.

Heaven’Leigh K. Daniel ’22 washiredbyCaribbean IntegrationCommunity Development,Bostonasitsnew communicationspecialistjust daysaftercommencement. Previously,Danielwasthe creativedirectoratGrizzGang ForeverStudiosandaninternat NorthernLightProductions.

Jacob A. Drinkwater ’22 wasrecentlyhiredbytheTJX Companies,Inc.asasoftware engineer.Drinkwaterinterned withTJXforayearbeforegetting apermanentoffer.

MarcusPerla’22 washired byLighthouseImagingpriorto graduation.Perlaiscurrently workingondesigningprecision equipmentforcardiopulmonary endoscopy.

InMemoriam

InMemoriamhonorsalumniandcurrentorretiredemployeeswhohave passedaway.Spacelimitationsmaycompelustoincludeonlycareer, military,andvolunteeractivities.

LeeDeNike,ProfessorEmeritus,ofLunenburg,onJuly11, 2022.DeNikejoinedFitchburgStateinthe1970swherehewasoneof thefoundersofitsCommunicationsMediaDepartment.DeNikehelped createtheimmersiveinternshiprequirementthatremainsafeatureof theprogram,andisfondlyremembered by generations of graduates. DeNikeretiredasafullprofessorfromFitchburg State in 2000 after servicethatincludedyearsaschairoftheCommunicationsMedia Department.HewaslaternamedProfessorEmeritus.

1950s

GeraldF.Leblanc’51,of WestHartford,Conn., onJuly4, 2021.

DorothyA.(Robus) Prendergast ’54,ofBedford, onMarch15,2022

Irja E. (Palojarvi) Daly ’54, ofGardner,onDecember28, 2020.

Angelina(Loverro) Nelson ’55,ofAthol,onSept. 3,2022.

VirginiaA.Gaffey’55,’57, ofMarsh eld,onMarch20, 2022.

RaymondBeauregard’56, ’60,ofCampton,N.H.,onNov. 22,2021.

Alice “Sally” (Kingston) Bauman’57,ofAshby,onSept. 29,2022.

DonaldJ.Burgwinkle ’58,ofClinton,onMarch20, 2022.

JoanneM.(Foley) Deignan’59,ofWorcester,on August5,2022.

1960s

CliffJ.Fournier’60,’64,of Orange, on April 13, 2022.

Ernest “Ernie” L. CarreiroJr.’60,ofWest Barnstable,onApril16,2022.

Ed J. Walsh ’61, ’64 of Leominster, on Sept. 18, 2022.

Alice Mary (O’Connor) Lindner’62,ofFalmouth,on March23,2022.

PeterR.Vennard’62,of Chelmsford,onApril12,2022.

Elinore R. Weiner ’63,of Venice,Fla.,onJune4,2022.

Felice “Tony” A. D’Agostino ’63,of Leominster,onMay13,2022.

Maureen Hayes ’63, ’70,of Fitchburg,onSept.28,2022.

RobertA.O’Connell’63,of Fitchburg, on June 27, 2022.

RogerC.LeBlanc’64,of En eld,Conn.,onSept.4,2022.

RolandC.Miller’64,of Lancaster, on Sept. 11, 2022.

Elene L. (Wipperman) Turner ’65,ofWest Bridgewater,onJune29,2022.

MichaelSobol’65,’71,of Townsend,onApril16,2022.

Paul E. Ralston ’65,of Monson,onJuly15,2022.

Fred A. Gillis’ ‘66,ofSan Clemente,Calif.,onAug.2, 2022.

KerryE.(Collins) Haughney‘67,ofLynn eld, onMarch7,2022.

Stephen Dooley ’67, ’72,of Plain eld, Conn., on May 1, 2022.

DavidW.Salomaki’68,of Brooksville,Fla.,onAugust26, 2022.

Veronica M. (Sweica) Krieger ’68,ofClearwater, Fla., onJuly 15,2021.

1970s

ErnestH.Hebert’70,of EastHampstead,N.H.,onSept. 11,2022.

Hilary A. Campbell ’70,of Leominster,onFeb.20,2021

Lawrence F. Lafortune ’70,ofChie and,Fla.,onJune 9,2022.

SueA.Maynes’72,of Pepperell,onJan.27,2022.

David S. Horton ’73,of NorthTruroandNaples,Fla.,on Aug.26,2022.

Lea E. Goff ’73, ’78,of Winchendon,onFeb.2,2021.

Anne L. (Niemi) Quimby ’74,ofWestTownsend,onJune 30,2022.

Dr. Jon D. Goguen ’74,of Holden,onJuly26,2022.

Diane M. (Heske) Killeen ’75,’90,ofChelmsford,onDec. 21,2021.

IreneM.Moody’75,of Shelburne,onJune21,2021

Raymond F. Scanlon ‘75,of Bradford, onOct. 21,2021.

LouiseM.Fosberg’76,’82, ofEstero,Fla.,onMay16,2017.

PaulaC.Smith’76,of Rindge,N.H.,onMarch26, 2022.

SusanC.(Carpenter) Curcio ’76,ofChatham,on August21,2022.

Christine A. (Seguin) Bourne’77,ofFitchburg,on July6,2022.

DianeM.(Pats)Morrow ’78,ofWebster,onAug.28, 2022.

DorothyRose(Barlow) Scanlon ’78,ofPeterborough, N.H., on May 29, 2022.

RobertJ.Ferreira’78,of Nashua,N.H.,onJune14,2022.

LoisE.Doskocil’79,of Acton,onJune6,2022.

1980s

John S. Ratto ’80,of Needham,onOct.12,2021.

RonaldB.Progen’80,of Conway,S.C.,onJuly21,2021.

JohnJ.Mollica’81,of SouthPittsburgTN,onApril27, 2022.

RobertE.Struthers’81,of East Falmouth, on May 24, 2022.

GlendaL.Malley’82,of Leominster,onJune14,2022.

JamesH.Burns’83,of Leominster, on May 9, 2022.

Thomas A. Pascarella ’83, ofNorthAndover,onMarch29, 2022.

DavidG.Wyman’84,of Templeton,onAugust12,2022.

Gretna R. Niemi ’84,ofNew Ipswich,N.H.,onMay30,2022.

Natalie M. Pereira ’84,of Templeton,onMarch23,2022.

Thomas A. Ringenwald ’85,ofAmherst,N.H.,onAugust 23,2022.

Nancy A. Pelland ’88,of MarstonsMills,onJune22, 2022.

1990s

DanielP.Rousseau’90,of Peterborough,N.H.,onAug.27, 2022.

Robert V. Stoico ’90,of Portland,Ore.,onMarch24, 2022.

Michael P. Ippolito ’91,of Tewksbury,onSept.26,2022.

Michelle V. Dickens-Weil ’95,ofAshland,onDec.31, 2021.

Jeffrey P. Stephens ’96,of Fitchburg,onAug.11,2022.

KathleenS.Dwyer’98,of Newport,R.I.,onSept.5,2022.

Mary S. (Gosselin)

Sanderson’98,ofPlymouth, onMay2,2021.

AndrewM.McCrillis’99, ofEastBrook eld,onJune30, 2022.

Patricia G. Bologna ’99,of PlymouthandHingham,on Sept.28,2022.

2000s

NealV.Ekstrom’00,of Orleans,on June20,2022.

KyleG.Fiske’01,of Royalston,onJuly4,2022.

Susan M. Hui ’03,ofGardner, onJune2,2022. ClydeG.Lower’07,of Fitchburg, on June 3, 2022.

2010s

JimA.Foltz’10,ofColumbia, Mo.,onJuly7,2022.

JulieG.McNally’11,’13, onSept.2,2022.

Editor’s Note

Inthesummer2022issueof Contact,becauseofaclerical error,wemistakenlyincluded alumna JeannetteA. (Fougere) Piccicuto ’69 amongourdeceasedgraduates. Weregrettheerrorandany distressitcausedherfamilyand friends.

ALUMNI EVENTS

Falcons on Cape Cod

OurFalconshadawonderfultimeatthisyear’s CapeCodevents.OnAug.20,courtesyofBob ’72,’75andCathey(Weisse)’74Portrie,wewere treatedtoaprivateshowingoftheDonald StoltenbergexhibitattheCapeCodMuseumof ArtinDennis.OnAug.21,wesetsailonLobster RollCruisesoutofSesuitHarbor(Dennis). Attendeesenjoyeda2-hourcruiseinCapeCod Bay, a delicious dinner and even a few peeks of sun.Our nalstopwasCapeCodBeerinHyannis on Aug. 22. Alumni enjoyed a variety of craft beers andtriedsomeoftheamazingfoodfromJ.P.’s TwistedBBQ.

Falcons in Boston

OnApril22,ourFalconsgatheredatTheGreatest BarinBoston,ownedbyalumnusBillFairweather '85,fornetworkingandtohearcampusupdates. Thiswasour rstin-personBostonAlumniGroup gatheringsincebeforethepandemicandweall enjoyedbeingabletointeractface toface.

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