CONTACT Spring 2022 "Beyond the Classroom"

Contact

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM At Fitchburg State, learning and personal growth happens through extracurricular activities, athletics, clubs and organizations. pp. 5–25

IN THIS ISSUE Campus News 2 Alumni News 26 Brian McGrath '22 set records this year as goalie for the men's ice hockey team. Read about his grace under pressure on page 9.

SPRING 2022

INSIDE

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CAMPUS NEWS

The university is expanding efforts to train diverse future educators, our winter commencement ceremony marked a return to in-person celebration, and the Main Street Theater Block restoration project is garnering state and federal support.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM | Feature

At Fitchburg State, learning and personal growth happens through extracurricular activities, athletics, clubs and organizations.

26 ALUMNI NEWS

Dear Alumni and Friends, We are nearing the end of another eventful year on our campus, marked once again by our community’s remarkable perseverance in the face of the global pandemic.

This spring has been a time of renewal, with slow and careful steps toward a return to traditional campus life. That progress inspired the theme of this issue of our magazine. In the pages that follow, you will see a celebration of the campus experience beyond our classrooms and laboratories, and learn some of the many ways our students are enriched through extracurricular activities, clubs and organizations, and athletics. You will also read about alumni whose experiences here helped forge their paths.

The depth of these experiences enrich the lives of the students who participate in them, and also foster a vibrant campus community for faculty, staff, alumni, and the wider public. It has been beyond gratifying to welcome members of the community back to in-person programming on campus.

As part of our institutional evolution, we are exploring new and dynamic ways to share our story with our alumni and friends. That includes the cultivation of a digital presence for our university magazine. I ask that you take a moment to fill out a brief survey about how you experience the magazine, and what elements you would like to see in a digital presentation, whether it complements the printed version or becomes something new. You can find the survey on our magazine website at fitchburgstate.edu/contact-magazine.

Thank you for your continued support for Fitchburg State, and I look forward to welcoming you back to campus.

President C2 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

Editor | Matthew Bruun | Director of Communications and Public Affairs | mbruun@fitchburgstate.edu Vice President for Institutional Advancement | Jeffrey A. Wolfman | jwolfman@fitchburgstate.edu

Director of Alumni and Family Relations | Tanya Hoos Crowley '21 | tcrowle7@fitchburgstate.edu Printing | Universal Wilde Design | Michele Italiano Perla Photography | Cover and centerpiece photos by Andrew Cunningham '89

Contact is published by the offices of the president and alumni & development and is mailed to supporters and other select alumni and friends of Fitchburg State University. Please send correspondence to Contact Magazine, Office of Alumni & Development, Fitchburg State University, 160 Pearl St., Fitchburg, MA 01420, or to contact@fitchburgstate.edu.

Visit Contact online at fitchburgstate.edu/alumni.

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 1

CAMPUS NEWS FUTURE FALCONS WILL BE FUTURE TEACHERS The university launched initiatives this year designed to give local middle and high school students an advance peek at college life, as well as an innovative program to recruit more diverse educator candidates for local schools.

The Future Educator Academy welcomed cohorts of local high school students to campus for programming including badges focused on mental wellness in the classroom and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to adults and infants.

The academy is designed to address ongoing demographic shifts by recruiting and training future educators from traditionally underrepresented populations. According to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, about 40% of the state’s public school students are of color, but only 10% of their teachers come from minority groups, noted Lourdes Ramirez, coordinator of field placements, partnerships and recruitment for Fitchburg State’s School of Education.

“We want to offer relevant programming that will provide high school students with marketable skills, while seeing themselves as future educators and change makers,” Ramirez said. “This is a very exciting initiative and we have received strong support from the high schools and district-level administrators.”

The program is part of a groundbreaking larger initiative to diversify the ranks of educators that will include scholarship support, summer jobs, and future guarantees of employment with the Fitchburg Public Schools for qualified graduates.

Additional details about the program are posted on the university website at fitchburgstate.edu.

2 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

WINTER COMMENCEMENT MARKED THE RETURN OF IN-PERSON CELEBRATION Fitchburg State held the winter ceremony of its 125th commencement exercises in December, conferring more than 400 degrees to students from 19 states and 10 countries.

Yvonne C. Gittelson of Goshen received the Graduate Student Leadership Award. Gittelson, who received her Master of Education in educational leadership and management, is a corrections education program specialist, working with education program directors who coordinate academic and vocational programs for incarcerated men and women in Massachusetts jails and prisons.

In her address to the graduates, Gittelson described the power of education she has observed with her students in correctional settings. “I used to work with AP students in highpowered academic high schools, and of course it’s rewarding to do that kind of work,” she said. “People ask me now: why do you work with felons? It’s because I have watched grown men in their 40s convicted of violent offenses burst into tears when they achieve a High School Equivalency, or an industryrecognized credential. After he composed himself, one student said to me, ‘I’m a 44-year-old ex-gang member in jail for the third time, and I finally have something I’m proud to show my children.’ That is the power of education.”

Rebecca Valcanas of Dunstable was recognized as the undergraduate valedictorian. Valcanas completed her degree in special education, serving students with severe disabilities at all grade levels.

Valcanas described completing her studies despite the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. She credited faculty members and classmates for encouraging her to continue despite the hardships, along with support from her family.

“Despite the many obstacles we faced, somehow we all made it here today, so I want to say congratulations again to

CAMPUS news the fall class of 2021,” Valcanas said. “We couldn’t have done it without each other!”

The ceremony may be viewed online at https://youtu.be/i5PUOvoXuUo.

MOOT COURT CONTINUES WINNING WAYS Fitchburg State’s storied history in the American Moot Court Association’s national tournament continued in January when the team of students Benjamin Hill ‘22 and Maylynn Velazquez ‘22 scored second in the country in the brief-writing competition.

In the moot court competition, teams of students argue opposing sides of a hypothetical legal case, as in an appellate court proceeding. Students in the competition had to prepare arguments for both sides of the case.

“I am very proud of this group of students,” said Professor Paul Weizer of the university’s Economics, History and Political Science Department, and the founder of the university’s moot court program. “They competed against some of the most prestigious programs in the country and made Fitchburg State proud.”

In addition to making oral arguments on the legal issues at hand, team members submitted written briefs. Hill, a senior from Troy, N.H. majoring in political science and history, and Velazquez, a senior from Leominster majoring in political science, scored second in the country in that portion of the competition.

Hill said he relished the chance to compete against bigname schools, especially those with larger pre-law programs. “I take that to mean I’m competing against the brightest students in the country,” he said. “Public speaking makes me nervous, but once a round begins and I’m going head-to-head against someone from one of these schools, the nerves disappear.”

Fitchburg State’s program has been nationally ranked by the moot court association, ahead of institutions including Michigan State, Duke University, Holy Cross, and Morehouse College.

“Competing against some of the most brilliant individuals from throughout the nation was an Intimidating experience,

but I had no doubt that my partner and I were capable of performing at an equal if not better level,” Velazquez said. “Our coaches spent hours preparing us, and that paid off immensely throughout every argument.”

Fitchburg State students Miranda Gustin of Leicester and Anthony Marcella of Boxborough also advanced to the national competition after a strong showing in the regional tournament last November.

PUTTING MINDFULNESS INTO PRACTICE FOR FUTURE POLICE Edward Denmark ‘98 had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, including 18 years as chief of police in the town of Harvard. But rather than transition to a quiet retirement, he is only ramping up his efforts to help transform a system he sees as in need of repair.

Last fall, Denmark joined the Behavioral Sciences Department as a visiting faculty member. He has been an adjunct professor for many years, and was at the table when the university’s groundbreaking police program was first being developed. In that program, graduates over five years complete bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as full certification to work in municipal police departments in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Its fourth recruit officer course graduated in September, and officers from the program are serving in departments across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Denmark sees the program as a model for the profession, linking theory and practice. “There’s so much going on in society right now, and policing is right in the middle of it,” he said. “There’s a cry internally in policing for some kind of change.”

Denmark has become a recognized thought leader in the policing profession, visiting departments across the U.S. and the world and consulting on how to adapt to changing times.

Academy Director Lisa Lane McCarty said Denmark has FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 3

CAMPUS news been a meaningful addition to the program.

“Ed has always been ahead of his time,” Lane McCarty said.

“He is a forward thinker and one who has always questioned if - and how - we could do things better in policing.”

fruition. “We must continue to invest in our downtown and in the partnership that will make our vision a reality,” he said. “At its core, the partnership starts with the city and Fitchburg State University, and the two buildings that sit across the street from one another.”

State Rep. Michael Kushmerek ‘08, ‘13, said the theater block’s renovation marks a key point in the city’s evolution.

“This is the point of no return,” he said. “Everywhere you look, there is growth. Because of Fitchburg State University, and their vision, and their commitment to this city, this will be the symbol of the next gilded age of Fitchburg.”

According to an analysis performed for the university, for every dollar invested in the project, there will be a significant annual multiplier once the renovation is completed.

In December, the theater project received $475,000 from MassDevelopment’s Underutilized Properties Program, with those funds going toward the reactivation of storefront spaces adjacent to the theater itself.

CENTER FOR ITALIAN CULTURE SERIES EXPLORED HISTORY OF COLONIALISM

FORGING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS The decades-long effort to revitalize a cultural landmark in downtown Fitchburg took significant steps forward this year with state and federal investments worth more than $3.5 million.

“The theater is a priority project for the university,” President Lapidus said at a ceremony celebrating a $3 million allocation from the state’s legislative delegation, adding that the theater will support the cultural economy in the city. “We want to be downtown, we want to help the city grow and thrive. It’s a fantastic city and I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

“This is really a down payment to revitalize the Theater Block and make sure that its best days are ahead of it,” said state Sen. John Cronin, who saluted President Lapidus for keeping the university “outward-looking” and mindful of the shared destinies of the campus and the city.

The theater block is located directly across Main Street from the renovated City Hall, with both sites considered anchors in the effort to revitalize the city’s downtown corridor.

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan said federal support for the city, including dollars earmarked for the city’s revitalization efforts, will continue. She touted the projected economic impact of the theater project, including the creation of 33 permanent jobs, 120 construction jobs, and millions more in annual revenues once the project is complete.

Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale ‘79 also credited the public and private collaborative investment between federal, state and local entities in helping the city’s revitalization plans come to 4 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

The Center for Italian Culture sponsored a series of events that explored the legacy of Italian colonialism. In October 1935, Italian Army soldiers invaded Ethiopia. The war was fought until February 1937, and is remembered in Ethiopia as the Italian Invasion, and in Italy as the Ethiopian War. The CIC series examined the complex legacy of this time period, using the acclaimed novel The Shadow King by Ethiopian-American author Maaza Mengiste as a centerpiece. Faculty members led discussion groups centered on the novel, culminating in February with a keynote address by the author herself.

Learn more about the Center for Italian Culture at fitchburgstate.edu/cic.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM At Fitchburg State, learning and personal growth happens through extracurricular activities, athletics, clubs and organizations.

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 5

ATHLETICS

For Love of the Game Jeffrey Nutting ‘80 found more than an education at Fitchburg State.

When he was looking at colleges in 1975, the Milton native had planned to pursue a career as an industrial arts teacher. Fitchburg State had a well-established program training “shop teachers,” as Nutting recalled, but he wasn’t sure if he had the grades to get in.

It came down to a choice between Fitchburg State, which had his major but no football program, and another school where he would be able to play the game he had loved since high school but would need to find another major.

Nutting ended up having his cake and eating it, too. He was accepted at Fitchburg State (and got what he described as “one hell of an education”) and in December of his first semester on campus, he and friend Mike Celona made the pledge to start a football program at Fitchburg State.

“The thing I missed from high school football was the camaraderie,” he said.

Nutting and Celona went to Athletic Director Elizabeth “Betty” Kruczek and asked how to start a team. “She said in order to have a varsity program, we needed to have a club team for five years,” he recalled. They would also need to go to the Student Government Association (SGA) to get approval for a fee increase ($1.50 a semester) to pay for the program.

SGA told Nutting and Celona they needed to get 1,200 signatures by the following week. They returned the next Tuesday night with 2,300. The team was a go, but the organizational work - including interviewing and hiring a coach - was just beginning.

“We did it because we love the game,” said Nutting. He recalled hiring local football legend Brian Sullivan to coach the team as a key decision. “He knew we were on a shoestring and he wanted to see the program succeed,” he said. “Brian put every paycheck he received right back into the team.”

6 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

The club played its first home game - against MIT - at the Bernardian Bowl, regularly the home to the St. Bernard’s Central Catholic High School team. “The stands were packed that first game,” said Nutting, who recalls taking the field with his friend Celona that day as one of his happiest memories. “The energy was incredible.”

That first game was a win, and the club team amassed a 3-3 record in its first season. As hoped, it was eventually adopted as a varsity sport at Fitchburg State, where it has remained.

Those original players went on separate paths. Nutting was hired as a vocational teacher but was laid off after one semester, a casualty of Proposition 2½, the state’s taxlimiting law that led to widespread school layoffs in the early 1980s. He went on to start a trucking company and raised a family of his own. Celona recently retired after a storied career as a Boston city firefighter. The men’s bond has endured across the decades.

“We never fought or argued,” Nutting said. “What I missed, he thought of and vice versa. To be co-captain with him was just the icing on the cake. We have stayed in touch over the years and still have the same bond that started way back in 1975.”

While a few members of the original roster have passed on, most of the lineup have kept in touch with each other, either in person or through social media. Last fall, Nutting and Celona helped organize a reunion of the original club at Elliot Field during Homecoming, for which the co-captains had commissioned new jerseys.

It was emotional to be on the field and to see the growth of the program he and Celona had helped start, said Nutting.

“We were the right guys in the right place with the right support,” he said, citing President Vincent J. Mara as another key supporter of their football ambitions. “We learned you don’t give up.”

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

ATHLETICS

Doing Her Job Linnea D’Acchille ‘22 came to Fitchburg State to pursue her dream of kicking on a collegiate football team, but found a second family.

D’Acchille, from upstate New York, began her collegiate kicking career in her native state, but wasn’t happy with the opportunities she was receiving. When a teammate encouraged her to look at Fitchburg State, she found her fit.

“I loved everything about it,” she said, from the athletic training facilities to the campus itself, as well as the biology and chemistry program.

As a woman playing in a traditionally male sport, she was also appreciative of the support she received from her teammates. “We do everything together,” she said, describing a regimen of going to the gym together to breaking bread family-style in the apartment she shares with five of her teammates.

Those bonds remained strong in the 2021 season, despite a challenging record by the Falcons. Several factors likely contributed to the losing season, not least the massive disruptions created by the COVID pandemic.

“I was like the team therapist,” she said. “I would tell them, ‘You’re not always going to have win after win after win.’ The biggest thing is you have to do your job.

We win or we lose as a team, but everyone has to do their job as a team.”

D’Acchille said there were a lot of tough times during the season, but she found inspiration from moments along the way, including her season-ending extra point.

“The guys were so excited that I was finally kicking,” she said, recalling long hours training with a net compared to kicking for actual points on the field.

Like many student-athletes, D’Acchille missed the playing time the pandemic cost her. She has decided to return for another semester to play for one more in-person season this fall. In the meantime, she said the experience of participating in athletics helped her perform in the classroom.

D’Acchille said planning is key to finding that equilibrium. She is diligent about maintaining an electronic calendar that includes her classes, her football practices,

8 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

and dedicated studying time. It helps, she said, that she loves her coursework.

“I’ve never loved a program more than Fitchburg State’s science program,” she said, crediting the knowledgeable yet approachable faculty members like her advisor, Professor Erin Rehrig from Biology/Chemistry.

“I’m one of those people who does better when I’m busier,” she said. “The biggest key is finding a balance.”

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Grace Under Pressure Even before he put on his first pair of skates, Brian McGrath ‘22 was very familiar with the hockey rink from watching his father and older brother play. He started off as a defender, but at age 6 the team he was trying out for needed a goalie.

“That first year, I was just having fun with it, and the coaches started coming up to me after games,” he said.

McGrath, who grew up in Worcester, cultivated his talent through youth hockey and high school programs. After graduating he played with the Boston Junior Bruins while he looked at colleges. He liked Fitchburg State from the start.

“One of my best friends came here the year before me, and then Coach (Dean) Fuller ended up giving me a call and invited me to check it out,” McGrath said. “I met the team and loved the campus.”

It was a good fit for McGrath, whose first season in the net for the Falcons ended with a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference championship game at the Wallace Civic Center.

Though hockey is a team sport, there is a singular responsibility for the goal-keeper.

“I love the pressure,” McGrath said. “You have the chance to win games, and you have the chance to lose games. It’s definitely a lot of ups and downs. Being on a winning streak makes you happy, but when you lose you just want to work harder.”

McGrath puts in the work, dedicated to his teammates who also put in long hours of practice even in the offseason. It also means balancing time for schoolwork.

“Hockey takes a lot of time, but it’s my passion,” he said, adding he hopes to play or coach after graduation.

His passion paid off, where McGrath set team records including the all-time leader in saves for the team, even before making his final playoff run.

Hockey has been a source of pride and personal growth for McGrath. “I probably know someone from every state in the country through hockey,” he said, and he’s also played with Falcons from Russia, Switzerland and Sweden during his time at Fitchburg State.

ATHLETICS

Running Toward Success Whether competing on the race course or pursuing his academic goals, Taban Manyok ‘24 is driven.

Born in a refugee camp in Kenya after his mother fled from civil war in South Sudan, Manyok emigrated with his mother and sister to the U.S. at the age of 3, first to upstate New York and North Dakota before settling in Lynn, Mass., and attending Catholic schools. He learned English as a second language, and thrived despite the culture change.

“I’ve been very blessed my whole life,” Manyok said. “It’s all God’s plan. Some other family could have been chosen at the refugee camp to come to America, but we were chosen.”

Now he is grateful for the opportunity to pursue a college degree in computer science, and is embracing opportunities inside and outside the classroom at Fitchburg State.

The sophomore had a stellar year on the Fitchburg State Falcons’ men’s cross country team, earning the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men’s Cross Country Runner & Rookie of the Week several weeks in a row during the fall season, and repeatedly earned high marks during the indoor track and field campaign last winter.

Manyok remembers when Fitchburg State got on his collegiate radar. He was competing at a track meet in 2019 when one of the Falcons’ assistant coaches sought him out after seeing him in the high jump and invited him to check out the program. “I said, ‘Sure, that’s great,’” Manyok recalled.

The coach stayed in touch with Manyok in the coming months, seeking him out at other meets in the region. That attention meant a lot to Manyok. “At bigger schools, you’re just a number,” he said.

Manyok loved the campus upon his first visit. “I told my parents, ‘They have such a loving community here,’” he said.

While the pandemic disrupted the first-year experience he expected, he maintained a positive attitude.

“I had a great first year,” he said. “I met amazing friends, and I know it’s a time I’m going to remember for the rest of my life.”

But starting college during the pandemic meant a lot of online classes, and those proved challenging. “I didn’t manage my time well,” he said. “Being able to run Spring track kept me motivated.”

Athletics has been a life-saver for Manyok. “I’ve been super-disciplined,” he said. “Running, going to practice and going to the meets puts me in a mindset of working to be successful. If I have time to go on a 10-mile run, then I should have time to do an hour or two of homework.”

When Manyok encountered challenges in the classroom, he sought out academic support services like tutoring. “That was a big help,” he said. “The resources are there for all students. You’ve just got to ask for help.”

Manyok said he is proud to represent Fitchburg State. “I knew right away this was the school for me,” he said. “Your professors care about you, they’re super helpful. I think Fitchburg State’s really going to set me up for success.”

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Making the Most of It For Julia Miele ‘22, success as a student-athlete isn’t only measured on the scoreboard.

A three-sport athlete in high school, Miele decided to focus on lacrosse when she enrolled at Fitchburg State to study early childhood education. “I had built so many friendships in that sport,” she said. “I knew I would already have people beside me through lacrosse.”

That prediction came to pass. Miele found a strong rapport with her teammates, along with a meaningful foundation upon which she could build a schedule that allowed athletic as well as academic success.

“I wouldn’t give up that structure to my day,” she said, recalling a disciplined balance of time at the gym and in practice, as well as hitting the books.

Miele has been a standout contributor to the team, through which she has forged friendships she is sure will transcend her final season on the field. The women have been through a lot together, including the disruption of COVID that prematurely scuttled what was shaping up to be a winning season.

“We were all sad together,” she said. “It was rough.”

The team moved forward during the COVID-shortened 2021 season, but was limited to opponents within the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. It was a rough stretch of games and a disappointing record at the end of the season. Still, Miele said, the team had a camaraderie that helped them push forward.

“We tried to make the best of it,” she said. “If I’m there, I’m going to put 110% effort in, and we’ll see what happens. My mindset is, we’re already here, we might as well make the most of it.”

That approach transcended the playing field, she said, and fueled her to succeed in her studies despite the pandemic’s disruptions to the traditional learning model.

“It’s about being committed to something, no matter what,” she said. “I refused to quit. That’s never even been a thought in my mind. When my playing time at Fitchburg State is done, I’m going to look back at my friendships.”

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 11

STUDENT LIFE

Finding a Voice Stephany Infante ‘16 said it was the encouragement of others that led her to seeking public office.

As a student at Greater Lawrence Technical High School, Infante served on the student council. When she was approached about serving as the student representative to the district’s school committee, she was taken aback.

“I didn’t even know what the school committee was,” she recalled. “I got on the committee as a junior in high school, and I loved it.”

Infante said it was eye-opening to be part of the decision-making process for her school, but was a bit reluctant to pursue student government when she got to Fitchburg State in 2012 to begin studying business administration with a concentration in marketing.

She credits her friend Alexandra Valdez ‘15 for encouraging her. “Until then, all I did was go to class and then go to my room,” Infante said. “She pushed me to join Student Government Association (SGA) and it gave me a purpose beyond the classroom.”

Infante forged tight friendships with others in student government. “It gave me a voice,” she said. “My mom always says I was a quiet girl. I personally developed through SGA, as I had to be a voice for the student body. The best thing was it helped me grow as a person.”

That growth continued when she was elected student representative to the university Board of Trustees. That brought a higher profile, and a drive to demonstrate that she was serious about her role and her work.

After graduating, she could not shake the political bug. She won a competitive race to get a seat on the Greater Lawrence Technical School Committee after starting as a write-in candidate, the first Latina to be elected to that board.

Her father could see the passion she brought to elected office, Infante said.

“He used to say, ‘Why don’t you run for City Council? Lawrence needs someone like you.’”When he died last June, Infante was devastated. A seat on the council opened up soon thereafter, however, and Infante decided she had to pursue the opportunity.

A grueling campaign ended in victory, and she hit the ground running after taking office in January.

“I really learned that I love to give back when I was at Fitchburg State,” she said. “It stuck with me, and I’ve continued giving back in my hometown.

Fitchburg State University really changed my life.”

12 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Growing Holistically For David Demosthenes ‘17, a little engagement on campus was not enough.

A Fitchburg native, Demosthenes said he had originally hoped to attend music school in Boston, but couldn’t beat the price of attending his local public university. “Once I came in, I figured if I’m here, I may as well get involved,” he said.

His first exposure to the breadth of campus life was a job on campus helping plan events for commuter students. “That really opened the door and got me involved,” he said.

Beyond his work with commuter affairs and assisting in the university’s Human Resources office, Demosthenes was a building manager in Hammond Hall, and an orientation leader.

He was a member of the Fitchburg Activities Board and World Integrated Nations, and helped with programming for the Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness. He also spent three years with the Alternative Spring Break program, traveling to different parts of the country to help build houses for Habitat for Humanity. Back on campus he completed a variety of leadership training programs offered by the Office of Student Development.

“Engagement was a slippery slope for me,” he recalled with a laugh. “College became more than just going to school and getting grades. Your life doesn’t stop growing during those four years; you grow holistically. When you graduate, you don’t just have a degree. I made sure those four years of growth weren’t just academic growth.”

To be sure, there was academic growth as well; Demosthenes completed a degree in history with minors in political science and music. The multi-talented musician plays saxophone, clarinet, drums and guitar, and teaches music lessons on the side.

It is in his professional job, however, that he channels all the skills he acquired during his multifaceted on-campus experience. Demosthenes works as an office and grants manager for the Wagner Foundation, where his duties include finance and operations. The Boston-based foundation’s mission is to confront social and historical disparities that perpetuate injustice, with a focus on health equity and economic prosperity.

The work resonates with Demosthenes, himself a spiritual person who sees a direct connection between the hours he spent with Alternative Spring Break and the work he does now.

“It’s taking everything I learned and applying it in a different context,” he said. “It’s a purpose-driven position. A lot of that Alternative Spring Break work was about having a ‘boots on the ground’ experience, and that has really translated into philanthropic work.”

Demosthenes - whose siblings are also Fitchburg State graduates - has stayed active with his alma mater, serving for several years on the alumni board. The university is still close to his heart, and he said he hopes future Falcons embrace the same variety of opportunities he pursued.

“Growth never stops,” he said. “You should be seeking to grow in every aspect of your life, no matter where you are.”

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 13

STUDENT LIFE

Helping Others Evynand Akombi ‘22 wasn’t expecting to find a sisterhood when she went to college. Already outgoing and involved in scholastic activities from her time growing up in Melrose outside Boston, Akombi came to Fitchburg State because she was intrigued by the quality and affordability of its nursing program (though she eventually switched majors to interdisciplinary studies).

“I loved the way the campus looked,” she said. “I believe a lot in gut feelings, and this just felt right. Everything I’ve surrounded myself with has been that way. It’s what’s kept me here and wanting to stay involved on campus.”

As a first-year student, Akombi started working as a tour guide. She loved interacting with prospective students and families, and added orientation leader to her list of engagements. There, she was encouraged to explore Greek life.

“I wasn’t looking for friends, per se, but I was looking for something else,” said Akombi. “I’m always one to try new things.”

She learned about Alpha Sigma Tau’s activism and philanthropy on topics related to sexual violence and women’s empowerment.

“The people I met I connected with instantly,” said Akombi, who was later elected president of the chapter. “It’s honestly been one of the best decisions I made here.”

From developing new ways to navigate interpersonal relationships to growing her own leadership skills, Akombi said her time with AST has been powerful. She looks forward to traveling to Florida this summer for a meeting with representatives from other chapters across the country.

“People think that Greek life is superficial, or only about partying,” Akombi said. “It’s not. It’s business meetings and planning fundraisers, and collaborating with other clubs.

The whole point of it is philanthropy and helping others.”

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Building a Better Community Conlon Hickey ‘24 attributes his sense of community to his involvement in Greek life. In the fall of 2020, during his first semester at Fitchburg State, the pandemic was raging and he felt limited opportunities to engage beyond hanging out on the quad and playing manhunt.

“I thought, ‘What’s the point of staying in my dorm room?’” Hickey recalled. He was approached by Sigma Tau Gamma brothers who encouraged him to learn more about Greek life. “It immediately felt like home. At the end of the day, it’s a true brotherhood.”

Hickey’s enthusiasm led to his election as president of the university’s Greek Council, which brings together all six of the university’s Greek chapters: the fraternities Alpha Phi Delta, Sigma Pi, and Sigma Tau Gamma, and the sororities Alpha Sigma Tau, Phi Sigma Sigma, and Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Today, over 90 students are currently involved in Greek life on campus.

A history major who hopes to pursue a career in teaching, Hickey is on a mission to educate the university

community about Greek life and showcase the vitality it brings to campus. “The old way of Greek life is dead,” he said. “‘Animal House’ is no more.”

He also wants to highlight the important role philanthropy plays in Greek Life, including the Falcon Bazaar food and essentials pantry in Hammond Hall.

Donation crates are placed at every Greek event this spring and fall.

Hickey, who noted that the Special Olympics is a longtime beneficiary of Sigma Tau Gamma at Fitchburg State, expressed gratitude for seeing his brothers and sisters at the university adopt the charitable approach.

“We're attempting to establish a better community and put the ideals we preach into practice every day," he explained. “Community is much more than just belonging to something; It’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter. What can you do today to ensure the longevity and prosperity of your community after you are gone?”

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 15

STUDENT LIFE

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Following My Passion Joseph Cautela III ‘22 was looking for a way to make friends, and ended up finding a career path.

The Hudson native started his time at Fitchburg State as a commuter student, and after having what he described as a “political awakening” as he entered his senior year in high school, he was intrigued about the opportunities available in student government.

“The experience exceeded my expectations,” Cautela said. “I didn’t assume student government would be the beall end-all of my experience, but I’ve remained close with those friends even after they graduated.”

In the Student Government Association, Cautela found other students who were looking to be engaged in the life of the institution and advocate for their peers. Cautela’s own engagement deepened as a sophomore, when he moved to campus as a resident assistant in Russell Towers.

“I met another set of individuals who were good influences on me,” Cautela said. “I learned a lot about developing a passion to help students. My sophomore year was definitely when I started feeling like I loved this school.”

It’s also when he started learning a lot about the importance of time management, as he juggled growing responsibilities with his academic coursework. The juggling act became even trickier in 2021, when he was elected the student representative to the university Board of Trustees.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking the first few meetings, but I’ve grown more comfortable,” said Cautela, who said he was pleased he could be a voice for students as the university navigated the operational challenges of the pandemic.

While his original plan was to become a high school history teacher, Cautela’s engagement on campus has revealed a true calling in student affairs. “I can still follow my passion of working with students, just outside the classroom,” said Cautela, who is weighing graduate school options for the fall.

“Fitchburg State is somewhere I’ve really peaked, so far,” he said. “What I’m going to miss is being involved in so much on campus, and how it let me get to know so many people and learn so much.”

Pushing Myself A self-described “political nerd,” Kerry McManus ‘22 said getting into student government was a logical path once she arrived at Fitchburg State. The history major has minors in secondary education, American studies, social science, and political science.

Within weeks of getting to campus, she was interested in the Student Government Association.

“I really hit the ground running,” she said. “I liked the people in it, and I loved the work. I’ve never been the person to needlessly complain. I like to do something about it.”

McManus embraced many facets of campus life beyond student government, serving as an orientation leader, working as a building manager in Hammond Hall, and has been an officer in several campus clubs and honor societies in addition to completing the university’s leadership training programs.

“I like to get out of my room and be with people,” she said.

Her own leadership credentials include two years as president of the Student Government Association, where she was gratified to provide a voice for students. “I realized how responsibility-oriented I was,” she said. “I found I can do public speaking, and I learned about conflict mediation in a positive manner.”

Among the contributions she is most proud of in her SGA service was having wellness days added to the academic calendar, which she said was much appreciated by students navigating their studies during the pandemic.

And she has learned a lot from collaborating with university leaders like Vice President for Student Affairs Laura A. Bayless.

McManus said she will graduate knowing she has seized countless opportunities that came her way.

“I’ve always wanted to push myself to find things I truly enjoy,” McManus said. “I may never be the best leader in every room, but I’ve pushed myself.”

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 17

STUDENT LIFE

A Welcoming Community Elliot Zopatti ‘24 said Fitchburg State had an unexpected leg up when he toured the campus as a high school student: its school colors of green and gold.

“Green is my favorite color, so that was my first foot in the door,” Zopatti said with a laugh.

Of course, his final college decision was not made so lightly. Zopatti, who had concentrated on graphic design as a student at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School, was impressed by what he saw in the Communications Media Department at Fitchburg State.

Beyond graphic design, he saw the concentrations in film/video and game design, and his imagination was triggered. He is now in the technical theater concentration, and was looking forward to building sets for the spring’s main stage production.

Zopatti also responded to the vibe he experienced on his campus tour, which did not push the same hard sell he had seen on other college visits. “It wasn’t as intimidating,” they said. “It was very inviting.”

Fostering that inviting atmosphere is important to Zopatti, who is a resident assistant in Russell Towers, supporting the university’s LGBTQIA+ residential learning community (RLC). The university’s Housing and Residential Services offers several RLCs for students, designed to create unique and intentional environments whose occupants share common goals and interests.

Zopatti first lived in the Honors program RLC, but for his second year sought the resident assistant position with the LGBTQIA+ area. The community promotes the education, awareness and acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ culture.

Community allies are welcome as members, and members of the community strive to a better understanding of self and their intersecting identities.

Zopatti said being an RA has been a very positive experience, and he’s been gratified to work with students in a welcoming community. They have also been able to balance coursework with the responsibilities of his role while also engaging with other clubs on campus like the Gay Straight Alliance and the Minecraft Club. Working with the residents of his RLC has been especially gratifying, they said.

“It’s a great fit,” said Zopatti. “I’m a member of that community, and we exist among each other and support each other.”

18 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Connecting the Dots The Academic Coaching and Tutor Center supports students in their coursework, but also pays dividends for the students helping their peers.

Gabryelle Callahan ‘22 of Whitman, majoring in nursing, found the center as a sophomore when she was looking for a job on campus. “What I love most about tutoring someone is when they get that light bulb moment, it's really nice to see somebody connect the dots,” Callahan said.

Andrew Esielionis ‘23, pursuing a dual major in English studies and economics, has been involved with the center since 2020, first as a peer mentor and later as a tutor. “I was just doing it for a job, but then the experience after my first semester as a mentor made it feel like more than that,” they said. “It taught me that learning is a collaborative experience.”

Sofia Tarmey ‘24 of Melrose, also a nursing major, works as a tutor and mentor in the ACT Center. “Being a mentor and tutor has meant a lot to me and I think it has helped me grow as a person and become more confident in myself,” she said.

Lorenny Arias Diroche ‘23 of Haverhill, majoring in exercise and sports science with a minor in psychology, saw an opportunity to step Jaclyn Boateng outside of her comfort zone when she applied. A firstgeneration student, Diroche is also bilingual and serves students whose first language isn’t English.

Diroche said her work has made her more aware of the struggles many of her fellow students face. “It has also given me the Lorenny Arias Diroche potential to believe more in

Sofia Tarmey

myself and be an inspiring role model,” she said.

Jaclyn Boateng ‘22, a nursing major from Pittsfield, was inspired to work as a mentor to be a support for other students in her challenging program. “Being a mentor has definitely helped me to be more confident in myself while helping other students,” she said.

These students have embraced other aspects of campus life.

Callahan is a member of the Student Nursing Association and is active in the Honors Program. Tarmey is a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority as well as the Dance Club.

Diroche is a dancer, too, and is a member of the biochemistry club, the Latin-American Student Organization, and works as a resident assistant. Boateng is a member of the student nurse association, the Black Student Union, and the TRIO SSS program. And Esielionis is treasurer of the role-playing guild and campus news editor for the student paper The Point.

“Meet new people and find what you like, and step out of your comfort zone because it’s a safe environment,” Callahan said. “Working at the ACT Center has been such a positive experience, and if you're thinking about being a tutor, I 100% recommend it to make that impact at your school.”

“Putting yourself out there more helps you grow as a person,” said Boateng. “I am thankful for the center because it gave me the opportunity to put myself out there.”

“I think I am the person I am today through these extracurricular activities, learning to not be afraid and learning to actually seek out this help and these interactions,” said Esielionis.

—Caroline Lanni

STUDENT LIFE

Transforming Lives Eric Gregoire ‘11 has been embracing opportunities at Fitchburg State from his first semester on campus.

The political science major was interested in student government since his high school days in Ludlow. At Fitchburg State he quickly sought out opportunities to get involved in a leadership position, first as a student representative from Russell Towers.

“From the very beginning I loved the opportunity to get to know students and their concerns, and to give voice to their concerns in a productive way,” he said.

Gregoire became a class officer, and was later elected Student Government Association president and student representative to the university’s board of trustees.

“Every administrator I interacted with, it didn’t feel like they were checking a box by listening to me,” he said. “I was genuinely involved in the decision-making process.”

He was able to balance his student leadership work and his studies, while burrowing into the finer details.

“What I tried to do across anything, whether it was SGA or Model United Nations or being an orientation leader, I buried myself in a lot of committee work,” he said. “I learned so much about the university, and it brought me the confidence to grow into other opportunities and reach for them.”

Gregoire later completed a master of education in policy, planning and administration from Boston University and now works as a senior budget analyst for the University of Massachusetts. There, he said, he uses the same detail-driven approach he employed at Fitchburg State.

He hasn’t strayed far from campus. In addition to service on the Alumni Association board, Gregoire was sworn in this February as the alumni representative to the board of trustees. The new post brings him full circle.

“My fundamental charge is the longevity of the institution, to continue to transform lives across future generations and to help the region,” said Gregoire, who added that he hopes current and future Falcons follow his example and seize the opportunities available on campus.

“My best advice is to take every opportunity to learn and explore different activities outside your comfort zone. I put myself out there and found out a lot about myself. That’s where you grow.”

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Where I Was Supposed to Be Like many college-bound students, Miranda Gustin ‘23 experienced some indecision about where her path lay after finishing high school.

Gustin, majoring in political science with a minor in business and a concentration in law, grew up in Leicester. As college approached, she was torn between Fitchburg State and heading out of state.

“I woke up on May 1, the decision day, and put on a Fitchburg State sweatshirt,” she said. “I felt in my heart that this was where I was supposed to be.”

Three years later, Gustin still feels that way, and has left her mark on the school as a high-achieving student who is also deeply embedded in campus life.

It was in her first year that a friend took her to a meeting of the Fitchburg Activities Board, which organizes events on campus. “I ended up accidentally getting involved, and I fell in love with it,” she said.

Leadership on that board followed, as did roles with the Fitchburg AntiViolence Education club, the panhellenic society (comprising the university’s sorority chapters), and a seat in the Student Government Association. Beyond those activities, she is a senior resident assistant in Aubuchon Hall.

Gustin said being a resident assistant has been a powerful experience. “It opened my eyes to different groups of people,” she said. “We all come here for an education, and finding something with each person I can connect with, I think that’s rewarding.”

Gustin found a connection with the university’s Moot Court program, representing the university at the regional and national tournaments this year. That demanding program instilled a love of the law that she plans to explore in law school.

One of the cumulative lessons Gustin has taken from her scope of engagement on campus is the importance of savoring downtime. “It’s hard at times, and I do find solace in carving out time for myself,” she said.

“Any time I get to breathe, I do that. It’s a balancing act.”

But she wouldn’t have her college experience go any other way. “Fitchburg State is more than just an education to me,” she said. “I found a home here. I became a part of this university. I put my money into this, but I got more for my dollar than most people do. I gave a lot of myself, and I received more in the end.”

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 21

STUDENT LIFE

Doing It All Shane Rodriguez ‘93 embraced every aspect of college life, setting the stage for a rich and varied career.

“What didn’t I do? All of it shaped me in a significant way for the rest of my life,” he said.

The Boston native came to Fitchburg State intending to pursue a career in education. He was a student-athlete, traveling the state as a football player and later as a coach.

He was also a resident assistant (RA) for three years, including time as the only male RA in the then all-female Aubuchon Hall.

“It gave me a new perspective on women,” he recalled with a laugh.

He also pursued leadership opportunities, becoming the first Black president of the Student Government Association and later serving as student representative to the board of trustees. Vincent J. Mara was then the president of the school.

“President Mara gave me a lot of pointers on leadership,” Rodriguez said. “He really took me under his wing. He worked to show me how the college was run and to observe the day-to-day operations.”

Among those operations was the campus police department, where Rodriguez got a work study job as a student dispatcher. The experience was eye-opening, as he saw a different approach to police work than he had seen in Boston.

While he graduated with his degree in early childhood education, his interest in law enforcement continued. Soon he was teaching at South Street Elementary School in Fitchburg by day and working as a reserve police officer in Ashby by night. “The kids started calling me ‘kindergarten cop,’” he said.

Eventually his path led back to Fitchburg State, where he was hired by the campus police force and quickly promoted into a supervisory role. He said his time as a student leader helped him navigate his professional role overseeing officers with many more years’ experience.

Rodriguez went on to work for the Leominster Police Department for many years, among other appointments. He put his multi-tasking skills to work when he pursued a law degree while working full-time, ultimately opening his own practice as well as teaching in law school.

He briefly stepped away from practicing law to work for the state’s Municipal Police Training Committee as director of programs and standards. In that role he got to observe Fitchburg State’s own groundbreaking police program, and supports the evolution of officer training that it entails.

“We’re very fortunate in Massachusetts that we have officers who are very well-trained, who are out there doing the right thing,” he said. “Still, I support police officer 22 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

standards and training because we need that extra set of eyes. Law enforcement officers need to see continued best practices in policing.”

From working as a police officer to coaching and now as a lawyer and full-time faculty member with the Massachusetts School of Law, Rodriguez strives to embody high standards. “A lot of people see me as a person of color in a lot of roles, and I hope I’ve inspired other people of color. You, too, can be a police officer. You, too, can be a teacher. That means a lot to me.”

And he credits his time at Fitchburg State with setting him on that path.

“If it wasn’t for Fitchburg State, I wouldn’t have had the success I’ve had,” he said. “It was Fitchburg State that gave me a tremendous boost and the opportunity to do the things I’ve done.”

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

I Belong Here Matthew Costello ‘13 was still learning his way around the Fitchburg State campus. He was among the hundreds of students at Rock the Block, the annual clubs and organizations fair held in early September, and stopped at the Student Government Association’s table.

Though only days into his first year on campus, Costello saw an opportunity to get involved. And as a political science major who had been active in student leadership at his high school in West Bridgewater, it seemed like it could be a good fit.

Indeed it was. Costello was elected that fall, and continued in student government throughout his four years at Fitchburg State. “Some of my closest friends to this day are from college, and almost all of them are from student government,” he recalled.

He was later elected the student representative to the university Board of Trustees. “It took a lot of confidence to speak up and be a voice on behalf of your constituents,” Costello said. “The board was really receptive to my concerns, and that’s something I was really proud of.”

Costello is also rightly proud of his performance in the university’s moot court program, which he found great preparation for law school. He earned first place nationally in the brief-writing portion of the tournament in his junior year.

“Moot Court was definitely instrumental and allowed me to develop and hone the skills that let me hit the ground running in law school,” he said.

In law school at Suffolk University, he met students from larger, more expensive institutions. “Until we received our first-semester grades and class rank, most students sized each other up based on where you attended undergrad,” he said. “No one really looked at me like I was a threat, but once I finished first in the class of more than 300 students, there was an objective standard to be judged by.”

When it came time to apply for internships and jobs, Costello tapped into the breadth of experiences he had accrued as an undergraduate.

“Leaving law school and going into the workforce, I really leaned on my time in student government and the Board of Trustees,” he said.

“These experiences were really instrumental in giving me the confidence to say, ‘I belong here.’”

He was hired as a judicial law clerk to Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Gilbert V. Indeglia and then clerked for Chief Judge William E. Smith of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island before joining the Boston office of the international law firm WilmerHale (where he had also been a summer associate in 2015).

In pursuit of a wider variety of professional

duties, he moved on to D’Ambrosio LLP, also in Boston. “That move allowed me to grow and take on new tasks I wasn’t doing at my previous firm,” he said.

Costello has remained engaged with his alma mater, returning several times to act as a moot court judge. “I’m forever impressed each year by the level of competition,” he said. “It just seems to get better and better.”

Costello is grateful for the role the university played in his own development. “Fitchburg State really gave me everything I needed to succeed at a very high level.”

CLUBS

On Top of Every Detail Kristen Laquidara ‘22 has always loved to dance, so joining the Dance Club was a natural fit when she got to Fitchburg State. Little did she know the transformative effect it would have.

It was on a visit to campus as a high school senior that Laquidara first saw the university’s Dance Club in action. She was drawn to the variety of styles on display.

“I’d been dancing for 15 years prior to college,” said Laquidara, who is majoring in communications media with a concentration in photography as well as a minor in business. The club would provide a way to let her keep dancing without the pressure of a competitive environment.

“Dance Club is a very inclusive group,” she said. “We are a student-run club, which I love as it allows us to be creative and express ourselves outside of the classroom.”

Laquidara loved the club, and always hoped she’d have the courage to step into a leadership role at some point in college, but she was unsure. “In high school, I was the quiet one,” She said. “I went to school, went to dance, then went home everyday and repeated it all the next.”

But she was encouraged to give the presidency a try. “It did take some convincing,” she said. “My main goal was to be vocal for everyone’s needs, and to be approachable. You have to be on top of every detail.”

That was especially true as she ran and organized two successful dance showcases during the pandemic, where participants had to abide by many restrictions including wearing face coverings in the dance studio as well as on stage.

“Those weren't always popular decisions,” she said, but she knew she had to enforce these rules to keep every dancer safe at all times. The experience of helping guide the club through a challenging time only made her love it more, she said.

In addition to the Dance Club, Laquidara is also

active in Greek life on campus as a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. Joining in her freshman year, she found another tight-knit and supportive community.

These areas intersected when Laquidara organized a campus-wide talent show last fall, which was sponsored by the Dance Club, Greek life, and the Fitchburg Activities Board. The project was another logistical challenge that she was excited to pull off, and she was pleased to see her peers share their gifts before an appreciative audience.

Adapting to challenges as they arise has taught Laquidara to keep an open mind about what the future holds. Looking back, she’s pleasantly surprised by the path she’s taken. “I never thought I'd be a dance teacher for an advanced level class, and I definitely never thought I'd be the president of the largest student run club on campus for not only one but for two successful terms,” she said. “I came to Fitchburg State not knowing anyone except for my freshman year roommate. I’ve met lots and lots of people.

There is not a time I walk across campus and don't see someone that I know, and I have both Dance Club and Greek life to thank for that.”

24 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

Dance performance photo by Jullys Souza '25

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Embracing the Genuinely Silly It was just weeks into her first semester at Fitchburg State when Laurie Furtado ‘22 learned from her resident assistant that the university had a Quidditch club.

“I was obsessed with Harry Potter,” she said. “We were excited to build the club.”

Fans of the book and film series featuring the boy wizard know that Quidditch is a sport played by magic folk, with players on opposing teams soaring on brooms in massive stadiums. Author J.K. Rowling’s expanded universe of Potter lore describes a successful American franchise called the Fitchburg Finches. Naming the campus club was easy.

Quidditch is popular on college campuses, with players running with brooms between their legs, trying to avoid being struck by Bludgers (typically dodgeballs) as they try to score points by throwing the Quaffle (usually a volleyball) through one of three scoring rings. Late in the game, additional points can be scored by catching the Golden Snitch, which in the non-magical version of the game is a yellow-clad player carrying a tennis ball in a sock in their pocket.

Fitchburg State’s club was running before Furtado arrived, but she was among the players who took to the university quad in fall 2018 to scrimmage against Harvard.

“I knew it was going to be bad when they showed up with mouthguards,” Furtado recalled. “You could tell they did all the drills, and had strategy. It was hysterical, playing an Ivy League school in a made up sport. We got creamed.”

The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in the Finches’ forward motion. Furtado said the club is looking for an underclassman who can take on leadership after she graduates this May with her degree in special education.

Furtado was also involved in the Dance Club, the Education Club, the education honor society Kappa Delta Pi, and worked as a tour guide for Admissions, among other activities. Starting with Quidditch was a great opportunity, she said.

“As intimidating as it was freshman year to try to join things, it was nice to have something small,” she said, even as her responsibilities grew when she was elected the club’s president. “I had never led something before. This was the first time that people were looking at me, and I had to be in charge. That will help in the classroom, and it was the first step out of my comfort zone.”

Furtado relished the experience.

“It was nice to meet people, whether you bonded over Harry Potter or just taking part in something that is genuinely silly,” she said. “I can’t wait to tell my kids someday that I was on a Quidditch team.”

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 25

ALUMNI news

Class Notes

This Class Notes section includes news that was received between May 8, 2021 and March 1, 2022. Because of the nature of a bi-annual publication and the volume of notes we receive, you should expect to see your note about six months after you submit your information.

1950s Erkki Koutonen ’52, was highlighted in the Telegram & Gazette for his experience at the London Summer Olympics in 1948. Koutonen competed in the Men’s Triple Jump event with an impressive 48-7-1/4. He didn't medal for his jump or advance to the finals, but he was still proud to have represented USA. Frederic C. Smith ’59, ’64,

and his wife Alda recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Fred retired in 1994, after teaching for 35 years at Gardner Jr. High. Since 1965, Fred and Alda have traveled to 24 countries, on four continents with family and friends. Now they are enjoying family, friends and memories.

1970s The Honorable Stephen L. DiNatale ’79, won a fourth

term as mayor of Fitchburg in November 2021.

independence at college and beyond.

1990s

Lorie A. Martiska ’79,

has accepted a position as a parttime assistant professor in legal studies at Wheaton College in Norton. He teaches criminal law and moot court. With his own law practice in Princeton, Smith has litigated many high-profile cases. He currently is representing a client who was wrongfully convicted and served 35 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. The case was featured in a recent Netflix documentary.

joined the Fitchburg State University Foundation Board as one of its new directors.

Martiska is the vice president of advancement for Open Sky Community Services.

Robert W. Mewis ’79, is

beyond proud of his two daughters, Sam and Kristie, who were members of the 2021 U.S. women’s national soccer team, playing in the Tokyo Olympics.

Both daughters are members of professional soccer teams. Sam plays for the North Carolina Courage and Kristie for the Houston Dash.

1980s Mary Jane Spencer ’82, ’83, and Thomas P. Butler ’81

recently celebrated being two of the longest-serving teachers in the Swampscott school system, both having started in 1984.

William S. Smith, Esq. ’90

Julie A. Keefe ’91 was named

the director of English Language Arts for Fitchburg Public Schools. Keefe is an ajunct professor at Worcester State University and has been a liaison for instruction, intervention and tech in the Hampden Wilbraham Regional School district.

Andrew C. Gobeil ’91 was promoted to director of communications and public affairs for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Prior to the new appointment, Gobeil was the deputy director of the airport’s Office of Policy and Communications.

Kimberly A. McCoyBlauser ’92 recently

transitioned from being a parttime employee at the university for over 10 years to staff assistant, web content specialist in the Office of Marketing and Integrated Communications.

Keith Gentili ’93 was named a 2020 Serious Columnist of the Year by the New England Newspaper and Press Association. Gentili, who is the editor and publisher of the The New Boston (N.H.) Beacon, was also recently honored by the New Hampshire Press Association as columnist of the year for the third consecutive year (2018-2020).

Jeffrey P. Stephens ’96 was

appointed health director for the city of Leominster. As the prior health director and director of enviromental services for the town of Westford and the housing and sanitary inspector for Fitchburg, Stephens brings over 20 years of experience to the post.

Victor Rojas ’96, assistant director of GEAR UP, was named the GEAR UP Professional of the Year by the National Council for Community Education Partnerships. For the past 22 years, Rojas has been involved with GEAR UP, a program focused on increasing college and career readiness of lowincome students in communities nationwide.

Liza J. McFadden ’83 was Cynthia “Cindy” A. Munn ’75, Chaplain School Chief,

Education Services Division, retired after 35 years as an Army educator.

Sharyn (Sepko) Lee ’76, ’84,

was recently named to the College Diabetes Network Board of Directors. The College Diabetes Network, a non-profit organization, focuses on providing young adults with Type 1 diabetes the peer connections they value, and expert resources they need to successfully manage the challenging transition to

appointed to the Leon County Children’s Services Council. She is the president of Liza and Partners and has served as president and chief executive officer at the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Renee A. (Boucher) Bastine ’86 was recently

promoted to senior director of Global Customer Support at Everbridge, a global software company. Bastine has been with Everbridge since 2018. Before joining Everbridge, she worked at Oracle and RSA Security.

26 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

Jennifer K. (Conlon) Fischer ’92, ’05 was named

director of the 21st Century After School Programs and Unified Arts/Creative Programming for Fitchburg Public Schools. Fischer has been the assistant principal at Longsjo middle school for five years and prior to that was a science teacher at the B.F. Brown school.

Edward D. Denmark ’98

retired from the Harvard Police Department after 18 years.

Denmark continues to mentor and train future officers as an assistant visiting professor for the

ALUMNI news criminal justice program at Fitchburg State (see story on page 3).

Baltimore Orioles. He coached at New Britain High for 10 years.

Tammi M. Chandler ’03, ’06, was named the director of

mathematics for Fitchburg Public Schools. Chandler has been coaching math at Longsjo Middle School and has been an adjunct professor at Lasell College and Fitchburg State.

Elizabeth C. Thompson ’12 was recently selected as a

member of the Hellertown Planning Commission.

Brittney “Britt” Taylor ’14 was crowned the 2021

Northeast Old Drag Racers and Musclecar Association series champion, placing first this season out of 79 active racers.

Erin C. Murphy ’04 was

John Richard ’99 was appointed to the GFA Federal Credit Union board of directors.

He is the city of Gardner’s auditor and has over 25 years of professional experience.

elected to the Boston City Council as a councilor atlarge in November 2021.

Greenfield Community College’s executive director of institutional advancement, retired after 16 years of service.

Christine M. (Mumford) Lane-Monette ’99, ’03, was

promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer at IC Federal Credit Union, where she has worked since 2005.

2000s Roberto Mercado ’03 was hired

to lead the Aberdeen IronBirds, High Class A affiliate of the

the Gloucester Police Department as a jail diversion/mental health clinician for its Community Impact Unit.

Previously, Tricomi worked at Beth Israel Lahey Health Behavioral Services of Salem and Mclean Hospital in Belmont. She was a part of the LEADER Program at Mclean, which supports the wellness and mental health of police officers and others in uniform.

Gregg M. Swiatlowski ’06

won a sound editing Emmy at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards for The Queen’s Gambit.

Lisa M. Field ’08 was

Regina E. Curtis ’99,

Briana L. Tricomi ’17 joined

recognized as the Commonwealth Heroine for Taunton for her work protecting and improving public sector jobs with the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Field serves the association’s Division of Legislative and Governmental Affairs as the associate director.

She is also an advocate for improving access to maternity care in southeastern Massachusetts.

Dan Daly ’09 designed the set for the off-Broadway production of Tammany Hall at SoHo Playhouse, a site-specific and immersive play that takes place over four stories of a former Tammany Hall clubhouse.

Julia Kayal ’14 and Mitch Clark ’15 married on Aug. 28,

2021. They met at Fitchburg State through the Communications Media program (shoutout to Professor Rob Carr from the newlyweds).

Brooke T. Pacheco ’19, a teacher and junior varsity girls’ lacrosse coach for Tewksbury Memorial High School, was recently promoted to head coach for varsity field hockey.

Timothy E Bertulli ’15 and Nicole C (Rollo) Bertulli ’15 met at Fitchburg

State in 2011. They married on November 14, 2021.

Saisha (Matias) Cintron ’19, a graduate student of the

UMass Medical School of Nursing PhD program, was highlighted in a school article for aspiring to help teens overcome adversity.

2010s Marcio J. Cirino ’10

was promoted to assistant vice president of retail lending at Rollstone Bank & Trust. Cirino has been with the bank since 2011.

Officer Aaron Swartz ’16

graduated from the MPTC Plymouth Police Academy as part of the academy’s 71st Recruit Officer Class. After graduation, he began his new position with the Dighton Police Department.

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 27

ALUMNI news

In Memoriam In Memoriam honors alumni and current or retired employees who have passed away. Space limitations may compel us to include only career, military, and volunteer activities.

Beverly (Sherwin) Farias ’52, of Fitchburg, on Tuesday,

Dec. 21, 2021. A proud Fitchburg State alumna and supporter for more than 70 years, she was a force of nature whose love for Fitchburg State was boundless. She graduated in 1952, and never let go of her ties to the institution. It was here where she met her future husband, Joseph Farias ’53, who later joined the industrial arts faculty. She was a faculty wife as well as a proud alum, and her service continued with the university’s Alumni Association and as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees.

Her accolades include two President’s Medals, two Alumni Service Awards, and an Alumni Booster Award in 2002. At the winter commencement ceremony in December, her children accepted the inaugural Beverly Sherwin Farias Lifetime of Service Award on her behalf, in recognition of her ceaseless contributions to Fitchburg State.

She was watching the ceremony from her home.

Professor Emeritus (1964 - 1991) and head baseball coach (1967 - 1978) Norman L. Carson, of

Fitchburg, on December 18, 2020.

1930s Mildred “Gerry” (Lyons) Schappals ’39, of Nashua,

N.H., on June 9, 2021.

Lillian (Koivula) Martin ’53, of Townsend, on April 15,

2021.

Margaret “Peggy” A. (Provenzani) Gauthier ’55, of Portland, Maine, on May

8, 2021.

Maureen J. (Quinn) Gilmartin ’55, of Houston,

Texas on September 16, 2021.

1940s

Carlos J. Blakely ’57, of Shelburne, Vt. on November 12, 2021.

Claire F. (Andrews) Lonsdale ’41, of St.

Sheila (Higgins) Sullivan ’57, of Middletown, R.I. on

Augustine, Fla., on September 28, 2021.

Ruth (Brennan) Boland ’47, of Marlborough, on

February 14, 2022.

Mary E. (Bickford) Bingham ’48, of Lunenburg,

on December 20, 2014.

Rev. David H. Vennberg ’49, of Jamestown, N.Y., on June

28, 2021.

Jeannette (Smith) Satkiewicz ’49, of Ellicott

City, Md., on October 7, 2021.

1950s Cornelius “Conny” F. Sharron ’50, ’55, of

Worthington, on August 20, 2021.

Dominick D. Aveni ’51, of

Leominster, on January 7, 2022.

Mildred E. (Murnane) Rheault Cabana ’52, of

Springfield, on January 9, 2022.

Helen M. (Robinson) Vincent ’52, of North

Dartmouth, January 8, 2022.

January 30, 2022.

Judith A. (Pierce) McManus ’58, of

Marlborough, on March 3, 2021.

Ann Marcia (Regan) Sousa ’58, of Chelmsford, on

September 30, 2021.

Marjorie A. (Caisse) Walline ’58, in Amherst, N.Y.,

1960s George T. Gabriel ’60, of

Pine Island, Fla., in December 2021.

Theodore S. Pikora ’61, of

Somersworth, on June 13, 2021.

Richard P. Berger ’63, of

Wake Forest, N.C., on February 23, 2021.

Lucia E. (Pease) O'Brien ’64, of Norwell, on July 19,

2021.

Joseph “Joe” Ellis Dignam Jr. ’65, ’70, of Lunenburg, on

November 29, 2021.

Henry J. Shachoy ’67, of

Plainville, on September 18, 2021.

Shirley L. Griffin ’68, of

Lancaster, on January 19, 2022.

Kathryn A. Spooner ’68, of

Orange on October 15, 2021.

on September 12, 2021.

1970s

Patricia D. (Ahearn) Donnelly ’59, of Leominster,

Diane I. (Mason) Horgan ’70, of Ashburnham, on January

on January 3, 2021.

Nano A. (Barney) McCauliff ’59, of Lunenburg,

on September 26, 2021.

Donald J. Tangney ’59, ’68,

of Townsend, on September 6, 2021.

Roger J. Berthiaume ’59, of

19, 2022.

William “Bill” G. Griswold IV ’71, of Venice,

Fla., on on March 27, 2021.

Angelo T. Pappas ’72, ’74, of

Worcester, on June 2, 2021.

Karen Anne (Vail) Butler ’73, of Lunenburg, on June 11,

Webster, on January 4, 2022.

2021.

Augustus Luparelli ’59, of

Roberta L. (Whitehouse) Casella, ’73, of Athol, on

Worcester, on January 4, 2022.

Betty (Robinson) Carbone ’59, ’78, ’91, of

January 27, 2022.

Lunenburg, on December 10, 2021.

Surprise, Ariz., on December 7, 2021.

Clark H. Stuart ’73, ’81, of

Charles A. Duren ’53, of

Enfield, Conn., on October 16, 2021.

SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE

To place a Class Note, Celebration, Introduction, or In Memoriam in Contact, please visit https://www.fitchburgstate.edu/alumni/ resources/alumni-updates-and-requests-form and fill out the form online. Contact reserves the right to edit for length and clarity.

Notes can also be mailed to Contact magazine, Fitchburg State University, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420.

28 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

PHOTO REQUIRMENTS Photos should be at least 3.5 inches wide and have a resolution of at least 300 dpi. If you mail a glossy print to us, please make sure to include your contact information and the names of any people in the photo.

ALUMNI news

ARE YOU A LEADER?

John (Jack) T. Fitzgerald, Jr. ’73, of Duxbury, on February

Lorraine J. (Elia) Rosenthal ’88, of Clinton, on

14, 2022.

October 2, 2021.

Ronald P. Lubianez, PhD ’74, of Fitchburg, MA on

1990s

February 7, 2022.

Albert G. “Mal” Malagrifa ’75, of Lynn, on November 13,

2021 .

Stanford G. Walter, Jr. ’90, of Westminster, on January

8, 2022.

William R. Fors Jr. ’76, of

Ronald W. Reed ’91, of Ashburnham, on June 24,2021.

Hillsoboro, N.H. on November 19. 2021.

Bridget M. (Cox) Lippert ’92, of Milford, N.H., on July 16,

Irene Resendes ’76, of Edgartown, on February 10, 2022.

2021.

Clifton C. Stevens ’77, of Littleton, on August 27, 2021.

Patricia (Pettinelli) Caffrey ’92, of Millis, on

December 28, 2021.

Waltham, on November 9, 2020.

of Salem, on February 8, 2022.

Kenneth J. Kildruff ’95, of

Melva-Jean W. (Wilson) Shepherd ’78, ’87, of

Hingham, on July 5, 2021.

Jeri M. (Kennedy) Bannister ’97, of Turner

Mark S. Desjean ’79, of

Falls, on June 20, 2021.

Hilton Head Island, S.C., (formerly of Fitchburg) on February 17, 2016.

Christopher P. Cannon ’98, of Fitchburg, on October

Donald M. Smith ’79, of

13, 2021.

Clinton, on February 13, 2022.

Christine (Dail) Wellens ’98, of Westminster, on June 7,

Adrian J. Comeaux ’79, of

2021.

Ashburnham, on November 26, 2021.

Enrico A. Colangeli ’99, of

1980s

2000s

Patricia Precobb ’81, of

Patricia A. (Whittaker) Montgomery ’01, of Lowell,

Chelmsford, on January 4, 2022

Medford, on September 4, 2021.

Michael P. Mullins ’82, of Ashby, on February 1, 2022.

on June 23, 2021.

J. William Mees ’82, of

Damaricotta, Maine, on September 10, 2021.

Pepperell, on January 28, 2022.

Esther White Purinton ’82, of Charlemont, on

December 13, 2021.

David Clark ’82, of Fitchburg, on February 26, 2021.

Richard A. Rose ’83, of

Derry, N.H., on July 11, 2021.

Irene A. (Tiernan) Jean ’85,

of Hudson, N.H., on January 22, 2022.

Elaine D. Greene ’87, of Leominster, on November 23, 2021.

We are looking for passionate, serviceoriented alumni willing to commit their time and expertise to serve on the Alumni Association Board! Contact alumni@fitchburgstate.edu for more information or to nominate someone.

Nominations may be submitted at any time but the deadline for July 2023 consideration is March 1, 2023.

Steven T, Meuse ’92, of

Albert “Albie” Mazman ’78,

Westford, on July 10. 2021.

JOIN THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD.

Barbara J. Vitallo ’03, of

Matthew R. Allen ’03, of

North Attleboro, on July 31, 2021.

Dr. Robert F. Champlin ’04, of Holden, on August 31,

2021.

Christopher J. Rendigs ’05, ’06, of Mashpee, on May 29,

2021.

Jennifer L. Foley ’06, of

Richmond, Va., on October 22, 2021.

OFFICERS Jim Walsh ’75, President Dawn Morton ’90, President-Elect Paula Stefanakos ’92, ’02, Treasurer Stephanie Marchetti ’07, ’10, Secretary DIRECTORS Seferine Baez ’18 Eddie Brissett ’96, ‘99 Rose Cardarelli ’81 Rob Comeau ’93 Mark Fearer ’93, ’99 Raymond Gallagher ’15 John Garten ’89 David Gonzalez ‘10 Eric Gregoire ’11 Stephen Hogue ’16 Ian James ’09 Tabitha Kamau ‘18 Shylah Maloney ‘15 Francine Meigs ’83 Jennifer Melanson ’18 Amy Merriam ’14 Frank O'Donnell ’93 (alumni trustee) Daniel Seaman ’07 Nicholas Smith ’11

2010s Ryan L. Kilian ’18, of

Chelmsford, on July 12, 2021.

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 29

ALUMNI news

Falcons Pass the Torch This spring we celebrated Frank O’Donnell’s ’93 tenure as the alumni representative to the Fitchburg State University Board of Trustees. Since 2012, O’Donnell has been the voice of the Alumni Association among the group of governor’s appointees. He has brought great passion and a broad knowledge base to the role. His advocacy on behalf of the Fitchburg State community is greatly appreciated. Due in part to his service on the board, O’Donnell was recently appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker to serve on the state Board of Registration in Medicine. O’Donnell is co-founder and chief operating officer of Mission First Consulting LLC. We wish Frank the best and thank him for his years of dedicated service.

Picking up the torch is long-time alumni association member Eric Gregoire ’11. Gregoire has served on the alumni board since he graduated from Fitchburg State, including a stint as the alumni board president. Gregoire is no stranger to the Fitchburg State Board of Trustees, having served as the student representative to the board in his junior year. He is the first person to serve as both the student trustee and alumni representative to the board. Between Gregoire’s experience on the alumni board and his professional work as a senior budget analyst in the University of Massachusetts president’s office, he is uniquely qualified to serve as our alumni representative.

Congratulations Eric!

If you have stuf f, f you have an estate.

Imagine leaving a legacy.

Imagine creating a gift you ve always wanted w to make, even if you nev thought it was possible. p Your gift cou uld be the solution to the econo challenges many of o our students face while achieving their degre ee. You don t have to be a certain ag ge or extremely wealthy to make a big differenc ce. You just need a plan n.

We invite you to jo oin The Saxifrage Socie ety, an alliance of alumn ni, family, and friends wh ho have included Fitchburg State in n their estate plans or m made a life-income life income enhancing planned gift to the e school. school Donors who remember Fitchburg State in this manner m are supporting the t aspirations of talentted students and faculty from aroun nd the world. Offering you membership in The Saxifrage S Society is ourr way of thanking you for your foressight and generosity.

FOR MORE E INFORMATION T : Go to or contact Jeffrey Wolfman n, Vice President for Instituttional Advancement at 97 78.665.4933 or

30 | SPRING 2022 | FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

ALUMNI news

Once a Falcon, Always a Falcon What does it mean to be engaged with your alma mater? Well, that answer is as unique as each of you!

Maybe your favorite memories of Fitchburg State were your days as a student teacher, working all your nursing practicum hours or going on internship. Maybe you enjoyed sitting in the M&M chairs, playing on a sports team or hosting a show on WXPL. Or perhaps it was simply making friends and connections, hanging out on the quad or working with inspirational faculty. When you think of these things, you engage with your alma mater, even if only for a brief moment.

We know everyone has busy lives, but did you know all the different ways you can stay engaged with Fitchburg State? We make it easy for you to choose the level of involvement that fits your lifestyle.

Do you love social media? Follow the Fitchburg State University Alumni Association page or join the Fitchburg State University Alumni group on Facebook! Here you will find fun videos, campus updates, event announcements and the occasional contest for free swag. Like, comment or simply look at our posts. There is something for everyone and you never know who you might find in the comments.

Prefer to stay connected via email? Our monthly alumni e-newsletter is full of stories about the happenings on campus, upcoming events and links to the main university webpage. Also watch for special invitations or opportunities to interact with the university. We love to see that you are reading our emails and love it even more when you send us a response to something you like.

Don’t like digital communications at all? Watch your mailbox for Contact Magazine or one of our fundraising letters. The magazine features alumni accomplishments, event highlights, campus priorities and the all-important Class Notes, where you can see what your classmates have been up to. Whether you donate or not, our fundraising letters share inspirational messages and stories of our students.

Are you a social butterfly? Then maybe in-person events are for you! The Alumni Association hosts many on campus and regional events throughout the year.

Attend the Retired Educators Luncheon or Gold Key Society breakfast. How about a Red Sox spring training game in Fort Meyers or a sunset dinner cruise on Cape Cod Bay? Enjoy class and organization reunions, athletics alumni games, regional alumni groups and virtual alumni presentations. We try to offer a variety of programming so there is something for everyone.

Will you join us at Winter or Spring Commencement?

It’s tradition for the Alumni Association (of which you are automatically a member once you graduate!) to welcome the graduating class by participating in Commencement.

We provide the caps, gowns and alumni stoles and you get prime seating to watch the ceremony.

Show your Falcon pride! Wear Fitchburg State gear, display an alumni sticker on your car, share photos with us or proudly talk about your time at Fitchburg State to others.

Interested in volunteering? The Alumni Association offers a number of opportunities for you. For those who want to roll up their sleeves and get more involved, consider joining the Alumni Board. Are you willing to serve on an alumni panel or share your expertise with current students? Many academic departments look to bring alumni back to speak to their classes and our Career Center is eager to engage more alumni for job shadowing and mentorship programs.

Are you passionate about making college affordable for all students? Over 90% of Fitchburg State students qualify for and receive some form of financial aid.

Making a financial contribution of any amount to the university helps students pursue their dreams.

Being engaged with Fitchburg State can mean many things, ranging from casually reading our posts on social media to actively volunteering for the school. It’s YOUR choice. We are YOUR alma mater.

Once a Falcon, Always a Falcon

#WeAreFalconsWatchUsSoar #FalconPride

FITCHBURG STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2022 | 31

ALUMNI news

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