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Class Notes Summer 2022

A Servant to the People: Meet Amy Bontrager G'12 Featured Class Note
Championing Childfree by Choice: Meet Kelly Hawkins 鈥�98 Alumni Profile
For the Love of Libraries: Meet Mike Moran Faculty & Staff Updates
国产哟哟 Proud: Meet Dottie McGovern 鈥�56 and daughter Kathy McGovern Lawson 鈥�99 Alumni Profile
Yes, We Cannabis: Meet Tiffany G鈥�11 and Ted Madru G鈥�11 Alumni Profile
Lauren Chapple-Love 鈥�07
Because of my 国产哟哟 professors and the networks they had, I did my practicum with the Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Unit.
Read Lauren's Story
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1930's 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's 2010's 2020's
Class of 1939
In Memoriam Anna E. Krysin Ripley ’39 on May 22, 2022
Class of 1942
Catching Up Marion Codding Hastings ’42 turned 100 in October 2021!  Marion was the Student of the Year in 1942. (Photo of Marion with her daughter, Joan Hastings.)
Class of 1946
In Memoriam Helen Sadie Hatch Burnap ’46 on January 23, 2022
Class of 1947
In Memoriam Ada Spahl Pizarro ’47 on November 7, 2021
Class of 1949
In Memoriam Dorothy Kallin ’49 on December 31, 2021
Class of 1950
In Memoriam Mary Kelley Coswell ’50 on July 6, 2021
In Memoriam Carol Jane Spinney Hewitt ’50 on July 30, 2021
Class of 1954
In Memoriam Lois Hubbard Donahue ’54 on July 27, 2021
Class of 1956
In Memoriam Carol Beal Flood ’56 on September 27, 2021
Class of 1957
In Memoriam Pauline L. Belanger Bilodeau ’57 on June 19, 2021
Class of 1958
In Memoriam Patricia (Pat) Morton Lyon ’58 on February 19, 2022
In Memoriam Patricia (Pat) Lamont Macmillan ’58 on May 22, 2022
Class of 1959
In Memoriam Joan L. Stadnicki Bajgier ’59 on August 12, 2021
Class of 1961
In Memoriam Shirley Thomas Baldwin ’61 on February 21, 2022
Class of 1962
Catching Up Carolyn Andrews Nagy ’62 and her husband Frank have been married for 26 years in May and celebrated with a trip to a nearby castle. Fully vaccinated, they both survived COVID-19, and had much to celebrate. They are retired and are active in their church and community.
Class of 1964
In Memoriam Elaine Fotter Barstow Gale ’64 on November 22, 2020
Catching Up Barbara Grabon Juszczyk ’64 was chosen as the winner of the "Herald Angel" unsung volunteer award by the Catholic Herald. She was nominated by a fellow parishioner at the Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, who wrote eloquently about observing the love and care Barbara puts into her work with the parish senior group, especially through the difficult COVID-19 pandemic. Congratulations, Barbara!
Class of 1965
In Memoriam Kathleen F. Wright ’65 on April 22, 2022
Class of 1966
In Memoriam Bette Jane (BJ) Clark Urban ’66 on June 28, 2021
Catching Up A note from Nancy Coffey Deane ’66: Greetings to all my 国产哟哟 friends! Since becoming our new class agent, I have made friends with the Alumni Office personnel and am surprised and delighted to learn about the new direction 国产哟哟 is taking. After a wonderful secretarial career and moving to our North Shore home, my husband Stu and I have celebrated 50 years of marriage, raised two successful sons, enjoyed two golden retrievers, and now adore our four delightful grandchildren. I would love to hear stories from all of you for our next 国产哟哟way.
Class of 1968
In Memoriam Colleen F. Tangredi Paton ’68 on April 26, 2022
In Memoriam Carol Ann Stevens ’68 on May 23, 2022
Class of 1971
Catching Up After a long career that included the financial services and publishing industries, Sylvia “Toni” Orellana Smit ’71 retired from Harvard Business Publishing. Toni and her husband Rob are the very proud parents of four, and the grandparents of 11 (aged 10 to 26). Travel, camping, and family keeps them busy.  Post 国产哟哟 Keynotes, Toni continued singing and is blessed to have a pianist husband!
Class of 1976
In Memoriam Deborah (Debbie) Halladay-Pierce ’76 on July 1, 2021
Class of 1978
In Memoriam Susan Elaine Fox ’78 on December 2021
Class of 1982
Catching Up Emma Kallai Garcia, Lynne Murphy, Karen Salvini Fanion, and Patti Parks Coleman gathered together for some fun! 
Class of 1988
Catching Up Heidi Trehwhella Joseph ’88 has started as the chief operations officer at First Choice Health Center in East Hartford, CT.
Class of 1990
Catching Up Latino Scholarship Fund of Western Mass announced that Lieutenant Maria Segura Pelchar ’90 of the Holyoke Fire Department is the recipient of the Carlos Vega Community Champion Award, given to an individual whose actions have benefited the Latino community.
Catching Up Tina D’Agostino ’90 has launched Blooms Flower Truck, a mobile florist offering delivery, flower subscriptions, retail pop up, and floral designs for special events as well as residential and commercial customers. Look for the Blooms truck around Western Mass and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Blooms also has a studio space at The Mill at Crane Pond in Westfield.
Class of 1994
Catching Up EllenMarie Keith ’94 ’96 works as a history and social justice teacher at Phoenix Charter Academy in Springfield, MA. She recently brought some of her students to 国产哟哟, and two of her students are enrolled for fall 2023. EllenMarie would like to thank Alison and the admissions team who provided great information and a campus tour. She would also like to thank Elizabeth Cardona, who not only discussed the multicultural program with the students, but translated as well.
Class of 1998 25th Reunion
Catching Up Erin Morran Cowles ’98 G’05 was elected chair of the Southington Democratic Town Committee. She is thankful to have everyone's support and looks forward to working with the team to make a better future. Congrats, Erin!
Catching Up Jennifer Ferrara Remillard ’98 ’13 G’16 joined the South County Senior Center as the director in January. The Senior Center serves residents in Deerfield, Whately, and Sunderland. Jennifer is focused on continuing programs, adding new activities, applying for grants, and planning for a new Senior Center to be built. Way to go, Jennifer!
Catching Up Kiernan Cone Rushford ’98 ’00 was promoted to project manager at Farm Credit Financial Partners Inc.
Class of 2000
Catching Up H. J. Russell & Company (Russell) announced the promotion of Yasmine S. Murray ’00, Esq., a member of its senior leadership team, to chief operating officer. Murray will continue working side-by-side with CEO Michael B. Russell, Sr., to set the company's strategic direction, and develop and execute the company's goals and policies. Congrats, Yasmine!
Class of 2003
Catching Up Michelle Smith Cotto ’03 is now the chief legal and human resources officer at InterCommunity
Catching Up Deliso Financial & Insurance Services announced that Nicole Figovsky Stuart ’03 G’08 has joined the firm as practice coordinator. A 20-year resident of East Longmeadow, Nicole attended 国产哟哟 where she received her MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovative Practices. She brings over 20 years of professional experience in finance, banking and bookkeeping.
Class of 2004
In Memoriam James T. Hultgren G’04 on August 20, 2021
Catching Up Stefanie Gilbert Sanchez ’04 G’10 began a new role as the associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Hartford in March 2021.  She is also serving as a visiting instructor in UHart's Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program. 
Class of 2005
Catching Up Stacy Czarnowski Duffany ’05 was a member of one of the first forensic science classes at 国产哟哟. She returned as an adjunct faculty member for forensic science several years ago. Stacy's professional career has changed significantly and she has become an entrepreneur, starting Sola Sister Co. in 2019, a wholesale wood flower distribution company. Check out her website at.
Catching Up Tammy Thomas Nuccio ’05 G’06 is in her first term as a CT State Representative and has announced that she is running for a second term
Class of 2006
Catching Up Allison Clayton ’06 G’14 has started a new role at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. After more than twelve years working for the Department of Infection Prevention & Control in both staff education and data analytics roles—and working almost daily through the height of the pandemic—Allison has accepted the position of project lead for Tri-Institutional Analytics. She is happy to continue to grow her career at NYP! 
Catching Up Robyn Foss ’06 has been a travel agent for over 20 years. In March, she started a dream job as an international travel coordinator at the State Department in Washington, D.C.. Robyn earned an Advanced Paralegal Studies degree in the One Day A Week College.
Catching Up Krystal Jackson ’06 is a licensed mental health counselor and is now the owner of a group private practice in Connecticut. She is a speaker on self-care, mindset tools, and mental wellness. Krystal has published a workbook about self-care called Getting Real About Self-Care.
Catching Up Jennifer Corey LeFort ’06 started a new job as a launch success manager at Workhuman last summer. She learned about the job opening from Janna Chapdelaine Millette '06.
Class of 2007
Catching Up Aundrea Paulk-Lopez ’07 was chosen for BusinessWest’s 2022 40 Under Forty. Photo courtesy of BusinessWest, by Leah Martin Photography.
Catching Up Kaleena Hardy ’07 is now an interior designer at Marcia Fletcher Interior Design LLC.
Catching Up Dr. Vana Nespor G’07 G’20 was commissioned to write and direct a new musical, These Months of Our Lives, based on interviews with 30 residents of a small town in West Virginia. Vana wrote the lyrics and worked with four local composers to create 17 original songs. Learn more at thesemonthsofourlives.com. Vana is also a partner at Bellastoria Press, where she interned. Two recent MFA interns have since become paid associates at the company, Christine Richardson G’22 and Janet Gerry G’21.
Weddings Meghan O鈥橠onnell 鈥�07 and Terry Donahue, November 19, 2022, in Jackson, NH.
Class of 2008 15th Reunion
Arrivals Jennifer (Miarecki) Lopata ’08 and her husband Nick welcomed a new member to their family! Nolan James was born on 8/6/21.
In Memoriam Gina Marie Maynard Williams ’08 on March 20, 2022
Catching Up Amy Moreau Stack G’08 was honored to be recognized in Plastic's News “2021 Women Breaking the Mold.”  “Words can't express the amount of gratitude I have for being afforded this opportunity…I am fortunate to work for North America's leading independent producer of highly engineered film solutions, Charter Next Generation!”
Class of 2009
Weddings Sandra Widmer ’09 G’10 married Rob Friederichs on May 14, 2022.
Weddings Stephanie Zeiser ’09 married Mark Johnson on October 30, 2021.
Catching Up Talia Landry ’09, a litigation associate at Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy, P.C., received the 2021 Ascending Alumni Award on November 5th from Western New England University School of Law. Honorees have shown leadership in their chosen fields and/or in the community.
Catching Up Allison Paloski ’09 G’11 is now working at Astro Chemicals in cybersecurity.
Catching Up Kristin Whalen ’09 and her husband launched their own business this past year. Cape Home Kitchen & Bath provides all things cabinetry and home design with a showroom in Cataumet, MA. .
Class of 2010
Engagements Ashley Martinez ’10 got engaged to Hunter Omar.
Weddings Aubrey Frost ’10 G’18 married John Maciejko on April 23, 2022. 
Arrivals Benson Francis Armata was born to Sarah Gates Armata ’10 G’11 on January 22, 2022. He was 9 lbs. 1 oz. and 22” long
Catching Up Caring Health Center (CHC) of Springfield announced that its president and CEO, Tania Barber G’10, received the prestigious Outstanding Massachusetts Community Health Center Executive Director/CEO Award presented by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. “At a time in which limits were pushed and new ways to serve were required, it was clear from the start that Caring Health Center patients were in the right hands,” the league noted. Barber leads Caring Health Center, the only federally funded (Section 330) institution in the Greater Springfield area. The center provides a wide range of essential health services to patients regardless of ability to pay. Caring Health Center is one of the most culturally diverse organizations in the area and offers translation services in 39 different languages at three locations throughout the city. Tania is a strong advocate for a better healthcare system and believes in the importance of providing patients with an integrated and comprehensive approach to healthcare. Barber is also a member of the Bay path Board of Trustees.
Catching Up Elizabeth Kos Beaudry ’10 joined New Valley Bank & Trust in 2018 and is now vice president/senior credit officer at the bank.
Class of 2011
Arrivals Natalie Yale ’11 was engaged to Mark Marcum December 25, 2020. They welcomed a baby boy, Sylas Aurelius Marcum, on May 13, 2021
Catching Up Melanie Decker Blanden ’11 started a position as a professor at Syracuse University teaching biochemistry and biotechnology
Catching Up Samantha Casey ’11 now works at Crossroads in Portland, ME, overseeing their Back Cove Program for gender responsive eating disorder and substance use disorder treatment.
Catching Up Amanda Boileau Galloway ’11 G’14 has started a new journey as a NICU PA at Saint Francis Hospital. This position has been her dream, which she has worked towards her whole career. Amanda would like to thank everyone who has stood by and supported her along the way. Congrats, Amanda!
Class of 2012
Weddings Carleen Flanagan ’12 and Tiffany Gould Flanagan ’12 were married in 2021. They live in Whitman, MA. Carleen and Tiffany welcomed their first child, Nathan, on April 3, 2022.
Catching Up Samalid Madonado Hogan G’12 was appointed in June to the Springfield Technical Community College Board of Trustees. Samalid serves as regional director for the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center in Springfield; she founded CoWork Springfield to meet the need for professional and affordable office space for small business owners.
Catching Up Elena Hovagimian G’12 has been promoted to director of Agriculture at the Eastern States Exposition after a 25-year career spanning agriculture and education, IT, and retail sales management at the West Springfield fair and trade-show facility. Elena oversees all agriculturally based events year-round as well as the hundreds of animals entered in shows and contests, educational presentations, the Creative Arts department, the Fiber Festival of New England, the Gold Medal Wine and Cheese competitions, and retail sales for the Farmers Market, Storrowton Village Museum Gift Shop, and Christmas Shop. 
Catching Up Amanda Thibedeau ’12 G’19, a firefighter and EMT, became a certified fire marshal in the State of Connecticut in January 2021. Last spring, Amanda was sworn in as a fire inspector with her hometown fire department, where she recently celebrated 17 years of service as a firefighter. Amanda is also a Deputy Fire Marshal/Deputy Emergency Management Director for the Town of East Granby, where she has worked for 14 years. She has also served 5 years as the Local IAFF's Secretary. She feels so incredibly blessed and busy. Congratulations, Amanda!
Class of 2013 10th Reunion
Catching Up Veronice Santana ’13 was chosen for BusinessWest’s 2022 40 Under Forty. Photo courtesy of BusinessWest, by Leah Martin Photography.
Catching Up Attorney Tabitha (Tabi) Vianna Ayer ’13 recently joined the law firm of Pullman & Comley as an associate in their real estate practice. She is based in the firm's Hartford office. Tabitha represents lenders and borrowers of all types in commercial real estate and financing transaction
Class of 2014
Arrivals Danielle Silvia Marshall ’14 G’16 and her husband Timothy welcomed a baby boy, John Louis, on 9/15/21. John joined the party to the beat of "Ice Ice Baby" at 4:53 pm!
Catching Up Colleen O'Mara DelVecchio G’14 launched Maxady, a training, and coaching business. Check it out at.
Class of 2016
In Memoriam Sarah Lucia Davis ’16 on February 1, 2022
Catching Up City Year recruits young adults to serve a year as tutors, mentors and role models for at-risk students in urban schools. The nonprofit's new executive director, Allishia Edmonds Bauman ’16, leads the City Year Jacksonville team, which numbers about 100 people, as they help at-risk third- through 10th-grade students stay on track to graduate. Allishia is a vice president of City Year Inc., the Boston-based national organization, and member of its executive leadership group. Bauman, now 33, became a first-generation college graduate, an achievement she never thought possible. "It opened the door of all doors. I've come full circle," she said. "I feel like I have to pay it forward, say thank you to the community. We want to deepen our impact with the young people in our community and deepen our partnerships," Bauman said. "We feel that is foundational and incredibly important to the success of our students and thus the success of our community.” She has been a member of the City Year Jacksonville staff since its founding in 2013. She was promoted to the lead position after five years as the local City Year's managing director of people, operations and strategy. 
Catching Up Congratulations to Kevin Brandriff G’16 on his appointment as the executive director for Windmore Foundation for the Arts in Culpeper, VA. Brandriff has worked in the nonprofit sector for 20 years.The executive director’s primary functions with Windmore will be fundraising, grant writing and assisting with programs as needed.   “I am very excited to be joining Windmore as executive director and collaborating with its dedicated and talented board of directors and volunteers,” Brandriff said. “The arts are such a vital part of any community, and Windmore strives to make arts accessible and enjoyable for everyone.”
Class of 2017
Catching Up Audra Camp ’17 G’21, MSPAS, PA-C has a new role. After nearly seven years of schooling, several months of searching for the perfect job, and 100+ days of waiting on credentials, on March 14th she officially started a position with the Hospital of Central Connecticut as a physician assistant in general and trauma surgery. This was a long time coming to say the least! Congrats, Audra!
Catching Up Like many of you, Jatnna (Meribeth) Medina Jordan ’17 ’19 attended the One-Day-A- Week College at 国产哟哟 with two small children at home. She received an associate’s degree and a bachelor's degree in legal studies. Meribeth is now studying for the LSAT with the dream of attending law school. She is proud that she has worked hard to get where she is. We believe in you, Meribeth!!!
Catching Up Delmarina Lopez, J.D. ’17 has been appointed by the Chicopee City Council to serve as a commissioner to represent Ward 3 on Chicopee’s Charter Review Commission. Delmarina is also an adjunct professor at 国产哟哟 as part of the Justice Studies program. And on a very personal note: Delmarina is engaged! She is excited to become Delmarina Lopez-Wiliams in 2022.
Catching Up Meredith O’Brien G’17 has joined our MFA faculty and is now teaching our mentorship lab sequence. Meredith’s fifth book, Uncomfortably Numb, about living with multiple sclerosis was published by Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing in the spring of 2020, prompting Meredith to form a group of Lockdown Authors to support and cross-promote their work
Catching Up Heidi Fettig Parton G’17 is a contributor to an anthology this year. Her essay, “Exorcism of the Exhausted Mother” is featured in Her Path Forward: 21 Stories of Transformation and Inspiration, published by PublishHer.*
Catching Up Jessica Golio Roosth ’17 recently graduated with a master's degree in Health Science Informatics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Class of 2018 5th Reunion
Engagements Sofia Nardi ’18 got engaged to Marina Rhodes ’15.
Engagements Elizabeth Boulanger Demerski ’18 got engaged to Zach Bednarczyk.
Catching Up Ysabel Peralta Garcia ’18 G’21 was chosen for BusinessWest’s 2022 40 Under Forty. Photo courtesy of BusinessWest, by Leah Martin Photography.
Catching Up Kristin Lewis Haight G’18 was named the executive director of the Kennebunkport Historical Society. 
Catching Up Kim MacQueen G’18 has a book coming out in fall 2022. She describes her forthcoming book as a “family memoir,” but tells us the title is still under wraps. It’s scheduled for release by Feral House/Process Media.
Catching Up Aprell May Munford ’18 G’21 recently started working as a reporter at the Springfield Republican Newspaper Company and MassLive. She says, “I feel extremely supported by 国产哟哟. While at 国产哟哟, I interned with the Springfield Library and Museum. I received help with redrafting my resume from the Sullivan Career Center; Crystal Senator-Brown gave my resume the edge. Elizabeth Cardona and Janine Fondon referred me to many career postings. All of those people helped me get the job.”  Aprell is a curator at the Springfield Library and Museum for an upcoming exhibit, and is on the Board of Directors at the Art for the Soul Gallery. Lastly, she is in collaboration to work on a theater project at OSV with another BPU alum
Catching Up Kahntapaht Suksamiti Wilson G’18 has recently taken over as owner of the family business, Mr. C’s Sauce and Marinade. She expanded sales all over Western Massachusetts to Geissler’s, Arnold’s Meat, and Atkins Farm, and is now expanding in Boston.
Class of 2019
In Memoriam Adriana “Nana Ama” Mends G’19 on January 15, 2022
Catching Up Wren Bellavance-Grace G’19 published “Hunger,” an essay she drafted in one of her 国产哟哟 classes, in Farmerish. “Not Living But Dying” appeared in Carcosa, a gorgeous journal created and edited by her classmate, Kate Benson G’19 G’21.
Catching Up Christine Brooks G’19 released her debut book, The Cigar Box Poems, in February 2020 from Clare Songbirds Publishing. Her second edition of poetry, beyond the paneling, was released in April 2021 by Finishing Line Press.
Catching Up Aeishya Jackson ’19 G’22 is now the Board of Trustees Vice President at Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services. She has previously held positions as the chair, finance committee and executive committee board of trustee. Aeishya is a business manager for the City of Springfield’s library department and has more than 15-years of financial services experience.
Class of 2020
Catching Up Loree Griffin Burns G’20 is teaching two courses at Montserrat College of Art, including “Observing the Natural World,” a course she developed. She also is on the MFA faculty at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in their Writing for Children & Young Adults program. Adding to Loree’s growing collection of books for children on environmental issues and the natural world, her newest, Honeybee Rescue will be published by Charlesbridge in Spring 2022.
Catching Up Kim Livingston G’20 has recently signed a contract with TouchPoint Press to publish Walks Like a Duck: A Family Brain Memoir in 2023. Through stories of a psychologist father, schizophrenic brother, obsessive husband, and absent-minded mother, Livingston explores nature vs. nurture as the source of her own brain maladies
Catching Up Rebecca Day Whitten ’20 is working on her master’s degree in Couples and Family Counseling at Antioch University New England. She was recently hired as a counselor at Recovery Connection of America, a MAT suboxone clinic.
Class of 2021
Catching Up Megan Griffin ’21, former editor of 国产哟哟’s own Network News, is attending Bridgewater State University working towards a master of arts in English. She also had her first piece of creative writing, entitled "Survivor of Suicide Loss," published in Months to Years.
Catching Up Lee-Ann Liles G’21 is releasing a book of poetry, This is What We Call Home, and The Hunger, about her writing practice.
Catching Up Jasmin Rivas G’21 is the director of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion at Old Sturbridge Village, a living history museum focused on rural 19th-century New England daily life. Along with enhancing DEI&A initiatives for staff and visitors, Jasmin is working with museum curators to enlarge the lens of history, bringing to light the stories of women, African Americans, and Native Americans during this complex, often whitewashed, and seemingly male-dominated period in New England’s history
Class of 2022
Catching Up Jennifer Trovato G’22 is the permanent human resources manager for the Town of Hadley. Although it is her first time working in municipal government, Jennifer has many years of experience in HR, including 15 years in general and operations management, hiring and coaching, and restaurant management. Congrats, Jennifer!