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1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s

1970s

Robert Simone ’72 (English) has been named vice president and general manager of WWLP-TV (NBC), EWLP (CW) and digital services. A 30-year broadcasting veteran, Simone returns to western Massachusetts after serving as vice president and general manager of WLNS-TV in Lansing, MI.

Joe Peters G’75 (MBA) was recognized as a 2019 Difference Maker by BusinessWest for his service to the local community and the village of Guayape, Honduras. The longtime Rotarian is the former president and current vice chairman of the board of Universal Plastics, board member of Holyoke Hospital, and board member and chair of the Board for CareerPoint (now MassHire Holyoke). 

Bruce Beal L’76 (JD) was honored as a Distinguished Friend of Spoon River College (SRC) in Canton, IL. Beal’s involvement with SRC began through the SRC Community Chorus, and continued with his work on the SRC Foundation Board. He also helped establish the Sherman Reed Trust, which offers more than $16,000 in scholarship aid to SRC students.

Dean Paul L’77 (JD) has retired from private practice and is living in Fort Worth, TX. His recent book, Second Thessalonians 2:1-12 Unlocked: The Key to the Timing of the Rapture, is an expositional study of one of the most noted prophetic passages in the Bible’s New Testament.

Michael Dowling L’79 (JD) of Holahan, Gumpper & Dowling was recently recognized as an Outstanding Lawyer in Fairfield County, CT, in Fairfield Living Magazine.

Peter Harris ’79 (Government) was named interim dean of student affairs and enrollment management at Manchester Community College in Connecticut.

1980s

Michael Goggins L’82 (JD) retired in January as first justice at Northampton District Court, after serving on the bench for close to two decades. Goggins served as assistant district attorney on the Northwestern district from 1983-1985 and from 1993 until his appointment to the bench in 1999.

Maureen Tobin L’82 (JD) is celebrating just over one year as the Tax and Legal Coordinator at Ostberg & Associates Insurance and Financial Services in Northampton, MA. Tobin works on a consultative basis with clients’ attorneys, accountants, and other advisors.

Susan Berkowitz L’83 (JD) has been selected as the South Carolina Bar Foundation’s 2018 DuRant Distinguished Award recipient. Berkowitz is being recognized for over 20 years of service to South Carolinians. As an attorney, she has worked on several pieces of legislation, such as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and Payday Lending Act. Berkowitz is the director of the SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center.

Maria Elsden L’83 (JD) has been appointed town attorney of Enfield, CT. Elsden, who has been serving Enfield since 1990 as assistant town attorney, had been acting town attorney since September 2018.

Michael Hrab L’84 (JD) was hired at Hancock Estabrook, LLP as counsel for the firm’s real estate practice area.

Peter DiMaria G’85 (MBA) after retiring in 2014, has become the owner of Home Helpers home care agency in northern Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

Marjorie Hurst L’85 (JD) was recognized, along with her husband, Frederick Hurst, as a 2019 Difference Maker by BusinessWest for their lifelong efforts to advance social change.

Chris Kelley L’85 (JD) has been appointed to the New York State Court of Claims. He will serve as an Acting Supreme Court Judge in Suffolk County. He is currently assigned there, serving in the Suffolk County Family Court. Kelley is also an adjunct professor at the Touro Law Center in Central Islip, NY. In 2016 Kelley founded the LGBTQ Law Committee on the Suffolk County Bar Association, and continues serving as cochair.

Diane Sievers L’85 (JD) is enjoying the life of a retired attorney, having stepped away from her private practice in 2015.

Francis Wright L’85 (JD), an alderman of Melrose, MA, has just been reelected to his seventh term. Currently, Wright serves as city solicitor for Somerville, MA. 

Vincent Salamone L’87 (JD), after 30 years of service, has retired from the federal government. A Captain in the U.S. Army, Salamone served in several capacities over the years. He was special assistant U.S. attorney and a command procurement fraud advisor at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Salamone was also a civilian attorney in the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, serving as associate counsel. There he was also press liaison, and served as an ethics course instructor for the General Services Administration.

Kerry Flynn L’88 (JD) of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. was recently awarded the 2018 Global Intellectual Property Counsel Award by Lexology in conjunction with the Association of Corporate Counsel. 

Christine Hilton ’89 (Business) was recently promoted to paralegal at Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. of New Haven, CT. In this position, Hilton will be responsible for working closely with the Intellectual Property Team.

1990s 

Mark Thompson G’91 (MBA) has been appointed president of Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Thompson is the school’s fifth President and first in its history outside the field of engineering. Thompson was previously at Quinnipiac University for more than 20 years, where he most recently served as executive vice president and provost.

Andrea Gaspardino Kovachy ’92 (History) has recently moved to Washington, DC, where she started a new position at George Washington University as associate director of student-alumni programs.

Leslee Hill L’92 (JD) was sworn in as State Representative for the 17th House District in the Connecticut General Assembly in January. She is serving on the Finance/Revenue/Bonding, Education, and Judiciary committees. Hill previously served as the First Selectman of Canton, CT, the first Republican woman to hold the position.

John Bassi ’93 (Sociology) was inducted into the Pittsfield Baseball/Softball Hall of Fame at the annual UNICO of Pittsfield dinner in November. Bassi, a member of the Pittsfield Police Department, was a pitcher for the Golden Bears, and later worked with the Massachusetts Special Olympics.

Joseph Cavanaugh ’93/G’95 (Law Enforcement/MCJ) has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy Reserves. Currently, Cavanaugh is serving as Officer-in-Charge, Headquarters Detachment, Navy Medicine Training & Logistics Command.

Eric Krautheimer L’93 (JD) has been named one of the top 100 lawyers in California for the second year in a row. Krautheimer has worked on major deals such as Amazon.com Inc.’s $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods Market Inc., and the $81 billion purchase of Time Warner Inc. by AT&T.

Maura Malo ’93 (Quantitative Methods) was elected to her first term as OWL Board president at the Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield, CT. Previously, she served as the board’s secretary. Currently, Malo is the senior vice president and chief risk officer for Connecticut Mutual Holding Company.

Rachel Van Winkle ’93 (Communication) had been serving as interim Parks and Recreation Director of Redmond, WA, since July 2018, and in the fall was officially appointed as the new director. 

Kristi Bodin L’94 (JD) has been in solo practice for five years at Legal Solutions in Plain English, PC, specializing in business law, liquor licenses, special permits, zoning and land use, as well as civil litigation.

Scott Dinneen ’94 (Sociology) has been promoted at Alexander Technology Group. Dinneen is the new senior managing director, overseeing both Massachusetts offices in Woburn and Boston.

Melissa Doran ’94/L’98 (Management/JD) began her new role as assistant clerk in Hampshire Superior Court in Northampton, MA, in January. Doran most recently served in the Hampden District Court where she was chief of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Unit.

Rodney Warner L’94 (JD) has joined Jaffe as vice president of content strategy in Yardley, PA. Most of Rodney’s legal career was spent at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and at two legal aid agencies in Philadelphia: the Senior LAW Center, and the Legal Clinic for the Disabled.

Ralph Cahoon ’95 (Law Enforcement) was recognized as Alumnus of the Year by Cape Cod Community College (CCCC). Before attending Western New England, Cahoon was a graduate of CCCC, majoring in Liberal Arts. Today, he works as a counselor/therapist in his own firm, Spartina Counseling, and also works at the Community Health Center of Cape Cod as a behavioral health clinician.

John Nasci L’95 (JD) is currently employed as a Hearing Officer in the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.

Susan Fentin L’96 (JD), has retired from the active representation of clients after 20 years with Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. Fentin served as editor-in-chief of the Western New England Law Review as a student, found a niche in employment law, and ascended to become a partner with the firm after just five years. 

Jodi Rathbun-Briggs ’96 (Accounting) has joined the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Board of Directors. She currently works as senior vice president and chief lending officer at Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Laura Riccio L’96 (JD) is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Probate Council, which is responsible for the development and implementation of the Fiduciary Litigation Session.

Karen Bell L’97 (JD) was named first assistant district attorney in Berkshire County. Bell was previously the Hampden County assistant district attorney, and spent two decades in other areas of legal service.

Chris Mowatt ’98/G’12 (Engineering Management/MSEM) of OMG Inc. has been promoted to director of manufacturing engineering. Mowatt started with OMG Inc. in 2011.

Emily O’Quinn ’98 (Management and Entrepreneurship) has self-published her first book, The Ice Princess, under the name of Emmy Morgan. With a trilogy in the works, O’Quinn is currently busy bringing to life the tales of the next two books.

Charles VanDerMiller III L’98 (JD) was promoted to the rank of Major in the U.S. Army this past December. He is on active duty, assigned to the Office of the Chief Counsel, National Guard Bureau, Arlington, VA. VanDerMiller serves as judge advocate in the Administrative Law Division.

Barbara Burke L’99 (JD) has joined the Mass Tort and Product Liability Practice Group of the Carlton Fields law firm. Burke spent 17 years as a registered nurse, followed by years as a product liability and healthcare litigation lawyer.

David Kiley G’99 (Criminal Justice Administration) has a new position as an elder law attorney with Patrick J. Kelleher and Associates, P.C., an estate planning & elder law firm in Hanover and Quincy, MA. David recently retired after 20 years of service as a Sergeant with the Boston Police Department.

John Scippa G’99 (Criminal Justice Administration) joins the Northern Essex Community College/Methuen Police Academy as the new director. Scippa is a retired Stratham, NH, police chief.

Shenandoah Titus L’99 (JD) has published a book on the bar exam called, Ivy Letters: Meditations for Resilient (Repeat) Bar Examinees. Titus hopes the book will inspire repeat examinees to overcome and succeed.

2000s 

Joseph Bennett ’00/G’02 (Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Administration) has been promoted as the town of Hopkinton, MA’s first deputy police chief. Bennett has been with the department since 1993, first as a patrolman, then later serving as a detective and a sergeant before becoming a lieutenant in 2015.

Renee Inman L’00 (JD) is now a Manatee County judge in the 12th Judicial Circuit, appointed by Governor Rick Scott of Florida.

Thomas Turco III G’00 (Criminal Justice Administration) was named secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

Christopher Ward L’01 (JD) has been named comanaging partner of LaTanzi, Spaulding & Landreth of Orleans, MA. He specializes in trusts and estates, with work primarily on Cape Cod.

Lindsay Holden ’02 (Communication and English) has been named president, Eastern Zone of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. Holden will oversee operations from Maine to Virginia, and will serve on the Executive Committee.

Wayne White G’02 (MBA) has is now the director of operations and finances for the Randolph Public School District in Randolph, MA. His professional experience includes time with the Swampscott Public Schools in Swampscott, MA, and Shore Educational Collaborative in Chelsea, MA.

William Butman ’03 (Technical Management) is now the owner and chief executive officer of Electra–Sounds Entertainment, LLC. Butman previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and worked for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Javier Padilla L’03 (JD) is the new chief talent officer for Norwalk Public Schools in Connecticut. Padilla comes into this position from the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, CT.

Jamie Platt ’03 (Biology) has completed her term as the U.S. Lacrosse All American chair of Houston, TX. For the last four years, Platt has also served as the president of the Texas Girls High School Lacrosse League. Platt recently started a new position at the Awty International School in Houston, as sports information director. Last year, she received the Coach of the Year Award at Awty.

Remi Subair ’03 (Electrical Engineering) has joined a team of engineers at the Ministry of Public Works in Bermuda. After completing his degree, Subair participated in the ministry trainee program, later earning a full-time post and becoming principal electrical engineer in 2017.

Richard Regnier ’04 (Criminal Justice) is currently employed as a continuous quality improvement specialist at MA DCF. He is also an adjunct professor in psychology and sociology at Bay Path University. Regnier also serves on Enfield’s Board of Education.

Shannon Henne-Eighmie L’06 (JD) of Eighmie Law Firm, P.A., has been nominated for one of the top 10 Criminal Defense Attorneys in the state of Florida.

Kristina da Fonseca L’07 (JD) is cofounder and executive director of SouthCoast Fair Housing where she is conducting research to advance fair housing policy in Rhode Island.

Kelly Koch L’07/L’11 (JD, LLM) is one of four new board members and corporators to join the team at Glenmeadow Retirement Community in Longmeadow, MA. Koch is currently an attorney with Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas in Springfield, MA.

MaryBeth LeFevre L’07 (JD) was a recipient of the Secretary of Homeland Security Unity of Effort Award presented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She leads the USCIS Personnel Security Division FEMA Adjudication Team. LeFevre recently graduated from the Vermont Federal Executive Association Leadership Development Program for Federal Supervisors GS-13 and above.

Matthew Reed L’07 (JD) was hired in January as counsel for the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission in Hartford, CT.

Kenneth Danielsen L’08 (JD) has been promoted to partner with Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP (KDV) of Woodbury, NY. Danielsen rejoined the firm as an associate in 2015, before being promoted to counsel in 2017.

Neil Donah ’08 (Criminal Justice) has become a corporal at the Hampden County (MA) Sheriff’s Department.

Justin Gorman L’08 (JD) has been named as counsel at UCB Inc., a pharmaceutical company.

Spencer Stone L’08 (JD) has joined Boston-based law firm Sullivan & Worcester as counsel in the firm’s Real Estate group.

Christopher Bovino ’09 (Information Technology) has started a new position as systems engineer at Northeast IT Systems Inc. of West Springfield, MA. Previously, Bovino was systems administrator for Court Square Group in Springfield, MA.

Brian Harrison L’09 (JD) was recently hired as associate attorney at the Law Offices of Thomas S. Francis in Boston, MA.

Bob Hennessy L’09 and Merritt Schnipper L’09 were both recognized with the Jay D. Blitzman Award for Youth Advocacy. The award honors advocates who have exhibited both extraordinary dedication and excellent performance to assure that children accused of criminal conduct, or otherwise at risk, are treated fairly and with dignity in the courtroom, in the community, and in the custody of the state.

Alexander Mazzaferro ’09 (English) has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago’s Stevanovich Institute on the Formation of Knowledge. Mazzaferro is a postdoctoral fellow at the American Philosophical Society, who has recently published essays in the Early American Literature and Early American Studies journals and received the Society of Early Americanists’ essay prize in March.

Dave Wawrzonek ’09 (Marketing) is now WB Mason’s contract furniture manager in its Manhattan branch. He has been with WB Mason since graduating from Western New England, and thanks the University for his success. After almost eight years with the company, and moving between New York and New Jersey, Wawrzonek is now happy to call New York City his home.

2010s 

Rachel Fain L’10 (JD) has been promoted to partner at Halloran Sage in Hartford, CT. She works with the firms’ Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group. Fain’s work has been recognized by Super Lawyers, where she was listed as a Rising Star in Personal Injury–General: Defense in 2018.

Talia Gee L’10/G’12 (JD/MBA) was named the new chief diversity and inclusion officer for Springfield, MA. First hired by the city as an attorney, Gee is responsible for ensuring the demographics of city employees reflect the people in the city.

Rob Guiry ’10/G’14 (Sport Management/MBA) has been signed by American International College for a second season as interim head men’s rugby coach. Founder of the rugby team at Western New England, Guiry later coached the Golden Bears before eventually accepting the position of assistant coach for AIC’s Division I rugby program.

Jonathan Longobardi L’10 (JD) has joined the law firm of Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C. in New Haven, CT, as an associate. A civil litigation attorney, Longobardi’s practice focuses on motor vehicle, premises, and professional liability defense and insurance coverage disputes. In addition, Longobardi was sworn in as president of the Board of Directors for the University’s School of Law Alumni Association for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Kristen Opitz ’10 (Psychology) has accepted a full-time position at Preferred Therapy Solutions as an occupational therapist.

Jim Perras L’10 (JD) is the new CEO at Home Builders & Remodelers Association of CT, Inc.

Amelia Holstrom L’11 (JD) has been made partner at Skoler Abbott & Presser PC in Springfield, MA.

Rebecca Morin ’11 (History) was recently appointed to head librarian at the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, MA.

Ashley Nyman ’11 (Integrated Liberal Studies) is now a consultant at The Traveler’s Companies, Inc., the company she’s been with since graduation. Nyman was previously an analyst in the Corporate Finance Department. She thanks Western New England University for helping get her to this point in her career.

Sara Okscin G’11 (MSA) has become a senior accountant at Questex in Framingham, MA.

Melanie Stevens L’11 (JD) was recently promoted to partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey, LLC, where she’s provided legal services since 2016.

Michael Fenton G’12/L’12 (MBA/JD) has recently been named partner at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin PC in Springfield, MA. He has been a member of the Springfield (MA) City Council since 2010, serving as president from 2014-2016.

Shaun Kelly ’12/G’15 (Management/MBA) has started a new position as a senior consultant with EY of Hartford. He leaves MassMutual Financial Group, where he had been for six and a half years.

Alex Lyman ’12/G’16 (Communication/Organizational Leadership) recently had her graduate research with Professor Stacie Chappell published in the textbook Leadership and Role Modelling: Understanding Workplace Dynamics. She has also appeared as a guest on several podcasts, including the SPRH Podcast; the Entrepreneur Master’s Podcast; and Planting the Seeds of Change discussing entrepreneurship, creating relationships with the media, and the power of self-promotion through providing value.

Casey O’Connell L’12 (JD) has been promoted to partner at Halloran Sage in Hartford, CT. O’Connell represents institutional lenders and corporate clients in a variety of commercial lending transactions. Every year since 2015, he has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Business/Corporate law.

Glenn Rooney L’12 (JD) was promoted to deputy general counsel at the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. He was previously deputy director of Employee Relations and Staff Counsel for the Massachusetts State Police.

Derek Beaulieu ’13 (General Biology) graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine with an MD. He is beginning his residency training at Signature Healthcare–Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he’ll be for a year before a dermatology residency in Stamford, CT.

Dennis Carnelli L’13 (JD) has joined the New Haven, CT, law firm of Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C. as an associate. Carnelli’s practice concentrates on appellate matters and civil litigation in state and federal courts. 

Briana Santaniello ’13/G’14/PharmD’15 (Pharmacy Studies/MBA/PharmD) has started a new position with pharmaceutical company, Allergan, as medical science liaison–Migraine, New England Territory.

Alexander Joslyn ’15 (Accounting) has accepted a position as a senior assurance associate at Ernst & Young in Hartford. Since 2018, he has also served as the head women’s soccer coach for Berlin (CT) High School.

Elizabeth O’Reilly ’15 (Political Science) has started in a new position as associate at Milbank LLP of NY. She was previously a summer associate for Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP while studying at Albany Law School of Union University.

Alicia Jacobs G’16 (Communication/PR) has joined the Board of the Public Relations Society of America Capital Region NY chapter.

Becky Turner ’16/G’18 (Communication/Communication/PR) was recently hired as the web content coordinator at Western New England University. She is responsible for creating and managing content for the University’s website and social media accounts.

Daniel Carey L’17 (JD) was elected Massachusetts state representative in November, taking the seat formerly held by retiring state rep, John Sciback. A former Easthampton city councilor, Carey will be representing the 2nd Hampshire District, comprised of Hadley, Granby, Easthampton, and South Hadley.

Sabrina Serra ’17 (Management & Leadership) is celebrating two years as a B2B Business Account Manager with Wayfair, in Boston.

Shayla DeNigris ’18 (General Biology) has started a new job as a 6th grade science teacher at the Springfield Renaissance School.

June Klemmer ’18 (Psychology) graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, TX after completing the eight-week training program.

Correction

In a previous publication, Maureen Driscoll L’90 (JD) was mistakenly listed as Maureen Driscoll L’89 (JD) in an announcement of her appointment as Connecticut workers compensation commissioner.