Nichols Magazine Fall/Winter 2023 by Nichols College

MAGAZINE Volume 18, Issue 1 | Fall/Winter 2023

DRIVING THE GREEN

How a golf course became a learning lab for Nichols students

From the President

Mission driven and student focused, as always In the early days in my tenure as interim president of Nichols College, my transition to the role continues to be both facilitated and enriched by the commitment and confidence of the Board of Trustees, the collaboration of a seasoned administrative cabinet, and the immeasurable devotion of faculty and staff to our students.

her school, she offered my first directive: “You take care of those students.” To make sure I understood, she repeated it, and added, “You make sure you take care of those teachers….and the janitors, too.” Her counsel is not lost on me; it comforts and energizes me, particularly as I reflect on the strength of our campus community and their resolute and shared focus on the success of our students.

Nichols is a mission-driven institution. And, despite several iterations of our mission statement over the years, we remain committed to delivering a hands-on education in a supportive environment. This has served us for generations. Our perennial quest to cultivate an experience that distinguishes our graduates in the workplace and ensure that a Nichols degree is a worthy investment will guide us in our ongoing efforts.

As we contemplate the road ahead, I also look to the examples of great leaders I have had the privilege of serving during my time here, namely President Debra Townsley, President Susan West Engelkemeyer and Interim President Gerald Fels. I will continue to lean on their inspiration and the lessons learned from their mentorship to steer the ship with integrity and respect.

Now is the time to build on our current momentum, the recent achievement of the prestigious AACSB accreditation; ranking in U.S. News & World Report; a Board-approved strategic plan that outlines our next steps toward academic, athletic, and campus-wide excellence; and a strengthened commitment to the experiential opportunities that are the hallmarks of a Nichols education. These are initiatives you will learn about in this issue of Nichols College Magazine and in the coming months. I have a profound sense of responsibility in this pursuit and take my lead from several sources. In the past month, to many of you, I have relayed the advice of my mother, a retired secretary of our town elementary school. Upon hearing the news of my elevated position and drawing upon her nearly 20 years as the pulse and de facto head of

And, of course, I turn to our alumni. Since I began at Nichols in 2006 as director of the Nichols Fund and was appointed vice president of advancement in 2010, I have had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of you who have unceasingly enlightened me on the impact Nichols has had on your lives. You have openly expressed your genuine affection for this special place in ways that have moved me beyond my professional capacity and made me an honorary Bison, a true mark of acceptance. That sense of kinship will ground me as we chart a course for Nichols that continues to make you proud.

Bill Pieczynski Interim President

M A G A Z I N E Vo l u m e 1 8 , I s s u e 1 Fall/Winter 2023 EDITOR

CONTENTS

Susan Veshi CONTRIBUTORS

ON CAMPUS

4–7

Brent Broszeit Rae Glispin

AACSB accreditation: How we got there, what it means for Nichols College

Student profile: Charity takes lessons from the Corps to heart

Kenzie Costello

Pieczynski named interim president

DESIGN

Three trustees added to the board

Denise Kelley Paul Lambert Allison McDowell-Smith PHOTOGRAPHERS Kevin Chetwynd ’22 Ed Collier

Steve Belleville BellevilleDesigns Kenzie Costello (Donor Honor Roll)

Nichols College PO Box 5000 123 Center Road Dudley, MA 01571-5000 508-213-1560 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., M–F

C L A S S N O T E S

12-19

A foundation of courage: Jim Comer ’68

Life on the flipside: Joe Demers ’92

Giving back, times two: Matt Krumsiek ’05 and Kim (Serino) Krumsiek ’03

2 An experience that isn’t just par

for the course Students take over management of the Dudley Hill Golf Club at Nichols College, creating a learning experience like no other.

www.nichols.edu

Nichols College MAGAZINE

NICHOLS REMEMBERS

20-23

The road taken: Bob Keller ’69

S TAY C O N N E C T E D

8 Graduate counterterrorism

students making a societal impact For a U.S. Department of Homeland Security initiative, graduate students challenge local high schools to end bullying and the isolation leading to targeted violence.

FALL

ON THE

HILL

is published twice a year by Nichols College, Dudley, MA.

10 From the Archives: Bison

triumph overshadowed by tragedy Highlights of the fall semester include the accounting and finance career fair, a welcome back carnival, Family & Friends weekend, Thunder at Halloween, Pumpkin Fest, and an Oktoberfest celebration featuring tasty refreshments and keg-tossing.

Archivist Paul Lambert is looking at the commemorative plaques that dot the Nichols landscape and shares the story of back-to-back events that devastated the campus in 1978. Nichols College Magazine

An experience that isn’t just par for the course By Susan Veshi

With the aim, alignment and follow-through of a well-executed golf swing, Nichols College assumed management of the Dudley Hill Golf Club this spring and created a live learning laboratory where students practice what they learn in the classroom. “We have top-level students running a half-million-dollar business,” is how Tim Liptrap sums it up. To get to this point, however, was a journey, one that started with college leadership determining whether such an undertaking was a worthy and worthwhile endeavor. In 2021, they called on Liptrap, associate professor of sport management and entrepreneurship, to assess the feasibility of Nichols taking the reins from Tri State Golf Company which had managed

the golf club since it was purchased by Nichols in 2018 and was nearing the end of its five-year contract. Engaging a cadre of students and faculty — both undergraduate and graduate — Liptrap, along with Jessica Platt, a hospitality management instructor, developed two Nichols on the Green classes to explore business models, from operating both the golf course and the restaurant, to outsourcing portions to renewing the contract with Tri State to shuttering the facility.

Associate Professor Tim Liptrap, faculty in residence at the Dudley Hill Golf Club, leads a discussion with the new student directors.

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

By the fall of 2022, the students presented their findings to the President’s Cabinet and the Board of Trustees and drafted a request for proposals for management and maintenance of the 9-hole golf course. “Ultimately we decided we wanted to run it ourselves,” Graduate Assistant states Brian Olivia Pohorylo Kallajian ’22 MBA ’23, who was hired as a graduate assistant for the project. On January 1, 2023, when the keys were transferred from Tri State to Nichols, Kallajian and fellow graduate assistant Olivia Pohorylo, with the help of 16 student interns, got to work managing the business, including golf memberships, pro shop, tournaments, and leagues, and launching operations for the newly opened Bison Den bar and restaurant. “We started with bare bones,” says Pohorylo. This amounted to a golf course and a building. So, they turned to industry professionals for guidance — golf course owners, superintendents, pros — and asked for assistance

among Nichols alumni, finding willing merchandise connections, beer distributors, financial advisors, and seasoned managers. The rest was up to the students. Students like Chris Cowles, a junior human resource management major who signed on as a project intern in January. “I wrote job descriptions for the staff that was needed, interviewed candidates, and made notes on hiring recommendations,” he says. The interns represented a variety of class years and majors, including sport management, hospitality management, and accounting, and their challenge was clear: get the

A former graduate assistant, Brian Kallajian ’22 MBA ’23 is now assistant general manager of the Dudley Hill Golf Club, working alongside Sophia Cornell, assistant general manager of the Bison Den.

golf course and restaurant up and Pohorylo adds, “Our biggest challenge

running by April 1.

was time. We were working with so “They built the payroll systems,

many different stakeholders..., waiting

organized the taxes, set up distributors,

for equipment, waiting for other

built out all the inventory, created the

people’s timelines to fall in with ours

menus, developed hiring and firing

and rushing to fit the puzzle pieces

policies, arranged

together to be ready

tournaments,”

to open.”

recites Liptrap. While Liptrap deAnd, along the

scribes that time as

way, they learned

“chaotic and crazy

valuable lessons

and fun,” ultimately,

in operating a

“The students had a mission, and we were

business. The first? Everything

Students work on developing a signature

able to open the doors

breaks. “The

brew for the Bison Den.

on April 1 to our golfers.”

freezers, the ice

Nichols education. It also offers any number of ongoing academic collaborations. In a course called Golf for Business, Kallajian reviews the basics of the sport, as well as golf rules and etiquette, and even how to perform a business meeting on the course. He and Sophia Cornell, assistant manager of the Bison Den, will also be teaching classes on running the golf, bar and restaurant businesses. This past spring, students in an event management class were tasked with running a golf tournament, from selling sponsorships to drawing participants. And this fall saw the debut of a brew master class aimed at creating a signature beer for the Bison Den, and a data analytics course designed to inform golf club operations.

machine, the septic system… Everything

Positioning the golf club as a learning

needed to be replaced,” laments

lab naturally pairs with the college’s

Liptrap. “These were expenses we

emphasis on experiential opportunities —

didn’t anticipate, but part of running a

internships and hands-on, real-world

The experience has yielded other benefits as well. “The club is an outpost of the college, a place where the face of Nichols

business is the unexpected.”

projects — as a key differentiator of a

Continued on page 5

Ethan Gosper, Student Director of Sales

Madison Collins-Macedo, Student Director of Food and Beverage

Trevor Schwarzmann, Student Director of Accounting

Taylor Cornell, Student Director of Special Projects

Chris Cowles, Student Director of Operations

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

ON CAMPUS

AACSB accreditation: How we got there, what it means for Nichols College by Susan Veshi With accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, Nichols College is in elite company. Less than 6 percent of the world’s business schools earn this designation, having demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curriculum development, and student learning. It is considered the highest level a school that offers business degrees can receive, and it has long been a dream of Nichols. As early as the 1970s, the goal of working toward AACSB’s standards landed on several presidential agendas. But the standards, while rigorous, didn’t reflect — or fully appreciate — the practical business education upon which Nichols had been building a solid reputation.

Timing is everything Over the next 50 years, Nichols continued to evolve and expand its hands-on offerings through business-experienced faculty, applied pedagogy, increased internship opportunities, and real-world projects. As the college continued to strengthen its brand, the arduous and costly AACSB application process remained unfeasible. But, in 2016, facing a lingering dearth of college-aged students and intense competition in higher education, the college reignited its interest. The Board of Trustees appointed veteran professor and associate provost Mauri Pelto, PhD, to lead the effort. Pelto, who had been involved in previous considerations of AACSB accreditation, was leery. “I still wasn’t sure how well the shoe fit,” he recalls.

As it turns out, AACSB had been evolving, too. In 2016, it issued “A Collective Vision for Business Education,” calling for business schools to be drivers of change and outlining steps to cultivate innovation, leadership, and lifelong learning among students. In what seemed to be a broadening of its educational standards, AACSB encouraged greater engagement with industry and envisioned business schools as learning laboratories rather than traditional classrooms. Pelto took notice: “All of a sudden, they aligned with who we are, who we want to be. This became a journey worth taking.” The journey to capture this decades-long dream formally began in 2016 and was completed in 2023.

Triple threat Over the course of the seven-year application process, Nichols had the opportunity to test its might and mettle in business education and hone its strength in providing authentic learning experiences. To better prepare graduates, the college ensured that students would participate in a trio of impactful experiences, or “triple threat”: internships, consulting projects, and professional certifications. Building on the passions of faculty and enlisting the support of an extensive and engaged alumni network, Nichols set out to initiate new programs or expand ones that were already driving leadership and innovation.

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

Internship opportunities continued to increase, with students securing posts at Morgan Stanley, Grant Thornton, UNUM, AAFCPA, Northwestern Mutual, Disney, Omni Nashville, and The Kraft Group. More than 250 students per year participate in an external internship, prompting one alumnus to establish a fund to support travel and living expenses for those needing some help in realizing a career-launching opportunity.

Signature programs Meanwhile, a series of course-based marketing consulting projects was formalized as the Nichols Consulting Group in 2019 and was expanded to include multiple academic disciplines at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Each year, anywhere from 250 to 350 students participate in 25 to 40 course-based consulting projects with businesses and organizations throughout the region. Through a college focus on data analytics, automation development, and research, students are learning specialized skills for roles in the digitally transformed workplace and using their training to work with clients to identify, analyze, and implement robotic automation solutions in their own organizations. With Nichols assuming management this year of Dudley Hill Golf Club and the new Bison Den, students in several disciplines, including sport management and hospitality management, have

incomparable opportunities to run multiple businesses, including a 9-hole golf course, a pro shop, and a restaurant. Students are also jumpstarting their careers by earning professional certifications in class. One example is Bloomberg Market Concept certification that is now required for all business students, about 300 per year. With a Finance Lab that features 16 Bloomberg terminals, students have access to the same technology used by some 350,000 professionals. The opening of the lab in 2018 provided the natural impetus for the creation of a student-managed investment fund, the Thunder Fund, the ultimate real-world experience for finance students.

Alumni champions The engagement of alumni in the success of these programs and the accreditation process has been extensive, much to the admiration — and even envy — of the AACSB site review team. Starting with the support and participation of volunteer leaders on the Board of Trustees and the Board of Advisors, direct alumni involvement provides the foundation upon which Nichols can further strengthen its brand and competitive position. The long list of alumni contributions includes hiring graduates and interns; partnering with students on consulting projects; facilitating the donation of software for data science initiatives; funding the expansion of Bloomberg technology; providing the seed money for the Thunder Fund; supporting student travel and professional development opportunities; sharing knowledge and expertise in the classroom and on panels; and, in general, continuously guiding, mentoring, and networking with students. These forever Bison are helping Nichols pull through the thread that connects all generations of alumni — an authentic business education rooted in experiential learning.

Continued from page 3

is really serving the community members of Dudley and Webster,” says Liptrap. While the entwined history of the golf club and college spans more than 75 years, the new management arrangement offers an opportunity to heighten the connection. Over the past year, the Bison Den has hosted faculty lectures, community and membership events, and is available for member use. “We are trying to engage that member of the community to be deeper than just a golf membership. We want them to be active members of the campus, attending football games, basketball games, art shows,” he adds. “The majority of our members are locals who have been at the golf course for 20 plus years, some over 40 and 50 years. Trying to connect with them was important,” echoes Kallajian. “We wanted it to be open to the community, the people who have been here forever. We’ve been listening to them, to see what they’ve done in the past. They’ve been helping us a lot, and we’ve been trying to help them a lot.” Some of the members who are Nichols alumni like to regale the students with stories of their college days; the students are finding ways to make their own impressions on the veteran golfers. One example is Tech Tuesdays, with students helping members resolve technical difficulties with their cell phones, tablets, and computers.

S CO R E C

ARD

members yed unds pla 15,000 ro enue gross rev 0 0 ,0 0 0 $6 rt rentals 11,100 ca urant and resta r a b 0 0 31,0 ons. transacti

220 club

Moving forward, the college is giving students even more leadership responsibility. Five student directors have been appointed to oversee operations, sales, food and beverage, accounting, and special projects. Students that epitomize the words of Benjamin Franklin, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” In addition to these new roles and their full-time classwork, they each play a varsity sport and are involved in other campus clubs and activities. One is even holding down an internship with the college’s Public Safety Department. And what they bring to the table is considerable. Take senior Madison Collins-Macedo, student director of food and beverage, who runs her own café at the Borden Light Marina in Fall River, a business she started when she was 19, and senior Taylor Cornell, founder of the Bison Pantry and the Equestrian Club at Nichols, who will be overseeing special projects. After overcoming a few initial hurdles and learning to embrace the unexpected in business, especially in a weatherdependent seasonal one, the Nichols transition has been smooth and successful. Says Kallajian, who parlayed his role as a graduate assistant to full-time assistant manager of the club, “Overall, it’s going well.” And not just from a financial standpoint (See SCORECARD opposite). “It’s been a really great learning experience, not just for me, but for the students as well,” he says, adding, “Every day is a different challenge.”

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

ON CAMPUS

Student profile: Charity takes lessons from the Corps to heart

Charity, a junior at Nichols College, is a

major for me,” he adds with a smile.

corporal in the Marine Corps Reserves.

He turned to another interest…money…

As with most Marines, his transformation

and that led him to Nichols. “I knew

from civilian to Marine was a defining

the college had an amazing finance

moment. “I was a nervous kid growing

program, and I personally prefer smaller

up, and I wanted to throw myself on the

class sizes, which Nichols promises,” he

fire,” he says of his decision to join four

says. He fell in love with Nichols after

years ago. “The military helped shape

taking a tour and settled in last fall as a

who I am while giving me the confidence

finance major.

in myself to pursue goals I may not have believed I was capable of before

“I’m interested in how money works and

my enlistment. It has also instilled

how to leverage it for my own interests

in me an unrelenting attitude toward

and teach others the same skills,”

self-improvement.”

Charity explains. “There is a huge gap in knowledge of managing money

Knowing yourself and seeking self-

correctly. If more people had that

improvement is among the 11 leadership

knowledge, we’d be functioning better

principles of the Corps, so is knowing

as a society, and it would improve a lot

your Marines and looking out for their

of people’s lives.” He now looks forward

welfare. Charity has focused on both

to a career in investments when he

since arriving on campus last year.

graduates in 2025.

A transfer student from Quinsigamond

As a reservist, Charity reports to Westover

Community College where he studied

Air Force Base in Chicopee, Mass., one

biology, Charity aspired to be “on the

weekend a month and two in the summer

forefront of discovery,” he says. But

to prepare for deployment if activated,

he quickly became disillusioned with a

volunteer, and continue his training as a

career in research after learning from

satellite communication operator and a

professionals in the field about the

transmission systems operator.

politics and financial influence of big pharma. Plus, “I was falling asleep in

Since coming to Nichols, Charity has

biology class, so it probably wasn’t the

been eager to dovetail his military experience and connect with other service members. He was instrumental in revitalizing the campus-wide Veterans Committee and creating a student club counterpart. Both are aimed at providing support, promoting unity, and helping to “sustain the transformation” for veterans and active-duty military.

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

Photo: Parris island Photography

Sustaining the transformation is ingrained in the culture of the U.S. Marine Corps — once a Marine, always a Marine. These are words that Chris Charity lives by, and he is helping others to do the same.

Chris Charity during recruit training at Parris Island in South Carolina. Below left, in the trading room at Nichols College.

The committee, which is focused on outreach to the local community, last year sponsored Christmas for a disabled Navy veteran with five children. The club, on the other hand, enriches the lives of veterans and service members on campus. “We are making sure everyone has a brother or sister to lean on when needed and giving them the tools they need to really succeed,” he states. It was the desire for this type of fellowship and being “part of a group of people who wanted to be better every day and to be the best,” that first drove Charity to join the Marine Corps. And it’s what continues to motivate him: “Once you get out, you have to sustain the honor, courage and commitment instilled in you as a Marine and keep that going forward in your civilian life and your next chapters.” Now, he’s a part of the Nichols corps… A Bison today, a Bison forever. — Susan Veshi

Pieczynski named interim president

Three trustees added to the board

The Nichols College Board of Trustees has announced that Acting

Over the course of the academic year, the Board of Trustees

President and Vice

elected three new members: Michael Schuster, PhD, Wayne

President for Advance-

Archambo ’81, and Maddie Perrotti ’23.

ment Bill Pieczynski has been named

Schuster, who began his term in October

interim president, in

2022, is managing partner at Compet-

the wake of the resignation of former president

itive Human Resources Strategies LLC,

Glenn M. Sulmasy. The Board will soon begin

and an eminent authority on human

the process of searching for a new president.

resource and compensation strategy, gainsharing and variable pay, and other

Pieczynski joined the college in 2006 as

performance-driven compensation

director of the Nichols Fund and was promoted

systems. He is professor emeritus of

to vice president in 2010. He has served on the

management and human resources at

leadership teams of three Nichols presidents.

the Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University and

During his tenure, he has set new standards for

was founding director of its Employment Studies Institute.

overall donations, principal and leadership giving, giving percentage and number of donors.

Archambo, who began his term in May, is the general partner at Monarch

Pieczynski oversaw the successful completion

Partners Asset Management LLC in

of the college’s historic bicentennial campaign,

Boston, which he founded in 2010.

which raised $66 million to support capital

Previously, he was a lead portfolio

projects, endowment, and brand-elevating

manager and managing director with

curricular and co-curricular initiatives. Among

Blackrock Inc., which he joined in 2002.

them are the Fels Student Center, Nichols

Archambo created an endowed

Innovation Center, and major renovations and

scholarship at Nichols in 2016 and was

upgrades to athletic facilities and Lombard Dining

one of three original donors to the student-managed

Hall. The number of endowed scholarships rose

investment fund.

from 16 to 98. In addition, Nichols has received numerous major gifts for new experiential learning

Perrotti graduated from Nichols in

programs such as the Nichols Consulting Group,

May. She served as president of the

the student-managed Thunder Fund, the Center

student body, an honors scholar, a

for Intelligent Process Automation, and

board member of the Institute for

co-curricular initiatives such as the Susan West

Women’s Leadership, a member of

Engelkemeyer Institute for Women’s Leadership

the women’s volleyball team, and

and the Emerging Leaders Program.

a member of the Nichols Senior Advisory Council, among other

He began his career in fundraising at his alma

activities. She is currently working on

mater, Catawba College. He and his wife, Lana,

the risk advisory team at Grant Thornton and began

have three sons and reside in Fiskdale, Mass.

her term on the Nichols board in October.

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

Graduate counterterrorism students making a societal impact by Allison McDowell-Smith, PhD

With a rise in domestic terrorism, intensified in recent years by divisive ideological and personal beliefs, the Department of Homeland Security is partnering with educators to tap the creativity and insights of students in stemming violent extremism. Allison McDowell-Smith, PhD, associate dean of liberal arts and sciences for the Graduate School at Nichols College and an internationally known expert on counterterrorism, examines the current state of terrorism and ways in which graduate students are mobilizing to combat the threats.

ccording to the Center for Strategic & International Studies, from January 1994 to December 2021, there were 1,040 terrorist attacks and plots. In the early 1990s, we saw a surge in rightwing incidents, with the most notable being the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing. As we progressed into the late 1990s and early 2000s, we noticed an increase in far-left incidents, specifically from the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front with 239 arsons and bombings. Then we were confronted with the 9/11 terrorist attacks, leading to the “War on Terror,” specifically against al-Qaeda and militant jihadis. ISIS became a primary concern for the U.S. abroad but also domestically, relative to the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings.

Current U.S. threat landscape Since 2013, the U.S. has seen a shift towards domestic violent extremism. The Department of Homeland Security National Terrorism Advisory System calls it a “heightened threat environment,” with threats related to ideological beliefs and personal grievances. Most recently those attacks and plots have occurred during demonstrations, and government, military, and law

enforcement actors have been the targets. Historically, this is a trend that we have not seen before. Local law enforcement officers are being called upon to intercept the radicalization, recruitment, and mobilization of individuals to violence. Police Chief Magazine explores how hate and bias crimes have increased, citing the Anti-Defamation League HEAT (Hate, Extremism, Antisemitism, Terrorism) Map, which indicates several incidents within Massachusetts and its surrounding states in need of being further addressed within our communities. Social unrest spurred by the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minnesota and the Black Lives Matter protests gained traction across the United States, pitting extreme-left against extreme-right organizations. Between May 24, 2020 and August 22, 2020, there were 10,600 demonstrations, 742 of which were not peaceful. Tensions continued to rise with the 2020 Presidential Election resulting in protestors storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

Through ideological beliefs and personal grievances, we are seeing individuals with extremist viewpoints radicalize and engage in violence, whether that be through demonstrations or the spate of active shooting incidences. As a great political divide continues in our nation, experts desire to learn more about the motivations of individuals who commit acts of violence and, particularly, how the threat can be mitigated.

Invent2Prevent Program The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) is one agency that has been working to provide experts in government, nonprofits, and higher education with grants ($20 million in funding for FY23) “to establish or enhance capabilities to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.” Believing in a holistic societal approach to combating violent extremism, targeted violence, and terrorism, CP3, along with the McCain Institute, and EdVenture Partners, has created the Invent2Prevent Program with the goal of challenging “high school and college students to create and implement their own dynamic products, tools, or

initiatives to address acts of targeted violence, hate or terrorism in their specific communities.” Since the Invent2Prevent Program began in spring 2021, 111 colleges and universities have participated, with roughly 20-30 schools per semester. Nichols College has participated twice, in the 2021 and 2022 fall semesters. In fall 2021, undergraduate criminal justice students, in conjunction with the college’s Center for Intelligent Process Automation, developed and tested a robotic process automation for collecting Twitter (now X) data, combined with human intelligence, to identify misinformation online as it related to targeted violence. In fall 2022, students in the Master of Science in Counterterrorism Program (MSC) decided to take a different approach. Their project, titled Connected4Change, focused on youth and young adults, aged 14 to 25 years, to address the challenges we have been seeing, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, of bullying and isolation in schools, which can lead to targeted violence.

Connected4Change Project With the goal of ending bullying and isolation at a local high school and our campus, Connected4Change was designed, implemented, and assessed by graduate MSC students, under the student team lead of Jonathan Sylvester, a sergeant in the Connecticut State Capital Police Department and a task force officer for the Joint Terrorism Task Force FBI in New Haven. He led a team of five additional students: Abigail Amaral, global security officer, Boston Scientific; Emma Barnes, a Nichols graduate in criminal psychology; Kevin Mercier, patrol officer; Kyle Striffler, Digital Leadership Development Program member, Raytheon Technologies; and Erik Youngstrom, switchboard operator, Reliant Medical Group. The team quickly realized their collective passion of pursuing a project aimed to reduce targeted violence in an educational

setting of teenagers and young adults. Their project had three goals: reduce incidences of isolation and targeted violence; establish an inclusive community; and create supportive interactions. Challenge coins were created to help students create more connections with one another. Each participating school received customed coins with the Connected4Change logo on one side, and an acronym of CREST, standing for compassion, respect, equality, strength, and togetherness on the flip side. In addition to the challenge coins, active social media channels were established, as well as a website for both data collection on student interactions and resources for students in need, such as crisis intervention, extremism, bullying hotlines, and public safety contacts. Upon assessment of the project, it was determined that 40 percent of student participants created new connections as a result of this project. Further, the local high school decided to continue with the project past the fall to further enhance social outcomes for their students.

Long-lasting societal impact Long-lasting collaborative and community-based programs are essential to addressing our current societal needs. The Nichols MSC Program is playing a crucial role by making a societal impact in its experiential learning through the Invent2Prevent Program.

combating violent extremism and terrorism in the U.S and presented their findings. One team selected the MSC Program and spoke to the fact that our virtual classrooms brought together entry-level, mid-level and life-long learners consisting of law enforcement officers, military personnel, and those in private security positions so that they can learn from one another on how to implement effective practices and policies to help mitigate threats within our society. Our students are at the forefront of making a difference in our society daily, and it is our responsibility at Nichols to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to leading those efforts. To tackle the ever-changing landscape within our current societies, all individuals must be aware of the threats that are present; yet not live in fear. Everyone can make a positive impact. In times of political contention, it is crucial that we engage in civil discourse and recognize that violence is never the answer. You are the first line of defense, and if you see or hear something that does not sit right with you, explore it further and report it to the necessary authorities if needed. Historically, if we look at past acts of violence, there has been a significant number of cases where family members, neighbors, students, or others had recognized something was not right, yet failed to act appropriately. Let us each do our part to strengthen our society for ourselves and our younger generations.

Allison McDowell-Smith, PhD, Associate Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences

In a recent MSC course, student teams selected community-based initiatives that were making a difference in

for the Graduate School at Nichols College

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

From the Archives a

Bison triumph overshadowed by tragedy by Paul E. Lambert

In 2015, when Nichols was celebrating its bicentennial, I started co-teaching a course, “Nichols & Its History,” that looked at the evolution of our institution on Dudley Hill from its beginnings as a Universalist academy to first a junior college of business administration for men, then a four-year college of business administration, and ultimately to a coed school that offers a range of degrees in business and liberal arts at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

had achieved a 5-2 record in the New England Football Conference, which included a 36-0 victory over New Haven and a “hard fought come from behind” 10-7 victory over Bridgewater State College. On Saturday, November 4, the team would be facing Plymouth State College to clinch the NEFC championship that year. The game, however, would be played in the shadow of tragedy: two days earlier, on November 1, Robert McCarthy,

The course proved popular enough

paper, The Bison, the team, under the

a sophomore from Holliston and one

that it became a permanent part of the

leadership of Coach Mike Vendetti,

of the linebackers, was returning from

curriculum. One of the reasons for its

Anna Maria College with three other

popularity is that it requires students to

Nichols students when their car was

do research from the college’s archives.

involved in a three-vehicle accident at

Jim Douglas, the former library director,

the intersection of routes 20 and 56

guided the students in this task for

in Oxford. The other students suffered

several years; now that I have taken on

injuries but “Mac,” who had also been a

the role of archivist, I find myself con-

goalie on the hockey team, had died in

stantly learning something new — about

the crash.

archiving and Nichols. As football team captain Gary I have noticed, both around campus

Guglielmello ’79 MBA ’83 would recall to

and in the archives, several plaques and

me in a phone interview, the coaching

memorials erected to commemorate

staff did an excellent job empathizing

people and events that were significant

with Mac’s teammates, but despite the

at the time, but over the years the

accident, they were able to keep every-

memories connected to them inevitably

one focused on preparing for Saturday’s

fade. I recently investigated the

game against Plymouth State.

memorial located in front of the Athletic Center, dedicated to two

The Bison defeated Plymouth State by

students who died within days of

a score of 14-10. As an Associated Press

each other in November 1978. The 1978 football season was an exciting one here at Nichols. According to the November 3 edition of the school

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

The plaque memorializing Bob McCarthy and Dave Whitney now sits beneath the flagpole in the traffic circle adjacent to the Athletic and Recreation Center.

wire story would later write, that victory was due in no small part to the efforts of sophomore quarterback Dave Whitney, who had thrown a 69-yard touchdown pass during the game.

According to a story in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Whitney was responsible for directing two touchdown drives and completing nine passes out of 13 attempts for 162 yards. Thanks to the win, Nichols achieved a 6-2 record in the conference that day, coming in first place that season. It would be a muted celebration, however. That night, three members of the team were riding in a car on West Western Connecticut State College, and

Main Street in Dudley when the car

from Fr. John Brooks, S.J., the president

went off the road near the former Sawyer’s lumber yard and struck a tree.

university,” he told the Webster Times.

of the College of the Holy Cross in

Rescue workers brought in the Jaws

As Gary Guglielmello recalled years later,

Worcester, who wrote, “It is our earnest

of Life to free the trapped students.

“The whole campus was in a coma. It

prayer that God will grant the families

Two of the players were injured; Dave

was very difficult for people to function

and friends of David M. Whitney and

Whitney, a hero on the field just hours

because it was so cataclysmic.”

Robert J. McCarthy the assurance of faith even at a time when faith is

before, unfortunately died at the scene. One more football game remained to be

severely challenged.” Whitney would

As news of the second accident in four

played that season, a non-conference

be posthumously named to the NEFC’s

days spread over campus, the impact

game against Western Connecticut

All-Star Team that year.

was palpable. The Webster Times

State College, but the tragedies of

described the mood on the Hill the

November 1 and 4 simply cut too deep.

In 1980, the residents of O’Neil and

following Monday: “Stereos were turned

The college’s decision to cancel that

Goodell dormitories donated funds

off, students spoke in hushed tone and

final game was “a no-brainer,” said

to erect a plaque in memory of Bob

the flags were

Guglielmello.

McCarthy and Dave Whitney in the vicinity of Chalmers Field House. At

lowered to half-mast.

Dave Whitney’s

some point, after the building had been

Everything was

funeral was held

expanded into the Athletic Center in

quiet, quite

in Fitchburg on

2000, a small traffic circle was placed in

unusual for a

November 8. Then

front of the newly constructed entrance.

college on a lovely

the tributes poured

A flagpole was erected, and the

Indian summer

in. Coach Vendetti

memorial moved there, and that is

afternoon.”

described McCarthy

where Nichols College keeps alive the

Basketball Coach

and Whitney as

memory of Bob McCarthy and Dave

Don Cushing remarked to reporter Paul

“outstanding individuals who were

Jarvey, “It leaves an emptiness. You

always a joy to work with.” Whitney

don’t know what way to turn because

was described by basketball teammate

there is no way to turn.” President

Garry Shepherd as “a prototype of the

Lowell Smith estimated that “80 to 90

all-American boy, intelligent, athletic,

percent” of the people on campus knew

good-looking. He had everything going

one or both deceased players. “In a

for him.” Condolences appeared in the

college this size, you expect emotion

The Bison from the Dudley Board of

that you would never get in a big

Selectmen, the athletic director of

Whitney, Class of 1981.

Paul E. Lambert, Instructor of History and Library Archivist at Nichols College

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

CLASS NOTES

1980

1985

(Succession Planning in Family

On his birthday, Eric “Shaggy”

Barbara M. Lilley was promoted

Class Champion:

Businesses: Owners’ Practices

Smyrl celebrated good times

from controller to CFO of Tech-

John Donahue

and Perceptions). He recently

with fellow classmates and best

Precision Corporation in June.

johndonahue1234@gmail.com

started his own business, the

of friends, Tammy Smyrl and

She has served as controller of Ranor, Inc., a subsidiary of the company, and as controller of Materials Systems Inc. An update from Dave Rice: Dave Rice and Paul Calvi had Beach in Massachusetts. They

Class Champion:

at Nichols. Paul has enjoyed a career in insurance and is the owner and president of Buzzards Bay Insurance. He and his wife Eileen reside in Buzzards Bay. Dave has enjoyed a career in staffing and is the U.S. contingent workforce manager for Autodesk. He is a Bison Club Member who sponsors the annual Chris McWade Award for Nichols hockey and is a proud dad of Taylor, Kaet and Sydney. Dave resides in Medway.

Excellence.

Class Champion: Donna Meeker 336-692-5157 donnameekeremail@ gmail.com

1992

1994 Class Champion: Danielle Troiano Sprague daniellesjj@gmail. com

Keith Hofbeck khofbeck@comcast.net Katrine (MacKenzie) Arnold was promoted in March to vice president of transfer agency systems with Brown Brothers Harriman Co., where she has worked since 2011.

Frank Michienzi has built up a collection of antique Santa Clauses and

Danielle Sprague, foodservice manager at the Dr. Franklin Perkins School/RFK Community Alliance, was recently awarded funding through a Massachusetts FRESH Grant (Farming Reinforces

other holiday decorations that

Education and Student Health)

he proudly displays at his home.

opportunity. The objective

Frank hosts the neighborhood

of the grant is to support

for a viewing party every year to

sustainable plans to integrate

spread the holiday cheer.

“farm to school” into student nutrition programs. With $50,000 in state funding, Danielle plans

At the silent auction for the

to expand the school garden,

annual Nichols Alumni Golf

cultivate the hydroponic growing

Tournament in July, Sean Dorsey

of produce, and continue

scored the high bid for a Cape

supportive partnerships with

Cod flyover, donated by pilot Barry Kromer MBA ’85.

Danielle Sprague.

for Family Business

1991

a chance meeting at Scusset played baseball together while

New England Center

local farms. All these efforts to Debbie Sherman walked the 3rd Annual T1D Cure 200K Steps Challenge in April, to join in the fight against Type 1 Diabetes and MS and the hope of someday soon finding a cure for both diseases.

develop and promote a “good food=good mood” emotional wellness culture for the students within her school. Patrick Warner shared that his son, Ryan, graduated from Nichols College in May with a degree in accounting. Way to go Ryan and proud Dad Patrick!

1984 Class Champion: Robert Hoey Rob@ hoeywealthmanagement.com Rob Hoey, who attended homecoming this past fall, is looking forward to helping his classmates plan for next year’s 40th reunion.

1993 Karin Curran MBA, assistant professor of accounting and finance at Nichols, received a grant from the USDA to teach financial literacy to farmers and ranchers throughout New England this fall. Another 1994 classmate gathering: Adam Lowell, friend Donny, Matthew Kerzner PhD

Vinny D’Amato, Kevin Sweeney ’93, Eric Smyrl, Keith Meehan,

wrote the book L’dor V’dor:

Anthony Fruci, Chris Maher, Billy Carven and Tim Madden ’95.

Generation to Generation

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

A foundation of courage Jim Comer ’68 When Jim Comer ’68 and his wife Cheryl created a foundation in memory of their son, they made sure “courage” was in the name. The Patrick Comer Courage Foundation honors a young man not just for the way he lived, but for how he faced his inevitable passing from pancreatic cancer. “Patrick was so admired by his friends, family and colleagues for the way he approached life after his diagnosis that we wanted to create a legacy in his memory,” says Comer. “He displayed such courage through it all. He did not put life on hold. He lived it to the fullest.” By his father’s account, Patrick, who was diagnosed in 2006, remained positive as his cancer progressed over a grueling 27 months. He met every piece of bad news from his doctors with irrepressible hope for the next treatment, even after he entered hospice care. He continued to serve his clients as regional vice president for Mainstay Investments, a division of New York Life, up to three days before his passing. As his health permitted, he maintained his favorite activities like skiing, golfing, sailing, and fishing. He got a rescue dog. He planned his wedding in 2007, marrying shortly before succumbing to the disease in March 2008 at the age of 36. Comer and his wife, both cancer survivors, were “devastated by the whole situation that we found ourselves in,” Comer recalls. But, inspired by their son’s strength and determination, they sought to bring greater meaning to Patrick’s death by keeping his spirit alive through others. The mission of the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation is to help ease the emotional and financial burden for individuals and families facing similar struggles. Each year the foundation selects deserving candidates to support what they need the most, whether it’s supplementing medical bills, childcare expenses, travel and lodging costs, or other household expenses incurred during treatment. The foundation’s website (www.comercourage.org) features the stories of the patients and families they have helped since 2008. “Living with cancer often begins as an individual journey, but it doesn’t necessarily have to end that way,” Comer is fond of saying. “That’s part of what it has meant to us. To be able to give back in the memory of a great young guy, my son, is special.”

Son Patrick Comer with parents Cheryl and Jim Comer

The foundation also aims to promote greater overall awareness of pancreatic cancer as well as support research initiatives. They have provided grants to organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic; City of Hope; Dana Farber; DetecTogether, which was founded by Nichols Trustee Jim Coghlin ’67; UMass Pancreatic Cancer Alliance; and Jupiter Medical Center, an affiliate of the University of Miami located close to the Comers’ home in Florida. Since it began, the Patrick Comer Courage Foundation has funded scholarships each year at Patrick’s alma mater Saint John’s, a Xaverian high school in Shrewsbury, Mass. The scholarships support the school’s mission to offer aid to students of modest means and diverse backgrounds. “Education is the great equalizer,” states Comer. “We can’t change the world we live in, but we can help one boy at a time.” “We enjoy hearing from the boys and their counselors on how they are progressing. To date all of our graduates have gone on to college,” adds Comer, who feels that Saint John’s played a major role in developing Patrick’s character. The Comers are now working with the school on a more permanent memorial for Patrick. The Comers are comforted by what Patrick accomplished in life, by what the foundation has accomplished in his memory, and by the relationships they’ve built and the people they’ve helped. “Every room in our home has a little bit of Patrick in them,” says Comer, referring to the Celtic Cross on his desk and the pictures on the walls of Patrick skiing with friends, graduations, his wedding, family gatherings, and foundation events. “What it means is that Patrick lives on in the hearts of us all.” — Susan Veshi

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

CLASS NOTES

Life on the flipside Joe Demers ’92 Joe Demers ’92 might not have guessed during his time at Nichols College that he would one day go on to be a successful entrepreneur, owning two record stores in Worcester and Northampton, Massachusetts, with five employees and a national online store presence. Demers graduated into an economic recession and a tough job market. Through the career counseling office at Nichols, he found a job in manufacturing and was on the fast track to becoming a controller of a billion-dollar company. Eventually, he moved on to a role as VP of operations with a semi-conductor company but, when the bottom dropped out of the economy, once again, in 2008, the company laid off half of its staff. After helping the company transition his role, Demers was looking at a stretch of four to six months of unemployment. Out of boredom, he retrieved from his attic the old stereo system and records from his Daniels Hall days at Nichols. As he describes it, he “fell in love again.” On a whim, he purchased a lot of 600-700 records from Craigslist and, believing there was a void in the market, promptly taught himself to build a website to sell them. He made a sale on the very first day, even though at the time records had not yet regained the popularity they have today. By 2016, he had grown the website enough that he decided to rent some space and try his hand at selling records on weekends in a small store, while still working with a manufacturing company as VP. Enough traction was gained in the new business that it soon became apparent that he would either have to choose between his corporate career or the record store. While the

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

corporate job paid more, Demers says his wife was both successful and understanding. With her support, he never had to wonder, “Could I have made this business into what I wanted?” Demers put his business knowledge into action, handling the accounting himself and making strategic business decisions based on his corporate experience. He established direct relations with Universal Music Group and Warner Records and learned from early missteps, such as perfecting SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to get the word out. Today, anyone searching for a site to sell their records might bring up Demers’ website, which has resulted in customers from all over the country. Online customers visiting New England would often drive an hour or two just to stop by Joe’s Albums because they enjoyed the online shopping experience so much. Most small stores do not have as large an online presence where inventory is updated in real time. Demers mentions that he “doesn’t like getting too comfortable” and that his goal is to always be learning and moving forward. He opened a Joe’s Album store in Northampton a year and a half ago and will soon roll out a mobile app to complement his website, as push notifications are slowly driving out

email updates as the preferred method of customer communication. He notes that record buying customers are getting younger all the time, as evidenced by artists Taylor Swift and Harry Styles having the top selling record albums over the past few years. Demers says that Nichols allowed him to explore all facets of business, which led him to find practical experience in the corporate world, and offered him a high return on his educational investment. As an early riser, he sought out 8 a.m. classes and took advanced-level accounting courses as his free electives. He especially appreciated the business law classes of Professor Les Brooks, who taught him that “half the battle in life is showing up and being engaged.” (He also admits that watching Professor Brooks “light up” those students who did not come to class prepared to discuss the cases was a guilty pleasure.)

Demers, who lives in Worcester and has two children, is fully engaged in Joe’s Albums and riding the wave of a vinyl revival in favor of CDs as the better sounding medium. As the craze continues, Demers says people don’t have to jump into it and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a system right away. In addition to a full line of turntables to suit all budgets and preferences, the store carries used records, new records, T-shirts, and other merchandise. While owning a record store may seem like fun, it is hard work. Demers’ advice to would-be entrepreneurs is to find your passion and channel it into your business. That’s the Nichols Way. — Brent Broszeit

Joe Demers ’92, owner of Joe’s Albums, ranks his five all-time favorite records: 1. Pink Floyd, “Dark Side of the Moon” … of which he has 12 different copies.

Tammy and Eric Smyrl hosted a holiday gathering for the Class of 1994 on campus at the Bison Den. Classmates caught up and shared holiday cheer while checking out the newly renovated campus social spot.

1995

2001

Class Champion:

Tara Medeiros

David Twiss

tara629@verizon.net

978-979-7658 david.twiss14@gmail.com

1999 Jon MacLean hosted Sean Jameson, Patrick Curtis, and Rob Munce for a fishing trip in Newburyport in July.

2. Miles Davis, “Kind of Blue” … “the ultimate jazz album.” 3. 10,000 Maniacs, “In My Tribe” 4. The Replacements, “All Shook Down”

Crista Durand MBA, CEO of Newport Hospital, was among the individuals named to Becker’s Hospital Review 2023 list of “Women hospital presidents and CEOs to know.” The 177 presidents and CEOs featured on this list are responsible for growing their hospitals, fostering positive workforce cultures, expanding services and facilities, increasing provider and patient satisfaction levels, and more. Patrick Fisher was elected to the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Convention and Sports Bureau. He is a business travel manager for DRVN and previously served as executive director of the Connecticut

5. The Cars, Self-titled album

2000 Wendy Gamble MBA retired from Verizon as an international operations director

Sports Management Group Inc.

with offices in Canada, Mexico, and

2002

The Philippines.

Class Champion: Rev. John Larochelle john.larochelle1@gmail.com

2003 Class Champion: Jillian (Hayes) Smerage jnhayes80@gmail.com

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

CLASS NOTES

Giving back, times two: Matt Krumsiek ’05 and Kim (Serino) Krumsiek ’03 It was one star-crossed afternoon

(BOA), a group of alumni and friends

on campus that brought Nichols

who help support the development

undergraduates Matt Krumsiek ’05 and

and growth of the college and the

Kim Serino ’03 together for the first

alumni community, and Kim now

time. They had both signed up to be

brings her expertise from industry to

admissions ambassadors, and it was

the Nichols classroom as a chair and

during their first ambassadors’

assistant professor of human resource

meeting that fate played its hand.

management.

As an icebreaker, the students role-

As their careers grew, they felt the

played iconic characters in literature.

pull to return their success forward,

Matt, given the role of Romeo, was

bringing them full circle to these roles

tasked with finding his Juliet — his cue

on campus.

for meeting his now-wife, Kim, whom he chose as his co-star. The rest, as

“I just wanted to give back,” says

they say, is history.

Kim of her draw to teaching. She says things started slowly — first as a

Today he has his own tax and advisory

volunteer mock interviewer and guest

accounting firm, Krumsiek & Associates,

speaker for several classes. Then

in Westborough, MA., and Kim has

came the opportunity to teach the

accomplished 20 years in the HR

Professional Development Seminar, a

corporate world as well as launched

core course that prepares students for

a career in academia. They have

their career launch. This turned into

two boys who play sports. Nichols

opportunities to teach other HR

continues to play a role in it all.

courses, until finally she made the commitment to teach full time.

Matt is an active member of the Nichols College Board of Advisors

“Making the leap to academia, I’m just following what’s been exciting to me. I still love staying apprised of the corporate HR world, but there’s something about being in that classroom and just connecting to the students,” says Kim. “Being able to share and connect is my purpose.” “Nichols gave us that personalized experience, with many professors who had worked in the industry and then came to Nichols for the purpose of teaching. To see Kim basically stepping

Caption Matt and Kim Krumsiek, with their sons, demonstrate Bison pride and loyalty in myriad ways.

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

up to become one of those professors now is wonderful,” adds Matt.

Likewise, Matt’s activities on the BOA are energizing, he says. As a member, he helps plan alumni events and participates in board meetings to help further the college’s growth. In January he played in and helped organize an alumni hockey game event coinciding with the men’s hockey Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational tournament, an event that he is excited to expand upon this year. In board discussions, he is helping to provide perspectives on how Nichols can grow the physical campus, a key goal outlined in the college’s strategic plan. He notes that his involvement reflects early advice he was given as a student at Nichols to stay involved on campus. “I was involved with so many things that I don’t know how I fit them in, but I did,” he laughs. He served in student government, as an orientation leader, as a tutor and, fatefully, as an admissions ambassador. Not only did following this advice bring the two together, but it also led to a lifetime of success, the couple states. “Their advice to put yourself out there and be involved, it changes the mindset and becomes a habit. You realize, there’s nothing stopping you

2004 Class Champion: Justin Shepard shep@therevivalfarm.com

except for yourself. It’s something I’ve taken with me my entire life, from running my own company to helping my boys with their sports to many other things,” comments Matt. He’s also

traveled to the Lowes U.S corporate office in Mooresville, NC, to present in front of members of the executive board. Ashley McNeice

2006

and Mike Holmes

Class Champion:

Brody on

Erica (Mello) Boulay erica.boulay@hotmail.com

welcomed baby July 5, 2022.

written a book, the “Wretched Route to

2007

Success,” a collection of lessons based

Class Champions:

on his successes as an entrepreneur.

Melissa Jackson & Meaghan Larkin

Kim agrees, noting how faculty

msmeljackson@gmail.com

Peter and Nicole (Loscoe) Smyth and the

implement this mindset, thanks to her

meaglark@gmail.com

whole Smyth clan returned to campus for

vantage point as a professor. “We

2008

encourage students to go to career fairs, cultural events, and join clubs, but we also tell them what they can expect. So we give them an understanding of how to go about doing it, in addition to telling them, you really should do this!” She

the alumni lacrosse game last October.

Class Champion: Nicole (Silvio) Curley nsc3129@gmail.com Katie LaPointe, assistant planning manager at Lowe’s Companies, was

says thanks to faculty who did the same

selected, among

for her when she was a student, she

a group of 32

became more outgoing, important for

managers, out

her career where people are the focus.

of thousands of leaders across

The pair see themselves as continuing to be Nichols advocates, eager for what the future may hold. “To see the school continuing to grow and how different it is from when we were there to where we are today, is

the U.S., Canada, and India to participate in a three-month long Advanced Leadership Program. She

Matt Turski welcomed baby boy Oliver on March 18, 2022.

inspiring. And to think about the future, where we see Nichols going...it’s very exciting on all the different fronts,” says Kim. A fan of the green and black, they also see more Bison games in their future. “For us, we get just as much enjoyment going to Nichols athletic events as we would going to a Celtics or Bruins game,” says Matt. “The games are fun, the environment is there.” — Denise Kelley

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

CLASS NOTES

Kassia White married John Mucci on October 30, 2022.

2011

Danny Greiner MSA ’17 is the new hockey

Class Champion:

in Ohio. His previous coaching experience

Alie Hallam aliemchal@gmail.com Stephanie Haskell MS was hired as the office manager at MassBio in Cambridge, MA, responsible for on boarding, employee events, office operations, and administrative support for the COO and executive director of Bioversity. MassBio’s mission is to advance Massachusetts’ leadership in the life sciences

2009 Lauren DeLuca, founding president and executive director of the Chronic Illness Advocacy & Awareness Group Inc., was

to grow the industry, add value to the healthcare system, and improve patient lives.

2012

recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top

Corrine Barry, national

Executives.

account manager for

coach at St. Charles Preparatory School includes serving as an assistant coach for the Nichols women’s team for two seasons and as an assistant at Dublin Coffman.

2015 Class Champion: Andrew Haas & Mike Ricci andrewhaas3@gmail.com michaeljamesricci@gmail.com Guy DePlacido married Melissa DeMilia on September 17, 2022, in Sandwich, MA, with happy Bison in attendance.

sales at Dole Fresh

2010

Vegetables in Monterey,

Class Champion:

2023 Produce Business

Katelyn Vella

40 Under 40.

CA, was named as a

katelyn.vella@yahoo.com Katelyn Vella married Nick Maresca on September 3, 2023, at Lakeview Pavilion. The couple also welcomed baby Lilly Marie on February 10, 2023. Katelyn is a director of talent acquisition at VPNE.

Dylan Courtney was named director of pre-construction for the newly formed Hatfield Construction Inc., a subsidiary of Keiter Corp., and will oversee project development, estimating, and sales. He earned an MBA from Washington State University and is certified in construction project management by Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

2013 Class Champion: Ryan Flavin rtflavin@gmail.com Matthew Cerullo, assistant director of athletic communications at the College of the Holy Cross, completed his second season as the main media contact for the women’s basketball team. He publicized and

Ben Veshi MBA was elevated to head coach

promoted the team’s

of postgraduate basketball at Hargrave

run to the 2023 Patriot

Military Academy. He served as the associate

League Tournament

head coach during the 2022-2023 season

Championship, the

after a two-year coaching hiatus during

program’s 12th conference championship in

which he was director of athletics. He earned

program history as the team captured the

a master’s in sport administration from

league’s automatic berth to the NCAA

Arkansas State University.

Tournament for the first time since 2007.

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

2016

Andrew Buchanan was promoted from

Class Champion: Stacie Converse converse.stacielee@gmail.com

executive for the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Dino Porcic was named head coach of the

David and Nicole (Penniman) Melanson welcomed daughter Maeve.

women’s basketball program at Johnson & Wales University, RI. In 2022-2023, he was assistant coach at Division I Merrimack College, and previously served as assistant coach with the Lady Rivals AAU program and Rhode Island College.

2017 Class Champions:

account executive to senior account Previously, he worked in the WNBA for the Connecticut Sun.

2019 Class Champion: Brian O’Riodan boriordan78@gmailcom Michael Murphy joined Brown University athletics as a quality control assistant. Previously, he was the defensive backs

2018

coach at Massachusetts Maritime Academy,

Isabella Sansone and Tyler Richard were married on November 19, 2022, in Rowley, MA.

at American International College, and

the safeties coach/video coordinator cornerbacks coach at Alfred University.

2020

njlabrack13@verizon.net

Class Champion: Tyler Kenney and Sara Coburn tyler.kenney20@hotmail.com

gmp0626@aol.com

sarah.jane.coburn@gmail.com

Nicole LaBrack & Gina Petruzzi

2021 Class Champion: Spenser Molloy spenserjmolloy@gmail.com Courtney Friedland MBA/MSOL was named the first woman to serve as town administrator in Northborough, MA. She began her municipal career in Southbridge as an intern and was then hired as the executive secretary. In 2010, she began working in Webster where she had remained until her current position.

2022 Carmen (Garcia) Sutyak submitted a photo of her wedding on January 28, 2023 in Lynchburg, VA, to John Sutyak and provided the names of the Bison in attendance: Janet Newman, director of academic services for athletics; Steve Delahanty ’14; Grace Murphy Delahanty ’14; Brian Quinlan, former assistant dean of student involvement; Jade Palladino ’17; Lauren Noga ’17; Nora Cavic, associate director of advising services; Tahkeya Blake ’15 MBA ’17; William Brown III ’13; Bryan Gill ’13; Jennifer Townsend ’15 MBA ’17; Tim Bennett MBA ’14, associate director of athletics; Andrew DeSimone MBA ’17; Mathew Taylor ’15.

Class Champion: Kayla DeWitt kayla.dewitt@nichols.edu Rebecca Taylor MSC ’23 is the new assistant coach for women’s hockey at Curry College. She recently finished her playing career at Nichols, where she was a three-year captain for the Bison, and a member of the women’s lacrosse team.

Carmen recently started a position as senior associate director of alumni relations at Bowdoin College.

Please send your Class Notes news directly to your class champion. If you do not have a class champion, news may be forwarded to classnotes@nichols.edu. Digital images are preferred, but please do not crop them! The higher the resolution the better — 300 dpi (dots per inch) is best. Digital images may be sent directly to the Alumni Relations Office alumnioffice@nichols.edu. Prints may be sent to: Nichols College, Alumni Relations Office, P.O. Box 5000, Dudley, MA 01571.

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

NICHOLS REMEMBERS Reported as of September 15, 2023

Alphonse P. “Al” San Clemente ’48, Shrewsbury,

Frederick W. Neilsen ’55, of Houston, TX,

Lawrence P. Kimball ’59, of Bartlett, NH, and

MA, December 7, 2022: He enlisted in the Army

formerly of Middleboro, MA: April 14, 2023: He

Southborough, MA, July 8, 2023: He served in

Air Corps during World War II and was stationed

worked his way through the ranks at Ambrose

the U.S. Navy and worked as a financial analyst

in Europe for three years. After graduating

Press Norwood, becoming general superintendent

for Baybanks in Boston until his retirement.

from Northeastern University School of Law,

before purchasing the press.

He then worked in the Trust Department at

he opened San Clemente, Italiano & Conlin

Boston Advisors.

in Worcester in 1972 and specialized as a civil

Robert H. “Bob” Pape ’55, of Hilton Head, SC,

trial lawyer.

August 13, 2019: After retiring as senior vice

Joseph D. LoBello ’59, of Dallas, TX, August 18,

president and media director for Saatchi &

2023: He worked for Third National Bank in

Robert L. “Bob” Collingwood ’50, of Puryear,

Saatchi Compton Advertising he spent the past

Springfield, MA, rising to executive vice president

TN, October 18, 2022: He was a medic in the U.S.

30 years living in Hilton Head with his wife.

and later regional president of its successor

Air Force from 1950-1954 and a longtime sales

organizations. He was also president and CEO

representative for General Fibre Box Co. Prior to

Thomas B. Fox, Sr. ’57, of Port Richey, FL,

retirement, he and his wife Barbara owned and

January 1, 2023: He worked in his family’s

operated Curry Copy Center in Branford, CT.

lumber business, N.T. Fox Co. Inc. (Fox Lumber),

Douglas J. “Doug” Mace ’59, of State College,

He was a loyal supporter of Nichols for over

and eventually became part owner. After the

PA, January 11, 2023: He worked as a statistical

20 years.

business closed in 1992, he worked in customer

analyst for research studies in the Psychology

service at UNUM, retiring in 1998.

Department of Texas Christian University,

John B. Jenkins ’50, previously of Stuart, FL,

of Peoples Bank in Holyoke.

writing code for their first computer. He

and Pocasset, MA, August 26, 2023: He served

Gary R. Hess ’58, of Huntington Valley, PA,

conducted human factors studies of a tactical

his country in the U.S Navy from 1943 to 1946.

June 13, 2023: He served as a flight engineer in

operating system with the U.S. Army in

He was a tax collector at Bourne Town Hall and

the Naval Reserves during the Cuban missile

Heidelberg, Germany, and joined the Institute

later a branch manager at Sandwich Cooperative

crisis and spent many years in business, including

for Research in 1973.

Bank in Buzzards Bay and Pocasset.

vice president of Schrage Shipping Containers.

Thomas R. “Tommy” Preston Jr., ’50, of West

J. Howard Kack ’58, of Temecula, CA, December

June 11, 2023: He was a HVAC engineer at

Hartford, CT, December 9, 2022: In the early

8, 2022: He owned Mojave Copy and Printing

MECO Inc. before joining Hyde Manufacturing

1950s, he embarked on a career in real estate,

and was a loyal donor to Nichols College for

company for 61 years. Starting as a foreman,

ultimately establishing The TR Preston Co. which

more than 20 years.

then plant manager, to becoming the chairman

Richard R. Clemence ’60, of Southbridge, MA,

became a “household” name in Greater Hartford

of the board in 2010. During those years, he George S. “Doc” LeVarn ’58, of Orlando, FL,

was a board member of several local businesses

formerly Claremont, NH, September 22, 2022:

including Savers Bank and Harrington Memorial

Charles W. Dragon ’53, of Northampton, MA,

He was an auctioneer, co-owner of LeVarn’s

Hospital, the Tri-Community Chamber and

July 12, 2023: He ran the family business,

Antiques and a specialized antiques mover.

United Way.

retiring in 2000. He was a loyal donor to Nichols

Gerald Pehoviak ’58, of Amston, CT, June 10,

Robert A. Rondeau ’60, of Woonsocket, RI,

College for over 30 years and a member of the

2022: For over 40 years he worked at Pratt &

January 2, 2023: He served in the U.S. Navy from

President’s Society since 2014.

Whitney in East Hartford as a systems analyst,

1956-1959, aboard the USS Forrestal. He was a

and later at Computer Science Corp. and as an

retired police officer for the City of Woonsocket.

and the Farmington Valley.

H.A. Dragon Optician with his wife for 46 years,

William W. Koerner ’53, of North Chatham, MA,

independent consultant.

December 6, 2022: He worked at Microwave

David Stephen ’60, of Moore, SC, May 28, 2023:

Associates and served part time as the town

Walter “Wally” Urtz ’57, of Yonkers, NY, June 17,

He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1963,

of Carlisle tax collector for many years. He was

2023: He was employed for 57 years at the Great

stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. A career

also the distribution manager for the Carlisle

Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., including 26 years

in sales and advertising took him across the

Mosquito local newspaper and an active donor

operating the A&P in Hastings-on-Hudson. He

Midwest, spending more than 26 years in Kansas.

to Nichols for nearly 30 years.

was a loyal donor to Nichols for 30 years and

John L. Sellstrom ’54, of Jamestown, NY,

an avid supporter of the Class of ’57 Endowed

Gregory F. Dowling ’61, of Old Lyme, CT, August

Scholarship.

3, 2023: He served in the 3rd U.S. Army Infantry

September 9, 2023: He served in the U.S. Naval

Regiment, the National Honor Guard, where he

Security Group and was later appointed as the

Warren C. Wilcox ’58, of LeRoy, NY, May 17,

stood watch as a Sentinel at the Tomb of the

associate government appeal agent for the

2023: He was a member of the Forestry

Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Selective Service System. An attorney and

Program at Nichols Junior College. After

He had a long career in the retail industry.

Swedish Consul, he was a partner at the

spending two years in the U.S. Army, he

Jamestown law firm of Lombardo and Pickard

worked for the Department of the Interior

before starting a private law practice.

as a draftsman and surveyor.

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

William C. Horley, Jr. ’61, of Cumberland, RI,

and served in Germany and Greenland from

and garden business for many years until

April 1, 2023: He served in the U.S. Coast Guard

1966-1971. He worked for Blue Cross and Blue

becoming a licensed LPN nurse, providing

from 1963-1970, attaining the rank of Petty

Shield of New Hampshire, retiring in 2001

hospice and senior care.

Officer, and had a career in the marine industry.

after more than 30 years with the company.

Everett C. “Ed” Kelsey ’61, of Yarmouth, ME,

Robert E. “Bob” Heald ’66, of Lincolnville,

December 8, 2022: He was employed as a

October 1, 2022: He joined the Army Reserve

ME, November 18, 2022: Following gradu-

software engineer for SAP America and was

and served in the armored division based in

ation, he began officer training and served

a loyal donor to Nichols for 25 years.

Fort Knox, KY, from 1956 until 1964. He built a

in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

career in the gas and heating industry and was

He subsequently worked at Ft. Meade in

Randall E. “Randy” Fox ’67, of Ft. Myers, FL,

the owner and operator of Kelsey Gas Supply

Maryland, followed by a career as a civilian

May 4, 2023: An avid athlete and sports

& Equipment.

with the Army Corps of Engineers of New

enthusiast, he parlayed his passion into a

England, until his retirement in 1999.

career in sporting goods, first as a sales

William C. Dean, Jr. ’67, of Rowley, MA,

Cornelius G. “Neil” Scully ’61, of Cross

representative for Spaulding Company and

City, FL on January 19, 2023. He served

Edward T. Luther III ’66, of Thompson, CT,

KAF Associates and later as owner of Fox

as a tax analyst for Pan American World

June 12, 2022: He worked for Rawson

Associates Inc., a broker for sporting goods

Airways in Miami.

Materials as a truck driver for many years

and other manufacturers.

and was also a member of the Thompson George E. Withington ’62, of Newton, MA,

John A. “Jack” DeCamp III ’68, of Salem, MA,

Hill Fire Department.

January 29, 2023: He joined the Army in 1958,

July 2, 2022: Formerly of Swampscott, he

where he was a member of C Battery, 1st

Daniel F. Murray III ’66, of Red Hook, NY,

worked in Boston as a commercial real estate

Howitzer Battalion, 83rd Artillery Regiment,

November 26, 2022: He joined the U.S. Navy

lender and town soccer coach.

serving two years. He worked in sales and

in 1957 serving in the North Atlantic on the

customer service for many years at London

USS Mills as an electrician’s mate. He worked

Robert F. “Bob” DeFonce ’68, of West

Harness and retired from the John Hancock

with the New York Central Railroad before

Haven, CT, November 20, 2022: He was a

Co. He was a donor to Nichols for nearly

moving into healthcare as a controller and

department head for the Knights of

50 years.

treasurer of Blythedale Children’s Hospital in

Columbus Supreme Headquarters in New

Valhalla, NY. He founded The Cornwall Group

Haven for 28 years. He was a former member

Richard H. Levy ’63, of Island Park, NY,

and Universal Credit Group and developed

of the Nichols College Alumni Board of

April 17, 2022: He worked at Brodleib Motors

one of the first medical billing software

Directors and a long-time contributor.

since 1990.

programs to help streamline accounts receivable processing and collection.

Joel M. Schlanger ’64, of Aiken, SC, July 26, 2021: He was a CPA and the finance director

Jesse J. Rulli ’66, of Beavercreek, OH,

for the city of Roanoke, VA, and later

June 12, 2023: He was in the U.S. Air Force

Baltimore County, MD.

for 20 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel,

Charles N. ”Chuck” Piazza ’67

and later worked as a systems analyst for

Chuck Piazza ’67, a resident of

Daniel R. Clark ’65, of Goldenrod, FL,

Robbins-Gioia LLC. A member of the

Tewksbury, MA, and Fort Meyers

January 3, 2023: He was a retired regional

Nichols College Hall of Fame for baseball

claims supervisor for the Hartford Insurance

and basketball, he was a loyal donor for

Beach, FL, died December 6, 2022.

Group and a donor to Nichols for 29 years.

nearly 30 years. Among his survivors is his

Since graduation, he had served as sales manager for House of

brother Robert Rulli ’68.

Rothmund and Genoa Packing of

Richard H. Gardner, Jr. ’65, of Fall River, MA, March 19, 2023: He worked for 26 years as a

Philip S. Simms ’66, of Montgomery, NY,

Italian Products. He was also a partner

national sales manager for a medical

August 11, 2023: A member of the Nichols

software company.

College Forestry Program, he was the

and account executive for Pryority

director of fiscal management for the Orange Richard G. Montville ’65, Middlebury, CT,

County Department of Parks, Recreation and

November 20, 2022: He served in the

Conservation for nearly 40 years.

U.S. Army National Guard and had a long

Food Marketing Inc. He will be remembered as an active alumnus and as the keyboardist in the Van-dels, which played on campus

career as an insurance broker at the

John R. Cookson ’67, of Middlebury, CT, May

W.J. Burton Insurance Agency.

21, 2022: He served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1970 and worked in sales for Starbuck

David Hanchett ’66, of Concord, NH, April

Sprague Lighting and Waterbury Companies,

22, 2023: He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force

later changing his career path to the flower

and at other colleges. Survivors include his wife Debbi, a son, a stepdaughter, and their partners.

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

NICHOLS REMEMBERS Reported as of September 15, 2023

Peter K. Smyrl ’68, of Candia, NH, May 9,

John M. “Mike” Kennedy Jr. ’70, of

Melissa B. Cross ’77, of Peterborough, NH,

2023: He taught mathematics at Manchester’s

Williamstown, MA, May 13, 2023: He served as

April 8, 2023: She worked in New Hampshire

Hillside Junior High from 1968-1975 when

a medic in the U.S. Army, obtaining the rank

and Massachusetts public school systems as

he became the assistant principal at Derry’s

of sergeant, while stationed in Ft. Meade, MD.

a school psychologist. She was the daughter

Hood Middle School. In 1981 he was named

He became a police officer in Williamstown in

of Gordon B. Cross DBA (Hon.) ’74, Nichols

principal of the Floyd and the Grinnell

1970 and was appointed police chief in 1990,

College president from 1966-1973.

Schools and in 1986 he opened the new East

retiring in 2000. John J. “Jeff” Stanton ’78, of Arlington, VA,

Derry Memorial Elementary School. He was an active donor to Nichols for more than

William P. “Bill” Mattei ’70, of Leicester, MA,

July 19, 2023: He was a freelance journalist,

20 years. Among his survivors are his son

July 19, 2023: He was a probation officer for

and authored several books, articles, and

Eric Smyrl ’94 and daughter-in-law Tammy

the Massachusetts Probation Service for 38

essays on national security, public policy, and

(Wolf) Smyrl ’94.

years in the Worcester District Court, serving

topics ranging from education and health-

as chief of the department 10 years before

care policies to nuclear proliferation and

retiring in 2010.

cyberwarfare. He was a lifetime member of

Terry M. Dwyer ’69, of Oneida, NY, March 15, 2023: He worked for Continental Can Corp.,

the National Defense Industrial Association,

Bristol Myers Squibb, General Electric, Carrier

James W. Reid ’70, of Spencer, MA, October

where he worked for 10 years while writing

and retired from OneSource in 2018.

12, 2022: He was a veteran of the U.S. Marines

for National Defense Magazine.

Corp during the Vietnam War and employed The Office of Alumni Relations was informed

throughout his career as a commercial loan

Sean K. Greeley ’80, of Cumberland, RI,

of the passing of William C. Manger ’69,

officer.

August 26, 2023: He was the national sales

of Marianna, FL, on September 5, 2023. No other information was available. Scott L. Shank ’69, of Yarmouth, ME, January

manager for Thermo ARL. James R. Halloran ’71, of Webster, MA, June 13, 2023: He was an accountant at

Gail C. (Richer) Hickman ’81, of Webster,

Jeffco Fibers for many years before retiring.

MA, October 28, 2022: She worked for many

16, 2023: He joined the U.S. Customs Service

years as the property manager at North

as a member of the newly formed Sky

Bruce R. Kennedy ’72, of Harwich, MA, May

Village Housing in Webster, and operations

Marshals in the early ’70s, assigned to

30, 2023: He was a bartender at the Ritz

manager at the Auburn Mall.

overnight flights between the Middle East

Carlton hotel in Boston. Margaret E. (Rowe) Dodge ’84, of Plainfield,

and Europe. After frequent moves and assignments, he settled in Maine, conducting

John A. Hachmann ’73, of Naples, FL,

CT, December 23, 2020: She was a retired

anti-smuggling investigations and working

January 25, 2023: He was the senior vice

auditor for the State of Connecticut.

protection details, retiring after 26 years.

president of global strategic accounts for Sodexo, retiring in 2014.

Jay Child ’70, of Sebring, FL, April 30, 2021:

William F. “Bill” Foley MBA ’84, Worcester/ Yarmouth Port, MA, March 25, 2023: He was

He served in the U.S. Army during the

Richard E. “Dick” Hunter ’74, of Chatham,

a sales professional in the metal industry,

Vietnam War and worked in electronic sales.

MA, June 26, 2022: He was a member of the

retiring in 2018.

Chatham Fire Department for 36 years and Robert G. “Bob” Guertin ’70, of New London,

a founding member of Chatham Firefighters

Mark S. “Sparky” Sparhawk ’84, of Sutton,

CT, August 28, 2023: During his career in

Local 2712. He achieved the rank of deputy

MA, August 5, 2023: He founded MidState

finance, he was a chief financial officer,

chief and retired in 2011.

Wealth Management in 1998 and had an

retiring from Keystone Paper & Box in July 2023.

extensive career for more than 36 years as a William W. Merritt ’75, of Bridgeport, CT:

certified financial planner.

August 12, 2023: He had various jobs in the synthetic goods industry in Greenwich and

James L. “Jim” Driscoll, Jr. MBA ’88, of

was a bookkeeper for several area residents.

Westborough, MA, December 9, 2022: He spent his career in finance and was a

Douglas C. “Doug” Hillman ’68 Doug Hillman ’68, former president of London Fog, died March 15, 2023, in Highland Beach, FL. In addition to London Fog, he served as an executive for brands such as Levi’s, Dockers, Burlington Hosiery, Keds, Pro-Keds and Sperry Topsiders. He was elected mayor of Highland Beach and was about to begin his

former member of the Westborough Advisory Finance Committee. Robert H. “Bob” Dupuis MBA ’89, of Leicester, MA, January 23, 2023: He was in the U.S. Army National Guard and served the Town of Leicester as a firefighter for 23 years,

second term before passing. He was recently predeceased by his wife of 54 years,

emergency manager and HAZMAT coordinator,

Beverly, and is survived by a son, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

and certified environmental trainer.

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

John B. Stearns Jr., ’91, of Auburn, MA,

Nancy I. Simonds ’00, of Las Vegas, NV,

Among his survivors are daughter Alisa

October 24, 2022: He owned B & J Welding

October 27, 2022: She was a long-time

Morgan ’91, whom he coached at Nichols,

for many years before branching out to work

employee of Linemaster Switch Corp.,

and grandson Brady Morgan ’25.

in construction and carpentry.

where she held several leadership roles.

Stephen E. Keenan ’92, of Weymouth, MA,

James “Jimmy” Poulsen Jr. ’03, of The

9, 2023: He worked in grounds maintenance

April 24, 2023: He worked for Fidelity

Villages, FL, April 9, 2023: He started his

at Nichols College and was also a camp

Investments as a senior portfolio services

teaching career at Hamden Middle School in

manager before retiring.

analyst until 2016 and continued his

Hamden, CT, where he taught social studies

employment at Brady’s Package Store

and coached girls’ basketball, volleyball and

in Weymouth.

Nathan D. Grist, of Pomfret Center, April 21,

softball. When he moved to Florida, he taught

2023: He worked at Nichols for 20 years,

junior honors U.S. history and coached varsity

most recently serving as director of IT

football at West Port High School in Ocala.

infrastructure and CISO.

Joshua M. Fasshauer ’04, of Oxford, MA,

Dora L. Kac, of Las Vega, NV, December 23,

June 26, 2023: He was the owner of the

2022: She ran the post office, retiring at the

Webster branch of E.M.M. Financial for

age of 77. Among her survivors is daughter

five years.

Sharon Berry ’13 MBA ’15, and grandsons

Donald P. Denham Sr., of Webster, MA, June

Suzanne E. “Sue” (Valente) Peterson MBA ’93, of Northborough, MA, April 5, 2023: She was a production control manager at Flir for 22 years before retiring last year. Cathyann “Katie” Zereski-Johnson ’93, of Shrewsbury, MA, April 4, 2023: She held several roles in marketing at a variety of companies, and was a TALP certified lactation consultant and a certified fitness trainer at The Fitness Asylum. William P. Daly Jr. ’94, of Foxboro, MA, June 5, 2023: He was a Dunkin Donut franchise owner and a member of the Dunkin Donut AD Committee. He previously served on the Board of Advisors for Nichols College, where he was also a guest lecturer. Among his survivors is his wife, Susan

Michael Berry ’15 and David Berry ’16. Brittny L. Chiasson ’10, of Hudson, MA, March 30, 2023: She was an accountant for

Stephen J. Matczak, of Webster, MA, May 17,

J.C. Cannistraro and an avid volunteer and

2023: He was a former campus police officer

fundraiser.

at Nichols College and later worked at UMass Memorial, and Worcester State Hospital before retiring.

Ryan G. Plunkett ’18, of Rochester, MA, November 5, 2022: He was an accountant

A. Robert “Mac” McMurray, of Audubon, PA,

at Northgate Advisors in Mattapoisett.

June 16, 2023: Following an early retirement Melinda M. Molansky ’20, of Fitchburg, MA, May 1, 2023: She joined the staff at Caregiver

from business in 1985, he taught finance at Nichols College and later Georgetown College in Lexington, KY.

(Drummey) Daly ’94.

Homes in 2014 as an office assistant, later

William E. Pederson MBA ’96, of Thompson,

enrollment specialist.

Frank K. Pfeiffer, Jr., of Worcester, MA,

accountant at Integra LifeSciences Co.

FACULTY/STAFF

College and head of the business department

David P. “Dave” Hanlon MBA ’97, of Rochdale,

Dr. Keith H. Corkum DBA (Hon.) ’00, of

MA, December 15, 2022: A decorated veteran

Dudley, MA. November 20, 2022: He was a

Seabee with the U.S. Navy Seventh Naval

professor of economics for over 40 years,

Construction Regiment, he was a career civil

serving as chair of economics and president

engineer, leading public works for several

of the Faculty Association. He officially retired

communities in Massachusetts and New

in 2000 but continued to teach for several

Hampshire and retiring after 40 years as the

years. In 2003, a former student Keith

director of public works for North Reading.

Anderson ’81, created a scholarship in his

serving as business operations support, and

June 24, 2023: He was a professor at Nichols

CT, October 9, 2022: He worked as a cost

Diane Molinaro-Thayer ’98, of Sagamore, MA, March 16, 2023: She worked at Linemaster Switch and Crabtree & Evelyn. She was a realtor for a number of firms, most notably Sotheby’s on the Cape. Patrick J. Nigro ’00, of Wakefield, MA, February 27, 2023: He was a lifelong hockey player who worked in the building trades.

prior to his retirement. Dan S. Ramsey, of Durham, NC, April 20, 2023: He was the former director of admissions and the director of institutional advancement at Nichols College and was named an honorary alumnus in 1990. Craig D. Teschner, of Ware, MA, July 7, 2023:

honor. Corkum was a Korean War veteran, and he and his wife Nancy owned and operated

He founded the gourmet food company, Birch Hill Country Foods, later teaching business at Nichols College.

several Montessori schools in the area.

Sarajane (Truby) Warren, of Chatham, MA,

William A. Craig Sr., of Framingham, MA, June 11, 2023: He served in the U.S. Air Force and previously worked as the sports information director and women’s basketball

October 23, 2022: She taught sculpture and art history for 20 years. Among her survivors is Professor Emeritus Edward Warren, Ph.D.

coach before becoming the vice president for college advancement at Nichols College.

alumni.nichols.edu l Nichols College Magazine

The road taken: Bob Keller ’69 Bob Keller ’69 likes to tell the story about the twist of fate that brought him to Nichols College. A self-described “jock” and “goof-off” in high school, Keller had pinned his hopes on getting a college scholarship for football or basketball. But in senior year, his knee went out and he later developed phlebitis, which paralyzed his leg for a year. “I was done in sports,” he recounts.

anting to pursue a business

“It was the only job I ever had,” he says.

education, he was grateful to be

A rarity for most, but a badge of honor

accepted at Nichols, where he

for Keller, especially as he reflects on

decided to shed his less-than-studious

the growth and expansion he led as

ways and get serious about his future.

owner and president of Nickerson,

Bob Keller, left, and college roommate Ray

“Nichols helped me do that. I can’t tell

which carries a full range of furniture

Wenzel ’69, who meet every year at Keller’s

you how much,” he says with a catch in

and equipment to outfit classrooms,

house on Long Island to fish, play golf, and

his throat, adding, “I get very emotional

libraries, locker rooms, stadiums,

“of course, have a few cocktails!” shares Keller.

talking about what Nichols means to me.”

auditoriums, cafeterias and more. Now semi-retired, Keller has handed

giving to the college and making it

Keller thrived at Nichols. “I started

the reins to his daughter, whom he

so that the students who receive the

studying, and actually started enjoying

credits with “taking the company to

scholarship will have the opportunity

classes,” he recalls. The turnaround

a whole new level.”

to go to Nichols and maybe have some

was so sudden that his mother, upon

success like I did,” he explains.

receiving her son’s first semester grades

Keller says as he got older and more

with a 4.0 GPA, called the school to

financially secure, he decided it was

To date, the scholarship has reached

report a possible error. He also enjoyed

time to give back. A loyal donor to

more than $80,000 in donations, and

living in a close-knit Merrill Hall and

Nichols, he stepped up to join the

Keller has committed to growing it

making what have become life-long

President’s Society (annual gifts of

even further. In 2019, he joined the

friendships.

$1,000 or more) in 2012 and steadily

Colonel Conrad Society by documenting

increased his giving to $10,000 a year.

a provision for the scholarship in his

“Whatever it was that got me to the

As he did, he felt strongly that his

will, ensuring that his legacy of

point of going out into the real world

contributions be directed toward a

generating opportunities for Nichols

and making a success out of myself,

specific purpose. So, in 2017, he created

students lives on.

I attribute to Nichols,” asserts Keller.

the Keller Family Endowed Scholarship

Following graduation and unsure about

to support a deserving student from

Opportunities that for Keller made all

Long Island.

the difference. “I would not have been

what to do, Keller took a job opening

the success I am today had my life

the Long Island territory for the

“The scholarship really interested me,

taken a different path,” he contends.

Nickerson Corporation, a supplier of

and I think it’s a great way to continue

“Not even close.”

educational furniture where he worked during his college summers. What he imagined would be a six-month stint

Visit alumni.nichols.edu/planned-giving/ or contact the Nichols College

until he figured out his next move

Office of Advancement at advancement@nichols.edu for more information.

turned to 54 years (and counting).

Nichols College Magazine l Fall/Winter 2023

S TAY C O N N E C T E D

Home on the Hill: Homecoming 2023

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