Lucent, Spring 2012

lucent The Alumni Magazine of American International College

Spring 2012 | Volume 5 | Issue 1

Dean Blaine Stevens: An

Open Door and an Open Mind

A Season of Change

The coming of spring at American International College is always an exciting time of new beginnings.

Members of this year’s graduating class are in the process of securing job offers, internships, and graduate school acceptances. As difficult as it is to see another class go, we look forward to hearing of their future accomplishments and how their time at AIC has prepared them academically and professionally.

Meanwhile, we are experiencing significant developments as an institution. Our admissions department has undergone considerable reorganization, with the addition of a new director of graduate admissions and dean of undergraduate admissions. This team, led by Dr. Linda Dagradi ’71 as our interim vice president of enrollment management, will continue to find innovative ways of attracting prospective students to our expanding programs and majors.

We are also pleased to add several new degree programs.

AIC’s School of Nursing has unveiled the Bridge Program, which is designed to prepare students that currently hold an associate’s degree for matriculation in a Master of Science in Nursing program. Additionally, we have introduced three new tracks in our low-residency Doctorate in Education program.

I would like to invite you to the upcoming Run for Education on June 10th, an event for which I am especially enthusiastic. This 5k run represents a partnership between AIC and the K-12 Teacher’s Alliance, an organization dedicated to addressing the needs of our community’s educators. Through this event, we will raise awareness of public education concerns and have a great day of athletics and fun. We hope to see you there. In other campus news, the Garret Players are currently rehearsing for their upcoming production of Snow White: The Queen’s Fair.

Well into the second semester, we can look back on an academic year full of accomplishments. We look forward to meeting new goals in upcoming months and sharing those with you as well.

Vince Maniaci, president

lucent EDITORIAL BOARD Heather Cahill Danielle Goldaper Craig Greenberg Lynn Saunders

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Craig Greenberg Mary Ellen Lowney Mimi Rigali Samantha Stevens SENIOR WRITER/EDITOR Scott Whitney SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER/ PROJECT MANAGER Lynn Saunders PHOTOGRAPHY Craig Greenberg Lynn Saunders Deb Shea

inside this issue Spring 2012 | Volume 5 | Issue 1

departments

features

2

Campus Update

8

24

Class Notes

28

In Memoriam

Find out about the latest developments, on campus and off.

The Commanders in Chief

Four generations of student leaders at AIC.

12

A Little Luck, a Lot of Law

16

A Dean of the People

20

The Heart of an Athlete

Check on your fellow alumni and see what they’re up to.

22

Hampden County District Attorney Mark Mastroianni ’86 reflects on his beginnings at AIC.

Dean Blaine Stevens brings heart and history to the Office of Student Affairs.

Seeso Ikpah ’11 returns to the court thanks to medical innovation.

Be the Change You Want to See

Inspired by his siblings, Derrell Wilson ’14 finds ways to give back.

What have you been up to?

Join AIC’s Alumni Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and follow us on Twitter. Feel free to e-mail us at alumni@aic.edu.

Please send any comments or suggestions about this publication to editor@aic.edu. We’d love to hear from you!

Spring 2012 | 1

| campus update |

Letters to the editor A most unfortunate choice for a major photo (inside front cover, Fall 2011, Lucent), showing all the whites grouped on the left, and the blacks on the right! We know that self-segregation is still the norm (as described in the book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? ), but why highlight it? Actually, as I look at the picture, I still don’t understand why it is there at all. It doesn’t seem to be descriptive of any of the articles, and has no caption to provide a narrative.

Mimi Rigali’s article “Research Recognition” was excellent, but was marred by another photo that fails to capture the gist of the article, and by a huge editorial failure to separate the different researchers by highlighting their project names and researcher names. I almost didn’t read the article because it just looked run-on and unfocused.

Two weak spots in an otherwise fine edition.

“Looking Back” brought back memories of the Robert Hall Clothiers store across from the campus being attacked during one of the marches/riots and emptied of all its expensive suits. The “Tell me about this photo” feature is a good way to involve older alumni. Thanks!

Pat Henry ’70

Mimi Rigali did not have a clear understanding about my research, my future research or other research I had also done (“Research and Recognition,” Fall 2011, Lucent) … Kenneth Mondschein … and his classes were hugely influential on me and why I sought to research this topic. Although Professor Maulucci was my adviser and read my paper, he was not the one who helped me with my research nor was he the one who taught the classes that I drew this topic from. Even though what the writer wrote isn’t exactly what I wrote about, it isn’t completely wrong. She merely took a few things I said and put them together.

As for my future research... I would like to find out why Eve is seen the way she is by these different cultures and societies throughout history. In some ways she is seen as the ultimate matriarch while others see her as the reason why women feel so much pain during child birth, etc. Basically, what effect has Adam and Eve played on the gender roles and men and women throughout history. …Playboy helped pave the way for the sexual revolution in the 1960s. It helped break down the gender role stereotypes for both men and women and re-establish new ones for both. I do think that Playboy was a good thing. But I am not an advocate for pornography.

I hope that this clears things up for you and the readers of the magazine.

Best, Maria Gallerani ’11 Editor’s note: This letter has been edited for length. As always, we appreciate your correspondence; keep the letters coming!

2 | Lucent

| campus update |

AIC Prepares for Run for Education 5k race brings awareness to public school needs As public schools across the country wind down their school year, American International College is gearing up for an event designed to draw attention to the needs of regional Pre-K to 12 education. AIC has partnered with the K-12 Teacher’s Alliance in organizing the Run for Education, a 5k race to be held on June 10th.

The race will bring runners along the State Street corridor, from the Springfield Court House to AIC’s new track facility.

The Run for Education is a natural extension of AIC’s long-standing commitment to creating future educators and supporting public education throughout New England. “We want to raise visibility and awareness that will lead to further support of Pre-K to 12 education,” said AIC President Vince Maniaci.

“It’s a national issue and certainly a local and regional one.” AIC continues to be a leader in education, as enrollment in its graduate education program has increased from 80 students several years ago to upwards of 1,600 currently.

The Run for Education also reflects AIC’s commitment to athletics, particularly with the recent construction of a new track facility. “The road race made sense for us because we have one of the best programs in the Northeast in terms of track and field,” noted Maniaci. In addition to the goal of raising awareness for educational needs, the race will also raise funds for Pre-K to 12 support. The top three running teams will receive a cash prize, with an additional donation to the school of their choice. The team that places first will win a $500 prize, as well as $2,500 for their school. Individuals and teams that place in the top three will also receive cash prizes and donations.

Visit www.aic.edu/run to register as a runner in this exciting event. n

Lecture Series Enters its Third Year Upcoming event to explore depression For the past two years, American International College has hosted distinguished speakers in its annual Desmond Tutu Public Health Lecture Series.

In 2010, Archbishop Desmond Tutu served as the series’ inaugural speaker and its namesake. His lecture highlighted a message of social justice and energized an audience of 1,200 high school and college students gathered in AIC’s Butova Gymnasium.

The third installment in the lecture series will be held on April 19th at the Griswold Theatre. Dr. Benjamin Liptzin, chair of Baystate Medical Center’s Department of Psychology, will speak on the topic of depression. Dr. Liptzin has enjoyed extensive experience as a practicing psychiatrist, professor at Tufts University, and prolific author. His research interests include dementia, delirium, and geriatric psychopharmacology.

Dr. Peter Bittell ’10 HON, a member of the AIC Board of Trustees, is one of the series’ originators and a strong advocate for its mission. “The function of the lecture series is to bring attention to issues of public health in the college community,” said Dr. Bittel. He noted that, according to a recent study, Hampden County, Massachusetts has the highest incidence of public health issues in the commonwealth, underscoring the need for local public awareness campaigns.

Dr. Liptzin’s focus on depression will mark the first lecture in the series to address a specific disease, one that Dr. Bittel believes to be acutely relevant. “Depression is one of the most significant health problems that we face. And it’s vastly undiagnosed and untreated,” said Dr. Bittel. n Spring 2012 | 3

| campus update |

Admissions Team Gets Personal(ized) New team members and cutting-edge technology create customized enrollment experience As the college recruitment process becomes increasingly competitive, American International College has responded by restructuring their admissions team and honing its focus. Two new leaders have joined Dr. Linda Dagradi ’71, interim vice president of enrollment management: Janelle Holmboe, dean of undergraduate admissions, and Diane Mendez, director of graduate admissions. Both Holmboe and Mendez bring unique skill sets to the enrollment challenges facing AIC. “It’s about having the right people in the right seats on the bus,” said Dagradi. She noted that the leaders are well suited to their respective positions.

Holmboe brings a sense of innovation to the undergraduate recruitment process, and Mendez contributes impressive experience and organizational skills at the graduate level. “Diane has had an enormous amount of past success in building a graduate program,” said Dagradi.

Dagradi explained that her team’s emphasis is on building relationships with prospective students, a need of which Holmboe is particularly aware. “She understands that relationship building process intuitively,” said Dagradi. “Janelle brings a fresh eye to what we’ve been doing. We’re not so wedded to the systems of the past, or the ways that we use to do things. As a team, we’re becoming increasingly proactive in building relationships, rather than reactive.”

As part of the recruitment process, the admissions team is currently implementing the Hobsons system, a client relationship management program designed to customize the enrollment experience. “It allows us to target communications more personally…so the student is in a better position to make a good enrollment decision,” said Dagradi. “If you are interested in rugby and nursing, you’ll see things that highlight what is going on in those programs on your personal home page, as opposed to getting a generic overview.”

Rebecca Capuano, AIC’s new data support specialist, is leading the implementation of the Hobsons system, and her enthusiasm is palpable. “We’re creating some-

4 | Lucent

The admissions power team: left to right Rebecca Capuano, Diane Mendez, Janelle Holmboe and Linda Dagradi.

thing that will really affect people. It’s exciting to me,” she said. Capuano went on to explain how scientific and targeted Hobsons can be. Once a prospective student fills out the online inquiry form, the system will automatically generate a personalized thank you e-mail; five days later, it will send out a request for the student to apply; two weeks later, it will introduce the student to their admissions counselor. From there, the admissions counselor can focus on that student, as well as the pool of students in their territory who expressed interest—all provided to them by Hobsons.

Hobsons also allows the admissions team to systematically collect data and evaluate the effectiveness of those communications. “We have a commitment to building a data set about our recruitment efforts that has integrity,” said Dagradi. “We’re going to have data that says, ‘We tried something like that before,’ or ‘We’ve cut back on our travel, and it hasn’t hurt our recruitment effort,’ so that we can redirect our energy and budget resources.”

Dagradi noted that the recent changes are entirely in keeping with the AIC tradition. “We’ve been around for 125 years. When you’ve been around for that long, it says that you are able to adapt and change, and that’s what we’re doing right now.” She also noted that the recruitment process extends outside of the admission office walls. “Everyone is a recruiter,” said Dagradi.

“The admissions staff plays point, but everybody in the AIC community, including our alumni, has a role in this process…It is a very exciting time at AIC in terms of building a future.” Dagradi added that regularly visiting the college’s website and the campus itself are both excellent ways to stay abreast of new developments in the admissions office and the school at large. n

| campus update |

From Our Faculty From books to seminars, here is what our faculty has been up to—aside from teaching John Rogers, associate vice president for institutional effectiveness, was recently recognized at the annual Decision Sciences Institute conference. Rogers and his colleague, Khim Sim, a professor of accounting at Western Washington State University, presented a research paper that explored the implementation of lean and six sigma techniques at the Calloway Golf plant in Chicopee. Rogers and Sim studied the dramatic increase in productivity at the Calloway plant

as a result of a comprehensive program of organizational change. Their paper was acknowledged as the best academic paper in Application of Management Theory, one of only five papers to be so recognized among the 170 presentations at the conference. Participants in this year’s conference included delegates from Iran, Mexico, France, Chile, and China. n

The alumni hockey team poses for a group photo, David Amato ’82, Joe Rotondo ’85 and Don Moorhouse ’87 at the reception.

Hockey Alumni Hold Fundraising Power Play A weekend of face-offs, flipshots and fundraising Alumni of American International College’s hockey team recently gathered in mid-February for the 2012 Alumni Hockey Weekend. The weekend included a match between AIC and Army, an alumni social, and an alumni game played at the MassMutual Center before the Springfield Falcons and Providence Bruins met on the ice for an American Hockey League game. The weekend culminated at MassMutual’s Executive Perch where AIC hockey alumni gathered to watch the Falcons play. All proceeds from the weekend’s events benefitted AIC’s current hockey team. Former AIC hockey player and current director of strategic sales for the Springfield Falcons, Don

Moorhouse ’87, said that event attendees are eager to give back to an excellent program. “The hockey alumni that we associate with are pretty proud of their relationship with AIC,” he said. AIC’s hockey team is one of only 58 teams nationally that play at the Division I level.

Past years’ events have raised funds to buy jerseys, exercise bikes, and workout gear for current players. “The goal is to identify the needs of the hockey program and keep them on par with other hockey programs, particularly within the Atlantic Hockey Association,” said Moorhouse. n Spring 2012 | 5

| campus update |

AIC Recognized as “Military-Friendly” Current military and veteran students find ample on-campus support contributed to a culture of appreciation for military and veteran students. Last year marked the return of the Admiral Hines Veteran’s Alumni Graduation Ceremony, an event that will be repeated this year. Guest speakers have also been invited to AIC, including Kevin Lambert, an Iraq War Veteran whose presentation, “Battlemind: The Military Mindset,” was attended by faculty, students, alumni, and members of the community.

Graduate Kara Vautour, a member of the Air Force Reserve, at the 2011 Admiral Hines Alumni Veterans Ribbon Ceremony.

“I know that ‘military friendly’ is a nice term,” said Diane Furtek, director of Veteran’s Services at American International College, “but I think that we’re more ‘military inclusive.’ We have a deep, caring relationship with our veterans on campus.” Recently, AIC was recognized in this regard by Military Advanced Education, a higher education journal for soldier and veteran students. The journal’s 2012 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities lists AIC among schools that promote high quality education to members of all branches of the Armed Services.

AIC has cultivated a strong support system for current military and veteran students, as well as alumni veterans through the Alumni Veteran’s Committee.

Additionally, the Veteran’s Resource Committee, made up of AIC staff members, has been building an official support system for the college’s currently enrolled veterans. The Veteran’s Resource Center provides technological resources to allow veterans to maximize their academic experience The campus also furnishes counseling and career services to current and former veteran students. “We want to make sure that our military and veteran students are successful and get whatever kind of help they need,” explained Furtek.

“Our goal is to provide them whatever services they need to feel included in our campus.” AIC’s Veteran Services goes beyond official support systems to make campus an inclusive environment for veterans; a series of military focused events in recent years has also 6 | Lucent

The military-friendly environment that these events and services have created at AIC has enhanced the college’s appeal for prospective students. “In 2010, we had an enrollment of approximately 33 military and veteran students. Right now, we’re at about 55,” said Furtek. She noted that with the drawdown of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of servicemen and women in search of a college education is expected to increase. “We’re already seeing an increase in the amount of veterans that we’re servicing on campus…

We have a larger population that have now served in the U.S. and in foreign countries and we’re trying to help them transition to higher education.”

Furtek attributes the close bond between veterans and the community of service members as being key to AIC’s welcoming environment. “Once you’re a veteran or a military service member, it crosses ages, branches, all sorts of demographics. Everybody feels like they’re a part of one community,” she said.

The volunteer support of AIC’s alumni veterans has also made a significant contribution to the college’s ‘military friendly’ status. In 2007, the Veteran’s Alumni Committee installed the Veteran’s Memorial on the quadrangle of the college’s campus. The Alumni Veteran’s Committee also instituted the annual Veterans Day Observance Ceremony. “AIC’s alumni have played a significant part in reaching out to current military and veteran students,” said Danielle Goldaper, director of alumni relations. “The Alumni Veteran’s Committee, chaired by Ken Geromini ’68, recognizes the bond that all military service members share.”

Goldaper said that any alumni who are interested in taking an active role in the Alumni Veteran’s Committee should contact her at 413.205.3929. n

| campus update |

AIC Recognized for Inclusive Campus Ethos of diversity facilitates long-standing training program For several decades, American International College has maintained a history of engagement with the developmentally disabled community. Through an affiliation with a Springfield based rehabilitation service, Human Resources Unlimited (HRU), AIC has served as a training site for physically and mentally disabled workers for over 25 years. Recently, AIC was recognized by HRU as a recipient of its Sheldon B. Brooks award. This award recognizes organizations with a strong commitment to individuals with disabilities, particularly with a view to their ability to work and be productive contributors to their community.

Tina Toohey ’74, director of auxiliary services and purchasing at AIC, now serves as the program’s liaison to HRU. According to Toohey, AIC was in the vanguard of the push to integrate developmentally disabled people into the workforce in the early 1980s. At its inception, the program hosted 10 trainees who worked with the housekeeping and maintenance departments to learn basic job skills. Of the original 10, two were hired as part-time employees on campus. Currently, AIC hosts three trainees that work with the HRU program. n

Taking Nothing for Granted Continuing to increase opportunities for success In the past few years, the grants office at American International College has been busy obtaining grants that provide substantial benefits for students. A Title III Strengthening Institutions grant, and a TRIO Student Support Services grant, both awarded from the U.S. Department of Education, have enabled the college to develop and implement a comprehensive approach to supportive programming that maximizes each student’s academic potential.

A newly awarded grant from the Thompson Foundation will help the Nursing Department implement a specialized tutoring program for nursing students.

Experienced registered nurses will provide instruc-

› numbers by the

tion in courses that are critical to building skills and competencies in the field of nursing.

A recent grant awarded by Consolidated Health Plans will support the purchase of health examination equipment for the Dexter Health Center.

The college has recently submitted its first research grant to the National Institutes of Health to fund a project that will study the effects of physical therapy in the treatment of migraine headaches. If funded, Dr. Laura Martorello will work with a leading neurologist in Springfield to implement the study. n

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fans of AIC Alumni on Facebook the average number of phonathon calls made each week by AIC students students living in AIC dorms Spring 2012 | 7

8 | Lucent

the

Commanders in

Chief

The Limited Membership of the SGA Presidency

u ONE is from a prominent Springfield family that owned a local television station for three decades.

u ONE grew up in Chicopee, the product of a working-class

family, with a simple plan to finish high school and find a job.

u ONE broke a gender barrier when she made her way to the top at American International College.

Current SGA President, Silas Cooper ’13.

Spring 2012 | 9

The three – W. Lowell Putnam ’76, Paul

O’Day ’58, and Margo Nash ’63 – are among several dozen alumni who have once led the school, in a manner of speaking, and paved the way for future leaders, including Silas Cooper ’13. All have served as presidents of the AIC Student Government Association (SGA), an organization charged with a hefty budget, the task of forging alliances, and supporting the myriad of programs, clubs, and events created by and for students. Those interviewed confessed to a distinct case of the jitters when they won, but also said the experience of being a leader, as well as a politician, shaped them in unexpected ways.

The Reluctant Leader Paul O’Day, who worked for 25 years at the top level of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is now president and counsel at American Fiber Manufacturers Association in Arlington, Virginia. The memory of his year at the helm of AIC’s student government organization remains fresh in his mind, and a happy memory at that. “Being president was a remarkable kind of thing,” said O’Day, now 76. “I was pushed into it by my friends. It clearly steered me into leadership roles that I never would have come across otherwise,” he said.

As a commuter, O’Day remembers an active campus social life that kept him in Springfield well beyond class hours. As SGA president, he attended national SGA meetings and learned how students across the country were feeling about issues of the day, including civil rights. One of his best friends at AIC was Daniel Shea ’59, who followed as SGA president and then went on to chair the Mathematics Department at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The two remain close friends.

O’Day earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at AIC and went on to earn a law degree at Georgetown University. At the U.S. Department of Commerce, he held several deputy assistant secretary positions and was assistant U.S. trade representative in the Executive Office of the President. “For people of my era, life has these forks,” he said. “Some of them are very subtle. They literally completely change your path.

You have no sense when it’s happening. AIC was my big one.”

10 | Lucent

A Team of Rivals Lowell Putnam is the son of William L. Putnam and the late Joan Putnam. His father owned WWLPChannel 22 television from 1953 until its sale in 1984. Putnam essentially grew up at the station, sharpening his curiosity about computing and imaging as he worked various summer jobs. Recently, he sold his own company, Video Communications Inc., and is now working with his father at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Putnam came to AIC in early 1973 after the college that he had enrolled in as a freshman, Union College in Schenectady, New York, turned out to be drastically overcrowded. At AIC, he quickly found a comfortable, but challenging, academic atmosphere and declared his major in psychology. “I had some amazing professors and some great classes. But the biggest thing that happened to me at AIC was getting involved in student government,” he said.

Like many before and after him, Putnam got involved in the SGA through friends who pushed him to be active and to eventually become a leader. He also formed an alliance with a political rival, Robert Good ’77, that remains a solid friendship. Among Putnam’s many accomplishments as SGA president was one that remains outstanding: he streamlined the annual student activities budget process from a six-hour, politically charged marathon, to an agreeable 45 minute discussion. He laughs at that memory and many others. “In the long run, it was a very good experience for me. Robert and I became very good friends. We got the process running so board meetings were not as rancorous,” he said. Putnam was so entrenched in campus life that AIC created a special meal plan so that he could stay beyond class time and participate fully in student life.

Speaking of the overall experience, Putnam said, “If you had told me when I started that I would be editor in chief of the newspaper and head of student body, I wouldn’t have believed you. The engagement in student activities made a real difference for me.”

A Time and Place of Opportunity For Margo Nash, a freelance writer in New York City, being elected SGA president in 1962 placed her in a category by itself—she was the first woman to win the position. “I got a chance at AIC to be its first woman SGA president, and to direct a musical,

and to run for homecoming queen,” said Nash. “How could this happen? How did I wind up fitting in?

AIC gave me the chance.”

Nash remembers the heady days of the civil rights movement and student protest—she was in a group that boycotted the downtown Springfield Woolworth’s because the chain store refused to serve African Americans in the southern states. She also organized a successful lecture series on campus. “Before I went to AIC I really hadn’t been active. I got a lot of confidence in myself there,” she said.

Nash majored in sociology at AIC and went on to earn a master’s degree in the same subject at Hunter College in New York City. She grew up in the Bronx, the daughter of the late Al Nash, a labor activist who was a professor of labor relations at Cornell University, and Anne Nash, a pianist and music teacher.

Nash was a columnist at the New York Times for many years and now teaches at the City University of New York.

Perseverance and Savvy Today, SGA is helmed by Silas Cooper ’13. A 20-year-old junior from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Cooper has declared a double major in political science and criminal justice. The son of Magdaline Smith and Christopher Tamba, Cooper aims to go to law school and become a prosecuting attorney.

Though he disdains party affiliation, he admits to working hard four years ago for then-candidate Barack Obama, and said he has learned that politics can be a blood sport. “Even on the college level, running for office is complicated,” Cooper said. “I ran against two people who are my friends. During an election, you have to fight to win. People need to know your message and how it relates to their message. They need to know that your message is the best message.”

Cooper’s political aspirations began when, during the summer before his freshman year, he received a letter from then-SGA president, Darren James, asking him to consider participating in student government.

Cooper consequently ran for freshman class president and won. He was hooked and continued to move up the political ladder. He served in several at-large positions, including on the executive board, and last summer he won a three-way race for SGA president the old-fashioned way – by knocking on doors and asking for votes.

“I got a chance at AIC to be its first woman SGA president, and to direct a musical, and to run for homecoming queen. How could this happen?

How did I wind up fitting in? AIC gave me the chance.”

“Running is stressful and fun at the same time,” he said. “You have to sell yourself in a way. But it’s fun because you get to meet all the students. When I was running for president, I knocked on every dorm door.

I put posters up. It took a lot of time but I wanted them to know me personally.” Cooper’s platform was, and remains: campus security, activities on campus, and maintaining a positive image for AIC. Cooper is planning to run for a second term, which will take him through his senior year. He’s also closely watching another race for a top seat. “Being SGA president has definitely had an effect on how I see the presidential race in the United States this year,” he said. “I believe the purest form of government is listening to people... I wouldn’t base my vote on a party.” n

Images from the Taper Yearbook archives (from left to right): Margo Nash; Student Government ’58 and Lowell Putnam’s yearbook photo.

Spring 2012 | 11

a Little Luck,

a Lot of Law

By Mary Ellen Lowney

Hampden County District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni ’86 is the first to acknowledge that his life has taken many unexpected twists and turns, and that luck has been more than a minor player along the way. He adds that his time at AIC was also instrumental in the paths he has chosen and followed.

“I’m very grateful to AIC. I’m thankful that the college provided me the opportunity to reach my potential,” said the 47-year-old, who just completed his first year as district attorney in Hampden County, Massachusetts. Mastroianni currently lives in Westfield with his wife, Carolyn, and daughters, Christine, Jennifer, and Lauren.

Mastroianni grew up in the East Forest Park section of Springfield, the son of Gerald and Dorothy Mastroianni. He attended Cathedral High School and admits that he didn’t apply himself and was not a top student. He was even told by a guidance counselor that he might not be college material.

Luck then came in the form of a visiting teacher that spoke to students of the enjoyment of learning and pursuing higher education as a goal for the sake of creative and exploratory development. Mastroianni is not quite sure why, but it was a life-changing assembly

for him. “He talked about literature and art, philosophy and poetry, and thinking outside traditional ways.

I met him and I became interested in studying. One teacher literally turned me around,” Mastroianni said, still marveling at the memory.

He began studying in earnest and earned high grades in the final half of his senior year. But his academic record dogged him, and he was turned away from most of the colleges to which he applied. His application to AIC was marginal, and he was called in for an interview to discuss his record and his academic plans.

He believes his talent for persuasion, the same skill that has helped him in the courtroom throughout his career, proved a blessing then. “I was able to effectively communicate that I was ready to apply and challenge myself academically,” he said. “The interview went very well.”

A yearbook photo of Mark from 1986; in court; and at his office desk.

12 | Lucent

Spring 2012 | 13

Mastroianni delved into his studies with the passion he had discovered in his final months of high school. He majored in English and political science and remembers the academics being exciting for him, as well as challenging. “My new quest was to achieve academically, and I soaked it up. I was very committed.

And I had some wonderful professors,” he said. Speaking to that point, Mastroianni named instructors Dean Milton Birnbaum, a nationally known Shakespearean scholar, Mel Williams, and William Duffy—all “entrenched English scholars.”

Regarding his political science studies, Mastroianni worked with “very intellectual teachers who were committed to teaching.” This category of educator included Chattar Samra, who inspired him toward future career choices that he didn’t envision at the time.

Mastroianni also remembers a full student life at AIC, where bands often performed on campus, and students frequently got together to enjoy the moment. He lived at home for the first two years, but moved into the Magna Dormitory for his final two years. He counts himself as an active student who relished academia.

Those who remember him recall a polite, engaging young man. “He was a very polite and friendly kid, very smart,” said Shirley Donnelly, who has worked in the business office the past 29 years.

One significant reason why Donnelly and others in Lee Hall got to know Mastroianni better than other students was because his mother worked in the registrar’s office. ‘Dottie,’ as they knew her, has since retired. “Everybody liked him because he was so nice,” Donnelly said. “He was a very nice guy,” said Richard Hansen, manager of the campus Print Shop. “He was always pleasant and easy to talk to.”

“It went very well for me at AIC. I did some writing for the Yellow Jacket, I got active in the Golden Key Club,” he said. “What I really learned to do was challenge myself. I think I learned how to take on challenges and be on the periphery of leadership roles,” he said.

So enjoyable was his academic experience that Mastroianni decided to keep on going. He graduated in the spring of 1986 and entered Western New England School of Law that fall, graduating in 1989 and landing a job as a prosecutor in the Hampden County District Attorney’s office, under the late DA Matthew J. Ryan Jr. He left for several months after the elec14 | Lucent

tion of former DA William Bennett, but was asked to return a short while later when a job opened up.

Mastroianni spent five years as a public prosecutor in the 1990s, working his way up from traffic violations in District Court to murder cases in Superior Court.

He tried criminal cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, thoroughly learning the ins and outs of practicing law. “I really grabbed everything I could as a prosecutor and learned a lot. I decided at a point that I wanted to try private practice,” he said.

Mastroianni spent the next 15 years building a successful Springfield-based practice with a solid client base. Towards the end of that time, he once again began to think of new challenges. “I began asking myself, ‘Do I want another challenge? What else is out there for me?’ I also thought I had much to offer the DA job, as I had experience on both sides of prosecution and defense during my career. And then Bill Bennett is saying he’s not going to run (for another term as DA). I went for it,” Mastroianni said.

He faced tough challengers as an Independent in a Democratic stronghold and, at the outset, considered himself a long shot for victory. But win he did, bringing Mastroianni to yet another twist in life.

In his first year in public office, Mastroianni has focused on running an office that is tantamount to a large-scale business with some 140 employees. He has also found time to prosecute two high-profile cases, including one that resulted in a first-degree murder conviction for Eric Denson, who was sentenced to life in prison. “I’m running a very big business, and I love that. I’m still able to be in court, which I also love.

This year I’m hoping to prosecute four or five cases,” he said.

Mastroianni believes his good fortune in life is the result of a combination of luck and planning. “It turned out the timing was very right when I ran for DA,” he said. “The timing has been perfect for me throughout my life. I consider myself very lucky. Timing has meant a lot in my career. Sometimes you plan your own timing, which I have done, and sometimes it just happens.”

“In addition to timing, it’s been a lot of hard work and perseverance in all aspects of my career so far,” he added. n

Come Cruise with AIC Alumni

Boston to Bermuda August 24-31 | Starting at $699 While supplies last Visit www.aic.edu/alumni/calendar for more information

GIVE forward Richard ’61,’68 MA and Carol Hausamann ’71 MEd, have shown their support for their alma mater through planned giving. “AIC did so much for us and we want to give back,” said Richard. “So we’ve put our schools and our churches in our wills.”

Carol sees their gift as having far-reaching effects.

“Our basic philosophy on contributing is that it affects the future of our country,” she said. “We get a chance to help in a small way and be a part of the future.”

To learn more about how you can remember AIC in your estate plans contact Heather Cahill, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement at 413.205.3520 or heather.cahill@aic.edu.

Spring 2012 | 15

a

Dean of the

People Blaine Stevens reflects on over 30 years in service to students.

By Samantha Stephens ’11

When Dean Blaine Stevens arrived on the campus of American International College 32 years ago, he had little idea what he was in for, or just how long he would be there. Stevens, who had previously worked at other New England and surrounding area colleges, said working in education often means constantly looking for new job opportunities. As a result, it is rare to stay at the same college or university for more than a few years. However, after arriving on the AIC campus and taking over the roles of dean of students and vice president of student affairs, Stevens soon realized there wasn’t any other school quite like AIC. “AIC is different. It’s an urban institution and has a variety of programs and students, and it’s probably the most diverse student body in any private college in New England,” Stevens said.

Stevens said it was never his intention to stay with AIC for three decades. “When you go to a new job and you’re a professional in education, you rarely go with the idea that you’ll be there for a long while. A lot of professionals move around every five to eight years, but sometimes you find a home you love and stay a lot longer than you thought you would,” Stevens said.

Though he is clear that he loves his job, there’s one aspect that Stevens struggles with: “Discipline is much less pleasant to handle,” he said. “But, in hindsight, many more good things have happened than bad things.” The most rewarding aspect of working on AIC’s campus is watching the transformation of students from incoming freshman to graduates receiving their diploma. “When you can remember a freshman who had issues and whom you helped, and they’re now walking across the stage—that’s the most rewarding aspect,” Stevens said. “Students are in my office day in and day out, and it’s amazing how, when you see them ten years after they graduated, they’ll be talking about something that specifically stuck with them over the years. It’s also amazing how much they’ve grown up; it puts a different perspective on things.”

While working at Paul Smith’s College in New York, Stevens said he happened to see an advertisement from AIC in which they were looking for a dean of students. “I put in an application and interviewed on a Saturday. Everyone changed their schedule for me.

It went from there,” Stevens said. Throughout his 32 years, Stevens said it’s the “AIC family” and environment that continues to make him excited to go to work every morning. “There are a lot of good people working here,” he said.

As for his own years as a student, Stevens admitted that he might not have always made the best decisions. “Studying came very easily to me, but I could have done a lot better.” Stevens said that due to his ability to study, he allowed himself to “slack off ” and was more interested in college’s social aspect. “As I look back now, I could have been a straight A student, but I was a B, B- student. I didn’t have to focus as much as a lot of other kids did. I could have been more academic,” Stevens said.

With concerns for freshmen and new transfer students, including safety and whether they will fit in, Stevens said he tries to make sure AIC is as hospitable as possible. “The longer a student is here, the more sure they are of themselves and have their feet on the ground. We try to provide a welcoming environment where people don’t get lost in the shuffle. It translates into relationships with staff and faculty,” Stevens explained.

At Plymouth State University, where Stevens studied in the 1960s, breaking the rules wasn’t quite the same as it is today. “The rules students broke were fairly minor by today’s standards. If you were dating someone, you couldn’t bring the girl in your room…That was a severe violation. Today, anyone would think that would be ludicrous,” Stevens said.

Many students are more familiar with Stevens’ friendly, smiling demeanor than his official roles on campus; however, he is responsible for all aspects of student life outside of the classroom, including residence halls, 18 | Lucent

food and health services, campus police, and counseling—to name a few. “The job varies from day to day.

A lot of it is student issues and concerns…Discipline comes under that umbrella, both on and off campus in some situations. Also, working with staff, personnel issues,” explained Stevens. “The tasks vary but the overall thrust of things is very routine.”

But “hindsight is 20/20” and Stevens admits he didn’t spend his time as productively as he could have. “It truly was a different world…I regret that I didn’t get involved with more productive things but it was a good experience. The tone of the times was so much different than what students are dealing with today,”

said Stevens. In those days, Plymouth State also was a much smaller school, Stevens recalled. “It didn’t have the university status it has now; it was a small teacher’s college in those days.” But change on a campus is necessary and important, Stevens added, before listing some of the issues he’s most excited to see addressed on the AIC campus. “I want to continue to strive and do new things, to continue to enrich all areas of student life and ensure that the campus environment is safe and there’s good quality in the things we do,” he said.

Listing a new Health Fitness Center as one of the areas he’d like to see improved on campus, Stevens said there are many ongoing projects and ideas.

“We’re hoping to do something with housing units; that would be a major project. On a smaller scale, we want to have more clubs and intramural sports. They are very popular with the student body,” he said. In the past few years, a new theater program has been developed and the school has put on several productions. “We look at things that will attract students and keep them here. Facilities need to be updated, programs need to be added. There’s a pressing need for more facilities and housing opportunities,” Stevens said. Housing projects (including apartments and graduate student housing), facilities for recreational purposes, and a state-of-the-art fitness center are all being considered for future development.

“The longer a student is here, the more sure they are of themselves and have their feet on the ground. We try to provide a welcoming environment where people don’t get lost in the shuffle.”

According to Stevens, it is the closeness of the AIC campus, and the friendship and respect between students and faculty that determine why students choose and stay at AIC. “Knowing people on campus, the smallness of the campus— people are people here. They’re not just names on a ledger. You really do get to know people here, and at the bigger universities, you don’t get that interface,” he said.

Through it all, from his early years as a college student to his current position at AIC, Stevens said the words of wisdom he hopes to impart to students are quite simple.

“Persistence,” Stevens said. “You have to be persistent in what you do and you have to like doing it.” n

Dean Stevens through the years (left to right) an early photo of the dean, at the same desk he was photographed at for the cover of this issue; at a 1995 alumni event, at the 2009 Who’s Who awards with Dwight Lee; at the 1981 year book dedication to Mary Lou Longo; and at the 2007 retirement party for Judy Syner, registrar.

Spring 2012 | 19

the

By Mimi Rigali

20 | Lucent

Heart of an Athlete

{

After the potential end to his athletic career, Sesoo Ikpah ’11 returns to the court, stronger than ever.

Sesoo Ikpah leans his lanky frame into a plastic chair at The Hive, American International College’s social center and food court. Soft-spoken and relaxed, Ikpah is the college basketball team’s shooting guard, a position he plays with ferociousness.

His current status as an outstanding player on the Yellow Jacket’s team is nothing short of a small miracle.

A year ago, Ikpah was on the bench, sidelined. He had just returned to the team after receiving a cardioverter implant, a state-of-the-art defibrillator that would, if necessary, shock his heart rhythm back to normal.

Several years ago, during testing, Ikpah’s physicians detected a possible problem. As a result of that testing, he underwent a procedure in August of 2010 at the University of Pennsylvania in which that defibrillator was implanted.

“It was strange,” said Ikpah, 23, of Williamstown, New Jersey. “I didn’t feel any symptoms. I wasn’t tired.” But it was his older brother, Tav, who offered up a clue. He had the same heart problem that required the implantation of a similar internal defibrillating device. After Tav’s diagnosis, the brothers’ parents were concerned and wanted family members to be tested. Ikpah consented to their request.

However, before the testing, he discovered that physicians at the University of Pennsylvania were implanting a new type of defibrillator that sits on the collarbone and is less invasive. The device is leadless and placed directly under the skin. Furthermore, it is more durable than other devices, allowing for a contact sport. If Ikpah does not have any episodes in five years – he has not yet had any – the device will most likely be removed, he said.

Ikpah’s focus and proactive nature allowed him to eventually return to the game he loves. According to AIC’s longtime head basketball coach, Art Luptowski, “he gives 100 percent” to the game of basketball. “He’s a totally reliable player,” said Luptowski. “A guy who brings it every day . . . a wonderful young man.”

“Everything was as before, but they wanted to err on the side of caution.” This season, he is on the court at least 35 minutes per game, Luptowski said. “He’s our top defensive player,” Luptowski said. “He came back [to AIC] this year to play - that was his number one reason. And now, he’s the backbone of the team.”

“He’s all character and substance, the kind of guy you would want your daughter to marry. His character is revealed on the court; he plays with passion, intensity and ferociousness. It’s all from within. You can’t teach that,” Luptowski added.

Now a post-graduate student at AIC studying clinical psychology, Ikpah is again playing the game he loves.

He is also making plans for the future, which will likely include medical school. His grades support that goal with a 3.6 GPA in a demanding, full-time program.

He received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry last year and has been on the dean’s list six out of his eight semesters at AIC. In addition to his athletic success, Ikpah acknowledges his satisfying and challenging academic experience at AIC. “I like the classroom settings,” he said. “They’re small and you get a chance to form a real relationship with your professors. I’ve had phenomenal teachers.

It’s solid.”

And what about Ikpah’s remarkable first name?

It means, “We love the Lord,” an appropriate acknowledgement of Ikpah’s Nigerian heritage and his religious upbringing, he said. “We are religious and Christian, so it is fitting.” His parents emigrated from Nigeria to give their children a better life, he said. But ties still bind them to the African country to which Ikpah has traveled many times.

Ikpah maintains that his medical experience has not changed who he is. “I’ve always been the same as I am now. The device came into my life and it is now part of me, but it has not made me who I am…One thing I did gain from this experience is that I can handle a lot because I was challenged and succeeded.” n

In the meantime, Ikpah was forced to sit out his senior year until he got permission to play. While awaiting medical clearance, he attended all games and practices. “There wasn’t anything abnormal,” said Ikpah.

Spring 2012 | 21

e h T Be

Change o t t n a W u Yo

See

By Mimi Rigali

22 | Lucent

in.com

ullet r wichB o N e h t of ourtesy Photo c

Derell Wilson ’14 is politically conscious, to be sure.

Active in the NAACP since he was a child, the American International College sophomore has retained his interest in the political world, driven by the belief that if you want change you must get involved.

Wilson, a graduate of Connecticut’s Norwich Free Academy, is a full-time biochemistry major at AIC, which he attends with his twin brother, Terell. Wilson is one of 9 children, including a set of triplets. The trio, born prematurely, has medical issues that include legal blindness, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities. But they inspire Wilson to be a better person and remind him daily of his own gifts, gifts that he acknowledges with a deep sense of gratitude and a perspective beyond his years. The values that he has learned from his siblings’ experiences have guided him on the path to become a physician. “I hope to become a doctor one day – either a general surgeon or gynecologist,” said Wilson.

He also gives credit to a long list of teachers, especially “Mrs. Owens who taught me how to be a leader,” he said. And he continues to derive inspiration from his triplet siblings. “They give me a lot of my drive, too. What I will be able to do over a lifetime, they’ll be unable to do.” Wilson also gives credit to another force in his life – his pastor, the Rev. Isaac Goodwater, who calls him regularly and even visits him on campus several times each semester.

While Wilson is active in several projects and organizations, his involvement with NAACP particularly fuels his passion. In one capacity or another Wilson has been connected to the storied civil rights organization since he was eight. He is heavily invested in the Five College area chapters, as well as regional and national NAACP initiatives.

Each year, he attends NAACP’s national convention. This past summer, he was profoundly affected by an experience he had at a Los Angeles event. He and other conference attendees took on one of the largest projects of NAACP’s Youth Council – feeding some 3,000-4,000 people on Skid Row. “We had roads blocked off [and] set up soup kitchens and tables like a restaurant,” he said. “Whether the people were homeless or struggling, they were welcome,” he said. After serving a variety of foods, volunteers distributed sets of clothing and canned goods. “I’ve never seen that many people hungry, waiting patiently in line to eat.”

“You need to be grateful for what you have on a daily basis.”

Wilson lives on the AIC campus but frequently travels home to Norwich, Connecticut, evidence of an intense devotion to his large family. He attributes his affinity for mathematics and science to his father, who was a natural in those disciplines, Wilson said. His teachers became aware of his talent in the fifth or sixth grade; he quickly progressed to advanced classes and never looked back.

In addition to maintaining a demanding academic schedule (he has a 3.1 grade point average), Wilson is very active on campus. He serves as copresident of POWER (Political Opinions Will Enable Reality) whose mission is to spread the word that “politics is reality,” he said. “Your opinion does matter in politics,” he said. He is also treasurer of PRIDE (Persons Ready in Defense of Ebony), a campus group that promotes all cultures, and was involved with this fall’s Unity Fest and Kwaanza dinner at AIC.

Wilson’s experience in Los Angeles cemented his earlier conviction – that is it important to give back and to realize that you must be grateful for what you have.

“Some of those people slept in cardboard boxes, some on the pavement. Here I was going back to the hotel with a queen-size mattress,” Wilson said. “You need to be grateful for what you have on a daily basis.” n

Wilson explains that his sense of initiative comes from his parents, both of whom “drove me,” he said.

top to bottom, left to right: Derrell with Thamare Morency, Megan Gomez, and twin brother Terell at the Education Rally in June, 2011, Norwalk, CT; with twin brother Terell leading the Martin Luther King Jr. March in Norwich, CT, January, 2011; Derrell with his brother Gilin finishing the last leg of the 2x50 relay during the CIAC Unified Track and field meet; Derrel with his pastor, Rev. Issac Goodwater.

Spring 2012 | 23

| class notes | Dear Alumni In the fall 2011 edition of Lucent, we asked you to please tell us about the photo to the right. We received great response and a letter from Jerry Dulski ’67 truly brought the photo to life. We invite you to respond to our next installment seen below, of “Tell us about this photo.” We look forward to hearing your story.

Danielle Goldaper Director of Alumni Relations

“I appear in this photo. I was an officer of the TKE Chapter for two years while also playing football for the college. I must say that these were the best years of my life and the experience I received there stays with me today in my memories of the college and the TKE chapter . . . This photo was taken in late 1966 or early 1967 in the side yard of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity which was on the sport campus, on the side of the practice field and across from the gym. . . I remember that we had just put the TKE letters on the house. . . The picture has been cropped eliminating 10 of the guys.”

Jerry Dulski ’67

Tell us about this photo!

We would love to know who is in it, what they were doing, and where they are now.

Tell your story to Danielle Goldaper at danielle.goldaper@aic.edu. From the responses, we will draw a name and send that person a gift from AIC.

24 | Lucent

Alumni profiles

| class notes | James R. Jubilee Jr, ’82 Major: Business Management

Current Employer: Jubilee Agency, Inc. Current Title: President Alumni Director: Did you have a life-changing experience in college?

Jay: I was accepted to attend AIC on a football scholarship in 1978.

I joined our campus radio station, WAIC, during my freshman year.

After playing football for two seasons, I realized that my true passion was radio, and I was named music director for the station. Program director followed shortly thereafter, and I became the station’s General Manager, a position I held for my last two years. The experience of running WAIC was truly life-changing. It made me realize that hard work and perseverance were the true keys to success. As an aside, my youngest son is a freshman at AIC on a football scholarship, as well. I am very proud of him.

Alumni Director: Have you maintained a network with other AIC alumni?

Jay: The relationships I’ve maintained over the years with my fellow alumni have been phenomenal.

We all share a common bond, and we’re all extremely thankful for the rewarding experiences we can reflect upon.

Alumni Director: If you could go back to college, what single thing might you do differently?

Jay: My classwork, football, and the radio station didn’t afford me the opportunity to do more volunteer work in the Springfield community. If I could go back, I would make the time. I often discuss the importance of helping others with my son; young people need to give back however they can – let’s call it “pay it forward”!

Laura A. Walsh ’01 Major: Psychology

Current Employer: City of Springfield Current Title: Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator Alumni Director: What was the best decision you made in college?

Laura: I transferred to AIC from a larger university in Washington, DC, to finish out my college career. I knew I needed the attention, personal touch, and support from a smaller school in order to be successful academically. Once at AIC, I was completely at home – I decided on a major that I loved, had wonderful professors and tremendous support of the Supportive Learning Services. With all of this I was able to do a complete 180° academically and transferring to AIC was the best decision I made during my college career!

Alumni Director: What is your favorite way to reward yourself when you reach a goal that you’ve set for yourself?

Laura: Something adventurous or travel related! After I finished my master’s degree I spent a month in Australia and New Zealand! It is important to celebrate success in a way that continues to move you forward.

Spring 2012 | 25

| class notes |

Franz Wolff ’51 is retired and

living at Linden Ponds, an independent living community in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Constance Matyskiela Haskell ’58 is enjoying retirement in

Connecticut. She delights in sightseeing in New England after having spent over 40 years living in California.

Brian L. Gibbs ’59 left the Navy West Bay Retirement Living resident John Lombardi ’34 turned 100 years old February 20th and was treated to a celebration with his loved ones in the Great Room of the senior community. Among his guests were his daughters, Joan Rozen (left) and Judy Campbell.

Photo: Jessica Botelho

1940s

The Class of 1940 Scholarship

was awarded to Ryan Boisjolie.

Ryan is currently a sophomore at AIC studying occupational therapy.

Marjorie Jackson Bowder ’44

is celebrating her 90th birthday with friends and family in Keizer, Oregon.

1950s

Glendora Folsom ’50 is cel-

ebrating her 40th year of halfhour TV shows. The Glendora Public Access Television Network is on cable TV in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, State, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, District of Columbia, San Diego, and 55 other TV stations.

26 | Lucent

in 1970 after teaching for five years at the U.S. Naval Academy.

He taught for over 30 years at Prince William County Schools in Virginia and received the “Teacher of the Year” award for the South East. He is now retired and lives with his wife, Beverly, in Canaan, New Hampshire. He is active with the senior center and drives a bus to shopping centers, hospitals, etc.

Barbare Lapointe Silva ’59

has been retired since 1996 and is thoroughly enjoying traveling, golfing, and having fun.

1960s

Peter D. Mazza ’62 was awarded

the status of vice president of student affairs, staff emeritus, from Westfield State University, due to his loyalty and service to the students and the university for 29 years. Peter also teaches education law and holds the academic rank of visiting professor in the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education at Westfield. Peter taught school law at American International College from 1978 to 2006 and has served as a moot

court judge at Western New England University School of Law. The Class of 1964 Scholarship was awarded to Casey Bordeaux.

Casey is currently a sophomore at AIC. Fred J. Montesi ’64 has been

retired from the Agawam School System for eight years now and recently attended his 50th Technical High School reunion (Springfield, Massachusetts) where he ran into other graduates from AIC. At 69+ years old, Fred still plays ice hockey at Williston Academy on Friday nights. He has been married to his lovely wife, Patricia, for 44 years and they are having fun with their five grandchildren.

Class of 1967: The Bonnie Sharp Scholarship was awarded

to Meredith Bertrand. Meredith is currently a senior at AIC studying nursing.

Eleanor I. Cook Huston, MEd. ’67 retired from teaching elemen-

tary school in 2003 but currently substitute teaches in Beverly, Massachusetts. She and her husband are enjoying traveling and their grandchildren.

Thomas Montemagni ’67

competed in the Triathlon Worlds in Beijing. He placed seventh in the grand masters division despite crashing his bike and losing several minutes. The race took place in the mountains just north of Beijing on the 2008 Olympic course.

| class notes |

Peter S. Szatkowski ’67 and

his wife, Carole, became proud grandparents of twins last November.

Richard Moore ’69 is an Eastern Bank trustee, as well as an executive board member and treasurer of the Essex Agriculture Society. He is also a sponsor of the Topsfield Fair, which is the oldest fair in the country.

Richard likes to spend time in Marco Island, Florida, during the winter.

1970s

George A. Carellas ’73

Retired in June of 2011 after teaching Spanish in the Longmeadow, Massachusetts, public schools for 29 years. For 20 of those years he served as chairman for the Foreign Language Department.

Paul Nicolai ’75 has recently been named one of the best lawyers in America in commercial litigation for the fifth year in a row. His firm, Nicolai Law Group, P.C., has also ranked among the best law firms by U.S. News & World Report in Springfield’s Tier 1 for commercial litigation and Tier 2 for Arbitration.

Helmuth Schmeichel ’75 is

enjoying life in Ava, New York, as a poet, vintner, travel companion, health advisor, prospector, time traveler, romantic, and financial advisor.

Ronald Pothul ’77 is the CEO

of Dock-N-Lock, LLC of Sarasota, Florida. The flagship product of Dock-N-Lock is an interlock system that provides a solution to the epidemic of cell phone-impaired driving.

Bill Zaleski ’78 has recently been hired as chief fiduciary and trust services manager at Kirkwood Bank & Trust in Bismarck, North Dakota.

1980s

Tom Bowler ’82 was recently

inducted into the Berkshire County Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame. He was on Taconic High School’s 1976 and 1977 Western Mass championships teams and then attended AIC, where he was on the baseball team that won the conference championship in 1979.

Jo-Ann Bernier Dean ’83 was

recently promoted to national dean of nursing at Lincoln Educational Services in West Orange, New Jersey. She also received her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Hartford in 2010.

Ronald Flaherty ’83 was re-

cently named the president and CEO of TEG Federal Credit Union. He has been at TEG since 2000.

Shelly Fortin, MA ’86 is currently the vice president of enrollment management and student services at FlorenceDarlington Technical College.

Shelly was recognized by the South Carolina Tribute to Women of Influence Awards Program in the Fall of 2011.

After completing her master’s degree at AIC she earned her EdD at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Shelly lives in Darlington, South Carolina, with her husband.

1990s

Dr. Nicholas Young, MAHR ’90 was recently named super-

intendent of the Hadley School District. Young is a licensed psychologist and has sixteen degrees from various educational institutions, including five master’s degrees from AIC.

2000s

Keshawn Dodds ’01 has published a new book entitled “‘Who’s on my Side?’ The Kalen Brown Story”. The book details the hard-knock life of a young boy growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Arneatha Epps ’09 is better known as Nene. She is an AIC graduate who joined the theater group again to perform in the play “FAME”.

2010s

Eric Valentino ’11 performed

in the AIC play “FAME”.

He has career aspirations in photography and art design. He graduated last May as a communications major.

Spring 2012 | 27

| in memoriam | 1941

David H. Weinstein

1939

Leo M. Medwin

1940

Joseph N. Mariana

1942

Philip J. Crowe Florence Savior Crowe

1944

Evelyn O’Brien Trappe

1945

1981

1959

1990

Edward F. Brogan Dale Orton Harold L. Courtney Anne Smith Collins

1960

Roger B. Giacometti

1962

Roland V. Bibeau Leonard S. Collis

1963

Eunice Hastings Shepard

Joseph G. Broadbent Joseph E. Servidio

1947

1964

1949

1965

1950

1966

Dorothea Claus Gross John C. Volanakis Warren W. Luthgren Lawrence G. Antaya Howard David Buzzee Kenneth E. Johnson

1951

William F. Howard, III Nicholas Rodis

1952

Elizabeth A. Axton Niland Richard H. Durick C. Robert Holt, III Clement R. Thompson

1967

Dorothy Scanlon

1969

Allan M. Forrant Edward W. Lamlein Jr.

Arthur K. King Lewis J. Kmetz Robert L. Stanton

1972

1953

Harold C. Babachicos

Michael D’Amato

1954

Ellen Grimes Haggerty Stephen W. Sarandis Alfred Wojcik

1956

Richard F. Ammons Edward Butova Edward F. Connor.

John A. Stone

28 | Lucent

1958

Stanley T. Szczebak

1973 1974

Barbara C. Thompson

1975

William P. Ochsner Raymond D. Sausville

1979

William R. Jenkins Barbara F. Lane

Albert N. Crocker Joanne Garstka Mark E. Sawula

1992

Nancy A. Manijak

2010

Alecia M. Steele

Friends of AIC Mary B. Baker Myra Coscore Donald Dextradeur Jacqueline M. Griffith Maurice N. Katz George Lantz Mary Napolitan Jeanne Shinners

Former AIC Faculty or Staff Bernard Berenson Florence Cohen Chattar S. Samra

e

onal College’s ati

e d• for • ucatio

n

American

Int

rn

American International College’s

Run • for •

education When

WhY

June 10, 2012 9:00 a.m.

This 5k race highlights the importance of our pre-K-12 educators in both our children’s lives and in our communities.

Where We will be starting at the Springfield Court House, running up State Street and ending at the AIC track.

how To find out more and to register to run, visit aic.edu/run

Spring 2012 | 29

American International College 1000 State Street Springfield, Massachusetts 01109 www.aic.edu

AIC Theater and Garret Players present “Snow White: The Queen’s Fair Daughter,” adapted by Max Bush and directed by Fred Sokol.

This version of Snow White is based on the oral story as it was told to the Brothers Grimm in 1808. It contains many of the familiar elements—the seven dwarves, mirror, bodice and apple, the glass coffin—but also differs from the Grimms’ later versions in that the stepmother is a mother, there is no hunter, and the king, Snow White’s father, plays a significant role.

Three performances only

April 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and April 15 at 1 p.m.

Admission: students free, general public $3.00, donations are appreciated. Griswold Theatre, Karen Sprague Cultural Arts Center. For more information call: Patty Scagliarini at 413.205.3264

www.a ic.edu /a rts

30 | Lucent