Vol 01 - November 2024 | Central Magazine 175th

VOLUME 01 | NO. 01 NOVEMBER 2024

Celebrating 175 years of

ACADEMIC

EXCELLENCE

Dear Alumni and Friends, It has been an incredible year at Central!

Celebrating the milestone 175th anniversary of our institution has given me time to reflect on the tremendous responsibility we have to educate the future workforce of our state.

The regional university system must provide access, support completion, and cultivate talent if it is to be successful. As you read this commemorative edition of Central Magazine, I encourage you to share the good news of this university.

Central has recently been recognized by many national organizations. Those accolades affirm the hard work done by our Central family every day. I am grateful for our entire community — alumni, students, faculty, staff, and donors who continue to advance our mission.

Thank you for helping us deliver a world-class education and outstanding student experience.

—Zulma R. Toro, President

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CONTENTS CENTRAL MAGAZINE

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A YEAR OF CELEBRATION

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LEADERSHIP THROUGH VISION AND TEAMWORK

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HISTORY IN THE MAKING

How do you plan a year-long party for a milestone anniversary? Take a look at our process and photos.

President Zulma R. Toro talks about her tenure and what it means to be the steward of a 175-year-old institution.

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An exhibit at the Elihu Burritt Library illustrates how Central’s history guides its present and future.

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A NEW LOOK FOR A LEGACY

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BLUE DEVILS: MORE THAN JUST TEAMMATES

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ALUMNI PRIDE POWERS THE CENTRAL STORY

Twenty years later, the Central brand has a new look and feel.

Central Athletics thrives on a distinct brand of togetherness. Plus, 10 great moments in Central Athletics history.

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The Blue Devil family shares special moments from their Central years.

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FEATURES

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VOLUME 01 • NUMBER 01 NOVEMBER 2024 PRESIDENT Zulma R. Toro VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS Sal Cintorino ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA Jodi Latina ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS Christine Castonguay

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INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Jennifer Destefani DIRECTOR ALUMNI RELATIONS Kristen Gordon EDITOR Marisa Nadolny DESIGNER Karen Ward

22 CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Marisa Nadolny, Leslie Virostek Chris O’Connor, Jeff Mead, Amy. J. Barry CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Johnathon Henninger ’04, Stan Godlewski, Shelly Sindland, Zach Cunningham With thanks to the 175th Anniversary Magazine Committee

CAMPUS NEWS 16 FOUNDATION OF SUCCESS

After more than 50 years, the CCSU Foundation remains robust and dynamic with more ways to give than ever before.

18 A NEW DEAN FOR A NEW COLLEGE

22 WRAPPED UP WITH A RIBBON

With several new facilities opening and even more building celebrations delayed by the pandemic, it was time to pull out the ceremonial scissors.

33 175TH GALA

Dr. Jayanthi Kandiah outlines her priorities as the inaugural dean of the new College of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences.

The 175th Anniversary Gala on Nov. 2 drew 600 guests to campus for an elegant evening to remember.

20 HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS

DEPARTMENTS

Catch up on some of the bigger news stories that unfolded on campus over the last two years.

24 CLASS NOTES 29 IN MEMORIAM

Central magazine is published by Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Conn., for alumni and friends.

Central is an AA/EO institution and a university of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system.

All content copyrighted by ©Central.

Reproduction by any means in whole or in part is prohibited without expressed permission.

ON THE COVER Central hosted its annual convocation ceremony for first-year and transfer students on Aug. 26, one day before fall classes began. To mark the occasion, the students took a group photo on the Vance Hall lawn and formed the number “175” in honor of Central’s 175th anniversary year.

Photo by Stan Godlewski

A milestone anniversary gave us 175 reasons to celebrate CENTRAL MAGAZINE

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By MARISA NADOLNY

s the 175th anniversary of Central approached, campus leadership knew the occasion would call for something big—175 years big.

President Zulma R. Toro explains, “We have so much to celebrate, and I am so grateful to the people—past and present—who have made Central the premier state university in Connecticut. In recognizing Central’s 175th anniversary, we celebrate its history, growth, and achievements while looking toward the future.”

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An initial committee launched nine more, and come February 2024, dozens of volunteers on campus had their marching orders. One committee’s charge was to build a time capsule; another collected Central stories from friends

A YEAR OF CELEBRATION and alumni; another found ways to incorporate the anniversary into classwork; and yet another planned an event for the “official” anniversary date: June 22, 1849.

Naturally, an anniversary as significant as a dodransbicentennial calls for a party—or three.

Thanks to the Anniversary Toast, Anniversary Gala, and Backyard BBQ committees, the entire Central community joined in the celebration throughout the year.

Meanwhile, the Institutional Marketing and Communications Department got to work on several special projects, including a dedicated anniversary web page; an online anniversary interactive timeline; and an anniversary logo that will appear on university correspondence and marketing materials for the rest of the anniversary year, among other projects, including a commemorative anniversary medal gifted to the Class of 2024 at commencement.

By June, an online anniversary swag shop opened, offering apparel and drinkware decked out with the anniversary logo.

The excitement has only grown throughout the year, and we look forward to closing out 2024 in true Central fashion—together, with our students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

At right, view some images from our year of celebration and events. View more online at www.ccsu.edu/175-anniversary.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Graduates wear their anniversary medallions at commencement in May; President Toro leads the June 26 anniversary toast; students show off their anniversary T-shirts at the Backyard BBQ Bash in May; Kizer joins President Toro on the field during Central Night at the Hartford Yard Goats on June 27; close-up of the anniversary medallions; campus leaders and dignitaries raise a glass to Central; and a proud alumnus hangs with Kizer at the Yard Goats game.

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PRESIDENT TORO LOOKS BACK ON A TENURE WORTH CELEBRATING

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VISION AND TEAMWORK GUIDE CENTRAL’S 13TH PRESIDENT W

By MARISA NADOLNY hen President Toro became the 13th president of Central, she had a clear vision for the university.

Soon after her arrival in late 2016, Toro identified three priorities: to increase enrollment; to develop new sources of revenue; and to deepen Central’s engagement with the surrounding community.

All three of those boxes are hereby checked and then some after eight years of Toro’s leadership. Fast forward to 2024, and you’ll find an entire web page loaded with Toro’s additional accomplishments.

Among the most recent and dynamic projects Toro guided is the launch of the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the hiring of its resident dean, who joined the Central team in July. (See story on page 18.) Beyond

the academic innovation of the new college, its flagship Community Health Education Clinic, which opened in late 2023, will enable students in health-related programs to gain hands-on experience with patients from the university and New Britain community.

Toro is proud of how far she and Central have come, but she cites one important factor as the secret to Central’s success.

“Everything that has been accomplished is due to teamwork,” Toro explains. “I may have ideas, but unless people embrace those ideas —unless people are committed and dedicated to seeing those ideas become reality— nothing happens.”

Toro made sure to develop her team within weeks of her arrival at Central. She set off on a listening tour to meet with every office and department on campus and took notes.

“ WHAT HAS TAKEN THE LONGEST AND MAYBE THE THING I AM THE MOST PROUD OF IS THE CULTURE. I FEEL WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CHANGE THAT. WE HAVE NOW AN INSTITUTION IN WHICH PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUCCESS OF ALL STUDENTS AND THAT THEY ARE PART OF SOMETHING GOOD AND GREAT.” ­

— PRESIDENT ZULMA R. TORO

President Toro greets first-year students at the university’s convocation ceremony on Aug. 26. Toro instituted the formal ceremony in 2019. Photo by Stan Godlewski

“What has taken the longest and maybe the thing I am the most proud of is the culture. I feel we have been able to change that,” Toro says. “We have now an institution in which people feel that they are contributing to the success of all students and that they are part of something good and great.”

Students talk with President Toro during a tour of the campus Community Health Education Clinic.

Photo by FJ Gaylor Photography

Even better, according to Toro, is that the students have also noticed that shift in culture.

“I am happy to see that our students are having a high-quality educational experience, and I think for the most part our students feel like they are being supported and that faculty members and staff care about their well-being and success,” she says.

Recent enrollment and housing numbers underscore an improved sense of belonging among Central students.

The census numbers for Fall 2024 enrollment reflect an increase of more than 3 percent over last year, with 9,997 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. The university also surpassed its goal of 2,200 resident students for Fall 2024 by nearly 200 students.

Making history Toro added two more distinctions to Central’s history when she took the helm: She is the first female and first Hispanic president of the 175-year-old institution.

That her tenure is coinciding with a milestone anniversary this year is nothing short of an honor, Toro says.

“I have been blessed in my life,” she explains. “I have had the opportunity to transform lives in a number of institutions, but mainly at Central Connecticut State University. Can you believe I have the honor of leading the first publicly funded institution of higher education in this state?”

Toro notes that Central’s original mission to educate the working class has an enduring appeal and return on investment.

“This institution has contributed to the economic, cultural, and intellectual development of this state, the region, and beyond because we have graduates in almost every state of the Union; we have graduates in the Caribbean; and we have graduates in other places around the world.”

But there is another unique component to a Central education, in Toro’s view.

belief in the transformative nature of higher education.

“What we do is about people and how we guide individuals to be able to accomplish their goals in life. We want them to be happy and healthy and feel useful—that they make an impact. That’s what we’re trying to do every day,” she says.

“I have enjoyed every minute of my tenure at Central,” she says. “And when I leave, I will take with me the satisfaction that I may have impacted a number of lives—not only students’ lives, but staff, faculty, and administrators. I am very happy to have had the opportunity to be in higher education.”

Looking forward and back Toro’s three initial priorities still inform her future goals. Plans to launch more healthcare-related academic programs will surely boost enrollment and expand the free screening services available to communities. Students have requested—and will receive—more interdisciplinary program options. Her call for a new science building has drawn great community and state support. The upcoming Year of Artificial Intelligence will highlight how the university is responding to emerging technologies and the Connecticut workforce.

It’s a never-ending list, but it is one that Toro will continue to update with successes fueled by her love of the job and her firm

As for her own educational experience at Central, Toro has enjoyed mentoring her team and the reciprocal lessons she’s taken away from those interactions. She also drew very important perspective from that initial whirlwind tour of the campus community.

“Rome was not built overnight. So, I think that in higher education—despite the typical pace of change in higher education—you have to be patient. You have to trust the processes, and you have to believe that if you have the right people in place and you have ambition, things will happen.”

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Her investment has paid off year after year, and Toro cites a distinct change in culture throughout her tenure.

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HISTORY IN THE MAKING

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he handwritten “Registrar of Entrants” from 1849, which names the first students enrolled at the school that would become Central.

The list of demands made by Black and Latino students whose civil rights-era protest included a takeover of the campus radio station.

Photographs of former Polish president Lech Walesa from his 1996 campus visit as a Vance Distinguished Lecture Series speaker.

These are among the dozens of intriguing items featured in an exhibit celebrating Central’s 175th anniversary.

The exhibit, which opened on Sept. 9 and will run throughout the fall semester, shows how the first public higher education institution in Connecticut became the university we know today.

The exhibit highlights various milestones and the contributions of key leaders, and how students of different generations experienced daily campus life.

All items displayed come from the library’s archives and special collections, according to Dr. Carl A. Antonucci Jr., director of library services. He says, “I hope that visitors will get a sense of the rich history of Central Connecticut State University.”

BURRITT LIBRARY ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITTELLS THE STORY OF CENTRAL

By LESLIE VIROSTEK

Among the items in the anniversary exhibit at the Burritt Library is this image of Normal School student Mary E. Bassett in 1860.

One of the most interesting pieces for University Archivist Renata Vickrey is a student scrapbook that commemorates campus life, including the student’s courses and grades, photos of dances and other student activities, and clippings from student publications.

Vickrey says, “I’m sure that student would be doing a blog or Instagram today.”

While telling the story of Central, the exhibit also offers broader lessons related to national shifts in education, the economy, and popular culture. For example, course catalogs from different eras show how university curriculums have evolved to meet emerging needs. Meanwhile, a vintage Keystone “lantern slide” projector, widely used as a classroom tool in the early decades of the 1900s, shows how much classroom teaching technology has changed.

Many exhibit items evoke pivotal moments in the history of higher education, such as the explosion in enrollment with the passage of the GI Bill and the rise of anti-Vietnam War

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activism in the 1960s and 1970s. Visitors can view the Supreme Court’s ruling on Healy v. James. That case arose when officials at what was then Central Connecticut State College blocked Students for a Democratic Society from starting a campus chapter. The court held this was a violation of students’ First Amendment rights.

The exhibit also features three special display cases. One is dedicated to the development of the library itself, with its dramatic changes in physical space and technological system and services. Vickrey notes that historically the library used to provide free textbooks to students. Today that tradition is partially carried on by the Textbook Fund, which enables the library to purchase some textbooks that students may use on the premises.

Items on display at the Burritt Library’s 175th anniversary exhibit include a trove of photos, records, clothing, classroom tools, and more. Photos by Stan Godlewski

The second special case highlights athletics and includes not only photos and programs from sporting events but also a vintage track and field uniform and a baseball sweater from the 1940s. The third case features student publications, including the Recorder newspaper, which was founded in 1930.

Vickrey notes that the university’s official name, logo, physical campus, curriculum, and leadership have changed over the years, but some things have stayed the same. For example, documents included in the exhibit reflect Central’s ongoing role in the city of New Britain and its accessibility to firstgeneration students.

In June of 1849 the Connecticut General Assembly approved an allocation of $10,000 over four years to fund a state school for training teachers, says Vickrey. The question was, which municipality would step up and provide a location and additional funding?

“New Britain made the best offer,” says Vickrey. “This document tells you that the people of New Britain really cared about education. What I came to really appreciate even more was the continuous support of the people of this town and the state of Connecticut.”

Vickrey believes exploring the institution’s history is valuable for the same reasons that people find it worthwhile to study their genealogy: “To see where you came from.”

She says, “I think there is a lot to be proud of.”

The Central Connecticut State University 175th Anniversary Exhibit can be found on the second floor of the Elihu Burritt LIbrary and can be viewed whenever the library is open.

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NEW LOOK

FOR A LEGACY

CENTRAL BRAND REDESIGNED AFTER 20 YEARS

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By MARISA NADOLNY

he Central Connecticut State University brand is sporting a new look.

The university’s Marketing and Communications team unveiled a brand-new logo system and marketing and promotional tools in August 2023. It was the brand’s first update in nearly 20 years.

“This addition to our marketing platform has been a long time coming,” says Central Connecticut State University President Zulma R. Toro. “Central is leading the way in higher education, and this updated branding brings us into the 21st century.”

creativity and collaboration,” says Associate Vice President of Communications and Media Jodi Latina.

The Athletics Department’s Blue Devil logo is well known among Central sports fans.

Because the popular image is exclusive to Athletics, the Marketing and Communications team created a counterpart logo — dubbed Fun Kizer (below) — that can be used campuswide.

Early reviews from students have been enthusiastic.

Central’s official university seal remains as its legacy logo. The new marketing logo includes an icon rendering of the university clock tower at Davidson Hall, in a nod to the legacy logo.

“The new logo allows Central to enter a new era of improvement for future generations and creates a sense of belonging for all Blue Devils!” says Diannely Espino, one of several students who previewed the logos ahead of the launch.

“We are very proud of our team! The integration of our Marketing and Communications teams this past year has allowed us to set a foundation that fosters

Junior Rhamel Wilson notes, “The new logos bring a more modern and fresher feel to the campus community and gets people excited to represent our school!”

“ THE NEW LOGO ALLOWS CENTRAL TO ENTER A NEW ERA OF IMPROVEMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND CREATES A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL BLUE DEVILS!” ­— DIANNELY ESPINO

An award-winning strategy When the Educational Advertising Awards announced the winners of its 39th annual competition in March, the Institutional Marketing and Communications team at Central hit gold.

Gold, silver, and bronze to be exact.

The awards recognize educational marketing and advertising materials that reflect exceptional quality, creativity, and message effectiveness. Team Central took home four Gold Awards; one Silver Award; and three Bronze Awards. The team also earned Merit Awards in three additional categories. One Gold Award recognized the Central logo and letterhead design.

Central earned the three other gold awards in the Special Event Campaign, Total Recruitment Package, and Website Refresh categories. Each project reflects the university’s new branding.

“Our staff are talented and dedicated to their craft,” says Associate Vice President of Marketing and Promotions Christine Castonguay. “We have new staff and veteran staff — together they have elevated the university’s standards and modernized the Central brand.”

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BLUE DEVILS I

By CHRIS O’CONNOR

f you follow Central’s Director of Athletics Tom Pincince on social media, you are very familiar with the term, “Together, as we always do.” No matter the topic, whether it is a win in competition, a fundraising appeal, success in the classroom, or another of the numerous volunteer projects that Blue Devils student-athletes have participated in, that is the sign-off on the post.

“Central is special because of the people,” Pincince says. “We are able to accomplish things for that reason. Our coaches, our student-athletes, our staff, our alumni, and our families come together to achieve things that sometimes seem unachievable. It is that which makes us who we are, and I am proud to be a Blue Devil.”

Merriam-Webster defines “family” as “a group of people united by certain convictions

ARE MORE THAN JUST TEAMMATES

or common affiliation,” and the importance of family is woven through the history of Central Athletics.

Perhaps the best place to start is Director of Athletics Emeritus Charles “CJ” Jones, who served the university in numerous roles for four decades after his four-year career as a Central basketball and baseball player.

Jones played alongside Howie Dickenman under coach Bill Detrick.

“Bill took me, a kid from New York, under his wing a little bit while I was here and helped me out from a hoops perspective,” says Jones. “We built relationships in those years, and while we didn’t know it then, they would be lifelong relationships.”

That relationship played into one of Jones’ first moves after he was named director of Athletics in July 1995. He turned the following spring to Dickenman—his teammate and

best man at his wedding—as the new head men’s basketball coach. That hire paid dividends, with Dickenman spending more than two decades at the helm of the Blue Devils basketball program, leading them to three NEC championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.

Dickenman was a family-first guy too and hired several Central alumni to help build the program. One of them, Patrick Sellers, is back on campus today in the same chair as his old boss. Sellers is a Central alumnus who played for the Blue Devils from 1987 to 1991, before he returned to serve as an assistant for Dickenman’s championship teams.

But the story doesn’t end there. When the Blue Devils won the 2002 championship, Lenny Jefferson was in the building as a recruit of Sellers. Jefferson joined the Continued on page 12

Continued from page 11

graduates, with Sellers and head lacrosse coach Betsy Vendel.

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program the following season and had a noteworthy career. He now sits alongside Sellers during games as an assistant coach and played an integral role in the Blue Devils’ regular-season crown last year.

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For Vendel, Central really is a family connection. She is a second-generation graduate of the university, joining her mother, Mary Jane Robertson, a member of Class of 1980, on the alumni rolls.

Extended family

“I remember picking my mom up at the airport and driving her around campus to show her how things have grown and changed since she was here,” Vendel says. “It is cool to see how far Central has come.

How far we have come with what we do for the student body and how it changes with the different generations. All while having the same people in roles now that were here when I was playing.”

The family goes beyond coaches.

Jones surrounded the programs with administrators that are Blue Devils through and through.

He brought on Pincince, Amy Strickland, Molly McCarthy, and Mike Ericksen, to name just a few, who have supported the programs over the past two decades.

Strickland played for the Central volleyball team and headed out on a professional career that saw her spend time at Maryland, before she was called home to New Britain.

McCarthy worked in other offices on campus, before she found a home in Kaiser Hall. The duo works tirelessly on behalf of the student-athletes in compliance and eligibility.

Ericksen joined the Central team in the strength and conditioning area and now serves as the associate athletic director for External Affairs.

For a quarter century, he has been at the helm of building the program that makes Blue Devil athletes stronger and faster and healthier.

One of the athletes that he helped to train is Nicole Dumpson-Jackson, who was inducted into the CCSU Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame in October. A record-setting member of the track and field team, Dumpson-Jackson went into coaching after leaving Central, but, like many, she returned to the family and is now an assistant coach.

“The one thing that I noticed when I returned is that people come to stay,” she says. “Amy is still here.

Molly is still here. I worked for them as a student. Coach Ericksen was my strength coach and was on my hiring committee when I applied for this job.”

Dumpson-Jackson works alongside head cross country and track and field coach Eric Blake, a fellow alum. He is one of three head coaches who are Central

“IT IS REALLY ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. FINDING THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE PHILOSOPHY AND ARE WILLING TO SHARE THAT WITH THOSE THAT COME AFTER THEM.” ­— CHARLES “CJ” JONES

And while campus has changed and grown, so much of Athletics remains a constant. This summer, Paul Manwaring was elevated to the role of head athletic trainer. He has been on the New Britain campus since he enrolled for graduate school. For most of those years, he worked alongside Kathy Pirog, who ran the athletic training room since 1996, when she was elevated to replace her mentor, CCSU Hall of Famer Carl Krein, who remains active in hall of fame selections to this day.

“It is really about relationships,” Jones notes. “Finding the people who believe in the philosophy and are willing to share that with those that come after them. Showing them what it means to be a ‘true Blue Devil’ and then watching them and entrusting them to teach those traits to the next generation.”

Top, Director of Athletics Emeritus Charles “C.J.” Jones.

Left, head lacrosse coach Betsy Vendel, a Central alumna.

Facing page, Athletics Director Tom Pincince.

Previous page, the 2003 championship NEC 4x100m relay team (from left), Nicola Larmond, Nicole Dumpson-Jackson, Jessica Kelly, and Erika Goodwine.

The Blue Devils have built a deep bench of achievements and milestones over the years.

Among many, we’ve selected 10 great moments that define the Blue Devil legacy and spirit.

Undefeated 1954 football team

Under second-year head coach Henry Majlinger, the Blue Devils went 6-0. Featuring multiple Alumni Athletics Hall of Famers, including captains Ray Rondini and Lou Magoli, the squad was led by a stout defense that was only scored on four times and outscored its opponents, 158-26, in six games.

Cross country’s success story

Through the years, Central cross country has been among the most successful programs. In 1961, the Blue Devils earned a third-place finish at the 1961 NAIA National Championships. The squad featured three All-Americans, including individual national champion, Jim Keefe.

Women’s soccer defeats Boston College in NCAA Tournament

The 2003 women’s soccer team earned its second straight NCAA Tournament berth after winning back-to-back Northeast Conference titles. The Blue Devils made program history with a 1-0 win at Boston College in the opening round. Despite falling at UConn in double-overtime in the next round, Central set a then-program record with a 16-3-3 mark.

Baseball sets wins record

The 2004 Central baseball season marked the program’s third consecutive Northeast Conference championship and was punctuated by a program-record 41 wins.

Under head coach Charlie Hickey, the Blue Devils won at least 30 games for the fourth straight season and played Florida and Oklahoma in the NCAA Regional.

Going Division I

After enjoying decades of success in college athletics, Central began the transition of competing in the NCAA Division I ranks in 1986-87. Currently offering 16 varsity sports, the success of Central athletics has been built by thousands of student-athletes who have worn the blue and white.

Joining the NEC

Central joined the Northeast Conference as a full member in the 1997-98 season. At the time, the move brought the Blue Devils’ athletic programs into a league of nine institutions. The move was a boon for Central athletics, which has been one of the most successful schools in the conference, capturing a total of 78 team titles since joining the NEC.

Gabrielle Blockley: First woman inducted into CCSU Hall of Fame

Gabrielle Blockley helped shape women’s athletics at Central when she spearheaded the inclusion of the Blue Devils’ female athletes and teams into intercollegiate competition. A longtime professor of Physical Education at Central, she would serve as the head coach of the basketball, field hockey, and softball teams during her time at the university. Blockley was the athletics faculty advisor from 1958 to 1973 and was among the inaugural class of Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame inductees in 1979.

Championship tradition

Over the years, championships have become second nature for Central’s athletic teams. Three squads — women’s soccer (13), men’s cross country (11), and women’s swimming and diving (8) — hold the most NEC championships in those sports in league history.

Men’s basketball goes dancing

The 1999-2000 men’s basketball team went 25-6 and earned the school’s first trip to the “Big Dance” after defeating Robert Morris, 63-46, in the NEC Tournament. Featuring conference Player of the Year Rick Mickens, the Blue Devils put a scare into the second-seeded Iowa State Cyclones before ultimately succumbing to a team with a pair of future NBA stars.

Men’s soccer to Sweet 16

After earning the final spot in the NEC Tournament, the 2007 men’s soccer team went on a magical postseason run. Central won a pair of 1-0 contests to make the NCAA Tournament field, where it went on the road and defeated 15th-ranked Harvard and 9th-ranked Tulsa by identical 3-2 scorelines. Central concluded the season ranked 25th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

—Jeff Mead

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HIGHLIGHTS:

10 DEFINING MOMENTS IN CENTRAL ATHLETICS HISTORY

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rue Blue Devils know the Central story runs deep in Connecticut.

Throughout its 175-year history, Central alumni have changed the landscape of our state, often setting precedents for pedagogy and leadership throughout the country.

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Our thriving alumni community carries on that tradition of leadership and demonstrates every day just how meaningful and transformative a Central education can be. Central graduates have made countless contributions to innovation and progress in this state and beyond, and they are fiercely loyal to their alma mater and to each other.

We asked our alumni to share their thoughts on their university experience and what it means to be a Blue Devil. Below, we share some of the responses we received. (Edited for length and clarity.)

To share your Central memories, go to www.ccsu.edu/175-anniversary/central-memories.

ALUMNI PRIDE POWERS THE CENTRAL STORY SUZANNE AND PETER BERRY ’74

Our CCSU experience was not only about academics but also about extra-curricular activities.

We were thoroughly engaged in student government. We had two political parties on campus.

We learned about campaigning on the issues in the dormitories, outside buildings, and in the Student Center. We honed our debating skills and learned how to conduct ourselves during a campaign. To this day, we will remember the 1974 student government election. Peter won by a slim margin, and the rest of our “party” lost, including Suzanne, by seven votes.

We have translated these experiences in so many ways. Working with people, listening to different points of view, negotiating as well as reaching consensus and compromise were just a few of the skill sets we have used in the business we created and in our personal lives as volunteers and parents. We are proud of our four years at CCSU.

CIARA CRINION ’10

My time at CCSU helped shape me into the person and professional I am today.

Through my education at Central, and the many supportive staff and mentors I had along the way, I was able to build a foundation of success that has guided me throughout my entire adult life and career.

Some of my proudest moments that will always live with me are winning a soccer championship with head coach Mick D’Arcy who brought me to New Britain from Ireland, to receiving my degree and then having Mick attend my wedding this past summer. Once a Blue Devil, always a Blue Devil.

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DR. KRISTINE LARSEN ’84

As a first semester freshman in a general education astronomy class, I was offered an opportunity to learn how to run the planetarium and observatory. The next year I was a member of the inaugural class of the Honors Program and learned to appreciate the unique joys of interdisciplinary thinking. Both experiences shaped not only my career, but my worldview, and made me the teacher, scholar, and allaround person I am today.

MOLLY DENELLO ’16

CCSU provided me with the guidance and community necessary for me to cultivate the life I am so grateful for today. I quickly found a home within the Art Education department, where I was able to connect with like-minded yet unique individuals while exploring common passions. My professors and mentors curated my experience and equipped me with the skills in both art and education to help me facilitate meaningful experiences with my own students in West Hartford, where I have worked since graduating in 2016. My experience at CCSU has been lasting and deeply influential.

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BRIAN CRUESS ’94, ’00

CCSU shaped my adult life both professionally and personally. I received a quality education that set me up for success in technology within the financial services and insurance field over the past 30 years. The network of graduates and faculty have been invaluable.

Central introduced me to lifelong friends and sparked a love with my wife Kelly ’94 over the past 32 years, creating a family and a third-generation Blue Devil.

Trinitee Williams (second from right) is shown here with her family and fellow Blue Devils.

TRINITEE WILLIAMS ’22

From my time as an RA in Barrows and Gallaudet Hall to my days as an orientation leader and tour guide, CCSU provided me with experiences that ultimately gave me the skills needed to thrive in my career today as an admissions officer at Goodwin University!

My Mom and Dad met at CCSU in the ’90s and my brother is now a CCSU senior! I am grateful for my time spent at CCSU and the forever memories that came along with it!

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Eleven years of data show the performance of CCSU Foundation funds.

THE FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL’S SUCCESS W

illins, a manager at the Royal Typewriter Company of Hartford and a former amateur world typewriting champion, directed her gift to the Business Education Department. Every year thereafter, her fund would support one scholarship per year to “a student of outstanding merit.”

The CCSU Foundation was established in February of 1971 at the request of Central Connecticut State University.

The foundation received its first gift in June of that year—a $2,000 check from Miss Stella Willins that set a precedent for future philanthropy.

Willins’s contribution underscored the Greater Hartford community’s commitment to Central Connecticut State University and its mission. It not only provided crucial resources for early projects, but it also symbolized the trust and confidence donors placed in the foundation. Over the years, this initial act of generosity has been celebrated as a cornerstone that helped to build a robust culture of giving across five key areas: institutional enrichment, scholarships, academic enrichment, research, and unrestricted funds.

The nonprofit foundation is incorporated under Connecticut state laws and managed by an independent board of directors comprised of faculty members, students, alumni, and members of the general public. The university president serves as an ex-officio member of the board.

The Board of Directors is responsible for distributing unrestricted funds to various university programs and activities that are identified as most deserving in consultation with the university president.

As of June 30, 2024, the foundation’s endowment value stands at $102,355,827.

Purchasing Program, Connecticut Foodshare purchases truckloads of high-demand products and resells them to partner programs at cost. As a partner, Central can use privately raised funds to purchase grocery items at a significant discount.

CENTRAL TEAMS UP WITH CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE Maria’s Place at Central Connecticut State University has gained an important ally in the fight against food insecurity.

A new partnership between Central and Connecticut Foodshare will ensure that the shelves at the campus food pantry will stay fully stocked with high-demand items all semester long.

Connecticut Foodshare partners with several food pantries around the state, offering free goods and other resources. Through its Grocery

Connecticut Foodshare is a member of the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks.

Maria’s Place opened in February of 2017 to provide free food assistance to students. It is named after Maria Alvarez, who worked at Central for more than 30 years and passed away in 2015. Alvarez was known to many for her deep commitment to students and to helping the less fortunate at her parish food pantry.

“I am grateful to Connecticut Foodshare for their support of Maria’s Place, a critical campus resource. Their commitment to addressing food insecurity contributes to our mission of fostering an environment where all students can succeed,” says Central President Zulma R. Toro. “Food insecurity remains a significant challenge for many of our students, and it is our responsibility to ensure that every member of the Central family has the resources they need to thrive.”

MAKING AN IMPACT Central Connecticut State University WAYS TO GIVE TO SUPPORT

There are many ways you can make a significant impact through a charitable gift to the CCSU Foundation.

Whether you choose to give now or plan for a future gift, each option offers unique benefits to you and the university. Below are some of the most common ways to contribute.

OUTRIGHT CASH GIFT: An immediate and straightforward way to support the CCSU Foundation, a cash gift can be made online, by check, or via wire transfer. This type of gift is often the simplest and most flexible, providing immediate resources to meet the university’s needs.

MARKETABLE SECURITIES: Donating stocks, bonds, or mutual funds can be a tax-efficient way to give. When you donate appreciated securities directly to the CCSU Foundation, you can avoid capital gains taxes while potentially receiving a charitable deduction for the full market value.

REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION (RMD) FROM RETIREMENT FUNDS: If you are 70½ or older, you can use your RMD to make a charitable contribution directly from your IRA to the CCSU Foundation. This type of gift can satisfy your required withdrawal amount without increasing your taxable income.

PLANNED GIVING: Including the CCSU Foundation in your will or trust is a powerful way to leave a legacy. You can designate a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or the residual of your estate to the university, ensuring your impact lasts for generations.

DONOR-ADVISED FUND (DAF): A gift from a DAF allows you to recommend how your funds should be distributed. It’s a convenient and flexible way to manage your philanthropy and can be an excellent option for donors looking to maximize their charitable impact.

REAL ESTATE: Donating real estate, such as a home, vacation property, or undeveloped land, can provide substantial support to Central while offering you potential tax benefits. The property can be given outright or as a retained life estate, allowing you to continue using it during your lifetime.

MATCHING GIFTS: Many employers offer matching gift programs, which can double or even triple your contribution. By taking advantage of these programs, you can significantly increase the impact of your gift at no additional cost to you.

GIFTS IN KIND: Donations of tangible personal property, such as artwork, equipment, or collectibles, can also support the university.

These gifts are often used to enhance academic programs, student experiences, or fundraising efforts.

Each of these options provides a meaningful way to support Central Connecticut State University, allowing you to make a difference in a way that aligns with your financial goals and philanthropic values.

CENTRAL MAGAZINE

Pictured here at Maria’s Place, the campus food pantry at Central Connecticut State University, are (from left) Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the CCSU Foundation Jennifer Destefani, Foodshare President and CEO Jason Jakubowski, and Central President Dr. Zulma R. Toro.

Photo by Marisa Nadolny

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Dr. Jayanthi “Jay” Kandiah

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began her tenure as the inaugural dean of Central’s new College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in July. She is the former associate dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Health at Ball State University in Indiana, where she also served as a professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, a department chair, and interim dean. An award-winning educator, mentor, and clinician/ practitioner, she was initially drawn to the field of nutrition because of a desire to help people.

We asked Dr. Kandiah five questions about her experiences so far and her plans for Central.

A CONVERSATION

WITH THE NEW DEAN

I think what interested me more than anything else is it is student, faculty, and community focused. The other aspect was related to student success — it’s noteworthy that 53 percent of our students are first-generation students — and diversity. And when I say diversity I mean diversity, equity, inclusiveness, sense of belonging, and social justice.

As a clinician and a researcher, I know it is important to tie evidence-based research into practice, so students are competent.

At my previous institution I was very instrumental in forming the College of Health, which I enjoyed tremendously, as it was a team effort toward the educational and professional advancement of students via interprofessional education and practice (i.e. learning about, from, and with one another), which contributed to the health and well-being of the community. I’m ready for new challenges. I was waiting for the right time, and I thought this would be a perfect fit.

CENTRAL MAGAZINE

You spent more than 30 years at your previous university.

By LESLIE VIROSTEK What drew you to Central?

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What’s your vision for the new college?

My hopes and dreams for the college would be that we should be AGILE: Adaptable to the changes, in terms of demographics, technology, and workforce trends; Grounded in health care and industry-best practices; Innovative in terms of curriculum, scholarship, and student programming; Leadership-focused, and that means looking at students’ career success, working with alumni, business development, and community engagement. And finally making sure we are Entrepreneurial in mindset, operations, and vision.

You have been a champion of experiential learning.

What role do you see it playing at the new college?

When I talk about experiential learning, in my mind, it’s about hands-on, high-impact practices such as first-year experiences, creative projects, research, global initiatives, internships, service learning, community-based projects, and practicums, and we are very well positioned to advance in these areas. We not only have academics but also the Community Health Education Clinic that is an outstanding conduit to provide interprofessional educational outreach services.

My goal would be to have students from diverse healthcare disciplines working together to solve real-world problems. To give an example, a Social Work student working with an Exercise Science student or a Counseling student in providing patientcentered healthcare and social services to diverse populations. In short, our students become fully competent and highly marketable in a competitive healthcare workforce.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I’m a servant and a transformational leader who likes to collaborate. I’m a compassionate go-getter — meaning no problem is unsolvable — and I lead by example. For me, honesty and transparency are very important, and one must have mutual respect and be inclusive of everyone. I truly like the shared governance philosophy, so making sure everybody at all levels is involved.

The other thing is I use data to make informed decisions in advocating and supporting for the greater good, keeping in mind: What are the university’s strategic goals? What are the plans and vision for the college? It is important that all these points align together.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

The most rewarding thing is making sure that people are successful. And success — professional or personal — is defined differently for different people. What is most gratifying for me is making sure that everybody achieves their dream, and if I can be a conduit to help them reach their full potential — whether it be a student, faculty member, staff, or the public — that is all that matters. We forget that all of us are in this world momentarily, and so I’m always striving and determined to be the best edition of myself.

— Leslie Virostek

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A look back at the last few years at Central offers more than a glimpse of rear-view successes. A promising future also comes into focus thanks to numerous efforts undertaken last year by President Toro, faculty, students, staff, and our community partners. From national nods for great academic programs to innovations that set the university apart from its peers, more business, industry, and government leaders than ever have taken note of the special things going on at Central.

From several news stories, we selected some major accomplishments to share that made 2023 and 2024 a remarkable time at Central.

A ROUND-UP OF GOOD NEWS FOR CENTRAL 50 years of Polish Studies

Central kicked off a year-long 50th anniversary celebration for its Polish Studies program in June 2023. Established in 1974, the Polish Studies Program works to inform the larger community of Americans about the “history, culture, achievements, language, art, films, and everything else that makes Poland, Poland,” according to Polish Studies Chair Mieczyslaw B. Biskupski.

Leading the way in digital equity Governor Lamont issued a proclamation on Sept. 25, 2023, lauding efforts by Central and the Consolidated School District of New Britain to promote digital equity and innovation in education through esports. The proclamation cited “the success of the collaborative efforts of Central Connecticut State University, the Consolidated School District of New Britain, and Worldwide Youth Networks (in creating an) innovative ecosystem for experiential learning.”

Big endorsements for Cybersecurity On. Nov. 15, 2023, the National Security Agency awarded Central its designation of National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) through academic year 2028.

Central became eligible for CAE-CD designation in June 2023, after the NSA validated the university’s Cyber Defense academic program. The program is one of three tracks available to Cybersecurity majors at Central.

In late August, the Cybersecurity program received a new designation from NSA—this time as a National Center of Academic

Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). The CAE-CO designation is awarded to institutions that offer deeply technical, interdisciplinary higher education programs, grounded in the computer science, computer engineering, and/or electrical engineering disciplines, with opportunities for hands-on applications via labs and exercises.

Sielawko Suite opens at AIH Central thanked a generous donor on Oct. 26, 2023, when university leadership revealed the John Eismont and Anna Sielawko Advising Suite at the university’s Applied Innovation Hub. Sielawko committed to a gift of $500,000 in January 2022 to establish the John Eismont and Anna Sielawko Engineering Scholarship Fund, which supports scholarships for Central undergraduates who are pursuing studies in the field of engineering.

Central makes Compact to launch local sustainability projects Central Connecticut State University joined forces with the national nonprofit Campus Compact on Nov. 10, 2023, to create and promote sustainability projects in the New Britain community to mitigate climate change.

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to higher education civic and community engagement.

Central is one of the nine inaugural host sites for the Campus Climate Action Corps program, which aims to build the capacity of campuses and their community partners to increase energy efficiency and make other improvements on behalf of underserved households and groups.

(Right) Representatives from Hanwha Aerospace USA met with President Toro to sign an agreement on Dec. 12, 2023.

CENTRAL MAGAZINE Above, Robotics students work in a specialized lab at AIH. Anna Sielawko stands at the entrance to the John Eismont and Anna Sielawko Advising Suite at the Applied Innovation Hub on Oct. 26, 2023.

Hanwha makes a pledge During a visit to campus on Dec. 12, 2023, Hanwha Aerospace USA signed an agreement with the Central Connecticut State University Foundation to pledge $200,000 over the next four years. The pledge will support a Mechanical Engineering lab on the third floor of the Applied Innovation Hub at Central. The lab provides engineering and technology students with a space and the tools to collaborate on advanced engineering projects.

STEM School of Excellence The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEAA) named Central a 2023-24 STEM School of Excellence on Dec. 15, 2023, citing the university’s “outstanding commitment to providing a robust Integrative experience through STEM programs.”

Central was among only six universities to receive the designation for 2023-24. ITEEA noted, “These institutions are providing a meaningful STEM education experience for students and inspire others to learn effective best practices and instructional strategies to enhance their own programs. These schools serve as a model and inspiration to their communities.”

Central joins AmeriCorps Schools of National Service program Central was named an AmeriCorps School of National Service on March 28. In recognition of the value of their service, the Schools of National Service initiative provides students who have served in AmeriCorps with incentives and awards that encourage them to attend a member institution. Central will award five matching scholarships of up to $2,000 annually to all qualified students who have participated in the AmeriCorps program. The scholarships will be awarded to applicants with academic potential, demonstrated involvement in community activities, and leadership experience.

A big Achievement Central and Junior Achievement, Southwest New England Inc., signed an agreement on April 22 that will enable local high school students to earn academic credits at Central. The three-year agreement applies to high school students who are taking Junior Achievement (JA) courses at participating high schools. JA courses cover various topics across its core content areas of financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship.

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NEW FACILITIES WRAP UP WITH RIBBON-CUTTINGS President Toro’s ceremonial scissors might need sharpening after a very busy season of ribbon-cuttings.

I

t all started on July 23, when the campus community cut a ceremonial ribbon to open Henry Barnard Hall after extensive renovations and construction.

Technically, the Barnard Hall project wrapped up in December 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the university’s plans to celebrate the new space. Barnard Hall now serves as the centralized home of the university’s School of Education.

As the university kicked off its 175th anniversary year, the Central family planned a series of ribbon-cutting ceremonies to celebrate the teamwork and drive that guided several new construction and renovation projects that were completed on campus over the last few years. Several of the projects were included in the university’s Master Plan of 1999.

In all, seven ribbon-cuttings ushered in a new era of innovation on the Central campus.

Applied Innovation Hub: Sept. 16, 2024 This new 93,000-square-foot building serves as the home of the School of Engineering,Science, and Technology. AIH features the first XR lab in the state of Connecticut among several other specialty labs for STEM classes.

Artificial Intelligence Corridor: Oct. 28, 2024 After extensive renovations at Vance Academic Center, the new AI Corridor includes three classrooms and a specialized AI research room that features an isolated AI server, a meeting space, a robot dog, and an Autonomous Digital Human. Central has established a groundbreaking partnership with Holovisn and Synth Studios to develop the first holographic synthetic human in a higher education institution in the nation.

Burritt Library Annex: Oct. 15, 2024 Renovations and construction added new classrooms, labs, study space, and offices to the Elihu Burritt Library. The structure incorporates sustainable wooden timber within the classrooms and labs to reflect Central’s commitment to a green campus.

State architects say the Library Annex is the first state-funded construction project of this kind in in Connecticut.

Central Welcome Center: Aug. 5, 2024 The Central Welcome Center is the former site of Charter Oak State College.

CWC serves as a visitor’s center for the university and houses the offices of Admissions and Institutional Advancement along with the Alumni Association.

College of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences/Community Health Education Clinic: Aug 19, 2024 This dedicated space in Copernicus Hall provides hands-on experience to students in related academic programs and serves the Greater New Britain community.

Cybersecurity Hall: Oct. 7, 2024 The first floor of Maria Sanford Hall has been reimagined as the Cybersecurity Hall. The space features two advanced classrooms equipped with wall displays, whiteboards, and computers tailored for Cybersecurity classes, and two renovated conference rooms.

Henry Barnard Hall: July 23, 2024 A 9,500-square-foot addition was designed in the Georgian style and blended with architecture of Davidson Hall and Willard-DiLoreto Hall. Renovations to the existing building included new corridor walls, display cabinets, information centers, electrical and ceiling work, and sprinkler and fire alarm upgrades.

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CLASS NOTES

1983

1988

Governor Ned Lamont nominated Ramona Mercado-Espinoza ’83 to serve as a Connecticut Superior Court judge on Feb. 24, 2022.

Cladach Publishing released “Bible Poems for Reflection and Response” by Donna Marie Merritt ’88, ’95 on Sept. 1, 2020.

1984

1989

1959

Penguin Random House SEA released “Where were you? A Profile of Modern Slavery” by Matthew Friedman on Oct. 26, 2021.

Louis Lefevre ’89 was inducted into the East Haven High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame in November 2021. Lefevre was a starting point guard for the East Haven boys’ basketball team during his junior and senior years. As a varsity boys’ basketball coach, Lefevre led four high schools to their most successful seasons in program history.

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1959

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Nancy Lewis ’59 published “Smiling at Strangers: How One Introvert Discovered the Power of Being Kind” (Bookbaby) on Jan. 4, 2021.

1985

1962 Barbara Lauretano ’62 retired after 47 years of teaching in the Trumbull school system. She has relocated to Toronto, about three blocks from her daughter. Lauretano says, “I have so many wonderful memories of my years at Central. A big hello to my friends from the class of 1962.”

1966 The Alumni Association presented its Community Service Award to David Ross BA ’66, MS ’71 during a reception at Alumni Hall on May 16, 2024. The award recognizes alumni and friends of Central who make significant contributions to the advancement of the university and bring positive recognition to Central.

1972 The Alumni Association presented its Distinguished Philanthropist Award to Dennis P. Flynn during a reception at Alumni Hall on May 16, 2024. The award honors an alumnus who has demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy within the university community and beyond.

1973 Joyce Gagnon McAloon, retired Southington Elementary Teacher (2018), was elected in October 2021 as international vice president of the International Honorary Women’s Educator Organization Northeast Region. McAloon served in this position for the 2021 – 2023 biennium.

Michael J. D’Amato

1974 The Alumni Association presented its Distinguished Alumni Service Award to Michael J. D’Amato during a reception at Alumni Hall on May 16, 2024. The award recognizes Central graduates for professional excellence and outstanding service to the university, the Alumni Association, and to the community since graduation.

1975 Random House Studio released “If You Were a Garbage Truck or Other Big-Wheeled Worker!” by Diane Ohanesian ’75 on Feb. 22, 2022.

Ohanesian also published “Panda’s Magical Kite Adventure” (Clever Publishing) on Nov. 2, 2021.

Dr. Leeann Teal-Rutkovsky ’75 is a contributing author to “Challenges in the Fashion Industry: Civilization Crisis, Decolonization, Cultural Legacy, and Transitions,” published in 2023 by Springer.

1976 Nancy A. Thomas ’76 was elected to the Norwich Arts Center’s Board of Directors in February 2022 and served on the board for two years.

Thomas is the finance director for Atlantic Broadband.

1978 Black Rose Writing released “Landscape of a Marriage” by Gail Ward Olmsted ’78 on July 29, 2021.

In May 2023, Dr. Kristine Larsen ’85 received the designation of Connecticut State University Professor. Dr. Larsen, a professor of Geological Sciences, joins a select group of professors in the CSCU system who hold the title. Faculty chosen for this award demonstrate excellence in teaching, a record of outstanding scholarship, and service to the university community.

1986 O’Leary Publishing released “The PRISE Life: Protein Pacing for Optimal Health and Performance” by Dr. Paul J. Arciero on Jan. 9, 2020.

1990 Teresa Knox ’90 retired on May 3, 2024, as executive vice president, chief operations and experience officer at American Eagle Financial Credit Union. Knox joined the team at American Eagle in 2003.

Governor Ned Lamont appointed former Danbury mayor Mark Boughton to serve as the Commissioner of Department of Revenue Services on Dec. 16, 2020. Boughton is a senior advisor to the governor on infrastructure.

Officers from the International Shrine Clown Association awarded Donald M. Casey Jr. ’86 with a Red Nose Award on May 12, 2023. The award is given to Shrine Temple Clowns who raise funds for the International Shrine Clown Association Sneaker Fund.

The International Association of Registered Financial Consultants presented Robert Laraia ’86 with its 2022 Founder’s Award, which recognizes members who possess clean regulatory records. Laraia is a founding partner at North Star Wealth Partners in West Hartford.

Michelle Halloran Gilman

1992 Michelle Halloran Gilman was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont in February 2022 to serve as the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services.

1993 The Southington Public School District recently named Patricia Pettit, who teaches multilingual pupils at Southington High School, its 2024-25 Southington Teacher of the Year.

in the 2023 Chanticleer Paranormal Book Awards in Supernatural Fiction.

The Maine Community Foundation appointed Michele Camarco ’94 as vice president of finance and chief financial officer on March 31, 2021. Camarco is responsible for the review, analysis, and evaluation of the day-to-day finances of the foundation.

Heidi Hoskinson MS ’94 was selected on Feb. 22, 2021, to serve as vice president for Enrollment Management at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas.

Yolanda Bronston was named head Women’s Basketball coach at Eagles View Academy in Jacksonville, Fla., in June 2023.

Bronston also was inducted into the Blacksburg (Virginia) High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022 and selected as the Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 6 Coach of the Year every year from 2018 to 2023.

Jason Daniels ’04, ’11 was named Manchester’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Daniels is a Vocational Education teacher at Manchester Regional Academy.

Laura Gremelsbaker, ’98 Cynthia Joseph Riccio ’98, ’07 was selected as the programs and planning director at the New Haven Museum in September 2023.

2000 Matthew Landon ’00, CPA, EA, MSAT, was promoted to tax principal at Baker Newman Noyes in February 2022. Landon works at BNN’s Woburn, Mass., office.

2001

Jeremy Pollutro ’04 published “Who’s Who in New York Baseball: The All-Time Greatest Players” (Kindle Direct Publishing) in 2021.

2005 Dr. James Carlson ’05, ’06 was elected on Nov. 7, 2023, to a two-year term as president of the Connecticut Technology and Engineering Educators Association.

2006 The Greenwich Public Schools announced on May 4, 2022, the appointment of Dana Firmender ’06 as principal of the International School at Dundee in Riverside.

The Town of Ellington appointed Matthew Reed as its inaugural town administrator in August 2023.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company named Ying Yu, MA ’01, as its inaugural head of sustainability in 2021. In this role, she oversees MassMutual’s environmental, social, and governance efforts.

Lynn Ewing, ’95 Lynne Ewing was promoted to senior people success manager at the Ulta Beauty Dallas distribution center in March 2024.

1996 The Town of East Windsor appointed Matthew J. Carl as East Windsor chief of police in May 2023. Carl has served with the East Windsor Police Department since 1996.

1998 Laura Gremelsbacker ’98 was named the vice president of marketing and branding at NBC10 Boston, NBC Sports Boston, Telemundo Boston, and NECN on Aug. 11, 2021.

2002 Hartford Public Library Director of Public Services Marie Jarry ’02 received the 2022 national Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children. The award recognizes individuals who show exceptional understanding and support of public library service to children while maintaining administrative responsibilities.

2004 J.J. Alo published “The Street Between the Pines” on March 24, 2023. The book won the 2024 President’s Book Award in the Thriller/Horror category from the Florida Authors & Publishers Association, and it was a finalist

Stephen Dexter ’07

2007 Stephen Dexter ’07 (below) made his Broadway debut as an understudy in “The Shark is Broken,” a comedy that opened in August 2023 at the John Golden Theatre. Dexter served as understudy for the three lead actors.

2008 Jesse M. Gomes ’08, ’09 was named assistant executive director of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association in January 2024.

The Consolidated School District of New Britain named Quentin McDougald the 2024 Teacher of the Year in June.

Fulton Books, Inc. released “Follow Me to Distance Learning”

by Agnieszka Petlik ’08 on June 3, 2021.

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1994

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2009

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Michael Boucher ’09, ’13 was named assistant principal of Schaghticoke Middle School in February 2022. Before his appointment, Boucher was director of school counseling at Shepaug Valley School in Washington, Conn.

Yorkshire Publishing released “The Survival Guide for Christians Living in a Fallen World” by Melvin Douglas Wilson ’09 in October 2021.

2010 Rowman & Littlefield Publishers/ AASLH released “Exploring Women’s Suffrage through 50 Historic Treasures” by Jessica D. Jenkins, MS ’10, in April 2020.

2011 Central Connecticut State University presented the 2024 Dr. Stuart Bennett Alumni Award to Jeremy Libby of Ridgefield at its annual Construction Alumni & Friends awards on April 23. Libby is the real estate operations lead at Google. The award recognizes alumni with at least five years’ experience in the construction industry who have a record of service to the construction community.

Central Connecticut State University presented the 2024 Dr. Stuart Bennett Alumni Award to Jacqueline Laramee, vice president of NDC Commercial Construction, at its annual Construction Alumni & Friends awards on April 23. The award recognizes alumni with at least five years’ experience in the construction industry who have a record of service to the construction community.

The Alumni Association presented its Young Alumni Service Award to Shayne Koplowitz ’11, MS ’14 during a reception at Alumni Hall on May 16, 2024. The award recognizes graduates age 40 and younger for professional excellence and outstanding service to the university, the Alumni Association, and the community.

Kevin Pellegatto ’11 was named 2021 Project Manager of the Year by the Associated General Contractors of Connecticut.

Pellegatto is a senior project manager at Gilbane Building Company.

2012 Gabbie Barnes ’12 was named a 2023 Connecticut Arts Hero. The designation honors Connecticut residents who are doing inspiring things in, for, or through the arts in Connecticut Barnes is the branch manager at the Windsor Public Library; a member of the City of Hartford Cultural Affairs Commission; and a board member for the Windsor Art Center.

2013 Daniel Vega ’13 joined the Milwaukee Brewers organization as an assistant strength and conditioning specialist in November 2021. Before his move to Milwaukee, Vega spent the previous six seasons as a minor league strength and conditioning coach in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

2014 Carrie Robinson ’14 was named manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at ESPN in June 2022.

2015 Alexandra Castillo ’15 successfully completed the Federal Probation and Pretrial Academy on Feb. 9, 2022. The academy is housed at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Charleston, S.C.

Shayne Koplowitz

Lt. Brian C. Eckblom MS ’15 was named deputy chief of the South Windsor Police Department in January 2021. He has been an officer with the department since 2004.

Lt. Brian C. Eckblom, MS ’15 Watertown Public Schools selected Chelsie Guerrera, a Mathematics teacher at Watertown High School, as the 2022-2023 District Teacher of the Year.

OKAY Industries promoted Redi Nasto ’15 to laser technologies manager in 2023. In this role, Nasto leads and manages all laser technologies and processes.

2016 Mackenzie Keyes was named an assistant softball coach at UConn in July 2023. In her first season as the hitting coach, she was instrumental in the Huskies success at the plate, coaching four players above a .300 batting average and five players with six or more home runs. Under her guidance, UConn tied the program record for doubles (73) that was set in 2008.

Shannon Durfee, ’19 and Vin Poggio, ’19 Laura Kelley ’19 was named the 2024 School Counselor of the Year by the Connecticut School Counselor Association. Kelley is a counselor at Maple Hill Elementary School in Naugatuck.

2020 Katie Barnicle ’20, ’22 was selected in December 2021 as a Leaders Investigating Mathematics Evidence (LIME) Ph.D. Scholar at the University of Texas. As a LIME Ph.D. Scholar, Barnicle was granted a $250,000 scholarship to complete her doctorate, which will focus on teaching and assessment of mathematics for children with disabilities.

2018

2021

Joshua Rivera ’18 was elected to the Middlesex United Way Board of Directors in February 2021.

Teddy Rainville ’21 launched a new app, Roomistry, on May 1, 2024. The app uses an algorithm to create a list of potentially compatible roommates for users in various cities.

2019 Shannon Durfee ’19 and Vin Poggio ’19 are engaged to be married on Sept. 12, 2025. The couple met at Seth North Hall on the Central campus, and Poggio proposed to Durfee in the same place on Aug. 5, 2023. “Central gave us some of the best years of our lives,” Durfee says. “We made a big group of lifelong friends at Seth North, and we wouldn’t be where we are without meeting everyone and each other back in 2015. We couldn’t be more grateful for the time we had in college.”

Teddy Rainville ’21

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Upward progression Director and screenwriter Rashad Frett ’09 lives by the acronym PIK: Progression is Key. And despite the economic hardships and social injustices the Central alumnus faced growing up in Hartford, he has never lost focus on his goals and has kept moving steadily forward.

Last year, the talent agency WME signed Frett, whose short film “Ricky” debuted in the Short Film program of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

Frett was accepted into the prestigious NYU Tisch Graduate Film program and received his MFA in May 2021.

Since then, Frett’s work has garnered multiple awards and nominations, among them a BAFTA - HBO scholarship, a Martin Scorsese Young Filmmakers scholarship, a DGA Student Film Award, the BET Blackhouse Foundation Fellowship at Sundance, and a Spike Lee Production Fellowship. He is also the recipient of a Cary Fukunaga Production Fund award; Ryan Murphy’s HALF Initiative Director Shadowing fellowship; and he was selected for Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film” for 2023.

Frett is currently working on a full-length version of “Ricky,” the story of an ex-offender struggling with his new freedom.

— Amy J. Barry

Audette ’16 revs up the motorcycle world After serving five and a half years in the Marine Corps — including a sevenmonth deployment in Afghanistan — Tony Audette was ready to shift gears.

When he enrolled at Central Connecticut State University in 2012, Audette selected Mechanical Engineering Technology as his major. He liked to fix things, and it seemed doable to the former heavy machine gunner, who says he was not a huge fan of school. But his academic advisor, Dr. Luz Amaya, pushed back, insisting that he could become a mechanical engineer.

“I don’t think I can do the math,” Audette told her.

Amaya responded, “College is where you learn the math.”

Audette would go on to graduate in 2016 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and launch his own motorcycle manufacturing company.

Today he calls that exchange with Amaya a conversation that changed the entire course of his life.

“It really didn’t occur to me that I could make and design things. I learned how to learn,” he says.

Founded in 2019, Audette Motorcycles manufactures aftermarket specialty parts and a single motorcycle model: the Velos “American superbike.” Inspired by

the leaner, simpler bikes of the early 20th century, Audette engineered it with a focus on performance, with 128 horsepower and 156 foot-pounds of torque.

Scan the QR code to read the rest of this story online.

— Leslie Virostek

Open enrollment at University of Dope CENTRAL MAGAZINE

Can you name all the members of the Wu Tang Clan? You might be a perfect candidate for University of Dope, an interactive party game for hip hop and R&B lovers.

Luckily, the game, created by A.V. Perkins ‘08 and Marian Andoh-Clarke, is available nationwide, after Target picked it up for national distribution in 2023.

Its creators say University of Dope is not a trivia game but a strategy game geared toward people with a working knowledge of hip-hop music. It intends to encourage passionate discussions and bridge the gap between oldschool and new-school fans. It’s been played by the biggest names in hip-hop, including Method Man, Redman, and FunkMaster Flex, among others.

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“People love it because they can play it intergenerationally,” Perkins notes. “Parents use it as a tool to teach their children about the music they grew up with. People are playing it in all different parts of the country. They’re playing it on military bases. We’re shipping it all over.”

— Amy J. Barry Scan the QR code to read the rest of this story online.

From left, Larry Hall, President Zulma R. Toro, Dr. Peter Rosa, and Wyatt Bosworth.

Three generations of alumni address 2024 graduates On May 11, Central celebrated the accomplishments of its graduating class at the annual commencement ceremony. In honor of the university’s 175th anniversary, three distinguished alumni served as guest commencement speakers, with each representing a different decade of Central’s history.

Dr. Peter Rosa ’68, ’74 shared his insights and wisdom with the graduating class. With a successful career in academia and a profound commitment to community service, Rosa’s address inspired graduates to pursue their passions with dedication and integrity.

Larry Hall ’89, ’96 took the podium next to impart his experiences since his years as a student at Central. As director of Recruitment

and Admissions at Central, Hall’s speech resonated with graduates as he was the one to admit them. He encouraged them to embrace challenges and seize opportunities with courage and determination.

Wyatt Bosworth ’17 shared his journey of personal and professional growth since leaving Central. With a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, Bosworth’s address inspired graduates to question what they see, embrace change, harness their creativity, and make a positive impact in their respective fields.

1940 Marian Klatt Markovich McIlvin; Nov. 3, 2021

1943

Amaryllis (Swanson) Cicero, Oct. 19, 2022

Robert Graham Hale Sr.; May 31, 2023; MS ’65

Jane Horton Welch; March 2, 2024; MS ’67

Anne Stachelek Burke Chussil; Oct. 10, 2022

Frank S. Laudano Jr.; May 1, 2024

1961

Jacob Zalman Bass; June 28, 2023

Estelle (Breton) Sawtelle; Dec. 25, 2022; MS ’75

Claire Goodwin; Aug. 13, 2022

1953

1945

Elizabeth Alice Adams; Feb. 24, 2022

Esther M. Eddy; July 18, 2022

1946 Marjorie Bertha Zehrer Anderson; Feb. 16, 2022 Mildred Emily Reed; March 25, 2023

1947 Florence Cohn; Jan. 29, 2022 Gabriella Pellegrino Garrity; March 25, 2023

1948 Catherine (Jones) McGuiness; July 9, 2021

Leah Kaplan; Dec. 22, 2021

Lucy (Giuliano) Ashline; Dec. 30, 2022

1954 Walter Michael Conklin; April 17, 2024 Sophia B. Costas; Aug. 30, 2023 Estelle S. Freed; May 11, 2023 Donald Thomas Gallucci; Dec. 5, 2022 Patricia Hanbury; Sept. 19, 2022 Dr. David Joseph Kane; May 22, 2022

Jerome P. Albino; Nov. 24, 2022; MS ’68 Robert Dwyer Casey Sr.; Nov. 23, 2021

Sandy Rich; March 11, 2021*

Elaine (Schmidt) Chesley; Dec. 21, 2020

Lucy Ann Saglio; Aug. 26, 2021; MS ’65

Alexander Hall; April 12, 2023

1958

William J. Ross Jr.; Aug. 10, 2020

Richard D. Peoples; Sept. 3, 2021

Julian Wojtusik; Aug. 13, 2022*

Joyce Gray Witik; June 7, 2023

1959

1963

1955

Peter Michael Curry; May 24, 2024

Janice E. D’Orio; Aug. 10, 2022 Salvatore Natale Gionfriddo; Oct. 9, 2022

1952

1962

George A. Geyer; Sept. 4, 2021*

Casimir P. Kovalaski; Feb. 7, 2021

Rose Rudek; Jan. 28, 2024; MS ’70

David R. Turkington; April 24, 2023

Gloria Jean (Lestini) Talarico; Jan. 22, 2024

Frances J. Farley; Jan. 18, 2021

1951

Ronald Mark Pringle; Feb. 19, 2022*

David M. Mordavsky; Dec. 16, 2021; MS ’70

Jean (Pulcinella) Dufrat; July 21, 2021; MS ’79

James Sheldon Landon Jr.; Jan. 25, 2024

James D. Killian; November 8, 2022

Ludmila Komeck Sabatiuk; Dec. 19, 2023

Ronald Martino; July 16, 2022

Julia (Reynolds) Kasprow; July 8, 2023

Bruce Malcolm Royce; Sept. 14, 2022

Mildred (Corn) Stein; Jan. 28, 2023

Robert Thomas MacBain; July 17, 2021

Barbara (Milardo) Carlone; Dec. 5, 2022

Paul L. Cipriano; April 5, 2022; sixth-year ’85

Anthony J. Antonelli; Jan. 10, 2021; MS ’65

Patricia M. Mahakian; Dec. 23, 2022

William Kramer; June 19, 2021

Patricia Taylor Szemplinski; Feb. 4, 2024

1957

1949

1950

Joseph “Jake” Salafia; Jan. 5, 2021

Robert O. Blake June 11, 2021

Emil Ostrowski; Dec. 31, 2023

Irene B. Smith; Nov. 26, 2020

Joseph Roland Marquis; Sept. 24, 2023

Richard E. Haines; March 29, 2023 John Szandrocha; Feb. 18, 2023; MS ’68 Gertrude (Wilde) Wedler; Oct. 21, 2023; MS ’78

1956 Dr. Bettye Fletcher Comer; June 2, 2022

George A. Eagleson; Feb. 5, 2023 Raymond Howard Foberg; Jan. 24, 2024 Katherine Ryan Martin; June 11, 2024 Linda Belle Peck; July 30, 2024 Jerome James Ryscavage Jr.; Jan. 19, 2024 Shirley Ann (Cronin) Tosatti; May 10, 2024

1960 Randall J. Stack; June 22, 2021; MS ’68;

Edward M. Kirby; Feb. 1, 2021

James C. Cousins; March 26, 2023

Nancy Van Zandt Miller; Aug. 11, 2022; MS ’77

Henry F. Grabowski; July 26, 2021

Roy Peter Sullivan; March 22, 2023 MS ’66

Maureen A. Grom; Jan. 4, 2024

John Webster ’60; March 15, 2021*

Ronald Louis Bucari Sr.; Nov. 28, 2022; MS Janice A. Burrill; Aug. 31, 2021 Carol Georgietti Gigerenzer; July 3, 2023 Bobby Lee Gioscia Aug. 27, 2021; MS Deacon Carmelo A. Guzzardi; Aug. 23, 2021 Joan P. Harpie; July 21, 2024; MS ‘71 William S. Laros; June 21, 2022 James E. Lee; March 19, 2024 Beverly (Valade) Negip; March 30, 2021 Loren William Schave; June 30, 2023 Agnes (Hendry) Sedgwick; Jan. 16, 2021; MS ’70

CENTRAL MAGAZINE

IN MEMORIAM

Alumni who earned two or more degrees at Central are listed first by their undergraduate graduation year. Graduates of the post-graduate programs only are denoted with an “MA,” “MS,” or “6th-year” and listed under their graduation year.

Former faculty and staff are marked with an asterisk.

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CENTRAL MAGAZINE 30

1964

1968

Ross Robert “Mick” Aiello Jr.; Feb. 24, 2023

Janice Carlson; July 6, 2022; MS ’76

Joan Coleman Carenzo; Dec. 4, 2023

Patricia Steffens Clark; April 25, 2021; MS

Virginia (Tassi) Degner; June 2, 2021

Archangelo Anthony D’Amato; Sept.

1, 2024

Girard “Jerry” Gannotti; Sept. 25, 2021 Kathleen Carolyn Guerrera; Feb. 15, 2021 William P. Mecca; Aug. 7, 2021 Dr. Spenser Bruce Rohrlick; April 14, 2021 Deanna Rose Stango Tucker; Sept.

14, 2021

1965 Gary T. Burt; Jan. 28, 2023 George Brady Drumm; Jan. 2, 2023 Patricia Marion (Stenberg) Zimmerman; May 19, 2024; 6thyear ’90

John Adrian Doyle Jr.; June 19, 2022 Paula Erickson; Dec. 9, 2023; MS ’74 Leo J. Gillis; May 2, 2023; MS

Salvatrice “Sally” Schultze; June 15, 2021

Richard Hamasian Jr.; Aug. 11, 2022

David Sirman; Tuesday, July 19, 2022; MS

Diane (Rutkowski) Harrigan; March 15, 2023

Robert N. Stack; Sept. 22, 2022; MS

Michael E. Herring; May 19, 2023

Joel Anthony Wilks; Oct. 16, 2022; MS ’86

1970

Carol Goselin Lis; Feb. 4, 2024 Joseph V. Maggipinto; Aug. 29, 2022; MS

Nancy Lee Johns Utman Bolgard; July 2, 2021; MS ’79

Claudia Gardino Peronace; Aug. 10, 2024

Robert Roland Couture; May 22, 2023; MS ’77

Salvatore James Petrella; Oct. 21, 2023

Katharine Elisabeth Farkes; July 23, 2023

Sharon Ann Pilz; June 15, 2023 Lydia (Follandri) Rydel; Feb. 23, 2023; MS ’70

Robert Martin; June 27, 2023 Maureen Elizabeth Murphy; Dec. 11, 2020

1969

John David Piscitello; July 21, 2023

Henry Russell Hague Jr.; Aug. 19, 2021

Michael Andrew Beresky; Nov. 4, 2022

Louis Eugene Stypinski, Dec. 2, 2021

John E. O’Neill; June 28, 2021; MS ’65

Bernard W. Petkis Jr.; May 14, 2024; MS ’79

Lynda Ellen Chaco; April 2, 2022 Stephen T. Cieslewski; July 21, 2022

Dr. William Joseph Gauthier Jr.; June 30, 2021; MS ’70 Marie Hopkins; Jan. 3, 2023; MS ’73* Judith (Carrier) Igielski; Dec. 16, 2021

Enrico A. Santoro; July 7, 2022; MS ’81 John Paul Scavone; Aug. 24, 2023 Theodora “Teddy” Skoczylas; August 10, 2024; MS ’76 Raymond D. Szymanski; July 17, 2024 Joseph John Wisniewski; June 11, 2023; MS ’76

1972

Daniel W. Mahoney, Dec. 14, 2022

Douglas P. Burke; April 20, 2023; MS ’74

John E. Symons; July 18, 2022

Justine R. Dennis; Aug. 3, 2021

Michelangelo “Mike” Mirabelli; July 16, 2023

1966

Michael T. Fiore; April 25, 2023 (MS)

James Francis Moriarty; May 22, 2023

Edna N. Hansen; Dec. 17, 2020; MS ’73

Philip Edward Mullen Jr.; Aug. 16, 2022

Barbara Janet Caserta King; June 2, 2023

Barbara Ostertag; April 3, 2024

Stephanie B. Kwasnicki; Feb. 15, 2023

Robert Martin Wall; Jan. 26, 2023

1967

Elizabeth F. Roden; Oct. 4, 2024; MS ’76

Ronald G. Boucher; March 27, 2022

Ray Armand DeCormier; May 1, 2022*

Nancy Miller Reale; Sept. 5, 2022 (MS)

Lenore “Lee” Pandolfe; Feb. 27, 2024

Mary E. LeBlanc; June 13, 2024

Margaret (Delaporta) Santerre; July 26, 2021

Roger Patrick Plante; Feb. 20, 2023

CarolAnne Mocarski; May 10, 2022

Carol Jean Speer Alexander; March 28, 2023; MS ’80

Vaughn A. Clark; Aug. 20, 2022; MS

William J. Monaghan; May 10, 2022; MS ’68; 6th-year ’76

Jerry M. McGurkin; Feb. 17, 2023

Chester Jasenski; Feb. 27, 2021 (MS)

William A. Reagan; Aug. 24, 2022

Mary (Byrne) Goggin; July 21, 2022

Salvatore Marrocco; June 21, 2024

Ronald James McNamee; July 2, 2023

Peter H. Richards; Oct. 23, 2022

Robert F. Malley; June 23, 2023

1971

R. James Latimer Jr.; Jan. 13, 2024; MS

Emanuel “Manny” Masselli; Dec. 19, 2023

Arthur Adolfson; March 10, 2024; MS ’73*

Ellen Mickel; Jan. 1, 2022; MS ’71

Lucinda C. Meehan; April 22, 2024

Thomas A. Penna; May 30, 2023; MS

Ruth F. Meusel; April 18, 2023; MS ’72

Thomas Caputo; May 23, 2022; MS ’76

Robert Stachelek; Nov. 15, 2023; MS ’72

Frederick A. Peterson Jr.; June 25, 2023; MS ’72

William John Cashman; June 17, 2024; 6th-year ’75 William R. Crowther; June 15, 2021 John (Jake) Fagan; July 25, 2022 Charles Addison Gallon; March 4, 2023 Peter L. Gill; Aug. 12, 2022 Elio Gugliotti, May 2, 2021; MS ’80 Lynda H. Korotash; March 31, 2021 Victor Mambruno; June 5, 2024 Donald Joseph Marino; Jan. 14, 2021 George W. McKee; April 9, 2024 Christine McMahon; Nov. 9, 2020

Karen M. DiTomasso; Nov. 29, 2022

Kathryn Nicola Olschan; Sept. 15, 2021

Nicholas Economopoulos; May 26, 2022

Theresa C. O’Connor; Sept. 22, 2022; ’78 MS

Joseph P. Ciriello Jr.; Aug. 6, 2021; MS ’85

Lawrence W. Mielniczuk; Aug. 9, 2022

Anne Brenda Sherman; Sept. 16, 2024

Beverley G. Crompton; June 7, 2024

Richard Gene Notarangelo; April 28, 2024; MS ’86

Margaret (Ginger) Teubner; March 16, 2021

J. Linda Cutler; Nov. 21, 2023

Mark E. St. Germain; July 6, 2024

Roger Stanley Drezek; July 15, 2022

Douglas Evans Walker; May 23, 2023

Joseph R. Gonzalez; Feb. 10, 2023

1977

Helen E. (Brown) Tomasello; June 23, 2024 James F. Towne; Oct. 7, 2021 Bruce Wearne; March 11, 2021 Lewis Richard Weiss; July 20, 2021

1973 Annesa (Jacob) Borla; March 11, 2023 Richard C. Bowman; Sept. 10, 2021; MS Carol Soucy Caldeira; Feb. 24, 2023; MS ’76 Vincent Castro; April 3, 2024 Anthony Cavallo Sr.; June 13, 2022 Jean Ann Cousinow; Aug. 5, 2023 Ann A. Dawson; May 19, 2022 Michael A. DeCarlo; Jan. 3, 2024 Vicky DiMaio; March 4, 2024 Dolores Ann Galasso; Nov. 18, 2021 Nancy (Kane) Hines; Aug. 22, 2021

Randall Joseph Smith; Nov. 26, 2020

Martin John Howard; Sept. 14, 2022

1982 Carol (McCullough) Argazzi; Aug. 12, 2021 James J. Lianos; Feb. 10, 2023 Dianne Lubeski; Feb. 23, 2021

Richard Gumpert Sr.; Jan. 24, 2024

Barry Raymond Beatty; Dec. 16, 2022

Debra McKenney; June 17, 2024 Susan E. Modrak; May 11, 2021

1983

Thomas Lawrence Carrier; April 4, 2022

Peggy Ann Mongellow; Feb. 3, 2022

Daniel Brennan Hill; March 16, 2022

Virginia F. Doyle; Feb. 5, 2021; MS ’83 Vincent W. “Bill” Danilowicz Jr.; April 16, 2021; MS ’81 Nancy Harvey Ellis Duffy; April 24, 2021 Nancy Eberhardt; Aug. 12, 2021 Steven K. Kelley; July 5, 2022 Carole Lewonczyk; Nov. 2, 2022 Daniel W. O’Grady; March 27, 2022 Gary P. Paliwoda; Aug. 9, 2021 Robert M. Rowlson; July 25, 2022 Dennis Thresher; June 19, 2024

Lynn Marie (McGrath) Tata Plummer; Nov. 11, 2021

Barbara E. Vassar; March 27, 2023; MS ’76

David M. Provoncha; June 10, 2023

David O. Neurath; Dec. 5, 2023; MS ’86

1978 Joan Mary Grandieri; March 3, 2023 Thomas T. Haze; March 12, 2022 James Joseph McGill; June 22, 2024 Robert A. Novak; Dec. 8, 2023 Cindy (Holmes) Tyrseck; Dec. 31, 2021

Dolores J. Stolfi; March 26, 2021

Christine S. (Santucci) DeCrisanti; Jan. 13, 2023 John Joseph Gentile; July 2, 2024 Michael Lezon; Oct. 6, 2023 Thomas Patrick Mullins; March 27, 2021 Robert Parziale; June 18, 2022 Mary Ellen Pastore; Jan. 25, 2023 William J. Straub; Sept. 23, 2022

1979

1984

Edward Iadarola; June 14, 2022

Derick J. Caruso; July 11, 2022

Louise Kaestle; March 27, 2024; MS James P. Nelson; Sept. 17, 2022

Jayne DePole-Bogucki; Aug. 10, 2023; MS

Anne Marie Wilson; Oct. 12, 2023; MA

Maureen M. Barry Thresher; Aug. 19, 2023

David C. Desmarais; Oct. 11, 2023

Mary Wright; July 15, 2022

Donna (Ososki) Wood; July 18, 2021

1985

Daniel J. Sclare; April 3, 2024; MS ’77, 6th-year ‘81

Stephen Tracey Woodhouse; Oct. 23, 2022

Darlene G. Stannard; Aug. 16, 2023; MS 1986

1975

Muriel Zeldis; Sept. 26, 2022

Elizabeth (Kolodziej) Greene; Dec. 31, 2022

1974

Robert J. Moran; Sept. 17, 2024

Anthony Charles Amodeo Jr.; Dec. 21, 2023

Michael Salonia; April 4, 2023

Richard Albert Arsenault; Jan. 6, 2021

Marianne Bobrowski; May 10, 2021

1975

Brien Edward Malloy; July 31, 2023

Barbara “Ginger” Reeve; April 30, 2024; MS

Celeste Louise Caracausa; Nov. 29, 2022

1981

Dennis Thresher; June 19, 2024

1976

1980

Marcia Lou (Witzel) Ayres; Jan. 4, 2024; MS

Robert J. Capobianco; March 24, 2021

John Purdy Slason Jr.; November 1, 2023

William W. Conran; June 28, 2022

1986

David P. Houle; March 20, 2023 Brett R. Kwaak Sr.; July 28, 2022 John J. Madden III; Dec. 6, 2023 Ronald C. Messier; Nov. 23, 2022

Steve Knurek; Aug. 8, 2024 Anne (Graham) Maggipinto; July 5, 2021; MS Roberta McMurray; June 8, 2024

Gwendolyn V. Bailey; Aug. 13, 2024

Ellen L. Anton; Oct. 18, 2023

Michael Stanley Mischak; May 11, 2023

James Borkowski; Oct. 9, 2020

William Charles Rue; May 3, 2024

Patricia Jane Morrissey; March 15, 2024

Mary Kate (Kirchberger) Boucher; July 29, 2023; MS

Dolores Driscoll Wills; Sept. 25, 2021; MS ’84

Marlene (Bloom) Slowenski; Oct. 11, 2022

Janice (Gabelmann) Southworth; May 19, 2024

CENTRAL MAGAZINE

Sandra L. (Hadvab) Pastuszak; March 13, 2022

31

1987 Cornelia (Nina) Porter Ford; May 4, 2021; MS ’87

CENTRAL MAGAZINE

Carol P. Gadd; Oct. 12, 2021; MS 1987

32

Bradley Charles Smith; April 25, 2023

1988

Francis M. Cardello III; April 14, 2021 John A. Dombrowski Jr.; April 23, 2022; MS ’99 Philip S. Ozimek; Oct. 29, 2022 Stephan M. Sen; Aug. 1, 2023

1993

Andrew R. Plona; Jan. 20, 2023

2012

Suswan Speight; Aug. 3, 2022

Vincenzo Giliberti, Oct. 22, 2022

Laura A. (Zukowski) Sullivan; Sept.

13, 2021

Matthew Jensen; Feb. 16, 2023

2001 Matthew P. Cooper; MS 2001; June 4, 2021

Kelly Anne Nordstrom; Feb. 7, 2023

2013 Sara DeMonti, Aug. 30, 2021; MS

2002

Shachia Leneata Walton; May 16, 2023

Steven Martin Casey; Aug. 11, 2022

2014

Virginia Ann Olsen; Nov. 22, 2023

Marcin A. Grochal; July 12, 2022

Eric William Jones; May 12, 2022

Frances Frumin Weiner; May 9, 2021; MA

Susana (Barraza) Herrick; June 24, 2023

2015

1994

2003

Gabriel Jose Hernandez; March 24, 2022

Michael J. Cirillo IV; Oct. 19, 2023; MS ’98

Gregory Chambers; June 22, 2021

Richard S. Gallagher; Aug. 25, 2022

2017

Freida R. Hampton; April 14, 2023

Robert J. Kane; Feb. 5, 2021

Frederic “Ted” Manchester; May 30, 2023

Desmond McAleenan; Feb. 26, 2021

Andrew M. Norkin; Feb. 28, 2021

Steven G. Supernaugh; Jan. 29, 2023

Patrice A. (DiGangi) Erickson; April 5, 2024 Richard F. Thorpe Jr.; June 8, 2022

1989 Carolyn Fisher Coffin; July 19, 2022; MS Claire Ann Eddy; May 26, 2023

Brian R. Ney; Sept. 15, 2023 William John Niedbala; Dec. 8, 2021

Beth A. Longo; Oct. 4, 2023

2004 Heather Lynn (Podzunas) Hogaboom; May 6, 2023

Vaughn Craig James; June 8, 2024

2019 Catherine Mary Foster; Dec. 12, 2021

Erik R. Kastner; April 18, 2024

Redion “Redi” Lame; Jan. 19, 2023

Ann Wozniak; July 22, 2023

Ryan J. White; March 15, 2021

1990

2005

1995

2021

Joseph Anthony Baginski; July 20, 2022; MS

Dr. Carol Ann-Marie Henry-Smith; Sept. 30, 2023

Valerie Alves Alexander; Jan. 25, 2024; 6th-year

Jose L. Rodriguez; May 23, 2021; MS ’01

Robin C. Bova; May 21, 2023 Maureen Lamson; Oct. 27, 2021 William Dobbins Langston; Feb. 17, 2023 Kevin C. Oliva; June 27, 2021; MS ’96* Carol Marie Fafard Pagano; Nov. 4, 2022 Sandra Whalen Quine; June 9, 2023; MS

1991

1997

Tara Melissa (Piers) Ferrante; Jan. 29, 2024

David Edward Kulak; May 6, 2021

Christopher Michael Lagassey; Sept. 19, 2023

1998

2007

Rosa Freeman Haynes; May 6, 2022

Michael DePeau; June 29, 2023

Carol Ann Morano; Feb. 13, 2024; MS ’03*

Christopher M. Easdon; Sept. 9, 2022

Jay Christopher Quinlan; Jan. 20, 2024

Aaron Matthew Pelletier; May 30, 2024

Ismael Rivera, May 29, 2022; MS Donald J. Wetzel; June 8, 2022

2008 Noritake Asato; Sept. 13, 2022

Joan Bonnin Herzberg; Aug. 11, 2024

1999

Capt. James D. Kelley; May 9, 2024; MS

Joseph Rafael Avitable; Feb. 16, 2024

William LaMachia; Aug. 30, 2023

Jonathan Bates; Dec. 30, 2021

2009

Raymond E. Rivard; April 17, 2021; MS

Jonathan Crosby Scudder; Aug. 16, 2024

Robert Gideon Nystrom; Aug. 25, 2022; MS

Gwen T. Von Salzen; July 16, 2024

2000

2011

1992

Nathalie Bodak Dailey; Nov. 23, 2020

Joshua B. Castellano; Sept. 17, 2021

Michael P. Kivlin; Nov. 27, 2022

Maria Elena Lejardi; May 4, 2023

Karen L. Anderson; Oct. 21, 2023; MS

Bruce Wood Beeghly; June 2, 2024 Jacob Pietrasz; Sept. 1, 2022

Jack Ryan Bishop; Aug. 3, 2022 Graham Rode; March 26, 2024 James Paul Thalheimer; May 6, 2024

CLASS NOTES AND OTHER UPDATES KEEP IN TOUCH Do you have news to share?

Alumni are welcome to submit class notes and in memoriam listings any time through the addresses below: Email: ccsunews@ccsu.edu U.S. Mail: Class Notes, Office of Marketing & Communications, Central Connecticut State University, 1615 Stanley St., New Britain, CT 06050-4010 CHANGE OF ADDRESS Did you move recently?

Make sure we have your updated address by filling out the form at www.ccsu.edu/alumniupdate.

AND EXCELLENCE Six hundred guests celebrated Central Connecticut State University’s 175th anniversary in style at “A Legacy of Excellence,” a gala event held at the university on Nov. 2 at the C.J. Huang Recreation Center on campus.

The sold-out event raised more than $600,000 for the CCSU Foundation’s Institutional Enrichment Fund. New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart ’09 and Chief Executive Officer and President of the Travelers Foundation Marlene Ibsen served as co-chairs of the Honorary Committee for the gala. Travelers was the lead Legacy of Excellence sponsor and Stanley Black Decker was the Changing Lives sponsor.

Photos by Stan Godlewski and Shelly Sindland

After an evening of dinner and dancing, as well as live and silent auctions, Central President Zulma R. Toro addressed the assembled guests.

academic community that empowers students to reach their full potential, prepares them for the challenges of tomorrow, and enriches the lives of everyone around us.”

“Looking ahead, I am filled with optimism,” Toro said.

“With your support, we will continue to cultivate a vibrant

Take a look at some of the highlights from the gala here!

CENTRAL MAGAZINE

ELEGANCE

33

CENTRAL MAGAZINE

WE ARE CENTRAL

34

Central Connecticut State University has expanded quite a bit over the last 175 years. Our inside front cover shows construction underway on the iconic administration building, Davidson Hall, at the State Normal School in 1923. That building remains the centerpiece of the university, of course, but its neighboring halls and facilities reflect a university that has grown with the times. As this drone photo suggests, the sky is the limit for Connecticut’s first publicly funded flagship university.

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CENTRAL MAGAZINE

1516 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06050-4010 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

A Designated Green College

Best Colleges Regional Universities North —US News and World Report

Top Colleges —Forbes, 2024

—Princeton Review, 2025

Top Performer of Social Mobility

Best Graduate Schools —US News and World Report, 2024

—US News and World Report

Best Colleges for Veterans

Best Value School —US News and World Report

—US News and World Report

Best Northeast Colleges

A Best College in the Northeast

—US News and World Report

—Princeton Review, 2024

Community Engagement Recognition

An Elite institution of Higher Ed

—The Carnegie Foundation

—The Hartford Courant

Best Colleges for Economics —US News and World Report

Best Colleges for Nursing Best Undergrad Engineering Program Regional Universities North

—US News and World Report

—US News and World Report

WE ARE CENTRAL !

LEARN MORE | CCSU.EDU