Nichols Magazine
EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT NICHOLS AND BEYOND
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President’s Message
STRENGTH IN OUR FOUNDATION
You may find it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to avoid the headlines on the state of higher education these days. Colleges and universities are facing an unprecedented perfect storm of challenges, from public and government scrutiny to demographics cliffs to financial pressures, even to the dizzying rate at which intelligent automation is transforming business.
It can be unsettling, and I’ve been heartened by the many alumni who have reached out to express both concern and support.
As we closely monitor developments across the industry, we are being strategic and proactive in leveraging opportunities to strengthen our mission, lean into what distinguishes Nichols from other institutions, and promote fiscal health. And while we are not immune to challenges, we are well positioned in several important ways.
Nichols has low institutional debt. This gives the college greater resilience and more flexibility to invest in the resources that will enhance both academic and campus life.
Nichols offers a relevant and respected business education. We are among 6 percent of business schools worldwide to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Our desirable brand of hands-on experiential education, a powerful mix of internships, consulting projects, research opportunities, and professional certifications results in 95 percent of Nichols graduates to be employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.
Nichols has an engaged and influential alumni network. Our alumni serve the college in multiple and myriad ways. They have been, and will continue to be, a huge part of the Nichols success story – mentoring students, offering jobs and internships, sharing their expertise and experience in the classroom, participating on panels, advising current students, partnering on consulting projects. Nichols alumni are loyal and proud, and their level of involvement in the life of the college is the envy of many other institutions.
In addition, there are dozens of alumni leaders who serve on the Board of Trustees, the Board of Advisors, and our newest group, Bison of the Last Decade (BOLD). Hundreds more provide annual philanthropic support, signaling strong donor confidence and interest in further investment.
We remain exceedingly grateful for the power and resilience of our campus and extended communities as we forge ahead and look forward to working together to shape the future of this remarkable institution.
Bill Pieczynski
p.m., M
F www.nichols.edu Nichols Magazine is published by Nichols College, Dudley, MA.
ON-TIME, IN-MOMENT LEARNING
AI-driven shifts in education and entrepreneurship at Nichols and beyond
Thanks to their exceptional performance at the National Collegiate Sports Sales Competition, five Nichols College students moved the college to number five nationwide for sports sales education. One of their secret weapons: practicing sales and customer service in real-time through simulation games built with ChatGPT.
The games were the brainchild of Nichols sport management faculty member and chair of the entrepreneurship program, Tim Liptrap. Liptrap uses AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini to help run his business, plan lessons, and collaborate as a writing and teaching partner.
“For my own writing and research, I use it as a sparring partner – it knows what I’m looking for and what feedback will take my
work to the next level,” Liptrap says. “I can make lessons more efficient and effective, adding more to the class with the help of AI. A student might have a business demand or a pitch contest, and AI can build a PowerPoint for their presentation. It becomes easier to focus on the content rather than just production.”
Kevin Mentzer, trustee professor of data science at Nichols, sees tools like ChatGPT as a collaboration partner, rather than a replacement for humans or just a new form of web search. He and other faculty members like Liptrap are engaging with AI to enhance their teaching.
“I consider search as the entry level use,” Mentzer says. “To really take advantage of AI, you have to think beyond ‘ask question, get answer,’ but start working with it as a silent partner who will do whatever I need – an assistant who will help me brainstorm a new course or evaluate my curriculum, and find hidden biases in my own syllabi that I’m unaware of.”
Generative AI tools pose a unique challenge to faculty across universities. With new technologies coming to educational settings every year, it can be hard to keep up with which ones will be helpful. Meanwhile, AI itself can hit home in a different way.
“It challenges what it means to be a faculty member when AI can be an expert in everything,” Mentzer adds. “Because of that, they don’t want to learn how to use
it. It’s a delicate dance – the people who should most be at an AI workshop are the ones who are most opposed to AI and don’t understand its capabilities. We have to get past the fear that our jobs might have to change.”
There are an increasing number of these workshops for Nichols College faculty, in part thanks to the efforts of Heather Richards, assistant professor of management. She’s been leading workshops for her colleagues that address classroom use, ethics tests for students, and fair use policies, much of which
Kevin Mentzer sees AI as a silent and objective partner to brainstorm with on curricular ideas.
Heather Richards leads workshops to immerse and guide faculty on the ethical and practical uses of AI.
came out of an AI book club for faculty development held several years ago.
“I look at making AI learning more relational and reflective – if students and faculty are engaging critically and thinking ethically, AI is a great tool. You have to really reflect on why you’re using it, not just that you can,” Richards says.
Liptrap sees AI as a tool for self-learning and self-guided education, which allows
different students to learn in the way best suited for themselves. In a case study problem, a chatbot asks students questions, and if the student is missing a topical idea, it will go back and reframe it in a different way to help them understand the idea.
“It’s on-time, in-moment learning,” Liptrap continues. “Students end up learning in the way they learn best.”
Richards sees things similarly and mentions AI’s ability to support diverse learners, including neurodiverse and disabled students.
“I see AI tools amplifying faculty’s ability to connect,” she says. “For tutoring it’s an amazing tool, and it can help design meaningful learning experiences that stay up to date with the news, applying real events to what you’re lecturing on.”
Liptrap sees his entrepreneurship students successfully leveraging AI in their current startups, listing several examples across industries.
“I’ve got a team of students building out a drone-based building-washing company, and they are using AI to look at competition and contracts, business building, and preparing a pitch deck,” he says. “Another student inherited a business that fits masks for hospital settings, and she is using AI for basic contracts, business development, and scheduling. A recent graduate is using it for lead generation, advertising, and websites for his gutter replacement company.”
Other uses include an upcoming capstone class on agentic workflows, which will teach students how to create AI workers for their businesses, as well as a chatbot for the athletics department that can answer questions about players statistics or Hall of Fame information, helping the person calling the game from the booth in real-
Tim Liptrap strives to teach students to become AI-literate thinkers who bring the highest technology skills available to the workplace.
time. One professor used a virtual TA to allow students to ask questions when he’s not immediately available.
“We’re embedding AI into the curriculum fairly early on, talking about the elephant in the room,” Mentzer adds. “An AI literacy class in the first year that teaches ethics and gets it early in the student’s mindset that each class syllabus may have different AI use policies. We’re trying to integrate avatar-based tools in freshman classes. Employers expect AI skills from their new hires, and it’s our responsibility to teach our students how to use this tool effectively.”
AI is accelerating business planning and impacting the market space, including the way people find companies, employees, and customers. Many students started at Nichols College during the AI boom, and don’t know a world without AI.
Liptrap sees that as an opportunity.
“I’m trying to have my students become AI-literate thinkers, not just dependent users,” he says. “If I’m going to put a student at the Boston Red Sox, I want that student to have the highest technology skills available which they can teach their boss, letting our students show their value.”
“Employers expect AI skills from their new hires, and it’s our responsibility to teach our students how to use this tool effectively.”
Kevin Mentzer, trustee professor of data science at Nichols College
Benjamin Hosking
From teenage coders to tech industry leaders: The Rathi brothers as accidental entrepreneurs
For Nichols College alumni and brothers Nikhil Rathi and Nishant Rathi, a Nichols MBA degree, which they each received in 2004, provided them with the practical knowledge and leadership skills to level up their tech businesses, one of which was recently fully acquired by Iron Mountain in one of the largest datacenter acquisition deals in Indian history.
“In any journey, whether professional or entrepreneurial, you need to have the right channel and direction,” Nishant says. “The Nichols MBA program gives you that direction, to think differently and lead your people while learning to scale your company.”
The brothers started their first business, WebWerks, when Nikhil was 17 and Nishant was 15. Their first customer in 1996 paid them $30 to create a website. Within the first few months, they made over $10,000. They maintained their business while completing their undergraduate degrees.
“It was better than delivering newspapers,” Nikhil says. “We decided to build websites for people because we knew how to do it.”
“We were first-generation, accidental entrepreneurs,” Nishant adds. “Our dad was in a job for 20 years, he said to give back the money for our first customer and focus on education. We promised him we’d continue our studies.”
With the web development and dotcom boom of the early 2000s, WebWerks split into a hosting company and a software company. Initially, there weren’t any
datacenters in India, and websites were hosted in the United States. WebWerks changed that by building a platform for hosting and setting up their first datacenter.
Realizing that internet bandwidth was expensive in India, they set up an internet exchange and brought the first Netflix node into the datacenter. As the datacenter business grew, they needed more capital. With 15 investors, including Iron Mountain, they multiplied revenue and personnel six times over.
Scaling their business through a Nichols education
As their business grew, Nikhil and Nishant realized that they wanted to keep learning and growing. The Nichols MBA offered that opportunity and fulfilled the promise they made to their father to continue their education at a graduate level.
Above: While visiting the Nichols campus for the first time in October, Nikhil and Nishant Rathi spoke to students in the AI and the Future of Work course.
Below: Their campus visit allowed time to take photos with their families overlooking the fall vista from the Hill.
“American-style MBA programs stand out,” Nikhil comments. “They are practical. We had excellent professors at Nichols who used live case studies which we had to solve. We studied finance, communications, strategic management, and leadership.”
In addition to business case studies, the program reviewed films like “Crimson Tide” to help students think from a leadership perspective and examine decision making. Learning to make better decisions in a challenging circumstance would pay off.
“We had a lot of servers in the U.S., and there were hacks and server crashes,” Nishant recalls. “When 2,000 websites went down, we put all this training into action like a war situation and created an automation platform to make it easier to fix servers in real time.”
Since selling the datacenter business to Iron Mountain in April 2025, the brothers have focused on their software company, NeoSOFT, which creates websites and applications, employing 4,000 people, the vast majority of whom are software developers. They aspire to eventually take
Nikhil and Nishant Rathi, 2004 graduates of the Nichols MBA Program, each received the Alumni Achievement Award in the fall.
the company to an initial public offering. These days, the company does a lot of work in the AI space.
“Your company has to transform every 12 to 18 months,” Nishant explains. “Fifteen years ago, mobile apps became popular. We had an opportunity to develop a mobile app and we grabbed it. Every opportunity you get, grab it and assess it. If we didn’t work on that app, we wouldn’t have the largest team in the country. You have to develop your people to scale up.”
Investing in talent from the beginning
The brothers hired their first employee from a local garden. Within a month, they hired another. Their mother said they had to get an office rather than work from her home. Within a few months they expanded into a garage next door, then the floor above it.
“It was the dotcom boom, people were coming with bags of money, saying, ‘This is my son, can you build a Yahoo for him?’” Nishant says. “We still have our first few customers. An early business was building a website for a coal company. It got indexed early and had a flood of opportunities in the next week thanks to the power of the internet. We’re very happy to be there at the right time, but with constant learning.”
Kevin Mentzer, trustee professor of data science at Nichols, echoes that sentiment –right place and right time, but also the willingness to take that opportunity and run with it.
“They benefited from the early boom of outsourcing to India and grew up at the right time and right place,” Mentzer states. “They caught onto the cycle of datacenters. The beauty of it is when I asked them whether we’re getting another chance now with AI, another great boom cycle for tech. There are a lot of opportunities for new startups and new growth, and they have the experience and resources to capitalize on the next wave.”
India’s global role as tech powerhouse
Nishant and Nikhil are bullish on the prospects of India and its tech ecosystem. They have seen massive changes in the last 25 years.
“The biggest input for the tech industry is talent,” Nishant says. “It was challenging in 1996. Tiny companies, scaling up. You’d find engineers and computing graduates, but they didn’t know how to code in business, only programs in college and textbooks. Today, it’s not a problem. The second input is knowledge, and we invest in talent and make sure people keep challenging themselves and growing within the organization. With six and a half million Indians working in tech, we’re going to remain a superpower.”
“We are the powerhouse with the manpower to do anything in tech,” Nikhil adds. “We export talent, with top leaders from India at Microsoft and Google. We are very hungry in terms of our prospects –Indian engineers will take extra work and go up the ladder. India has a nice sweetspot, English-speaking and education is seen as social security. When you talk about tech and IT, you think India.”
The two brothers recently received the Nichols College Alumni Achievement Award celebrating their achievements. They are grateful for the skills they gained at Nichols.
“I’ve given the case studies from Nichols to people in my team to learn from,” Nikhil says. “The MBA program was one of the catalysts that made things happen for us. In business, the wings are yours and the skies belong to no one. Nichols gets you those wings.”
Benjamin Hosking
Lessons in leadership from Mumbai
Shortly after Nikhil and Nishant Rathi visited the Nichols College campus to accept the Alumni Achievement Award, a cadre of faculty, staff, and students traveled to Mumbai, India, and visited NeoSOFT headquarters to better understand their global organizational culture and people-centered innovation. The reflection below was jointly written to capture the experiences and learnings.
The trip to Mumbai offered more than the chance to explore a dynamic global city – it provided meaningful insight into leadership philosophies that shape organizations. During a leadership session at NeoSOFT, we were asked to describe Mumbai in one word. Responses like “colorful” and “vibrant” captured the city’s energy and diversity. Whether exploring markets, visiting a college, or spending time at NeoSOFT, each experience left a lasting impression.
That same vibrancy carried into NeoSOFT’s headquarters. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth and openness that reflected the company’s culture. This initial impression remained consistent throughout our visit. Early presentations made it clear that NeoSOFT is deeply committed to its people while continuing to drive innovation and technological growth. By prioritizing both employee well-being and advancement, the company creates an environment where personal development and organizational success go hand in hand.
Viewing NeoSOFT through a people-centered lens revealed what it truly means to be a people-focused organization. Leaders Nikhil and Nishant Rathi intentionally foster an environment where employees feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow – even through failure. Many employees shared simple but powerful stories of receiving personal encouragement from the founders. These moments reinforced the impact of recognition and the importance of feeling valued. Across the organization, employees are empowered to take risks, innovate, and step beyond their comfort zones, supported by strong opportunities for internal growth. As the founders emphasized, NeoSOFT is a “talent company,” where people are the foundation of success.
This commitment to development is reflected in the company’s structured training approach. NeoSOFT offers individualized programs
At NeoSOFT, the Rathis discuss workplace culture, which emphasizes employee well-being and advancement.
Below: Students Jade Lowe ’26, Owen Branscum ’29, Merle Steinau ’25 MSA ’26, and Cameron Dorr ’28 enjoy Mumbai sightseeing. Accompanying the students on the trip were Dean Jean Beaupre, Assistant VP Brent Broszeit, and Professor Kevin Mentzer.
addressing both soft and hard skills. Leadership and communication are taught in person to strengthen culture and tailor development, while much of the technical training is delivered externally to maximize flexibility and expertise. Together, these initiatives ensure employees are continuously learning and evolving.
Another key insight came from conversations with employees across all levels and departments – referred to as “superhumans”—including executives, managers, and team leaders. In each discussion, we observed genuine pride in being part of the organization. Culture is rooted in trust, resilience, adaptability, and ownership, with a strong emphasis on continuous learning and an entrepreneurial mindset. This alignment contributes to NeoSOFT’s success and is reflected in internal feedback, with a large majority of employees describing it as a great place to work, as well as its repeated “Great Place to Work” certification.
As students preparing for our careers, it was inspiring to see how leadership directly influences motivation, innovation, and long-term success. What stood out most was the authenticity of the leadership team despite overseeing a global organization of more than 4,000 employees. Their motto, “big enough to deliver, small enough to care,” along with their value proposition – people → process → technology → strategy → execution is evident in practice. Nikhil and Nishant remain closely connected to their employees, demonstrating that effective leadership is not defined by hierarchy, but by presence, trust, and a genuine investment in people.
When I was offered the opportunity to teach a course on Alfred Hitchcock — the master of suspense — I reacted with genuine excitement. Hitchcock has been a passion of mine since adolescence, and I often share with students the story of my first viewing of “Psycho” in 1975. It was a late Saturday night in a New Haven suburb, and our rabbit-eared black-andwhite television managed to pick up a New York City broadcast. Alone in a dark room well past midnight, I found myself gripping my chair, repeating, “It’s only a movie!” I had never been so frightened.
Television played a major role in my early exposure to his work. It was through broadcasts that I first encountered films like “Suspicion,” “Notorious,” and “To Catch a Thief,” a film my father and I never missed when it aired, as he had a huge crush on Grace Kelly, who appeared in three Hitchcock films. I also vividly remember “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” with Hitchcock’s dry, humorous introductions. These early encounters fanned my appreciation.
In fact, my enthusiasm for Hitchcock may have helped me gain admission to college. During an interview at a “reach” school, I passionately described a scene from “Shadow of a Doubt.” I recounted Uncle Charley’s arrival in Santa Rosa, his hidden identity as a murderer, and the eerie tension between him and his perceptive niece. At one point, the admissions dean paused to relight his pipe, and I nervously asked if I was boring him. His response — “No, go on. I’m fascinated,”— remains one of my favorite affirmations.
Teaching Hitchcock today comes with surprises. When I first screened “The 39 Steps” (1935), I discovered that many students had never seen a black-and-white film. Yet the film quickly became a favorite. It, along with “North by Northwest,” exemplifies Hitchcock’s “wrong man”
Hitch on the Hill
theme — an innocent individual wrongly accused and pursued by both authorities and the evil doers. This theme appears in “Saboteur,” “Strangers on a Train,” and “The Man Who Knew Too Much.” As critic Marian Keane notes, Hitchcock’s films often explore identity and human distinctiveness. Whether his characters are dangling from the Statue of Liberty or hanging from the face of Mount Rushmore, Hitchcock examines the precariousness of human existence. His camera reveals and reflects on it and is symbolic of his achievement as a master in the art of film.
This sense of precariousness reaches its peak in “Psycho.” The shocking decision to kill off the main character midway through the film was unprecedented in a major studio film. The image of actress Janet Leigh’s lifeless eye resting alongside the torn curtain in the Bates Motel bathroom dissolving into a graphic match with the shower drain is pure cinema. Yet, despite its cultural significance, many students – and even participants on a recent college quiz show – fail to recognize Hitchcock as the film’s director. This lack of familiarity makes teaching the course all the more meaningful.
Students often begin with limited knowledge of Hitchcock but quickly develop strong analytical skills. One student noted that analyzing films offered a new and enjoyable challenge compared to analyzing traditional texts. Their insights frequently surprise me. I go into post-viewing discussions without an agenda, curious to hear the student film responses. The wide-ranging paper topics I’ve received address themes, such as darkness and deception in Hitchcock, his use of the MacGuffin, the importance of hands in Hitchcock, and the portrayal of marriage in Hitchcock. Their papers are consistently thoughtful and engaging.
After years of teaching, one might wonder what I still gain from revisiting these films – sometimes for the twentieth time. The answer lies in the shared experience. My enthusiasm is renewed through my students’ fresh perspectives and interpretations. Their curiosity and insight transform each viewing into something new.
As for the idea of no longer teaching Hitchcock – well, that’s simply for the birds.
Jeffrey Susla, Adjunct Professor of English
Campus
REAL: Where learning comes to life
Now in its fourth year, the REAL (Research, Experiential and Applied Learning) Symposium gives students across multiple disciplines the opportunity to showcase their hard work, their passion, and their expertise. The 2026 event on April 21 represented students presenting posters and sessions on a range of topics, including terrorism and homeland security, business analytics, real estate design and construction, the
Super Bowl practicum, study abroad, and entrepreneurship. The day also featured keynote remarks by Rob McDiarmid ’98, vice president at Burlington Stores, who shared his experiences working in top-brand Fortune 500 companies in the fashion industry, and an alumni panel with Tim Born ’18 (Henke Sass Wolf of America), Taylor Meacham ’19 (Minuteman Security and Life) and Joey Wright ’20 (Milestone Mortgage Solutions LLC).
Nichols board elects three new trustees
This past year, the Nichols College Board of Trustees elected Michael Detarando, Saige Frazier, and Stephen Mulready.
Detarando has been president and CEO of Incom Inc., an advanced fiberoptic and photonics technology company headquartered in Charlton, Mass., since 2011. Previously he served as vice president of operations, where he was instrumental in expanding the company’s operational scale and manufacturing capabilities. He is also president of Paradigm Optics, a Vancouver, Washington-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Incom Inc. He has served on the boards of the United Way of Southbridge, Sturbridge and Charlton and the YMCA of Southbridge.
Frazier is a 2025 graduate of Nichols College, where she was a member of the Honors Program and earned a BSBA degree with a concentration in finance. She served as a member of the women’s soccer team; chair of women’s research and advocacy for the Institute for Women’s Leadership; chair of diversity, equity, and inclusion for Delta Lambda; and an academic tutor. She interned at Amica Mutual and Lockton, and she is currently pursuing an MBA at Clark University, concentrating in information management and business analysis while also serving as a ROMBA Fellow on campus.
Mulready spent over 40 years in the insurance industry, retiring in 2018 as chief operating officer of Crum and Forster. Upon retirement, he joined the Board of Regents at the University of Hartford and subsequently assumed the roles of dean of the Barney School of Business and later acting president. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Obsidian Holdings. He earned a BS in insurance administration from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from the University of Hartford.
Rob McDiarmid ’98, vice president at Burlington Stores, provided keynote remarks.
Sensors, science, and stewardship at Webster Lake
In May 2022, Prajjwal Panday, associate professor of environmental science at Nichols, launched a pilot project to measure the impact of human activities, such as climate change and land use, on nearby Webster Lake. With a grant from the Janet Malser Humanities Trust, a green light from the Webster Lake Association, and the help of lake residents, Panday deployed a network of sensors on the lake’s three ponds to capture data on dissolved oxygen and temperature.
The data collected has been so useful in documenting how temperature and dissolved oxygen vary across the lake, particularly during the summer months, that the project has been expanded to eight sensors with renewed funding from the Malser Trust.
Continuous monitoring helps identify conditions that promote algal blooms, which can produce harmful toxins that pose health risks to people, pets, and wildlife causing gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory symptoms if water is swallowed or contacted and often necessitate temporary closures of lakes and ponds.
The data generated has been integrated into environmental science and data analytics courses at Nichols College, providing students with valuable learning opportunities to assess and present findings.
“At its core, the Webster Lake monitoring project is about stewardship, listening carefully to a local ecosystem and using science to guide its protection,” says Panday. “By combining low-cost sensor technology, community partnerships, and student engagement, the project demonstrates how small-scale, place-based research can have meaningful environmental and educational impacts.”
Loyalty. Recognized.
The Bison Loyalty Circle recognizes your generous philanthropy through consecutive years of giving. Whether you are just beginning to make a commitment, reaching a milestone in your giving, or have been a lifelong supporter, we celebrate and appreciate your loyalty.
Student entrepreneurs’ drone business takes off
Business for Joe Pieczynski and Adam Warner is really taking off. This spring, the student entrepreneurs have been successful in raising funds to launch AeroWash, an innovative commercial window and building cleaning service. Using advanced drones equipped with GPS, phased radar and multispectral sensors, AeroWash tackles inefficiencies in complex and high-risk cleaning — tall buildings, solar panels, and other unique structures.
On March 30, they earned top honors at the Nichols Bison Pitch competition, where students present business ideas and realworld ventures aimed at solving today’s challenges. The team secured $5,000 in funding — an initial $1,000 investment from Nichols matched by four generous alumni — and the opportunity to represent Nichols at the WooTank Intercollegiate Showdown on April 7. Inspired by the TV show “Shark Tank,” WooTank features students from six Worcester-based colleges pitching business ideas to a panel of three potential investors. Once again, AeroWash prevailed, earning $4,500, the greatest amount awarded that evening.
“Winning both Bison Pitch and WooTank was an incredible experience and a reminder of how much Nichols College supports student entrepreneurs willing to take risks and build something real,” says Warner (pictured left). “For us, it validated the work we’ve put into AeroWash and motivated us to keep growing.”
To launch and scale, the business is seeking $86,000 to fund equipment, software licensing, transportation and marketing.
Membership Levels
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Charter 3-9 consecutive years
Milestone 10-24 consecutive years
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Alumni news
Please send your Alumni News directly to your class champion. If you do not have a class champion, news may be forwarded to alumnioffice@nichols.edu. Digital images are peferred, but please do not crop them! The higher the resolution the better — 300 dpi (dots per inch) is best. Digital images may be sent directly to the Alumni Relations Office alumnioffice@nichols.edu. Prints may be sent to: Nichols College, Alumni Relations Office, P.O. Box 5000, Dudley, MA 01571.
1959
L. Robert Gould reports that he and wife Jean spend January through May at their house in Florida and the rest of the year in New Jersey. They are enjoying their time with their six grandchildren. Bob is hoping to catch a Bison baseball game when they swing through Florida.
1962
Paul Zimmerman (pictured with Julie Jordan) announced the opening of PZ Park on an acre of land at 29 Center Street, Wolfeboro, NH. Paul created a nonprofit organization to transform this lot into a public green space that will serve the entire community. He hopes to offer people a peaceful and beautiful space to gather and enjoy.
1963
Bill Keats says that he retired from his tax practice April 30, 2025, after 55 years. He had also continued to work full time as an accounting supervisor for Nassau County, Department of Social Services, for 35 years. Besides his family, his work was his enjoyment. He is residing in an independent living facility in Apex, NC, getting out of New York for beautiful weather and friendly people year round.
1966
Ray Munn writes that he retired after 26 years as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He is living on 40 acres in North Carolina.
1970
Jim Mulcunry met up with Jack Hills ’69 in Boston at the Liberty Hotel. Jack splits his time between Boston and Fort Lauderdale. They reported that it was great to catch up, but they realized it had been almost 50 years since they’d seen each other. They are going to do better at keeping in touch.
1971
1975
Dan Prouty writes that he started a real estate brokerage and development company while attending Nichols. He is still working at 75. Dan’s company has over 20,000,000 square feet of industrial property developed or sold, including 12 industrial parks in Central Worcester County. He worked with fellow Nichols classmate Paulo Sinni, executive at IPG Photonics, to develop IPG world headquarters in Oxford, MA.
Classmates Jack Healy ’74, John Maffeo and Larry Johnson traveled to Colorado to present a 50th reunion medallion to Kevin Parker (second from left).
R. Craig Fowler has been an antique silverware artisan for the last 42 years, starting out in Avon, CT, then moving to Chambersburg, PA. His wares consist of wind chimes, bud vases, spoon rings, bracelets, olive/pickle forks and elephants. His work was chartered by Sony Pictures and Paramount Studios for the movie “When A Stanger Calls” in 2006. He made two three-foot chimes for the movie. You can check out his website at craigs-creations.com.
Evan Golar reports that he retired from the CPA profession and has lived in a 55+ retirement community in Toms River, NJ, for the past four years.
1978
Chuck Bronner says that he had the chance to meet up with his favorite professor, Ed Warren, for lunch in Vero Beach, FL.
Bob Campbell is pictured on a trip to Quebec City, Canada, in June 2025, standing at the top of Montmorency Falls.
Bill Fraser writes that he did a spring break tour in 2025. He, along with Marty Power and Robbie Munce ’99 joined the 2025 rugby team the night before their match with the University of Houston.
Bill and his wife Diana, son John and his wife Liz showed their Bison pride as they cheered on Nichols baseball vs. Southwestern University. They were also joined by Charlie Collins ’73. On another note, Bill celebrated his 70th birthday on May 23, 2025, at Maggiano’s Little Italy. Bill was presented with the unofficial “Almost Nichols College Hall of Fame” plaque by Marty Power.
1987
James Brown, a trustee at Nichols College, was appointed senior executive vice president and chief commercial banking officer at Washington Trust. He will be responsible for all commercial banking activities, including commercial real estate, commercial & industrial, business banking, private clients group, and cash management services. He has more than 38 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently as senior executive vice president at Berkshire Bank.
1988
Tracy (Donham) Smith reports that she moved back to New England, settling in New Hampshire after 30 years living in Maryland. She works at Johns Hopkins University and looks forward to connecting with some of her Nichols classmates.
1990
In November, a group from the class of 1990 took a trip to Savannah and represented their Nichols pride. Pictured are, back row, from left: Kristen (DeCesare) MacDonald, Kristin (Lee) Scarpace, Nancy (Robinson) Rodick, Kara (Fleming) Sullivan; front row, from left: Kim (Oberg) Casasanto, Sue (Adams) Basque, Kelly (Elia) White, Judy (Gammell) Bauman, Mary (Cahill) Heap.
Bison sighting: Former baseball teammates, from left, Todd Watkins, Mark Winship ’88, and Fran Carlo, met up at a Patriots game in October.
VIEW FROM THE HILL:
The meaning of alumni engagement
As a parent currently navigating the college search process with my children, I’ve found myself seeing higher education through a new lens. We tour campuses, scroll through websites, and follow social media feeds – absorbing not only what a college promises students today, but what it suggests about life after graduation.
Amid all that, I find myself asking: what does alumni engagement really mean?
For me, it means that the college experience doesn’t end at commencement. It means supporting students to not just succeed on the Hill, but to thrive long after they leave it. It means meaningful friendships and relationships that last decades, not just four years. It means belonging to an exclusive club – one rooted in shared experience – that offers connection, pride, and opportunity.
regional presence, with additional concentrations in Florida, New York, and New Jersey. Communities in Virginia and the Carolinas are continuing to grow. This network opens doors, fosters mentorship, and provides real-world opportunities for students and alumni alike, often made possible through alumni generosity.
Alumni engagement is also about gratitude. It’s about giving back to the professors who challenged us, supported us, and believed in us. In many cases, alumni support helps ensure that the same transformative experiences – inside and outside the classroom –remain accessible to future generations of Bison. But ultimately, alumni engagement comes down to something very simple: you.
Each of you gets to decide what this community means to you now. What do you want from it? What do you need from it? And just as importantly, what do you have to give?
At Nichols College, that sense of connection is already very real. More than half of our currently enrolled students arrived on campus with some prior connection to Nichols –through family, friends, alumni, or community ties. That’s a testament to the strength of this community and the confidence alumni have in continuing to invest, through their time, talent, and resources, in the institution that helped shape them.
Alumni engagement is also about geography and reach. Nearly 75 percent of Nichols alumni live in New England, creating a strong
That might mean attending an alumni event in your area, reengaging after some time away, mentoring a student, or offering support in ways that feel meaningful to you. Every form of involvement, whether time, expertise, or financial support, plays a role in strengthening Nichols and the students who call it home.
In Bison Spirit,
Chrissy Savastano Manzi ’92 Director of Alumni and Family Engagement
1991
Don Bean III received the David F. Lombard Outstanding Alumnus Award at the alumni social in Naples in February. He is pictured with classmate Ruthann Sullivan, who presented the award, citing his leadership at Permacel, the successful launch of his own company, CAP LLC, and later, the numerous improvements he made as the head of Specialty Tapes. Beyond business, Sullivan praised his generous support of Nichols, where he and his brother Jay created the Larry Downs Endowed Scholarship and where he offers experiential learning opportunities to students. “Donnie’s legacy is not just what he built, but how he leads and who he lifts along the way,” she said.
1993
Mark French MBA ’07 arranged a small alumni event at the Mason Jar Brewing Co. in Fuquay Varina, NC, in May 2025. Attendees pictured, from left: Greg Woloszczuk ’01, Steve Fix ’95, Mark, Ibrahima Kourouma ’04, Bill Lefebvre ’76 and Bill Keats ’63.
2001
Aric Friend MBA ’05 writes that he is looking to reconnect, swap stories, and compare how many of his classmates have turned into our parents. Feel free to reach out to him at AricFriend@hotmail.com and get in touch before another 25 years passes.
25th reunion!
Fiscal strength training: Lifting Planet Fitness
Christopher Derderian ’09 MBA ’13
Christopher Derderian ’09 MBA ’13 is the CFO of Core Development & Management, a top 10 Planet Fitness franchisee. The company owns 88 locations across five states, employs 1,000 people, serves over half a million members, and generates over $150 million in annual revenue. Planet Fitness is widely regarded as a disruptive force in the fitness industry due to its affordable pricing and mission of making fitness accessible to everyone.
The path to Derderian’s success began when he took pre-college classes at Shepherd Hill that earned him college credit at Nichols. At Nichols, he majored in both accounting and finance and credits the late professor Marcia Behrens for taking him under her wing and recognizing his ambition and potential. He also remembers Professor Emeritus Jack Armstrong encouraging him to apply for the scholarship sponsored by the Massachusetts Society of Certified Professional Accountants. (When it was awarded, both professors accompanied him and his family to the ceremony in Boston.) Derderian graduated as valedictorian of his class.
At Nichols, he majored in both accounting and finance and credits the late professor Marcia Behrens for taking him under her wing and recognizing his ambition and potential.
He began his career in a public accounting firm, hired by two partners who were also Nichols alumni. He later moved to a private manufacturing company in Worcester, where he bridged accounting and finance across the organization by implementing ERP systems and demonstrating how each business function connected to the general ledger. After helping elevate that company’s performance, he joined Core Development & Management in 2019 as the director of financial planning and analysis – starting at the company three months before the COVID-19 shutdowns. He jokes that his tenure began with, “Welcome to the company … now we are closed.”
Since then, Derderian has worked his way up to CFO and the company has grown from owning and operating 19 locations to 88, with plans to reach 96 clubs by year’s end. He identifies the industry’s two biggest challenges – and opportunities – as the rise of AI and GLP-1 medications. He acknowledges the powerful results GLP-1s can deliver but stresses they must be paired with physical fitness, especially strength training. Planet Fitness has shifted toward adding more strength equipment and free weights and has partnered with companies such as Serena Williams’ Ro to better serve members who can now leverage fitness centers to further improve their health.
Derderian also sees AI as a powerful tool when used properly, with opportunities to integrate it into the company app to create individualized fitness routines and improve member accountability.
He has fond memories of his time at Nichols, including morning breakfast sandwiches at the snack bar among classmates. While he initially underestimated the importance of required public speaking courses, he now knows that the ability to communicate data and results effectively to board members and C-level executives is crucial for making strategic decisions to grow the business.
His academic and professional success led fellow Bison, Donald Brown Jr. ’08 MBA ’09, the controller at Core Development & Management, to establish the Christopher J. Derderian ’09 MBA ’13 Pathway to Valedictorian Scholarship in his honor. As a proud alumnus, Derderian is incredibly grateful for the real and meaningful opportunities Nichols provided him and is happy to pay it forward.
– Brent Broszeit MBA
’02
2002
Anthony Ciavattone writes that he is an operations and administration professional with over a decade of experience in leadership roles across the education, finance, nonprofit, and food service sectors. Currently, he serves as the administration director at Shriver Job Corps, where he oversees compliance, purchasing, facilities, and community engagement initiatives for a federally funded workforce development program. Before this, he held leadership and operational roles at organizations like OMG Bakery, Fairway Mortgage, and Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation. He’s helped streamline business operations, build nonprofit partnerships, coordinate largescale events, and improve internal processes to support
mission-driven work. He credits his Nichols education for laying the foundation for his growth as a leader and problem-solver. The strong focus on business strategy and hands-on learning equipped him to manage teams, lead cross-functional projects, and make impactful decisions in high-paced environments. Outside of work, he is passionate about community service, mentoring, and connecting with like-minded professionals across industries. He is currently pursuing an Executive Entrepreneurial Leadership Certificate at Babson College to continue building his skill set in innovation and organizational growth. Anthony says he is always open to connecting with fellow alumni and students so feel free to reach out at acia3573@gmail.com.
2003
Kathy Ewen reports that she has been working at Chapel Haven for 21 years as a job coach. Kathy and her horse Ranger were both at their July dressage show at Treasure Hill and the Governor’s Horse Guard last September. They received the national pony cup reserve high point for small horse at the CT Dressage and Combined training shows.
2005
Nicholas Galbiso started a new position serving as executive vice president for K2Share which provides federal advisory services, specializing in cyber security awareness training, mission visualization, and strategy and policy support.
Joe Ginese received his Doctor of Education, Instructional Leadership – EdD, Motivation, Learning and the Workplace from Hunter College. He is currently a senior manager of Rotational Leadership Programs at CVS Health and an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University.
journey – an area that still feels underrepresented in the eating disorder field. One of my deepest hopes in writing this memoir was to broaden the lens through which eating disorders are understood and supported in ways that honor dignity, humanity, and the individual experience. She is also the founder of A Dragonfly’s Dream, a non-profit focused on harm reduction, compassion, and community support for individuals navigating long-term eating disorders.
2010
Katelyn Vella married Nick Maresca on September 3, 2023, at Lakeview Pavilion. The couple also welcomed a daughter, Lilly Marie, on February 10, 2023, and a son, Rocco Anthony, on May 18, 2025. Katelyn is a director of talent acquisition at VPNE.
2007
2011
Nicole Bowden Ratte and her husband Christopher Ratte welcomed their second child, Felix, in July 2025. He joins big sister Claire (4).
2012
Katelyn Havener Mochun MBA ’17 and her husband Stephen Mochun ’09 welcomed Stevie Marie on January 3, 2025.
Danny Smith reports that he has pivoted back to the hedge fund world after spending five years with Centerview Partners. His new role is global office and facilities manager at Walleye Capital, a global multi strategy investment firm headquartered in New York City. Danny and his wife Melissa reside in Glen Ridge, NJ, with their children Charlotte (5) and Seamus (2).
2013
Johanna (Murphy) Scoglio MBA ’10 recently published a memoir, “When the Water Still Holds Me: Letters Through the Tides of a LongTerm Eating Disorder.” She writes: the book speaks to the oftenunspoken realities of living with a chronic eating disorder and explores how harm reduction, embodiment, and a nonlinear path to healing can be lifesaving for those on a long-term
Brett Distasio is the assistant principal at Vernon Center (CT) Middle School. He was a special education teacher and department head at Rockville High School for the past five years.
Brian Gardner MBA ’15 and his wife Brianna welcomed a baby boy, Bryce, on March 19, 2025.
Colleen Coleman was married on October 3, 2025, in Gardner, MA, with many Bison in attendance.
Make your own luck: A blueprint for success Bob McPhee ’69
Bob McPhee ’69 has spent more than 50 years living on Cape Cod running a thriving construction business crafting custom living spaces that showcase the coastal charm and beauty of the island. You might be tempted to call him lucky. “The reality is, you make your own good luck,” McPhee asserts. “There’s no short cut. Do the work and keep your head down.”
Hard work is the backbone of his business, McPhee Associates, which he founded in 1972, armed with the construction skills he honed during college summers on the Cape and a Nichols College degree. McPhee went from building duplexes to amassing an impressive portfolio of sprawling custom homes and high-end additions and remodels. As his company grew so did its reputation for delivering superior craftmanship and exceptional customer satisfaction.
Owning a business wasn’t his first career stop. After graduating, McPhee was a salesman for the Kendall Company, representing parts of New England and New York. A job promotion meant a move to a bigger territory…in Chicago, Illinois.
“I’m a country bumpkin at heart. There was no way I could leave,” he admits. He and his wife, Deborah, who were married during his senior year at Nichols, decided to return to Cape Cod, where they met, for a new opportunity.
the owner of the project smiling and happy,” states McPhee. “Keeping clients happy perpetuates our existence.” McPhee Associates promotes itself as a “building partner,” bringing a client’s unique vision to life. Their work has earned multiple awards from the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod.
McPhee Associates expanded into land development and created Windward East and Windward Village neighborhoods in East Dennis. In 2000, McPhee’s son, Rob, joined full time, and they added property management to its services, a profitable endeavor given the number of seasonal homeowners on the Cape.
“The mindset is you never leave a project without the owner of the project smiling and happy. Keeping clients happy perpetuates our existence.”
Bob McPhee ’69
“We had no children at the time. We were young and naïve. We both loved the Cape,” he says. Like many new businesses, the early years were a struggle with everyone but McPhee getting a paycheck. Given the opportunity today, he may not be so quick to make the same decision. “Back then it was a leap of faith. You thought you had the world in your hand.”
As word spread through client and architect referrals, business increased. “The mindset is you never leave a project without
When the firm celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, both McPhees were honored with the Legends of the Industry Award from the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts.
With dozens of new homes and remodeling projects standing as monuments to his legacy, McPhee insists his greatest accomplishment is having a family and having the family be part of the business. “When I look back, I can’t think of many things I’d do differently,” he shares.
After decades on the job, McPhee is still adjusting to retirement. “When you are working six or seven days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day then all of a sudden you decide to walk away, it’s difficult,” he says. He now divides his time between his homes in East Dennis, Florida, and Vermont. When he’s on the Cape, he can’t resist popping by the office to check on things, but with Rob at the helm, he claims he’s getting “better at avoiding those things” adding, “There’s room for only one chief.”
– Susan Veshi
2014
Michael Langlois MBA ’16 was promoted to vice president of compliance & internal audit at Webster First Federal Credit Union, recognizing his dedication and leadership over more than a decade of service to the organization. He previously served as internal auditing supervisor, assistant vice president of internal auditing, and vice president of internal audit. Michael lives in Spencer with his wife and two children.
2015
Mike Bane was married in June 2024. In attendance were fellow Bison, from left: Liam Sullivan ’14, Shaun Delaney, Macaulay Gillis ’13 MBA ’15, Mike, Sean Coates, Pete Sorenson ’14, Jesse Vieira ’16, Patrick Flanagan ’14 and Corey Davis. All are Nichols lacrosse alumni. Mike is the son of Brian Bane ’92 MBA ’00
Michael Beauchain married Megan Faulkner ’17 MSC ’18 on September 5, 2025. Nichols alumni in attendance were: Matthew San Clemente, Matthew Savard, Brianna (Raymond) Marchand ’18, Bruce Marchand Jr. ’18, Colleen (Coleman) Heffler ’13, Kimberly Richford ’05 MBA MSOL ’26, and Arlene Richford MBA MSOL ’26. Michael and Megan are currently residing in Dudley.
2017
Hayley Donahue MBA ’18 married David Hanna ’19 on November 15, 2025, celebrating with many Bison friends.
2018
Jason Ferro joined the Special Olympics of South Dakota as the director of unified champion schools. He will be maintaining and helping to begin a unified sports program in the South Dakota school districts and assisting in many Special Olympics events across the state and country. Jason currently resides in Sioux Falls.
Laura Freeman married Jackson White in November 2024 and had been expecting their first child at the time of this writing.
2019
Paul Parks III (second from right), owner of Frisbie’s Dairy Barn with his father, Paul Parks Jr., celebrated the opening of a fifth location, in Sturbridge, MA, in March with a group of alumni, faculty, students, and staff, including Nichols President Bill Pieczynski (center). Its other locations are North Attleboro and three in Connecticut – New Britain, Windsor, and West Hartford.
2020
Ben Carbone reports that he has become a dedicated commercial realtor and advisor who prioritizes people above all else. In his three years in the industry, he has sold over $50 million worth of real estate, 350 units, and served over 70 clients. He is also a multifamily investor with a sizable personal multifamily portfolio spread between Massachusetts and Connecticut. During his time at Nichols, Ben was an active member of the Nichols Honors Program, the Economics Club, and he served in the roles of academic tutor and teaching assistant. He remains involved in the Nichols community through the Board of Advisors, where he aims to help further enhance the student experience.
Molly Steen is the general manager of Latitude Marinas, dock manager for the National Harbor resort in Maryland. Previously, she worked for Oasis Marinas, following an internship with the Maryland State Police.
A mother’s legacy: A seat at the table Alice Mullen-Rusin MBA ’14
When Alice Mullen-Rusin MBA ’14 was given the opportunity to become an owner of the Boston Legacy Football Club, the newest expansion team of the National Women’s Soccer League, she jumped at it. As a former athlete and collegiate basketball coach, and current executive at a national youth sports organization, she saw it as a natural progression in her commitment to her profession.
On a personal level, the move had much greater meaning. “As an investor, I wanted to show my daughter that there is opportunity for women to not only play sports but to sit at the table with people who are making decisions in the sport world,” says the mother of two children, aged 8 and 10. “I wanted to leave a true legacy with her and my son.”
The Boston Legacy kicked off its inaugural season this spring, and Mullen-Rusin is hopeful for its success. “Women’s sports have grown over the last several years, and the NWSL has done a really nice job of getting an incredible fan base and are seeing record attendance,” she states. In addition, excitement is building for the renovation of their home field, White Stadium, into a modern multiuse facility, a partnership between the Boston Legacy and the city.
Mullen-Rusin crossed over to the business side of sports in 2017 when she became president of Swarm Basketball, a grassroots youth organization founded by fellow Bison Mike Byrnes ’16 and acquired by 3STEP in 2019. Previously she served as head coach of the women’s basketball team at Nichols for five years. At 22, she was the youngest head coach in the country at the time. “It was an incredible opportunity to grow at a young age and to step into a higher-level role at that point. I think it accelerated my career quite a bit, but it was challenging,” she recalls.
She finds greater fulfillment in her current role. “I loved that I’ve been able to turn sports into a full-time role, not just for myself but others. That has been the highlight of my career,” she shares.
“As an investor, I wanted to show my daughter that there is opportunity for women to not only play sports but to sit at the table with people who are making decisions in the sport world.”
Alice
As senior vice president for sport operations at 3STEP Sports, Mullen-Rusin is eager to explore the possibilities of tapping into the Legacy network. The Massachusetts-based company is the largest youth sports club and event organization in the country, boasting 2,500 programs, and works with 1,100 different clubs and manages over 50 events a year in soccer alone. “We’ve got synergies with the fan base, the target market, and sponsorship opportunities,” she says.
Mullen-Rusin MBA ’14
Mullen-Rusin remains active in the Nichols community, serving on the advisory board for the Sport Management Program and helping with the program’s annual symposium. She says she especially enjoys hearing from young women in the program, adding, “Sports continues to be a male-dominated industry. It’s changed quite a bit, but they have an interesting perspective of what their world is going to look like, as they sit in classrooms of mostly men. That’s the standard at executive meetings.”
Something that Mullen-Rusin strives to change as co-owner of Boston Legacy and coach of her own daughter’s basketball team, saying, “We want to show them the power that girls’ and women’s sports have, and this is a cool vehicle to be able to do that.”
– Susan Veshi
5th reunion!
Homecoming 2026
Class Champions
(Updates on our Golden Bison, alumni of the past 50 or more years, are featured in the Golden Bison Bulletin newsletter. Golden Bison are also welcomed to submit a note to Nichols College Magazine through alumnioffice@nichols.edu.)
1984
Rob Hoey rob@hoeywealthmanagement.com
2022
Christine Collins married Tyler Dunn MBA MSOL’24 on October 11, 2025. Christine is a human resources specialist at Maranacook area schools. Tyler was elected to serve a 3-year term on the Board of Selectman where they reside in the Town of Mount Vernon, Maine.
Emily (Hamil) Radcliffe writes that she is a staff accountant for Old Sturbridge Inc. She is happily married and starting a family.
2023
Hilary Grabe-Kuenneke is a project financial analyst for Electric Boat and reports that she is loving her job.
2025
Eduardo Labour Gutierrez reports that he began a career in sales with C&S Wholesale Grocers, where he has been growing professionally and finding great success serving clients and developing strong business relationships. Eduardo is grateful for his time at Nichols, especially the professors, mentors, and hands-on learning experiences that shaped his confidence, work ethic, and leadership skills.
Professor Emeritus Jack Armstrong was given an Honorary Alumnus Award in March for his outstanding service and continued interest in Nichols College. He was lauded for his more than three decades of mentoring accounting students and young professionals, promoting excellence in the accounting field, and ensuring that practitioners continue their education.
1985
John Donahue 609-257-8717 johndonahue1234@gmail.com
1989
Stacey Kiely stkiely@meditech.com
1991
Donna Meeker donnameekeremail@gmail.com
1992
Keith Hofbeck khofbeck@comcast.net
1994
Danielle Sprague daniellesjj@gmail.com
1995
Tara Medeiros tara629@verizon.net
2001
Dave Twiss 978-979-7658 david.twiss14@gmail.com
2002
Rev. John Larochelle fr.john.larochelle1@gmail.com
2003
Jillian (Hayes) Smerage jnhayes80@gmail.com
2004
Justin Shepard shep@therevivalfarm.com
2005
Mel Jackson msmeljackson@gmail.com
2006
Erica Boulay erica.boulay@hotmail.com
2007
Meaghan Shehann meaglark@gmail.com
2008
Nicole Curley nsc3129@gmail.com
2010
Katelyn Vella-Maresca katelyn.vella@yahoo.com
2011 Alie Hallam aliemchal@gmail.com
2013
Ryan Flavin rtflavin@gmail.com
2015
Andrew Haas andrewhaas3@gmail.com
Michael Ricci michael.ricci@nichols.edu
2016
Stacie Converse converse.stacielee@gmail.com
2017 Nicole LaBrack njlabrack13@verizon.net
Gina Petruzzi gmp0626@aol.com
2019
Brian O’Riordan boriordan78@gmail.com
2020
Sarah Coburn sarah.jane.coburn@gmail.com
Tyler Kenney tyler.kenney20@hotmail.com
2021
Spenser Molloy spenser@ nexthomemodernreality.com
2022
Kayla Dewitt kaylaanndewitt99@gmail.com
2023
MacKenzie Doran mackenzie.doran2001 @gmail.com
Deegan Eggleston deeganeggleston@outlook.com
2024
Kelley Carlin kelleycarlin@gmail.com
Zack Harris zharris727@gmail.com
2025 Jack.Clifford jclifford858@gmail.com
Sophia Schoenbeck sophia.schoenbeck@gmail.com
If you would like to become a class champion, reach out to Chrissy Manzi ’92, director of alumni and family engagement, at chrissy.manzi@nichols.edu.
Nichols Remembers
Reported as of March 31, 2026
John N. Strobel ’49, of Scottsdale, AZ, November 25, 2025: He served in the U.S. Navy during the final chapter of World War II and spent nearly three decades as a sales manager for the Sara Lee Corp.
Richard W. Abbott ’50, of New Smyrna Beach, FL, March 22, 2026: A veteran of the Korean War, he served in the U.S. Air Force, flying F-84 jets, for 11 years. He was later an Allstate agent in Massachusetts for 27 years.
Robert “Bob” H. Bacon ’50, of New Bern, NC, March 21, 2025: He was president and principal owner of Acorn Publishing Co. on Long Island, NY, as well as publisher of the firm’s weekly newspaper, “The Long Island News and the Owl.” After selling the company, he worked in residential real estate in Maine.
Archie E. Mitchell Jr. ’50, of Union, ME, February 16, 2025: A U.S. Air Force veteran, he was an operations manager for AT&T in New Jersey. He was a long-time donor to Nichols.
William “Bill” W. Sprague Sr. ’50, of Boothbay Harbor, ME, June 28, 2025: He served in the U.S. Army for two years in Japan with the occupation troops. He worked at Robbins Co., selling wholesale groceries, then at Central Maine Power Co. before starting his own real estate and insurance agency. He was a loyal donor to Nichols.
Thomas “Tom” W. Bartsch Jr. ’51, of Williamsburg, VA, April 7, 2025: He worked for Oneida Ltd. for over 30 years as a regional sales manager. He was a long-time donor to Nichols.
Ivan O. Capella ’51, of Trumbull, CT, May 16, 2025: He was a
retired CPA and served in multiple leadership roles that spanned 35 years at Texaco Inc. in Cuba, NYC, Guatemala, Colombia and Harrison, NY, before his retirement in 1992.
Edwin “Wash” W. Hawley ’51, of Chagrin Falls, OH, September 19, 2025: He served in the U.S. Army and worked in industrial and commercial real estate for First Commerce Realty.
Curtis “Curt” D. Andrews Sr. ’54, of North Haven, CT, July 21, 2025: A veteran of the Korean War, he served in England with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He worked at the Stiles Brick Co., owned and operated by his grandfather, and later owned the Andrews & Blakeslee Insurance Agency for over 50 years.
James “Jim” E. Burnet III ’54, of Brentwood, TN, February 9, 2025: A medic for the U.S. Army Occupation Forces in Germany following World War II, he later took over the family business, Burnet’s Hardware. He was a loyal donor to Nichols.
Anthony J. Venezia ’54, of Valley Stream, NY, March 10, 2025: A member of the Nichols College Hall of Fame for baseball and basketball, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Braves but instead chose to marry and have a family. He was the president of Retail Lumber Yard.
John J. Bowen Sr. ’55, of Owego, NY, January 6, 2025: He served as a radar operator for the U.S. Navy, stationed in Maryland aboard the USS Miller. He joined the family business, Tioga Foundry Corp., becoming vice president, and later the Benton Foundry of Benton, PA.
Fredric “Fred” K. Lindsay ’55, of Albany, NY, January 10, 2025: He served in the U.S. Army, stationed at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, NM, and was chosen to train commanding officers on the atomic bomb as a member of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. He worked at the First National Bank of Scotia, retiring as senior vice president and senior lending officer. He was a loyal donor to Nichols.
Peter F. Keenan ’56, of Milford, MA, June 25, 2025: He had a long and successful career in the retail industry, working at Jordan Marsh/LS Ayers.
Frank C. Simkus Jr. ’56, of Worcester, MA, August 19, 2025: He served as a marine in the Korean War and worked many years as a surveyor for the city of Worcester.
Glenn M. Terrill ’56, of New Bern, NC, February 2, 2025: After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, he began his business career, retiring as president of Rampart Security. He was a loyal donor to Nichols.
George S. Butler ’57, of Worcester, MA, March 20, 2026: He was a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army before joining the family business, Butler-Dearden Paper Inc., as a salesman. He was the third generation to be involved with the firm and eventually became president and chair of the board. He was among the classmates to create and support the Class of ’57 Endowed Scholarship.
Pinney H. Colton ’57, of Somers, CT, August 31, 2025: He worked as a land surveyor and a self-employed landscaper.
H. Logan Page III ’57, of Guilford, CT, September 29, 2025: He was the owner of Page Hardware & Appliance Co., founded by his family in 1939, and grew into a community landmark on Guilford Green, known for its service and commitment to local families. He was a long-time donor to Nichols.
James “Jim” M. Keely ’58, Tarrytown, NY, May 5, 2025: He had a career in sales, including as a broker for Prudential Life Insurance Co.
Arthur R. Lowell ’59, of Canton, CT, February 15, 2025: He served in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Riley, KS, and Schweinfurt, Germany. He worked as an accountant at Massa and Hinsley before opening his own accounting business.
Norman K. Brackenbury ’60, of Oakland, CA, June 21, 2025: He was a firefighter, EMT, and dive rescue for the Poudre Fire Authority in Colorado, retiring after 22 years of service.
Edward “Ed” C. Dalterio ’60, of Southbury, CT, January 20, 2026: He was VP of global marketing for Emhart/Black & Decker, spending 41 years at the company in various positions of sales and marketing.
Peter A. French ’60, of Holderness, NH, and Sebring, FL, January 6, 2026: He and his family opened Meredith Motor Co. Inc., beginning a legacy and passion for the automotive business, specifically Fords.
Raymond “Ray” W. Howe ’60, of East Falmouth, MA, April 3, 2025: He was a cryptographer for the U.S. Air Force for four years, on Shemya Island, AK, and worked as a field auditor for the New England Mutual Life Insurance Co., Allied Stores, Digital Equipment Corp., Honeywell and the Korolath Corp.
Alvin N. Mears ’60, of Newton, NH, February 10, 2025: He worked in the electronics industry in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Frank N. Rand ’60, of Weymouth, MA, March 14, 2025: He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked for many years as a warehouse manager for various companies across the South Shore, later serving on the grounds crew at Cohasset Golf Club, from which he retired in 2019.
Charles “Skip” L. Colton II ’61, of Granby, CT, January 25, 2026: He joined his grandfather and father in the family business, Charles D. Colton & Sons Insurance Co., retiring as president after 40 years.
William “Bill” F. Devine Jr. ’61, of Brockton, MA, February 26, 2026: He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1962 on active and reserve duty. He worked for decades for Stanley Corp., selling manufactured goods, and later started his own company, William F. Devine Inc. in Stoughton.
James “Jim” C. Jodoin ’62, of Dudley, MA, April 19, 2025: A veteran of the U.S. Army, serving primarily in West Germany, he had a 30-year career as an insurance executive in Hartford, CT.
Richard “Dick” L. Weimann ’62, of Asheville, NC, December 7, 2025: After a 12-year career in the U.S. Air Force, rising to the rank of captain, he owned and operated Crab Creek Grocery until 1980 and became a nursing home administrator.
Peter M. Zona ’62, of Grafton, MA, November 5, 2025: He served in the U.S. Army as a records clerk in Kobe, Japan. He had a 30-year career as a teacher, retiring as a business teacher at Shrewsbury High School. He was a long-time donor to Nichols.
Kenneth M. Bigelow ’63, of Rutland, MA, March 13, 2025: He served in the U.S. Army and worked for Travelers Insurance and other private insurance businesses.
James “Jim” H. Feindel ’63, of Hooksett, NH, December 17, 2025: He was a member of the U.S. Naval Reserves and worked for A. W. Chesterton Co. for many years, retiring as a supply chain manager in 2008. He was a long-time donor to Nichols.
Paul Y. Fontaine ’63, of Gardner, MA, August 11, 2025: He was a U.S. Army and National Guard Vietnam veteran, serving from 1963 to 1969 and owned
and operated Fontaine Brothers, a contracting and construction management company, until his retirement in 2001.
Bradley “Brad” S. Hvolbeck ’63, of Greenwich, CT, August 17, 2025: He served in the Connecticut National Guard, owned a real estate company, and later joined Sotheby’s International Realty. He was considered one of the top brokers in Greenwich and the country. He was a long-time donor to Nichols.
Thomas “Tom” H. Niles ’63, Lexington, MA, September 15, 2025: He had a career in real estate, first at Niles Co. Inc., his family’s property management and real estate firm serving Greater Boston, and later at Boston Residential Group LLC. A former trustee of Nichols, he advised the college on building projects, starting with the Fels Student Center and generously supported leadership development for students and scholarships, including an endowed scholarship he created in 2016. He was the recipient of both the Outstanding Alumnus Award and the President’s Medal for lifetime achievement.
Robert “Bob” J. Sharp ’63, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, February 28, 2025: He owned Bob Sharp Motors Inc., a group of profitable car dealerships in Wilton, CT, and was also the force behind Bob Sharp Racing, the award-winning driving team that included celebrities, such as Paul Newman. He competed across the northeast in SCCA competitions and became a multi-time SCCA Runoffs Nation Champion and SCCA Hall of Fame member. He was a long-time donor to Nichols College.
James “Jim” S. Cascio ’64, Hunterdon County, NJ, May 4, 2025: He served in the U.S.
National Guard and owned Cassways Trucking, a tri-state trailer company.
Carl F. Gilbert ’64, of Hamilton Square, NJ, August 9, 2025: He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry, decorated with a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement for his service in the Vietnam War. He worked for Bristol-Myers Squibb for 31 years as manager of financial marketing services.
Andrew “Andy” P. Marvin ’64, of Portland, ME, January 21, 2025: He served in the U.S. Army and worked at Bath Iron Works in the purchasing and procurement departments for nearly 20 years.
Henry “Hank” H. Peterson ’64, of Whitefield, NH, November 13, 2025: He had a long career in banking, serving as vice president of commercial loans at Concord National Bank. He was a loyal and generous donor to Nichols.
Bruce A. Demoranville Sr. ’65, of Swansea, MA, June 2, 2025: He served in the National Guard and was the founder of ABS Printing Co. Inc. in West Warwick, RI, which he operated with his son for over 30 years, retiring in 2020. He was a loyal donor to Nichols.
Thomas “Tom” D. Pearsall ’65, of Lititz, PA, September 8, 2025: He built a career as a banking trust officer, joining Jonestown Bank & Trust Co., PA, in 2003 and retiring in 2014. He was a loyal donor to Nichols.
Craig A. Sanden ’65, of Winsted, CT, December 31, 2025: He worked for, and later acquired, Markal Finishing in 1971, a paper finishing business, and later purchased Tiffany and Pickett, a Winsted corrugated company.
Henry “Hank” P. St. Cyr ’66, of Sterling, MA, October 20, 2025: A CFA, he began his business career at State Mutual Life Assurance Co. in Worcester, rising to the position of vice president and treasurer. He then served as senior investment officer at Providian Corp. and returned to
State Mutual until his retirement in 2003. He was a long-time donor to Nichols.
Lt. Col. Bruce R. Barton ’67, of Newbury, NH, and La Quinta, CA, October 14, 2025: He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and began a decades-long career in banking, retiring as an executive with Bank of America. He was a loyal donor to Nichols.
Fredric “Ted” C. Montfort ’67, of Lakewood Ranch, FL, November 15, 2025: He was a partner in the law firm Montfort, Healy, McGuire, and Salley LLP. He was a loyal donor to Nichols.
Raymond G. Leo ’68, of Dudley, MA, November 23, 2025: He was a program administrator at Morning Star Home.
George E. Zeiner ’68, of Plano, TX, January 6, 2026: He began his career at American Airlines and, after serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and later Fort Benning, GA, he returned to American Airlines, spending 37 years in a variety of management roles and retiring as regional sales manager.
David S. Hedlund ’70, of Dunedin, FL, January 15, 2025: He served in the U.S. Marine Corps at Parris Island and Camp Lejeune. He worked as a sales representative in law enforcement, running D.S. Hedlund Inc. for almost five decades.
Stephen “Steve” D. Love ’70, of Scarborough, ME, January 17, 2025: He was a sales representative at Brockway Smith for 33 years.
John F. Marzilli ’70, of Worcester, MA, July 29, 2025: He was a teacher in the Worcester Public Schools system and also taught at several colleges, including Becker Junior College, New England School of Accounting and Anna Maria College.
John J. Fay III ’71, of East Falmouth, MA, July 5, 2025: He was president of the Falmouth Supply Co. Inc.
Lucien J. Jolin ’71, of Southbridge, MA, December 20, 2025: He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a longtime police officer in Southbridge, retiring as a sergeant in 1992, and later working for the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department.
Francis “Frank” J. Lovell ’71, of West Roxbury, MA, April 27, 2025: He worked for Brown Brothers Harriman Co. for more than 30 years, retiring as vice president. He served many volunteer leadership roles at Nichols, including trustee, Alumni Association president, Board of Advisor, and President’s Society chair, and played an instrumental role in the annual alumni phonathon. He participated in numerous alumni gatherings and was an avid donor. He received the Ken Thompson Alumni Service Award in 1996.
John F. White ’71 MBA ’79, of Webster, MA, February 1, 2025: During his 45-year banking career, he held various senior executive positions at several banks including Commerce Bank, WCIS Bank, Webster Five Cents Savings Bank, Nuvo Bank, Westbank, and Savers Bank where he retired as senior vice president of commercial lending. He was a long-term member of the Nichols College Board of Advisors and received the Alumni Achievement Award and Legacy Award. Among his survivors are three daughters and their spouses, and a grandson, all of whom attended Nichols. He was a long-time donor to Nichols.
Christopher “Chris” W. Keenan ’71, of Greenland, NH, February 13, 2025: He was a practicing attorney on the seacoast for over 35 years, and opened his own practice, Christopher W. Keenan Law Offices in Portsmouth.
Dennis R. Kearney ’72, of Burnsville, MN, February 3, 2025: He worked at Voyageur Outward Bound School, teaching cross country skiing, rock climbing, canoeing, and wilderness survival. He had over 35 years of painting experience and opened his own company, Olympic Painters.
Francis J. McKeon Jr. ’72, of Millbury, MA, August 11, 2025: He worked for many years as a plant supervisor at Handi Pad/ Stafford Labs Co. and in various supervisory positions at Table Talk Pies.
James “Jim” M. Dumser ’73, of Wappingers Falls, NY, August 3, 2025: He was a deputy chief for the Mount Vernon Police Department. In 2004, he graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, and in 2012, received its Community Service Award.
Stephen A. McKeown ’73, of Leland, NC, August 5, 2025: He worked for many years as a sales representative in the Garment District in Manhattan before retiring in 2019.
David P. Patterson ’73, of Jamison, PA, February 23, 2026: He served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1971 aboard the USS Garcia and earned the National Defense Medal. During his 40-year career, he had sales roles for SPS Technologies, which was later acquired by Precision Cast Parts.
Gregory “Greg” Pogue ’73, of Fort Mill, SC, November 10, 2025: His roles spanned the public and private sectors until he found a home in higher education, including Drew University, California State University-East Bay, University of San Diego, and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), from which he retired in 2020. He also received the Nichols College Outstanding Alumnus Award and was a long-time donor to Nichols.
Frank R. Burns Jr. ’74, of Osprey, FL on April 14, 2025. He was an agent for State Farm Insurance Cos. A member of the Nichols Hall of Fame for football
and lacrosse, he was honored in September 2025 by his teammates who raised $5,000 to dedicate a locker in the football locker room. He was a long-time donor to Nichols.
Terrance L. Grant ’74, of Southbridge, MA, January 13, 2025: He was a decorated U.S. Army veteran, stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, during the Vietnam War, and later worked as a computer programmer at State Mutual Life Insurance.
John D. Power II ’75, of Phoenix, AZ, May 2025: He was an investment broker at First Investments Corp.
Nicholas “Nick” P. Houhoulis ’76, of Schertz, TX, January 27, 2026: He worked in the food and beverage industry, including in casinos and high-end hotels and later became a New Hampshire state liquor investigator.
Robert “Bob” N. Reynolds ’76, of Hamden, CT, January 27, 2025: He practiced law for 20 years as a partner at Gaffney, Kane, and Reynolds. He later founded Shake-Away, a manufacturing and distribution business in the lawn and garden sector.
Bruce H. Russell ’76, of Manassas, VA, December 27, 2025: He served in the U.S. Army for 26 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He transitioned to the private contracting sector for 17 years, supporting many Department of Defense contracts and programs. He was a loyal donor to Nichols.
Thomas “Tom” W. Bartsch III ’78, of Cudahy, WI, January 4, 2025: He was a sales executive at MGI Pharma.
David W. Hosmer ’78, of Woodstock Valley, CT, on January 27, 2025: He owned Westwood Numismatic Services.
Jeffrey Koepper ’78, of Manchester, CT, March 1, 2025: He worked for Allied Printing Services, retiring in September 2024.
Chester “Chet” T. Mazeika ’78, of Nashua, NH, February 19, 2025: He spent 40 years in the insurance industry and also served in the NH Sheriff’s Department.
John A. Giangregorio ’79, of Worcester, MA, May 20, 2025: He founded, owned and operated J.J. Towing. He also worked at Standard Auto Wrecking Co., and as a manager at AAMCO Transmissions.
Daniel F. Szklarz ’79, of Spencer, MA, October 19, 2025: He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and worked at Peterson Steele until his retirement in 2016.
Mark R. Genereux ’80, of Southbridge, MA, February 3, 2025: He was the principal clerk and data collector for the Town of Southbridge Assessor’s Office and previously worked as an employment specialist at the MacKinnon Training Center.
Steven R. Maher ’80, of Westborough, MA, February 2, 2026: He earned a law degree from Massachusetts School of Law and retired from Dean Foods in 2017.
Richard B. Palanzi MBA ’80, of Framingham, MA, February 6, 2025: He began his career at Wang Laboratories in business development and later joined Intel Corp., working in financial management and business control.
Gary Gemme MBA ’83, of Grafton, MA, August 6, 2025: He was a Seabee in the U.S. Navy and served the Worcester Police Department for 33 years in various roles, retiring as chief in 2016.
Robert “Bob” E. Strzelewicz ’83, of Oxford, MA, and Merritt Island, FL, January 20, 2025: He was in the U.S. Air Force and worked for Wyman Gordon for 40 years, retiring as a credit manager in 1995.
Steven “Steve” E. Bylund MBA ’84, of Auburn, MA, July 10, 2025: He had a 30-year career with Mackinac Savings Bank as a residential mortgage officer.
Patricia “Patty” May Motyka ’85, of Northborough, MA, March 31, 2025: She worked as an accountant at small firms and retired as the assistant director of financial aid at Nichols College in 2013. She was a long-time donor to Nichols.
Raymond “Ray” M. Androlewicz ’86, of Dudley, MA, March 20, 2026: He worked with his family in construction before being employed by the gas division of National Grid for 24 years. He most recently was working at Feeney Brothers Utility Service in Dorchester.
Kelly A. (Perron) Marcimo Everitt ’86, of Bourne, MA, December 3, 2025: She was the vice president of sales and marketing at E.F. Senior Care.
Marc A. DiPietro ’89, of Southbridge, MA, March 21, 2026: He worked for many years along with his father at the family business, D & D Welding, before taking it over. He owned and operated Three D Enterprises of Southbridge.
John M. Mountzuris MBA ’90, of Worcester, MA, October 3, 2025: He was a pharmacist who worked in many areas, including hospital pharmacy, outpatient pharmacy and clinic trials in medical oncology.
Stephen “Steve” E. Foster ’92, of Bolton, CT, February 22, 2025: He began his career in software sales and later became a leader in the data technology industry, where he spent nearly 30 years supporting numerous start-up ventures.
Rhea M. (Raffa) Gorman ’93, of Barrington, RI, November 28, 2025: She dedicated her career to helping children with special needs and their families, most recently as a coordinator for family service of RI.
Donald “Don” J. Ludwig ’93, of Mashpee, MA, February 14, 2026: He built a long career as a consultant in demand planning and Enterprise Resource Planning,
contributing to several computer, telecommunications, and biotech companies over the years.
Amy M. (Aunchman) Dowell ’94, of Alexandira, VA, June 19, 2025: She was a member services manager of professional associations, representing associations at trade shows and scientific meetings in the U.S. and internationally.
Janine L. (Faust) Ewings ’94, of North Oxford, MA, April 16, 2025: She worked for several firms throughout her career as a CPA.
Michael E. Gorman Jr. ’94, of North Attleboro, MA, April 8, 2025: He worked for many years at Martignetti Cos.
Mark S. Stomski ’94, of Worcester, MA, January 12, 2025: He was a longtime firefighter for the Worcester Fire Department, retiring in 2006.
Matthew “Matt” M. Klimovich ’95, of Bristol, CT, March 13, 2025: He was a first responder, serving as a paramedic and firefighter for more than 25 years. He and his wife established CT Training Solutions.
Stefanie M. (Ranieri) Cappello ’96, of Southborough, MA, February 28, 2025: She and her husband founded Cappello Heavy Transport.
Wayde C. Lodor MBA ’96, of Pepperell, MA, May 8, 2025: He developed and designed cuttingedge medical devices.
Gary M. Watson ’96 MBA ’02, of Webster, MA, May 24, 2025: He worked at Webco Chemical Corp in Dudley.
David D. Brochu MBA ’97, of Westminster, MA, January 24, 2025: He was a plastics engineer employed at TechNH Inc.
Daniel “Dan” P. LaRose ’98, of Pepperell, MA, February 24, 2025: He started his own business, LaRose and Sons Construction, and also worked as a contractor with Neuco.
Bruce A. Franklin MBA ’01, of Norton, MA, May 20, 2025: He worked at Allied Domecq.
Patrick T. Burroughs ’02, of North Grafton, MA, May 14, 2025: He worked in the shipping department at Metso Corp. and previously worked for the former Polyclad Laminated.
Lynette F. (Jost) McDonagh ’03, of Southbridge, MA, July 20, 2025: She was employed by Independent Claims Services.
Thomas “Tom” P. Fitzgerald ’05, of Saint Albans, VT, January 17, 2026: He was a sales representative for Crystal Rock and then WB Mason.
Sharon L. Parent ’06, of Sarasota, FL, January 19, 2025: She worked in management for Sprague and Allegro computer manufacturing companies in Worcester.
Dennis Santelli ABA ’06, of Holland, MA, November 16, 2025: He worked for Sodexo as a food service general manager at Nichols for 20 years and later worked for Old Sturbridge Village and the Publick House Restaurant and Inn, both in Sturbridge.
Karen M. (Bottom) Lund ’07, of Hudson, MA, August 22, 2025: She worked at various local banks.
Elizabeth A. (Pare) Clark ’09, of Southborough, MA, December 7, 2025: She was an activist, an educator, and devoted herself entirely to the pursuit of her passions and the care of the people and environment around her.
Jamison G. O’Neil ’12, of White River Junction, VT, August 9, 2025: He was a special education teacher at the Wilder School in the Hartford School District.
Faculty/Staff
Edward N. Clarke PhD, faculty member, of Paxton, MA, January 16, 2025: He served in the U.S. Navy and was the associate dean
of faculty, director of research, and professor of engineering and science in his 30-year tenure at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Nichols was among several colleges he taught at in his retirement.
Sherrill Grant, secretary in the Registrar’s Office, of Dudley, MA, January 18, 2026: She previously worked at the American Optical Co. and the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District. She retired from Nichols in 2005. She was a loyal donor to Nichols.
Richard “Rick” Hilliard, associate professor of management emeritus, of Sturbridge/Charlton, MA, September 18, 2025: He came to Nichols in 1987, following a career in insurance and finance, and taught numerous classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He offered guidance to students in and out of the classroom, encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs, and regularly cheered on Bison athletes. He retired from full-time teaching in 2005 and continued to contribute to the campus community. In 2024, he was given the Honorary Alumnus Award.
Thomas Lelon, professor of management emeritus, of Medway, MA, May 18, 2025: He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and began his 50-year career in higher education at Boston College, later becoming dean of the graduate school of Babson College. He was the first lay president of Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he also served on the Board of Trustees. He then joined the Nichols faculty where he advised students on their entrepreneurial ventures.
Glenn Rice, professor of psychology emeritus, of Dudley, MA, and Williamsburg, VA, November 16, 2025: He earned his doctorate at Brown University and spent his entire teaching career at Nichols.
DONOR HIGHLIGHT
Murrah bets on the future with a legacy gift
For 13 years, Jerry Murrah ’67 hosted a Kentucky Derby party where, he says, 30 or so neighbors enjoyed “good food, good libation and lots of fun.” It’s been about five years since they last shared that tradition, and Murrah decided it was time to get back in the figurative saddle.
But instead of throwing a viewing party, he will be experiencing the Derby firsthand for the first time. As of this writing, Murrah and two companions are traveling from their Hilton Head, S.C., homes to Louisville, Ky., packed with “fancy duds” and ornate head ware, ready to soak in the southern charm at Churchill Downs.
“I
student, adding, “I’ve been so impressed with what Nichols has done. I feel honored to do this for the finance students there.”
liked Nichols for its small campus… I liked the feel of it. I’ve been so impressed with what Nichols has done.
Attending the Kentucky Derby isn’t the only big step Murrah has taken this year. He recently informed Nichols of his intention to provide for the college in his estate plans, making him the newest member of the Colonel Conrad Society. A portion of his estate will be used to establish an endowed scholarship for a student in a finance-related discipline.
I feel honored to do this for the finance students there.”
Murrah retired from a successful career in the U.S. Army in 1988. Drafted in 1967, he was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, followed by a stint in Belgium as a military police sergeant at a NATO Shape Support Group. Through a serendipitous connection with an adjutant with whom he played bridge, Murrah got a direct commission as a finance corps second lieutenant. He subsequently parted from the military in 1971 as a first lieutenant and returned to Mechanics Bank in Worcester, where he had worked before the draft.
Jerry Murrah ’67
Murrah missed the retired rank of lieutenant colonel by two years but was able to retire as a major. He also received the prestigious Legion of Merit Award for exceptionally outstanding conduct. Of his time with the army, Murrah unabashedly states, “I loved every second of it.” He believes his Nichols degree helped him with his career progression.
estate to Clemson University, his father’s alma mater, where he will establish a scholarship in his parents’ names for a student in electrical engineering.
“My mother and father would be behind this 100 percent,” he says of his plans, as he cautions, “I hope it will be a while before the scholarships show up, but they will show up.”
“I liked Nichols for its small campus…I liked the feel of it,” he says of his time as a
Within a few short months of his civilian life, however, the army reached out to get him back. He rejoined in 1972 and was sent to Fort McPherson in Atlanta. In 1986, Murrah was on orders for a controller’s job in Turkey when his father unexpectedly passed away, leaving his mother distraught. He made a deal with the army to stay in the states and allow him to retire at 20 years.
Reflecting on a life he considers “charmed,” thanks to the love and support of his adoptive parents, Murrah also intends to leave a portion of his
– Susan Veshi
The Colonel Conrad Society, named for the founder of Nichols College, recognizes the loyalty and generosity of alumni and friends who document their intention to provide for Nichols in their estate plans. If you are interested in learning more about a Nichols College legacy gift, please contact the Advancement Office at advancement@nichols.edu or 866-622-4766.
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Big dreams shouldn’t be limited by finances. Behind every Nichols success story is someone who made it possible.
Your gift to the Nichols Fund helps close the gap — easing financial stress and opening doors to opportunity. Today, you can help a deserving student stay on track for success.
Because potential deserves a chance. Don’t wait — make your gift today.
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Sophia Oliveira ’29 Entrepreneurship Institute for Women’s Leadership Honors Scholar
The Nichols Fund provides critical, immediate support — helping bridge the gap so students can continue their journey and succeed.
“In my short time at Nichols College, I’ve had the privilege of joining the Institute for Women’s Leadership, deepening my studies, and growing as a leader. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and donors, I’ve experienced opportunities beyond imagination. When I chose Nichols, I wanted a community where support extended beyond campus — and that’s exactly what I found. Your unwavering commitment to the Bison community makes all this possible, and I’ll be forever grateful.”