1960s
Janet (Smith) Dalis ’69 had a quilt featured in the Sewing Machines Plus Quilting Festival, a six-day celebration of quilts and their makers sponsored by SewingMachinesPlus.com. Janet is an award-winning quilter whose work has been shown throughout the Northeast.
1990s Dr. Donald R. Burleson ’91G spoke in September 2020 at the annual conference of the American Cryptogram Association, giving a virtual lecture and slide show titled “A Statistical Technique for Isolating Vowels in a Ciphertext,” illustrating a mathematical method he had discovered some years ago. He and his wife Mollie live in Roswell, New Mexico, where Dr. Burleson retired in 2017 after teaching college mathematics for fifty years. He continues to engage in research in matrix theory. Joan Bienvenue ’99 has been selected as the first Executive Director of the Oak Ridge Institute at the University of Tennessee, established last year to align the expertise and infrastructure of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University in support of world-leading research and talent development. As director, she will also serve as a Vice Provost at UT.
ClassNotes
2000s Christopher A. Giordano ’07 founded Gold Standard in June 2020. A basketball training program dedicated to helping players master the fundamental skills needed to become well-rounded basketball players, the program creates a positive and inclusive learning environment for players of all ages and skill levels.
2010s Frank Bourgeois ’13G was recently appointed Chief of Police at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He shared, “My academic experience at Rivier University was contributory to the many professional opportunities I received, as well as the successes within those opportunities.” Joslyn Kuchinski ’13 joined the United Way as the coordinator for Greater Nashua Smart Start, a coalition made up of individuals and organizations that work together to ensure that every child in the community has the best possible start to life. “I am forever grateful to the Rivier Career Services team for setting me up with incredible networking opportunities,” she shares. “I am so blessed to have such a supportive alma mater even after graduation.”
With the pandemic limiting vacation options, Michelle M. (Cushion) Blake ’00/’16G improvised with an escape to nearby Cape Cod in fall 2020. She is pictured here with her husband, David. Remote work, golf lessons, and exploring oceanfront golf courses provided a delightful respite. Jesse Harless ’16G released his second book, If Not You, Then Who?, in February 2021. Serving as a testimony of Jesse’s own addiction story, this book offers inspiration to those struggling with addiction and demonstrates how recovery is possible no matter the circumstances. He is also the author of Smash Your Comfort Zone with Cold Showers: How to Boost Your Energy, Defeat Your Anxiety, and Overcome Unwanted Habits. Samantha Pindara ’17G is a School Counselor at Lynnfield High School in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. This past fall, she took on the role of Varsity Field Hockey Coach and shares that she is excited to be working with students both on and off the field. Samantha Pearce ’18 has joined The Collaborative, a small nonprofit based in Londonderry, Vermont, as a Community Epidemiologist. “I entered Rivier's Public Health Program with the goal of becoming an epidemiologist,” she shares. “I am excited to have the opportunity to bring the skillset I developed at Rivier to my community!”
RIVIER TODAY / SPRING 2021
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