Saint Michael's College Magazine Fall/Winter 2023-24

Saint Michael’s SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2023/24

Building the Future, Learning from the Past “Every day I see opportunity.”

— Jack Russell ’70

SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE MAGAZINE Fall/Winter 2023/24 Volume 23, No. 2 smcvt.edu/magazine

KL E IN H AL L 2

EDITOR Susan Salter Reynolds CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rev. Michael Carter, SSE ’12 Cat Cutillo Carla Francis Josh Kessler ’04 Elizabeth Murray ’13 Dave Patterson ’02 Annie Rosello ’94

A Letter from President Richard Plumb

13 The Hacker: Matt Devost ’93

by Susan Salter Reynolds 14 Sharing Joy

by Annie Rosello ’94

S TO R IE S 3

What’s New?

16 When More Is More

by Cat Cutillo

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Entrepreneurship and the Liberal Arts

by Susan Salter Reynolds

20 The People’s Entrepreneur: Jack Russell ’70

by Susan Salter Reynolds

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHER Jerry Swope ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS Patrick Bohan Cat Cutillo DESIGN Harp and Company Graphic Design Jennifer Fisher Douglas G. Harp MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD Alaba Apesin Alessandro Bertoni Rev. Michael Carter, SSE ’12 Summer Drexel Michelle Jordan P’20 Josh Kessler ’04 Annie Rosello ’94 Theresa Selby Jerry Swope Saint Michael’s College Magazine (ISSN 0279-3016) is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications twice per year. The views expressed in the Saint Michael’s College Magazine do not necessarily represent the official policies and views of Saint Michael’s College.

POSTMASTER Please send address changes to: Saint Michael’s College One Winooski Park, Box 6 Colchester, VT 05439 SMCMagazine@smcvt.edu EDITORIAL OFFICE Saint Michael’s College One Winooski Park, Box 6 Colchester, VT 05439 802.654.2556 SMCMagazine@smcvt.edu ©2024 by Saint Michael’s College.

All rights reserved.

Cover photo: Jerry Swope Inside front cover: Jerry Swope

Students enter the outdoor classroom before the start of Instructor Trevien Stanger’s ’05 Environmental Studies class. Located near the Natural Area, the outdoor classroom was built in the spring of 2023 and was used by classes this fall.

22 The Inventor: Thomas Dickerson ’13

by Susan Salter Reynolds

34 Pat Robins ’61: Entrepreneurship in Community Building

by Susan Salter Reynolds

24 The Story of Christianity

by Rev. Michael Carter, SSE ’12

36 The 34th Athletic Hall of Fame Class

by Josh Kessler ’04

27 Richard Plumb Introduction

by Elizabeth Murray ’13

38 The Ballad of Troy Millette

by David Patterson ’02

48 Shaping the Student Experience: Donor Impact FY23 50 Honoring an Educator Who Meant the World

by Carla Francis 52 Meet Kaomi Taylor of the Boucher Career Education Center

28 The Pioneer: Mary Lake ’06: Shepherd, Shearer, Butcher, Farmer, Artist, Writer

by Susan Salter Reynolds

CL AS S N OT E S 40 Interview with Rob Robinson ’91 Saint Michael’s VP of Finance and 53 Letter from the Alumni Board Administration President

by Pat Fitzgibbons ’89 32 Mystic Aquarium Vice President of 42 Faculty and Alumni Works Biological Research and Chief 55 Class Notes 45 History from the Heart Scientist Tracy Romano ’86 and

by Cat Cutillo Makayla Fernald ’24 64 In Memoriam 46 Alumni and Family Weekend 2023

Additional content available online at smcvt.edu/magazine

KLEIN HALL

Letter from the President

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G

reetings!

Seeing the creativity these alumni bring to the landscape beyond campus is truly inspiring. It shows the continued relevance and importance of a Saint Michael’s education in preparing students to be professionally successful and personally fulfilled.

By the time you receive this issue of the magazine, I will be just a few weeks into my new role as Saint Michael’s 18th president. I am honored and excited to join this remarkable community.

Saint Michael’s College is a wonderful, welcoming place that plays an increasingly vital role in higher education and the culture at large.

I’ve read about many of you in past issues of this magazine, and I’ve learned about the importance our academic community places on purposeful learning and leadership as well as about how much our alumni care for one another. In this issue, you’ll see those same fundamental principles at work in the many places our graduates have taken their education—from virtual reality to sheep shearing.

These ventures are more than careers, more than jobs. These alumni look over the post-graduation precipice and see niches and needs to be

I am so honored to serve as the 18th president of this tremendous institution. I have already felt warmly welcomed by members of the community. I look forward to meeting you at Reunion or an upcoming event and hearing your Saint Michael’s stories.

Sincerely, filled. They see opportunity, as Jack Russell ’70 says in these pages, every day.

They observe, they listen, and they blend these opportunities with the skills and passions they have honed here. They are entrepreneurs.

In its most classic sense, entrepreneurship occurs in the spaces between (in French, entre) traditional ways of doing business. And so it involves

a high degree of risk and failure. It demands flexibility and fast learning.

These are muscles that students at Saint Michael’s build inside and outside the classroom.

As you’ll read, developing entrepreneurial skills, creating a meaningful life, forming lifelong friendships, understanding the gifts each individual brings to their pursuits—these are just a few of the pillars our graduates build and reflect on here.

Richard Plumb, Ph.D. President

To read more about President Richard Plumb go to page 27.

WHAT’S NEW?

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who introduced her to the institutional research field.

Kaiti Tuthill ’11 speaks with students on campus.

KAITI TUTHILL ’11 SHARES ABOUT HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH CAREER Kaiti Tuthill ’11 says her experience as a Saint Michael’s student laid the groundwork for a successful higher education career.

Tuthill came back to campus for a mathematics and statistics colloquium on October 27 as the guest speaker.

Tuthill is now director of assessment and accreditation at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development.

As an undergraduate, she had a double major in Mathematics and Economics and a minor in English.

She played the oboe, studied in Denmark, did research at Northern Arizona University, and was in the mathematics academic honor society, Pi Mu Epsilon, hosting a speaker

Tuthill discovered that the field deals with things she loved studying—data, statistics, and mathematics—and had a clear path into higher education, where she thrived. After graduation, Tuthill moved to Boston and worked for Harvard Business School as a faculty assistant in the business, government, and international economy departments. After three years in the workforce, she decided to apply to Boston College’s Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment (MESA) Ph.D. program. She says the math classes she took at St. Mike’s in linear algebra, probability, and regression helped prepare her the most.

“I really think my [doctoral] dissertation was the type of question I learned to ask at St. Mike’s,” she says. “What I was doing the whole time was meaningful. All of my experiences [combined] to get me there.”

CAMPUS FUNERAL HONORS FIRE AND RESCUE FOUNDER DONALD SUTTON A “force of nature”—that’s how Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue founder and former Chief Donald “Pappy” Sutton will be remembered by those who knew him, including alumnus and former Fire and Rescue member Pete Worrell ’79. Worrell delivered the eulogy at

A tribute to St. Mike’s Fire and Rescue founder and chief Donald “Pappy” Sutton.

Sutton’s funeral on Friday, October 27, 2023, at the request of his former chief.

Sutton died October 14 at the age of 95.

During the remembrance and funeral Mass in the Chapel on campus, attended by scores of Fire and Rescue current members and alumni in dress uniform, along with other friends, family, and former colleagues, Worrell shared anecdotes of his years knowing Sutton—from having Sutton as a mentor while at Saint Michael’s to becoming lifelong friends. He described Sutton as passionate, kind, creative, generous, and a constant champion for the underdog.

“He saw what the world could become, and he saw what we could become,” Worrell said.

Read the full obituary of Donald Sutton online in this issue’s obituaries: https://www.smcvt.edu/obituaries

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Brian Collier presents “Unlawning” in McCarthy Arts Center.

Cynde Strand earns Emmy Award for her work covering Ukraine.

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DEFENDER ADVISOR WAS ON EMMY-WINNING CNN TEAM COVERING UKRAINE The 44th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards ceremony in New York recognized Saint Michael’s adjunct Digital Media and Communications Professor Cynde Strand and her CNN team for their breaking news coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The team’s award-winning coverage culminated with an Emmy win on September 27, 2023, but their work began nearly a year and a half earlier, in February 2022, when CNN began preparing for the Russian invasion. “Reporting and support teams were ready throughout Ukraine and the region, including a reporting team at a key location on the Russian side of the Ukrainian border,” Strand explained.

Strand brings her experiences from the field into the classroom now.

She joined Saint Michael’s as an adjunct professor in 2022 and served as an advisor in the fall 2023 semester for the Defender, the College’s student-run newspaper, along with fellow former broadcast journalist Tess Stimson. During the first week of one of her classes, she asked students to design their own coverage plan for a war in Ukraine.

PROFESSOR MAKES CASE FOR “UNLAWNING,” INDIVIDUAL ECOLOGICAL IMPACT Easy solutions exist for reversing the decline of pollinator populations, says Saint Michael’s Professor Brian Collier—people simply need to stop mowing the lawn they don’t use, or stop mowing altogether.

Collier presented his ideas for individual action during a seminar on October 10 through the “Saint Michael’s Presents: Solutions for Social Impact” series. The Fine Arts professor has long combined his expertise in art and design with his interest in ecological causes, which has culminated in his “Unlawning America” project, which launched in 2017.

“My ultimate goal,” says Collier, “is to create and present work that makes it difficult for people to ignore the animals and plants they encounter in their daily lives—inspiring them to make choices that are less harmful to our shared ecosystems.”

One of those choices? Moving away from mowing the lawn.

FOREIGN SERVICE PATHS ABOUND, SAYS MICHELLE KAYSER ’08 IN CAMPUS TALK Michelle Kayser ’08 has her dream job, and she wants to help other Saint Michael’s students find their way down a similar path. Kayser visited campus October 10 to share information about fellowships, internships, and careers with the U.S. Department of State, where she’s been employed for 13 years.

During her career with the State Department, Kayser has served in many roles and lived all around the world: Switzerland, the Central African Republic, Argentina. She is currently the diplomat in residence for New England. At her campus talk, she was introduced by Jeffrey Ayres, director of the Center for Global Engagement and chair of the Political Science and International Relations Department.

Michelle Kayser ‘08 meeting with students on campus about opportunities with the U.S. Department of State.

Kayser credits her time at Saint Michael’s for her career track. “I would not be in the position I am today— having traveled five continents, getting paid to see the world—if it wasn’t directly for Professor Ayres,” Kayser said. “If you take nothing [else] away from my presentation today, [consider this:] take advantage of where you are. Take advantage of these amazing professors, faculty, and staff.”

PROFESSORS TREK TO MALAYSIAN BORNEO TO STUDY TEETH, PRIMATES In August 2023, Professor of Biology Paul Constantino ’92 visited Malaysian Borneo for a two-weeklong excursion full of presentations, primates, and teeth.

Although the initial motivation for the trip was to present his research on enamel tufts in primates at the International Primatological Society (IPS)

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Biology Professor Paul Constantino ’92, left, and Emeritus Biology Professor Peter Hope pose for a selfie during their travels in summer 2023 to Malaysian Borneo. (Photo courtesy of Paul Constantino) meeting, Constantino also had the opportunity to engage with the exciting biodiversity that Malaysian Borneo has to offer. “This was a conference I had long wanted to attend, and it only occurs every other year,” he said. “A student and I were accepted to attend in 2020 in Quito, Ecuador, but that conference was unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19.”

Enamel tufts are small cracks that exist in the teeth of certain mammals (such as pigs, sea otters, and humans) but not others. Constantino and his student researchers have conducted experiments indicating that enamel tufts may protect our teeth from “catastrophic failure,” particularly when consuming hard foods, he said. He explained that through understanding which primates have tufts, scientists can gain a better understanding of how they evolved.

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni joined in the celebration during Alumni and Family Weekend, focusing on the newly named Patrick ’61 and Marcelle Leahy Center for the Environment to recognize the Leahys’ many contributions to environmental policy and stewardship. One of Leahy’s last acts in the Senate was to secure a $6.5 million appropriation for the center, one of the largest grants in the College’s history. It will fund the center’s continued development and growth.

A large community event beside the Pollinator Garden thanked the Leahys and showed off the new sign for the center bearing their names. Kristyn Achilich, center director, described how the Patrick ’61 and Marcelle Leahy Center for the Environment has become an integral part of the campus, touching many academic disciplines and turning campus into a living laboratory. She said the appropriation will have an immense impact on generations of students seeking to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems.

MOVE HELPS ALUMNA SAVE A LIFE SIX YEARS LATER Maggie McKeon ’19 said the College’s community service organization made her want to become a Saint Michael’s student, so she joined as soon as she could during her first year on campus.

But McKeon said she could never have predicted that the organization MOVE, which stands for Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts, would plant a seed that six years later would help her save a life.

As a student, she attended events like the Fiz Blood Drive her first year, and became deeply involved in many service activities from then on. During the 2017 Fiz Drive of her sophomore year, McKeon, on a whim, signed her name to the Be The Match registry to become a potential bone marrow donor. The nonprofit manages a global registry to help treat blood cancers.

As time passed, McKeon almost forgot she had signed up, and she went on to a teaching career in New Jersey after graduating. Then, in 2023, nearly six years after signing up for the registry, she got a letter explaining she might be a match and needed to have follow-up bloodwork to confirm. In May came official confirmation: her bone marrow was a match.

“Borneo is such a cool place for biologists,” Constantino said. “There was so much to see, I just wish we had been able to stay a little longer!”

PATRICK LEAHY ’61 “COMES HOME” WITH WIFE MARCELLE FOR CENTER DEDICATION Saint Michael’s College welcomed home former U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy ’61 and his wife, Marcelle, on

Leahy told people who filled the Roy Room in Dion during a Saturday reception that those generations matter most with this initiative. “If you do it only for this one generation, you’ve failed—and you’re not going to fail. You’re doing it for generations to come. And, as long as we can, both Marcelle and I will be there to help.”

Former U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy ’61 and Marcelle Leahy on September 23, 2023, at the Welcome Back Bash.

Be The Match told McKeon the recipient would be a toddler living

To read the full version of any of these stories, visit smcvt.edu/news and search the story’s title.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

September 23 to honor them for their lifetime of service and generosity to Vermont, the nation, and the College.

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS 6

Maggie McKeon ’19 from her hospital bed after donating bone marrow. internationally who had leukemia.

Though McKeon wasn’t told any other details, her surgery soon followed in Washington, D.C., with marrow taken from her hips on June 19 and sent to the child, who received it the following day. The recovery process was painful, but McKeon said it was “definitely worth doing.” Someday, McKeon hopes to connect with the family who received her marrow.

AMANDA KAULINS ’13 VOLUNTEERS ON POLAND–UKRAINE BORDER In February 2023, Amanda Kaulins ’13 volunteered on the Polish–Ukrainian border, helping provide relief for refugees of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Her work was as varied as assembling and distributing care packages, creating lesson plans and teaching English, painting walls, tiling floors, and packing supply trucks headed for the front lines.

Kaulins was making plans in August to return to the border to continue this

life-altering work. Beyond her lifelong dedication to volunteering, ingrained as a St. Mike’s student, Kaulins said the war in Ukraine feels highly personal to her. “I’m half Latvian. Latvia is one of the small Baltic countries in Northeastern Europe and has its own history with Russian occupation, including, like Ukraine, being a part of the Soviet Union. During that period, my grandparents and other family members were forced to leave their homes and were placed in refugee camps.

“I’ve always been drawn to working with families and at-risk children because I believe that every child has the right to be a child,” said Kaulins, who majored in History at Saint Michael’s. She plans next to travel to Asia, hoping to start a teaching job in Japan in early 2024.

ST. MIKE’S GAVE SYDNEY NELSON ’23 CONFIDENCE TO TEACH IN FRANCE For Sydney Nelson ’23, the later high school years spent in Stillwater, Minnesota, pointed her toward Saint Michael’s College and her eventual French major with overseas study.

Recently, a prestigious scholarship she won through the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) to teach English to French high school stu-

Sydney Nelson ’23 in her student teaching classroom. dents outside Paris for much of this academic year provided her another promising, if challenging, adventure.

Thanks to her Saint Michael’s experiences—things like student teaching, tutoring through MOVE, and doing a summer Freeman Foundation internship in South Korea—Nelson knew she could handle it.

The recent graduate said her Saint Michael’s global experiences made her confident and flexible when encountering cross-cultural challenges. She’s had an itch to explore new worlds, particularly France, from a young age, she said, and Professor Peter Vantine of the French faculty has been a huge help.

Her TAPIF assignment is at a school in the Paris suburb Creteil. Nelson said her travels as a Saint Michael’s student “showed me how capable I am of handling things myself, and that’s a really important learning experience.”

STARS ALIGN IN BUDDING FILM, MEDIA CAREER OF ASHLEY DELEON ’23 In her quest to build a name and career in the world of film and media, Ashley DeLeon ’23 is making the most of her directly relevant experience as a Saint Michael’s College Digital Media and Communications graduate.

After Commencement, DeLeon, a Bronx, New York, native, returned home to the area and jumped right into what she calls “lots of exciting stuff.”

Amanda Kaulins ’13 with IOM distributing care packages to a group of children.

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And since that time, she has landed her “dream job” doing video editing and production for Ms. Rachel—Baby & Toddler Learning Videos, an educational media platform for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with over 3.5 billion views and 6 million subscribers on YouTube and YouTube Kids.

Students participating in summer research during summer 2023 pose with some of the faculty mentors during a kickoff breakfast event on June 7. academic year. Some students who had obtained grants through other means (such as the Vermont Biomedical Research Network and NASA) also attended the breakfast.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeff Trumbower said he hoped that by having the researchers gather semiregularly, they would help create a “community of scholars” at Saint Michael’s. He estimated that his office had been funding student–faculty summer research on campus for about two decades.

STUDENT TRIO HELPS ADVANCE DIABETES THERAPY IN DIENI LAB Ashley DeLeon ’23 working and learning in the new Saint Michael’s Media Creation Center during her senior year.

RESEARCH PROJECTS PROMOTE “COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS” Students conducting summer research with Saint Michael’s faculty members kicked off their projects by sharing some of the goals for their research during a breakfast gathering on campus.

The June 7 event marked the beginning of a busy few months for students and faculty mentors who had been awarded grants through the College’s Academic Affairs office. In late July they gathered again as a group to share findings and experiences from their work, and each student was to present about their research sometime over the next

A Saint Michael’s College Fire and Rescue call on an overnight shift in mid-June was to help a diabetic patient experiencing low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia. One student responder on the crew, Jamie Hearn ’26, brought even greater than usual expertise and personal investment to the call.

“I personally have a long history of Type 2 diabetes in my family,” Hearn said a few days later as she tended to lab tests on the second floor of Saint Michael’s Cheray Science Hall, where Professor Christopher Dieni and his students are advancing therapeutic approaches that might help diabetics significantly in the long term. The Biochemistry major from Charlotte, N.C., who has a minor in Art History, was working that morning alongside two fellow summer research students, Jack

Macdonald ’25 and Jack Conroy ’24, also with science majors, from Wisconsin and Massachusetts, respectively.

Mentoring all of them has been Dieni, a friendly, energetic biochemist from Canada nearing the end of his first year on the St. Mike’s faculty while he pursues an abiding research focus on insulin resistance and sensitivity.

All three students have had lab experience and opportunities that would be rare at a larger university.

“That enhanced responsibility before they even have their bachelor’s degree means they can fairly easily outcompete undergraduate students who are little more than a number at larger universities where classes have hundreds or thousands of students,” Dieni said. “Here at St. Mike’s, they’re doing real, relevant, applicable work— authentic work.”

Professor Christopher Dieni, seated, and his summer lab team, from left, Jack Macdonald ’25, Jack Conroy ’24, Jamie Hearn ’26.

To read the full version of any of these stories, visit smcvt.edu/news and search the story’s title.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

“I’ve received recognition at seven different international film festivals and have a lot more to hear back from,” she said in mid-June. DeLeon also was in competition for the Student Academy Awards at that time for her film, The Silent Enemy, a documentary about poverty and diabetes.

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BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS Photo by Jerry Swope

ntrepreneur, Merriam-Webster style: “One who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise. Go-between. Go-getter.”

According to several sources, the word was first used in the middle of the 18th century, when it appeared in a translation of the King of Prussia’s instructions for his generals (“If the country happens not to abound in forage, you must agree with some Entrepreneur for the quantity required”).

It’s a big word, full of leadership, courage, and creativity, and the people we talked to for this issue were proud to use it to describe their role. How do the liberal arts, and specifically a Saint Michael’s College education, prepare people for that role?

The Business Administration major at Saint Michael’s is different in several ways from programs at other colleges and universities. First, there’s the ethics component.

Students entering the major must start with BU 103, Management Ethics. Jobs are for people, and this course emphasizes the importance of managerial decision making, working in teams, and considering stakeholders, not merely shareholders. Second, there is an emphasis on communication, both written and oral. Students must gain the skills they need to translate difficult concepts for lay audiences, educate potential investors, and present their work clearly using evidence and passion. Third, all Business majors must have a minor, in a discipline such as psychology, environmental science, or philosophy.

MICHAEL HILL ’07 Being an Entrepreneur is a Team Effort

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Entrepreneur and the Liberal Arts Michael Hill, Jr. ’07 is the founder of EJHFutures, a trauma-informed, responsive equity consulting agency based in Burlington. Hill saw a need to provide training and workshop opportunities for and with educational institutions, school districts, and nonprofit organizations that sought cultural change and community healing opportunities. In an effort to help create youth-empowering environments, specifically for youth of color and QTBIPOC participants, Hill and his community members have worked to strengthen intercultural and racial awareness.

We may picture the entrepreneur as a solitary figure, having ideas and taking risks, but almost always, as Hill points out, entrepreneurs don’t do it on their own. “I was fortunate to have a mentor and a close friend in Rebecca Haslam, assistant professor of education [at Saint Michael’s],” he says. Hill did some consulting work with Haslam, who inspired him to go out on his own to address the many pressing needs in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work.

Other critical influences at St. Mike’s include Lorrie Smith (professor of English, now emerita), Lou Dimasi (student success advisor), and Rev. Brian Cummings (Campus Ministry). Along the path, as

ship 9

he developed his equity consulting business, Haslam, Rhiannon Kim, and Avila Mercedes at UVM were key members of his support crew.

Although the benefits far outweigh the risks, Hill admits that cultureshifting can be risky business. “I’m working with people, handling implicit bias and micro-aggressions, but we must do this work to heal our communities,” he says. The skills he gained as an English major helped him communicate clearly, tell stories, and listen carefully. His minor in Religious Studies gave him the skills to recognize

and learn from other perspectives.

“I’m working in diverse communities all the time,” he says. “The intercultural awareness I gained helps me make connections and build trust.”

Still, there are times when Hill wonders, “Am I the [right] one to do this work?

Am I embodying this work? I try never to get on a judgmental high horse.”

This questioning propels him. “I never think I can change people’s views, but I’m also not there for that. My goal is to plant the seeds of reflection.”

Hill got his master’s degree in social work at UVM and is now pursuing his Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy, also at UVM. Is he optimistic about the future of this work? “I selfidentify as a realist who leans toward optimism,” he laughs. Changing behaviors is heavy lifting, but Hill does it, in part, for his son, Elin Jackson Hill, whom the company (EJHFutures) is unofficially named after (these are also the names of his parents and mentor). The official name is “Empower to Join together to Heal the Futures,” says Hill. The company, his website declares, “embodies his hope and belief in society.”

This gives them the breadth they will need to make decisions that consider multiple perspectives, and to recognize opportunities to fill a need.

GO -B E T W E E N S

MEGHAN SWEEZEY ’10 AND GIRLS 4 HOCKEY Adjust, Adjust, Adjust!

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Call it curiosity, opportunity, spotting a need—an ability to envision the future is a core skill that successful entrepreneurs share. As Paul Olsen, associate professor of business administration and accounting, says, “We are preparing students, in many cases, for jobs that don’t yet

exist.” Olsen encourages students in his classes to consider themselves entrepreneurs. Often, they are go-betweens, translating the work of innovators for investors. He emphasizes that they must be able to communicate, give successful presentations, and describe what they do and why for people who do not necessarily understand the mechanics of business or the potential of their ideas.

Let’s turn again to Merriam-Webster. The liberal arts, a term coined in the 14th century, had less to do with politics than freedom, unrestricted access to ideas. Entrepreneurs tend to work in uncharted territory—this can mean (continued on p. 12)

Meghan Sweezey ’10 (second from right) coaches a skills session for Chittenden–South Burlington Youth Hockey at Cairns Arena. In addition to running Girls 4 Hockey, Sweezey is often hired by other local clubs to provide skills instruction.

Meghan Sweezey ’10 started Girls 4 Hockey in 2016. The company began as a weekly summer program and has grown into a yearlong model for supporting and training young hockey players.

Sweezey graduated from St. Mike’s in 2010 with a B.A. in English and Psychology. She played varsity women’s ice hockey, serving as assistant captain 2007–09, then captain 2009–10. She earned her

M.A. in education at Suffolk University in 2012, before returning to St. Mike’s to work as the assistant director for alumni and family. In 2013, she became the assistant coach for women’s ice hockey, a post she held until 2018. While working as the events manager for the Special Olympics in Burlington, Sweezey began to see a pattern in the way female hockey players were trained.

“A lot of girls on coed teams were being coached by dads coming to

practice from work. They weren’t getting the training and the skills they need. As a female coach on the ice, I had seen how differently girls grew as hockey players,” she explains.

Below a certain age in Vermont, girls have to play on coed teams. And they get overwhelmed. In 2016, Sweezey initially created Girls 4 Hockey for girls age 6 to 14, to give them an opportunity to focus on skills and build their confidence without being intimidated.

Sweezey played boys hockey her junior year in high school. Many college coaches told her she would never play on a college team. “My parents instilled a ‘keep on fighting’ mentality in me,” she says. Saint Michael’s coach Chris Donovan said yes to her.

“Chris always said, ‘adjust, adjust, adjust,’ advice that I use every day as an entrepreneur.”

In 2019, Sweezey partnered with a local organization to include community members in Girls 4 Hockey. In 2020, she took the leap, leaving her job at the Special Olympics to grow Girls 4 Hockey. In 2022, she started several new programs, including a class in learning to skate and play, adult women’s offerings, and weekly camps for specific areas of need, expanding the people served by Girls 4 Hockey. The organization grew to 610 participants. Today, the program is for players ages 3 to adult. Participants travel to Vermont from farther and farther away, and the program is expanding to offer workshops in regions beyond Chittenden County.

Girls 4 Hockey is a single-member LLC, with private sessions, weekly sessions, and summer camps. Sweezey recruits players from college teams to coach.

When Jon Stewart ’08 was an undergraduate at Saint Michael’s he had a few internships, designing and building websites for several clients.

Doing this in college as well as for various digital agencies in his professional career, he gained a pretty good idea of the ways traditional marketing technology content management system software could be frustrating, particularly for the non-technical folks among us.

Stewart and a few colleagues from his sister company Primacy used Drupal, an open-source Web content management system, to develop what is now ZenSource. It was the result of five-plus years developing a platform to optimize user experience, born, in large part, out of the myriad customer frustrations that Stewart had witnessed, and often solved.

This was not the scrappy grassroots effort traditionally associated with fledgling entrepreneurs. The founders of ZenSource had experience starting companies and rolling out products.

Stewart, now the president, says that he and his colleagues built ZenSource

A Journalism and Mass Communication major at St. Mike’s (the department is now called Digital Media and Communications), Stewart says he “couldn’t even send an email before he got to SMC. I was a musician!

And then there was the appeal of Vermont, skiing, and rock climbing!”

Within a semester, journalism became his world. And he quickly saw that it could take him in many directions—print, online, Web design, or photojournalism, to name a few. It was hands-on learning, and Professors Jerry Swope and Jon Hyde were instrumental in guiding Stewart through the skills he would later use every day.

Today, ZenSource is growing rapidly alongside its sister companies that are over 100 people strong. “Tech is constantly changing. You have to adapt. You have to know how to learn,” he says. Right now, the company is growing across multiple industries and educating clients about the practical near-term uses of AI. What is the skill that has best served Stewart? “Writing. I write every day, all day long. I can communicate, translate. At its core, my job involves telling stories.”

And what about the work/life balance in this fast-paced world? For Stewart, work and life are pretty well integrated. “I like to work while the kids are sleeping,” he says, providing an example of the perfect day.

“I prefer to graze, do a little work on a Saturday morning.

“Then go rock climbing.”

JON STEWART ’08 Zen and the Art of User-Friendly Technology

in a smart way, largely skirting the risk that can hamper startups. They had a built-in client community.

And they were good at listening to their clients to learn what worked and what didn’t.

everything from a new way of teaching farmers sheep-shearing skills to creation of a virtual reality application for first responders and gamers.

and navigate failures along the way. The impulse to start a new venture begins with an idea. The idea is born from interest, passion, or creative impulse.

The fact that Saint Michael’s College graduates spread out across this spectrum of needs and opportunities is a testament to the skills, flexibility, learning potential, and communication skills the College provides.

Now comes the hard part. Raising money, managing people, scaling up, experimenting, finding new markets, all of these decision points require skills and an ability to learn—sometimes fast. Let’s look at how a few Saint Michael’s alumni in wildly different arenas have handled the pivots, successes, and failures of entrepreneurship, and how their St. Mike’s education has helped them along the way.

GO - GE T T E R S 12

C AT H ER IN E H I RL Mc C AVAN AG H ’98 A Journey of Self-Discovery

The nature of work is changing, and with it, the way we design our lives, prepare to embrace new opportunities,

she was flipping through a coffeetable book on celebrities’ homes and noticed a photo that showed a handbag in the corner of Sofia Coppola’s office. Bells went off.

Catherine McCavanagh’s ’98 company, also from Massachusetts, Kerri Shea Cushette, sells eye-catching and colorBurr ’98. Burr remains one of her ful handbags, jewelry, hats, sunglasses, closest friends. Friends often asked her and apparel. But it all began with a “what to wear,” even if it was just for leopard-print bag. a night out at the Blarney Stone Irish Pub in Burlington (RIP).

Actually, it began in high school, with a passion for fashion that carried After graduating, McCavanagh this entrepreneur on a learning curve had a series of corporate office jobs to success. Despite the limitations of but found the work to be unrewardher Catholic school uniform, she was ing, and she longed to find a way to recognized by her peers for her express her creativity. It wasn’t until fashion-forward style. she was in her 30s and living in Hingham, Massachusetts, with her young McCavanagh came to St. Mike’s family that she finally felt empowered from Massachusetts, without knowing to follow her heart and start her own anyone else on campus. She was business. McCavanagh’s first venture paired with a roommate who was was as a personal shopper and wardrobe stylist. Then, one day,

She had to have that bag. But after doing a bit of research and not being able to find it, she realized she’d have to make it herself. McCavanagh climbed aboard another learning curve. Sourcing luxury fabrics that were vegan and cruelty-free, finding a factory to create samples, learning about marketing and pricing, and creating the perfect bag from the interior to the exterior were part of her new education. McCavanagh officially debuted her business in April 2021 and named her new line of handbags Cushette, which was a nod to their “cushy” soft fabric.

What’s next? McCavanagh recently opened a consulting business called Forest Advancement (https:// forestadvancement.com). This service guides others who have a product idea but need some assistance bringing it to fruition. Today, the girl who wore a uniform for most of her childhood continues her hunt for self-expression.

THE HACKER MATT DEVOST ’93

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS Photo by Jerry Swope 13

“AT SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE, I FOUND MY VOICE.” And it’s quite a voice. Armed with a B.A. in Political Science and Computer Science from Saint Michael’s and an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Vermont, Matt Devost ’93 has accomplished more in his first half century than many of us do in a lifetime. The most current iteration of his extensive resume includes CEO and cofounder of OODA LLC, a global strategic advisory firm working on security, technology, and intelligence issues; adjunct professor at Columbia University teaching cybersecurity and business risk for the School of International and Public Affairs; member of the board of directors for MissionLink, a nonprofit trade association and exclusive network that includes decision makers, government leaders, top founders, and over 500 CEOs from across the U.S.; and member of the Black Hat Review Board, helping shape the agenda for the world’s largest cybersecurity conference.

At St. Mike’s, Devost says, he gained a broader view of the world and learned a multidisciplinary approach to solving problems and articulating positions. Majoring in Political Science and minoring in Computer Science made him comfortable translating complex ideas across disciplines. Classes in non-Western philosophy exposed him to new ideas and perspectives. He developed an appreciation for the many ways that language can be used to solve problems and perfected his ability to distill complicated concepts down to digestible information. But perhaps most importantly, Devost learned how to write well, a skill that has served him every step of the way.

Where has his entrepreneurial trajectory taken him?

“I have an ability to see around corners, to look into the future and see multiple pathways, emerging risk, and actions to take,” he says. “Early on, I saw the world changing, and I put myself in a position to be useful. I’m not a

futurist, but I am thoughtful, deliberate, and flexible.” These skills have helped Devost envision the impact of artificial intelligence on global security, the effects of quantum computing, and other seismic shifts in our world. “And,” he admits, “there’s been a lot of serendipity along the way.”

Does Devost call himself an entrepreneur? Absolutely.

In many ways, he sees entrepreneurs as hackers.

“Hacking was my mindset,” he laughs. “And I connected with the hacker community while at St. Mike’s.” Seeing the way things should be, solving problems, finding new opportunities—these are the core ingredients in hacking.

Self-advocacy is highly useful in entrepreneurship, but it’s a skill that Devost honed long before he was a CEO. “I’m a Northeast Kingdom kid. My high school was a one-room schoolhouse,” he says proudly. “I know how to advocate for myself.

“When I get into my car,” Devost explains, “it has multiple modes—eco, sport, comfort. I put it in sport mode: worse on gas, better around the curves. It’s important for an entrepreneur to be able to put him- or herself in sport mode.” High performance—it’s a different tempo. Sport mode, paired with the kindness, compassion, and commitment to service Devost saw in the Edmundites, forms a winning combination.

That, and seeing around corners.

Joy SHAR IN G

BY ANNIE ROSELLO ’94 Photo by Jerry Swope

I

f you had to name simple things that brought you childlike joy at any age, odds are that cookies and parties would be on that list. Who doesn’t love a beautiful, tasty cookie or colorful, clever decorations to enhance the celebration of a happy event? Over the past few years, three Saint Michael’s alumnae had similar thoughts, which led them to launch businesses with the goal of bringing happiness to others.

Shelley Sisk Smith ’94, of Beverly, Massachusetts, majored in Psychology and took numerous art classes during her time at St. Mike’s. Her original plan was to be an elementary school psychologist, but after earning her Elementary Education certificate at Salem State University, she became a fourth-grade teacher. She and her husband, Kevin Smith ’94, had three

boys, and Shelley took some time off to raise them before returning to the classroom. She loved to bake as a hobby, and created special, artistic treats for her family’s birthdays and other special occasions. “Occasionally, friends and coworkers would ask for cakes and cookies for their own special events,” she explains. “I soon found I was baking more often than not! I was also at a point in my career where I was excited at the possibility of a change. In the fall of 2019, I decided to take a leap of faith, and SugarShells was born.”

Because she’s the owner and sole employee of a home bakery that creates custom cookies, “every aspect of the business is on my shoulders,” says Smith. “I would say my biggest weakness has been learning my limits

Gabrielle Bourgeois Blow ’08 (left) and Jenna Lyman Heney ’08, co-owners of Voila!

Let’s Party!, decorate Addie and Grace Boutique, a woman’s clothing store in Essex, Vermont, in preparation for its one-year anniversary party.

and maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Because I work from home, the sheer amount of time and commitment involved in various ‘behind the scenes’ aspects can be all-encompassing, such as marketing, finances, and customer relations.” But the creative products and the joy they bring balance out the drudgery.

“My strengths lie in my creative abilities, which enable me to craft these unique cookies,” she continues. “I excel in taking a customer’s theme and transforming it into edible art. I prioritize the flavor of cookies, guaranteeing that they not only look beautiful but also taste delicious. I love that my passion has given me the ability to make my own decisions and be flexible with my schedule. I also love creating relationships with customers and other small business owners,” she explains.

“Mostly, I’m really proud of showing my sons that following your passion is a possibility, and sometimes life just changes course for the better.”

But the creation of their business, Voila! Let’s Party!, in 2022 has been an exciting turn of events for the creative friends. “We bounced countless ideas off each other over the years, but nothFriends and 2008 classmates Gabrielle ing ever felt like the right fit,” Heney Bourgeois Blow and Jenna Lyman says. After recognizing their talents and Heney always knew that they wanted interests, the two wanted to take their to start a business together. At St. “mutual love of party and event planMike’s, Heney was a double major in ning to the next level and help people Elementary Education and Religious in Vermont experience their special Studies and minored in Gender Studies. events in the same way.”

She completed a master’s degree in Special Education from Lesley Heney’s strength is creativity and University in 2014. Blow majored in design, which provides clients with a Business and minored in Finance unique and special experience, and and Marketing; she earned an MBA Blow brings overall business acumen from Southern New Hampshire to the partnership. “The hardest part University in 2013. “I honestly wasn’t is juggling our schedules,” says Blow. sure what I wanted to do when I was in “We both have families [they are college,” says Blow. “I was focused on married to fellow St. Mike’s alumni R.J. getting any job post-graduation.”

Blow ’08 and Dave Heney ’06], and full-time careers outside of Voila! Let’s Both women found success with their Party!, but we’re constantly learning careers while starting their families. and teaching each other new things.”

Blow is currently in her 10th year at Their favorite part of the business so Green Mountain Electric Supply, far is beautifying special events and where she works full-time. Heney making them even more fun, including taught at a private school, substituted St. Mike’s Reunions in 2023—and at her son’s school, plunged into 2024. “Our clients’ reactions are the volunteer work, and opened an Etsy best, and many of them have become shop focused on kids’ party items. friends,” shares Heney. “We celebrate important milestones with people—first, pregnancy announcements, then baby showers, and the birth of their children. Those experiences are what makes all the hard work worth it.”

All three women encourage other alumni who are considering starting a business to live out their entrepreneurial dreams. “Being a business owner has so many positive outcomes, such as flexibility and personal fulfillment,” says Smith.

“But it’s important to

A sampling of SugarShells confections.

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Shelley Sisk Smith ’94 network with other small businesses, find a mentor, and be prepared to adapt when challenges arise.”

Adds Heney, “Do it! Do a lot of research in the field before starting any type of business. For us, it was important to make sure the business name can easily be searched and that website domains are available, and social media is obviously very important.”

“The truth is,” admits Blow, “starting a business can be scary. However, once you get going, there are always other business owners and professionals willing to assist. Don’t hesitate to ask people questions. You’ll find they are willing to share and help you.

We’ve made friends with many other business owners in the area, most of them women. They’ve been great in helping us navigate business rules and regulations. Don’t be afraid to fail.

Nothing is perfect, but if you can stick with your overall concept and be willing to evolve, success will come.”

For more on these talented alumnae entrepreneurs and their businesses, visit sugarshells.net and voilaletsparty.com.

BY CAT CUTILLO Photos by Cat Cutillo

When More Braden Dwinell sat at the front of class queuing up short animated clips and music samples to show his First-Year Seminar students how trains have long been a metaphor for death. He’s co-teaching a course called Dungeons & Dragons twice a week at Saint Michael’s College. The class aims to help students write a fantasybased novella.

“We’re having really meaningful discussions,” Dwinell said.

Initially, the students were hesitant to talk about subjects like racism, but “When we started to talk about racism in a fantastical world with elves, dwarves, and humans,” it opened up a discussion about racism, slurs, and equality that hadn’t felt accessible before.

It’s hard to remember that Dwinell, Class of 2024, is receiving credit for the class himself. It’s an internship for his Medieval Studies minor.

He is not the only student benefiting from changes made several years ago, when the core curriculum requirements at Saint Michael’s were streamlined. The shift left room for more electives and more possibilities for students to pursue multiple majors and minors. Any course, study abroad experience, or internship can serve as an elective, which allows students to try things out and create their own recipe for their education. Some are building a mix-and-match approach with majors and minors, blending atypical combinations like ingredients in a powerful potion that reflects the unique colors of their own personality to design their own niche.

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Is More Ryan Braeger, assistant dean for Advising and Student Development, said he wants students to feel that they are authoring their own education. “There are opportunities here to craft really amazing narratives. … It’s an advantage to be here,” Braeger said.

Dakota Thomas ’24 is considering going to law school after she graduates, and is leaning toward civil rights and advocacy law. Thomas said her triple major in History, Philosophy, and Equity Studies has taught her “how to think; how to be critical and analyze the world that we live in as a problem solver.” Thomas said her chosen combination of majors will give her a foothold in the job market.

“The three of them together have given me a really interesting niche,” Thomas added.

As a History major, Thomas said she has learned more about the context of today’s world. Her Philosophy major has taught her how to critically engage. Her Equity Studies major has helped her put all the pieces together “to include and engage with groups that have been marginalized.”

Thomas said, “What I’ve loved about being able to play with majors and minors is that you can really create your own synthesis of the perfect mix. … I think all of them have really made me a more introspective thinker.”

Ryan Braeger, assistant dean for Advising and Student Development, speaks during the national mathematics honor society Pi Mu Epsilon’s induction at Saint Michael’s.

Thomas is this year’s student body president for the Student Government Association and the former secretary of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion student organization. She was the co-executive editor of the Defender, the college newspaper, and she’s been a been a core team leader with MOVE, the campus community service organization.

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Dwinell is also a triple major, specializing in History, Anthropology, and Education Studies, with a focus on museum studies. He has five minors, in Psychology, Global Health, Medieval Studies, Art History, and Public History.

Dwinell said his education has not followed a linear path, and he believes the “zigs and zags” have led him to create a concoction of expanded learning that has made him “almost an expert” in his chosen studies.

When writing his Anthropology thesis, he was able to weave in information about neural neurons as a means of empathy, which was something he learned about in his Education Studies major.

“That’s a perspective that anthropology doesn’t talk about,” Dwinell said.

Dakota Thomas ’24 leads voting during a Student Government Association meeting.

For his history thesis, he wrote about organized religion in Greece and pulled in anthropological ideas about how the culture was formed and the relationship between worshippers and a God. In the summer of 2023, Dwinell was selected as a Freeman Fellow for the Global Citizenship International Internship Program in Seoul, South Korea, where he taught English to Korean children. He is part of three honor societies, and has participated in internships at the National Guard Museum and the Historical Society in his Massachusetts hometown’s museum.

Swapnil Jhajharia ’24 has chosen a unique combination for his double major, in Statistics and Psychology, and his double minor, in Mathematics and Anthropology.

“It’s allowed me to have a wider [assortment] of things that I could taste,” Jhajharia said.

He came to Saint Michael’s knowing he wanted to pursue statistics and mathematics but was surprised to learn how much he enjoyed psychology after taking it to fulfill a

core credit. He’s applying to graduate programs now in the field of cross-cultural psychology and wants to work as a translator between cultures for mental health.

“Because of the cultural power in the West, a lot of cultures have to recontextualize themselves based on how the DSM [the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders] defines what a disorder is or what a mental condition is, which doesn’t necessarily fit well in all cultures,” Jhajharia said. “My dream job is to be the person who is able to navigate through all of those channels and communicate between cultures what a cultural concept of distress is for that particular culture.”

Swapnil Jhajharia ’24 in the Durick Library.

Jhajharia is an international honors student from India who is part of four honor societies. resident designer, and technical director, teamed up this He was selected as a Freeman Fellow for a Global Citizenship semester to reimagine a required business core course.

International Internship Program in Ho Chi Minh City, The business students are reading plays this semester and Vietnam, last summer. He studied social and environmental pitching their own proposal for how they would design the change in Oceania during a field-based semester abroad play through lighting, sound, stage, costumes, and program in Samoa. He is also characters, if they were the a resident assistant, works with design company. the campus Adventure Sports Center, and is an athlete on the Popovich said, “It was just men’s cross-country team. awesome to see students apply all these management concepts “We are such multifaceted people. and then develop their presentaIt’s natural, in a way, that you tion skills” by working to cultivate would get these rich and unique their theater skills with Devlin. combinations,” Professor Peter “There’s a nice overlap that allows Vantine said. the students to really customize their academic program to what Vantine is the director of the Firsttheir eventual future plans are,” — BR ADEN DWINELL ’24 Year Seminar Program and chair Popovich added. and associate professor of Classical and Modern Languages and Dwinell hopes his future includes literature in French. Last year, Vantine had a student who pursuing a graduate degree in Classics. He said the multiple was a Physics and French major. The student was originally majors and minors he’s combined were the perfect prescripfrom the Congo and was a native French speaker who tion to satisfy his curiosity. wanted to study French as well as pursue a future in physics.

The College’s flexible learning model allowed for that.

“I was always trying to find a way to appease all of my interests,” Dwinell said. Instead of confining himself to one That flexibility has extended to the professors as well. major and being condemned to “be” that as a profession, Karen Popovich, professor of Business Administration and Dwinell said, “I want to be a verb [instead of] a noun, Accounting, and John Devlin, professor of Fine Arts/Theater, constantly changing, developing, evolving, and learning.”

“I want to be a verb [instead of ] a noun, constantly changing, developing, evolving, and learning.”

JACK RU S SELL ’70

The People’s Entrepr

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS Photos by Jerry Swope

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J

ack Russell is a people person.

He’s a humble guy, but he knows what he’s good at. “I’m good at relationships. I’m good at bringing people with varied talents together,” he said. “When people ask what business I’m in, I say, ‘survival.’”

Fifty years in real estate, nine offices, a 100-employee company that manufacturers pet supplements, property management—the list of his entrepreneurial endeavors goes on.

“Thinking differently, seeing what’s needed, that’s what business is about,” he said. But these days, Russell really

Jack Russell ’70 jokes that he often works out of his truck rather than one of his nine real estate offices.

gets a lot of joy out of his role as honorary wing commander for the Vermont National Guard Honorary Commanders. He also enjoys supporting the Vermont ABA pro basketball team he helped start. Sports writer Alex Wolff had suggested creating a team to motivate young players and bring a high level of professional

basketball to Vermont. Russell helped put together a group of funders, with the goal of donating the team to their fans in two or three years. The team won two national titles in three years.

Russell grew up in Jersey City—you can still hear it in his voice—and he thinks that the Jersey City streets may be where he learned to negotiate, read body language, and listen, as he worked in the projects. “I came from the streets,” he said. “Basketball opened more doors than anything else.

If I didn’t have basketball …” Russell came to Saint Michael’s College on a basketball scholarship in 1966, and he has lots of fond memories. He played basketball all four years and was one of three captains on the team. (He continued playing pickup basketball right up to 2020.)

The Edmundites had a profound effect on Russell, particularly Rev. Ray Doherty ’51 and Rev. Brian Cummings ’86 (who also hails from Jersey City).

It was the Edmundites who taught him that leadership is really about service— ”adding something bigger to your life than you are, something that gives meaning to your life and lets you discover who you are.” Russell sees his liberal arts education at St. Mike’s as a “gift” in his career. It was here, he said, that he learned “not what to think, but how to think.”

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English, Russell stayed in the Burlington area and taught at Missisquoi Valley Union High School.

“Thinking differently, seeing what’s needed, that’s what business is about.”

He began to pursue his M.A. in Education, but left academia to work in construction. “I was making $6000 a year teaching. I began to see other possibilities, things I could do.” He started selling real estate in Milton, Vermont, but the local realtor organization made it hard for new companies to come in—and they wanted him to write a 1000-word essay before allowing him to join. He decided to go it alone. Soon, he had so much business the organization let him join.

His company, Jack Associates, was a Century 21 company for over 40 years, before joining Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and changing its name to Vermont Realty Group. “Real estate is easy,” he laughed. “People are

eneur 21

Jack Russell ’70 visits with members of the Vermont Air National Guard in November. As an honorary wing commander, Russell acts as a community relations liaison between the Guard and the local community.

difficult.” Russell understood early on that real estate is more than a numbers game. It concerns people, their personal goals, dreams, and ambitions. Clients gravitated to him.

Russell talks in stories. His memories are vivid, full of people he is grateful to have met and the experiences he has had along the way: the elderly woman who owned the valuable land next to the Burlington airport, and would allow only Russell to broker the deal for her to sell it (the other guys “never asked me what I wanted,” she said); a recent conversation with the head of the

Armed Services; the time he brought 25 kids from an orphanage to a basketball game; trips to France with his wife, Lynn, to trace the life of St. Edmund; the couple Russell helped establish a daycare center; the Gold Star families; the honorary commander program; the 300 men and women about to deploy to Syria, and many more.

So what’s next? Retirement is not for Russell. “Something with charities,” he mused. “Something I can feel good about.” Jack and Lynn Russell have been helping people with their dreams and projects for years. But the

projects must provide a meaningful service and demonstrate a profit. He’s been a steadfast and innovative supporter of Saint Michael’s over the long haul, serving on a wide range of committees, including the committee to redo the athletic department, and serving as a board member for Saint Anne’s Shrine for 14 years, for example.

“How do you do all these things?” he said he is often asked. “The word I learned late in life was delegate.”

Over the phone, I could almost hear him shrug. “There’s always more to do,” he said. “Every day I see opportunity.”

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Thomas Dickerson ’13, chief science officer and cofounder of Geopipe, in front of one of his simulations in a conference room at the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies in Burlington.

The Inventor THO M AS DICKERSO N ’13

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS Photo by Jerry Swope

“I’m going to be an inventor when I grow up.”

A

few decades, degrees, and startups later, Geopipe Chief Science Officer and cofounder Thomas Dickerson laughs. “Inventor. It’s not really a job title, is it?”

Actually, it is.

The word entrepreneur, he admits, has a Renaissance flair to it, a sense of being between spaces, an organization searching for a viable business model. But Dickerson and his friend and cofounder Christopher Mitchell have invented a product and a company, designed to fill a need, using technologies that are constantly evolving. “We use machine learning to efficiently build game and simulation environments from real-world places,” he explains.

These can be used in gaming, but can also be used by builders and in training first responders, in a range of possible contexts.

accessible. The gap between ideas people may have and what happens in practice can be huge,” says Dickerson, whose degree in Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics taught him many languages. In a liberal arts school, you have the opportunity to break out of one discipline to learn the language of another, he explains.

Dickerson’s father is a professor of computer science at Middlebury College, with affiliations in creative writing and environmental studies.

“He’s the poster child for breaking out of silos,” Dickerson says proudly. He’s equally proud of his mom, a homemaker and community builder. And, let’s face it, the kid was a bit of a young genius, completing half of the College’s computer science requirements while still in high school.

At St. Mike’s, Dickerson got personal attention from faculty that he might not have gotten at a larger school.

Dickerson and Mitchell, both with “I got to take an independent study, Ph.D. expertise in dividing complex T.A. computer science labs, and problems into smaller pieces to be work on some very cool math solved on many computers at once, research—all in my first year,” he started Geopipe, a Burlington-based says. After taking a class with Physics company, in 2016. The company is Professor Alain Brizard, he did a still in its early stages; its product is summer fellowship at Princeton’s ready, but it is still iterating on the Plasma Physics lab in 2012. “You’re right ways to engage with the market, Brizard’s student?” people there said. a landscape that can be ephemeral. “He’s the smartest person I know!”

This is where the liberal arts come in.

The liberal arts help you become “You have to be a good science a more well-rounded person. Inside communicator, listen to the customand outside the classroom, you er’s pain points, and figure out are surrounded by people with very ways to solve their problems. You different interests and abilities. So have to be able to speak to potential when Dickerson was deciding where investors, make complex concepts to go to graduate school, he chose

Brown over NYU, because of its more interdisciplinary campus culture.

He also believes that the liberal arts help people make the decision to pursue potentially life-changing paths and imagine various outcomes.

How do the hypotheticals play out?

The broader your perspective, he believes, the more outcomes you can imagine, the more choices you have, and the better your chances of making the right choices.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs starting companies? “Half the people you talk to will say, ‘you’re insane, don’t do that,’” he says. It’s hard to hear “no” so often. And asking for money, from customers or investors, can be a “deeply uncomfortable experience”—experienced startup mentors may recommend “asking for more and more outrageous stuff” in your daily life to become desensitized to rejection. The life cycle of a company also includes scaling up and hiring people. Dickerson is keenly aware of the responsibilities of being a manager—Geopipe has hired dozens of employees over the years, all with rent, mortgages, healthcare coverage, families, and other things to think about.

So why do it?

“It’s not just a hustle. And it’s not just about making money. The reason to do it is that there is something you want to see brought into the world,” he says. “And you can’t get it out of your head.”

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The Story of Christianity 24

ENTREPRENEURS MEETING NEEDS

BY REV. MICHAEL CARTER, SSE ’12 Photos from the archive

hen one thinks of entrepreneurship, images of self-starting businesspeople probably come to mind, people who are looking for an opportunity and are willing to take a risk. A common thought might be “the greater the risk, the greater the reward.” The concept of entrepreneurship might not initially seem to coincide with a sense of the spiritual, but in a way, the story of Christianity is a story of entrepreneurship.

W

To spread the message of Christ, the Apostles traveled far and wide, to lands and people unknown to them. For taking this great risk, many paid with their lives, but for a believing Christian, a life dedicated to service and sacrifice is its own reward.

“Do the best we can, with what little we have, to serve those most in need.”

The Society of St. Edmund was founded with the same missionary spirit. Working first in the countryside of France, where years of war and revolution had upended much of the social order, and eventually finding their way to Vermont, where

there was a need to provide education to the French-Canadian community, this collection of brothers often took enterprising risks in the service of others, following the maxim to “do the best we can, with what little we have, to serve those most in need.”

A legendary piece of Edmundite lore perhaps best exemplifies this attitude. In the 1930s, Pope Pius XI expressed a desire for the Catholic Church to do more to serve the Black community in the American South.

Bishop Toolen of the Diocese of Mobile, Alabama, requested help from the Society of St. Edmund to help make this happen, and the decision was made to establish a mission among the Black population in Selma, a community that was underserved by the state and local governments and that faced great prejudice in the era of Jim Crow and segregation. On July 6, 1937, Edmundite Fathers Francis Casey and John Paro arrived in Selma in an old Pontiac they had driven down from Vermont with $50 in their pockets.

By the end of the year they had established a newsletter, had built a residence and a chapel, and had celebrated their first Mass.

Over the next several years, the newly incorporated Edmundite Southern Missions would expand to other states and communities throughout the South, initially offering services to meet people’s basic needs, but expanding to provide formal educational and healthcare ministries, alongside a variety of other programs and services. In collaboration with the Sisters of St. Joseph, a school was opened for Black children in 1941, with Good Samaritan Hospital following in 1944. When a more stable hospital structure was completed in 1947, it was recognized

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In the summer of 1936, Rev. Frank Casey, SSE, and Rev. Barney Paro, SSE, arrived in Selma, Alabama, and quickly got to work setting up the Edmundite Southern Missions.

One of their first tasks was making their new home in Selma habitable.

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Rev. Ray Doherty ’51, SSE, on a trip to the Edmundite Southern Missions in the early 1960s.

as a milestone in the care of the Black sick in Dallas County and the surrounding areas.

Some may have heard stories of the Edmundite community’s extensive work with the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, but well before Bloody Sunday and the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, the presence of the society and its partners on the ground had accomplished much. From humble beginnings, and with an entrepreneurial spirit, the Gospel message of service was present in the Southern Missions. A need was identified, people were able and willing to serve, and the details would work themselves out in the way they needed to; participants’ faith bore fruit many times over.

In 2023, that spirit still guides the works of the Edmundite Southern Missions, and the programming that is developed and offered is geared toward the needs and concerns of our time. The missionary enterprise founded by two priests, entrepreneurs in their own right, now helps to get the entrepreneurs of the future off the ground. The Edmundite Missions Workforce Development Center is able to offer the people of Selma and surrounding communities opportunities to build their knowledge, skills, and experience to better succeed in the workforce and contribute to economic self-reliance.

Through classes and mentorship, education, job networking, and social support, the varieties of programming offered serve the entire community by building up the credentials and capabilities of individuals. These essential skills will contribute to creating the

entrepreneurs of the future, continuing the legacy that the Southern Missions began 86 years ago.

The attitudes and sensibilities that inspired the founding of the Southern Missions are still present in the Mission of Saint Michael’s College.

In seeking to contribute through higher education to the enhancement of the human person and the advancement of human culture in light of the Catholic faith, our current students are developing the skills that they will use to take their own leaps of faith and create their own initiatives in becoming the leaders and guides of the next generation. Times, methods, and technologies may change, but the attitude, drive, and desire to leave a mark by doing well in our society remain, and in their own ways, our present entrepreneurs are charting their paths for the future.

Richard Plumb Takes the Helm as Saint Michael’s 18th President

BY ELIZABETH MURR AY Photo by Cat Cutillo

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he Saint Michael’s College Board of Trustees announced this fall that Richard Plumb, Ph.D., was selected to be the 18th president of the College. He began his new role in January 2024.

Plumb brings extensive institutional leadership experience, having most recently served as president of Saint Mary’s College in California. Prior to that, Plumb served for seven years as executive vice president and provost at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and nine years as dean of the Seaver College of Science and Engineering at Loyola Marymount University. A first-generation college student, Plumb holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University.

Plumb was selected by the College’s Board of Trustees with guidance from a committee composed of faculty, staff, and students representing various areas of the College. He emerged as the best candidate from a pool of over 90 applicants who were recruited and vetted by Academic Search, a highly regarded firm that supports executive recruitment for colleges and universities.

“I am delighted to report that the Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Richard Plumb as the 18th president of Saint Michael’s College,” said Board Chair Patricia Casey in an email to the Saint Michael’s community. “Richard’s skills and expertise stood out and are well aligned with the challenges and opportunities before us. His disciplined and thoughtful approach to innovation, along with his inclination toward timely action and deep appreciation for the College’s mission, will serve us well.”

Campus community members who met Plumb during the interview process described him as a calm and reflective leader, a deep thinker with a strong intellect, and a team builder. They also noted his track record as a datadriven problem solver.

Campus community engages with Richard Plumb during his visit in November 2023.

“We were impressed by his commitment to the liberal arts; to diversity, equity,

and inclusion; and to ensuring all students, faculty, and staff find an authentic sense of belonging on campus, regardless of background,” Presidential Search Committee Chair and Board of Trustees member Rob Noonan ’82 said. “His principles and background resonate with the College’s mission and our Edmundite heritage of hospitality, education, and social justice. We are thrilled to welcome him to campus.”

Plumb took the helm of Saint Michael’s from interim president Lewis Thayne, who began serving in June following the retirement of Lorraine Sterritt.

Plumb and his wife Mary look forward to their new lives in Vermont.

They have three adult children, Matthew, Lauren, and Sean, who are each happily married and who have blessed them with seven grandchildren.

During a visit to campus in November, Plumb expressed how excited he was to join the Saint Michael’s community and chart an ambitious course for the College’s future.

“We know there are challenges across higher education,” Plumb said during a community welcome event. He added, “The answers are here. My job is to work with you, to bring the community together, and to work together on getting the answers and making this institution thrive. This is a remarkable place.”

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The Pioneer Mary Lake ’06: Shepherd, Shearer, Butcher, Farmer, Artist, Writer

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS Photos by Jerry Swope

“I’m not an entrepreneur,” Mary Lake says, leaning on a fence on a resplendent Vermont fall day, looking out over her 28 acres and her flock of Icelandic sheep. The sheep look up, blinking, waiting. “And I don’t really like the word. Too much association with money, how to use it, how to spend it, how to get someone to fund your idea.”

She kicks the dirt with a well-worn shoe. There’s a bit of blood on her pants—she killed and skinned a few Rex and Angora rabbits before I arrived.

“But I am hustling left and right.” Big grin. “It’s less risky when you piece it together.” The sheep move quietly inside the fence. Bolt, Lake’s herding dog, checks the perimeter.

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As we talk, Lake returns to the core principles that shape her commitments: relationships (with plants, animals, community); the importance of not losing money farming (“We farm to make money and the money we make pays for the farming”); constant learning (“It’s just sheep. But, oh my God, sheep have taught me basically everything”); and her deep love and respect for the work, despite the myriad hardships (“I feel like I’ve set out a bunch of different nets and I’m just constantly checking on them for fish. Which nets are catching?

Which words are being impactful?

Which skills are needed? What art is selling?”). Together, Lake and her husband Paul (who, by the way, met on their first day on the Saint Michael’s College campus) are working toward

Mary Lake ’06 embraces a sheep as she shears its wool at NewGrass Farmstead in Wolcott. their goals of raising sheep that thrive; improving soils; and feeding, comforting, and caring for their community. The family barters with neighbors for hay, barn space, and grazing land in relationships they have nurtured since moving into their house seven years ago.

The soft rabbit pelts are salted and stretched out next to the sheepskins that will be tanned and sold. Lake will render the rabbit and sheep fat to make soaps and salves. She and her family—her husband and two boys (ages 6 and 8)—will eat the meat. The

blood will go into compost. She will make earrings from the sheep horns. These products, since Lake posted an overnight Instagram hit, can be purchased in a whole-sheep package she calls “the whole shablamb.”

Both Lake and her husband also work off-farm.

Mary shears for around 300 farms in Vermont, New Lake leads a sheep out of its pen before shearing its wool York, and New at NewGrass Farmstead in Wolcott.

Hampshire, as well as teaching shearing, and Paul works as a special envision the future, and consider educator in an intensive needs classthe implications of various funding room. On-farm slaughtering also helps sources. pay the bills. “There aren’t a lot of people on this path,” she explains. “It’s Mary has also had great success kinda different. And it can be scary.” writing blogs, articles, and Instagram posts. “I use my degree all the time,” A native Vermonter, Lake grew up she says. “It helps me tell stories.” in South Hero. She studied journalism (Lake has one or two books up her at Saint Michael’s, and designed a sleeve.) Her ability to tell her story and culminating project her senior year do business directly with her clients on sex workers in Senegal and Canada. led to legislation she helped pass, After graduation she got a job at the meaning that this Vermont farmer can Burlington Free Press, and began work- have her sheep slaughtered on the ing at Pomykala, a vegetable farm in farm if they are bought live. The Grand Isle. Lake loved learning about consumer becomes the owner of the the plants and doing what “my body is animal and assumes the risks of made to do—not sit.” The journalism custom processing, and Lake avoids degree helped her learn how to seek the bottleneck and stress of the out multiple sources, assess risks slaughterhouse during busy harvest(“I don’t do anything I can’t pay for”), ing months.

“There aren’t a lot of people on this path. It’s kinda different.

And it can be scary.”

“I relate strongly to this work,” she says. After her time on the vegetable farm, Lake found herself wanting to learn more about animals. So she designed a three-part graduate program for herself. Part I: Fiber arts, wool science, and wool processing.

Lake took classes at the Vermont shearing school at Shelburne Farms (the teachers were local professional shearers, mostly men, she says— welcoming, funny, and a little competitive). Part II: Animal husbandry, apprenticing and then managing Helen Whybrow’s Knoll Farm, in Fayston, Vermont. Part III: Meat production and processing, working at the Royal Butcher in Braintree, Vermont. Lake loved the shearing, she explains, knees bent, legs apart, arms in a kind of Qi Gong circle-the-earth pose.

On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., to speak to senators and representatives about local food initiatives, Lake teamed up with a black Muslim woman farmer from Kentucky and an indigenous fisherman from Alaska.

Together, they visited about a dozen offices, telling their stories about their relationships to food and providing for their communities, and asking for support for food sovereignty and security through the programs they each run in their home state.

The three formed a strong bond and continue to support one another.

“This experience,” she reflects, “made me realize how the work I had done

in Vermont was applicable to other states. It’s not just a Vermont thing.”

This is one resilient woman, and perhaps that is also an entrepreneurial quality. “I am always trying to make connections, to make sure this life is worth living, even when it doesn’t make sense,” she says. “I mean, I think I’m successful. I’m really proud of what I’ve done and the life I’ve carved out for myself and my family.”

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Additional content available online at smcvt.edu/magazine

How much of the path she has chosen is in her genes? She was the youngest of five. Lake’s parents were not farmers, but her great-grandfather was a farmer and a shearer in England.

His son, Lake’s grandfather, worked on the farm, too, until he hit and injured a motorcyclist while delivering milk. The experience led him to the church. He married and the couple moved to Jamaica to do mission work and start a family, staying for about a decade before emigrating to Canada.

Lake’s parents grew up in Canada.

In 2019, her father, who had served in Vietnam as a first lieutenant, first wave, and was a “really good leader,” died of cancer from exposure to Agent Orange. Lake named her shearing business after his regiment’s motto, “Can Do.” An activist, Lake works to ensure that animals are killed thoughtfully, and that people understand the importance and generosity of their deaths. How can she help people understand the importance of this dance, the physical challenge, and the emotional engagement with the animals and with fellow shearers?

Mary Lake ’06 (left) gives instructions on machine shearing to Kathleen Markiewicz at NewGrass Farmstead in Wolcott. Markiewicz is a professional blade shearer who is working with Lake to get more practice on machine shearing.

MYSTIC AQUARIUM VICE PRESIDENT OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND CHIEF SCIENTIST TRACY ROMANO ’86 AND MAKAYLA FERNALD ’24 Photos and video (online) by Patrick Bohan

The magazine had an opportunity to capture some photos and video footage this past summer of student 32Makayla Fernald ’24 on her internship at Mystic Aquarium working with alumna Tracy Romano ’86 and the aquarium’s beluga whale, Juno. Here are some photos and excerpts from that visit.

Romano: “[Juno’s] really contributing to all of what we know about belugas and how we can save them in the wild, which is our mission—conservation, education, and research. Utilizing the whales in our care [so we can] learn as much as we can about belugas and give back to the wild populations … [what’s] really important to me is preservation of the species … belugas are a major part of the ecosystem, especially in the Arctic … they’re the sentinels of the ocean.”

Fernald: “The shared connection Dr. Tracy Romano and I have with St. Mike’s made the internship experience more personalized. Working with Dr. Romano and the other research scientists at Mystic Aquarium was very empowering as a young woman in science.”

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To see a video and more photos, visit smcvt.edu/magazine.

Pat Robins ’61

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN COMMUNIT Y BUILDING 34

BY SUSAN SALTER REYNOLDS Photo by Stephen Mease

t 16, Pat Robins ’61 started as a Chemistry major at St. Mike’s, thinking he might go to medical school, but after two years he took a leave of absence to join the U.S. Air Force as a navigator in training. After another two years, he returned to St. Mike’s, got married, had a son, and graduated as an English major. “I ran out of time,” he says. After graduation, his father-in-law said, “I don’t see you as a lawyer; you should try business school,” and so he did. Robins attended the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1963, and had a daughter that fall.

THE CH ICK EN E XP ERT After graduation, the family moved to New York, where Robins joined the International Basic Economy Corporation (IBEC) as a staff financial planner. IBEC was a Rockefeller family enterprise fostering projects in the developing world. The company acquired Arbor Acres Farms in 1965, and the Robins family moved to Glastonbury, Connecticut, where Robins oversaw financial planning for 35 poultry breeding farms around

the world and 14 in the United States.

Arbor Acres genetically developed the white broiler cross that now represents nearly 100 percent of the commercial broiler chicken world.

‘What is the value added?’ we’d ask.

‘How is it unique?’ We funded so many complicated, crazy deals floating around Burlington.”

Robins had a good time, and the group funded some of the most T H E D E TAN G L E R important institutions and community organizations in Burlington and By 1970, Robins was ready to return throughout Vermont, including local to Vermont, where he had grown up. institutions like Nectar’s Bar & “I was adopted,” Robins says, “and my Lounge, and four or five local banks. mother’s family business, McAuliffe “The guys from the band Phish came Inc., a regional office products distrib- in and said they wanted to be a utor, was in a bit of a tangle with house band in a local bar. Collateral? some family disputes.” Robins served A wardrobe and a Grumman canoe.” as chief detangler, president, chair, These were the days of “character and CEO for 25 years. lending,” says Robins. These deals, often high risk, were based on trust and friendship, not mathematiT H E CO M M U N IT Y BU IL D E R / cal formulas. “Making deals can be EN TR E P R E N E U R a bit addictive,” he admits. “You see an unmet need, but it has to be While Robins was president of profitable.”

McAuliffe, the director of the Merchants Bank, Dudley Davis, In 1996, Robins and a business recruited him to serve on the partner, Larry Sudbay, founded Symbank’s loan review board. “What Quest, a regional technology services do I have to do?” Robins asked. company located in South Burlington.

He retired in 2016, at 76, when the “Show up on Friday morning,” company was sold to Konica Minolta, Davis replied. and Merchants Bank was also sold.

“There I was, 34 years old, reviewing loans,” he laughs. “Eight guys; every Friday we’d review loans and decide whether or not to write the deal.

Somewhere in there, in his capacity as leader of the Burlington Business Association, Robins met and became

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close friends with architect Bill Truex.

The two spearheaded the creation of Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace, though Robins continues to claim that Truex was the “brains behind the operation.” It’s clear that the pedestrian mall is something Robins is truly proud to have helped create. “Bill Truex and I are generally viewed as the implementer/builders of the Church Street Marketplace during the 1970s, along with spurring the connected Burlington Square Mall marketplace built during the same period,” he explains.

work building communities and funding worthy projects represented some of his most meaningful endeavors. “I’ve done a few good things,” Robins admits. “A few” includes facilitating the hire at Saint

Ribbon Committee to restructure Burlington Telecom after the discovery of a $17 million shortfall in 2006.

“These were some of the times when I felt I made a tangible contribution,” he says. Robins started a foundation at McAuliffe, and he and his wife Lisa give money to projects that they believe make a difference, for example, recognizing the existence of sexual abuse in schools and training teachers to spot it and deal with it.

“It’s fine to talk about ideas,

but not ‘I, I, I.’ Get off the stage.

Do something good.”

Robins says that although his work at McAuliffe and SymQuest made a living for the family, his

Michael’s in 1996 of President Marc A. vanderHeyden (who served until 2007) and, from 1985 to 1988, serving as chair of the Hospital Data Council, the first statewide budget control initiative for 15 Vermont hospitals. Robins was also a member of the Vermont Board of Education from 1999 to 2005 and a member of Burlington’s Blue

At the end of the day, Robins emphasizes the importance of humility.

“It’s fine to talk about ideas,” he says, “but not ‘I, I, I.’ Get off the stage.

Do something good.”

THE

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ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS

BY JOSH KESSLER ’04, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS Photos by Jerry Swope

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he Saint Michael’s College Department of Athletics inducted its 34th Athletic Hall of Fame class during the College’s Alumni and Family Weekend on September 22. Two-time Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association champion Peter Culhane ’61 and the 1983 women’s skiing team were honored on the weekend of the Kelley Ski Center dedication, and international pop culture media mogul Alex Okosi ’98 (men’s basketball), NCAA Championship qualifier Drew Best ’04 (men’s cross-country), and record-setting softball player Ashley Harkins ’09 completed a standout class.

One of the College’s first great skiers, Culhane won the jumping event at the 1960 and 1961 EISA Division II Championships, held on campus. He was also a member of the varsity sailing and rifle teams. Following graduation, Culhane was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He was a pilot and detachment commander in Vietnam for nearly nine years and received the United States Armed Forces’ Distinguished Flying Cross, ultimately completing more than 2000 combat missions.

Alex Okosi ’98

Somewhat overlooked during a successful era for men’s basketball, Okosi has since become an award-winning professional in the world of international music and entertainment. After helping the Purple Knights win two ECAC and two NE10 championships, the Nigeria native was credited with bringing MTV to Africa, in 2005, as VP and general manager of MTV Base. Okosi later became senior VP and managing director of MTV Networks Africa, executive VP and managing director of VIMN Africa, and YouTube managing director of emerging markets in EMEA (the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region). He was named managing director of Google Africa in 2023.

As a senior in fall 2003, Best made history as the first Purple Knight cross-country runner to qualify for an

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Back row (L to R): Amanda Donaldson ’84, Lynda Dunn ’86, Mary Clare Cooper ’85, Lisa Luedeke ’85, Lisa Troy ’86, Ann Murphy ’83, and Ben McDivitt. Front row (L to R): Drew Best ’04, Ashley Harkins ’09, Alex Okosi ’98, and Peter Culhane ’61.

NCAA Championship. He finished ninth that year at both the NE10 Championship and NCAA Northeast Regional Championship, with the former earning Best his second career NE10 All-Conference laurels and the latter landing him in the national championship. His 10K time at regionals is a school record that still stands. Best went on to finish 69th out of 176 runners at the NCAA Division II Championship.

Harkins remains one of the softball program’s all-time greats, still holding school records for hits, runs, doubles, and triples, while landing All-Conference First Team laurels at two different positions. She graduated among the top 10 at Saint Michael’s in 28 statistical categories, batting .342 in the heart of the order across her four years.

As a sophomore, Harkins was named All-Conference as a shortstop; she earned the same honor as a senior, this time as a center fielder, after leading the NE10 with a .426 batting average.

In its first season of varsity status, and following just one season as a club outfit, the 1983 women’s skiing team won the EISA Division II Championship, earning the first postseason league crown in College history. AnneBirgit Stange ’86, who became the first individual in St. Mike’s history to qualify for an NCAA Championship that year, joined Mandy Donaldson ’84, Mary Clare Cooper ’85, Lisa Luedeke ’85, and Lynda Dunn ’86 as EISA All-East honorees, and Ben McDivitt was named EISA Division II Coach of the Year. Ann Murphy ’83, Janet Russell ’83, Orinda Newton ’85, Justine Cunningham ’86, Martha Ewing ’86, Leslie O’Donnell ’86, and Lisa Troy ’86 completed the roster.

To read more, visit smcathletics.com

The Ballad of Troy HOW ONE SAINT MICHAEL’S GRAD IS TURNING HIS ENGLISH DEGREE INTO A CAREER AS A MUSICIAN 38

BY DAVID PAT TERSON ’02 Photo by Jerry Swope

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aint Michael’s College has long been a musical nerve center for Vermontbased singer-songwriter Troy Millette ’16. But at 16, Millette couldn’t have known how deeply his experience as an English major at the College would impact his eventual career as a musician. With his band, the Fire Below (featuring three fellow Saint Michael’s alumni), Millette has made his mark on the Burlington music scene. The Fire Below has been voted “Best Folk Group” by Seven Days two years running. He has been featured at the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas, and has opened for national acts including Dawes, Counting Crows, Trey Anastasio, and the Head and the Heart. His vignette approach to songwriting has garnered him comparisons to singer-songwriter Jason Isbell.

I caught up with Millette on a solo tour of the Eastern United States. From an Airbnb in Detroit, he talked excitedly about how Saint Michael’s played a vital role in his journey as a songwriter and band leader.

“My band wouldn’t exist without Bill Ellis,” Millette said in his raspy tenor, referring to William Ellis, chair and associate professor of music. In a course on music journalism, Ellis pulled Millette and classmate Dylan Gombas ’16 aside. He told the pair that if they performed three songs during the next class they could be exempt from that night’s reading. Millette and Gombas,

who had never spoken previously, leapt at the opportunity to eschew coursework for folk rock. Shortly after that, the two juniors began playing live shows in the Burlington area, sparking a musical relationship that has now spanned eight years and hundreds of live shows with the Fire Below.

Millette also credits Ellis with helping him navigate the local music scene and supporting him as a young musician cutting his teeth. Ellis, whose godfather is acclaimed bluegrass musician Bill Monroe, helped the duo break into better music venues as upper-level students.

When asked how his studies as an English major and Creative Writing minor influenced his approach to crafting lyrics, Millette gushed over his poetry courses with acclaimed poet and English professor Greg Delanty.

“In our poetry writing workshops, Delanty was always telling us to fight the cliché,” Millette recalled. Even when he writes songs now, Millette leans on Delanty’s advice to push his lyrics past the obvious tropes of alt-country and folk rock. A denizen of downtown Burlington, Delanty still sometimes attends Millette’s local shows. “I know my original songs have to be good when he’s in the audience,” Millette laughed.

Millette attributes his “flash fiction” approach as a lyricist to his fiction writing workshop with beloved late

professor of English William Marquess.

It was common for Marquess to start fiction workshops with music. “He’d play us classical music, world music, and contemporary music like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros,” Millette explained.

Millette asserted that what might have been most inspiring about his work with his professors was their dedication to their respective crafts: Ellis his songwriting, Delanty his poetry, and Marquess his fiction. This daily devotion to being practicing artists outside the St. Mike’s classroom taught Millette a habit of artistic discipline he continues to follow.

As with most musicians trying to make it in a competitive industry, Millette maintains a day job to supplement his income. Millette is a music associate for Northwestern Counseling and Support Services (NCSS) in St. Albans, Vermont. For 35 hours a week, he plays music for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, and other neurological and developmental disabilities.

He performs music in a variety of settings at the agency. He sings songs while clients with extreme maladaptive behavior receive counseling. He leads a weekly sing-along with a group of elderly men with Down syndrome who have a penchant for The Beatles and Charlie Pride. He also plays for several people diagnosed

Millette 39

with dementia, marveling at how some clients who can’t recall what day it is still remember the lyrics to songs from their childhood like “Folsom Prison Blues” or “My Girl.”

For Millette, the underlying thread of all his interactions at St. Mike’s was an inherent human kindness and a deep sense of community. He sees his work as an extension of the values he learned as a member of the St. Mike’s family.

In the coming year, Troy Millette and the Fire Below plan to finish recording their debut full-length album and expand their touring radius. Whether playing to a capacity crowd at Higher Ground in Burlington or leading a sing-along of “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” with an animated group of clients at NCSS, Millette’s experience as a Purple Knight is always close to his heart, where it’s been since that transformative concert he attended as a teenager.

David Patterson ’02 is the author of the novel Soon the Light Will Be Perfect (Hanover Square Press/ HarperCollins, 2019). As a journalist, he has been published in Salon, the Portland Press Herald, and Maine Magazine. He lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, with his wife, Anna Patterson ’05, and their two small children.

Interview with Rob Robinson ’91 SAINT MICHAEL’S VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Photo by Jerry Swope

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From time to time, the alumni office gets questions about the state of the College, or about something alumni have read or heard about. We recently sat down with Rob Robinson, vice president of Finance and Administration and alumnus of Saint Michael’s, to learn a bit about him and ask him a few questions.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

After graduating with an Accounting degree, I spent approximately 16 years working in various industries, including banking, consulting, and technology.

During my time as a consultant, the College was a client, and I spent a portion of a year installing a financial reporting and analysis solution. I stayed in contact with the Finance team, and when a managerial accounting position became open, they reached out to see if I knew anyone who was interested. The timing was right for me to make a change, and I came back home to St. Mike’s in the fall of 2007. Since then, I’ve held several positions, before being appointed Vice

President of Finance by President Neuhauser in 2017.

What is one of your fondest memories from your time as a student at St. Mike’s?

Picking a single memory from a remarkable four years is almost impossible.

My highlights include Halloween dances, the Parents Weekend dance my first year in the North Campus gym, and many hours and memories from being on the lacrosse team.

Like many other alumni, I met my [spouse] at St. Mike’s. Stephanie and I were married in the Chapel, so those are certainly my fondest memories.

We hear about so many small liberal arts schools struggling or closing. Is St. Mike’s at risk?

Saint Michael’s College is facing the same enrollment pressures as many other schools regionally and nationally, resulting from a well-documented decline in high school graduates in the region. What St. Mike’s has in its favor that many other institutions don’t is our high retention rate, a great graduation rate, the ability to house all our students on campus (increasingly desirable in a tight housing market), a strong endowment, and a very engaged alumni, parent, and donor network.

These assets give St. Mike’s the ability to adapt and innovate where we must.

Saint Michael’s also has new leadership as of January 1 with Dr. Richard Plumb, who will bring new energy and innovation.

I think I can speak for the entire leadership team that there is renewed excitement and confidence that St. Mike’s will weather the challenges, clearly state the value of a Saint Michael’s education, reach a sustainable enrollment

level, and adapt to the changing landscape of higher education. Saint Michael’s has the resources to thrive long into the future.

One question alumni have asked this past year is about the change in the College’s bond rating. How does that impact the College? Why did it happen?

Thank you for asking this.

I have gotten this question several times from alumni, who are reassured after I provide some context. S&P Global Ratings recently updated its rating on Saint Michael’s outstanding debt, reaffirming the investment grade rating for the College, while lowering the bond rating to BBB- from BBB, while updating their outlook to stable. This rating change was part of the process related to the College’s issuance of new bonds in May 2023.

The new debt issue refinanced a portion of the College’s outstanding debt and included $8.1 million of new money for capital improvements across campus,

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“I AM HAPPY TO SAY THIS PAST FALL’S INCOMING CLASS INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 26%.”

as well as deferring principal payments for five years to better manage cash as we work to resolve budget deficits. The immediate impact of the rating change is negligible, as all College debt is fixed rate and there are no plans to issue new debt.

The downgrade is a reflection of budget shortfalls due to declines in enrollment experienced the past several years coming out of the pandemic. In their credit profile, S&P Global cites the College’s modest annual debt service and strong balance sheet as institutional strengths. I am happy to say this past fall’s incoming class increased by approximately 26%. While we have more to go to build enrollment back, we believe that we are well positioned

to continue to improve while being judicious on the expense side.

In recent years the College has sold off parts of its real estate— particularly on North Campus. Why was that done?

The College has been selling underutilized properties for several years as part of a long-term plan to focus our resources and attention on directly supporting the student experience. Once the College had fulfilled its long-standing goal to house all our students on Main Campus, these buildings became largely just an expense. With the North Campus having played such an important role in the history of the College, and

the historical importance of Fort Ethan Allen, the College knew it was important to transition these buildings to their next stewards. Saint Michael’s was lucky to have had these considerable assets and a good real estate market to sell them in. These sales provide the College critical resources to continue to invest in promising areas that can provide a foundation for growth and innovation.

If an alumnus or parent wants to help, what can they do?

One of the best ways people can help is to continue to champion St. Mike’s. And if you are able, to make a gift to the Saint Michael’s

Fund. This fund allows the College to meet the changing needs of our community in a timely manner. A gift of any size is welcome and appreciated. Additionally, people can recommend a student to apply to Saint Michael’s, contact the Henry “Bud” Boucher ’69 Career Education Center to offer internships, mentoring, and employment opportunities to students and young alumni, and most importantly, spread the good word about Saint Michael’s! Speak to your student or parent experience and tell others what it means to be a Purple Knight. I am clear that I have a better life because of what Saint Michael’s has given me, and I make sure I share my St. Mike’s story with as many people as I can.

WORKS

Ghost Hymns

By William Lee Ellis (Yellow Dog Records)

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Professor and Chair of Fine Arts Bill Ellis conceived of this album during COVID when the world had shut down. Ghost Hymns bears its own stamp of time and place thanks to the many master musicians Ellis has come to know and call friends in his current home of Vermont.

This album reflects those friendships, heard as musical conversations with a global reach and a ceaseless reverence for the voices of traditions past.

I’m Able: A Woman’s Advice for Disability Change Agents

By Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie (Onion River Press) Saint Michael’s First Year Seminar lecturer Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie’s book is about her life—from under her mother’s desk as a child in Ghana to the hills of Vermont as a Ph.D. Komaby-Pomeyie lost the use of her legs to polio as a child. She pursued education, but found a system unprepared to serve the needs of disabled students. This led her to the fields of policy analysis and advocacy. Her personal story presents the challenges students with disabilities must navigate, and explains how we can align policy with practices in our education system.

Pedestrian: Street Photography

By Bob Pirrmann ’94 (Independently published) As a student at Saint Michael’s, Pirrmann studied business and fine art. He went on to become a creative director at some of the most renowned international advertising agencies in New York City, where he now lives. In Pedestrian, Pirrmann’s photos capture people in a visually unique setting and in that way convey something about their story. His photographs for this book were all taken with his iPhone.

Saint Michael’s College Distinguished Scholar in Residence Kristin Dykstra’s translation of 13 Lunas 13 into English recently won the Gold Medal for Best Nonfiction Book Translation, Spanish to English.

Escaja’s title references the 13 moons in the lunar year, its menstrual cycles, reflected in the 13 sections of the book. Throughout the sections, the poet Escaja explores the composition of the moon.

The Professor of Forgetting

By Greg Delanty (Louisiana State University Press)

This new collection from the acclaimed Irish poet and Saint Michael’s College professor Greg Delanty seesaws on the fulcrum of what we call now and confronts our notion of how time passes.

From the very first poem, “Going Nowhere Fast,” which ponders whether we are now here or going nowhere, to the final selection, from which the book takes its title, these exuberant poems chronicle what it means to be human, and do so with joy, pathos, honesty, despair, sorrow, celebration, and wit.

All We Could Still Have

By Diane Barnes ’88 (Lake Union Publishing) The fourth novel of Diane White Barnes ’88 tells the story of Nikki and Kyle Sebastian, who have a loving and healthy marriage. It’s missing only one thing— children. When the couple is diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” and endures several failed rounds of IVF, Kyle, for both their sakes, is unwilling to bury them deeper in emotional and financial debt.

Nikki betrays Kyle’s trust in an attempt to try IVF one more time. The choice fractures their once-stable union, and they face reassessing their dreams for the future together. If Nikki can’t find a way to forge a new path forward with Kyle, she may find herself alone in a family tree she longs to help grow.

WORKS

FA C U LT Y A N D A L U M N I

13 Lunas 13: 13 Moons 13

By Tina Escaja Translated by Kristin Dykstra (Nueva York Poetry Press)

43

WORKS

The Art of Libromancy: Selling Books and Reading Books in the Twenty-First Century

By Josh Cook ’02 (Biblioasis)

44

Whether discussing the relationship between bookselling and white supremacy, or censorship and the spread of misinformation, or the consolidation of the publishing industry, veteran bookseller and writer Josh Cook ’02 turns a generous yet critical eye to an industry at the heart of American culture, sharing tips and techniques for becoming a better reader and, of course, recommending great books along the way. This is Cook’s second book.

The Trauma Mantras: A Memoir in Prose Poems

By Adrie Kusserow (Duke University Press) Kusserow uses her international work with refugees and humanitarian projects to challenge some of the most basic Western assumptions about the self, illness, suffering, and healing. The book is written in the form of a poetic memoir, featuring short vignettes. “Kusserow has taken something very big and reduced it to more than manageable prose passages,” writes poet Bruce Weigl, “sometimes only a page long, that resonate, shimmer, even, on the page.”

The Power of Positive Fishing: A Story of Friendship and the Quest for Happiness

By Michael J. Tougias and Adam Gamble (Lyons Press) Join Michael J. Tougias and Adam Gamble as they go out on the water to see how their passion for fishing transforms their lives. When the pair first met, they were married with two children each, nice homes in the suburbs, and jobs that paid the bills, and both took frequent fishing trips. But their comfortable lives had cracks in them, and they soon found themselves hit by the rogue waves of divorce, financial challenges, addiction, and career upheaval. What kept them going—and helped them navigate the rough waters of middle age— was fishing and friendship.

History from the Heart Saint Michael’s scholar uses personal history to fuel research, teaching

BY CAT CUTILLO Photos by Cat Cutillo

A

fter her mother’s passing, Jolivette AndersonDouoning and her sister went back to their mother’s home in Shreveport, Louisiana, to clean it out.

The item was a collection of writing—a 64-page ledger handwritten by her grandmother—beginning in 1944 and extending through 1960, that documented her grandmother’s life in

Purdue University in Indiana. She decided to write her doctoral thesis on the ledger and the history it told of a Black woman’s lived experiences in thensegregated Louisiana.

In 2021, Anderson-Douoning moved to Vermont after being selected as Saint Michael’s Edmundite Graduate Fellow in History for the 2021–23 academic years. After defending her dissertation in June 2023, she became the Postdoctoral Fellow in History for the 2023–24 academic year at Saint Michael’s College.

Edmundite scholar in residence Jolivette Anderson-Douoning teaching at Saint Michael’s College.

The duo worked at different paces to try and separate the donations and trash from the memorabilia they would keep, the now-Saint Michael’s Edmundite scholar in residence recently recalled. Her sister moved quickly, dragging items to the curb for trash collection, while Anderson-Douoning wanted to spend more time sifting through things.

One bag, in particular, caught her attention. She started to hoist it back from the curb when something fell—plop—out of the bag onto her foot.

Keithville, Louisiana, a rural town outside of Shreveport.

“It’s extremely rare to have a Black person’s handwritten documentation of their lived experiences,” AndersonDouoning said. “I’ve had so many people tell me, ‘You don’t really understand what you have.’”

The ledger planted a seed that immediately took root: Anderson-Douoning wanted to study this. She had just started a doctoral program in American Studies at

Now, Anderson-Douoning is using her own history as a tool to teach history classes at Saint Michael’s.

The class is called The African American Experience, 1619 to the Present.

Students are encouraged to bring research from their own lives into the class curriculum.

This semester, AndersonDouoning is bringing that same curriculum to a local high school where she worked as a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant and where her own daughter is a student.

She is piloting a new dual enrollment version of the class for Winooski

High School students to receive college credit through Saint Michael’s.

45

Almost all of the 12 students in the dual enrollment class are students of color, and half of the students are new American families from Africa.

“It’s important for me to guide students to find themselves in history,” Anderson-Douoning said.

Dr. Jolivette Anderson-Douoning found a 64-page ledger handwritten by her grandmother beginning in 1944 that documents life in then-segregated rural Louisiana.

She wrote her doctoral thesis on the ledger and the history it told of a Black woman’s lived experiences.

Keep reading online at smcvt.edu/news

Much to Be Celebrated Alumni and Family Weekend 2023 Campus was abuzz with activity during the weekend of September 22–24. The early fall weather cooperated in every way, and hundreds of eager family members arrived on campus to reunite with their students and celebrate a new semester. Alumni came from near and far, hugging old friends and meeting new ones, excited to celebrate two big events: The dedication of the Patrick ’61 and Marcelle Leahy Center for the Environment, and the groundbreaking of the Kelley Ski Center.

The devotion and generosity of our alumni to improving the lives of current and future Purple Knights is something to see—I encourage you to return to campus for Reunion, Alumni and Family Weekend, or any other time you feel compelled to come home to Winooski Park. You are always welcome.

Stephanie Snell Director of Alumni and Family Engagement

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Now This Family Has a House

O

n Saturday, September 23, more than 70 alumni, staff, families, and friends joined members of the Alpine and Nordic ski teams for a groundbreaking ceremony in front of Senior Hall, the future site of the Kelley Ski Center.

Named for Tom Kelley ’69 and his wife Denise, the project is entirely donor-funded and is vitally necessary for the continued success of both teams, which have made incredible strides in recent years.

Kelley, a former ski team captain and Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, has long been a generous and vocal supporter of the teams. The time had come for a giant leap in support for the athletes and their dedicated coaching staff.

According to Athletic Director Chris Kenny ’86, “The conversion of Senior Hall into the new Kelley Ski Center will be transformative for our Alpine and Nordic ski teams.”

He explained, “It will set them apart and allow us to provide a distinctive, custom space to support our standout skiers in practical and inspiring ways.”

Kelley was thrilled to be on hand for the groundbreaking and praised Nordic Coach Molly Peters and Alpine Coach Gus MacLeod ’02. “These two coaches have grown our teams into Eastern and national prominence. The ski room needs to grow to an extent that is equal to their accomplishments.”

Student athletes gathered around Kelley to hear stories and snap photos. Said Alpine team captain Maggie Frøland ’25 as she thanked Kelley and the many donors who contributed to the project, “We now have a space that makes us more competitive. We now have a space where we can do proper prep work that will make us succeed.”

She continued with a radiant smile, “We treat each other as family, and now this family has a house.”

Shaping the Student Experience: Donor Impact FY23 I am always amazed that the generosity of the Saint Michael’s

thanks to the work and dedication of now-retired

community knows no bounds. There are so many reasons

Senator Patrick Leahy ’61. This is the largest direct grant

that people give to the College, including personal reflections

in the history of the College. You can read more about this

on a life-affirming education, honoring the memory of a loved

transformational gift and the renaming of the Center in honor

one, and supporting programs that benefit today’s Purple

of the Leahys on the College’s website.

Knights. It’s always wonderful to hear stories explaining the provenance of this generosity.

In June, Reunion was celebrated in true Saint Michael’s fashion, with a P-Day style party on the 300s field, and

This year, support for the College came from myriad sources,

intrepid reunion volunteers made some exciting last-minute

including government grants, family and private foundations,

class gift announcements at the Purple and Gold Brunch.

alumni, parents, friends, corporate matching programs,

Combined with generous alumni, parents, and friends

and the Saint Michael’s Edmundite community. Combined,

who supported us throughout the year, a total of

these gifts totaled an impressive $9.9 million. Although

approximately $3.4 million was raised from individual

FY23 gifts benefited all parts of campus, the top areas for

donors, which speaks volumes about the breadth

directed philanthropy included: the Saint Michael’s Fund, the

of our support.

Patrick ’61 and Marcelle Leahy Center for the Environment, the Center for Global Engagement, the Kelley Ski Center,

Sincerely,

and health science initiatives.

Early in the year, we received the exciting news that the Center for the Environment was granted approximately $6.5 million from the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill,

Theresa P. Selby Interim Executive Director of Institutional Advancement

Paying His Blessings Forward—and Back C R AIG DUFF Y ‘06 In the history of Saint Michael’s, countless alumni have made their mark on the College through academic success, extracurricular involvement, volunteer engagement, professional achievement, and outright generosity. Craig Duffy ’06

has made a profound mark on Saint Michael’s in every one of these ways—and all by the age of 40.

In 2021, Duffy was named an Alumnus of the Year. Reading the citation during the presentation, Professor Carolyn Lukens-Olson said, “He’s been called ‘The poster child of St. Mike’s alumni,’ holding nearly every volunteer role possible.

As his professor and friend, I would add that Craig was one of the most outstanding students ever to set foot on this campus. Good to the core, kind to a fault, and as quick-witted as anyone you ever met, he is a wonderful example of what every college wants their alumni to be.”

After graduating from St. Mike’s and while earning his MBA from Assumption University, Duffy became a supply-chain logistics specialist. As luck would have it, he landed at Boston-based pharmaceutical company Moderna in January 2020. His liberal arts education, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills helped him hit the ground not just running, but racing, working to facilitate the critical clinical trials that allowed Moderna to begin vaccinating the world against COVID-19.

His arrival at Moderna benefited both the company and the employee, who, true to form, thought first of his alma mater with the windfall he received for his hard work throughout the pandemic.

Duffy has recently made a significant “blended” gift, which includes a multiyear pledge to the Saint Michael’s Fund with a potential matching corporate gift, and a substantial legacy gift in his will, to benefit future generations of Purple Knights.

Perhaps most touchingly, Duffy has established a scholarship in honor of his favorite professor, who has shaped his life in the most positive ways for more than 20 years. “I don’t want to embarrass them publicly by sharing their name, but I have thanked them privately for their remarkable influence on my education, career, and personal growth.”

A former Reunion chair, admission volunteer, Alumni Board president, member of the Board of Trustees, a doting husband, and father of two young boys, Duffy shows no sign of slowing his career or his devotion to Saint Michael’s.

This past summer, Duffy hired three-time St. Mike’s hockey captain Andrew DeCristoforo ’22, who has quickly proven himself a valuable employee, strong teammate, and fast learner. “Saint Michael’s alumni are universally prepared to fulfill the Saint Michael’s vision of Do Well and Do Good upon graduation,” Duffy explains. “Maybe it’s the influence of the Edmundites, the wonderful professors, the residential campus, or the love of our alumni community for the school,” he muses.

“ Whatever the combination of factors, I am lucky to have received an extraordinary education.

And I plan to continue to support Saint Michael’s in any way that I can.”

Make your gift today! smcvt.edu/giving

Fundraising Highlights 2023

$3.4 million

4308

Gifts and Pledges

Total Number of Donors

$1,768,238

$246,735

Raised in Unrestricted Funds

Raised through Purple Knight Challenge

2095

451

Loyalty Circle Members

President’s Medallion Society Members

206

$447,087

Sustain St. Mike’s Members

Realized Bequests

$2.3 million

235

Available in Named Scholarships

Students Receiving a Named Scholarship

LOYALTY CIRCLE: Three or more consecutive years of giving PRESIDENT’S MEDALLION SOCIETY: $1000 or more annual gift SUSTAIN ST. MIKE’S: Monthly recurring gift

Honoring an Educator Who Meant the World

BY CARL A FR ANCIS, MA JOR AND GIF T PL ANNING OFFICER

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R

ichard “Dick” ‘62 and JoAnn Nachajski met as teenagers in Connecticut and dated throughout college, she at Albertus Magnus and he at Saint Michael’s.

Upon Dick’s death in 2014, JoAnn established the Richard D. Nachajski ’62 Endowed Scholarship to honor the impact he had on students during his long career as a respected high

school history teacher. The scholarship supports Saint Michael’s students who are studying to become educators.

Remember the Titans. With pride in his country, Dick was eager to share its history with his students.

At one point in his career, he taught history to students studying English as a Second Language, many of whom had full-time jobs after class.

These hardworking students knew Dick as a relatable and empathetic teacher—one who understood when they occasionally fell asleep in class.

Graduating in 1962 with a degree in American Studies, Dick was on the yearbook staff and volunteered with WSSE-AM, a radio station that was run by the Society of Saint Edmund. There, he bonded with Rev. Moses Anderson ’54 over a shared love of jazz music. Ed Pfeifer ’54, of the Saint Michael’s History Department, was another cherished mentor.

The Nachajskis stayed connected with Saint Michael’s through summer theater, the St. Patrick’s Day parade and events in Naples, Florida, and occasional gatherings in the Washington, D.C., area hosted by retired Senator Patrick Leahy ’61.

After graduation, Dick served in the Navy, then taught school for over 35 years in Alexandria, Virginia, at the high school made famous in

Because they were loyal supporters of the annual fund, it was Dick’s passing that inspired JoAnn to do something more significant. While a student, Dick lacked money for anything beyond the essentials,

JoAnn and Dick with their daughter Jen and her family in Istanbul.

“I would not have been able to attend Saint Michael’s College without scholarship support. In addition to the wealth of opportunity it provides to its students, one of my favorite things about St. Mike’s is the high-level academic programs being offered. I’m currently attending the University of Wyoming for a master’s degree in Kinesiology and Health with an emphasis in Coaching and Teaching, as I would love to enter the professional realm of coaching when I finish graduate school.”

— GRACE ERHOLTZ ’23 Richard D. Nachajski ’62 Scholarship Recipient

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JoAnn with her granddaughters Mallory and Bristol Lewis.

and JoAnn has seen firsthand the burden of student loans on recent college graduates.

The scholarship started modestly, but with JoAnn’s continued support, its impact on students grows each year.

Two years after she established the scholarship, JoAnn took her philanthropy a step further by including a legacy gift to the scholarship in her will. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Heritage Circle, which honors alumni and friends who have thoughtfully remembered Saint Michael’s with a gift in their will.

When asked what in her life inspired her philanthropy, JoAnn responded, “Faith, and a belief in reaching out to others.” She further explained that establishing this scholarship was possible not because she and Dick were highly paid during their careers but because they met a trusted financial planner through her job at Freddie Mac in the 1990s who helped them prepare well for retirement. Money saved in her IRA is available to her if she needs it, but through careful planning, JoAnn has

been able to direct her required minimum distributions to the scholarship, a tax-wise strategy that saves on income tax.

The College is grateful to JoAnn for her foresight and generosity.

Because of her outright giving and support through her will, she has ensured that Dick’s legacy lives on through Saint Michael’s student teachers, and in turn, through their students.

JoAnn with her daughter Jen Lewis at Mount Vernon.

“The financial support we receive from JoAnn allows our students to concentrate on their responsibilities as student teachers. Such support affords each student to be prepared to teach in public schools right after graduation.”

— JAMES NAGLE, PH.D., J.D.

JoAnn ziplining in Alaska.

Chair, Department of Education

52

Meet Kaomi Taylor An Entrepreneurial Approach to Career Planning

T

oday’s job market doesn’t look or work like yesterday’s, so the career planning of today can’t look or work like yesterday’s either. In the newly created position of executive director of the Henry “Bud” Boucher ’69 Career Education Center, Kaomi Taylor is bringing an entrepreneurial eye to equipping students with the skills they need to build rewarding and fulfilling lifelong careers.

“Entrepreneurs explore, create, iterate, prioritize, and persevere,” Taylor says.

“Those same processes are instrumental to building a

successful career or careers in today’s world. In elevating the role of career education at St. Mike’s, the College is honoring the reality that students’ professional success today requires not only excellent academic preparation but the connection, context, and skills to continually leverage their knowledge in the real world.”

Taylor started her own entrepreneurial path as a teenage “Avon lady” in high school. Later, she built a career in relaunching and growing nonprofit organizations, and owned consulting

and hospitality businesses— while teaching business ethics and business and public policy to undergraduates and socially responsible business to graduate students as an adjunct professor in the Business Department at Saint Michael’s. All of this comes full circle, she says, in her role implementing the Board of Trustees’ strategic vision to transition St. Mike’s career education from a convenient service to an essential component of students’ learning.

Proud and happy to be working with Saint Michael’s students again,

Taylor cites the 2016 Gallup Alumni Survey that showed the College’s graduates are “off the charts” in feeling a sense of purpose in their lives and careers. “Career success looks different at St. Mike’s than at other schools,” Taylor points out. “Our graduates are communityminded and seeking purpose in their lives, and that’s a tremendous thing that shapes their companies and the places they live.”

Letter from the Alumni Board President

A

s I write this, fall has once again graced our beautiful campus in Winooski, and I’m so honored to be writing to all of you—my classmates, friends, and fellow Saint Michael’s alumni in my first year as Alumni Board President.

I was very pleased to be given the opportunity to give a little back to St. Mike’s, which gave and continues to give so much to me.

This is a particularly exciting issue of the Saint Michael’s magazine.

Appreciating entrepreneurship is a celebration of the many things that a liberal arts education can do best.

Since graduation, my most fulfilling professional moments have come when I thought like an entrepreneur and rethought some of my long-held beliefs.

I truly feel that we all do our best work when we’re challenged or thinking differently or allowing ourselves to see things outside the box.

This was such an important value we all learned during our time at St. Mike’s. The real glory of the liberal arts experience is remembering

something heard from a professor long ago and finding a way to use it in a current experience.

This happened to me just recently, when thinking of a War and Literature class I took that was teamtaught by professors Bill Wilson and Laurie Smith, which focused on the Vietnam War. While the readings were engaging, the really interesting aspect was when they both shared how their views had evolved and deepened over time and how embracing new ideas with an open mind can really expand our perspectives. It was a very timely reminder for me in dealing with a challenge at work that required me to look at a situation through a different lens.

To me, this is the spirit of entrepreneurship. Allowing new ideas to influence our thinking and put us into motion in ways never previously anticipated.

I feel so lucky to have learned that at St. Mike’s.

Speaking of luck, the Alumni Board was very fortunate to be on campus for the dedication of the new Leahy Center for Environment. We celebrated both a critical new

academic endeavor and the long career of service to the country, the state of Vermont, and Saint Michael’s by our fellow alumnus, Senator Patrick Leahy ’61, and his wife, Marcelle.

college experiences. Also, mark those calendars for Reunion Weekend, May 31–June 2. It’s my Reunion year as well, so we can all celebrate together.

This new Center is also a testament to the spirit of entrepreneurship.

Just think of the many new careers that current students will have to choose from that have not yet been considered. That’s the value of the liberal arts experience, and I know it’s what all of us who are still a part of St. Mike’s look to support and foster.

I encourage you all to take a ride up to Winooski and see all the new environmental work being done around campus—and take a walk through the impressive working farm across the street behind the observatory.

The Office of Alumni and Family Engagement is planning dozens of regional events, and there’s likely one happening near you soon: smcvt.edu/ alumni. If you can, take the time to reconnect with fellow alumni at one of these events—they’re a great reminder of what we cherish most about our

At St. Mike’s, we made lifelong friends and received a great education— in one of our country’s most beautiful places. I’m so grateful for the impact it continues to have on our lives.

I hope to see you soon!

Pat Fitzgibbons ’89 President, Saint Michael’s College Alumni Association

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TELL US WHAT YOU’RE UP TO ... SMCV T.EDU/CL ASSNOTES

1964

1971

BOB LILLY and wife Marilyn

SANDY KISH, was named a 2022 Volunteer of the Year

by Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. (See photo.)

shared a photo from their wedding anniversary celebration with fellow classmates.

1967 BRUCE STRYHAS was honored and inducted into the Vermont Principal’s Association Hall of Fame in May in Montpelier. He played soccer, baseball and basketball throughout high school, and he was a standout starter for the basketball team at Saint Michael’s. Stryhas was one of a dozen new members inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023.

1978 PAUL GALBRAITH shared a photo from his 45th reunion.

1979 MELANIE DEMARAIS shared a photo with Lia BENEDEK KAUFMAN ’80 and BETH VETARE-CIVITELLO ’79.

JULI (STEELE) WINTHERS, Darby, MT, recently walked El Camino de Santiago, a 730 km walk over the Pyrenees in France and across Spain, then opted to

BOB ’64 and Marilyn Lilly celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in Lake Placid, NY, along with classmates Don Cipriano ’64, Phil Prespare ’64, John Colangelo ’64, Bud Donald ’64.

At his 45th reunion in June, PAUL GALBRAITH ’78, Highland Falls, NY, made it a point to see Emeritus Music Professor William Tortolano.

“I was a four-year member of Chorale and Glee Club,” Paul noted. “We performed many memorable concerts, including a Christmas break trip to Europe in 1978.

We sang in England, in Belgium, and in France at Notre Dame Cathedral—I will never forget singing a solo there.

Dr. Tortolano is always a joy to meet. God bless him.”

SANDY KISH ’71, Jericho, VT, was named a 2022 Volunteer of the Year by Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, which wrote, “Sandy Kish has been a staple of Bolton winter programs for years as well as a coach for the Special Olympics team practices at Mt. Ellen. He greets everyone with the warmest smile and is a go-to guy for new volunteers to shadow to learn the ropes. A fan favorite for participants and their families, Sandy is always just a phone call away when we need an extra hand.” Pictured, left to right: Molly Tobin ’20, program coordinator, Bolton Valley; Sandy Kish; Felicia Fowler, Sugarbush; and Erin Fernandez, Vermont Adaptive.

MELANIE DEMARAIS ’79, Worcester, MA, reports, “I recently had the pleasure of attending the Northern Westchester NY County Italian American Club event where my roommate Beth Vetare-Civitello received the Woman of the Year award.” Vetare-Civitello serves as Co-Executive Director of the Mt. Kisco, NY, Chamber of Commerce.

Pictured, left to right: Lia Benedek Kaufman ’80, Melanie Demarais ’79 and Beth Vetare-Civitello ’79.

55

CHRISTINE JACQUES ’83, Wimauma, FL, hosted a reunion weekend at her summer home in Rhode Island in September.

Pictured, left to right: Deborah Galler ’84, Fred O’Neill ’83, Sue O’Neill, Richard Georgetti ’84, Tracie Marion Georgetti ’84, Nancy Macy ’84, Terry Klingenberger Bechard ’84, Tom Bechard ’85, and Christine Jacques ’83.

continue walking to the “End of the World,” Finisterre, Spain.

JANET LORETTE AUGER ’85, Nashua, NH, reported that she and her ‘SMC girls’ gathered in Bar Harbor, ME, for their 60th birthday celebration. “We had so much fun hiking in Acadia National Park! 42 years of friendship started freshman year at SMC! Thanks, St. Mike’s!” Class of ’85 friends, left to right: Sarah Hefford Claytor, Janet Lostacco Blauvelt, Kathy McNabb Hatch, Maureen Cunningham Stewart, Karin Dunkerley Berno, Janet Lorette Auger. Not pictured, but there in spirit: Ruth Reardon Saremi and Sherry Hietala McLeod.

SUZY LEOUS ’86, Arlington, VA, met up with a group of St. Mike’s friends in Charlotte, VT, in late September for a mini reunion, and enjoyed an afternoon on Lake Champlain. Left to right: Kathy Behan Gallagher ’86, Karen Dunmire McGiver ’86, Jennifer McCann McGinley ’85, Suzy Leous, Sue O’Laughlin Ronan ’86, Kathy Korby Wells ’86, and Beth Conlin-Tailleur ’86.

1980 ROGER FAUCHER, Chatham, MA, has finally rounded the long arc of a 40-year teaching career. His first three years were at Bellows Free Academy in Fairfax, VT, the remaining 37 years on Cape Cod. He has thoroughly enjoyed teaching chemistry, AP physics, robotics engineering, and English as a second language. He is already enjoying his retirement, spending a lot more time with his wife of 40 years, KATIE TISCHLER FAUCHER ’81; their two daughters; and their four grandchildren.

ANDRE KONSKI, M.D., MBA, M.A., M.Sc., Fort Washington, PA, recently completed a master of

science degree in health technology assessment from the University of York, England, and has matriculated into Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, England, reading for a M.Sc. in medical statistics.

He continues as a professor of clinical radiation oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a senior fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.

1983 CHRISTINE JACQUES shared a photo of hosting a St. Mike’s reunion.

1985 JANET LORETTE AUGER shared a photo of a St. Mike’s ’85 gathering.

1986

1995

SUZY LEOUS shared a

JESSICA GREGOIRE

photo of a mini reunion.

shared a photo of a fun girls’ weekend with fellow classmates.

1987 JONATHAN BILLINGS, Saint Albans, VT, recently passed the national board certification exam to become a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. “I’ve been blessed to have enjoyed a long career in healthcare, and this is a nice recognition of what I bring to that service,” he shared. Jonathan is the chief operating officer at Northwestern Medical Center in Saint Albans.

TRICIA COATES, Jericho, VT, has been appointed director of the newly established Institute for Rural Partnerships (IFRP) at UVM, which helps rural communities thrive in the face of challenges brought about by climate change and population shifts. Tricia will also serve as director of the Office of Engagement.

1989 KERRI D’ARRIGO & DAVE LUCEY shared a wedding

BRENDAN KELLEHER shared a photo of a hockeybased reunion with JOHN SUTICH ’94.

KERRI D’ARRIGO ’89 and DAVE LUCEY ’89 recently married in MATT MORSE, Ansonia, CT, was promoted to assistant chief with the Stratford (CT) Fire Department. As a student, Matt served as fire unit captain for Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue his senior year.

1996 DR. AARON KUNTZ, Palmetto Bay, FL, was recently named dean of the School of Education and Human Development at Florida International University. A professor of research methodology, Aaron was previously a faculty member at the University of Alabama, where he served as chair of the Department of Educational Studies from 2014 to 2020. He has published more than 50 peerreviewed publications, including five books.

Scituate, MA, with plenty of alumni in attendance. Left to right: Bill Leonard ’89, Tom Hogan ’89, Christine Dunkerley Hogan ’89, Tom Joyce ’89, Kristin Joyce ’89, Sarah Valentini ’89, Dave Lucey ’89, Kerri D’Arrigo Lucey ’89, Rev. John Unni ’83, Pam Nee Barker ’89, Jamie McKenna ’89, John Palmer ’89, Mike Alden ’89, Katy Deskus Burke ’89, Ellen Baker Alden ’89, Elaine Cooper McKenna ’89. Missing from photo: Gina Cancellare DeBenedictis ’88 and Nancy Sokolosky Horwood ’89.

JOELL GILLS ’89, Fallston, MD, sent in this photo from a reunion of the 1980s and early 1990s Saint Michael’s Rescue Squad held on June 17 at the Sutton Fire and Rescue Station across the street from campus.

photo with several classmates.

DJ TAYLOR shared a family JOELL GILLS shared a photo from reunion.

photo and news of a recent conference he attended.

1992

1998

BEN FILMORE shared a photo from an Octoberfest gathering.

A proud friend of JOHN RIGNEY shared a photo and news of his promotion.

BEN FILMORE ’92, Middleton, MA, hosted the 13th annual Octoberfest gathering on October 14. This tradition now includes the next generation of Purple Knights, including Ben’s daughter Liv Filmore ’25 and friends. Back row (all Class of ’92, left to right): Chris Lagan, Ted Martin, Tom Ambrose, Mike Byrnes, Steve Phillips, Ben Filmore, Chuck Laubenstein, Mark Bodwell, George Bowen; front row (left to right): Becky Lagan, Janet Bowen ’92, Irina Dmitriyeva ’25, Lily Maxted ’26, and Liv Filmore ’25.

CL ASS NOTES

MIKE RYAN ’94, Plymouth, MA, joined Mike Bacharz for a trip to Tennessee to surprise Rob Hopper ’94 (with lots of help from Wendy Tarvis Hopper ’94). Despite roommate and baseball teammate Nick Koman not being able to make it, the trio celebrated 30+ years of friendship with great live music, lots of laughs, and a few IPAs.

JOHN RIGNEY ’98, Wilbraham, MA, was recently promoted to deputy fire chief and assistant emergency manager at the Longmeadow Fire Department.

John has been with the department for 25 years and served as captain and shift commander for the past seven years.

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JESSICA GREGOIRE ’95, Tyngsboro, MA, joined great friends for a fun girls’ weekend and 50th birthday year celebration. Class of ’95 friends, left to right: Michelle Bourque Downie, Jessica McDermod Gregoire, Nicole Ahern Viola, Stacey Greeno Pearsons, Krisha Simpkins Dubreuil, and Alison Wager Angarone.

BRENDAN KELLEHER ’95, Belmont, MA, was recently named varsity coach of the girls’ hockey team at Belmont High. In September, he coached his son Ronan’s Belmont youth hockey team to victory against a Charlestown team powered by Leo Sutich, son of John Sutich ’94. The St. Mike’s coaches and their players met for an extra-special postgame handshake line.

DJ TAYLOR ’96, Boise, ID, was recently selected as one of 60 civilians nationally to attend the 17th Annual Commandant’s National Security Program at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. The program provides a forum for distinguished speakers to discuss issues of importance to the nation’s security and welfare with students, faculty, and invited guests, and to have free and candid dialogue on these issues. DJ has spent his career at the intersection of IT and the energy sector.

HANNAH SACHS ’02 and BEN FRESCO ’01 were married on June 3 in Quechee, VT. Alumni in attendance, left to right: Chris Fenlon ’01, Liz Pantano Kaplan ’01, Ben Fresco, Hannah Sachs Fresco, Megan Lynch Mayo ’01, Kerry Mayo ’01.

JAMES CROMIS ’02 and DOUGY WALDEN ’01 met at a secret surf spot in New Jersey for an afternoon session. Toes on the nose!

KIM FISCHER PRYOR ’06,

KEVIN HARUTUNIAN ’06, Beverly, MA, got together with fellow Boston-area St. Mike’s baseball alumni for a round of golf at Granite Links in Quincy, MA. Left to right: Michael “Sully” Sullivan ’05, Matt “OB” O’Brien ’08, Kevin “Toony” Harutunian ’06, and Dan “Okie” O’Connor ’06.

GREGORY CALNEN ’09 poses with several alumni at his wedding.

Left to Right: Matt Reese ’09, Meredith Reese ’09, Nick Calnen ’05, Jeff Mack ’09, Dan Ehrhardt ’09, Zack Smith ’09, Mike Giordano ’09, Greg Calnen ’09, Jen Calnen ’05, Caroline (Larkin) Chute ’05, Kim (DiTullio) Donahue ’10, Alex Paulhus ’09, Jeff Amato ’09, Mike Donahue ’09, Ryan Mero ’09.

AMANDA KAULINS ’13, Hingham, MA, volunteered at the Polish–Ukrainian border in February and August to assist refugees upon their arrival with the All Hands and Hearts and International Organization for Migration programs.

AMELIA HOLSTROM ’08, Wilbraham, MA, was recognized as one of the 2023 Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Each year, the publication and accompanying event honors women who have demonstrated great accomplishments in their field. In addition, Amelia serves as chair of the Wilbraham Personnel Advisory Board, as a member of the Wilbraham Commission on Disability, on the boards of Clinical and Support Options, Inc., the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce, the board development committee for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, and the personnel committee for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

DYLAN LAVALLEE ’13 and KATIE MISCHKE LAVALLEE ’13, Williston, VT, welcomed Olivia Kiely Lavallee on June 9.

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LAUREN FILTZER NYKVIST ’05, Dedham, MA, reports: “These 2005 alumni and former roommates left their combined nine children at home and gathered in Sayulita, Mexico, to celebrate their 40th birthdays!” Top, left to right: Stephanie Sirois Burman, Margot Levesque Legare; bottom, left to right: Anna Toothaker Patterson (married to Dave Patterson ’02) and Lauren Filtzer Nykvist.

Berthoud, CO, was honored in Washington, D.C., and recognized as one of the top general counsels in the country for 2023 by the Burton Awards, a national nonprofit program run in association with the Library of Congress and the American Bar Association. Employed by JBS USA, Kim is the youngest general counsel to ever receive this prestigious recognition.

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CAROLINE FOSTER ’14 and JUSTIN MCKENZIE ’17 celebrate their wedding surrounded by SMC classmates Ryan Frazier ’17, Alexa Coleman ’14, Victoria Hill ’14, Nicole Buckley ’14, Elizabeth Cusimano ’14, Julia Korksz ’14, the bride, the groom, Claire Martin ’14, Eric McGurik ’13, Daniel Divis ’17, Caleb Lothian ’17.

KRISTYN GALLIGAN ’15, Pembroke, MA, married Alan Barrile on June 2 at the River Club in Scituate, MA. Saint Michael’s alumni and friends in attendance, top row, left to right: Dee-Jai Cowles ’15, Dillon Mariano, James DeVoursney ’16, Amanda Carroll; second row, left to right: Sam Shuster, Michelle O’Donnell ’16, Michelle Kazanowski ’15, Kelly Ainsworth DeVoursney ’15, Meaghan Diffenderfer ’16, Shannon Carroll ’15, Jill Holland ’15; in front: Julia Bianconi ’15. (left) SHANNON CARROLL ’15, Oak Park, CA, married Amanda Carroll on December 30, 2022. Saint Michael’s friends in attendance, left to right: James DeVoursney ’16, Kelly DeVoursney ’16, Pat Cornacchio ’18, Shannon Carroll, Amanda Carroll, Jill Holland ’15, Julia Grace Scanlon ’15, Michelle Kazanowski ’15, and Kristyn Galligan Barrile ’15.

ERIK HOISETH ’15, Long Island City, NY, married Caroline Finden on July 23 in Chatham, MA. Alumni in attendance included (left to right, all Class of 2015): John and Jennifer Pelkey, Mark Worthen, Trevor Brown, Erik and Caroline Hoiseth, Isaiah St. Pierre, Matthew Prescott, Samuel and Chloe Olore.

KRISTEN FIOCCO ’10, Bolton, VT, married Phil Harrington on August 18 in Waterbury, VT. Friends and alumni in attendance included (back row, left to right) Andrew Lanoue ’10, Drew Flaherty ’10, Drew Knapp ’09, Miguel Castro ’10, Kathleen Castro ’10, Katie Wry ’10, Kathryn Bergeron ’10, Josiah Bergeron, (front row, left to right) Ashley Flaherty ’10, Emily Knapp ’10, and the bride.

NATALIE LEDUE ’16 and BRENDAN DAVITT ’16, Freeport, ME, were married on June 24

2001 DOUGY WALDEN shared a photo with fellow alum

KIM FISCHER PRYOR shared news of being honored with a prestigious legal award.

JAMES CROMIS ’02.

2002 HANNAH SACHS shared a photo of her marriage to BEN FRESCO ’01.

2004 CHRIS BERNIER, Underhill, VT, completed the Ironman Lake Placid in July. “I had the best cheering squad,” he reported, “including ABBIE BERNIER ’04 and JAMIE PALMER KEATING ’04.”

2005

2008 AMELIA HOLSTROM shared news of her recognition as one of the 2023 Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

2009 GREGORY CALNEN shared a photo with fellow alumni at his wedding.

2010 KRISTIN FIOCCO shared her wedding photo with fellow alumni.

LAUREN FILTZER NYKVIST shared a photo of her reunion with former roommates.

2006 KEVIN HARUTUNIAN shared a photo of a small SMC baseball reunion.

ELLEN PARENT, Auburn, ME, completed the Financial Services Compliance Certificate from Boston University School of Law in May 2023. Ellen, who holds a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law, currently serves as the director of compliance at the Maine Credit Union League.

2013 KELSIE HARRIS, Rensselaer, NY, joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the New York Capital Region’s largest law firm, as an associate in the Business, Corporate, and Commercial Practice Group. After earning a B.A. in English at Saint Michael’s, Kelsie received a J.D. with honors from the George Washington University Law School in 2017 and earned her master of laws (LL.M.) degree from New York University School of Law in 2018.

AMANDA KAULINS shared a photo of her volunteering at the Polish-Ukrainian border.

DYLAN LAVALLEE and KATIE MISCHKE LAVALLEE shared a photo of their new daughter.

2014 KATE ANDERSON, Salt Lake City, UT, is an Emmy winner! As a field producer with NBC Sports, Kate provided subject matter

expertise in freeskiing and snowboarding. She and her crew won a Sports Emmy for “Outstanding Live Special” for their work on the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games at the 44th Annual Sports Emmy Awards.

CAROLINE FOSTER shared a photo from her wedding to JUSTIN MCKENZIE ’17 surrounded by fellow alumni.

2015 SHANNON CARROLL shared a photo of her wedding with fellow alumni.

ERIK HOISETH shared a photo of his wedding with 2015 classmates.

KRISTYN GALLIGAN shared a photo from her wedding with her classmates.

DAVID WEISS, South Burlington, VT, received the 2023 EMS for Children Champion of the Year award, which recognizes an individual who “exemplifies outstanding dedica-

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in Phippsburg, ME, “an intimate and beautiful drizzly day at the 1774 Inn.” Alumni in attendance, bottom row, left to right: Mark Davitt ’87, Renee Davitt ’86, Brendan Davitt ’16, Annie Ledue ’21, Natalie Ledue ’16, Celsey Lumbra ’16, Bella Davitt ’22, Nevin Stevens ’16. Top row, left to right: Justin Colletti ’16, Briana Brady ’16, Mackenzie Floyd ’16, Jessica Jablonski ’16, Conor Floyd ’16, Alex Boucher ’16. Not pictured: Shannon Krehely ’16.

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CYMANTHA ROGERS ’17,

62

Swampscott, MA, married SEAN GLASHEEN ’17 on August 4, 2023.

Classmate and friend Stephen Andersen ’17 officiated at the Oceanview in Nahant, MA.

DANIELLE PREVOST ’16, Millis, MA, married DENNIS MILLER ’16 on June 30 in Hampstead, NH. Said the happy couple, “We will be forever grateful to St. Mike’s for bringing us together. We had a fabulous wedding with many fellow alumni as guests, and as part of our wedding party. The friendships we made at St. Mike’s will truly last a lifetime!”

KATHERINE LAFONT ’19, M’21, and Cameron Ouellette, Barre, VT, welcomed a son, Carson James Ouellette, on May 5, at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, VT.

RACHEL HIGH ’20 and ALEX BIGELOW ’19 were married on June 3 at St. Anne’s Shrine in Isle La Motte, VT. Rev. Michael Carter ’12 celebrated the Mass while Jerome Monachino ’91 and Dominic Monachino ’25 provided the amazing music. Many St. Mike’s alumni were in attendance, including members of the wedding party, left to right: Kevin Hutchins ’19, Hugh Grey ’20, Chris Spodick ’19, Robert Cummings ’19, Conor Macias ’19, John Sweeney ’20, Colin O’Brien ’19, Alex Bigelow ’19, Rachel High Bigelow ’20, Isabella Cigna ’20, Molly Tobin ’20, and Lauren Walsh ’20.

ANNA-MARIA FORGER and BEN CARROLL , both of the class of 2017, were married on May 21, 2023 in Candia, NH, with many alumni in attendance. Back row, left to right: Erik Ziemer ’17, Cameron Hager ’17, Zach Johnston ’17, Pat Cornacchio ’18, Corinne Harvey ’18, Sheila Bogan ’15, Taylor Schneider ’17. Front row, left to right: Nick Verdirame ’17, Elizabeth Rogers ’17, Will Ricigliano ’17, Anna-Maria Carroll ’17, Anna-Maria Forger, Ben Carroll ’17, Maggie Bogan ’17, Chris Holloway ’17, Mckenzie Bergan ’17, Alan Hefferon ’14.

MARIE SHEPHERD ’19 married Michael McCormack in the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel on September 19, 2022. Rev. Brian Cummings was the celebrant.

Alumni in attendance, left to right: Kate Soons ’92, Pete Soons ’82, Leslie Lindquist ’05, Mike LaPan ’11, Ben Granja ’12, Maddie Clark ’18, Alex Hill ’09, Laura Lin ’19, Jamie Schwab ’19, Tommy Farragher ’11, Brooke Hurd ’21, John Keating ’17, Marie Shepherd McCormack ’19, Matt Tivnan ’12, Noelle Picard ’19, Veronica McMorrow ’19, Talia Cote ’20, Michaela Foody ’18, Hannah Mishriky ’19, Victoria Creighton ’19, Shannon Roberto Maloney ’19, Kyle Wentzel ’18, Marty Maloney ’18, Amanda Ford ’18, Megan Feenan ’19, Mike Goode ’17, Maria Ferrante Millikin ’01, Drew Millikin ’01, and Nicole English ’17.

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tion and service to the contribution, development, and/or enhancement of [emergency medical services] for children in Vermont.” David is an advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT) with Saint Michael’s Fire and Rescue, Colchester Rescue, and the Vermont Urban Search and Rescue Taskforce.

2016 NATALIE LEDUE and BRENDAN DAVITT shared a photo of their wedding with many SMC alumni.

DANIELLE PREVOST and DENNIS MILLER shared a photo from their wedding with a large group of SMC alumni.

2017 CYMANTHA ROGERS and SEAN GLASHEEN shared a

2019 KATHERINE LAFONT shared a photo of her new baby.

MARIE SHEPHERD shared a photo of her wedding surrounded by several SMC alumni.

wedding photo.

KATELYN STEMRICH

CHRISTOPHER HALLOWAY

shared that she graduated from New England Law in Boston in May 2023.

shared a photo from

ANNA-MARIA FORGER and BEN CARROLL’s wedding with several alums in attendance.

2020 RACHEL HIGH shared a photo of her wedding to

ALEX BIGELOW ’19.

Saint Michael’s College takes pride in its alumni and joyfully shares the news of their lives and achievements.

All announcements are included and published in the magazine unless the content of the message promotes hate or violence.

Publishing these alumni messages does not reflect any endorsements or positions taken by the College.

In Memoriam This issue begins our new online database of obituaries. Each issue will continue to have a listing by class year of recently departed alumni and friends of Saint Michael’s, but to read their obituary you will need to use the URL or QR code below.

By moving obituaries online we are able to provide a cumulative listing and allow for alumni to search names or class years more efficiently. Over the spring we will be adding obituaries from the past several years to the database.

Our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of these departed Saint Michael’s family members.

1982 Mark D. Madkour Robert B. Spawn

1983 Ann Celine French

1986 Elizabeth Brassel

1988 Michelle Manchenton

1990 1943

1961

1971

Eugene French

Bernard A. Couture

1949

1962

Richard Caldarelli John N. Fauta Michael W. Shea

Leo Denault Bernard Duffy

Paul Gravel

James Garofano William Gothers Joseph Paul Lanza Edward Levandowski John Schlegel

1952

1963

Paul Couture Kevin Kearney William Timbers

James Kalteux William David Pinsky Armand Siconolfi

1950

1972 L. James Ouellet

1973 Frank Capizzio Robert D. Cooney John J. Gargiulo Mark Prelli Robert “Bob” Wieland

1953

1964

1974

Richard Flynn Robert Levins Lawrence McGeeney Thomas Theberge

William Batewell Francis A. Ceplenski Robert Rivers, Jr.

Jay Ficco Joseph Pescitelli, Jr.

1954 William Ayoob Jose Canas James McKenna

1956

1965 George T. Chamberland Thomas R. Hickey Ronald F. Kozma

1966 Leland S. Abbott Robert DeYoung

William Carroll Peter Proulx Craig Tynan

1967

1957

Edward “Ted” Johnson Thomas F. Rork

Charles Maynard Clarence Myatt

1968

1975

2002 Christina Cinti

2006 Sean Cooley

2015 Michael T. Logue

M19 7 6 Diane DiCicco

M19 7 9 Sr. Lucille D’Amelio

M19 8 1 June Tinney

M19 8 4 Anne Hancock

M19 9 1 Sr. Jody Kearney

M19 9 3 Howard Lyon Cynthia Lyons

2020

M19 9 8

Katherine Hartnett

Margaret DiCesare Targett

2025 Samuel M. Paprin

M20 0 5 Brenda Dupuis

M20 0 6

1976

Lissa Bogner

M20 1 7

Stephen A. Flasko

1977 Mary Coffin

1978 Timothy McEvoy Brian Rafferty

Alfred F. “Peter” Murphy

1959

1969

1981

Leo Patrick Flanagan, D.D.S. William Lynch John W. Nephew

James Fallon, Ph.D.

Michael Coughlin

John “Sonny” Beaulieu John J. Latimer

Kenneth P. MacDonald

M19 7 5 Russell Shappy

Olga Foss

1980

1970

1994

M19 6 1 Patricia Kennedy

Joseph LaChapelle Susan Little Michael Long

John Broder Michael A. Coppola Paul Lombardi, Sr.

1958

William “Bill” Affinito

M AS T ER ’ S ALU M N I

FAC U LT Y, S TAFF, A N D FRIE N D S Susan Jenkins Frank Nicosia Donald Sutton

Robert Heroux Edward Strianese

smcvt.edu/obituaries

“ I T ’ S N OT JU S T A H U S TLE. AN D I T ’ S N OT JU S T AB OU T M AKIN G MONE Y. T HE R E AS ON TO DO IT IS THAT T HE R E IS S OM E TH IN G TH AT YOU WANT TO S E E BROUG H T INTO TH E WOR L D. A N D YOU C AN’ T GE T IT OU T OF YOUR HE AD.” — THOMAS DICKERSON

This image of New York City is from a 3D reconstruction created by Geopipe AI (see story on page 22) using raw sensor data with its proprietary machine learning.

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