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Worcester State Magazine
Outstanding Alumni Making a Di...

Outstanding Alumni Making a Difference


IN THIS SECTION
  • Class Notes
  • In Memoriam
  • Outstanding Alumni Making a Difference
  • Transformative Teaching
  • Worcester State Magazine
  • About Worcester State Magazine

Worcester State graduates are making a significant impact both locally and globally.

They are excelling as educators, health care professionals, social justice advocates, business executives, and civic leaders. These 40 outstanding alumni embody the spirit of Worcester State’s more than 40,000 graduates, many of whom grew up in Central Massachusetts and have chosen to remain in the region after earning their degrees. Others have extended their influence nationwide or even internationally, contributing their talent, time, and passion far beyond Worcester. In their own words, we share their professional motivations, inspirations, and Worcester State experience.

Click on the images below to read the stories of these outstanding alumni.

Jennessa Burks ’15

Teacher, Cambridge Public Schools
Artist/Muralist, Self-Employed

Danica A. Johnston, M.Ed. ’14

Director of Academics, Shawsheen Valley Technical School

Tony Price ’97, M.S.L.D.

Director of Athletics, Bunker Hill Community College

Tony Reno ’97, M.Ed. ’00

Head Football Coach, Yale University

Renah Razzaq ’02, M.Ed. ’09, Ph.D.

Assistant Principal, Doherty Memorial High School

Ann Ash Zelesky ’73

Retired Associate Athletic Director, College of the Holy Cross, Teacher, Softball and Basketball Coach

Emily (Walker) Pearl ’17, M.Ed. ’21

First Grade Teacher, Walter J. Paton Elementary School, Shrewsbury, Mass.

Debbie Hall, M.S. ’17

CEO, YWCA Central Massachusetts

Sarah Baldiga, M.S. ’09

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Rise Above Foundation

kate warren barnes ’06, M.S.W., M.B.A., Ph.D. student

Head of Strategic Partnerships, Jumpstart for Young Children
Adjunct Faculty, BU School of Social Work

Ken Bates ’87, M.S., Hon. Ph.D.

President and CEO, Open Sky Community Services, Inc.

Celia Johnston Blue ’00, M.B.A.

President and CEO, Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition Inc. (MAWOCC)

Anne D. Sadick, M.S. ’02

Director of Development, Worcester Historical Museum

Leah M. Bradley ’97, L.C.S.W.

Chief Executive Officer, Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc.

Seth A. Pitts ’10, M.S.

President and CEO, Bay State Savings Bank

Bill Murphy ’93, M.A.

Producing Branch Manager, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.

Nana A. Darkwa, Esq. ’19, J.D.

Attorney, Corporate and Securities Associate, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Jerome Hewlett ’87

Chief Commercial Officer, Mangata Networks

Dr. Lawrence Sasso ’90, M.S.M. ’13, CLU, ChFC

Founder, Lawrence Sasso Insurance & Financial Services, Inc.

Andrew Ngo ’17

M.B.A. Candidate, Cornell Johnson
Incoming Investment Banking Associate, Citi

Cristian Negron Rivera ’23, M.S. ’24

Accountant, Tax Associate, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Melanie Bonsu ’05

Community Relations Manager, Saint-Gobain Abrasives

Lisa M. Colombo ’87, D.N.P., M.H.A., R.N.

Executive Vice Chancellor, ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School

Stephanie Ramey ’08

Vice President, Special Projects, Rucker Investments; Owner, The O Shop

Bankole Samuel ’06

General Surgeon, Saint Vincent Hospital

Shannen Curtin ’17

Registered Nurse, Pediatric Nurse, Start Line Pediatrics

Oscar J. de la Rosa ’16, DNP, FNP-BC

Urgent Care Registered Nurse Team Lead, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center

Christopher McCormick ’18, M.S., CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist, Hasbro Children’s Hospital
Adjunct Professor, Stonehill College, University of Rhode Island, and Worcester State University
Part-time Clinical Instructor, Worcester State University

Jordan Duffy ’13

Senior Audio Engineer, Earwolf Podcast Network/SiriusXM
Singer-Songwriter, Musician, Producer, Voice Actor

Ryan Porter Lindsay ’18, M.D.

Emergency Medicine Resident Physician, University of
Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Eugene S. Bah ’12, M.D., Ph.D.

Neurosurgery Resident, Mayo Clinic

Matt Wright ’10, M.S.

Photographer/Producer, Owner of Wright Photo Studios

Brian Skerry ’84, L.H.D. ’21

Photojournalist/Producer

Gladys Rodriguez-Parker ’84, M.S. ’96

Retired from Office of Congressman James P. McGovern after
28 years of service

CSM James L. Campbell Jr. ’14, M.Ed.

State Command Sergeant Major, Senior Enlisted Leader, Massachusetts National Guard

Taneisha S. Mings ’13

NextGen Careers Counselor, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission

Christopher J. Weagle ’07, M.S., Ph.D.

Captain, Special Operations Division, Massachusetts Department of Correction; Adjunct Faculty, Worcester State, Nichols College, Fisher College

Mary E. Foley, ’94 M.P.H.

Health Policy Analyst, Executive Director, Medicaid|Medicare|CHIP Services Dental Association

Amy Peterson (Wilfong) ’03

Chief of Staff, City of Worcester, City Manager’s Office

Kory Fitzpatrick ’16, M.S.

Marine Officer Instructor, College of the Holy Cross

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