Worcester State Magazine – Winter 2026

Dear Alumni and Friends of the University, The phrase “student success” is uttered so often in higher education circles that it can seem nothing more than a buzzword. Yet it is the very essence of what we aim to accomplish at Worcester State — enabling every student to proceed from first-year to the commencement stage. […]

Five exceptional individuals were recognized for their unwavering commitment to their communities and excellence in their chosen fields. By Dave Eisenberg Worcester State kicked off Homecoming Weekend 2025 in October 2025 by conferring the Distinguished Alumni Awards upon five truly exceptional individuals. The awardees included: an educator who empowers students to think beyond the classroom; […]

Above: Rebecca Mullen ’13 Rebecca Mullen ’13, is commissioner of the NCAA’s Atlantic East Conference, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and taking its intercollegiate athletic programming to new heights. We caught up with Mullen to learn more about the role, and how her time as a Worcester State field hockey and lacrosse player informs her […]

The founding leader of Worcester State’s School of Education, Health, and Natural Sciences, she was a teacher and school principal before returning to work at her alma mater. By Emily Boutilier As a teacher, principal, professor, and dean, Elaine Tateronis ’63, M.Ed. ’74 devoted her career to serving her students, the local community, the field […]

Omer Rafiq ’14—recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award—has dedicated his career to serving his fellow Americans as a U.S. marine and more. By Emily Gold Boutilier During the final days of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, Omer Rafiq ’14 was on the ground in Kabul, evacuating hundreds whose lives were in peril […]

Athletes across campus celebrated Evan Armit’s legacy of kindness in game action this fall. By Krystyanna Ramsdell In August 2025, Evan Armit, a beloved member of the men’s ice hockey team, passed away following a lengthy battle with metastatic melanoma. Ever since, nearly every team in the Worcester State Athletics Department has been honoring his […]

The new Jennie Cora Clough Women’s Leadership Society aims to bring enterprising students and high-powered alumnae together to forge lasting bonds.  By Natalie Boutiette Worcester State student Lilian Sydow ’28, who studies psychology, Spanish and pre-law, and serves as president of the university’s Student Government Ambassadors, was looking for career advice. Given her wide array […]

The Fiber Arts Circle is crocheting, cross-stitching and needle-felting an environment dedicated to inclusion and the arts.  By Natalie Boutiette | Photos by Nancy Sheehan On a cold day ahead of a snowstorm this winter, a group of Worcester State students were huddled together inside, each crafting their own textile blocks to later be sewn […]

Worcester State’s Early Support Program is redefining student success. By Lexi Jones For most students, college means juggling coursework with jobs, family obligations, and financial pressures. There are expectations to be self-directed and organized in new ways that they may not have learned in high school or at home. First-generation students may be alone as […]