Springfield College Alumni News for February 2025

Fri, 02/21/2025 - 12:00

In this section, you will find alumni updates from February 1, 2025 through February 28, 2025. Thanks for sharing your news! Please direct any future submissions to alumni@springfield.edu.

By: Maria D'Agostino Crawford '91 and Damon Markiewicz

Alumni Spotlight…Meet Melissa Hodgdon ‘91. After 31 years as a collegiate basketball coach, Melissa is currently the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, MA. Hodgdon was inducted into the Midcoast (Maine) Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year, along with fellow SC Alumni Paula Flagg Roberts ‘79 and Chris Perry ‘88.

During her time on Alden Street, Hodgdon majored in Health Education, was a member of the Maroon Key Club, participated in intramurals, played one year of field hockey, and was a four-year member of the women’s basketball team.

Hodgdon went on to say:

“My SC teammates were pivotal in my four years at SC. You spend A LOT of time together as teammates and go through the peaks and valleys on and off the court at a pivotal point in your growth as a young adult. We spent a lot of time with our men's team as well, and to this day, I keep in touch with Ramses Kelly and Derek Amalbert, who were '91 grads on the men's hoops team. So proud of both of them then and now!"

Hodgdon added:

"Bridget Belgiovine, G’87, then an assistant AD and mentor, helped me after I tore my ACL as a freshman. Her encouragement, along with support from upperclassmen, led me to try out for field hockey, where Dottie Potter Zenaty ‘65 shaped me as an athlete and person. That experience that summer and fall transformed my sophomore basketball season and beyond.

The "Spirit, Mind, and Body" mantra from SC remains a guiding principle for me, helping me face challenges with strength, grace, and humility. "Looking back, 31 years as a Division I and Division III college coach (12 years as an assistant; 19 as a head coach) was an incredible blessing. I’m so grateful for each of the communities I worked with and the student-athletes who impacted my life."

(Written by Alumni Relations Graduate Assistant, Alexis Castro, G'25)

Alumni to be! Thank you Riley Hanover '26 for sharing this photo with classmates Shane Donohue '26 and Trevor Robbins '26. The trio are currently in Rimini, Italy studying at Lorenzo de Medici Institute. Riley is a part of the Alumni Relations student staff having worked Reunion and Homecoming.

SC Alumni in the Classroom - Thank you to University of Massachusetts-Amherst Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford, G'03, who returned to campus to speak to Dr. Jill Kochanek's graduate level athletic administration students. A graduate of SC's athletic administration program himself, Bamford touched upon the importance of networking, the power of the Springfield College network and surrounding yourself with good people. Other keys to success he shared include being extremely organized, demonstrating a strong and selfless work ethic and possessing strong communications skills, including the ability to manage conflict. It is always wonderful to welcome our alumni back to Alden Street!

Adam Smith, G'12, has been named 2024 "International President's Premier" - Top 1% of 100,000+ agents globally for Coldwell Banker Realty.

Jenny Holland '85, Eileen Lohner '85 and Nancy Hanlon '75 enjoyed a cruise together to Nassaue, The Bahamas. Getting together or traveling with friends? Send your photos to alumni@springfieldcollege.edu.

Congratulations to Devin Biscaha '14 and Springfield College wrestling head coach Jason Holder, PhD '17, who were inducted into the New England Wrestling Association Hall of Fame during Dual Meet Championships held at Johnson & Wales University. Biscaha is Springfield College's first Division III National Champion. Currently in his 14th season, Holder was Biscaha's collegiate coach.

Dave Masters '93 recently retired from coaching football at Simsbury (CT) High School. Masters coached football in Connecticut for 32 years. He started at Hall High School in West Hartford (CT) before 22 years at Simsbury H.S., the last ten as the head coach. Masters continues to teach physical education in West Hartford and will take over as head golf coach at Hall High School for the fall of 2025.

In addition, Masters was named the 2024 Coach of the Year for the National Football Foundation - Northern Connecticut Chapter.

Glenn Patton '64, G'65, wrote to update us on his very successful coaching career. During his senior year at SC, Patton was captain of the swimming team and earned All American honors. He served as a graduate assistant to Coach Red Silvia '34 G'40 the following season. Patton then coached Alfred State College to four consecutive National Junior College Championships and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He went on to coach the men’s swimming team at the University of Iowa in the Big Ten Conference. Glenn coached eleven Olympic swimmers and many Big Ten and National Champions at Iowa. He was inducted into the University of Iowa Hall of Fame in 2010. Administratively, Patton served as President of the National Junior College Swimming Coaches Association and also as President of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.

On February 13, 2025 at the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy Awards Ceremony, two "Sons of Springfield" were honored. Jim Zachazewski '77, PT, DPT, ATC, received the Ron Peyton Lifetime Achievement Award. William "Sandy" Quillen '73, PT, DPT, PhD, FACSM, was inducted into the American Assocation of Sports Physical Therapy Hall of Fame having received the Peyton Award in 2022. Jim and Sandy would like to extend their sincere thanks and appreciation not only to Springfield College, but especially to their faculty mentors Sherry Shaw '51, Bob Bergquist '65, G'69, and Charlie Redmond '68, G'71.

Lisa Jo Frech '81 is proud to announce her recently published book titled The Pearly Gates, Before and After. It's a collection of 42 short stories from some of her many adventures throughout her life, both here and abroad, on land and on water. The stories range from mountain climbing in the Pacific Northwest to sailing in the West Indies, and from kayaking in the San Juan Islands to rail passage through Yugoslavia. Lisa Jo includes observations about culture and climate change. Lisa Jo was recently profiled in an article in the East Oregonian newspaper.

Reviews of Lisa Jo's writing has been said to be so descriptive that readers feel like they're with her on the adventure. She also has been told that because of the nature of these short stories, they're perfect to read at bedtime after a day of rough news.

Abigail Fine '04 is the Founder and Director of A Fine Dance Studio in Needham, Mass. Celebrating 16 years in business with 900 students and 12 faculty, Fine is continuing her life mission of "bridging the gap between art and athletics."

Josh Charpentier '08 is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of MAP Academy, a public charter high school in Plymouth, Mass. The philosophy of MAP Academy is to ensure that every student, no matter their life circumstances, is encouraged to tap into their unique strengths as individuals and supported and re-engaged through this alternative educational process. He is the former Director of Alternative Programs for the Plymouth Public Schools.

Brooke Kessler '02 is a Physical Education Instructor with the Newark Public Schools.

LaToya Franklin '07 earned a new certification: Project Management Certificate from Cornell University.

Bryan Mathaisel Jr. '09 is starting a new position as Director and Asset Owner - Data Science at The Hartford.

James Hennin '14 G'15 is transitioning into a new role as Account Executive at NinjaOne.

Kelsi Lynde '15 has been named Co Director at SKY Campus happiness.

Jillian Kelley '16 has stepped into the role of Associate Director of Prevention and Education at the College of the Holy Cross after 3 1/2 years as Assistant Director.

Douglas Davenport '17, G'20, has accepted a new position as Recreation Coordinator for Montgomery County Recreation in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Joseph Asselin, G'19, is starting a new position as an Occupational Therapist at the U.S. Department of the Army.

Evan Metzger '22 has accepted a position as a Biomechanics Fellow with the Minnesota Twins. In this role, he'll collaborate with the sports science team to transform cutting-edge data and research into actionable strategies that drive player performance, health and development. Evan will be based at the Twins' spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida.

Lucas Yash '24 will be joining the Red Sox organization this spring with the Game Events and Services Department.