Springfield College Alumni News, Notes and Accomplishments

In this section, you will find alumni updates submitted June 30, 2024 through July 31, 2024. Thanks for sharing your news! Please direct any future submissions to alumni@springfield.edu.

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

We are always ready to celebrate a Springfield College love story, especially when the proposal happens on campus! Congratulations to Matthew Jung '21 and his fiancée Amanda Molle '21 who said “yes” behind Alumni Hall . Bonus memory? Having their mentor, retired professor Bob Accorsi G'80, and his wife Deb Ethier Accorsi '82 present to witness the moment.

Congratulations to Dakota Kelly '18, DPT '20, and Matthew Ferreira '16, who were married on June 15, 2024. We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

Congratulations are also in order for Carolynn Bedell '20, G'22 PA-C, and Clarke Robinson '19 (EMSM), who met at Springfield College and were married on May 31, 2024.

Be sure to send your wedding photos to alumni@springfieldcollege.edu.

Unexpected visitors at the Alumni House make our day! It was so wonderful reuniting recently with doctoral alum Kelvin Phan and Alumni Council member Christie Gonzalez-Toro, PhD '17, who were in town celebrating a fellow classmate's wedding.

Tom Goodman '75 and his wife Michelle recently traveled to Massachusetts from their home state of Florida to visit family, and we love that the Alumni House was one of their “must see” stops while on vacation. It’s always so fun to see alumni look through their old yearbook and take a trip down nostalgia lane while they are here.

Also stopping by the Alumni House this month was Deron Grabel '91. Grabel is an Assistant Professor of Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management at Southern Connecticut State University. He was in the area to observe one of his students and decided to combine his trip to Western Massachusetts with a visit to campus.

Please do not hesitate to stop by the Alumni House, located at 258 Middlesex Street, to visit if you are in the area!

Congratulations to Charley Casserly '71, G'72, who was recently inducted into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame. Starting as an unpaid intern with the Washington football team, Casserly later held numerous positions with the team including scout, assistant general manager, and general manager. He was part of three Super Bowl Championships during his tenure.

He later went on to serve as general manager of the Houston Texans, in addition to a radio and television broadcast career. Casserly is a recipient of the Springfield College Distinguished Alumnus Award, and a member of the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2005, he received an Honorary Doctor of Humanics.

Springfield College Associate Director for Alumni Relations Maria D'Agostino Crawford '91, recently attended the Alumni Career Services Network annual conference in Worcester, Mass. ACSN hosted a panel discussion at Polar Park, home of the Worcester Red Sox, featuring Timothy P. Murray, President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. Murray was joined by representatives from Beacon Hill Staffing Group, SimpliSafe and Moderna.

Key takeaways:

*"Don't underestimate the power of networking and referrals."

*"Be sure to leverage the power of connections."

*"Always be sure to send a thank you note."

Great advice, even as we live in such a digital world. "I am so proud to represent Springfield College where we are all about personal connections," stated D'Agostino Crawford.

Diane Cavaliere '85 retired on July 1, 2024 after 38 years of teaching Physical Education in Southington, Conn.

"My years at SC from 1981-1985 led me to my outstanding career and the training I received led me to enrich all the hundreds of students with my knowledge and skills. I had been teaching so long that in my last 10 years, I started teaching children whose parents I had as students," explained Cavaliere.

Congrats Diane on a great career and enjoy retirement!

Kaleigh Putnam, G'22, was named the Assistant Director of Championships and Governance for the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). Previously, Putnam served as the Assistant Director of Content and Administration for the America East Conference and as an Athletic Administration Graduate Associate at Springfield College.

Max Cummings '24 recently volunteered for the U.S. Senior Open in Newport, Rhode Island. Cummings was in charge of crowd control and overseeing ball locations throughout the tournament.

Springfield College retired professor and coach Joel B. Dearing '79 has a new book that has been published called Integrity Switch.

The book is presented as a leadership training guide targeting aspiring, developing, and emerging leaders. Dearing draws from an entire career, where leadership was required, and shares the lessons learned. Coach D’s experiences as a collegiate coach, athletic administrator, college professor, and small business owner come to life with a special blend of stories, challenges confronted, and his own leadership training tools.

At left, Andree Acampora '87, G'89, Stephanie Spolzino '87, Alisha Miner Gulino '06, and Blake Gulino '05 met at Bruce & Johnson’s Safe Harbor Marina in Branford, Conn.

Derek W. Doolittle, G'22, has been promoted to General Manager of the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Some of the best conversations happen over a meal, especially when you’re surrounded by fellow alumni for a dinner designed by an award-winning chef, in a space as ethereal as the Herb Lyceum in Groton, Mass.

Many thanks to David Gilson '72, G'73, for hosting this alumni gathering on July 25 at your beautiful property, and to Dave Boyle '83 for offering a wine pairing for each farm-to-table dish.

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Paul McCloskey '07, G'08, is starting a new position as Vice President of Business Development at Vantage Healthcare.

Jeffrey Bartlett '08 attended the 2024 Best Practices in Health & Physical Education Conference in Steven's Point, Wisconsin. Bartlet led a a pre-conference workshop, "Level Up to Skills-Based Health" and a conference breakout session "No False Starts, A Clean Start for Every Health Class."

Samantha Scott '11, PhD '22, is starting a new position as Assistant Professor of Athletic Training at Springfield College.

Lora Creamer Burckhard '12 announced she is starting a new position as HR Business Partner at Array Technologies.

Berkshire Heart and Mind Therapy announced that Executive Director and CEO, Colleen Reardon Passetto, G'15, has been elected to represent Berkshire County (MA) as the NASW Delegate Assembly Representative for Berkshire County.

Nicholas Ruiz '18 is starting a new position as Pricing Governance Associate at Citi.

Alex Maring '21, G'23, has been named Head Athletic Trainer of the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.

Simao Cabral '22 has been promoted to Analyst on the Personal Insurance California Team at Travelers.

Colin Mediate '22, G'24, has accepted a physical education teaching position at Riverfield Elementary School in Fairfield, CT.

Nathan Fontaine, G'24, is starting a new position as Residence Director at Ithaca College.

Katie Kingsley '24 shared she has been hired as Administrative Assistant Senior Representative at Evernorth Health Services.

Jeffrey Madeia '24 has been hired as Lead Event Manager at CO-OP Vale Berlin.

This fall, Kyle Ouillette '24 will be attending Vermont State University as a graduate assistant coach (outside linebackers) and will be pursuing a master's degree in Athletic Leadership.