10 years. 10 University success stories.
Shannon Broderick’ 04
Major: General Science
Current Role: Coordinator of Student Conduct, Assistant Director Student Affairs, Westfield State University
I am the discipline officer for Westfield State University, and I work with students who find themselves in a position where they have allegedly violated one or more of the University’s policies. My role is to work with them through a process, educate them and hold them accountable, if necessary, for their decisions.
I do what I do because I enjoy seeing students learn and grow, and I love to see the passion they have for what they believe in. On a daily basis, I do not always get to see the best in our students or deliver the best news. However, I do get to have great conversations with our students, and I listen to them. It’s rewarding for me to see students feeling appreciated for voicing their opinions.
I started my career at Westfield State as a first-year student in 2000, becoming involved with Residential Life and working as an orientation leader and resident assistant. These student leadership roles inspired me to pursue a career in higher education. I have been in my current role since fall 2012. Many individuals at the University have believed in my abilities and have supported me through my undergraduate work and now in my professional role.
Ashley Zolenski ’05
Major: Communication
Current Role: Strategic Development Officer, Suffolk University, Boston
My role is to fundraise for the Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University, which involves meeting alumni and building relationships with them to garner their feedback, partnership and support. I wanted a career that allowed me to help others have a great college experience, so I love that my job bolsters students.
My involvement with fundraising actually started at Westfield State, where I participated in Class Council and Student Government and raised money for our class and area nonprofits. I started my career at Boston Medical Center as a development associate and worked with corporations such as Zipcar, Citibank and the Hershey Company to raise money and build partnerships for the hospital. My hope is to one day run my own fundraising department at a college or university and become a part-time professor teaching nonprofit management.
My time at Westfield State helped me become a more confident person. The Communication program helped to prepare me because I took public speaking, writing and public relations courses, the skills that help me in my job today. I also do fundraising as part of the Boston Marathon. For the past seven years, I have run the marathon for the Cancer Fund at Boston Medical Center, raising more than $75,000 for cancer patients who need treatment and support.
Matthew Curren ’06
Major/Minor: Movement Science/Sports Medicine
Current Role: Vice President, Falcon Consulting Group, Chicago, Ill.
Specifically focused on the revenue and financial throughput of health care provider organizations, I focus on technology-enabled transformation to assist my clients in the development of more efficient business operating models. I find the business of health care incredibly interesting. It is awesome to help hospitals and provider organizations balance the ever-shrinking financial margins of business with the pressure and desire to provide a higher level of clinical care. I feel as though by improving the performance of the organizations I work with, I also have a hand in improving the delivery of care they are able to provide—the ultimate win-win!
After graduating from Westfield State, I had a very different path in mind. I was accepted to many post-graduate programs to become a physician, but instead I earned a master’s degree in health policy and management at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. Inspired by Michael Filas, who told us during senior convocation to continuously advance ourselves cognitively and push ourselves to remain fulfilled in our work, I joined Deloitte Consulting to expose myself to high-level issues and decision making, and this is where my career took flight.
I learned how to learn at Westfield State, and I can never repay faculty and staff enough for teaching me how to question, analyze, react to and learn from any situation I come across.
Ryan O’Connell ’07
Major/Minor: Regional Planning/Spanish and Geographic Information Systems
Current Role: Assistant Director of Student Life, and the International and Exchange Student Advisor at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
I assist our international students in navigating the immigration process to secure a visa to attend our institution. I’m also currently building institutional policy on faculty-led, short-term courses with a travel component, as well as seeking application to become a program sponsor for exchange visitors with the U.S. Department of State.
I do what I do almost entirely because of the support and dedication shown to me by the Geography and Regional Planning faculty and many of the administrators on Westfield State’s campus. I came up through the ranks of Student Affairs at the University in Residential Life and New Student Orientation, as well as through Student Government, leading to my first professional position in residential life at a State University of New York institution. I jumped at the chance a year and a half later to return to Westfield State to work again for Residential Life and Orientation in a professional capacity.
In 10 years, I hope to be at the top of my game in the field of international student and scholar service advising, or changing careers altogether and opening a retail specialty food store, showcasing my other passion—crafting amazing food.
Jessica (Torone) Kennedy ’08, M’10
Major/Minor:Bachelor’s in English Literature and Secondary Education/
Minor in Music; and a Master’s in English Literature
Current Role: Assistant Principal, South Middle School, Westfield
I work with students on significant or repetitive disciplinary issues as well as academics. I also serve as an instructional leader, and I also work with teachers planning lessons, giving feedback and sometimes even co-teaching.
My inspiration is to make a difference. I loved having my own classroom and team, and working with students. However, I wanted to be able to take more time to observe teachers, give feedback, help other teachers plan, and work on specific “tough” student cases to really move them forward, and I couldn’t do that within my classroom. In 10 years, I hope to be a principal of a middle school.
Some of my favorite moments are when a teacher or guidance counselor lets me know that a failing student is now passing, or a student notorious for getting in trouble had an awesome week.
Westfield State gave me the skills to follow my career and the freedom to truly explore anything. I was challenged to become a stronger thinker and writer. I would come back to Westfield State
in a heartbeat.
Ali Rheaume ’09
Major: Movement Science and Physical Education
Current Role: K through 3 Physical Educator at Armstrong Elementary School in Westborough
In addition to teaching, I also coach field hockey and track and field at Westborough High School. I’m also a Zumba instructor and snowshoe guide for Eastern Mountain Sports.
My inspiration is to see children excited about doing physical activity and interested in living a healthy lifestyle. Recognizing how much of an impact I have on the development and drive of young students motivates me to not just have them run around a gym but to teach them how and why they should be active, healthy, fair, fun and safe. My job is about molding students into the best children they can be, so they grow up confident, happy, healthy and motivated.
In 10 more years, I plan to be right where I am—teaching elementary physical education—in bigger and better ways.
I co-teach at my school with Molly Brogan ’11. We both also serve on our state’s Physical Education Professional Organization board along with two additional alumni and professors. I appreciate the hard work that the Movement Science Department at Westfield State pushed me through because it prepared me to walk confidently along my career path.
Monet Crudup ’10
Major: English
Current Role: Owner, The Hot Chocolate Store in New Orleans, La.
I own an adult retail store in the French corner of New Orleans and also make cakes and chocolates. I give people a taste of debauchery in the freedom of New Orleans, and the items I sell in my shop work very well for bachelor/bachelorette parties or for adults looking for a night of fun or pure laughter.
In 10 years, I hope to expand my store and website brand, and I realize it’s all coming from my English degree; I’m educating people and giving them new energy, and I hope to start a magazine.
I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the people of Westfield State. I found a place that I love that loved me back. The college experience that I got at Westfield State is unprecedented.
Jessica Goheen ’11
Majors: Social Work, Spanish, and Minor in Psychology.
Current Role: In December 2014, I graduated from the Master’s in Clinical Social Work program at Smith College and now work as an Outpatient Clinician at the Carson Center for Human Services in Westfield
As an outpatient clinician, I provide psychotherapy and counseling to children and youth in need in an office-based setting.
I became interested in social work because I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts, where a high number of people were abusing and/or dependent on drugs and alcohol, particularly prescription pain killers and heroin. I wanted to become a substance abuse counselor, but upon entering the field, I realized I needed to do my own work around my relationship to those struggling with addiction and my own relationship with substances. I also thought that with my BSW, I would be all set to do the kind of work I wanted to do, and shortly into my work as a case manager at a nonprofit agency in Springfield, New North Citizens’ Council, Inc., I realized that I would need to go back to school to become a therapist if I wanted to be able to help people on a deeper, long-term level.
The professors at Westfield State, especially Enrique Morales-Diaz in the Spanish Department, and Rose Sullivan and Nora Padykula in the Social Work Department, really helped to support me in building a foundation for my career as a social worker, and helped me to grow as a person.
In 10 years, I hope to have obtained Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker status and have opened my own private practice.
Joshua A. Garcia ’08, M’12
Major/Minor: Psychology/Regional Planning; Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Management
Current Role: Municipal Services Coordinator for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in Springfield
My role is to develop and maintain shared municipal service opportunities that focus on activities that can save public funds and/or enhance operational efficiency by utilizing collaborative partnerships among our 43 member communities. This includes conducting project management and providing technical assistance for communities that look to maximize their resources by sharing specific municipal functions across city/town borders. I do what I do to contribute to our community and region to ensure that my generation leaves behind a healthy and stable economy for our next generations.
In addition to my professional work, I am growing a nonprofit community development corporation called Nueva Esperanza, Inc. in Holyoke. Nueva Esperanza, Inc. was established in 1982 and has been responsible for many community development initiatives in the city. It is my hope that in 10 years, we can put the organization back on its feet and do housing and economic development work in Holyoke.
Westfield State gave me the tools that allow me to accomplish my career goals.
Amanda Putnam ’13
Major/Minor: Art with a concentration in Art Education
Current Role: Student, Academy of Art in San Francisco, Calif., earning a Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA) in Traditional Children’s Book Illustration
My mother Lori and my best friend, Emilee Gagnon, both encouraged me to pursue an MFA. I am halfway through my degree, and I am now applying the principles I have learned to my work, which make it much better and more professional.
In 10 years, I hope to teach at a prestigious college and be a well-known children’s book illustrator. I hope to work with many authors while making a name for myself, and to publish my own stories someday. Who knows, with the connections I have established thus far, maybe my skills will be used with big moviemakers like Disney and Pixar.
I am happy to be pursuing my MFA right out of Westfield State. Being able to focus on the thing I want to do for the rest of my life is amazing. I am growing as an individual and an artist, and I’m happy I’m doing this now rather than starting a job right away. Westfield State helped me to see what I truly wanted to pursue. You can visit me at amandaputnam.blogspot.com. n
