Following Dr. Ramon S. Torrecilha’s start as president earlier this year, key staff members have been added to the President’s Cabinet, joining vice presidents Marsha Marotta, Ph.D. and Carlton Pickron, Ed.D. The following cabinet members began their roles this summer.
Erica Broman, Ed.D.
Vice President, Institutional Advancement
Dr. Broman oversees all areas of Advancement, Alumni, and University Relations and serves as the executive director of the Westfield State University Foundation, Inc. She is also responsible for building internal and external relationships that will support the University’s outreach efforts and for representing the University to alumni, friends, civic, business, and philanthropic leaders.
Dr. Broman served as executive director of the Holyoke Community College Foundation for more than 15 years. Under her leadership, the Foundation had accrued the largest endowment of any community college in the state, secured two $1 million gifts from alumni, and oversaw the awarding of more than 200 endowed scholarships annually.
Diane Prusank, Ph.D.
Chief of Staff
Dr. Prusank will serve as the President’s primary liaison with university, government, and community leadership on strategic and operational matters. She will provide integrated policy analysis and strategic consultation to the President, and at the President’s request, to the leadership team, on major issues affecting the University.
Dr. Prusank served as interim dean of Undergraduate Studies at Westfield State since July 2015. In this role, she worked with department chairs, faculty, and staff to enhance student retention and degree completion activities. She started working at Westfield State in 2007 as a faculty member in the Department of Communication, and has also held multipleadministrative roles.
Stephen Taksar
Vice President, Administration and Finance
Mr. Taksar serves as the University’s chief financial officer and oversees a range of administrative facilities, technology, and business operations that support the University and facilitate the advancement of the academic mission.
Since 2008, Mr. Taksar served as vice president of Administration and Finance at Plymouth State University (New Hampshire) where he was responsible for financial operations and reporting, budgeting, informational technology, physical plant and capital planning, and other administrative functions.
Tricia Oliver
Director, Campus Communication
Ms. Oliver is a seasoned communications professional with 20 years of public relations experience. She has focused her career most recently in higher education, serving as the director of College Relations for Anna Maria College.
At Anna Maria, Ms. Oliver managed the communication associated with the selection of a new president, oversaw the launch of a new website, solidified the college’s social media presence, and enhanced communication with internal and external stakeholders.
In addition to developing and driving Anna Maria’s public relations and marketing communication plans, Oliver served as the liaison between the college and the Worcester area business community.
