1980s
Rose Cardarelli, Ed.D '81
served as a panelist at the Global Women Leadership Summit & Impact Award Ceremony. Her panel focused on Global Women Leadership: Advancing SDGs Toward 2030. The event was hosted by the World Women Organization. Cardarelli is Founder/CEO of the International NGO Education for All Coalition, Rotary International Representative and Principal Representative to UNICEF & UN North America.2000s
Mary E. Gallant-Cote '02
has been nominated by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey to serve as an Associate Justice of the Juvenile Court. She currently serves as Clerk Magistrate for the Berkshire County Juvenile Courts, a position she has held since June 2022. From 2016-2022, Attorney Gallant-Cote served as Assistant Regional Legal Counsel in the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, where she managed and litigated a substantial caseload of care and protection matters and provided legal guidance to agency staff on complex child welfare issues. From 2009 to 2016, she was the owner and sole practitioner of the Law Offices of Mary Gallant-Cote in Springfield, where her practice focused on representing clients in a broad range of civil and criminal matters in the Probate and Family, Juvenile, and District Courts in Western and Central Massachusetts. Gallant-Cote was a member of Fitchburg State's first cohort of Moot Court participants and since graduation has served as both an assistant coach for Fitchburg State students and as a judge for Moot Court competitions hosted on campus.
2010s
Shannon K. Fitzgerald '14
has been selected by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as the 2026 ACSM Certified Professional of the Year. This distinguished award recognizes an outstanding ACSM certified professional who has made exceptional contributions to advancing the health, well-being, and quality of life of individuals and communities through exercise science and clinical practice. Fitzgerald is a clinical exercise physiologist and registered nurse serving at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Manchester, New Hampshire and has been selected for her visionary leadership and impactful innovations in expanding access to rehabilitation services. “We’re not defined by one role or one season of life,” Fitzgerald said. “Life and wellness aren’t about perfection; they are about persistence and possibility. It’s a privilege to witness the resilience of my patients every day, and an even greater privilege to be a part of a profession that helps people find their way back to themselves.” Fitzgerald received her bachelor of science in Exercise Science from Fitchburg State.
Stephen M. Hogue, Jr. '16
was a volunteer at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Out of the 18,000 volunteers, he was one of only 2,000 non-Italian people selected. When he applied he only had a 13% chance of being chosen. His interest in the Olympics was sparked when he attended a figure skating event with his grandmother during the 2002 Salt Lake City games. He was stationed in the figure skating arena, where he watched Team USA skate to gold and was present for the medal ceremony. He was also on duty during many of the short track speed skating events. Along with volunteering, he was able to attend the Opening Ceremonies and built up an impressive pin collection. At any Olympic games, pins are like currency. Hogue had his own pins made so he would have something to trade. He came away with hundreds of pins from all different countries, sponsors and individual athletes.2020s
Jalil A. Johnson '24
has been appointed by Behavioral Health Network, Inc. as Senior Vice President overseeing the organization's Care Management Division, Developmental Services Division, and Population Health and Organizational Quality. Prior to joining BHN, Dr. Johnson served as Senior Vice President at the Center for Human Development (CHD), where he led efforts to integrate clinical operations and managed large multidisciplinary teams. Johnson received his MBA in Healthcare Administration.