Report and Impact on Giving

Report on Giving

Please note that the annual report on giving reflects gifts made to the Fitchburg State University Foundation, Inc. between July 1 and June 30. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of our information, if you see an error, please let us know and we can make the correction on the webpage. For questions or comments please contact:

Kelly Sylvia '03, '11,
Director of Donor Relations
Fitchburg State University
160 Pearl St
Fitchburg, MA 01420
978.665.4558 or ksylvia2@fitchburgstate.edu

Giving Societies

The Thompson Hall Society is the only lifetime society of the Fitchburg State University Foundation, Inc. All other societies are based on annual giving during the fiscal year.

*deceased

A Hand Up Charitable Foundation
Abbott Laboratories Fund
Academic Partnerships
Aetna Foundation, Inc.
Arbella Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Arnold Worldwide
Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, Inc
Avantor Sciences Foundation
Benevity, Inc.
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Carol Mulloy Cuttle Foundation, Inc.
Chartwells College and University Dining Services
ChemDesign Corp.
Clementi Family Charitable Trust
CohnReznick LLP
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employees Charitable Campaign
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts
Congregation Agudas Achim
Congress Asset Management
Constance S. Cormier and Robert E. Cormier Trust
Data Guide Cable Corp.
Davis Educational Foundation
DECCO
DiNinno Family Dental
Douglas and Isabelle Crocker Foundation
Dunkin Donuts
Eaton Vance Investment Counsel
EnerNOC
Enterasys Networks
Enterprise Bank and Trust
Epsilon Beta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau
Estate of Amelia Gallucci-Cirio
Estate of Dr. Elaine Marieb
Estate of Helen Hornsey
Estate of Leo V. Gittzus
Estate of Marcia A Palo
Estate of Marilyn M Pula
Estate of Mary Ann Zimmerman
Estate of Virginia A. Gaffey
Estate of Wallace E. Holznagel
Fairlawn Foundation
Family Federal Savings
Fidelity Bank
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation
Fitchburg Mutual Insurance Co.
Follett Higher Education Group
Foster-Healey Real Estate
George I. Alden Trust
Good Samaritan Inc.
Greater Worcester Community Foundation
IC Federal Credit Union
Jabil Healthcare
James Family Charitable Fund
Leominster Credit Union
Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation
Marcia A. Palo Trust
Mary F. and Mary Frances Burnham Trust
Massachusetts Cultural Council
Massachusetts Development Finance Agency
Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities
Merrimack Education Center
MetLife Foundation
Microsoft Corporation
Monique Knowlton Collection
Montuori Oil Co.
Murphy Family Foundation
Nashoba Valley Community Healthcare
New England Foundation for the Arts, Inc.
Newman Center
Northern Trust
Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. Charitable Fund
Primavera Systems, Inc.
Random House Children's Books
Richard and Linda Brooks Foundation
Rollstone Bank and Trust
Sentinel & Enterprise
Slattery's Restaurant and Bar
Solid as a Rock Foundation
Sterilite Corp.
Technographics, Inc.
The Donald and Karen Irving Charitable Fund
The George R. Wallace Foundation
The Knapp Foundation, Inc.
The Scott and Susan Bentley Fund
Tonkin Realty Limited Partnership
UMass HealthAlliance Clinton Hospital
United Way of North Central MA, Inc.
Unitil
Verizon
Visiting Nursing Association Trust
W E Aubuchon Co.
Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc.
WEIM Radio
WICN Public Radio
Worcester Magazine
Worcester Publishing Ltd
Workers' Credit Union
WPKZ Radio
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Rose Anne Addorisio '63, '67
Cheryl A. (Craven) Ansin '96
Kenneth S. Ansin
Ronald M. Ansin
Robert '67, '70 and Jeanne (Amadio) Antonucci '73, '78
Louise S. Appell
Lynn Barrieau '92
Thomas and Arlene (Bonitz) Bentley '52*
Barry J. and M. Therese Bentley
Gregory S. and Caroline M. Bentley
Keith A. and Rene Bentley
Barry J. and  M. Therese Bentley
Raymond B. and Therese G. Bentley
Dorothy Boisvert
Stephen Boisvert
Louise Botica
Peter and Leslie Bovenzi
J.S. Bradbury '68 and Elizabeth Hawk
Richard and Helen (Kelley) Brockelman '56
Eileen M. Budri '71
Harry E. '59* and Norma (Hadd) Butterfield '42*
Joseph '14, '14 and Linda (Barnicle) Byrne '68, '70
John '71 and Lynn Callinan
David Celuzza '71 and Donna Hand-Celuzza '76
Robert Champlin
Stephen '67 and Ann Chapdelaine
Anna Maria Clementi
John and Brigita Clementi
Ronald P. Colbert '76, '80
Martin and Kathleen Connors
William* and Roberta (Fitzmaurice) Connors '63*
Tanya M. Hoos Crowley '21 and Anthony A. Crowley '95, '21
William F. Cuddy '74
A. Wallace '43* and Mary S. Cunningham
Leah M. Dearden '28*
David W. '67* and Carol Dik
Nicholas '75 and Donna (Geneva) DiNinno '75
Dennis and Cheryl Donahue
Ethel P. (Mandrus) Donahue '41*
Paul J. Donahue
E. Thomas '70 and Joanne (Liatsis) Donnelly '80
Louise I. Doyle*
David P. Driscoll '55
William J. '42* and Kathryn Groves*
Mary-Beth Fafard '67
Michael '71 and Pamela Fiorentino
Richard Fisk
John W. and Joan (Brissette) Flynn '65
Katherine Flynn '57*
Scott W. and Sarah Foster
Gloria M. Francesconi '53
Robert G. '82 and Deborah A. (Matson) Gallagher '83
Sean J. Gallagher and Carol Vittorioso
James M. Geary '78
A. Andre* and  Lina L. (Grammont) Gelinas '24*
Charles A. and Janis A. (Pallotta) Gelinas '76
Louis P. Gelinas
Paul F. Gelinas '84
John J. '42 and Rebecca Gemma
Richard Gilbert
Rosemarie Giovino
Leo V. Gittzus '40*
Alice (Gill) Goss '33*
John L.* and Corrie Grado
Eugene '81 and Sharon Gray
Maria R. Grigorieff
Walter F. Harrod '40*
Elizabeth M. Haskins*
Hugh D. Hawkins
William and Roberta (Lunderville) Hayden '87
Frank W. Haydu
Richard Healey
Christopher P. '91, '07 and Melissa Hendry '14
John F. and Patricia A. Hess '94*
Mary (Gagnon) Hills '40*
Wallace E. Holznagel '94*
Leonard and Trudy Howard '44*
Donald R. '72, '79 and Karen Irving '90
John '63, '68 and Sheila Jalutkewicz
Patricia (Barbaresi) James '58
Steven P. James
Mathew Jared
Jeanne M. Joyal '53
Thomas  Kirklauskas '69
Glenn '81 and Jean (Beauregard) Knowlton '82
Anand Krishnamurthy
Marc and Michelle LaFrance
Richard D. '72 and Janet (Hunt) Lavoie '72
Thomas '86 and Mary Lynn Leary '85
Donald and Joan Lightfoot
Larry and Kristin (Anderson) Link '85
Gregg P. Lisciotti
Mary Lisi
Richard '91 and Brenda Lombardozzi
Fran Ludwig
Paul R. '81 and Terry Maguire
John F. '69 and Mary A. Malloy
Gerard C.* and Nadine Martel
Aldo J. and Anna R. (Guglielmi) Mazzaferro '77*
Leo F. '51 and Patricia (Lilly) McManus '51
Randy Meech '97
Anthony and Debbie Mercadante
Nicholas D.* and Frances M. (Posco) Mercadante '53*
Carol A. (Cavaioli) Millette '73, '78
Michael E. and Janet Montuori '75
Thomas '82 and Maria Gracia Morrissey
Richard and Ann Murphy
David Nickless and Deborah Phillips
Charles E. '62 and Sharon V.(Gates) O'Connor '65
John E. '43* and Marjorie (Killelea) O'Neil '43
Marcia A. Palo '66
Anthony Pasqualone
Ronald Petrunoff
Anthony * '48, '49 and Florence Polito '50*
Robert '72, '75 and Catherine (Weisse) Portrie '74
Kenneth Posco
Marilyn (Miller) Pula '53
Jerrold Rosen '59, '62
Alden H.J. Sector '52*
Robert A.* '71 and Judith A. (Wagner) Seguin '70, '83
Robert M.* Virginia (Madden) Shepard '58, '63
Ruth B. Shepherd*
Alan Silverman
Steven Silverman
Todd Smith
Albert N.* and Elizabeth R. Stone
Daniel J. '41* and Elizabeth K. Sullivan
Sheila R. Sykes
Anne C. (Lioce) Tardanico '77, '86
Phillip '57* and Anne C. (Lioce) Tardanico '77
Jim '76, '81 and Gail (George) Todd '74, '80
Dorothy (Holmes) Toporeck '27*
Frank R. '69, '72 and Joan (McMillan) Trocki '70
Paul E. Troxell '82
Edward T. and Linda M. Vitone
Sean J. Gallagher and Carol Vittorioso
Shirley A. Wagner
Edward and Barbara A. (O'Connor) Wilson '80
Michael Woodson
Samuel and Nancy (Cole) Yee
Vic '85 and Roseann (Grady) Zelny '84
Elliott and Michele Zide
Anna (Hyland) Zimmerman '38*
Mary Ann Zimmerman

Academic Partnerships
Chartwells College and University Dining Services
Clementi Family Charitable Trust
Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts
Congress Asset Management
Douglas and Isabelle Crocker Foundation
Estate of Marcia A Palo
Estate of Marilyn M Pula
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation
James Family Charitable Fund
Mary F. and Mary Frances Burnham Trust
Rollstone Bank and Trust
Sterilite Corp.
The George R. Wallace Foundation
Unitil
<>
Lynn Barrieau '92
Stephen Boisvert
J.S. Bradbury '68 and Elizabeth Hawk
Eileen M. Budri '71
Anna Maria Clementi
William F. Cuddy '74
Paul J. Donahue
Tom Foltz
James M. Geary '78
Richard Gilbert
Donald R. '72, '79 and Karen Irving '90
Steven P. James
Thomas  Kirklauskas '69
Anand Krishnamurthy
Jason Long '02
Thomas '82 and Maria Gracia Morrissey
Todd Smith
Jim '76, '81 and Gail (George) Todd '74, '80
Victoria Trauscht
Frank R. '69, '72 and Joan (McMillan) Trocki '70
Edward and Barbara A. (O'Connor) Wilson '80

Benevity, Inc.
Caveney Insurance Group
DiNinno Family Dental
Eficens Systems, Inc.
John Page Electric, Inc.
M&M Trees LLC
Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. Charitable Fund
Prudential Insurance Company of America
Solid As A Rock Foundation
South Airport Shell
United Way of North Central MA, Inc.
Wilson Technologies LLC
<>
Matthew Abrams
Dorothy Boisvert
Robert Brugman and Elizabeth Ayer '77
Edward Caveney '84
Stephen '67 and Ann Chapdelaine
Ronald P. Colbert '76, '80
Martin and Kathleen Connors
Brett Conrad
Carlos and Diane Dimacale
Nicholas '75 and Donna (Geneva) DiNinno '75
Gerard A. Dio '79 and Joan Frances (Bartley) Dio '79
Mary-Beth Fafard '67
John W. and Joan (Brissette) Flynn '65
Gloria M. Francesconi '53
Sean J. Gallagher and Carol Vittorioso
Scott Griggs
John '74 and Susan (D'Eon) Harrington '74, '06
William and Roberta (Lunderville) Hayden '87
John K. Honeycutt '91
John '63, '68* and Sheila Jalutkewicz
Patricia (Barbaresi) James '58
Loretta Joyner
James Kaloyanides
Joseph '75, '81 and Doris (Gaibl) Kraemer '78
Richard S. and Lisa Lapidus
Mary Lisi
Richard '91 and Brenda Lombardozzi
Fran Ludwig
Nadimpalli and Aparna Mahadev
Cammyline A. Mahaga-Ajala
John M. '69, '73 and Joann E. Marion '71, '83
Lorie (Crandall) Martiska '79
Randy Meech '97
John Morocco '77
Mickey '81 and Patricia (Brennan) Natoli '81
Curtis Nikitas '13
Charles E. '62 and Sharon V.(Gates) O'Connor '65
Ronald Petrunoff
Kevin Quirk
Neil J. Rice '77
Brenda Robinson '74, '75
Harold Rosenberg
Robert M.* Virginia (Madden) Shepard '58, '63
Alan Silverman
Steven Silverman
Burr Smith
Annelise Snyder
Carolyn Stimpson
David Tiernan '83
Paul E. Troxell '82
Michael Woodson
Samuel and Nancy (Cole) Yee*
Vic '85 and Roseann (Grady) Zelny '84
Elliott and Michele Zide

Advanced Building System Inc.
D R Hunt Inc.
Haley Ward, Inc.
IC Federal Credit Union
Intelligent Office Interiors
J Nutting Transport Co
Lorden Oil Company
M2R Consulting LLC
Mass Motorcycle School LLC
Parkhurst North LLC
Wilson Language Training Corp.
<>
Rose Anne Addorisio '63, '67
Eric Alitalo '63
Anne Anderson
Robert Azevedo
Laura A. Bayless
Carl Bletzer '84
Brad Brown
John '71 and Lynn Callinan
Lawrence '83 and Karen Capuano
Thomas J. Collins '59
Philip '63 and Sandra (Szczygiel) Connors '63
Gary Cookson
Mark '77 and Claire Coughlan
David Coughlan
Richard and Jean (LaComfora) Crouch '70
Tanya M. Hoos Crowley '21 and Anthony A. Crowley '95, '21
Dana '82 and Sheryl Demers '83
Gary Demetriou
Thomas Dewitt
Christopher Dodd
Patrick '85, '13 and Denise (Driscoll) Donnelly '85
Francis Doyle '75
David Edwards '92
David Elias
Charles Famolore
Steven P. Finer '73, '77
Sean Galaris
William Gaudino
Dennis George
Edward Gibbs
Janet (Hunt) Golan '76
Michelle Goyette '85
Allan Greenman
Christopher P. '91, '07 and Melissa Hendry '14
Mary (O'Keefe) Hoag '63
Marc M. Hoffman '88
Jane Huang
Robert Hunt '00
Richard '73* and Gail Ingemie
Dorothy H. Kelly '66
Donald '85 and Debra (Fountain)  King '85, '21
Dana Kopka
Michael and Sara (Lambe) Barnum '87
Richard D. '72 and Janet (Hunt) Lavoie '72
Mark Leonard '73 and Martha Leck-Leonard '75
Bernard Lee
Russell '82 and Judith Lees '83
Elizabeth (Barbone) Liguori '76
Phil G. and Laura E. (Fidrocki) Lindsay '78, '81
Theodore Lorden
Larissa-Helen Mahaga-Ajala
Mark-Robert Mahaga-Ajala
Mona-Paulina Mahaga-Ajala
Patricia A. Marshall
Michael Miller
Joann Nichols
David Nickless and Deborah Phillips
Jeffrey H. Nutting '81
Elizabeth A. (Cronin) O'Connor '76
Frank M. '93 and Kiki O'Donnell
Stephen '70, '74 and Jean (Leonardi) O'Neil '70
 Robert '72, '75 and Catherine (Weisse) Portrie '74
Larry Purtill '77
Robert '81 and Eileen Quinn
Mark Rice
Dr. and Mrs. Francis J. Roberts Ed.D. 1953
Mrs. Patricia Z. Roberts
Peter S. and Margaret (Membrino) Romano '65
Mark Rucks and Noreen Cleary '81
Ken Sadowsky
Kristie Seekins
William Shea '00, '06
Dalton '63 and Mary Jane (O'Malley) Smart '63
Steve and Elizabeth Swartz
Daniel Tracy
Raymond Tremlett '83
Dustin Turner '10
Andre and Amy (Wangsness) Wehe 
Edward Wilson
Tina (Blanchette) Wilson '90, '97

Prime Zenith Hospitality LLC
Rockwood Design, Inc
Sport Endorse Ltd
Switch Strategic Consulting, LLC
The Parish Of Christ Church
Thibeault Family Rehabiliation Trust
Wells Fargo Foundation
YourCause
<>
Michael Athanasoulas
Elaine Baci Snow '81
Mary E. Baker '99
George '56 and Alice (Kingston) Bauman '57*
Brian P. Berube
Matthew Bleakney
Robert Booth
C.K.H. Born
Sheila Boudreau
Declan Bourke
Jay Bry
Mark '78 and Tara Casavant
James Cataldo
David Celuzza '71 and Donna Hand-Celuzza '76
Christine (Conkling) Chapman '78
Fred Charpentier
Dwaine Chilcot '77
Joseph '79 and Maureen Cimoch
Ilene J. Coddon '88
Keith D'Amelio
Ned B. Daniels '65
Gene '74 and Carolyn (Slowe) DeCamp '74
Lucy Dechene
Thomas DeSensi
Albert Deshler
Joseph Dipietro
John Donohue
John E. Donohue
Irene E. (Niemiec) Ersing '64
John '71 and Mary (Crane) Fahey '90
Kimberly M. Faulds '96
Mark D. Fearer '93
Michael '71 and Pamela Fiorentino
Jennifer Flanagan '04
Cara Florio
Christine M. Forti '85
D.J. and Barbara J. Fortin '72
Robert '84 and Sandra (Dame) Fryc '84
John '89 and Suzanne (Glockner) Garten '90
Linda J. (Rutledge) Gaudette '87
Jacob Gotlieb
Eric A. Gregoire '11
Gary Gumuchian '92
Arthur '73 and Elaine Hall '88
William and Michelle (Thibodeau) Hall '79
Jennifer Hanselman
Larry Hartmann
Frederick A. Henry '84
Dave Hopla
Richard and Naomi (Wetherbee) Howarth '63
John Hurley
Ronald Kapon*
Ron '85 and Karen (Mastico) Kearns '87
Matthew '82 and Barbara Kenslea
Stacia Kirkconnell
Andrew O. Klein
Mr. Gary Labadie
Brian LeBlanc '68, '72
John P. LeBlanc '75
Roderick and Donna (Alfano) Lewin '79
Gary '84 and Heidi Lorden
Patrick '65 and Mary Lowney
Bryan V. Lynch '92
James R. Lynch '80
William Macdonald
Mark Maggio '09
Richard '62 and Ann (Loiselle) Maki '75
Yvonnie Malcolm
Clare Mara Rowland '88
Mark J. Mathis '86
Robert '78, '01 and Jane (Toczek) McCarrick '79
Patricia F. (Camara) McDevitt '63
Philip '80 and  Kathleen (Tremblay) McKay '79
Martin McManus '84
Jannette McMenamy
Frank P. Mercurio
Timothy J. Michalak '14
Stephanie Minister
Michael Mitchell
Howard K. Murphy '68
Lynne M. Murphy '72
Louis Olerio
Anthony '84 and Judith Olson
John P. Page '72
Kimberly Page
Justin '91 and Mary Beth (Brochel) Pallis '91
George '71 and Kathleen Pare
Anil Patel
Linda (Howe) Perrin '67
Sophia Powell
David F. Reid '73
Betty (Richardson) Reid '77
Frank Rich
Charles R. Roberts
Jeanette M. Robichaud '21
Louis M. Romano '68, '71
Ruth (Clark) Russo '53
Robert Rzeznikiewicz '63
David and Jean M. Sacra
Norman '89 and Maura (McCarthy) Sardella '91
Douglas Skillins '86
Anthony Spears '14
Deborah A. (Mallard) Stein '06
Elizabeth Stern
Lena M. (Anzaldi) Storm '57
Stephen J. Swartz '93
Stephen and Kelly (Leary) Sylvia '03, '11
Dan Thomas
John Toto
Anthony Trodella
Gary Weisberg
Gloria (Nowak) Weitzel '73, '83
Robert S. Willard
Carla Wirzburger '70
Richard and Denise (Stevens) Wolf '73
Jeffrey A. Wolfman

John '60 and Loretta (Cullinane) Oliva '60
Anne Olivo '69
John Oneil
William Parks '79
John J. Paul
Richard '74 and Joan (Hession) Paula '73
Thomas and Roberta (Rich) Paulson '62
Paul  Pawlowski '83
Robert C. and Elaine L. (Whitney) Perreault '68
Cheryl Pespisa
Ellen Peterson
Stephen Petty
Andrew J. Phillips '07
Karen Pick
Hyon C. (Yi) Plahm '90
Robert Power
Jennifer Preston
Bertrand L. Proulx '83
Nancy Pucillo '74, '80
Michael '75 and Patricia (odea) Quinn '74, '95
Jignesh Rasania '09
Kara Raymond
Brian '82 and Christine (Gennari) Regan '84
Andrew Richardson '75 and Virginia Grassa '75
Albert R. Rietheimer
Beverly J. Roder
Francis W. Rolinson '67
Robert Rolinson '78
James R. and Melinda (Severson) Rooney '81
Robert Gardula and Diane Rouleau-Gardula '72, '79
Mr. David J. Roy
Paulette Roy
Judith A. Rutelonis '77
Victor M Saavedra
Teresa Sadeghin '70
Charlie Sampson '74, '87
Kyle W. Sargent
Mark D. Sawyer
Roy Scholz
Harry and Helena (Brown) Semerjian '61, '80
James Sharkey '75, '03
Kevin Shea
Maureen (Elder) Shea '54
Richard Shea and Lisa Rothschild Shea
Sonja J. Shearer '74, '83
Debra Sheefy
Michael and Cynthia Shields
Kenneth Simmons '86
Carole Skaggs
Nicholas D. Smith '11
Roderic '69 and Wendy Smith
George '88 and Christine (Swartz) Snow '89
John Sodano '75
Karen Solomonides '80
John Soltis
Mark Southworth '69
Thomas and Karen J. (Boutotte) Spinelli '92
Peter Staab
Richard Stockhaus
Aidan Sugrue
Stephen Sullivan '95
Walter and Esther (Ostrowski) Supinski '68, '73
Mark Swidler '81
John F. '64 and Ann (Mill) Talbot '64
Anne C. (Lioce) Tardanico '77, '86
Brendan Tarmey '20
Seth Tebbetts
Arthur and Teresa Fava Thomas '89
Mathew Thomas
Timothy Tiches
Timothy Tiches Jr.
Sandra Tranfaglia '82
Lenny Tumenas
David '86, '00 and Carolyn (Dawe) Uminski '87
Robert Vilare
John '62 and Lorraine Viveiros
Frederick Vona '76
Nelly Wadsworth
John M. Ward '84
Paul I. Weizer
Bruce E. Wells '54
Raymond '60 and Donna (Sennott) Whipple '62
David White '92
C J. Whitlow
James Wilcox
Jeffrey Wilson '87
Stephen '94 and Stacie Witkus
Stephen Wolford
Frank W.* '60, '75 and Elizabeth Worthley
Deborah W. Wright '75
Sheila M. (Pochini) Yates '72
James Yee
Margaret (Migrants) Youmatz '76
Janet Young
Juliette C. Youngblood '84
Charles Zaglinski

*deceased

George ’69 and Jeanne (Ziegler) Awad ‘69
Mark Fearer ’93, ‘99
Ronald and Irene (Czekanski) Hamel '65
James M. '75 and Elizabeth R. Walsh
John W. and Joan (Brissette) Flynn '65
Karen Frank Mays ’94, ‘09*
Marcia Palo ‘66*
Elaine Marieb ‘84*
Jim '76, '81 and Gail (George) Todd '74, '80
Mary Ann Zimmerman*
Lorraine (Elia) Rosenthal '88*
Sean Goodlett

Impact on Giving

Meet a few of our donors.
headshot of alum Marcia Palo

Marcia Palo

Marcia Palo, Fitchburg State Class of 1966. Marcia graduated from Fitchburg State with a degree in nursing. For many years, she worked as a nurse at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, as well as the VA Medical Center in Boston. In her estate plans, Marcia specified that 15% of her residual estate be given to Fitchburg State to create a nursing scholarship in memory of her parents, Jacob and Stella Palo. The first scholarship was awarded in 2020.
Dr Elaine Nicpon Marieb Alum

Dr. Elaine Nicpon Marieb, PhD

Dr. Elaine Nicpon Marieb, PhD, Fitchburg State Class of 1984. Also a graduate of the Fitchburg State nursing program, Elaine Nicpon Marieb, PhD, named the university as a beneficiary in her estate plans. As a nontraditional student herself, Dr. Marieb wanted to create a fund to provide support for, "women who are coming to college later in life or who are returning to college in hopes of finally earning their degree." In her own words about the important role education played in her life, "Education gave me the faith and confidence I have in myself, and I would love to help instill that faith in students pursuing careers in health professions. With confidence and education, you can change your life."