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april 2025
april 2025
Dear Colleagues,
It is hard to believe that in just a couple of weeks we will celebrate our graduates at the 2025 Commencement! It has been a trying year to say the least, not only for Elms College, but for higher education as a whole. Elms College is proud to stand with other higher education institutions in the pursuit of our mission to help students improve their own lives and contribute to the welfare of their dear neighbor.
As we navigate through these challenges, it is important to take pause and reflect on our successes at impacting one student's life at a time and think about both the opportunities and headwinds that lie ahead for us.
This past month has been filled with academic activities and celebratory events. The Alumni Easter Bunny Breakfast on April 6, the Anna Marie Walsh Lecture on April 8, and the Accepted Student Day on April 12 kicked off the month of April with a filled and productive week. Although it snowed in April for Admitted Student Day, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions welcomed nearly 90 accepted students, along with family members, who were able to meet with various departments, advisors, faculty, and experience what being an Elms student is all about. My gratitude goes to the entire Admissions team and all those across the College who volunteered their Saturday to help make the event a success. As we all know, it is indeed a team effort.
The end-of-year celebrations started with the Honors Scholars Luncheon on April 23, followed by the Donor Scholar Brunch and Honors Convocation last weekend. Congratulations to Dr. Laurie Downes and Professor Suzanne Rene for being recognized by their peers and awarded the Distinguished Service and Distinguished Teaching Awards, respectively!
I am looking forward to the 7th annual Dolores Donlin Noonan ’39 Experiential Learning Showcase this Friday, when students will showcase their real-world experiences gained through internships, research, service work, and study-abroad opportunities. I hope that you will join me in visiting their posters, presentations, simulations, videos, exhibits, and much more! Many thanks in advance to Director of Experiential Learning, Dr. Jenny Granger Sullivan, for her leadership of this signature Elms program and to the many staff, faculty, and volunteers who make it happen throughout the academic year.
I am also looking forward to attending and recognizing students, faculty, and staff at the 3rd annual E.L.M.S. awards (Engagement, Leadership, Merit, and Service) coordinated by the Office of Student Engagement within the Division of Student Affairs.
The Enrollment Management and Marketing team will be working beyond the traditional May 1st deposit timeline to recruit the fall 2025 class. In parallel, the work to elaborate the fiscal year 2026 budget is well under way. Thank you to all budget managers who have submitted their information to the Finance Office. As was indicated at the Town Hall, given all that is happening in the higher education environment, increasing fiscal pressures are expected to be felt by all institutions, especially small colleges like the Elms.
As we gear up for these very important tasks over the next few months, Commencement festivities and the celebration of our students' achievements will be a great reminder of what our efforts are all about. I look forward to celebrating with our students and meeting some of their families. I hope that you, also, find renewal in the joy of the accomplishments that you have helped to foster directly or indirectly.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our mission and your deep care for our students. You are the heartbeat of this institution, and your work—often behind the scenes—makes a lasting difference in so many lives. In a time when the world continues to change quickly, our north star remains our shared commitment to the mission that brought us together and that was entrusted to us by our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Wishing you all a successful and joyful remainder of the spring semester!
Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA
President
FUTURE ELMSNEWS
Submission pieces can be shared with the following department contacts:
Academic Affairs - Deb Methe
Admissions - Michelle Proulx
Athletics - Sean Milbier
Finance - Brett Carroll
HR - Cheryl Smith
Marketing - Patrick Johnson
Student Affairs - Anna Stabile
Institutional Advancement - Lynn Korza
The deadline for submissions is the third Friday of each month.
UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS
5/1 Mary Dooley Lecture
5/2 Experiential Learning Showcase
5/3 Irish Language Day
5/4 ELMS Awards
5/5 Spring '25 Practicum Celebration
5/9 Board of Trustees
5/12 Senior Toast
5/13 Graduate Hooding
5/14 Nurses Pinning
5/16 Baccalaureate Mass, Blessing of the Hoods
5/16 Honorands & Trustee Recognition Dinner
5/17 Class of 2025 Commencement
Check the Master Calendar for exact locations of each event.
2025 COMMENCEMENT EVENTS
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Senior Class Toast
We are excited to invite you to the 2025 Senior Class Toast on Monday, May 12, from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M. in the Library. This event will bring faculty, staff, administration, and alumni together to honor the Class of 2025 and welcome them into the alumni community.
The event is free of charge. We kindly ask that you RSVP by May 2.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
Thank you,
Jill Perry, MBA '21, '23
Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
Easter Bunny Breakfast
We had an egg-stra special time at our Easter Bunny Breakfast on Sunday, April 6! From delicious bites to bunny hugs and joyful moments, it was a beautiful way to bring the alumni and campus community together. Thank you to everyone who made it so memorable — we’re already egg-cited for next year! 💛🐰
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
The Center for Equity in Urban Education (CEUE) celebrated its 5th Year Anniversary on Wednesday, April 16 with a special event dedicated to reflection, growth, and successful outcomes. The theme, Harambee: Cultivating an Equitable and Just Educational Future, highlighted the CEUE’s achievements and ongoing commitment to fostering equity in education. Over 100 registered guests were welcomed by Libertas Academy Charter School’s Big Red Drumline followed by remarks that captured the true essence and spirit of the CEUE team, students, and holistic underpinnings {Harambee, Ubuntu, and Sankofa}.
Check out more photos from the event here!
"As we celebrate five years of the CEUE, we celebrate the partnerships which have allowed this idea to blossom into reality and we honor the achievements of the students who have advanced through this transformative program. This initiative has empowered them to become culturally responsive educators making a lasting impact on their classrooms and communities."- President Dumay.
“The CEUE has been a driving force in advancing equity in education, equipping educators with the tools to create meaningful change in Western Massachusetts and beyond. As we celebrate five years of impact, we remain dedicated to empowering educators, championing culturally responsive teaching, and expanding pathways for students to achieve their academic goals. We are grateful for our school district and community partners and reaffirm our commitment to advancing educational opportunities."-Dr. Tyra Good, Founding Executive Director of the Center for Equity in Urban Education.
Congratulations to Dr. Good for being recognized by MassLive as a Higher Education Leader making an impact in transforming education in Massachusetts. Her work of creating equitable university-school-family-community partnerships through leading the Center for Equity in Urban Education and the innovative framework approach of the Western Massachusetts Literacy Collaborative (WMLC) were highlighted. Dr. Good’s research interest focuses on eliminating barriers to access quality education within a global learning ecosystem.
Read the Full Article: Leading Massachusetts: MassLive’s 8 Higher Education Leaders
Join us this Friday for the premier event of the academic year! Experiential Learning Showcase this Friday, May 2nd. Attached is a copy of the schedule.
Celebrate. Fun. Community. Experience.
Some highlights -
Presidential Showcase Kickoff -
Featuring a Keynote by Darius Griffin '13
Food Truck Friday: Experiential Learning Celebration -
Enjoy free food from Spuds Your Way and Blue Chip Creamery
Free Photo Fun Give-a-way
Student Prizes -
Grab a Loyalty Card from a CheckPoint location and attend to be entered!
Prizes include: Go-Gen 2 Polaroid Camera, JBL Go-4 Ultra-Portable Speaker, Lego Retro Radio Set and More!
Click here for more details!
LEAD (Legislative Education Advocacy Day)
Social Work students s from Asnuntuck Community College, Springfield Technical Community College, and the main campus participated in LEAD (Legislative Education Advocacy Day) put on by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) at the State House in Boston on Monday, March 31. These future Social Workers traveled to the State House in Boston to learn how to advocate for new laws that affect the people they will be working with.
Students split into two groups to learn about two separate bills:
1. An act relative to lift kids out of deep poverty
2. An act relative to preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment
SPRING 2025 ART EVENTS
“Student Art Exhibition”: Borgia and Well Gallery
Exhibition Dates: Thursday May 1- May 19th
Opening Reception: Thursday May 1, 12:15-1:15
CAMPUS MINISTRY
Campus Ministry hosted another successful Elms College Day of Service. Students, staff, and faculty volunteered at the Food Bank of Western Mass, Genesis Spiritual Life Center, Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, and Harmony House. Their work will continue to support and uplift our local community!
Campus Ministry collaborated with Dr. Michael McGravey to host a trip to the New England Peace Pagoda and the Montague Bookmill. Dr. McGravey's current religious studies class, along with other members of the college community, enjoyed an insightful tour of the Peace Pagoda by current resident, Sister Claire, followed by some lunch and book shopping.
Grilled Cheese Galore! Campus Ministry collaborated with the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership to make various types of grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch during Commuter Appreciation Week.
Campus Ministry collaborated with Jack Labbe, a junior at Elms College currently working as a Sister Carol Coston Fellow through the Catholic Social Justice organization Network Lobby, to host a prayer vigil for our immigrant neighbors who are currently detained, deported, or migrating to new land.
Campus Ministry celebrated Earth Day by giving out succulents alongside the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership's therapy dogs event.
Campus Ministry hosted a post-service trips lunch for spring break service trips volunteers, during which students had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Dumay and Dr. Andrew Coston about their experiences serving abroad in Jamaica and Iceland. Soon after, Eileen Kirk, Director of Campus Ministry, offered a session at the Student Affairs Division's Ethical Leadership Retreat at Norwich Lake. Eileen's session was entitled "Let Your Life Speak," and included designing vision boards and prayer flags. Campus Ministry also participated in the Elms College Day of Strength, tabling on information about toxic spirituality and consent. The month of April ended with Campus Ministry's Mass dedicated to Pope Francis after his passing.
COUNSELING CENTER & CAMPUS MINISTRY
Dear Elms Community,
Happy Spring! After a long, cold winter, you may be getting up to some spring cleaning.
If you happen to find new, unused items with tags still attached that you do not envision yourself making use of (including gift cards to stores, restaurants, or coffee shops that you know you likely will not visit), consider donating them for merchandise for the December 2025 Merry Markdown Market!
The goal of the Merry Markdown Market is to help relieve some of the financial stress students often feel during the holiday season. Buying gifts for loved ones can be a challenge for college students, but collectively, we can help make holiday shopping more accessible. Donations are used to create a marketplace for students, where all items cost between $1-5.
The 2024 Merry Markdown Marketplace was a huge success thanks to your donations! Almost every single item was sold, and students were incredibly grateful for the opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts at affordable prices. By getting started early, we can help make holiday shopping even more accessible for our students next December.
Donations can be brought to the Office of Campus Ministry or the Health Center. Questions or concerns? Please contact Nicole Fregeau at fregeaun@elms.edu or Nicole Sacco at saccon@elms.edu, or stop by our offices. We appreciate your consideration and support!. Thank you.
Peace,
The Counseling Center
The Office of Campus Ministry
COUNSELING CENTER
Meditation Garden and Mental Health Month!
Did you know May is mental health awareness month? Stop by the campus Center anytime on Thursday May 1st to pick up some fun mental health related gear and 'be seen wearing green' showing your support for mental health and wellness. Also, visit the meditation garden (located in the back of the Health/Counseling Centers) to enjoy some fresh air, peace, and quiet.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Elms College Employment Opportunities as of April 16, 2025
Applications are now being accepted for the positions listed below. Anyone interested in making a formal application should go to the Employment page on the Elms College website for a detailed job description and how to apply: www.elms.edu/employment
Open Positions
Public Safety Officers- part-time
Gift Processor – Part-time
Reading Specialist – Elms Summer Reading Clinic
Director of Graduate and Continuing Education Admissions
Adult – Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Programs
Assistant/Associate Professor, Principal Leadership
Assistant Professor Communication Sciences & Disorders Programs
Best wishes to departing employees:
Ibraim Usmanov – Health Center
Octavio Seijas – Director of International Programs
Royce Lopez-Sibel – CE Admissions Counselor
Paula Lane-Major – Administrative Assistant, Graduate & CE Admissions
Michael Blair – Public Safety Officer
Among the procedures which may be used to select personnel to fill vacant positions are a review of work experiences, qualifications, degrees/licensures/certifications, and employment interviews. This listing pertains to all current staff and faculty job vacancies at the College.
Elms College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment. It is the policy of Elms College to comply with applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity.
ELMS IN THE NEWS:
As of April 17, 2025
On March 24 22News shared that Elms College hosted the 6th Annual Reverand Hugh C Crean Lecture on ‘Anti-Asian Racism’.
On April 2, Business West shared that the Experiential Learning Showcase is coming up on April 2nd highlighting internships and research opportunities for students.
On April 2, Health Care News posted an article about the upcoming Experiential Learning Showcase at Elms College.
On April 13, 22News hosted Dr. Laura Porter from Elms College to discuss the Western Massachusetts Literacy Collaborative and its mission and opportunities.
On April 16th 22News Covered the CEUE’s 5th anniversary celebration at Elms Collegee with interviews with Dr. Joyce Hampton and Dr. Tyra Good.
On April 17, Masslive highlights the work of Dr. Tyra Good, the Center for Equity in Urban Education as well as the Western Massachusetts Literacy Collaborative in an article titled, “Leading Massachusetts: MassLive’s 8 Higher Education Leaders”.
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