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Mitchell College Celebrates 82nd Commencement Exercises

May 27, 2026 | News

President Tracy Y. Espy, Ph.D., conferred degrees to 101 Mitchell College graduates on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in a ceremony celebrating achievement and community.

Richard “Rich” Lisitano, keynote speaker for Mitchell College’s 82nd Commencement Exercises, told the Class of the 2026 that what comes next in their lives is not a straight line.

“You’ve been told to go out and build your career. That’s good advice, but it’s incomplete. Careers aren’t built in straight lines. They’re shaped over time, sometimes moving forward, sometimes pausing, and sometimes taking a step back so you can move in a better direction.”

The soon-to-be-retired president of L+M Healthcare and executive vice president of Yale New Haven Health shared about his own professional journey, starting as a pharmacist and eventually leading hospitals.

“There were moments when I had to reassess, moments where the path wasn’t clear, and moments where what looked like a step back turned out to be the step that made everything possible.”

He urged the graduates to be open to change, willing to grow, and determined to keep moving forward. He also shared life lessons learned as a leader.

“You don’t have to manage people to be a leader,” he said. “Leadership starts with how you treat your classmates, coworkers, supervisors, and customers. It shows up when you listen, when you keep your commitments, and when you step up instead of stepping back.”

He also reminded the graduates that that their reputation is one of their most valuable assets, confidence doesn’t mean having all the answers, and feedback is not a criticism an impetus for growth.

Student Speaker

Student speaker Caleb Cobb ’26, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, said that he found his purpose at Mitchell when he began to step outside of his comfort zone.

“When I first arrived at Mitchell College as a transfer student,” he said, “I thought of myself as a basketball player, who was interested in criminal justice. I really did not have an idea of what I wanted to do after college.”

After getting involved in student life outside of athletics—including working with first-year students, campus facilities, and an internship with the Waterford Police Department—he said he transformed. He acknowledged that his calm demeanor sometimes hid all that he was juggling.

“And standing here today, I can honestly say that perseverance, faith, and community carried me through,” he said.

“Mitchell is not the kind of place where students get lost in the crowd. It is the kind of place where professors learn your name, where people genuinely want to see you succeed, and where someone always seems willing to help you when things are overwhelming.”

Alumni Charge

Alumna Mary Volpe ’19 welcomed the class to the ranks of Mitchell College alumni.

“This isn’t the end of your Mitchell journey,” she said. “Think of today as your launchpad, with a built-in support system ready to offer guidance, inspiration, and maybe even a few recommendations along the way.”

She reminded graduates that Mitchell is not just about the beautiful campus.

“It is about the people—the late-night study sessions, the laughter in the dining hall, the encouragement from faculty and friends. The spirit of community is what defines us, and it doesn’t disappear after graduation…Mitchell, and the greater New London community, will always be part of your story.”

Awards for Academic Achievement

Jaileen Barber ’26, who earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, was named valedictorian with the highest GPA.

Olivia DeCicco ’26 was named salutatorian with the second highest GPA. She earned her bachelor’s degree in marine and environmental science.

Mitchell College 82nd Commencement Ceremony Program Cover
View the full program here.

Mitchell College Partners with Startups & Scholars to Offer Business Students Paid Experiential Learning

May 20, 2026 | News

Mitchell College’s R. Carlson Division of Business has announced a new partnership with Startups & Scholars, a Hartford-based agency providing paid, real-world consulting opportunities for students and recent graduates.

Through the agreement, Startups & Scholars will collaborate with Mitchell’s Mlab program and the newly launched Studio | Mitchell club to connect students with part-time, paid work aligned with their academic interests and career goals.

Students will gain hands-on experience in areas such as digital marketing, professional sales, project management, automation, and operations. They work directly with startups and growing businesses that need support in executing day-to-day operations.

“This partnership brings learning to life in a meaningful and immediate way,” said Dr. James Patsalides, chair of the R. Carlson Division of Business at Mitchell College. “Our students won’t just study business concepts. They’ll apply them in real-world environments, build confidence, and graduate with experience that sets them apart.”

Startups & Scholars has worked with over 40 students from more than 15 colleges and universities across the Northeast in the past six years, placing students in roles spanning sales, business development, marketing, graphic design, and accounting.

“We’ve seen firsthand how impactful these opportunities can be,” said Mike Heiser, co-founder and CEO of Startups & Scholars. “Startups seem to need the most help with the execution layer of running a business. This can look like sales outreach, customer support management, running marketing campaigns, etc. Where rubber hits the road, that’s where our students step in and make a real difference.”

Through the Studio | Mitchell structure, students will work on individual assignments that contribute to larger client projects, collaborating with peers, client leads, and industry mentors. This team-based approach ensures accountability while providing the support necessary for growth and success.

“We want to ensure no student is left without support,” Heiser said.

“The advantage for students is clear. They gain paid, professional experience while still in college, all within a supportive learning environment,” added Patsalides. “It’s a powerful combination that prepares them for the workforce from day one.”

This partnership reflects Mitchell College’s continued commitment to experiential learning and career readiness, ensuring students graduate with both knowledge and applied skills.

Startups & Scholars

(l-r) Dr. Elyse Gessler, assistant professor, business student Braiden Alaimo, Startups & Scholars co-founder and CEO Mike Heiser, and Dr. James Patsalides, chair of the R. Carlson Division of Business

Mitchell College Launches Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership

May 15, 2026 | News

Mitchell College announces the launch of its first graduate degree program, the Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership (MSMOL). The program expands Mitchell’s longstanding commitment to individualized learning, student success, and career-connected education.

The MSMOL program offers a flexible, applied graduate education for recent college graduates and working professionals seeking leadership preparation in mission-driven and people-centered organizations. The program begins in January 2027.

Mitchell’s highly relational academic model prepares students to thrive professionally and personally through individualized support, executive functioning development, and experiential learning. The launch of the MSMOL extends these strengths into graduate education, creating new pathways for advanced study and leadership development.

“The Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership represents a natural evolution of Mitchell College’s mission,” said Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, Mitchell College president. “We are committed to expanding access for underserved learners and preparing students for meaningful participation in the workforce. This mission-aligned graduate program creates a clear pathway for current Mitchell students, recent graduates, and working professionals in the region. It allows them to pursue advanced study in a flexible format that can be completed in as little as one year.”

Degree Emphasizes Human-Centered Leadership

The 30-credit graduate program prepares students for leadership roles in professional environments requiring effective organizational leadership and ethical decision-making. These include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, healthcare-adjacent organizations, public service agencies, and community-based enterprises.

In addition, Mitchell’s MSMOL emphasizes human-centered leadership, ethical practice, intercultural competence, organizational communication, and inclusive leadership strategies.

“The program is intentionally framed as a human-centered leadership degree,” said Dr. Mika Nash, Mitchell College provost. “Students will learn to navigate complex organizational environments while developing the communication, ethical reasoning, and leadership skills increasingly required across today’s workforce.”

The curriculum integrates leadership theory with applied professional practice. Coursework includes organizational leadership, crisis and conflict communication, global systems, and entrepreneurial innovation; in addition, organizational transformation, ethical leadership, intercultural leadership, organizational design, and operations management. The program culminates in an applied Organizational Strategy Capstone. Students design and present solutions to real organizational challenges grounded in scholarly research and professional analysis.

The program also includes an optional graduate practicum for students with fewer than three years of professional experience. The practicum provides a minimum of 400 hours of supervised applied learning in professional organizational settings aligned with students’ leadership goals.

Program Meets Growing Demand in Organizational Leadership

Delivered in a hybrid, low-residency format, the MSMOL combines asynchronous online coursework with structured synchronous seminars and periodic intensive sessions. The program offers these either on campus or through live virtual instruction. The model supports working professionals while preserving the discussion-based and relational learning environment central to Mitchell College’s educational philosophy.

“The College carefully considered the broader economic and professional landscape of Southeastern Connecticut in designing this program,” said Dr. James Patsalides, chair of the R. Carlson Division of Business at Mitchell College. “Regional employers increasingly require professionals who can lead teams, manage organizational change, address ethical and cultural challenges, and communicate effectively across diverse stakeholder groups. The MSMOL program was developed to meet this growing demand while remaining consistent with Mitchell College’s academic strengths.”

Learning outcomes emphasize leadership competency, ethical and operational problem-solving, and analysis of contemporary social, economic, environmental, and geopolitical factors affecting organizations. In addition, students will be expected to synthesize theoretical knowledge with professional judgment and apply leadership principles in authentic organizational settings.

The MSMOL program also offers two entry points during its inaugural year in January 2027 and August 2027. Courses will be delivered in eight-week blocks, providing flexible start dates for working professionals balancing academic, personal, and career responsibilities.

Program Facts
  • Degree: Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership (MSMOL)
  • Credits Required: 30 graduate credits
  • Format: Hybrid/Low-Residency
  • Completion Time: One year full-time or two years part-time
  • Tuition: $500 per credit
  • Full-Time Annual Tuition: $15,000
  • Part-Time Annual Tuition: $7,500

 

For more information about Mitchell College and the MSMOL program, visit Mitchell College.

L+M Healthcare President to Deliver Commencement Address

May 13, 2026 | News

Mitchell College will welcome Richard “Rich” Lisitano, president of L+M Healthcare and executive vice president of Yale New Haven Health, as commencement speaker for its 82nd Commencement Exercises. He will deliver the keynote address to the Class of 2026 on Sat., May 16, at 10 a.m. on the Mitchell College Green.

Lisitano, a Connecticut native, assumed his current role in 2023 and recently announced his retirement. Prior to becoming president of L+M Healthcare, he was senior vice president of operations at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH). He joined YNHH in 1986 as assistant director of pharmacy. Throughout his almost 40-year career, Lisitano has had an outstanding reputation for consistently optimizing operations, improving performance, and delivering sustainable financial results. His contributions with Yale New Haven Health include growth in departments including Genetics, Neurosciences, Oncology, and Urology. He was also the executive lead for developing, executing, and integrating an electronic medical record platform across each of the health system’s campuses. Lisitano earned a Master of Science from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, Mitchell College president, said, “Mitchell College is honored that Mr. Lisitano will deliver the keynote address to our graduating class. His decades of service to Yale New Haven Health, in many roles, will serve as an inspiration to our students as they think about their own journeys ahead. As we welcome Mr. Lisitano to campus, we are also grateful for our deepening partnership with L+M Healthcare, providing invaluable learning opportunities for our students in our expanding healthcare programs, including our Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN), for which L+M Hospital is a clinical site and major partner.”

Crisis Text Line Internship Supports Psychology Major’s Career Goal

May 12, 2026 | Stories

“Compassion,” “community,” and “personal” are three words senior Matthew Dougherty uses to describe Mitchell College. He carries the same three qualities into his internship helping people in crisis.

An Honors Program student majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology, he said, “You get a lot of compassion from the faculty and staff at Mitchell. It is a college that offers a lot of support. Before I began at Mitchell, I was in a rough place with my mental health. I didn’t think I would be able to do college. But I got the academic and emotional support that I needed to get through the first couple years. Mitchell was the right choice for me.”

“Community also stands out to me when thinking about Mitchell. Most students know each other on the close-knit campus. And every student that I know has had a unique and personal experience. They have gotten the support they needed and found opportunities tailored just for them.”

Opportunity for real-world work

An important opportunity for Matthew is his internship as a volunteer crisis counselor with the Crisis Text Line, a remote company that is partnered with 988, the national suicide prevention hotline. People in crisis can text 988 to reach the Crisis Text Line any time of day for support.

Matthew is logging 200 hours for his internship with the organization. He can work using his laptop from anywhere, for any number of hours at a time.

“There are no set hours, so I can log in and do a few hours here and there, but I like to do the night shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. There aren’t a lot of people to help at that time, and it is usually high volume. There’s text after text. This is exactly what I want to do with my psychology studies. I want to help people in crisis and help them out of a dark moment. My internship is giving me direct experience with this, as I talk them through it and am trained to get emergency life services if they need it. It is intense stuff.”

Matthew’s required preparation for this role included 15 hours of training via a combination of psychoeducation text modules, complementary videos, and simulated conversations. He was also trained to screen for immediate safety.

“We ask a person if they have harmed themselves or thought about suicide. If the answer is yes, we flag a supervisor to watch the chat and advise on responses. I was also trained on how do develop a safety plan with people and what things to look out for, such as any kind of abuse with a vulnerable population.”

Self-care important

When applying for the position, Matthew provided his background information and hours of availability. He was also asked to share how he takes care of his mental health and any topics he would be uncomfortable dealing with.

“The work is more intense than I thought it would be. I try to get two eight-hour shifts in per week but am considering breaking it into smaller chunks.”

Matthew said once he finishes a conversation with a texter he can take as much time as he needs to do self-care. He likes to watch something, have a snack, or talk with a friend.

“Many of the texts are so intense, but some are more light-hearted. You never know what you’re going to get, just like life.”

He said he was trained to deal with callers in a specific way: acknowledge, validate, listen, and offer resources. His classes in abnormal psychology and counseling theory have helped prepare him for this real-world work.

“If a person is going through mania or psychosis or displaying symptoms of an eating disorder or are in an abusive situation, these are all things that I have learned about in class.”

Similarly, he finds his grounding in the Mitchell Abilities helpful with his work—from using a data collection platform on a computer to deescalating a situation and figuring out a situation to meeting people of all backgrounds and cultures where they are.

“My skills in technology, problem solving, communication, critical thinking, and ethics have all been put to use,” he said.

Being a ‘voice and shoulder’

Matthew said he feels most challenged the moment before he begins his shift.

“There’s uncertainty. I care deeply about the people I interact with. It’s the hardest part but the most rewarding. I want to work in the field professionally, helping people directly, and what I am learning through my internship is something that can’t be taught in a classroom. Getting to be there with people in the middle of a crisis, to be the voice and shoulder, to help them out of that, there’s nothing better than that.”

Matthew is grateful for the requirement that every student at Mitchell College does an internship before they graduate. He considers it another highlight of the Mitchell experience.

“I wanted to go to a college that made me go out and get an internship because I can be a bit lazy and need that push. That is why Mitchell was a good fit. My one-on-one interaction with my professors has helped me so much. With their help and guidance, I feel secure in my future with my sights on getting a master’s degree and beyond. I wouldn’t have gotten that at a big college.”