The Mitchell College Board of Trustees is proud to announce six new members who have been welcomed over the last year. New trustees include Andrew Koha, assistant vice president of government relations at Principle LTC; Cornell Yarbrough, DJ and founder of Whutever it takes DJ Academy, and Mitchell College alumnus; Kerin Da Cruz, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for L+M Healthcare/Yale New Haven Health; Norman Solomon, J.D., entrepreneur; Jason Guyot, president and CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mitchell College alumnus; and Michael J. O’Connor, site vice president of Dominion Energy’s Millstone Power Station.

Board of Trustees Chair Richard D’Avino said, “Together with my fellow trustees, I am thrilled to welcome these six new colleagues to the Mitchell College Board of Trustees. They perfectly represent the breadth and diversity of the vibrant Mitchell College community, including senior executives of three of Connecticut’s largest and most successful employers, a Mitchell College parent, experts in healthcare and distinguished Mitchell alumni. I know that the entire community joins me in thanking each of them for their dedication and service to Mitchell College.

The new trustees join the board at a time of growth and transformation at Mitchell College, as the college embarks on its new strategic plan, strengthens outreach in the community, builds new partnerships, and develops new programming aligned with workforce, community and student needs.”

Initiatives currently in development or underway include the Digital Innovation Hub for Educational Excellence, which will drive industry-demand curricular offerings in STEM and behavioral health; a partnership with University of Saint Joseph to offer its Master of Social Work program on the Mitchell campus; and a dual-enrollment partnership with New London Public Schools, providing opportunities for New London High School students to gain both college credit and experience through on-campus Mitchell College coursework.

The addition of the expertise and talent of these six newest trustees to an already extraordinary Board of Trustees comes at an exciting time for Mitchell College.

Mitchell College recently welcomed Kim Hodges ‘03 as director of advancement. In her role, she will work to grow the Annual Fund, nurture and build community relationships, create and work with the Parent and Family Leadership Advisory Council, cultivate and grow Mitchell’s donor base, and coordinate and attend events related to development goals.

She returns to Mitchell, having worked at the institution from 1995–2012 in various positions, including director of parent programs, director of admissions and in alumni relations.

Hodges most recently served as director of admissions, communications and marketing for Saint Bernard School in Uncasville. Prior to that, she directed admissions research and planning at Johnson and Wales University.

Nancy Cowser, chief advancement and alumni affairs officer, said, “I am so thrilled to be welcoming Kim back to Mitchell College. She brings with her a wealth of experience and contacts and is an absolute joy to work with. She is truly going to help us continue the forward momentum that Mitchell is experiencing.”

Hodges said, “Mitchell is my alma mater, and I feel an affinity to the school for helping me accomplish my educational goals. I also know that everyone here plays a role in helping students learn, grow and discover their bright futures and their best selves. I know so many stories about the profound impact that Mitchell has had on students, and I look forward to continuing to build support to serve students in the best ways possible.”

Pictured above (l-r): Mitchell College President Tracy Y. Espy and New London Public Schools Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie sign a partnership agreement.

Mitchell College and New London Public Schools (NLPS) are partnering to provide dual enrollment to New London High School (NLHS) students, giving them an opportunity to take courses at Mitchell College. Mitchell College President Tracy Y. Espy and NLPS Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie signed a dual-enrollment partnership agreement at a recent orientation and ice cream social for the dual-enrolled NLHS students at Mitchell College.

President Espy said, “We are thrilled to welcome students from New London High School to our campus this fall, and to rekindle our partnership with the New London Public Schools, in alignment with the goals of the Governor’s Workforce Council’s focus on affordable access to higher education for Connecticut students. There is no better way to find out what college is about than for students to engage in a classroom with a professor and fellow students. The courses being offered this fall to NLHS students will not only open their minds to possible career paths, but will also help them think about greater societal issues in the world today. At Mitchell, our goal is to not only prepare students for career, but also to nurture an understanding of the world around them.”

NLHS students, who are identified by NLHS guidance counselors and teachers, will have the opportunity to enroll in a choice of three Mitchell College courses for Fall 2022: Introduction to Applied Exercise Science, Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Culture. Additional courses will be offered in Spring 2023.

Superintendent Ritchie said, “New London Public Schools is incredibly excited about partnering with Mitchell College on this dual enrollment initiative. The program allows us to provide our high school students with college experiences, including being involved and connected to on campus staff and activities, early on. Connecting high school students to these experiences now will allow them to see themselves as future college students and successful graduates. We are grateful for this partnership, with Mitchell College, on behalf of our students!”

NLHS students who successfully complete 6+ credit hours at Mitchell and earn a grade of “C” or better in each course will be given priority admissions to Mitchell College upon successful completion of their high school diploma.

In addition, enrolled NLHS students will receive a Mitchell identification card, which will enable them to access the Mitchell College library and dining hall and events of interest (such as athletics and performing arts). Mitchell College tutoring services will also be available to dual-enrolled students.

For Ron Samul ’91, the essence of Mitchell has remained strong since he was a student earning his associate degree in general studies.

“The small classes, invested and purposeful faculty, and learning and social support remain the same, but what has changed is the vision and commitment to the students, putting them on pathways to success. It continues to impress me how connected the students are to their experience and their learning.”

Samul sees this first-hand in his work as assistant director of Thames at Mitchell College, a pre-college transition program that focuses on student college readiness. The program works with neurodiverse learners – representing complex learning pathways – who are college-able but not yet college-ready.

His own pathway to success led Samul from Mitchell to Eastern Connecticut State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in creative and professional writing from Western Connecticut State University. He is currently working on completing a doctorate in educational leadership.

As a student at Mitchell, Samul found inspiration to write from Dr. Joe Medeiros, a professor in the English/Language/Fine Arts department.

“Dr. Medeiros turned me toward literature. He said my writing wasn’t very good, but my ideas were excellent. It inspired me to work harder.”

Samul was also taught by professors Marc Goldsmith, Don Helms, Catherine Wright, Wilma Hasse and Jennifer O’Donnell.

One of Samul’s favorite memories is of working on the “Thamesana,” the college newspaper, under the direction of Ted Hargrove, the public relations and development director at the time.

“I developed a good work ethic and a sense of responsibility under his watchful eye,” Ron said.

The New London native is author of the 2019 novel “The Staff,” about a village with a strange and sordid past, and is a certified technical scuba diver who worked for an operation that took divers to shipwrecks and historical sites off the New England coast.

Samul said he has always appreciated the culture and vision of Mitchell. After earning his bachelor’s degree and working various jobs, he returned to Mitchell in 2004 to work as a writing tutor. In 2008, after earning his MFA, he joined Thames at Mitchell College as a writing instructor and advisor, before moving to his current position.

“Over the last 14 years, I’ve never worked the same day twice. The students always make my work so exciting, fun and rewarding. It is their success that makes all the hard work valuable.” 

Commendable Scholars

Anabel Adams | Scarsdale, New York

Justin Adorno | New Britain, Connecticut

Ryan Ahern | East Haven, Connecticut

Anthony Allen | New York, New York

Amanda Arnold | Groton, Connecticut

Sophie Arseneau | Kankakee, Illinois

Cristian Barrales | Bridgeport, Connecticut

Nicholas Beaulieu | East Hampton, Connecticut

Elizabeth Bennett | Mansfield Center, Connecticut

Matthew Berman | New York, New York

Rajiah Betts-Smith | Windsor, Connecticut

Zachary Blase | Northbrook, Illinois

Noah-Joshua Brooks | East Hartford, Connecticut

Christian Bucalo | Greenwich, Connecticut

Edwin Burnam | New York, New York

Joseph Bynum | Groton, Connecticut

Neiza Capeles | Bridgeport, Connecticut

Victoria Carolan | Bernardsville, New Jersey

Shey Carrion | New London, Connecticut

Nathanael Chadbourne | Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Emil Cortorreal | New London, Connecticut

John David De Oliveira | Brick, New Jersey

Giuseppe Del Prete | Bronxville, New York

Douglas DelaCruz | Uncasville, Connecticut

Robert DelaCruz | Uncasville, Connecticut

Joseph DeLoria | Ringoes, New Jersey

Ian Falconi | Littleton, Massachusetts

Dana Feldstein | Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Zachary Finman | Burlington, Connecticut

Xander Finnell | Reisterstown, Maryland

Alicia Fitzgerald | Farmington, Connecticut

Ryan Foster | Lisbon, Connecticut

Robert Fusari | Old Lyme, Connecticut

Tatyana Gales | Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Angel Galindez | Hamden, Connecticut

Crystal Gangi | New Fairfield, Connecticut

Nicholas Ghirardi | Salem, Connecticut

Keeano Gonzalez | New London, Connecticut

Charles Gragg | Stamford, Connecticut

Sylvia Guerrero | New York, New York

Estid Guzman | New Bedford, Massachusetts

Abdullah Hadhood | New London, Connecticut

Joseph Hayes | Stonington, Connecticut

James Hetzel | Port St Lucie, Florida

Dominique Hyppolite | Groton, Connecticut

Aidan Jacobson | Branford, Connecticut

Elon Johnson | Davenport, Florida

Mamadou Kaba | New York, New York

Declan Kane | Coopersburg, Pennsylvania

Katie Kosky | Warwick, Rhode Island

Sean Kresge | Waterford, Connecticut

Matthew Ladd | Griswold, Connecticut

Colin LaSaracina | Colchester, Connecticut

Owen LaValley | Pawcatuck, Connecticut

Ethan LePain | Coventry, Rhode Island

Eric Leuchner | Groton, Connecticut

Henry Lyle | Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

Christa Ellen Mancuso | Naugatuck, Connecticut

Logan Maneri | Canterbury, Connecticut

Nicolas Mantilla-Aguirre | Needham, Massachusetts

Chelsea Marcano | Bronx, New York

Michael Marchetti | Waterbury, Connecticut

Ruben Martins Gomes | Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Michael McCarthy | Berlin, Connecticut

Shamus McLean | Groton, Connecticut

Tevin Merrill | New London, Connecticut

Sara Milkowski | Manasquan, New Jersey

Ciera Moore | Maricopa, Arizona

Nicholas Morrell | Westbrook, Connecticut

Chloe Morrissey | Hingham, Massachusetts

Caroline Mullaney | Flourtown, Pennsylvania

James Nascimento | West Hartford, Connecticut

Madison Nicynski | Warwick, Rhode Island

Conlen O’Driscoll | Sharon, Massachusetts

Sydney Oatway | East Hartford, Connecticut

Ileana Perez | North Arlington, New Jersey

Emily Pratts | New London, Connecticut

Ninoshka Pratts | Manchester, Connecticut

Abigail Rasmussen | Oakdale, Connecticut

Julianna Repaci | New Britain, Connecticut

Brandon Reynolds | Waterbury Center, Vermont

Collin Rider | Norwich, Connecticut

Liam Robb | Westfield, New Jersey

Joseph Rosa | Mystic, Connecticut

William Shafto | Danbury, Connecticut

Kenny Sheehan-Heon | Uncasville, Connecticut

Bradley Sherwoo | Amherst, Massachusetts

Thomas Simmons | Holtsville, New York

Chadler Solomon | Los Angeles, California

Anthony Stigler | New London, Connecticut

Alfonzo Stokes | Bloomfield, Connecticut

Grant Swick | Houston, Texas

Sophia Tarsy | Westport, Connecticut

Micheal Thompson | Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Ajhalae Thrash-Acevedo | Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Walter Tineo-Rivera | New London, Connecticut

Steven Turchetta | Oakdale, Connecticut

Le’Sandra Turner | New Rochelle, New York

Kayla Vargas-Estevez | Madison, Connecticut

Jessica Williams | Elmont, New York

Corrine Wilson | Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

Hunter Yaworski | Brooklyn, Connecticut

Robert Zirlis | Clinton, Connecticut