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

Pictured above (l-r): Michael “Mike” Buscetto III, Michael Buscetto, Jr., and Michael “Mikey” Buscetto IV

In 1960 Michael Buscetto, Jr., proudly posed for a photograph with the Mitchell College Men’s Soccer team. But he wasn’t a player on the team.

“I was the mascot,” he said with a laugh. “They didn’t know my last name and listed me as ‘Mike Michaels’ in the caption in the Thamesana [Mitchell’s school newspaper]. They didn’t know who I was! I was a 12-year-old kid running around the campus. It was my backyard, and Mitchell College was a welcoming group. It always took care of the kids in the neighborhood.”

Buscetto, whose father, Michael Buscetto, Sr., owned the much-loved Michael’s Dairy, grew up in a house across from the dairy.

“My father worked as the dairy manager in the 1930s, when it was known as Mumford Dairy. The Mitchell family owned two dairies — Mumford, here in New London, and Mitchell Dairy in Salem. In 1936, they were going to close up Mumford Dairy and only operate from the Salem farm on Route 82. My father took over then and rented Mumford Dairy, changing its name to Michael’s Dairy. In 1943, he bought the property for $11,000. It was in our family for 70 years.” (Michael’s Dairy was purchased by Mitchell College from the Buscetto family in 2006.)

At first, the dairy only produced milk and cream, but then the eldest Buscetto filled a demand in the community.

“In the 1940s, my father started to make ice cream with one little machine. Everybody kept wanting it, and he couldn’t keep up with it. He added the ice cream plant in 1949 and opened the store in 1950.”

The rest is history.

Michael Jr. took over the operation in 1983, and his son Michael “Mike” Buscetto III pitched in from an early age (along with other son Bill).

“This was my first job at 7 years old,” Mike said. “We didn’t have a lot of options!”

Michael, Jr., added that grandson Mikey, now a senior at Mitchell College, was just 4 years old when he started working.

“I put in a new lawn in the front with sprinklers set up to keep the lawn damp,” he said. “I had to turn on the valves on the sprinklers for 15 minutes at a time. Mikey helped me turn the valves but after 15 minutes, he said he was thirsty and went in and got a milkshake. After working the next 15 minutes turning valves, he said ‘Gotta go home now!’ because he got his milkshake.”

“We showed no mercy here,” he said jokingly. “If you can walk, you can work!”

Mike said, “So many people who I see in the community tell me that working at Michael’s was their first job. They say, ‘Your family taught us so much about work ethic, showing up on time and being clean.’ Little stuff that made a big impact on them.’”

The celebrated sock hops – started by Michael, Jr., who invited DJ Billy Wronowski to play music and lead games throughout the summers – also made a big impact in the community.

 “Michael’s was a safe place from the daily grind. People could come here and relax. They didn’t necessarily buy anything either. At the sock hops, you would bring your lawn chair and see a bunch of people from the community. It was the social heartbeat of New London. You can’t replicate a Michael’s Dairy. You just can’t.” —Mike Buscetto

Earlier this year, Martha Schultz joined the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs as the director of marketing for Mitchell College, responsible for external marketing and communications across all platforms working closely with all of Mitchell’s offices and departments. In this role she manages the college’s brand, oversees the college’s digital platforms and website, and is instrumental in telling the Mitchell story.

Schultz most recently was an art director at an integrated marketing agency, and she previously held positions as creative operations director for a heritage management agency, creative director for an event management company and brand manager for an international law firm. Her experience includes serving as a creative services project manager at George Mason University, where she worked closely with the president, advancement and academic units during a pivotal time when the university was repositioning itself as a leading research, science and information technology institution. Schultz holds a B.A. in English literature from Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., and did graduate professional studies in editing and publishing at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Nancy Cowser, chief advancement and alumni affairs officer, says “Martha’s combination of creative talent, experience in higher education and broad technical skillset is a great fit for Mitchell College as we are extending our reach to tell the compelling story of Mitchell. Her marketing expertise will be critical in helping revitalize our brand and leverage it in new and more effective ways. Martha has been instrumental in building partnerships across campus and rebuilding our internal capabilities to prepare us for future growth.”

“Coming to Mitchell at a time of ‘rebirth’ and change is very energizing, and I see tremendous potential for all the ways we will be expressing what is unique and special about Mitchell College. Coming from a very competitive market in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area, I have a true appreciation of what a gem Mitchell is and how we can leverage what makes us special in a competitive landscape. As higher ed is being challenged to evolve to adapt to new social and economic realities, I’m excited to face those challenges.” — Martha Schultz

Pictured above: Thames at Mitchell College students and their families celebrate the end of the year with program staff at The Red Barn on May 7, 2022.

At their May 7 end-of-year celebration, forty-four Thames at Mitchell students earned a newly created digital badge in recognition of their completion of the holistic one-year program by meeting the following criteria:

• Maintaining a 2.0 or better grade point average
• Independently demonstrating competencies including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making, executive functioning and academics
• Participating in at least one club or leadership opportunity

Badges are a way of recognizing microcredentials, which focus on a particular skill or competency and can be helpful to both students and employers.

“The Thames at Mitchell badge highlights the tenets of the program and acknowledges that the students met the established criteria. Badges document a student’s progress during an academic program. In general, badges help students show employers that they are ready for the workplace. Badges are collectable and portable. Students can add badges to their email signature, social media profiles, LinkedIn and other public places online.” —Beverly Scully, director of Thames at Mitchell

Mitchell College recently named Keith Padin as business operations manager for the college’s auxiliary services. In his role, Padin will oversee dining services, rentals and event engagement, including operations of Michael’s Dairy and The Red Barn.

Padin most recently served as communications, sales and operations manager for A Thyme to Cook catering in North Stonington, where he led marketing initiatives, guided clients on event planning and contributed to the creation of company policies and procedures. Prior to that, he worked as marketing and hospitality manager for Fort Hill Farms in Thompson, Conn., and Jones Family Farms in Shelton, Conn. He studied communications at the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, president of Mitchell College, said, “We are excited for Keith to bring his experience and knowledge to this position at Mitchell College. At Mitchell we practice radical hospitality, welcoming everyone to our campus, from our diverse body of learners to our neighbors enjoying Michael’s Dairy. Beyond providing an excellent education to our students, we are fortunate to offer many of the facilities around our beautiful campus for public use. I know Keith will do a superb job connecting with and accommodating community requests.”

“I’m very excited to help reconnect the community back to Mitchell and all we have to offer here. From our legendary scoops of ice cream at Michael’s Dairy, a baseball tournament on our fields, an amazing wedding in The Red Barn or new Airbnb properties we’ll be offering soon, getting to see our neighbors here with us in New London is a special thrill. I’m honored Dr. Espy and my colleagues here at Mitchell have entrusted me with this mission, and I look forward to the adventure.” — Keith Padin