Reunion Awards Recipients

Elaine Desrosiers Hart '72

Distinguished Alumni Award

Elaine Desrosiers Hart received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Salve Regina in 1972. A native of Rhode Island, she came to Salve Regina to study nursing after graduating as valedictorian from Notre Dame High School.

Hart's career began in hospital acute care and home and community health nursing before she became one of the first nurse practitioners (NP) in Rhode Island. She was part of a pilot grant program at the University of Rhode Island, which evolved into a master's degree in 1980.

After graduating, Hart developed the NP role in the community health setting and served as adjunct faculty at the Community College of Rhode Island, introducing the role of NP to nurses working in various fields while instructing them in physical assessment skills. These skills eventually became part of the basic nursing education curriculum.

In 1989, Hart joined a private internal medicine practice, caring for adults from 18-103 and serving as a precept to NP students for nearly 30 years. All the while, she raised two daughters with her husband Brian.

Before retiring in 2015, Hart was honored as Nurse Practitioner of the Year by Rhode Island Monthly and the Rhode Island State Nurses Association. In retirement, she continues to remain active in her community. She has served as a eucharistic minister at St. Joseph's Church, volunteers at Green Animals in Portsmouth and as a hospice volunteer. She and her husband also sponsor international officers studying at the Naval War College.

Lisa Milich '13 (M)

Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award

Lisa Milich received her master's degree in holistic leadership from Salve Regina in 2013. She is the visionary founder and CEO of the Inspired Revolution, a movement dedicated to illuminating the power of the human spirit as a force for good.

Milich owns two brands - Beyond Change, a purpose-driven change leadership and organizational transformation company, and Halo Inspired, a lifestyle and well-being company bringing ancient wisdom practices into modern-day living. She is a devoted advocate and board member of Conscious Capitalism Boston, ushering in the four tenets for a thriving world.

Milich was spotlighted in Salve Regina's holistic leadership master’s program. She was also awarded for Women Who Make a Difference in their Community, nominated three times in a row for Entrepreneurial Women to Watch, and served as a contributing author of Pathways to Vibrant Health and Well-Being.

Milich spent the past 20+ years successfully working with leaders from all walks of life as a former executive, certified coach, mindfulness and design thinking facilitator, artist and stakeholder business consultant. Utilizing a whole system thinking approach, she has conducted well over 6,000 hours of coaching and co-created hundreds of teams and organizational interactions.

In her spare time, Milich relaxes on her horse retreat ranch, Freedom Ranch, with her husband Gerard, daughter Lexi and the rest of the herd.

Lisa Ryan '83

Alumni Achievement Award

Lisa Ryan received her bachelor's degree in nursing, magna cum laude, from Salve Regina in 1983. She then received her master's degree as a pediatric nurse practitioner from Simmons University in 1999. That same year, she obtained national certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner from the Pediatric National Certification Board and was employed as a pediatric nurse practitioner at UMass/Memorial Health Care – University Campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Ryan's professional experience includes being employed for a decade at Boston Children's Hospital in neonatal intensive care as well as several years in neonatal intensive care at The Medical University of South Carolina.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ryan volunteered for the Massachusetts response team at the Definitive Care Unit in Worcester with the COVID-positive homeless population, administered vaccines to first responders in central Massachusetts and organized vaccine clinics for students and staff in the Mendon-Upton Regional School District.

Ryan found her passion in nursing as a school nurse for the past 20 years at Memorial Elementary School in Upton, Massachusetts. She utilizes her knowledge and pediatric clinical expertise to deliver care to her amazing students.

Ryan's beloved parents taught her the importance of community service and helping others at an early age. During her college years at Salve Regina, those core values of community service and helping those in need continued to build the foundation of her personal and professional lives. Amongst all her successes, Ryan's greatest blessing and accomplishment are being the mother to her son Kilian and daughter Taylor.

Mara-Lise Owen Deychak '12

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Mara-Lise Owen Deychak received her bachelor's degree in English communications with minors in English literature and film studies from Salve Regina in 2012. She was an active member of the women's lacrosse team for all four years and captain in her junior and senior years.

Deychak is the director of corporate engagement for The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., a member-based nonprofit organization. Her role involves partnering with corporate organizations on annual sponsorship commitments whose proceeds go towards The Economic Club's education initiatives. Each year, The Economic Club provides $1 million in university scholarships to 50 Washington, D.C. public and charter school students.

Deychak serves as a mentor to the students by volunteering her time to support them as they transition from high school to university. Another part of her role is spearheading the Executive Fellows Program, which invites young executives into The Economic Club with the intention of cultivating relationships with the next generation of Washington, D.C. business leaders.

Deychak is a member of the Salve Regina Seahawk Ambassador program and Student Networking Association. She plans to continue supporting Salve Regina as often as possible, and her long-term goal is to become a board member. She is the published author of "Creepy Kids: Stephen King Adaptations and Film Techniques," which was her senior thesis on adaptation theory.

Deychak resides in Reston, Virginia with her husband, Dennis.

Matthew Anderson '08

Salve Regina Mission Award

Matthew Anderson received his bachelor's degree in history and secondary education from Salve Regina in 2008. He is an accomplished and dedicated individual who has made significant contributions to the field of interfaith youth programming. Throughout his early professional experiences, Anderson witnessed the transformative potential of interfaith dialogue in addressing societal divisions.

Recognizing the need for young people to engage in meaningful conversations across religious boundaries, Anderson dedicated himself to the field of interfaith youth programming. This passion led him to assume the role of executive director at Mosaic: Interfaith Youth Action, an organization committed to building bridges of understanding and empathy among youth from diverse religious communities.

As the executive director, Anderson has successfully fostered collaboration, understanding and dialogue among young people from diverse religious backgrounds. With a passion for promoting harmony and social cohesion, he has become a prominent advocate for interfaith initiatives.

Under Anderson's leadership, Mosaic has flourished, expanding its reach and impact both nationally and internationally. He has been instrumental in developing innovative programming that facilitates interfaith exchanges, service projects and leadership development opportunities for young people. His strategic vision and collaborative approach have resulted in successful partnerships with local religious institutions, educational institutions and youth organizations.

With his unwavering passion, extensive experience and charismatic leadership, Anderson continues to shape the landscape of interfaith youth programming. His tireless efforts have empowered countless young people to transcend religious boundaries and work together toward a more inclusive and harmonious society. His work serves as an inspiring testament to the transformative power of interfaith dialogue in building a better future for all.

Nicholas Patti '13

Exceptional Volunteer Award

Nicholas Patti received his bachelor's degree in American history and American studies from Salve Regina in 2013. Since then, he has been a dedicated and passionate alumnus. He has made significant contributions to the University's rugby community through his volunteer work with rugby alumni events.

Each year, Patti volunteers for the annual Rugby Alumni Weekend, one of the largest alumni events on campus apart from Reunion Weekend. He has consistently demonstrated strong leadership and organizational skills in coordinating these events which has helped foster a sense of community and connection among rugby alumni.

In addition to the time he devotes to alumni engagement, Patti is a tireless volunteer with the Salve Regina women's rugby team. He has dedicated countless hours to coaching, mentoring and supporting the team, helping to develop the skills and abilities of individual players, and has contributed to the team's success firsthand.