Alumni Awards

Alumni

Alumni awards foster lasting connections with Salve Regina University graduates while also recognizing their lifetime achievements. You may recommend a deserving graduate at any time during the year by submitting an online nomination. Career success, community achievement, alumni connectedness and support of Salve are all taken into consideration. Candidates are reviewed annually by a committee of past recipients and leading members of the University community.

2026 Alumni Award Recipients

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Colleen Cloonan Swain '16, '17 (M)
Nominated by Austin Swain

Colleen E. Swain is senior manager of grants, ministries and international giving for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, leading strategic philanthropy supporting global ministries. Previously, she represented Mercy at the United Nations, founding a women's leadership fellowship and advancing advocacy on human trafficking, migration and environmental justice.

Colleen Swain

Exceptional Volunteer Award

Robert P. Moran Jr. '86
Recommended by Vincent Mallardi III '86
Selected by University Advancement

Robert P. Moran Jr. has been involved with Salve in volunteer roles for many years. A steady and enthusiastic leader of the Class of 1986, Rob does a great job keeping his classmates connected and involved as alumni. A former member of Salve's Board of Trustees, he continues to support the University with generosity and commitment.

Rob Moran

Alumni Achievement Award

Kelley Dow Coen '91
Nominated by Tara Brabazon Nielsen '91

Kelley Dow Coen has over 30 years in the nonprofit world and is currently the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. Founder and president of The Newport Tartan and a former staff member of Salve's advancement office, Kelley demonstrates commitment to the Newport community and to her alma mater.

Kelley Dow Coen

Alumni Achievement Award

Rebecca J. Campbell '96
Nominated by Donna Campbell

Rebecca J. Campbell '96 is the director of the Tavares Public Library in Tavares, Florida. Through her work and vision, Rebecca demonstrates how public libraries are dynamic hubs of learning, culture and community. She is a passionate advocate for intellectual freedom and was recently published in the journal Florida Libraries.

Rebecca Campbell

Salve Regina Mission Award

Scott Ruszczyk '91
Nominated by Steven G. Shaker '91

Scott Ruszczyk serves as patrol sergeant for the Newtown (CT) Police Department. In response to the Sandy Hook tragedy, he joined the HEART 9/11 organization to co-author and lead stress management and resiliency training for first responders. He is dedicated to fostering the well-being of police officers through his daily work and his volunteer role.

Scott Ruszcyk

Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award

Sarah Holfelder Toracinta '13, '19 (M) and John Toracinta '21 (MBA)
Nominated by Sean Sullivan, director of athletics

John and Sarah Toracinta are the co-founders of NOSOLO (meaning "nobody is alone"), an apparel brand designed to raise awareness and take action on mental health. Proceeds from their sales benefit many mental health organizations, including their own recently established nonprofit, the NOSOLO Give Back Foundation. The couple partners with Salve athletics and offers internships to Salve students.

John and Sarah Toracinta

Past Recipients and Award Descriptions

Alumni Achievement Awards are presented to Salve Regina graduates who are role models to Salve Regina students and alumni. Recipients demonstrate significant civic or professional achievements and possess great potential for future distinction. Nominations are reviewed by a selection committee comprised of former Alumni Achievement recipients.

2025 Christine Imbriglio ’90

2024 Tiesha Nieves Sinouthasy ’09 

2023 Lisa Ryan ’83 

2022 Bridget Kennedy '92 

2022 Dr. Mary DeMarino Lavin '72 

2021 Edward C. Wu '06 

2021 Steven G. Shaker '91 

2019 Michael J. Abbott '99 

2019 Dr. Michele Fortin Griswold '89 

2019 Wendy M. Tancheff '94 

2018 Stephanie L. Barry '98, M'12 

2018 Marian Mathison Desrosiers '68, PhD '04 

2018 Carol A. Sarganis '68 

2018 Audrain M. Triplett, USN (Ret.) '78 

2017 Carmela Veneziano Geer '87 

2017 Helen Shea McGowan-Gardner '62, M'88 

2017 Brian A. Pryor '92 

2016 Vanessa C. Barneschi '91 

2016 Richard F. Dalen, Jr. '96 

2015 Thomas C. Hannon '90, M'91 

2015 Kara Cunningham Langan '85 

2015 Michelle M. McGlone '90 

2014 Virginia Ouellette Gobeli '64 

2014 Helen Dorflinger Ryan '69 

2014 Richard A. Santilli '89 and Robert B. Skeffington '89 

2014 Michael J. Walsh '042013 Michael B. Cox, Jr. ’93 

2013 Karen Rajkumar Cooper ’88, M’91 

2013 Geraldine McLaughlin Osborne ’73 

2013 Mary Ann Lafferty Della Valle ’63

2012 Magda Skomal Nyiri '87 

2012 Chyleene Flynn O'Connor '82 

2012 Anselm T. Richards '92 

2012 Patricia Doran Wong '72 

2011 Adeline Donohue-McDonald ’76 

2011 Kathleen W. Finn ’91 

2011 Maureen K. Philbin ’86 

2011 Nicole Hoekenga Russo ’96 

2010 Christopher L. Carney ’90 

2010 Kara MacDonald Flanagan ’90 

2010 Cynthia Soares Rose ’80 

2009 Domenic DiPiero III ’94 

2009 Kelly Robey Connelly ’94 

2009 Gregory M. Geer ’89 

2009 Virginia C. Li Ph.D. ’54 

2008 Thomas C. Cannon ’83 

2008 Carolann Duncan ’78 

2008 Kathleen Healy Flanagan ’68 

2008 Joanne Kozlak McMahon ’83 

2008 Megan Canavan Nicholas ’03, M’08 

2008 Brendan Pickett ’93 

2007 Cynthia Davis Dullea ’77 

2007 Cheryl Russo Hahn ’67 

2007 George Piers ’87 

2006 Roger J. Oliveira ’91 

2006 Beth-Ann Trebisacci Stewart ’86 

2005 Molly Donohue Magee ’75 

2004 Sharon Moske Bradley ’79 

2003 Victoria Almeida ’73 

2003 Jennifer Corsi Zembruski ’98 

2002 Patricia Silva Hayes ’62 

2002 Mary Frances O’Hare ’52 

2002 JoAnne Burke Ritchie '77, M'94 

2002 Faith C. Zabriskie ’77

2001 Martha J. Dolan-Cosgrove ’71 

2001 Kimberly R. Rothwell-Carson ’86 

2000 Jean Meadows Anderson ’75 

2000 Marlene Ponte Correia ’90 

2000 Teresa D. Correia ’95 

2000 Tara M. Luizzi ’95 

2000 Pamela Romano '72, M'80 

1999 John F. Perrotta '89, M'90 

1999 Paul M. Rodrigues ’91 

1999 Tracy L. Shea ’92 

1999 Colleen Corbett Staff ’93 

1998 Carolyn M. O’Brien, Ph.D. ’89 

1998 Michelle Bolles Vitale ’88 

1997 Peter J. Curtin ’87 

1997 Alysa Fornarotto-Regenye ’92 

1996 Vanessa M. Martelli ’92 

1995 Lori Silano Escallier ’80 

1995 Gerard P. McAleer ’83 

1994 Mary E. Hanley ’85 

1994 Craig C. Piers ’86 

1993 Alison M. Shakarian ’87 

1993 Sean D. Sheehan, Jr. ’87 

1992 Karen Russell Carroll ’85 

1992 Theresa C. Murray ’83 

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes exceptional achievement of alumni younger than 35 years old. Honorees have demonstrated great promise and accomplishment in their chosen professions and/or through community, public or humanitarian service. In addition, recipients have shown a commitment to participating in the life of their alma mater and serve as a role model for students and alumni.

2025 Eric S. Rodko ’90

2024 Dr. Louise E. Ciallella ’74 

2023 Elaine Hart ’72 

2021 Leslie Barrett ‘87 

2019 Eileen M. Creaton ’18 

2017 Katherine M. Aldrich '86 

2016 Nancy C. Cardoza '85 

2015 Elizabeth Hartigan DeSantis '57 

2014 Patricia Nardone Soscia, MD ’83 

2013 Mary E. McGann ’69 

2012 Mary Spengler '68 

2011 Jane Integlia Campbell '59 

2010 David Sanders, Ph.D. ’89, ’09 

2009 Dr. Rose Mary Healy Dougherty ’69 

2008 Rear Admiral Barbara E. McGa 

2007 Cathleen Earley Naughton ’57 

2006 Judith Cadigan Parisi ’69 

2005 Barbara Moriarty Carroll ’52 

2004 Virginia N. Gonsalves ’62 

2003 Mary-Louise Soares Mancini ’64 

2002 Eileen Thoubboron Shugart ’70 

2002 Susan Dunphy Lawlor ’68 

2001 Class of ’51 

2000 Gloria M. Perry ’96 

2000 Dr. Johnelle Luciani, RSM ’63 

1999 Angela Harris Johnson ’69 

1998 Mary Lou Gualtieri Riker ’68 

1997 Sister Eileen R. Schwenk ’52 

1997 Sister Regina Brunelle ’60 

1996 Sister Mary C. Bisson ’64 

1995 Claire Randall Curtis ’55 

1994 The Honorable Catherine Hawkins Graziano ’53 

1994 Kathy M. McMahon-Klosterman ’69 

1993 Maureen McCann Green ’79 

1993 Mary Rafferty McClain ’62 

1993 Patricia Cox Owen ’76 

1993 Janet L. Robinson ’72 

1992 Deborah Cross MacFarlane ’82 

1992 Linda Waite Maurano ’70 

1992 Patricia M. Raymond ’73 

1992 Jane M. Thibault ’69 

1991 Jean F. Judge ’51 

1991 Barbara Ostheimer Stanley ’66 

1991 Mary Silvia Vermette ’54 

2025 Lucy Rose M’22

2024 Gregg L. Catlow ’02, M’09 

2023 Lisa Milich M’13 

2021 Carrie Miranda M’94 

2019 William F. Bundy Ph.D. ’05 

2018 Brett J. Morash PHD'15 

2017 Rev. Kris M. Von Maluski M'12 

2016 Denise M. Abraham M'94 

2015 Lynne A. Urbani-Craddock M'90 

2014 Rev. Dr. Bernard Wilson M’89 

2013 Caroline Naughton Rumowicz M’95 

2012 August Cordeiro M'91 

2011 Steven G. O'Donnell M'93 

2010 Vincent W. Howell M'81

2009 Col. Lawrence B. Wilkerson, USA (Ret.) '87 

2008 James H. Krilich, USA (Ret.) M'94 

2007 Ann Claire Assumpico M'98 

Salve Regina graduate from any undergraduate program. Demonstrates exemplary service to Salve Regina University. Recipients are identified by Salve Regina Advancement staff and confirmed by a classmate.

2025 Heather Clune ’00

2024 Anthony L. Cerino Jr. ’14, M’15 

2023 Nicholas Patti ’13 

2022 Linda A. Amoriggi Melis '72 

2022 Marc Saulnier '97

2022 Nancy Judge Whalen '72 

2021 Alison Witham Early '95 

2021 Carolyn Reder Booth '71 

2021 Jason N. Confrancesco '96 

2021 Martha Dolan-Cosgrove '71 

2021 Randy J. Early '94 

2019 Patricia Gallagher Snyder ’69 

2018 Shannon Sacharko-Theobald '98 

2016 Jean Havens Cook '66 

2016 Nancy Phelan Flynn '66 

2015 Jane Edward Steele '65 

2014 Mary Elizabeth Murray Magee ’54 

2011 Sharon Henry Caine ’56 

2011 Angela Ubriaco Murray ’81 

2010 Sandra J. Flowers, Ph.D. ’65, ’06 

2009 Joyce Santucci Beretta ’59 

2008 Eileen Farrelly ’58 

2008 Caroline Ruocco Scott ’68 

2007 Maureen Lynch Bennett ’57 

2007 Sheila Dugan Hess ’57 

2006 Helen Rigney Reall ’56 

2005 Cheryl Girr Mrozowski ’70 

2003 Maureen Oates Sweeney ’53 

2002 Mary Coughlin Donnelly ’62 

2001 Barbara G. O’Rourke ’51

Given between 1980 and 1989, the Outstanding Alumni Award was renamed Alumni Achievement in 1992.

1989 Paul R. Methot ’80 

1988 Ellen M. Scully ’64 

1987 Kathleen Sullivan Connell '58, M'96 

1986 Arlene Violet ’66 

1984 Mary E. McGann ’69 

1983 Marie Murphy ’59 

1982 Carol Radcliffe Keogh ’57 

1981 Jane Murphy Farley ’51 

1980 Rachel L. Wheeler-Rossow '60, '84 (Hon.)

The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes exceptional achievement of alumni younger than 35 years old. Honorees have demonstrated great promise and accomplishment in their chosen professions and/or through community, public or humanitarian service. In addition, recipients have shown a commitment to participating in the life of their alma mater and serve as a role model for students and alumni.

2025 Alexa L. Bracco ’15

2024 Pegi Bano ’14, M’17 

2023 Mara-Lise Owen Deychak ’12 

2021 Ruth McNally ’15, DNP’20 

2019 Elizabeth J. Duggan ’08 

2018 Rebecca J. Bertrand ’08 

2017 Michael A. Fisher '06 

2016 Devon B. Luty-Swenson '05 

2015 Caitlin M. Emery '07 

2014 Bobby Gondola, Jr. ’06 

2013 E. Edward Ross ’03 

2012 Lauren De Young Cust '04 

2011 Robert M. Pesapane '06, M'07 

2010 James R. Norton '99, M'00 

2010 Melissa Pucci ’00 

2009 John R. Kach ’05 

2008 Chad A. Kritzas ’98 

2007 Christopher B. Lyddy ’05 

2007 Jennifer A. Maloney ’99 

2007 Brian G. Meehan ’95

Recognizes nursing alumni who have made outstanding contributions to the field of nursing and whose actions are in keeping with the university mission and provide a role model for students and alumni. Nominees must have received a nursing degree from Salve Regina University. Nominees must have 10 or more years of professional nursing experience.

2013 Kathleen M. O’Connell ’63 

2013 Paulette La Cava Osterman ’62 

2010 Elizabeth Cadigan '79 

2010 Kathleen Sullivan Connell '58, M'96 

2010 Mary Rafferty McClain '62 

2009 Christine Marcello Fisher '76 

2009 Elizabeth Hoffman Murphy '56 

2009 Carol Reagan Shelton '64 

2008 Carol Lamoureux '74 

2008 Grace McCarthy '78 

2008 Mary Roche '67 

2007 Maria Campo Kolarsick '76 

2007 Mary Ann Bolton McGwin '52 

2007 Mary Dowd Struck '68 

2006 Dorothy Watson '77 

Recognizes a Salve Regina graduate whose service to others exemplifies the mission of the University.

2025 Carol Jussaume RSM ’71

2024 Dr. Helen Dorflinger Ryan ’69 

2023 Matthew Anderson ’08 

2021 Ashley Bendikson ’13 

2019 Christopher L. Holloway ’85 

2018 Mary Lou Gualtieri Riker ’68 

2017 Jason Maxwell '01 

2016 Eileen Jeanes Jachna '62 

2015 Daniel J. Taylor-Stypa ’75 

2014 Elizabeth Morancy ’64 

2014 Ellen Scully ’64 

2013 Ronald W. Atkins M’83, PhD’96 

2012 Catherine Sullivan '56, M'85 

2011 Sister Mary Paul Kunnemuriyil '89, M'91 

2010 Sheila Kissane Collins ’74 

2009 Sister Kathleen Harrington RSM ’67 

2008 Lisa D. Ferrazzoli ’82 

2007 Ellen A. Schillace ’71 

2006 Jane Murphy Farley ’51 

2004 Pamela Marino Gau ’79