Notable Alumni of Framingham State University

Framingham State University (FSU), located approximately 20 miles from Boston in Massachusetts, boasts a rich history and a diverse array of accomplished alumni. Founded in 1839 as the first state-supported normal school in the United States, FSU has evolved into a comprehensive university offering a wide range of academic programs and extracurricular activities. This article highlights some of the university's most notable graduates, spanning various fields such as politics, education, law, and the arts.

Historical Overview of Framingham State University

Originally established as the Normal School in Lexington, Framingham State University holds the distinction of being the first state-supported normal school in the United States. Horace Mann, as the first secretary of the Board of Education in Massachusetts, played a crucial role in its creation as an experimental normal school. Following its initial establishment in Lexington in July 1839, a second normal school was opened in Barre in September of the same year, followed by Bridgewater State College the following year.

The school's location changed several times in its early years. After a decade in West Newton, it moved to its current location on Bare Hill in Framingham in 1853, becoming the "State Normal School in Framingham". The institution underwent further name changes, becoming "Framingham Normal School" in 1865 and "Framingham State Normal School" in 1889.

In 1922, Framingham State granted its first Bachelor of Science in Education degrees, marking the adoption of a four-year study program. A decade later, all Massachusetts normal schools were renamed state teachers colleges, reflecting the increasing prevalence of degreed teachers among their graduates. The school then became the "State Teachers College at Framingham". The name evolved again in 1960 to the "State College at Framingham" after Bachelor of Arts degrees were added. In 1965, the name was slightly adjusted to "Framingham State College". In 2007, the college began offering the Master's of Business Administration (MBA) degree. In October 2010, it became Framingham State University.

Campus Life and Sustainability

The 73-acre campus in Framingham provides a vibrant learning environment. Seven residence halls accommodate over 1,500 students. The Henry Whittemore Library houses over 200,000 volumes, provides Wi-Fi access, and access to over 70,000 electronic journals.

Read also: The History of FSU

Framingham State University is committed to sustainability. In 2007, the school signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. That year, Massachusetts issued Executive Order No. 484, which mandated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption for all state agencies and institutions. Greenhouse gases must be reduced 80% by 2050. Framingham State University was named a "Green College" by the Princeton Review in 2010 and 2011.

Leadership and Organization

Framingham State University is governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees. The governor appoints nine trustees to five-year terms, which are renewable once. The Framingham State University Alumni Association elects one trustee for a single five-year term, and the student body elects one student trustee for a one-year term. The university also has an Office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development and a Center for Inclusive Excellence.

Athletics

Framingham State University offers a variety of athletic opportunities. The university fields 14 varsity athletic teams (6 men's, 8 women's) competing at the NCAA Division III level and 4 club athletic teams (1 men's, 2 women's, 1 co-ed) that compete in various leagues.

Notable Alumni

Framingham State University has produced a diverse group of alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. Here are some notable individuals who have attended or graduated from the university:

Government and Politics

Foster Furcolo: Served as the Governor of Massachusetts from 1957 to 1961.
Daniel Bennett: Served as the Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security (2015 - 2018).
Andrea Cabral: Served as the Secretary of Public Safety & Security (2013 - 2015).
Michael Festa: Served as the Secretary of Elder Affairs (2007 - 2009).
Mary Beth Heffernan: Served as the Secretary of Public Safety & Security (2010 - 2013).
Gina Kwon: Undersecretary for Law Enforcement at the Executive Office of Public Safety (2023 - Present).
David Linsky: State Representative (1999 - Present).
Jay Livingstone: State Representative (2015 - Present).
Brian Joseph Moran: An American politician and a member of the Democratic Party. He served as Virginia Secretary of Public Safety from 2014 to 2022, and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1996 until 2008, representing Northern Virginia's 46th district.
William C. Galvin: An American insurance broker and politician who represents the 6th Norfolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the legislature in 1990.
Alicia L. Hyndman: The Assembly member for the 29th District of the New York State Assembly. She is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Laurelton, Rosedale, St. Albans, Addisleigh Park, Hollis, Springfield Gardens and Jamaica in Queens.
Charles M. McGowan: An American businessman and politician. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, McGowan served in the United States Army during World War II. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Framingham State University and was a real estate appraiser and broker. He served on the Dedham, Massachusetts Board of Selectmen and was chairman.

Law

Nate Burris: Assistant United States Attorney, VT (2017 - Present).
Craig Estes: Assistant United States Attorney, MA (2016 - Present).
Laura Montes: Assistant United States Attorney, Texas (2018 - Present).
John Mulcahy: Assistant United States Attorney, MA (2018 - Present).
Brad Bailey: Brad Bailey Law Group (1999 - Present).
Peter Bellotti: Managing Partner, Bellotti Law Group (1989 - Present).
Thomas Hoopes: Partner at Libby Hoopes Brooks & Mulvey (2000 - Present).
Martin Kane: McGrath & Kane (1997 - Present).
Brook Lane: Principal Attorney at Fair Work, P.C. (2017 - Present).
Ralph Martin: Partner at Prince Lobel (2022 - Present).
Ryan McCaffrey: Associate at Ropes & Gray (2021 - Present).
David Meier: Partner at Todd & Weld, Chair of Government Investigations (2008 - Present).
Jonathan Sahrbeck: Principal Owner, Sahrbeck P.C. (2023 - Present).
David Yannetti: Founder, Lead Counsel, Yannetti Criminal Defense Law Firm (1999 - Present).

Judiciary

Marianne Bowler: Chief Magistrate Judge for the District of Massachusetts (1990 - 2022).
Denise Casper: Chief Judge for the District of Massachusetts (2010 - Present).
Cyrus Chung: Magistrate Judge for the District of Colorado (2025 - Present).
Ruth Abrams: Associate Justice, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (1978 - 2000).
Margot Botsford: Associate Justice, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (2007 - 2017).
Peter Agnes: Retired Justice, Appeals Court (2011 - 2020).
Amy Blake: Chief Justice, Appeals Court (2024 - Present).
Robert Brennan: Justice, Appeals Court (2022 - Present).
Marguerite Grant: Justice, Appeals Court (2020 - Present).
David Mills: Associate Justice, Appeals Court (2001 - 2012).
Sabita Singh: Justice, Appeals Court (2017 - Present).
Carol Ball: Associate Justice, Superior Court (1995 - 2015).

Education and Academia

Christa McAuliffe: (Class of 1970), astronaut, participant in Teacher in Space Project, died in Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Martin Meehan: President of the University of Massachusetts System (2015 - Present).
Chichi Lee: Professor of Law, Yale Law School (2025 - Present).
Wendy Murphy: Professor of Sexual Violence Law at New England Law School (2008 - 2025).
Olivia A. Davidson: An American teacher and educator, co-founder of Tuskegee Institute and wife of Booker T. Washington.
Anna Callender Brackett: Was an American philosopher, translator, feminist, and educator. She translated Karl Rosenkranz's Pedagogics as a System and wrote The Education of American Girls, a response to arguments against the coeducation of males and females.
Corinna Shattuck: Was an American educator and missionary in Turkey, recognized for heroism at Urfa in 1895â1896.

Arts and Entertainment

Nicole Theriault: A Thai singer and actress, who went platinum with 2 million copies sold on her debut album Ka-Po-Lo Club and went double platinum on her second album Funny Lady earning her Breakout Artist of the Year for her first album and Best Female Artist of the Year for her second album. She has released a total of 13 albums which includes 5 solo albums and the remaining being collaborations and cover albums.
William Landay: Author (2003 - Present).
Lucie Caroline Hager: Was an American author of poetry and prose. She also taught in country schools and worked as a bookkeeper.
Catharine H. T. Avery: Was an American author, editor, and educator of the long nineteenth century. Of Revolutionary ancestry and hailing from Michigan, she was founder and regent of the Western Reserve Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), of Cleveland, Ohio; Vice-president General of its National Society; and editor of the National Society's official organ, the American Monthly. She also served two years as a member of the Cleveland School Board, being the first woman in Ohio chosen to an elective office.

Other Notable Figures

Patrick Halley: Senior Campaign Staff for Hillary Clinton (1992 - 2001).
Sharon Hanson: Senior Advisor, The Edward Company (2014 - Present).
Rikki Klieman: Legal Analyst for CBS News (2015 - Present).
Peter Koutoujian: Sheriff of Middlesex County (2011 - Present).
Tom Samoluk: General Counsel and Head of Government Relations at John Hancock (2023 - Present).
Christian Doherty: President, Doherty Properties LLC (2006 - Present).
Charlotte Champe Stearns: Mother of T. S. Eliot.

Honorary Alumni

Dr. Robert A. Martin: Former Chairman of Westfield Stateâs Board of Trustees and current member. From 2004-2010, he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Framingham State and was instrumental in the creation of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship and Service, which supports the professional development, research, and creative activities of Framingham Stateâs faculty. Martin spent 24 years at Westfield State in various positions before leaving for Framingham State including Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. He was also a faculty member in the department of psychology. Martin was sworn in by Governor Deval Patrick to the 11-member Westfield State Board of Trustees in 2014 and was elected Chairman in 2021. Martin earned his bachelorâs degree in psychology from Wesleyan University and his masterâs and Ph.D.

Read also: UW-Madison Tuition Requirements

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