Merrimack College: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Merrimack College, a private Augustinian institution in North Andover, Massachusetts, has cultivated a rich tradition of academic excellence and community engagement since its founding in 1947. Established by the Order of Saint Augustine with the primary mission of educating World War II veterans, the college has evolved into a selective institution offering a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. Merrimack's commitment to providing a "very satisfying" academic experience, coupled with accessible professors who "genuinely care and give more to the students than needed," has fostered an environment where students can thrive and achieve remarkable success. This article explores the stories and accomplishments of some of Merrimack College's most notable alumni, highlighting their diverse contributions to various fields and their enduring impact on society.
The Foundation of Success: Academics and Campus Life
Merrimack College distinguishes itself through its dedication to academic rigor and personalized attention. Students consistently praise the "intimate classroom sizes," innovative "interactive class rooms," and abundant "hands-on experience opportunities." The faculty's passion for their subjects is infectious, inspiring students and guiding them toward their future goals. One freshman noted, "The professors here at Merrimack are so passionate about the topic they teach, their passion rubs off on students and motivates them." This sentiment underscores the transformative power of dedicated educators who go beyond textbooks to impart knowledge gained through real-world experience.
Beyond academics, Merrimack provides a vibrant campus life. The Mendel Observatory, equipped with a 20-inch Ritchey-Chretien reflector and electronic imaging systems, offers public viewing on Wednesday nights and special astronomical events. The Rogers Center, home to the Merrimack Theater Department, hosts major theater, film, music, and other events throughout the year, showcasing both professional and student productions. The McCoy Art Gallery and Thagaste Gallery further enrich the cultural landscape of the campus. The college's location also provides access to urban amenities, with Boston a short commuter rail ride away.
Distinguished Alumni: Shaping Industries and Communities
Merrimack College takes immense pride in its alumni, who have made significant contributions to a wide array of fields. The Distinguished Alumni Award, the college's highest alumni honor, recognizes individuals who embody the values of Merrimack and have achieved exceptional success in their respective careers.
Leaders in Healthcare and Science
Laurence Demers, Ph.D. ('60, H'11), a professor emeritus at M.S. Hershey Medical Center of The Pennsylvania State University, has made groundbreaking contributions to healthcare. He has published 700 papers and played a pivotal role in developing aromatase inhibitors, which have become the standard of care for treating women with breast cancer. Demers' Merrimack pride is evident in his generous support of the college, including an endowed professorship in the life sciences and three student scholarships.
Read also: Accessing Merrimack Canvas
Nancy J. Sullivan, Sc.D. ('80, H'15), a professor of virology, immunology, and microbiology and a professor of biology at Boston University, is an internationally respected leader in viral immunology, emerging diseases prevention, and infectious disease research. Sullivan credits Merrimack College with providing the foundation for her career, particularly the influence of Professor George Wermers, who sparked her passion for biochemistry.
Richard Connell, Ph.D. ('84), is an inventor on one of the two key patents for Tarceva®, a billion-dollar therapy that has been shown to improve overall survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer and advanced pancreatic cancer. Connell and his wife, Nancy, established a student scholarship named for his mother, Rita, to provide access to the Merrimack College experience for future generations.
Notable Alumni in Athletics
Carl Yastrzemski, nicknamed "Yaz", is an American former professional baseball player who played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He started his career primarily as a left fielder, but also played 33 games as a third baseman. Later in his career, he was mainly a first baseman and designated hitter.
Stéphane Da Costa is a French professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Born in France, Da Costa moved to the United States as a junior to develop as a player. After junior, Da Costa moved on to NCAA collegiate hockey, playing two seasons with Merrimack College.
Collin Delia is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets.
Read also: Merrimack College: A Detailed Look
Ryan O'Rourke is a college baseball coach and former American professional baseball pitcher. He is the volunteer assistant and pitching coach at the College of the Holy Cross. He played college baseball at Merrimack College from 2007 to 2010. O'Rourke was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2015.
Joe Cannata is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with the Norfolk Admirals in the ECHL. Cannata was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round, 173rd overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after his freshman season at Merrimack where he played in 23 games.
Karl Stollery is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He most recently played with HC Bolzano, Italian team of the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL).
Brett Seney is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and captain for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Seney was drafted by the New Jersey Devils 157th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Greg Classen is a German-Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Classen played a total of 90 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) all with the Nashville Predators.
Read also: The Story of Merrimack Athletics
Nolan Godfrey is an American professional lacrosse player, most recently for the Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse and Uncle Frank LLC.
Rob Ricci is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey forward who most recently played for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.
Leaders in Politics and Law
T.J. Donovan is an American lawyer and politician who served as Vermont Attorney General from 2017 to 2022.
Barbara L'Italien is an American politician from the state of Massachusetts, serving from January 2015 to 2019 as the State Senator from the 2nd Essex and Middlesex District.
Marc Lombardo is an American politician who represents the 22nd Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Steven Angelo is a former state representative and Town Manager.
Christopher Fallon is an American politician who represented the 33rd Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2003 to 2015
Brian Cresta is an American politician who currently serves on the Middleton, Massachusetts Board of Selectmen.
Vincent Lozzi is an American politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Leaders in Arts and Media
Charlie Day is an American actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for playing Charlie Kelly on the FX dark comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present), which he stars in with Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton and Danny DeVito, and of which he is also a writer and an executive producer.
Kelly Lange is an American journalist, most notable for being the first woman to be a nightly news anchor in Los Angeles.
Sally Ann Freedman is a former beauty queen, professional model, and band vocalist.
Leaders in Academia
Brian C. Mitchell is the president and managing principal of Academic Innovators. Prior to founding Academic Innovators, he served as president of Brian Mitchell & Associates, LLC. He was previously the president of Bucknell University, serving from 2004 until 2010. From 1998 through 2004, he served as president of Washington & Jefferson College.
Research and Faculty Achievements
Merrimack College's commitment to academic excellence extends beyond its alumni to its faculty. Professors are actively engaged in research and scholarship, contributing to their respective fields and providing valuable learning opportunities for students.
Christine Shaw was awarded Counselor Educator of the Year by the Massachusetts School Counselors Associate (MASCA).
Dr. Amanda Cremone-Caira has published in the Autism Journal.
Dr. Alvin L. Morton, III, co-authored an American College of Sports Medicine Blog Post, arguing that physical activity offers not just a pathway to better health, but a strategy for economic resilience.
Dr. Daniel “Buks” Moolman was featured in MassCPAs Cover Story, discussing accounting program strategies, initiatives, and more in MassCPAs Magazine.
Dr. James Kaklamanos received grants from the Geological Survey and presented research at the Seismological Society of America (SSA) Annual Meeting. He also published a peer-reviewed journal paper in Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering.
Dr. Tunde Szivak studies stress on women in tactical roles and is the lead author of a new peer-reviewed research publication featured in Metabolites.
Dr. Lauri Kurdziel published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.
Dr. Aaron Mansfield authored a piece published in The Conversation.
Drs. A. E. Seitchik, J. D. Parent, and C. Hardway published a collaborative study in the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching.
Dr. Debra Michals' book, "She's the Boss: The Rise of Women Entrepreneurs since World War II," was featured on the New Books Network Podcast.
Dr. H. David Sheets has a new publication, "A Study of Three Modern Asian Lacquers Using Surface Metrology and Data Science/Analytics" in Collection Care: Environmental Monitoring, Risk Assessment and Risk Management.
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