When Joan Burger arrived at Chestnut Hill College for her freshman year in 1963, she had no way of knowing that she was starting a scholar-athlete family dynasty.
When Janice Martin Foster '67 graduated from Chestnut Hill College, she knew she wanted to continue her education by practicing law. What she didn't know at the time, however, was the history she was soon to embark on in the process. Because Foster, much like many trailblazers, didn't set out to make history. She simply set out on her chosen path to become a lawyer.
Ask anyone who’s been here. Chestnut Hill College is a special place. It is a place where stories begin and new chapters are written. In 2003, the College went co-ed, welcoming its first class of male students and four years later, its first group of male alumni. Since then, CHC has been blessed to celebrate no shortage of alumni couples, who met at CHC or met through CHC, and have gone on to get married. And now, have gone on to have future Griffins of their own!
When U.S. Naval Captain, Kathleen Donahue Bruyere, graduated from Chestnut Hill College in 1966, the world she was ready to embark on was much different than the world she would leave upon her death in September 2020. That is largely because of Bruyere and her like-minded contemporaries, who committed themselves to breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings for women everywhere.
At Chestnut Hill College, our alumni are the heartbeat of our institution. That is why every year, it is the great pleasure of the College to celebrate and honor a very special group of alumni, our Golden Griffins. This year, the celebration was quite the special one. Not only were new Golden Griffins, those in the Classes of 1970 and 1971, honored, but all former Golden Griffins were also celebrated and invited to campus for the annual brunch.
Two recipients of Chestnut Hill College’s innovative H.O.P.E. Scholarship Program have used their H.O.P.E. scholarships to complete their education and earn their Bachelor of Science degrees at the College’s virtual 94th Commencement ceremonies.
Nearly 80 years ago, Kathleen “Kay” McNulty ’42, a recent emigrant from Ireland, graduated from Chestnut Hill College as one of only three women to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Today, her legacy continues in a new form at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, now known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory in Maryland, where a new supercomputer has been named in her honor.
A first-generation college graduate, Rashida Weathers ’95 never imagined being a board member for her alma mater or serving on the planning committee for the College’s annual gala. Yet, she attributes her continued commitment to Chestnut Hill College to one of its founding principles.
Amanda Cappelletti '10, Vice Chair of the East Norriton Board of Supervisors and Chestnut Hill College graduate, entered and won the race for the 17th State Senatorial District in Pennsylvania in 2020. Equipped with the experience and goals for confronting today’s most relevant issues, from public health to gun violence, Cappelletti shared her aspirations for her time in office as well as how her experience at CHC stirred a desire for public service in her life and career.
William Johnson ’16 was recently named Director of Intercultural Student Engagement at the University of Southern Maine. In his new role, Johnson is dedicated to supporting students and encouraging them to find their own voice throughout their undergraduate journey. This commitment has been a common thread in Johnson’s career in higher education, and that dedication to helping students comes from lessons learned during his own undergraduate experience.
It’s been nearly ten years since Devin Devoue ’11 graduated from Chestnut Hill College, but he’s still an active member of the Griffin community as if he never left. As a member of the CHC Alumni Association, Devin volunteers with the Admissions Office and the Office of Institutional Advancement to welcome and meet prospective and incoming students; he serves as an advisor to the cast of the annual student musical; and this year, he is leading the planning committee for the Annual Scholarship Gala, the College’s largest fundraising event.
For Michelle Simmons ’08 SCPS, ’10 SGS, Chestnut Hill College is more than just a space for academic enrichment; it’s where she developed her strong sense of confidence and where she learned to lead without distinction and with love. Simmons is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Why Not Prosper, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit with a mission of empowering previously incarcerated women to become self-sufficient.
As a Chestnut Hill College student, Christa Lynch ’03 made extra money working at Bruno’s, the well-known eatery and hang-out right across the street from the College. A career in the restaurant business was not in her plans as an undergraduate sociology major. Her 3-year stint at Bruno’s was her first real experience working in kitchens and restaurants, but it wouldn’t be her last.
Faith and service define the life of Deena Sellers ’01. The Mt. Airy native teaches multiple subjects at Xavier High School in Manhattan and serves as the chair of its Community Life and Inclusion Council. She routinely plans and participates in service immersion trips in which she, students, and other members of the school travel far and wide to help the less fortunate. A devoted Catholic, she belongs to the Church of St. Francis Xavier in Brooklyn; she is also a member of the Board and Selection Committee for the Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Program of the Archdiocese of New York. Perpetually in motion, she also partakes in community-based projects for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as well as the Office of Black Ministry, assisting the New York City-based organization in achieving its mission of promoting the aspirations of black Catholics.
Christine Jackson ’20, ’24 SGS, who graduated from Chestnut Hill College with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in human services, will be one of the first students in Chestnut Hill College’s new Master of Science in Cybersecurity online program.
Ayesha Farzana Hamid ’01, B.A., B.S., lived life balancing the expectations of her immigrant parents with those of the world around her, a struggle she details in her new book, “The Borderland Between Worlds: A Memoir.”
This year Lucy Miller Murray ’61 published “Faces: A Novel,” a story equal parts love and tragedy.
Life on the front lines has never been more trying for those working in the healthcare profession. They truly are heroes, and we're so proud to spotlight our very own John McLaughlin, M.D., '08, an ophthalmologist at Horizon Eye Care and Shore Medical Center in New Jersey who shared his experience and reflected on what it's been like working and living during the pandemic.
Life on the front lines has never been more trying for those working in the healthcare profession. They truly are heroes, and we're so proud to spotlight our very own Tom Mazza '11, an ER registered nurse at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery, located outside of Philadelphia, who shared his experience and reflected on what it's been like working and living during this pandemic.
Renee Davis '16, a Philadelphia police officer and Army reservist, reflected on what it's been like working and living during the pandemic.
Life on the front lines has never been more trying for those working in the healthcare profession. They truly are heroes, and we're so proud to spotlight our very own Jeramy Solema '14, a mobility technician at Hospital For Special Surgery in the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, who shared his experience and reflected on what it's been like working and living during this pandemic.
Life on the frontlines has never been more trying for those working in the healthcare profession. They truly are heroes and we're so proud to spotlight our very own Devan Martinez '18, a patient care technician at Lourdes Memorial Hospital in Binghamton, New York, who shared his experience and reflection on what it's been like working and living during this pandemic.
Life on the frontlines has never been more trying for those working in the healthcare profession. They truly are heroes and we're so proud to spotlight our very own Chris Dachowski '19, an emergency room technician at Grand View Hospital, who shared his experience and reflection on what it's been like working and living during this pandemic.
