Alumni Notes

1973

Jo-Anne Manijek Sbrega (early education) retired as executive director at the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River, in Fall River, Massachusetts in 2022. She previously served on the museum’s board and led fundraising, operations, educational programming, and the museum’s expansion into its permanent facility. She married her husband a year after graduating from HCC.

1975

The Sons of Erin recognized James Kane (business) with the 2026 Billy Buzzee “St. Pat on the Back Award” in honor of his hard work and dedication. He was the third charter member of the Sons of Erin, an Irish-American social club that brings heritage and culture to Westfield, Massachusetts. The Sons of Erin participate in local sports activities, seasonal festivals, and parades. Kane dedicated 36 years of his life to the Westfield Fire Department before retiring in 2016 as deputy chief. 

1976

Mark Marchand is writing his fourth book, this one about his cross-country travels from Oregon to Boston. He is a frequent traveler to Europe with his wife, Elisa, with whom he recently returned from a two-week expedition in Antarctica. After HCC, Marchand earned his bachelor’s degree in physical sciences with a concentration in chemistry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he subsequently served three terms on the UMass Alumni Association Board. He began his career at Verizon, where he worked for 25 years in senior management and communications. During his career, he served as a national spokesman on technology and taught journalism for 10 years at the University of Albany. 

1986

The Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee recognized Kristine Miller Sills (computer electronics technology) with the Anne Sullivan Award. Sills has proudly served as a member of the Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee for the past two years and recently was elected as the committee’s vice president. She recently retired after working 35 years with the U.S. Postal Service.

1987

Robert Ziomek (arts and sciences) was recently appointed vice president of institutional advancement at Westfield State University. Ziomek has held multiple leadership roles at different institutions, including Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Johnson & Wales University. He worked as assistant of advancement and university relations at Westfield State from 2000 to 2010, where he focused on strengthening alumni outreach and institutional growth. Ziomek focuses on making education accessible and financially sustainable for students. 

1988

Joanne Ollson has joined the senior leadership team at ServiceNet as chief human resources officer. ServiceNet is a nonprofit mental health and human service agency based in Northampton. Ollson earned a double bachelor’s degree in business administration and executive management from Bay Path College and a master’s degree in human resource development from American International College. Ollson has served in board leadership roles at Springfield Technical Community College, the Employers Association of the Northeast, the Ludlow Boys and Girls Club, and the Town of Ludlow Personnel Board, and volunteers to serve meals at an area homeless shelter. 

1989

Elizabeth Cole a.k.a. EJ Cole (early education) published her second children’s book, Elizabeth and the Enchanted Elevator, in March 2026. The book, from Miriam Laundry Publishing, is the second in her Inspired Imagination Series, which aims to teach children to use their imagination while doing chores to help the time pass. For almost 20 years, Cole was the owner/director of Dolphin Daycare, an early childhood education center, after which she turned to a career as a social worker for children and families. She earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, became a licensed therapist, and published her first children’s picture book, Elizabeth and the Magic Mirror, in April 2025. “I never lost my joy of sharing stories that I discovered during my student teaching days and am now a best-selling children’s author!” she writes. 

1993

Aaron Wood (visual arts) shares that 2026 marks 25 healthy years after his kidney transplant. A graphic designer, Wood is the owner of Aaron Wood Designs in Holyoke. 

2001

Crystal Childs (graphic design) is the co-founder and chief executive officer of DOMORRE Marketing in Agawam and has been a marketing consultant for more than 20 years. She was a Business West “40 Under Forty” award recipient in 2018 and is on the Westfield State University Foundation Board. 

2006

Kahntapaht Wilson (graphic design) is an adjunct faculty member in business and professional studies at MassBay Community College. Wilson is the owner of Mr. C’s Sauce and Marinade, which produces her family’s signature recipes and can be found in grocery stores and eateries from Westfield to Boston. She completed a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from Westfield State University and an MBA from Bay Path University. 

2008

Ryan Rege (liberal arts) was named superintendent of the Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical School District in Turners Falls, Massachusetts. He previously served as principal at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School. A resident of Belcherton, Massachusetts, he is also an adjunct professor at Westfield State University and Fitchburg State University, a member of the Holyoke Community College Alumni Council, and sits on the board of directors of the HCC Foundation. 

2010

Johnnie McKnight (business administration) is running for election as the Massachusetts state representative for the 11th Hampden District with a focus on issues including affordable housing, quality education, public safety, workforce development, and lower costs for working families. After graduating from HCC, McKnight completed both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration management at American International College. Today, McKnight serves as a middle school math teacher in the Springfield Public Schools. In addition to working in education, he serves on several community boards and advisory committees focused on workforce development, educational equity, and economic opportunity. McKnight says that Holyoke Community College played an important role in his journey by providing a foundation that helped him grow as a student, professional, and community leader. 

Christopher Rhodes (administrative information systems) recently joined Collins Aerospace as a production control specialist. While studying at HCC, Rhodes worked at Lenox Tools as a part-time customer service specialist. After graduation, he was hired full time in their logistics department. Later, Rhodes was named production planner supervisor at CRRC in Springfield. Recently, he celebrated 16 years of marriage with his wife, and they plan to spend their next anniversary on a trip to Portugal.

2011

Sheril Cooley (liberal arts) was awarded the 2026 Leadership in Suicide Prevention Award by the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention. As a licensed clinical social worker, Cooley works with diverse communities across western Massachusetts, including veterans, suicide loss survivors, LGBTQ individuals, older adults, and youth. “Through her leadership with the Pioneer Valley Coalition for Suicide Prevention, she has displayed her deep commitment to suicide prevention and strengthening connections within the Black community, and has shown her passion for leading initiatives focused on older adult mental health,” the award committee said. After HCC, Cooley earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Elms College and a master’s degree in social work from Westfield State University. 

2012

Dylan Pilon (business administration), owner of Cloud 9 Marketing Group in East Longmeadow, was inducted into Sigma Nu Tau, a national honor society for excellence in entrepreneurship. After graduating from HCC, he transferred to the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Pilon currently serves as board president of the ERC5 Chamber of Commerce and as president of the Western Mass Referral Exchange. He is a board member for the nonprofit community development organization Living Local 413, and has served on numerous boards and committees, including the HCC Business Advisory Board, the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy Marketing Advisory Committee, the Ronald McDonald House Planned Advisory Committee, and the East Longmeadow Media Communications Sub-Committee. Pilon funds an annual HCC alumni donor matching challenge during the annual spring “Together HCC” giving day campaign, and is the founder of the Cloud 9 Scholarship through the HCC Foundation.  

2014

Louis Burgos (criminal justice 2014; communication, media, and theater arts 2018) recently completed a master’s degree in applied communication at Fitchburg State University. Before that, he received his bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies at Westfield State University. For the last two years, Burgos has been HCC’s multimedia specialist. “It’s been a full circle experience to now work at the same place that helped shape my educational journey,” he says. “Looking back, it’s great to see how much growth, dedication, and perseverance these last two years required.”

After beginning her journey with HCC, Rachelle (Houle) Warwick (communications, media, and theater arts; human resources management) transferred to Asnuntuck Community College in Connecticut to major in communications and radio broadcasting. She began her radio career at WCCH 103.5 and has continued to work with local stations NEPM 98.3 and The Q 99.7. She currently works as the groups and events manager at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts.

2015

Emily Mendez (nursing) recently accepted the new role as quality improvement coordinator for the Hospice of Western & Central Massachusetts. Mendez received her master’s degree in nursing from American International College. Since graduating from HCC, she’s explored a wide breadth of jobs in the nursing field — from dialysis and medical surgery to leadership roles in management and quality.

Adriana Piantedosi (liberal arts) is on course to complete her master’s degree in social work from Smith College next year. After graduating from HCC, Piantedosi transferred to Smith College as an Ada Comstock Scholar and earned a bachelor’s degree in film and media studies in 2023. Piantedosi credits Irma Medina ’97 (former Pathways coordinator, now dean of Integrated and Applied Learning) for supporting her transfer applications, which resulted in offers of full scholarships from Smith and Mount Holyoke College.

2017

Betsy Cortis Lancto (liberal arts) is the sales operations associate at New England Public Media, a career path she attributes to her experience with the HCC college radio station, WCCH. In the last few years, Lancto got married, had a daughter, and bought a house Belchertown, Massachusetts.

Karianne Santiago-Ruiz (biology) is patient family relations specialist at Mass General Hospital in Boston. After graduating from HCC, Santiago-Ruiz transferred to UMass Amherst for a bachelor’s degree in public health and health sciences. She then completed a master’s degree in public policy at the University of New England in Maine. “I am truly grateful for the foundation that HCC instilled in me because it deepened my commitment to work not only with community, but for community,” she writes.

2019

Joviana Rosario-Diaz (administrative professional studies) recently accepted a position as office administrator in the office of the dean of students at UMass Amherst. Since graduating from HCC, Rosario-Diaz has worked in various administrative roles with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In March 2025, Rosario-Diaz married her long-time partner, Ryan Diaz, and welcomed their son, Luis Diaz. She has continued her education, taking classes part time at HCC with plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in legal studies with a concentration in hospitality and tourism law. She says the dedicated faculty and staff at HCC have been an integral part of her growth and professional success.

2020

Samantha Robinson (liberal arts) is enrolled in the digital photography program at Springfield Technical Community College. After graduating from HCC, Robinson studied digital media and communications at Bay Path University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2024. Robinson is an avid Springfield Thunderbirds fan, enjoys attending sporting events, and has experience as a disc jockey for sports radio, along with promoting and DJing local events.

Naiomi Robles (liberal arts and science) is the student success counselor at El Centro, HCC’s bilingual student support program. After HCC, Robles completed a bachelor’s degree in critical race theory and political economy at Mount Holyoke College. She has worked in the Holyoke Public School system as an educator and manager of culturally responsive education, which involved overseeing the ethnic studies program and leading professional development throughout the district on antiracism and dismantling ableism in pre-K-12 education. 

2021

Banen Mustafa (secondary education) is pursuing a Ph.D. at UMass Amherst in language, literacy, and culture. Mustafa received her bachelor’s degree in English, secondary education and teaching at Westfield State University. She went on to get her master’s degree in education at UMass Amherst, specializing in bilingual and multicultural education. 

2022

Miren Neyra Alcantara (Latinx studies) was accepted into the Ph.D. program in public history at UMass Amherst. After graduating from HCC, Alcantara transferred to Smith College to complete a bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies with a concentration in archives. When Alcantara was a student at HCC, she was the president of the Latinx Empowerment Association, created a social media campaign titled “Celebrating the Latinx Community,” led peer discussions, and and received a Newman Civic Fellowship from Campus Compact, a Boston-based nonprofit.

Gwenn Nabad (liberal arts and science) won election to the Northampton City Council in November 2025 and is a member of the Northampton Housing Partnership, a city board. After graduating from HCC, Nabad received a bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College, where she concentrated in Native American and Indigenous Studies. She also served on the college student advocacy board, where her leadership was recognized with the division of student affairs Ingenuity Award for 2023 and 2024. “HCC taught me so much I needed to know, not just academically, but how to move forward in life these days,” she writes. 

2024

Alanna Brunt (Latinx studies) graduated from UMass Amherst in May with a bachelor’s degree in women, gender, and sexuality studies and a minor in African-American studies. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in higher education in student affairs at Salem State University. 

Idalice Serrano (business administration, Latinx studies) has been hired as an accountant II at HCC. Serrano worked part time in the IT department while taking classes and now works in the Business Office. 

2025

Alicia Beaton (secondary education) was inducted into the Eta Theta Chapter of the Tau Sigma National Honor Society at Westfield State University. Tau Sigma is an honor society for transfer students who have demonstrated academic excellence within their first semester of transferring. Beaton writes that she is grateful to be recognized as an excellent transfer student and looks forward to being actively involved in the chapter. 

After dropping out of HCC in 2010, Jorge Claudio (liberal arts) pushed himself to re-enroll. With the support of ALANA, TRIO, and many other support programs on campus, he succeeded, earning his associate degree. He writes that the HCC community made him feel welcomed and valued. Claudio plans to transfer to Southern New Hampshire University to continue his education and hopes to find the same sense of belonging and support that helped him thrive at HCC. “No matter where my journey takes me next, HCC will always be an important part of my success story,” he said.

Jalen J. Cortes (physics) is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in astronomy at UMass Amherst. He says he is grateful for his time at HCC and the instructors and advisers who encouraged him to continue along the way. At UMass, Cortes enjoys being a part of AstroTROUP, a program that supports first-generation and underrepresented students in astronomy research opportunities.

Jamal Cumberbatch (liberal arts), a Commencement 2026 valedictorian, transferred to Pomona College in Claremont, California. A Fall 2025 HCC graduate, he had been working as development and engagement associate with Eagle Eye Institute (EEI), a nonprofit in Holyoke that focuses on providing outdoor experiences to youth who face barriers to accessing nature. At HCC, he was named to the 2026 Phi Theta Kappa All-Massachusetts Academic Team during an awards ceremony held at the Massachusetts Statehouse. He intends to maintain his connection to the region as a member of the HCC Alumni Council and EEI board of directors. He credits HCC, especially the Integrative Learning, Pathways, and ALANA programs, for providing him with growth opportunities, community connections, and support.