Leadership
Dr. James Dlugos
President
James Dlugos
Dr. James Dlugos
President
James Dlugos became the 14th president of Saint Joseph’s College in July 2012. Since his inauguration, he has been championing a bold plan for ensuring Saint Joseph’s place as an exemplary 21st-century Catholic liberal arts college in the Mercy tradition. Under his leadership, the College is pursuing a series of ambitious initiatives that align with Saint Joseph’s strategic plan for its second hundred years, Sustaining the Promise. While continuing to respect Saint Joseph’s heritage as a faith-based, value-centered learning environment, the strategic plan sets a new direction for the College, embracing the underlying principles of sustainability and wellness.
New capital investments in support of academics and student life include construction of a lighted turf field and track complex; the addition of four new, advanced science and nursing laboratories; the opening of new campus gathering spaces; and enhancements to the College’s waterfront on Sebago Lake. The College has also launched a new Bachelor of Social Work major, expanded opportunities for study abroad, increased scholarship programs, and adopted a comprehensive climate action and sustainability plan.
A key element of the strategic plan is the development of mission-aligned businesses on campus, which are designed to expand learning opportunities, diversify revenue streams, and address emerging social and economic needs in Maine. Dr. Dlugos is advancing development activity in three areas: sustainable agriculture, hospitality, and successful aging.
In June 2017, with support from federal, state, and local partners, the College committed to the establishment of a new Institute for Local Food Systems Innovation. When completed, the Institute will provide critically needed support for Maine’s food and beverage workforce, helping to boost economic development in Maine.
Dr. Dlugos is also positioning Saint Joseph’s to play a key role in addressing Maine’s urgent nursing shortage. In January 2017, the College launched a campaign to create a new Center for Nursing Innovation. Funded through foundation and private philanthropic donations, the new center will expand Saint Joseph’s nursing programs, scholarships, and laboratory facilities.
Dr. Dlugos’ embrace of innovative, entrepreneurial approaches to ensure growth and sustainability for Saint Joseph’s earned him recognition in 2015 as one of Maine magazine’s “50 Mainers” who are shaping the future of our state.
Before joining Saint Joseph’s, Dr. Dlugos served for seven years as the vice president and dean of academic affairs at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey. Prior to that, he served for 16 years at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, in a variety of roles, including vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty.
An active voice in higher education, Dr. Dlugos currently serves as president of the Maine Independent Colleges Association. He recently concluded a two-year term as chair of the GNAC Presidents Council, and was recently appointed to the NCAA Division III Chancellors/Presidents Advisory Group. Dr. Dlugos also serves on the board of directors of Maine Campus Compact, which seeks to reinvigorate the public purposes and civic mission of higher education.
Dr. Dlugos earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Boston College, a doctorate in English from the University of Virginia, and has completed the Management Development Program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. In addition, he completed a presidential vocation and institutional mission program through the Council of Independent Colleges.
Kristine Avery
Associate Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
Kristine Avery
Kristine Avery
Associate Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer
Ms. Kristine Avery, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is Associate Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at the College. She was initially appointed as the Director of Human Resources in June 2013, where she served 1,000 staff and faculty members in a strategic Human Resources leadership role. Prior to her appointment at the College, Ms. Avery was the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for 12 years at FISC Solutions in Lewiston, Maine. FISC is a national financial services and payment processing provider. The company was named a 2011, 2012 & 2013 Best Places to Work in Maine employer.
Since 2006, Ms. Avery has served as a volunteer leader for the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), the world’s largest Human Resources membership organization. From 2013 – 2014 Ms. Avery served as the 2013/2014 Membership Advisory Council Representative for the Northeast Region. She served as the SHRM Maine State Council Director in 2011 & 2012 and served two years prior as Director-Elect. In addition, Ms. Avery has held numerous SHRM chapter leadership roles including Treasurer, President-Elect, President and Immediate Past President of HRASM, Maine’s largest SHRM chapter. Ms. Avery has been an instructor of the SPHR/PHR Certification Preparatory Exam course at the University of Southern Maine since 2007. She was named Maine’s 2010 HR Leader of the Year and inducted into Maine’s HR Hall of Fame in 2011.
Ms. Avery is a graduate of the travel and tourism program at Southeastern Academy in Florida and has continued her studies in Human Resource Management at the University of Southern Maine.
Ms. Avery resides with her husband, Dan, in Windham, Maine.
Joanne Bean
Vice President & Chief Advancement Officer
Joanne Bean
Joanne Bean
Vice President & Chief Advancement Officer
Joanne Bean is responsible for managing relationships to increase understanding and support among the College’s key constituents, including alumni and friends, government policy makers, the media, members of the community and philanthropic entities of all types. Since her appointment as Vice President & Chief Advancement Officer in 2014, Ms. Bean has focused on achieving key initiatives within the College’s strategic plan, Sustaining the Promise. These include enhancing and diversifying our revenue streams, stewarding our legacy as an exemplary Catholic liberal arts college in the Mercy tradition, and institutionalizing our commitment to excellence.
Ms. Bean came to Saint Joseph’s with more than 17 years of development experience on behalf of hospital, voluntary healthcare, and independent research institutions. Under her leadership, the College has experienced nearly a 100% increase in overall philanthropy, with significant growth in giving and participation by all constituent groups. In 2017, Saint Joseph’s received the largest gift by an individual in its history, setting the stage for a major fundraising campaign to create The Center for Nursing Innovation at Saint Joseph’s. The Center will expand the College’s longstanding programs in nursing education and help address the urgent nursing shortage in Maine and the nation. Ms. Bean also oversees ongoing campaigns to fund new student athletic facilities, fine arts & communication studios, and scholarship programs. Ms. Bean is also integrally involved in developing support for mission-aligned businesses at Saint Joseph’s, an entrepreneurial strategy for increasing revenue sources, enhancing learning opportunities, and addressing emerging issues in our region.
Prior to joining the College, Ms. Bean served for seven years as the Senior Director of Development at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), a global nonprofit independent research institution headquartered in Bar Harbor and Ellsworth Maine with campuses in Farmington, CT and Sacramento, CA. Previously, she served as Northeast Senior Director for the American Diabetes Association, where she led corporate, government, and professional relations. Ms. Bean was named Maine’s first Director of Patient Education and established Maine’s first Hospice program under her post at Kennebec Valley Medical Center (now Maine General Health). Ms. Bean received her nursing degrees from Gwynedd-Mercy University in Pennsylvania and earned her MBA from Thomas College in Maine.
Chris Fuller
Vice President & Chief Sponsorship and Mission Integration Officer
Dr. Christopher Fuller
Chris Fuller
Vice President & Chief Sponsorship and Mission Integration Officer
Dr. Christopher Fuller joined Saint Joseph’s College in August 2019 as Vice President & Chief Sponsorship and Mission Integration Officer. Most recently, Dr. Fuller served for six years at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, as Dean of Mission Integration and Effectiveness.
Dr. Fuller brings twenty-five years of experience in Catholic higher education to his role at Saint Joseph’s College. Before his appointment as Dean of Mission Integration and Effectiveness at Carroll College, he was an associate professor of theology and Director of the Hunthausen Center for Peace and Justice there. He also served as a campus minister for ten years at Saint Mary’s College of California. During his career, Dr. Fuller has published scholarship and presented papers in biblical studies, film studies, and mission integration.
In his role at Saint Joseph’s, Dr. Fuller is responsible for promoting and integrating the mission and vision of the College, its Catholic identity, and Mercy heritage. He also assists in promoting positive relationships and collaborations between the college and religious, civic, and church communities.
Dr. Fuller is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Catholic Biblical Association. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at UCLA, and his master’s degree in biblical studies and doctorate in interdisciplinary studies at the Graduate Theological Union.
Chris and his wife, Martha, reside in Portland, Maine and have raised identical twin sons together.
Oliver Griswold
Associate Vice President & Chief Brand & Marketing Officer
Oliver Griswold
Oliver Griswold
Associate Vice President & Chief Brand & Marketing Officer
Oliver Griswold joined Saint Joseph’s College in January 2020 as Associate Vice President and Chief Brand and Marketing Officer. Most recently, Mr. Griswold served for twelve years as Brand Strategy Director at GMMB, a leading mission-driven communications agency headquartered in Washington DC.
In his role at Saint Joseph’s College, Mr. Griswold is responsible for ensuring that internal community members and external audiences understand and engage with the story of the College and its related brands. He oversees the recently created Brand Studio, which is responsible for all marketing and media efforts, continually develops dynamic new campaigns, and serves as the hub for campus communications.
Mr. Griswold’s past brand projects refreshed the identities of College of the Holy Cross, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Evergreen State College, University of Washington, YWCA, Higher Learning Advocates, First Scholars, Mathematica, The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, International Center for Research on Women, The Walton Family Foundation, Linked Learning, and The Allen Institute, among many others.
Mr. Griswold earned his bachelor’s degree in American Studies and Creative Writing at Colby College, and his master’s at the George Washington University. He and his wife, Ellen, live in Portland with their two daughters.
Michael Pardales
Vice President & Chief Learning Officer
Dr. Michael Pardales
Michael Pardales
Vice President & Chief Learning Officer
Dr. Michael Pardales joined Saint Joseph’s College in July 2013 as Vice President & Chief Learning Officer. Most recently, Dr. Pardales served for three years at Canisius College in New York as the Dean of Education and Human Services.
Dr. Pardales’ background demonstrates a dedication to academic leadership and support for the intellectual health of a college community. His past roles include chairman of the Education Department and the General Education Curriculum Advisory Committee at the University of Michigan-Flint, in addition to being the director of the department’s graduate programs. Dr. Pardales is a noted professor and an accomplished author of numerous scholarly papers.
In his role at Saint Joseph’s, Dr. Pardales is responsible for ensuring the quality and intellectual integrity of the College’s learning community. He supports the College’s mission, core values, strategic goals and intellectual growth across its two academic mediums: the traditional, on-campus student body and those who study online.
Dr. Pardales is affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education and the American Educational Research Association. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy, and his doctorate in educational psychology from Michigan State University. In addition, he holds a master’s degree in philosophy for children from Montclair State University in New Jersey.
He resides in Yarmouth, Maine, with his wife, Stacey, and their three children.
Lynne Robinson
Associate Vice President & Chief Enrollment Officer
Lynne Robinson
Lynne Robinson
Associate Vice President & Chief Enrollment Officer
Lynne Robinson joined Saint Joseph’s College in 1996 as adjunct faculty teaching on campus in the business department. In 1997, she began working at the college full time as the Director of Online Admission. Lynne has more than 20 years of experience working in multiple areas of the college. Most recently serving as Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Operations.
In her role, Lynne oversees Enrollment for online and on campus which consists of Admissions, Student Support & Engagement, Student Success & Retention, and Financial Aid. She is responsible for all areas of student enrollment and strategic direction of future recruitment efforts.
Lynne serves on the advisory board for the Maine Development Foundations Educational Initiative, which focuses on educating the workforce of Maine.
Lynne earned her BS in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Maine at Orono and her MBA from Husson University.
Lynne has two grown daughters, Kate and Emily, and currently lives in Portland with her husband, Larry.
Cortland Stiles
Associate Vice President & Chief Information Officer
Cortland “Chip” Stiles, Jr.
Cortland Stiles
Associate Vice President & Chief Information Officer
Cortland “Chip” Stiles, Jr. joined Saint Joseph’s College in May 2016 as Associate Vice President & Chief Information Officer. Chip brings more than 20 years of experience in information technology, most recently serving as Chief Information Officer at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. At Merrimack, he was responsible for strategic direction and operations of all information technology at the College during a period of rapid growth.
Prior to his work at Merrimack, he co-founded Serensoft, a technology services and consulting firm based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In his role as chief operating officer, he worked with a range of higher education institutions around the country to help them manage change as it relates to information technology.
Chip serves on the Advisory Board for the Maine Center for Graduate and Professional Studies, an initiative of the University of Maine System focused on integrating multiple campus graduate programs under one roof.
Chip earned his BA in Economics and Philosophy from the University of Maine in 1989.
Chip has two adult children, Hattie and Graham, and lives with his wife, Janice, in Portland, Maine.
Rob Wilson
Chief Business & Finance Officer & Vice President
Rob Wilson
Rob Wilson
Chief Business and Finance Officer & Vice President
Rob Wilson joined Saint Joseph’s College in August of 2019 as Chief Business and Finance Officer & Vice President. His responsibilities include stewardship of the College’s financial and real estate resources, ensuring the financial health and long-term financial sustainability of the College, and serving as the President’s principal advisor on business and financial operations. He oversees the financial planning, treasury, and facilities functions, and is charged with providing strategic direction in the College’s growth and diversification of mission-aligned revenue.
Rob is an accomplished business and financial professional, with over 25 years of management and leadership experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations and is deeply committed to harnessing business practices for social good. For 10 years he served in leadership-roles in national for-profit financial subsidiaries of Maine-based non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) CEI.
He earned master’s degrees in Natural Science and in Business Administration, from Cambridge University and I.E.S.E. (Barcelona) respectively, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Project Management Professional (PMP) professional designations.
Rob lives in a “green” (LEED Platinum) home in Freeport, Maine, with his wife, Fiona, and teenage daughter.
Laura Sullivan
Senior Executive Assistant to the President & Board Liaison
Laura Sullivan
Laura Sullivan
Senior Executive Assistant to the President & Board Liaison
Laura Sullivan serves as Senior Executive Assistant to the President & Board Liaison at Saint Joseph’s College. In her role, Ms. Sullivan upholds the college’s values, mission, and goals while providing administrative support to the college’s president and leadership team and while serving as the liaison to the college’s board of trustees.
Prior to joining the college, Ms. Sullivan served in administrative roles primarily in the banking and insurance industries. Shortly after earning an Associate of Science Degree from Thomas College, she went to work in the corporate offices at Heritage Bank, a predecessor of TD Bank, in Waterville, Maine. She later worked in the administrative offices of banks in the Portland area.
When Ms. Sullivan and her family moved to the Syracuse, New York, area in the late 1990s, she took some time to spend raising her two young sons. After her family returned to Maine, she resumed her career as an administrative professional and went to work for the president at The Dunlap Corporation, an insurance brokerage in Auburn, Maine, which subsequently underwent a series of mergers and acquisitions.
In April 2014, Ms. Sullivan joined Saint Joseph’s College, where she facilitates the flow of information between the President’s Office and various individuals and groups including students, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, and neighbors. She manages initiatives for the president and leadership team, and coordinates board of trustees’ meetings and other events.
Laura and her husband Kevin reside in Windham, Maine. They have two adult sons, Ryan and Dillon.
Board of Trustees
Dr. Carol Strobeck
Chair of the Board
Past Interim Vice President, Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Saint Elizabeth
Dr. Carol Strobeck
Dr. Carol Strobeck
Chair of the Board
Past Interim Vice President, Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Saint Elizabeth
Dr. Carol Strobeck was appointed to Saint Joseph’s College Board in 2015 and holds the office of Chair of the Board. She chairs the Executive Committee as well as the Board, and she serves as an ex officio member for all seven of the Board’s standing committees. As a nurse educator herself, Dr. Strobeck is especially interested in the Center for Nursing Innovation which seeks to address the worsening nursing shortage both locally and nationally by providing new health care partnerships and cutting-edge science and SIM technology.
A Vermont resident, Dr. Strobeck has had a long love affair with Maine. She is particularly drawn to Saint Joseph’s beautiful campus, and she enjoys coming to Maine for meetings, alumni events here and in Portland, and activities such as commencement. She is happy to meet alumni in the New England region.
After serving on the nursing faculties at such institutions as the University of Cincinnati, Boston University and William Paterson University, Dr. Strobeck accepted a position as an architect of a then-new nursing department at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ. Her relationship with CSE grew into a career of almost 40 years, first as faculty member and then as an administrator. Dr. Strobeck has recently retired as the Academic Vice President of CSE.
Dr. Strobeck earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duquesne University, before accepting a grant from the National Science Foundation to earn her Master of Nursing from UCLA. Her doctorate was awarded by Rutgers – the State University.
Mr. Thomas Driscoll
Vice Chair of the Board
President, E.S. Boulos Company
Mr. Tom Driscoll
Thomas Driscoll
Vice Chair of the Board
President, E.S. Boulos Company
Mr. Thomas (Tom) Driscoll was appointed to Saint Joseph’s College Board in 2011. He currently serves as Vice Chair as well as on several of the Board’s committees, including the Mission-Aligned Business/Sustainable Enterprises Committee, which he co-chairs. As a former executive of one of the largest electrical contractors in New England, Mr. Driscoll is especially interested in the College’s Mission-Aligned Businesses. Designed to provide new learning opportunities for a diverse student body, these businesses will address emerging needs in Maine, and operate as sustainable enterprises producing net revenue for the College.
Mr. Driscoll and his wife Shelby are very active supporting the College’s fundraising events such as the Ice Bar, Farm-To-Table Dinners, and the President’s Society Dinner. He grew up in Calais, Maine, attended Catholic grade school and is currently a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is still active with the National Electrical Contractors Association, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, National Academy of Electrical Contracting, and the Portland Apprenticeship Training Committee.
Mr. Driscoll graduated from Coyne Electrical Institute in Boston and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Maine in Portland.
Mr. Robert Zilg ’76
Secretary
Retired Executive, International Insurance Markets
Robert (Bob) Zilg ’76
Robert Zilg ’76
Secretary
Retired Executive, International Insurance Markets
Robert (Bob) Zilg ’76, was welcomed onto the Board in December 2018 and is thrilled to be back at Saint Joseph’s College. As a business development, strategy and marketing/distribution professional, he is most interested in the College’s Mission Aligned Businesses. Additionally, with his experience in international insurance markets and as a world traveler, he is keen to get more involved with the College’s International Travel program.
Mr. Zilg has dedicated his professional career to working in the insurance industry most notably The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) and The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. He has a strong background in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), new market research, strategic and business planning, and developing and implementing new business initiatives, coupled with general management skills.
Mr. Zilg earned his MS degree in Health Services Management from The New School for Social Research in New York graduating with special honors. He earned an MA in English from Seton Hall University of New Jersey and graduated with honors from Saint Joseph’s College with a BA in English. He has numerous professional affiliations, professional awards, authored publications/blogs, and has served on many boards and committees.
Mr. Zilg lives with his wife Mary in New York City. He is looking forward to engaging with NYC/NJ Alumni.
Dr. James Dlugos
President
James Dlugos
Dr. James Dlugos
President
James Dlugos became the 14th president of Saint Joseph’s College in July 2012. Since his inauguration, he has been championing a bold plan for ensuring Saint Joseph’s place as an exemplary 21st-century Catholic liberal arts college in the Mercy tradition. Under his leadership, the College is pursuing a series of ambitious initiatives that align with Saint Joseph’s strategic plan for its second hundred years, Sustaining the Promise. While continuing to respect Saint Joseph’s heritage as a faith-based, value-centered learning environment, the strategic plan sets a new direction for the College, embracing the underlying principles of sustainability and wellness.
New capital investments in support of academics and student life include construction of a lighted turf field and track complex; the addition of four new, advanced science and nursing laboratories; the opening of new campus gathering spaces; and enhancements to the College’s waterfront on Sebago Lake. The College has also launched a new Bachelor of Social Work major, expanded opportunities for study abroad, increased scholarship programs, and adopted a comprehensive climate action and sustainability plan.
A key element of the strategic plan is the development of mission-aligned businesses on campus, which are designed to expand learning opportunities, diversify revenue streams, and address emerging social and economic needs in Maine. Dr. Dlugos is advancing development activity in three areas: sustainable agriculture, hospitality, and successful aging.
In June 2017, with support from federal, state, and local partners, the College committed to the establishment of a new Institute for Local Food Systems Innovation. When completed, the Institute will provide critically needed support for Maine’s food and beverage workforce, helping to boost economic development in Maine.
Dr. Dlugos is also positioning Saint Joseph’s to play a key role in addressing Maine’s urgent nursing shortage. In January 2017, the College launched a campaign to create a new Center for Nursing Innovation. Funded through foundation and private philanthropic donations, the new center will expand Saint Joseph’s nursing programs, scholarships, and laboratory facilities.
Dr. Dlugos’ embrace of innovative, entrepreneurial approaches to ensure growth and sustainability for Saint Joseph’s earned him recognition in 2015 as one of Maine magazine’s “50 Mainers” who are shaping the future of our state.
Before joining Saint Joseph’s, Dr. Dlugos served for seven years as the vice president and dean of academic affairs at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey. Prior to that, he served for 16 years at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, in a variety of roles, including vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty.
An active voice in higher education, Dr. Dlugos currently serves as president of the Maine Independent Colleges Association. He recently concluded a two-year term as chair of the GNAC Presidents Council, and was recently appointed to the NCAA Division III Chancellors/Presidents Advisory Group. Dr. Dlugos also serves on the board of directors of Maine Campus Compact, which seeks to reinvigorate the public purposes and civic mission of higher education.
Dr. Dlugos earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Boston College, a doctorate in English from the University of Virginia, and has completed the Management Development Program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. In addition, he completed a presidential vocation and institutional mission program through the Council of Independent Colleges.
Mrs. Jeanne (Donlevy) Arnold ’83, Hon. ’17
Retired Senior Vice President, Good Samaritan Health Systems
Jeanne (Donlevy) Arnold ’83, Hon. ’17
Jeanne (Donlevy) Arnold ’83, Hon. ’17
Retired Senior Vice President, Good Samaritan Health Systems
Jeanne (Donlevy) Arnold ’83, Hon. ’17, retired as senior vice president at Good Samaritan Health Systems in Pennsylvania after a distinguished career in nursing and healthcare administration. A dedicated philanthropist, Jeanne is a longtime supporter of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and serves on their national executive board. Currently, she is spearheading a BSA task force on the prevention of childhood obesity. One of the College’s early distance education pioneers, Jeanne holds a BS in Professional Arts from Saint Joseph’s College. She received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. Jeanne and her husband Ed live in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Craig A. Becker
Retired President and CEO, Tennessee Hospital Association
Craig Becker
Craig Becker
Retired President and CEO, Tennessee Hospital Association
Craig Becker has extensive experience in healthcare association work. Most recently, this was with the Tennessee Hospital Association and its subsidiaries, where he served as its President and CEO for 26 years until his retirement. Before that, he served in a similar role as President and CEO of the Maine Hospital Association. Other positions he has held include Chief Lobbyist for the New Jersey Hospital Association; Legislative Director for the New Jersey Assembly Minority Leader; and Founding Executive Director of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Foundation, Camden, NJ.
Boards that Craig has served on include Reciprocal of America, the American Hospital Association, and the Coalition to Protect America’s Hospitals. Craig holds an MA in Administration and a BA in Journalism from Rider University. He is a candidate for certification in the National Association of Corporate Directors, and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Craig and his wife Angela, a retired Nurse Practitioner and BSN graduate from Saint Joseph’s College, reside in Brentwood, TN, which is a suburb of Nashville.
Mrs. Jennifer A. (Arouca) Fitzpatrick ’67
Retired Educator, Private Independent, Public, and Catholic Schools
Jennifer A. (Arouca) Fitzpatrick ’67
Jennifer A. (Arouca) Fitzpatrick ’67
Retired Educator, Private Independent, Public, and Catholic Schools
Jennifer A. (Arouca) Fitzpatrick ’67, graduated from Saint Joseph’s College with a BS in Elementary Education. She also has a Masters of Education from Boston College in Urban Education with a minor in Language Arts. She earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Boston College in Special Education.
Jennifer taught school for 41 years in 5 different states including private independent schools, public, and Catholic. She taught kindergarten through fifth grades in both regular and special education along with consultation in those grades. Jennifer was Vice President of the PTA (teachers were not allowed to be president) for a number of years. She was also a member of Alpha Delta Kappa: an honorary education society which supports worthy causes that help children and students. She served as Vice President for 4 years and also President for 4 years.
Jennifer was married to James Fitzpatrick who passed away in 2010. There were both avid Red Sox fans and attended several SJC Red Sox events in Florida. Jennifer and Jim also participated in the 2006 Leadership Summit. Jennifer served as the Class of 1967 reunion representative in 2007 at their 40th reunion. Jennifer is proud that the Class of 1967 was the first class to create a scholarship in the class’ name and continues to fund it to help students reach their goals.
Jennifer recognizes how much SJC has changed in the past 50 years since she graduated. She is proud of the small Catholic College in Maine that has provided so many opportunities for those who want to give so much of themselves. She feels honored to be asked to be on the Saint Joseph’s College Board of Trustees.
Jennifer resides in Ormond Beach, FL, with her partner Paul Annarummo. They met in Florida living a mile apart. They are from the same hometown and graduated from the same high school.
Dr. Todd Hamilton ’99
Owner/Optometrist, Maine Optometry, PA
Dr. Todd Hamilton ’99
Dr. Todd Hamilton ’99
Owner/Optometrist, Maine Optometry, PA
Dr. Todd Hamilton ’99 is a partner at Maine Optometry P.A. with locations in seven Maine communities: Standish, Gorham, Lisbon, Lewiston, Yarmouth, Freeport, and Brunswick. The practice serves the southern Maine community with all primary eye care needs including the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, and cataracts.
Dr. Hamilton has served as the president of the Maine Optometric Association, is a member of the American Optometric Association, and has also been involved with the Iris Network, where he worked with the visually impaired.
Dr. Hamilton was the first chair of the Saint Joseph’s College Alumni Association, as well as a founding member of the Royal Blue Club.
An avid sports and recreation enthusiast, Dr. Hamilton enjoys activities such as baseball, basketball, golf, and football. He is a certified private pilot.
Dr. Hamilton received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Saint Joseph’s College, as well as a bachelor’s degree in ocular science and a doctoral degree in optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sr. Dale Jarvis, RSM
Vocation Minister, Sisters of Mercy
Sister Dale Jarvis, RSM, ’77
Sister Dale Jarvis
Vocation Minister, Sisters of Mercy
Sister Dale Jarvis, RSM, ’77, was appointed to Saint Joseph’s College Board in 2017 for another term. She has served multiple terms on the Board, beginning in 2002. She currently serves on the Mission & Legacy Committee. As a vocation minister for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Northeast Community, Sr. Dale is especially interested in the College’s mission. She is very proud of the work at SJC and has taken a keen interest in the work being done at the farm and the many environmental undertakings at the College.
Sr. Dale has been involved with SJC since the summer of 1965 when she first met the Sisters of Mercy and credits this encounter with her desire to become a Sister herself. She graduated from SJC in 1977 with a BA in American Literature/Biology. For 5 years, she taught Science Methods at the College to students who were education majors. She received her MEd in Environmental and Marine Education from the University of Maine, Orono.
She has served on many boards and committees including: Focus on Haiti Executive Committee, Mercy Health System of Maine, Mercy Justice Coalition, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas’ Social Responsible Investment Committee, Sisters of Mercy NGO at the United Nations, and Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association.
Sister Dale has conducted a number of workshops, both domestic and international, on topics related to immigration, human trafficking, and social justice.
Mr. Andrew Kovach
Vice President for Human Resources, Chief Administrative Officer, Atlantic Health System of New Jersey
Andrew Kovach
Andrew Kovach
Vice President for Human Resources, Chief Administrative Officer, Atlantic Health System of New Jersey
Andrew Kovach is Managing Partner of Andcinco, an industry advisory and consulting firm based in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Previously he served as the vice president for human resources and chief administrative officer of Atlantic Health System in Morristown, New Jersey. In this position, he was responsible for all human resource policy and procedural matters throughout the organization. Having joined Atlantic Health System at its founding in 1996, Mr. Kovach led the organization to multiple prestigious recognitions, most notably being named to FORTUNE’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” seven consecutive times. Atlantic Health System leaped to its highest spot on the list in 2014 – No. 25 – a testament to the culture of employee pride developed during Mr. Kovach’s tenure.
Mr. Kovach began his career in engineering with the DuPont Company. He transferred to Allied Signal in late 1972, where he assumed positions of increasing responsibility in plant operations and human resources. He became director of human resources for the engineered materials sector in 1980 and moved back into operations in 1984 as director of commercial development in that same sector until 1988. He then joined Morristown Medical Center as vice president and later became the hospital’s senior vice president for human resources and information services.
Mr. Kovach earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from West Virginia University. In addition to serving as a Trustee of Saint Joseph’s College, Mr. Kovach is a board member of both the Leadership Development Group and HB Investment Co.
Sr. Carol LeTourneau
Retired Educator
Sister Carol A. LeTourneau
Sr. Carol LeTourneau
Retired Educator
Sister Carol A. LeTourneau, RSM, joined the Saint Joseph’s College Board of Trustees in the fall of 2019.
Sister Carol, who earned a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Maine and a Master’s in Education from Boston College, spent several years as an elementary teacher in parochial schools throughout the Diocese of Portland. In 1975, she began her work in Maine Indian Education at the Beatrice Rafferty School, Pleasant Point. She later moved to Indian Township School where she remained for forty-two years until her retirement in June of 2019.
After twelve years of teaching middle school at Indian Township School, Sister Carol accepted the position of Title I Coordinator for the local school system. In addition to her duties, she served as a grant-writer, a member of the school’s leadership team, studied to obtain her State certification in educational technology, and became the school’s technology coordinator.
Throughout her involvement with Maine Indian Education, Sister Carol’s role in the school afforded her the opportunity to visit various indigenous communities, elementary- secondary schools, and higher educational institutions across the country. She also participated in numerous educational conferences and workshops that proved to be invaluable to her as an educator in her work with Native children and the entire school community.
Although retired from the school system, Sister Carol continues her ministry with the Native community at Indian Township as a faith-formation instructor, an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and as the music minister for the church at Peter Dana Point. She presently serves on the parish’s Faith-Formation – Evangelization Commission.
Sr. Joyce B. Mahany, RSM, Hon.’09, (Trustee Emeritus)
Retired Administrator
Sr. Joyce B. Mahany, RSM, Hon. ’09 (Trustee Emeritus)
Sr. Joyce B. Mahany, RSM, Hon. ’09 (Trustee Emeritus)
Retired Administrator
Sister Joyce B. Mahany, RSM, Hon. ’09, was born and raised on a potato farm in Easton, Maine. She worked with her father and brothers on the farm until she entered the convent in 1950.
Sr. Joyce received her bachelor’s degree from Husson University and her MS in Business Education from Boston University. She taught fourth grade for four years, high school for 12 years and was then appointed as the first Director of Development at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in 1970. While Director, Sr. Joyce furthered her education by attending many workshops and seminars, including those at University of Notre Dame and Harvard University.
In 1993, Sr. Joyce left Saint Joseph’s to care for ailing Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith, until the Senator’s death in 1995. At that time, Sr. Joyce became the Director of Development at Catherine McAuley High School, until her retirement in 2008.
Sr. Joyce has served on the Board of the Visiting Nurses Association. She also has served as both a member and President of the Windham Chamber of Commerce.
In 2009, Sr. Joyce received an honorary doctorate from Saint Joseph’s College, and in 2010, she was inducted into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame. She served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2019.
Mr. Michael Mulhare ’79
Assistant Vice President for Emergency Management, Virginia Tech
Mr. Michael Mulhare ’79
Michael Mulhare ’79
Assistant Vice President for Emergency Management, Virginia Tech
Mr. Michael Mulhare ’79, was appointed to the Saint Joseph’s College Board in 2016 and currently serves on several committees including the Audit & Risk Management Committee, which he chairs. As an alum of SJC, Mr. Mulhare is especially interested in ensuring that the College continues to provide the learning and personal growth opportunities that he experienced as a student.
Presently, Mr. Mulhare is the Assistant Vice President for Emergency Management at Virginia Tech. He has over 25 years of experience as an emergency manager, first responder, and scientist. From 1985 to 2008, he served the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management in various capacities, rising to chief of the Office of Emergency Response. Michael is a frequent speaker at emergency management conferences across the country. He holds a BA in biology from Saint Joseph’s and an MS in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Rhode Island.
Mr. Ronald Phillips (Hon. ’17)
Retired Founder, Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Mr. Ron L. Phillips, Hon. ’17
Ronald Phillips (Hon. ’17)
Retired Founder, Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Mr. Ron L. Phillips, Hon. ’17, was appointed to the Board of Saint Joseph’s College in 2017. He currently serves on several of the Board’s committees, including the Mission-Aligned Business/Sustainable Enterprises Committee, which he co-chairs.
Ron is the founder and past president/CEO of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), the Brunswick, Maine-based community development and financial institution, which was organized in 1977. Ron led the organization for 38 years to one of the state’s and nation’s larger rural development and investment organizations with over $150 million in assets.
Ron has served on many boards and advisory boards in Maine and nationally. These have included the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston board, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Advisory board, and the Federal Reserve Consumer Advisory Council. In 2012, he was appointed by President Barack Obama to the U.S. Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution Advisory Council.
Ron was a founding member of the New York City-based Community Development Venture Capital Association, and led CEI’s venture capital investments – CEI Ventures, Inc. and CEI Community Ventures, Inc. – helping to raise and invest over $45 million in 60 promising job-creating rural enterprises throughout the Northeast.
He was among the founders of the multibillion-dollar federal New Markets Tax Credit Program of the U.S. Treasury and led the program with over $700 million in tax credit authority focused on rural America.
He has authored many articles and papers on community investing.
In addition to Saint Joseph’s College, Ron currently serves on the boards of several other organizations. These include the Maine Justice Foundation, the Lee Auto Corporation, the Maine Shellfish Developers, and the Lincoln Health Development Committee.
Ron is an advisor to the Francis Perkins Center, Maine’s Native American Four Directions Development Corporation, and the historic Waldo Theatre in Waldoboro. He is active with the Town of Waldoboro’s Economic Development Committee, and Broad Bay United Church of Christ.
Ron is a graduate of Boston University with a B.A. in Comparative Literature; Certificate d’Etudes from the University of Strasbourg; M. Div from Union Theological Seminary in New York City; and various specialized studies including Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management program, and the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Investment program.
In 2017, Ron received an Honorary Degree of Public Service from Saint Joseph’s College.
Mr. Michael Shea ’72, P’00, (Trustee Emeritus)
Chairman, The Webber Group
Michael Shea ’72, P’00
Michael Shea ’72, P’00, (Trustee Emeritus)
Chairman, The Webber Group
Michael Shea ’72, P’00 (Trustee Emeritus) is the chairman of The Webber Group. Until his retirement, Michael served as the company’s president and chief executive officer. The Webber Group of Companies (Webber), which is a private company headquartered in Bangor, Maine, is involved in commercial real estate and wholesale distribution of heating and plumbing supplies. Webber divested its 78 year old petroleum businesses, including retail and wholesale heating oil, propane, and gasoline, prior to 2014. Mr. Shea joined Webber in 1996 after a 20-year career with major wholesalers of petroleum products in Boston.
Mr. Shea has served as a trustee and chair of the board of Acadia Hospital in Bangor. Previously, he served on the board and as chair of the board of the United Way of Eastern Maine. He has served multiple terms on the Saint Joseph’s College Board between 1975 and 2017. Mr. Shea and his wife, Nancy (Brembs) ’74 have three children and six grandchildren. There are currently eight members of the extended Shea family who have graduated from Saint Joseph’s College.
Mr. Gregg Skinner P’18/21
Director, Naval Aviation Sustainment Center
Gregg Skinner ’18/21
Gregg Skinner P’18/21
Director, Naval Aviation Sustainment Center
Gregg Skinner P’18/21, joined the Board in the fall of 2018. Gregg’s wife Teresa Skinner ’20, is an online student majoring in Master of Science in Education – Catholic School Leader, and he is the father of two campus students. The first is a son who graduated from Saint Joseph’s in 2018 with a degree in criminal justice and finance, and a second son who is part of the class of 2021, is majoring in finance. Both sons are lacrosse players. As a parent of college athletes, Mr. Skinner recognizes the benefits that athletics can bring to the educational experience.
Mr. Skinner is an accomplished executive in the Aerospace industry with 28 years of industry and government service. He is currently the Director, Naval Aviation Sustainment Center at the Commander, Fleet Readiness Center in Patuxent River, Maryland. Before returning to government service, Gregg was Bell Helicopter’s Vice President and the Bell-Boeing Program Director for the V-22 Osprey. Before joining Bell, Mr. Skinner was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. While on active duty, he flew the CH-46 and V-22.
A native from Long Island New York, Gregg earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics and Management from Dowling College of Oakdale, New York, and his Master of Business Administration, finance concentration, from the University of Dallas. He is certified in Systems Engineering and Program Management.
Dr. Colonel Jaime Solis ’93
President and Owner, Marikai Corporation
Dr. Colonel Jaime Solis ’93
Dr. Colonel Jaime Solis ’93
President and Owner, Marikai Corporation
Dr. Colonel Jaime Solis ’93, was welcomed onto the Board in 2018 and is dedicated to giving back to Saint Joseph’s by offering his expertise from an extraordinary and diverse background. Dr. Solis is the son of Cuban immigrants, born in Philadelphia, and raised in Los Angeles California. A decorated Vietnam veteran, Dr. Solis retired from the US Marine Corps in 2006 after 40 years of continuous active service. He is the recipient of civic honors, a Presidential appointment, military awards, and recognition by foreign governments, the Department of Defense and each of the military branches.
He worked with Twentieth Century Fox in three feature films; “TAD,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and “True Lies.” Dr Solis also contracted with Fox Studios in Washington D.C. to be a regular studio actor on Fox’s weekly television series, “America’s Most Wanted.”
Dr. Solis is currently the President and owner of Marikai Corporation in McLean, VA, which offers tax and accounting services.
Dr. Solis earned a Bachelor of Science from Saint Joseph’s College in 1993. He has a Masters in Accounting from George Washington University; a Master’s in Business Administration from Bristol University; a Master’s in Philosophy and a Doctorate from Walden University.
Mr. John Straub
Chief Financial Officer and Chancellor, Archdiocese of Boston
John Straub
John Straub
Chief Financial Officer and Chancellor, Archdiocese of Boston
John Straub joined the Archdiocese of Boston in 2011, where he now serves as chief financial officer and chancellor. Previously, he was part of the senior management team at Kane is Able, a logistics firm based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He served in the White House as a special assistant to President George W. Bush, is a former associate dean of Harvard University, and held administrative roles in the U.S. House of Representatives. John is a graduate of The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
Sr. Ellen Turner, RSM, ’69
Retired Mission Service Specialist, Mercy Hospital
Sister Ellen Turner ’69
Sister Ellen Turner ’69, RSM
Retired Mission Service Specialist, Mercy Hospital
Sister Ellen Turner ’69, retired from Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine, after 25 years of service. She served in various capacities at Mercy including as the vice president for mission effectiveness and in other mission services roles. Her most recent service prior to retirement was in the Human Resources Department.
Previously, Sr. Ellen worked for a number of years in primary and secondary school education in Maine. She served as a teacher or as a principal in Bangor, East Corinth, Portland and on the Passamaquoddy Indian Township and Pleasant Point Reservations.
In addition to her service as a past secretary of the Board at Saint Joseph’s College, Sr. Ellen has served in Portland on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities, the Institutional Review Board of Mercy Hospital, and on the Advisory Committee of Gary’s House, a home-away-from-home for families and individuals with loved ones receiving medical treatment in a Portland area hospital.
Sister Ellen earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Saint Joseph’s College and her master’s degree in special education from Fordham University in New York.
Mr. Fred Yochum ’74
Retired Executive, Coca-Cola Company
Fred Yochum’s (’74)
Fred Yochum ’74
Retired Executive, Coca-Cola Company
Fred Yochum’s (’74), interest in service on Saint Joseph’s College’s Board of Trustees represents a homecoming of sorts as Fred served as the first elected Student member of the Board in 1973-74 after having proposed student representation to the Board during his Senior year. Fred graduated from Saint Joseph’s with a degree in History, served on the Student Council, and played on the baseball team all four years. Fred met his wife, Beth (Beaulieu), as a Senior at Saint Joseph’s, while Beth was earning her degree as part of the second BSPA Nursing Class.
Upon graduation from Saint Joseph’s, Fred immediately attended graduate school in Political Science at the University of Maine in Orono completing all class work in a Master’s Program, leaving to start his business career before having completed the thesis part of his Master’s Degree.
Fred retired in 2012 after a lengthy career at the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Fred spent his last ten years there as a Board Elected Corporate Officer and Vice-President responsible for the global manufacture of syrup and concentrate. In this role, Fred was responsible for over 3000 employees in 25 plants, located in five continents, supplying this “secret ingredient” for virtually every Coca-Cola product to over 1000 bottlers in over 198 countries. His work took him to literally the “Four Corners of the World” as his global relationships helped him develop a deep and sincere respect for multiculturalism, diversity of thought, the power of developing and empowering every person’s human potential, and finding common ground in all situations.
Fred began his career in 1976 at Digital Equipment Corporation where he started as an entry level Junior Buyer and left as a Procurement Director after 20 years before moving to the Coca-Cola Company.
Fred has been involved with a number of non-profit/ community organizations including the Board of Directors of the Amelia Island Plantation Community Association (4000 residents), Nashua, NH Planning Board, Chair Nashua, NH Democratic Committee, and the Clark Atlanta Business School Advisory Board.
Fred and Beth Yochum reside in Amelia Island, Florida. They have two adult children who both earned Master’s Degrees in Washington, DC, where each continues to live and work.