Quinnipiac University Alumni
Quinnipiac University Alumni
Yearbook photo of varsity men's ice hockey team from 1975

Cliff Pollack '78 celebrates 50 years of varsity men’s ice hockey

Yearbook photo of varsity men's ice hockey team from 1975

Quinnipiac celebrates its 50th year of varsity men’s ice hockey in 2025. I'm one of the three captains of the inaugural team 1975-76. I currently still live in Hamden, and I’m the creator of the Area For Rest & Prayer on the Farmington Canal trail (4.3 mile marker in Hamden). This is an original team photo.

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Cliff Pollack '78

November 20, 2025

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2010

Forbes recognizes Justin Wilcox ’10 as a leading CPA in Connecticut

Forbes published its second annual America’s Best-in-State CPAs list, naming the top accountants in each state. Those nominated were evaluated on a range of weighted criteria, including expertise, innovation, thought leadership, experience and service to the community and their profession. Wilcox was also recognized by Forbes last year, was named to the list again as a result of his work with complex tax issues for corporate clients and his innovative cryptocurrency practice.

Three Quinnipiac alums in winter coats pose for a photo in front of an ice sculpture

1986, 2019, 1989

A Quinnipiac legacy, generations strong

For sisters Susan Ely Ehret ’86 and Sandra Ely Chow ’89, Quinnipiac has long been a shared foundation. That connection deepened when Sandra’s son, James Chow ’19, became part of the same alumni community. This winter, the sisters traveled to Japan to visit James, currently studying in Tokyo. Together they traveled to Sapporo, Japan, to experience the city’s 76th Snow Festival. They share: "Framed by an intricately sculpted snow castle, the moment captured more than a memorable trip — it reflected a lasting bond shaped by family, tradition and the enduring reach of a Quinnipiac education."

2021

Anand Veeraraghav, JD ’21, co-founded a community organization in Monroe, Connecticut

Last year, I started a community orchestra in Monroe with my brother, Avinash. We have been playing our instruments (me on viola, him on violin) since 2005, and we have had this idea in some form since 2014. We joined the Hamden Symphony Orchestra in 2023 (under the directorship of Quinnipiac's own, Vesna Mehinovic), and the idea was reinvigorated. With the help of Vesna and other musical personnel, we started this summer program in June 2025, gathering 40 volunteer musicians from around the state, ranging from middle school students to retirees, to put on a concert in July. It was a huge success –– so much so that we also had a holiday concert in December. Even though we are not musicians by profession (I work for the judicial branch), this has been an amazing and rewarding experience. We were even interviewed by WSHU! Visit their website at: monroectorchestra.org

1999, 2016

Bill Brucker ’99, MS ’16, named executive director of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center (SM&NC) has announced Bill Brucker ’99, MS ’16, as its new executive director, succeeding Melissa Mulrooney, who is retiring after 20 years of leadership. Brucker, a Stamford resident, brings more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community engagement. Most recently, Brucker served as chief advancement officer at Family Centers, one of Fairfield County’s largest nonprofit providers of health, education and human services. He helped raise over $7 million annually, strengthened financial reserves, and expanded partnerships across Stamford and the surrounding region.

aerial view of a marina on a sunny day

1989

Michael T. van der Veen, JD ’89, update

Michael T. van der Veen, JD ’89, and his family purchased the Carousel Marina and Whale’s Tale Restaurant in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, five years ago. For the past three seasons, the marina has been named a finalist for Best Marina by Down East Magazine. The marina is also home to the largest charitable Bluefin Tuna Tournament on the East Coast. Visitors and alumni alike are welcome to stop by and experience the beauty of Boothbay Harbor for themselves. Michael and his wife, Marion, along with their two daughters, Jax and Emma Rose, are actively involved in operating the marina, the restaurant, and their marine construction business. In September 2025, Michael’s oldest daughter, Jax, was married at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. In addition to his work on the waterfront, Michael continues to run his law firm with a national practice based in Philadelphia.

Mark Spillane and Charlie Doe in formal wear hold best man sign at a wedding

2015

Mark Spillane ’15: From random roommates to lifelong friends

Mark Spillane ’15 writes: Charlie Doe '15 and I met when we were randomly paired as roommates in the fall of 2011. You never know what to expect with a random roommate pairing but ours turned out okay! Not only did we live together for all four years at Quinnipiac, but we've remained close friends in the years since our 2015 graduation. We both married QU alums and were each best man in each other's weddings. We frequently argue about who had the better speech (both were great), and I'll always contend mine was best. There are too many great memories to count, and they all started thanks to Quinnipiac, where we both now work.

group of people smiling wearing matching Quinnipiac hockey hat sitting in blue stadium seats

1969, 1970

Karl Zaehringer ’69, Bill White ’69 and Ken Shepard ’70 enjoy a lifelong friendship that began in their very first class

Karl, Bill and Ken met the first day of classes in September of 1965 and have been friends ever since. Their friendship has grown in the 60+ years since that first class, as all three have been part of each other's weddings and even godparents to each other's kids. These days, they stay connected to Quinnipiac as season ticket holders to the men's ice hockey games.

Quinnipiac alumna Erin Moody poses for a picture with family and friends from Quinnipiac

2005

Erin R. Moody ’05 reflects on her Quinnipiac friends becoming family

I showed up at Quinnipiac in the fall of 2001 with no clue that the people I met my freshman year would become my forever family. Back then, we were just a bunch of kids trying to figure out how to do laundry without shrinking everything and pretending we understood what 'credit hours' meant. But somewhere between late‑night laughs, cafeteria adventures, and the beautiful chaos of Mountainview and The Hill, something real took root. By the time we graduated in 2005, our bond was already solid — but I had no idea it would only get stronger. These are the people I rely on, the ones who show up, the ones who know my history because they lived every ridiculous, hilarious, emotional moment right alongside me. And the best part? Every time we’re together, we snap right back into our old rhythm. Same jokes. Same laughter. Same 'how did we survive college' energy. It’s like stepping straight back onto campus, except now we have better skincare routines and slightly earlier bedtimes. One of my favorite full‑circle moments: in college, we used to talk about taking a big trip together when we turned 40. At the time, 40 felt like a distant, mythical age — basically ancient. Well, plot twist ... we hit 40 two years ago, and we actually did it. We took the trip. We kept the promise our younger selves made, and it was everything we hoped for — proof that some friendships don’t fade, they just get funnier and more meaningful with time. I never expected that a random mix of freshmen would become my lifelong circle. But they did. And the bond we built at Quinnipiac is stronger than blood. It’s love, loyalty and a lifetime of shared memories. They’re my people. My family. And I’m grateful every single day that Quinnipiac brought us together.

Quinnipiac alumna April Bryant and her classmates from the Class of 1993 pose for a picture during a girls' weekend!

1993

Ladies from Class of 1993 enjoy girls' weekend!

In May 2025, ladies from then Quinnipiac College Class of 1993 spent a girls' weekend in Mystic, Connecticut. We ate, drank, shopped and — more than anything — laughed! Ever since we graduated, we gather at least once a year! Included in the picture from the Class of 1993 are April (George) Bryant, Kate (Wassel) McCoy, Colleen (Leonard) Prendergast, Laura (Delisi) Palumbo, Lynne (Bizewski) Hurley, Angela (Bucchignano) Mile and Rachelle (Bloomfield) Scharf. Missing is Laura (Kirkyla) Jalinskas.

Quinnipiac alumna, Stacie Galicki, poses for a picture with her friends from Quinnipiac

1994

Stacie Galicki ’94 celebrates enduring friendships

Thirty-five years of us. Stacie, Michelle, Jenn, Bridget, Maura, Rebecca, Denise and Alisa. In 1990, we met at Quinnipiac College as roommates in Larson and Irma. Our friendship took us to Troup, Perlroth and the Hill. After graduating in 1994, our friendship only got stronger with weddings, babies, deaths, vacations, many girls' weekends and everything in between. It’s hard to believe we started with no cell phones and now we have continuous daily updates in our group chat that keep us more connected than ever. It feels like we still live next door to each other. We have 19 children between us with two QU alumni, with hopefully more to come. These girls became more than roommates; they are family, best friends for life.

Quinnipiac alumna, Gina McAllister, poses for a picture with several Quinnipiac alumni outside

2011

Gina McAllister-Conte ’11 on QU forever friends

From freshman year to forever friends ❤️ What started as a simple pool party has grown into our annual QU BBQ and a tradition we look forward to every year. We’ve been friends since freshman year, some of us even from the same orientation group. It's been so special watching our QU family grow with husbands, wives and children along the way. Forever grateful to Quinnipiac for friendships that truly last a lifetime.

8 people dressed up smile for a photo at a wedding

1977

Susan Prunka Polaski ’77 celebrates 50 years of friendship

I became friends with Eileen, Laurie and Nancy first semester freshman year. Over the course of two years, we were suite mates (in Dorm D it was called then), and then roommates at the apartments (23A). We remain friends to this day, 50 years later. Nancy, Laurie and I were heartbroken to lose Eileen nine years ago, but she will be in our hearts forever. <3 We have many memories while at Quinnipiac (the Rat, May weekends, Billy Joel concert, mixers esp the Halloween ones!) We had different majors, so weren't in many classes together, but living together made us friends for life. So many others, other roommates and friends - Beth, Jim, Mary, Donna M, Sue M, Linda - with whom we also have fun memories, and we also stayed in touch all these years. We are all blessed!

Quinnipiac alumna Amy Crain poses for a picture with her roommates inside a series of picture frames

2004

Amy Crain ’04 reflects on the enduring friendship of the ‘Lucky 7’

Denise (Tretola) Lopresti, Stephanie (Thomson) Stephenson, Diane Whittaker, Cali (Hettrich) Thorngate, Val Pensa, Jen (Starnes) Neve and myself all met at different times at Quinnipiac - some were roommates, dorm mates, classmates or OLs - but what became rooted and what remains long after graduation is the kind of friendship that changes you for the better. Post-graduation, we always found ways to get together (Reunions at SideStreet!) and celebrate major milestones with each other or provide support when it was needed most. But in this last decade is where we really found our niche at staying connected both daily (via Marco Polo) and also annually by taking girls weekend trips as a group - and those moments we share have really solidified our story as the "Lucky 7."

Quinnipiac alumna Linda Semple poses for a picture with friends from Quinnipiac

1997

Linda Semple ’97 honors over 20 years of friendship

Linda Semple ’97 reflects on 20 years of Quinnipiac friendships: "QU gave me my forever friends. Although we only lived together our senior year, we have been great friends ever since. We all live in different states and get together when we can, but text often! Remaining friends for so many years shows how tight our QU bond really is."

Quinnipiac alumna Catherine Campbell poses with friends for a picture

2014

Catherine Campbell ’14 celebrates friendship this Valentine's Day

From Commons to Forever: They say you find your soulmates in college and for us, that meant finding the friends who would walk through every stage of life by our side. Our journey began in 2010 as freshmen meeting in Commons. What started as a random introduction in the dorm turned into a fifteen-year "Bobcat bond" that only grew stronger as we moved through every stage of the QU experience. We navigated the evolution of campus life together: moving from Old Village to the sunsets and mountain views at York Hill, and finally getting a taste of the "real world" in our off-campus house on Whitney Avenue while we tackled grad school. Our time at QU was defined by the best of Hamden and New Haven: Numerous hikes up Sleeping Giant. Endless, coffee-fueled study marathons at Arnold Bernhard Library. Dancing on the benches at Aunt Chilada’s and legendary nights out at Toad’s Place. Since leaving the Bobcat bubble, we’ve remained best friends into our adult lives, celebrating marriages, babies, promotions, and every major milestone in between. This Valentine’s Day, we’re sending a huge "Thank You" to QU for the best memories and for giving us a friendship that truly is for keeps. Once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat! 🐾

Quinnipiac alumna Jessica Grace poses for a picture with several of her alumnae friends

2015

Jessica (Sola) Grace ’15 reflects on over a decade of friendship

Meeting in our 2012 sophomore year our friendship began and has only gotten better since! We’ve experienced everything together from heartbreak to celebrations and everything life has offered us in between. We are each other’s soulmates.

2000

Kimberly Poeta ’00 and Michelle Schreyer ’00: Lifelong friends from Q

Kimberly Poeta ’00 writes: "Michelle Schreyer ’00, I call her Shell, is that best friend that I didn’t know I needed in my life. We knew each other freshman year with similar friends but we were not close, not for any reason, just busy! Our friend group decided we would all room together sophomore year in Larson! One afternoon, Shell cornered me in the library and said “if we are going to be roommates next year, we might as well be friends.” This when I knew I had found my match, and she wasn’t from Long Island with these words lol…. From here on out, Shell was my ride or die, we’ve both been through highs and lows in life. Through it all, I’m so thankful for Quinnipiac bringing me my life long friend. Love u Shell."

Quinnipiac alumna Kimberly Saccucci posing for a picture in a living room with several friends from Quinnipiac

2001

Kimberly Saccucci ’01: Over 26 years of Quinnipiac friendship

We are a close-knit group of 10 friends who graduated from Quinnipiac University’s OT, PT, and medical technology programs. Through the years, we’ve made it a priority to see each other annually, preserving the strong bonds formed during our time at QU. We’ve supported one another through life’s challenges and proudly celebrated each other’s personal and professional milestones. Our connection remains a meaningful reminder of the lasting relationships built through shared experiences and mutual support. We love to reflect on all the good times that we had during our years at Quinnipiac!

Quinnipiac alumni Meghan Witheril, Katie (Koproski) Mattice, Deena (DeLucia) Scigliano, and Christina Fink pose for a picture with their kids in New York City

2004, 2005

MAT alumnae continue Quinnipiac friendship

We met our freshmen year while in the MAT program for elementary education. We graduated with our bachelor’s degrees in 2004 and with our master’s degrees in 2005. A lot has changed over the years, but our friendship has stood the test of time. And we are all still teaching!!! Pictured: Meghan Witheril ’04, MAT ’05, Katie (Koproski) Mattice ’04, MAT ’05, Deena (DeLucia) Scigliano ’04, MAT ’05, and Christina Fink ’04, MAT ’05

Quinnipiac alumni pose for a picture holding a Quinnipiac University banner at a wedding

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Kylie Cardoso ’16: A Quinnipiac wedding reunion!

I recently got married and was lucky to have five of my best friends from Quinnipiac as bridesmaids. We also had some other great Quinnipiac friends at the wedding, including five of us from the physical therapy program. I'm so thankful to Quinnipiac for giving me these lifelong best friends!

Freshman Roommates Dana Cirincione-Welles and Charity Kuchyt reconnect in New York City and enjoy dinner with their spouses at a restaurant

2007

Dana Cirincione-Welles ’07 and Charity Kuchyt ’07 reconnect in New York City

Dana Cirincione-Welles ’07 and Charity Kuchyt ’07 reconnected in New York City with their husbands recently to see a Broadway show. "Although we are separated by miles and are in different states, we try to get back together once in awhile to catch up with each other over dinner, or in this case, dinner and a show. This past weekend we saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child together before going off to dinner."

Kyle Adams and Matt Warner pose for a picture at the top of Sleeping Giant Mountain

2018

Kyle Adams ’18 and Matt Warner ’18, MHS ’20, maintain close friendship

Being part of the Quinnipiac alumni community is a privilege! I'm super grateful for Quinnipiac strengthening lifelong connections and bringing me closer to people like Matt Warner ’18, MHS ’20. Matt and I met in middle school, were friends throughout high school, and got even closer during our time together at QU. We still see each other to this day and will be watching the Super Bowl together this February! The picture included is from our first day of freshman year hiking Sleeping Giant in August 2014.

1999, 2014

Karla (Russo) Natale ’99, MS ’14, shares how Quinnipiac sparked a lifelong friendship

Karla (Russo) Natale ’99, MS ’14, met Colleen Hines ’99 while sitting in David Cadden's management class. “We quickly realized we had a lot in common and when we were assigned to the same project a group, a long friendship began. Through my work at Quinnipiac and Colleen's activeness as an alum, our friendship has continued. I'm so grateful we had the opportunity to meet that day in class!”

Kyle Adams and John Shepherd pose for a photo at On the Rocks for an alumni event

2018, 2023

John Shepherd ’23 highlights the value of alumni connections

After graduating with a double major in criminal justice and sociology, John Shepherd ’23, joined the Quinnipiac Office of Development and Alumni Affairs in 2024 as assistant director of next generation and affinity giving. He shares that working at Quinnipiac has given him the opportunity to strengthen his ties with fellow alumni. He writes: "Working at Quinnipiac has given me the chance to build meaningful connections with people I’m now fortunate to call friends. I’m especially grateful for Kyle Adams ’18; it’s been a privilege to work alongside him on the same team, and I’m glad our paths crossed through this job."

Anthony Schiano kneels with a ring with Caroline Ix in a garden

2020

Caroline Ix ’20 and Anthony Schiano ’20 announce their engagement

Caroline Ix ’20 and Anthony Schiano ’20 are excited to announce they will be married on September 19, 2026. The couple writes: “We’ve been together since our junior year at Quinnipiac and are so grateful to have been struck by ‘QU-pid’s’ arrow during our years there. From our first date at Wentworth’s Ice Cream Shop, to a lifetime of dates ahead!”

1976

Jeraldlyn Mebane '76 retires after successful career

Jeraldlyn Mebane '76, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, is retired after a diverse career. Her career included 3.5 years at Avco Lycoming as a cost accountant; 20 years in corporate accounting and financial services (Clairol/Bristol-Myers Squibb CPG); nonprofit accounting for Kids in Crisis, a nonprofit organization; a family-owned real estate business and retail sales; as well as managing personal and family properties over the years. She said, "I always loved learning new things and staying challenged!"

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