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Salem State University has initiated 131 students (sophomore – graduate) into the national first-generation honor society, Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha). 

Founded in 2018 at Moravian University in Pennsylvania, Tri-Alpha currently hosts 175 chapters across the country, recognizing the academic achievements of college students who are among the first in their family to attend college. College students are considered first-generation if neither parent has achieved a four-year bachelor’s degree.  Initiates were presented with a membership pin, certificate, and cords to wear at commencement during the ceremony.  Due to the high number of students at Salem State University, the ceremony was split into two time periods to allow family members and loved ones to join.

The Epsilon Rho chapter of Tri-Alpha was established at Salem State University in 2022 to draw attention to, and honor, the remarkable success of first-generation undergraduate and graduate students who have achieved distinction in their academic efforts.  President John Keenan and Provost David Silva spoke at the ceremonies, highlighting the university’s pride in all students have accomplished. They shared that there are hundreds of first-generation students on the university campus who share the same challenges and successes that the initiates do, and that we are stronger when we come together, share our experiences, and support one another.

In addition, co-advisor �鶹���˾�Ʒ Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello (Interdisciplinary Studies) welcomed faculty, staff, and librarians into the society who were first-generation at the time they received their undergraduate degrees:  Charla L. Bouranis (Sport and Movement Science), Lee A. Brossoit (�鶹���˾�Ʒ for Academic Excellence), Mathew Chetnik, (Tri-Alpha co-advisor; Student Success and the First Year Experience), Alexandria Peary (English), Karin T. Rhodes (English), and Jamie J. Wilson (History).

While being initiated, members echoed the pledge to “accept the responsibility of helping others as you have been helped, or as you perhaps wish you had been helped, to serve as mentors and guides for the next group of students to set food on a college campus, as the first in their family or circle of friends.”

To learn more on how you can get involved with Tri-Alpha, email firstgen@salemstate.edu.

2023 Initiates

Katie Adamson, Social Work (MSW)

Rachel Allen, Business Administration

Noelle Anthony, Biology

Tony Arsenault, Art

Jacqueline Bagnera, Social Work (MSW)

Kriza Baldow, Biology

Kara Bendanillo, Sociology

Raquel Bendezu, Early Childhood Ed (M.Ed.)

Sandra Bobowski, Special Education (M.Ed.)

Madison Bodreau, School Counseling (M.Ed.)

Maggie Bowen, Psychology-BS

Katielyn Burke, Sport & Movement Science

Emma Cabral, Eduducation Early Childhood (Combined BS-M.Ed.)

Tyler Cafarelli, Criminal Justice

Chad Callahan, Psychology

Gio Calvarese, School Counseling (M.Ed.)

Tammy Cantillon, Nursing (MSN)

Lidia Capelo, Education

Alfonso Carbo, Business Administration

Ana Cardenes, Art

Courtney Carrick, Social Work (MSW)

Blanca Castro, Nursing

Sarah Cook, Biology-BS

Rachael Corrao, Business Administration

Michael Cosco, Business Administration

Elaina Curtis, Higher Education in Student Affairs (M.Ed.)

Kayla Defeo, Psychology

Lily DelloIacono, Nursing

Patrick Delva, Counseling & Psych Srvs (MS)

Shariany DelValle, Healthcare Studies

Brandon DeOliveira, Economics

Amy Desroches, Social Work

Alec Deurloo, Business - Accounting (Combined BS/MS)

Siobhan Eaton, Counseling (MS)

Natalie Fenoff, English / Geography

Lynn Fletcher, Business - Accounting (Combined BS/MS)

David Fodera, Media & Communication

Jacob Fournier, Counseling & Psych Srvs (MS)

Rachel Gagnon, Business Administration

Jose Garcia, Social Work (MSW)

Krystal Giffen, Social Work

Brunilda Gjimara, Social Work Advanced Standing (MSW)

Desiree Graffeo, Criminal Justice

Mackenzie Gray, Social Work (MSW)

Brian Gregory, Social Work (MSW)

Abigail Guillama, Social Work

Lee Heredia, English Speakers of Other Languanges (MAT)

LeighaMae Hubisz, Biology

Tatianna Iacoviello, Social Work Advanced Standing (MSW)

Emily Iascone, Nursing

Withza JeanPierreLouis, Nursing (MSN)

Deidra Jefferson, Higher Education in Student Affairs (M.Ed.)

Stephanie Jolibois, Biology

Triomphe Kanyeba, Social Work

Madison Kasputis, Psychology

Nicole Knowles, Mathematics (Combined BS-M.Ed., Teacher Education)

Lindsay Kruzlic, History (MA), Holocaust and Genocide Studies

Kimberlyn Larios, Nursing

Marie Laroche Ledix, Nursing

Joelle L 'Heureux, Social Work

Kasey Libby, Behavior Analysis (MS)

Sabrina Lopes, Political Science

Yancy Lopez Menjivar, Nursing

Matthew Mailhot, English (Combined BA-MA)

Mya Maisoneuve, Political Science

Tricia Manning, Art

Lilianna Marcil, Psychology

Bill Maronn, Social Work (MSW)

Lorimer Mateo Rondon, Business Administration

Melissa McCarthy, Social Work

Alba Melendez, Nursing

Deanna Melendez, Occupational Therapy (MS)

Chantel Mendonca, Education Early Childhood (Combined BS-M.Ed.) / Psychology

Kevin Merino-Rivas, History (Combined BA-M.Ed., Teacher Education)

Melissa Mogauro, Early Childhood Education (M.Ed.)

Jennifer Moody, Education

Kristin Neidig, Social Work (MSW)

Jonathan Nguyen, Business Administration

David Nicastro, Psychology

Michael Nicholson, Physical Education (MAT)

Jennifer Ocana, Occupational Therapy (MS)

Cassie Oldham, Criminal Justice

Yanelis Ortiz Aquino, Social Work (MSW)

Megan O'Shea, History (Combined BA-M.Ed., Teacher Education)

Amaryllis Osorio, Nursing

Jennifer Ouk, Biology

Kerry Pappas, Occupational Health Studies

Kayla Pennimpede, Business Administration

Katie Perry, Nursing

Pandorah Peterson, Criminal Justice

Josue Piccirillo, Criminal Justice (MS)

Sammi Piemonte, Biology

Stephanie Pierce, Psychology

Richard Powers, History (Combined BA-M.Ed., Teacher Education)

Emmanuel Quiroz, Higher Education in Student Affairs (M.Ed.)

Neily Rodriguez Ponce, Spanish (MAT)

Mariana Roter, Business Administration

Gina Salamanca, Education - Elememenatory, Combinsed BA-M.Ed.)

Nicole Saltzman, Psychology

Flavia Sanabia-Liranzo, Business Administration

Kathy Santos Lemus, Business - Accounting (Combined BS/MS)

Samantha Schiavo, School Counseling (M.Ed.)

Dayna Shatney, Business Administration

Nayeli Silva, Business Administration

Sandra Sin, Business Administration

Crystal Smith, Social Work

AnnaCarollina Souza, Sport & Movement Science / World Languages and Cultures

Victoria Sowle, Education Early Childhood (Combined BS-M.Ed.)

Jillian Sparks, Healthcare Studies

Steven Spurr, Business Administration

Victoria Squire, Social Work Advanced Standing (MSW)

William Statkiewicz, History (MA)

Panayota Strakus, Nursing

Taylor Stuart, Biology

Stephanie Suavita, Nursing

Jill Sulfaro, Higher Education in Student Affairs (M.Ed.)

Taylor Sullivan, Nursing

Aleah Tillotson, Education (CPS)

Vasiliki Tzortzis, Holocaust and Genocide Studies

Tanya Valente, Social Work (MSW)

Karen Velasco Duffy, Sport & Movement Science

Autumn Venable, Social Work (MSW)

Briana Ventura, Education - Elementary (Combined BS-M.Ed.)

Melanie Victoria, Social Work Advanced Standing (MSW)

Tony Wang, Economics / History

Peter Watts, Business Administration

Maddie Wood, Education

Krystina Yeager, History (MA)

Ashley Yebba, Sport & Movement Science

Elizabeth Zaiter, Criminal Justice

Alanna Zaldivar, Media & Communication