Alumni Give Back with Gifts of Time and Talent

As the Class of 1965 approaches its 60th reunion, class presidents Patrick Moran and Jack Kelley are serving as reunion ambassadors to encourage classmates to return to The Hill in September. A robust supporter of the university, Moran gives back to WPI because of all it has given him. “Here’s the thing I gained at WPI that served me all my life: I learned I could do the impossible,” says Moran. “First semester calculus, physics, and chemistry weren’t really impossible, but they seemed that way to me, an unprepared, out-of-state 17-year-old. Even now I tell friends it was the worst year of my life, and I spent a year in Vietnam. But the folks back home were counting on me, so I worked hard, sought help, didn’t sleep much, and got through it.” Ultimately, Moran’s WPI experience is what keeps him closely connected to the school. “Even now, with my 60th reunion approaching, those gentlemen of my class remain my most reliable friends. Why? The reason might be that many of them were as unprepared as I was during those first few months, so we helped each other gain the discipline, work habits, and knowledge needed for survival and, eventually, success.”

Marissa Kahan ’05 supports the university by serving as a Giving Day advocate in support of WPI athletics. She is so committed that beyond her advocacy and financial support, Kahan voluntarily took a pie in the face during the 2024 Giving Day Challenge. “My motivation to stay connected and support Giving Day at WPI stems from my love for the game and my field hockey experience,” Kahan says. “The learning, laughter, focus, and passion I experienced on the field have significantly contributed to a successful career off the field, and I really want to give others the same opportunity to benefit from these experiences. Giving Day is an excellent occasion to support the community that has played such a crucial role in my life.”

Lisa Schletzbaum ’95 and her husband, Roy Schletzbaum ’95, have many reasons to stay connected to WPI and to serve as Giving Day advocates. “We both enjoyed our years on campus, where we gained valuable career skills as well as lifelong friendships and connections with fellow alumni, professors, and coaches. Today, we have two sons who are following in our footsteps, and, by giving back to the university, we are ensuring that our sons, their peers, and all future students have the opportunities we had … and more!”

David Willens ’09, MS ’10, PhD ’20, supports the university as a guest lecturer in manufacturing technology and in advisory roles. “The WPI project-based learning structure played a significant role in preparing me for my career, and I want to ensure the experiences afforded to me are carried on and available to the next generations.” Teaching and advising students are ways to accomplish this. With an understanding of what it takes to shape metals and other materials, Willens exposes students to varied means and methods of making precision parts and components. This provides students with an expanded awareness of the manufacturing field they can use in their careers. “I’m always impressed with the curiosity and inquisitiveness of WPI students, by the depth of their questions, and their true interest in the future of manufacturing technology,” says Willens.

Ryan Richards ’16 and James DeCarlo ’80 answered the call when Professor Robert Dempski asked for alumni expertise in artificial intelligence. Both alumni presented as part of the chemistry and biochemistry department’s AI in the Molecular Life Sciences speaker series. “It was an easy decision to give back to a professor and school that have given so much to me,” says Richards. “Delivering a seminar is a great opportunity to connect with current students and share how things they’re learning in class are being applied to real-world problems. These seminars also introduce students to fields of research they may not be aware of, and the students are always grateful for these interactions and any advice to help them decide on career paths. Making these connections with the students is what makes WPI such a great community to be a part of, and I would encourage any alumni to take the time to connect with students if given the opportunity.”

For Beth Anne McGee Willett ’93, giving back to her alma mater included co-hosting an event in her home with Jennifer Shiel Wyse ’94 to benefit their beloved WPI ski team. “No matter how long a ski team member has been out of school there is always a connection to the spirit of the sport,” says Willett. She adds that many of the lifelong friends she made at WPI were members of the ski team. In fact, that’s where she met her late husband, Rick Willett ’91. “I think about the Willett family legacy a lot and about giving back. It is very important for me to honor Rick and his spirit by supporting the team; I know he’d want to see this community continue to grow for generations to come.”

Andrew Smith ’14 gives back to the university through his work with the WPI Glee Club. Most recently he served as co-planner, with Sebastian Espinosa ’17, for the Glee Club’s 150th anniversary event. “Whenever I have a chance to engage with undergrads, I like to listen and share stories of my time on campus. Even though I’m 10 years out now, very little fundamentally has changed for students. We’ve been where they are, and sometimes it just takes a patient ear and a couple of words of advice to help guide the students to success.” Smith, who met some of his closest friends through WPI, says, “Nothing compares to the unity and camaraderie experienced while singing with Glee Club students and alumni. We were from all kinds of backgrounds and ages—yet all are united in bringing an artistic touch to an engineering school.”

Evelyn Mortimer ’22 and Kevin Daoust ’95, MS ’00, recently supported the university by serving as mentors for the Careers for Sustainable and Just Communities networking event hosted by Associate Professor of Teaching Lisa Stoddard in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ESS) program. During the annual event, students create connections that can help them get an internship, a job, or ideas to figure out their next steps. This year’s event hosted 35 employer mentors in sustainable career fields, and more than half were WPI alumni.

For some alumni, the desire to stay connected to campus is more permanent. According to Athletics Associate Director Ann McCarron, WPI has 50 club sport teams, and more than half of the coaches for those teams are alumni. McCarron understands the value of alumni who serve as team coaches, saying, “As club sport coaches, alumni maintain the sense of community and pride that they developed during their years at WPI, and coaching gives them the opportunity to mentor students and give back to the university.” When asked why he supports his alma mater as a basketball coach, Domenick Mastascusa ’15 describes a love of the game, competition, WPI, and—most importantly—the players. “The students are remarkable people with bright futures ahead of them, and they remind me how rewarding it is to compete, have fun, and make some new friends while playing hoops.”