Salem State Celebrates '40 Under 40' Young Professional Achievers

SALEM, MA — Salem State University recently celebrated dozens of alumni who have made significant contributions to their profession, community, and/or Salem State University with the announcement of its latest "40 Under 40" designees.

"The 2023 class of high achievers is a testament to the work ethic, talent and perseverance that encompasses a Salem State graduate," said Mike Mitchell, associate director of alumni relations at Salem State University. "As a member of the new class, it was a privilege to be honored among my peers and hope that a new generation of Vikings will be inspired to make a difference."

A panel of judges representing various areas of the university community selected the class from a pool of talented applicants with the honorees celebrated during a recent Viking Alumni Weekend.

"There are so many talented and accomplished alumni transforming communities, breaking glass ceilings and creating change," outgoing Alumni Association President Debra Lee Surface said.

The full list of honorees is here:

• Melissa Carella ’13, ’19G, marketing manager, Triverus Consulting
• Victoria Chase ’16, assistant general counsel, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Sidi A. Diarra ’16, PhD candidate, Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology
• Derek DiGregorio ’04, stage manager, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child
• Julianna Donovan ’20G, owner, Salem Style and marketing manager, Howland Capital
• Errin Douglas ’18, COO, The Davis System, LLC
• Drew Duperval ’18, founder, EntreDupe Consulting LLC and EntreDupe Productions
• Natasha Evans ’16, art educator, Hampton City Schools
• Leah Falkowski ’08, toddler teacher, Jewish Community Center, Y Kids Club Staff
• Rep. Jessica Giannino ’14, state representative, Sixteenth Suffolk District, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Jenn T. Grace ’04, founder and CEO, Publish Your Purpose, a Certified B Corp
• Tatsuya Ito ’11, associate technical director, University of Illinois
• Cassandra Keane ’18, ’22G, product business manager, Sanofi Genzyme
• Mashooma Khalifa ’12, QC manager, ElevateBio
• Eric Lampedecchio ’08, vice president of learning and development, Pentucket Bank
• Kelsey Lima ’18, clinical social worker, Department of Public Health
• Kevin David Linton, PhD ’12G, director of TRIO Student Support Services, Salem State University
• Adam M. Lord, CPA, CNAP ’08, partner, Penchansky & Co., PLLC
• Erin Mayo ’16, student affairs scholar practitioner
• Theresa Melito-Conners, PhD ’11G, professional speaker, Dr. MC’s Self-Care Cabaret
• Mike Mitchell ’07, associate director of alumni relations, Salem State University
• Danielle Morgan Acosta ’09G, associate dean for student success, student engagement, Clark University
• Cameron Morissette ’11, senior project geologist, Mott MacDonald
• Gaetano Mortillaro ’17, international tax associate, PwC
• Pedro Palandrani ’18G, VP, director of research, Global X ETFs
• Sebastian Poirier ’09, senior medical director, Detroit Pistons
• Katie Pustizzi, MFA ’15, dance instructor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Gann Academy, Aurora Borealis Dance Company
• Widline Pyrame ’10, CEO and founder, Fusion Dolls
• Kerry (Stokes) Ramsdell ’10, chief of police and director of public safety, Endicott College
• Yoscairy Raymond ’19, CEO and owner, Olive Branch Multiservice
• Brock Riley ’20, professional baseball player, Great Falls Voyagers and physical education teacher, Tyngsborough Elementary School, pitching coach, Chatham Anglers
• Tony Rossi ’10, actor, writer, speaker, Tony Rossi Coaching
• Billy Sawyer ’09, creative director, C-4 Analytics
• Alexandra Slazar-Makarewicz ’08, ’12G, community organizer, Wakefield Public Schools and stay-at-home mother
• Cassandra Soffron ’18, nurse practitioner, Salem State University
• Stephanie Spillane, MEd ’04, school principal, Brockton Public Schools
• Alayna Travaglione ’19, metadata specialist, South Caroline Historical Society and library and information sciences master’s degree student
• Mike Vella ’05, ’08G, director of talent acquisition, Werfen
• Andrea Walsh, MS, ECMH-E® ’09, mental health and disabilities manager, Pathways for Children
• Catherine Workman ’06, city councilor, Ward 4 in Keene, New Hampshire and director of social services, Genesis, Langdon Place of Keene

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)