The partnership was formalized last month during a visit by a Ghanaian delegation to Anna Maria’s campus in Paxton, MA. The delegation led by  the Honorable Ken Asafo-Adjei, Founder and President, USA-Ghana Network Inc. and Honorary Consul of Ghana in Worcester, MA was joined by DNA Bress-Biney (V), Personal Assistant to the Hon. Ken Asafo-Adjei, and Mr. Albert Acheampong, Programs and Logistics Lead. Anna Maria College’s Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu led the campus delegation, which included several Anna Maria administrators and faculty members.

“This partnership between Anna Maria College and the USA-Ghana Network represents a bold step in capacity building and international collaboration. As we welcome Ghanaian officials to our campus, we are reaffirming our commitment to preparing ethical leaders,” said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu. “Our partnership allows us to extend Anna Maria’s mission beyond borders, empowering government officials from Ghana with tools and strategies needed to advance good governance, sustainability, and security in their communities. It also opens the door to mutual learning while offering perspectives that enrich our classrooms and serve as a bridge to stronger institutions.”

The intensive two-week program is designed to strengthen leadership capacity and foster innovation across public sectors in Ghana. Participants will receive advanced training in leadership, governance, homeland security, finance, climate sustainability, and digital transformation, along with industry engagements at top U.S. institutions and agencies. At the conclusion of the training, participants will receive certificates of completion from Anna Maria College recognizing their achievements and reinforcing the institution’s growing reputation as a leader in workforce development and executive education.

The training sessions will cover a range of issues critical to today’s business and government leaders. Topics will include: Principles of good governance, Communication and conflict resolution, Mental Health First Aid, Emergency planning, Continuity planning, Economic development, Sustainability, Infrastructure management, Trends in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Risk Management.

The sessions will feature Anna Maria faculty as well as guest speakers from the region’s public safety and business community. The USA Ghana Network has established an online registration for participants at: https://www.usaghananetwork.com/

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“Through their generosity, our alumni, parents, and friends are showing they believe in our mission, our students, and our college,” said Vice President of Advancement Ryan Murphy. “The special mission of the Sisters of Saint Anne to educate students to serve their community remains steadfast after nearly 80 years! We invite all supporters to connect with the College, and become partners to drive our impact forward.”

The Institutional Advancement Department at Anna Maria is a small but experienced operation with six hard-working employees who are constantly cultivating, stewarding, and wowing donors. They engage donors through events like the AMCAT Challenge, Giving Week, corporate golf outings, and the President’s Council Reception. For 2025-2026, the team will continue adapting to digital marketing, utilizing more automation, expanding our network of foundation support, and increasing bequest activity. At the same time, the team pays close attention to the fundamentals like prompt thank-you notes and relationship building.

“There are lots of charities for people to choose from, and our goal is for Anna Maria College to be the preferred non-profit of choice,” added Murphy. “As a small college, every donation amount is impactful and we want to ensure supporters are aware of the difference their gifts make. Looking ahead, the excitement of a new President with Dr. Sean J. Ryan will build upon this solid foundation and has Advancement poised for another successful, hope-filled year.”

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Hennessey tended the net in four games for Canada, helping the team win Silver in the Championship game against Czechia. While in net, Hennessey made 80 saves with an 89.89 SV% and a 3.03 GAA earning himself Best Goalie of the tournament.

Matthew will be returning to Paxton this fall for his third season with the AMCATS after helping the team reach their most successful season in program history.

Read more here.

The post What did you do this summer? One of our AMCATS won silver with Team Canada appeared first on Anna Maria College.

Among responding graduates, the Class of 2025 has achieved a 95.2% employment placement rate, representing a notable 2.3 percentage point increase from the previous year. This positive outcome underscores the capabilities of Anna Maria graduates and the effectiveness of our academic programs and career development initiatives.

The First Destination Survey captures recent graduates’ career and further education plans after commencement. Our commitment to tracking graduate outcomes through voluntary participation provides valuable insights into career and advanced education trajectories across all academic disciplines. The data collected from responding graduates by the Office of Career Services offers a clear understanding of their professional achievements and career paths.

As we celebrate these achievements, we reaffirm our dedication to supporting every graduate in their professional journey. Congratulations to the Class of 2025 on their outstanding accomplishments.

The post Anna Maria College Class of 2025 Reports 95.2% Employment Rate | First Destination Survey Results appeared first on Anna Maria College.

The work culminated in 2024 when the Center and Anna Maria College established the “Garden of Hope” on the Anna Maria campus.

The Garden of Hope is a peaceful and contemplative space near the back of campus where visitors can honor victims of violent crime and missing persons.

Click to read more

The post A Garden of Hope: The Molly Bish Center at Anna Maria College appeared first on Anna Maria College.

On Monday, June 2nd, Anna Maria College held its 16th Annual Golf Tournament at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, MA. We want to thank all of the sponsors and participants who helped to make it a wonderful event. Congratulations to our tournament winners!

1st Place: Unibank

Brennan Campbell

Jim Cozza

William Dennis

Drew Higgins

2^nd Place: Congress Asset Management

Greg Fulginite

Kevin Tassinari

Brendan Levesque

Andy Murphy

3^rd Place: Risk Strategies

John Carson

Carson Muse

Maria DeSantis

Closest to the Pin:

Men – Corey Haynes

Ladies – Maureen O’Driscoll

Longest Drive:

Men – Carson Muse

Ladies – Catherine Munya

Premier Raffle Winners:

Boston Getaway – Chris Frederick

Boston Red Sox Tickets & $100 dinner gift card – Jim Goulet

Pleasant Valley Country Club Foursome – Stephen O’Connor

15 Person Catered Event by Sodexo – Ryan Murphy

$500 worth of Massachusetts State Lottery Scratch Tickets – Linda Nolin

 

 

Thank you to our 16th Annual Golf Tournament sponsors:

Official Tournament Sponsor: Sodexo

Breakfast & Registration Sponsor: Congress Asset Management

Luncheon & Awards Sponsor: Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company

Cart Sponsors: Risk Strategies

Longest Drive Contest Sponsor: Marsh McLennan Agency

Closest to the Pin Contest Sponsor: Hanover Insurance Group Foundation

50/50 Contest Sponsor: J.J. Bafaro, Inc.

Corporate Sponsors:

 

• • Advocates
  • Archstone Financial
  • Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company
  • Coghlin Electrical Contractors, Inc.
  • Colonial Property Services
  • Cornerstone Bank
  • Country Bank
  • Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
  • Fontaine Brothers Construction
  • Goulet, Salvidio & Associates
  • Newburyport Bank
  • Revive of the USA
  • Risepoint
  • Rockland Trust
  • Rubicon Builders
  • Seven Hills Foundation
  • St. Mary’s Credit Union
  • Starrett
  • Superior Waste Management
  • UniBank
  • United Healthcare

Tee Sponsors:

 

• • Dr. Abraham Haddad – Board of Trustees
  • Adopt A Student
  • Bisceglia, Stieman LLP
  • Bob & Nancy Kenney
  • Bowditch Attorneys
  • Central One Federal Credit Union
  • Dube Construction Management
  • Deacon Jack & Nancy Franchi
  • Dileo Gas
  • Greenwood Roof Services
  • Harr Motor Group
  • Lamacchia Realty, Inc.
  • Lawrence Waste Management
  • McCloskey Insurance
  • Miles Funeral Home
  • Miles Press
  • Murray & Murray LLP
  • Pagano Media
  • Paxton Police Department
  • Pierce Forward Marketing Group
  • Polar Beverages
  • Stowe & Degon
  • Thrifty Car Rental

 

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The intersection of artificial intelligence and business strategy is where tomorrow’s leaders will make their mark. Today’s business landscape demands professionals with the strategic vision to implement AI responsibly across organizations. Understanding this reality, Anna Maria College has launched a groundbreaking AI for Business major.

Beginning this fall, students can enroll in this cutting-edge degree program housed within the School of Business. Available as both a major and minor, the AI for Business program addresses a critical gap in higher education by combining comprehensive business training with specialized artificial intelligence expertise. The AI for Business major provides students with a macro view of AI’s transformative potential across diverse sectors.

“In an era where artificial intelligence is transforming every facet of the business world, we found that students want more than technical knowledge—they want strategic vision and ethical grounding,” explains Dr. Elzbieta Manos, Chair of the School of Business. “This program positions our students to be leaders who can harness AI’s potential responsibly throughout entire organizations and in any industry sector.”

The program leverages Anna Maria College’s robust business core curriculum, ensuring students develop strong foundational knowledge across all aspects of business administration while gaining specialized AI expertise. Key program features include strategic AI integration across various business sectors, foundational knowledge in cutting-edge AI technologies, and dedicated courses like “AI for Decision Making” and “AI Ethics” that prepare students for leadership roles.

“The launch of our AI for Business program aligns with our new vision for Growth, Impact, Vision, and Excellence, and reflects our commitment to preparing students for the future of work,” said Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Anna Maria College. “By combining the power of artificial intelligence with core business principles, we are equipping the next generation of leaders to drive innovation, make data-informed decisions, and ethically shape the digital economy.”

What truly sets this program apart is its unwavering commitment to ethical AI implementation. Students engage with critical topics including data privacy, transparency, and accountability through robust discussions, and practical learning opportunities.

“We firmly believe that future business leaders must be equipped with the moral compass to guide AI use for the betterment of society,” Dr. Manos added. “This emphasis on ethics ensures our students will be responsible innovators, not just technically proficient professionals.”

Visit the AI for Business program page for more information.

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Hey Zach! What’s your best advice for making the transfer jump to Anna Maria College?

The best advice I could offer to making the transfer jump is to go all in. Our community is all about support from the time you apply through the time you graduate. Everyone wants to do everything possible to make you as comfortable and successful as possible.

The transfer admissions process can feel overwhelming, but not here. How do you help future transfers smoothly navigate the application process?

I help future transfers walk through the process step-by-step. For some people, the transfer process as a whole can feel overwhelming but it doesn’t need to be. I take pride in making the process manageable. I help our prospective transfer students with their questions. After that, I tell them how completing the small, easy steps will bring them to the larger goal of transferring. Like with hockey, when you make the plays one period at a time, you get to the win.

Beyond academics, what hidden gems or unique resources at Anna Maria do you think transfer students should know about to get the most out of their experience?

Part of this goes back to the community we foster. Anna Maria is a school full of people who care, from Admissions to Athletics and the professors teaching class. Everyone is here to support your journey and is looking to help mold and transform your future dreams into a reachable reality.

Transitioning to a new school can be tricky. What are your top three tips for transfer students to feel welcomed and integrated into the campus community from day one?

First, be willing to put yourself out there and by that I mean be open and willing to say hi to everyone you walk past. As I walk around campus, one of my most joyful parts of my day are speaking to faculty and students who are here. Even a quick hello and a smile can be a big part of someone’s day. Second, find some extra curricular activities, there are so many clubs and organizations that you can be apart of as well as athletic teams. These groups become built-in friends who share similar interests and create instant connections. Lastly, I always recommend introducing yourself personally to your professors and sharing your story with them. To be clear, the professors want to help you achieve your goals. Having a good relationship with your professors sets you up to succeed. Above all, take advantage of all that Anna Maria offers!

Anna Maria College is on the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll in recognition for excellence in transfer enrollment best practices. We are committed to an informative and seamless transfer enrollment process for our students.

The post Transferring? No problem. Speak with Zach. appeared first on Anna Maria College.

This impressive statistic highlights the dedication and hard work of our students, the support of our faculty, and the effectiveness of our career service program. The Handshake First Destination Survey remains open for six months following graduation, continuing to gather valuable data.

Anna Maria College is committed to providing exceptional education and career support. The Career Services Office offers a wealth of resources, guidance, and opportunities to help students transition smoothly from college to career. From resume workshops and mock interviews to networking events and job fairs, we are dedicated to our students’ success at every step.

A great starting point for planning your career is our year-by-year career checklist. This checklist outlines the actions students should take each year of their college journey to prepare for the job market.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on achieving an impressive 92% job placement rate! We are incredibly proud of you and look forward to seeing all the great things you will accomplish.

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As the proud president of Anna Maria College, I am compelled to offer some thoughts on the recent headlines concerning higher education. In an era where the echoes of skepticism surrounding the value of a college degree grow louder, Anna Maria profoundly shapes the destinies of those who defy circumstances and aspire to serve others. Anna Maria stands as a testament to the vital role played by small private colleges in shaping the future of our nation.

College presidents, once champions of intellectual inquiry across prestigious campuses, are tripping over measured pronouncements and largely failing in their attempts to navigate the storm of current events. Through their unintended missteps, the American higher education elite has regrettably sparked renewed momentum to the absurd assertions by many loud voices who question the value of a college degree. While this negativity stresses all higher education, the greatest damage will fall on the institutions at the heart of so many communities – America’s small private colleges.

Unlike our affluent counterparts, most of the approximately 1,300 private colleges with student populations under 5,000 are not defined by decorative facades and historical pedigree. Our grandeur lies in the stories we weave – stories of students defying circumstance, of first-generation legacies being born, and of diverse voices discovering their commonalities. At Anna Maria College, 42% of our fall 2023 class rely on Pell Grants, the lifeline for countless deserving individuals, and 33% are trailblazers as first- generation college attendees. Like many of our small college peers, we are a campus of many ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and lived experiences. We are a microcosm of America in all its vibrant complexity and strength.

Our student body is not a statistic; it is the beating heart of our mission. And our mission is not simply to impart knowledge; it is to ignite potential. Largely overlooked by thought leaders and influencers, small institutions focus their finite resources on educating students and supporting them through personalized attention. These colleges are adept at guiding students who might have been overwhelmed by the bureaucratic predispositions of larger institutions. With classes intimate and professors accessible, small college campuses are not unlike a typical neighborhood street, where people know and look out for one another. Here, the shy first-year student blossoms in a seminar, the single mother finds the support to pursue her degree, and the immigrant youth discovers their voice in a safe and inclusive space.

Mission and values are embedded throughout the college experience, so students learn that the making of a good and responsible life involves a commitment to one’s community. Then as graduates, alumni make communities stronger and more livable – serving in core roles as nurses and healthcare workers, public safety professionals, social workers, teachers, and businesspeople. Look around! You could not run a business, a hospital, or even a city if you subtracted all the small college alumni from the American workforce.

Yet, the fuel that drives this student transformation is scarce. Most small colleges must navigate a constant financial tightrope. We fight for every penny, stretching each dollar to ensure our students receive a quality education and have access to the resources they deserve. A single large donation, a sum that might be a mere rounding error in an elite university’s budget, can be a seismic shift for a small college. It can mean the difference between a student dropping out or graduating, scholarships for students who dream of a college education but lack the financial means, cutting-edge technology in our labs, or new learning spaces that foster collaboration. We are experienced at being nimble and maximizing the impact of every dollar. Ivy League ivory towers rarely crumble, so when skeptics question the value of earning a college degree or condemn college administrators, it is the small institutions that experience the repercussions.

The cynicism over education stands in contrast to our country’s founders and to the missions of so many small colleges that were established to expand educational access as the surest path toward success.

America must continue to be a place where hopes are nurtured, future generations are given greater opportunities than previous ones, learning is embraced, and advancing one’s education is a point of pride and not ridicule. Small colleges are the champions of both opportunity and second chances – the makings of the American dream. Investing in a small college is not just a financial contribution; it’s a vote of confidence in a future where education is not a privilege reserved for the few.

I welcome your feedback and support.

President Mary Lou Retelle

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