Board of

Trustees

Melissa Alvarado is an assistant vice president in strategic planning and delivery at MassMutual Financial Group and prior to that worked in its compliance and information technology organizations. She previously served as the clerk of the Westfield State Foundation. In addition to the B.S. in business administration that she earned in 1999 from Westfield State, Ms. Alvarado holds an M.B.A. in finance from Western New England University and earned an executive certification in leadership and management from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Gloria B. Williams is an educational consultant and leadership mentor, who previously completed a 21-year tenure as a master principal for the Springfield Public Schools. Her exceptional service in education, including as a representative for Superintendent’s Advisory Committee, was recognized when she received the 2019 Educational Legacy Achievement Award, presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is president of the consulting firm Coalition of Experienced Black Educators, Inc., and president of the Board of Directors for Families Against Violence. She earned a B.S. in education from Westfield State College in 1977 and a Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies, a M.Ed. and a Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Daniel Currier of Attleboro, Mass. was elected by the student body in April 2023 to serve as the Westfield State University student trustee for the 2023-2024 academic year. A junior with majors in accounting and finance with minors in economics and English, Currier was formerly vice president for Finance for Westfield State’s Student Government Association, is president of the Accounting Club and serves as a campus tour guide, new student orientation leader, and peer tutor. Currier is also a Commonwealth Honors Scholar and has received the Executive Excellence Award from the Westfield State University Student Government Association.

George Gilmer is chief financial officer for ActBlue, a Somerville-based non-profit, online fundraising platform working with democratic political candidates. Prior to this position, Gilmer held senior positions in finance and investor services with State Street Bank and BNY Mellon, both in Boston. Gilmer previously served as a trustee from December 2007 to March 2012. A 1992 graduate of Westfield State University, Gilmer earned a B.S. in business management with a focus on accounting. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Rhode Island.

Theresa Jasmin is the Chief Financial Officer at Big Y Foods, headquartered in Springfield, where she served in progressive roles since 2005. Her professional financial experience also includes positions at Friendly Ice Cream Corporation. Her volunteer roles have spanned YMCA of Greater Springfield, Massachusetts Food Association, Connecticut Food Association, and Palmer United Boosters. Ms. Jasmin holds a B.S. in business administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an M.B.A. in finance from Western New England College.

A 1989 Westfield State alumna, Tessa Lucey is Director of Compliance Services and Chief Privacy Officer at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Prior to this position she was Corporate Compliance Officer/Chief Privacy Officer at Hallmark Health System in Medford. Prior to her position at Hallmark Health,  Lucey was Director of Compliance and Chief Privacy Officer at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. In addition to her B.S. in Business with minors in Psychology and Women’s Studies from Westfield State University, Lucey earned a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from Simmons College.

Chris Montemayor is senior vice president of rental assistance programs at Way Finders, Inc. Prior to joining Way Finders in 2011, Montemayor was chief financial officer for HCS Head Start. In addition to the B.S. in business management that he earned in 1990 from Westfield State, Montemayor also holds an M.P.A. in public administration, also from Westfield State University. Montemayor is member and co-chair of the rental assistance committee for the Regional Housing Network and also head men’s basketball coach at Holyoke Community College.  

Michael O’Rourke is the owner of Belmont Driving School, which he has operated since 1975. O’Rourke has over 10 years’ experience on the Board of Assessors for the Town of Ludlow, where he currently serves as vice chairman. He is also member-at-large of the Westfield State Alumni Association Executive Council. O’Rourke’s history of committee service includes, Ludlow School Committee, Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, Massachusetts Advisory Committee on Athletics, the Special Education Committee for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, and Board of Directors of The Ludlow Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Westfield State University, O’Rourke earned a B.A. in History with minors in English and Secondary Education in 1973.

A 2009 Westfield State alumnus, William Reichelt was elected mayor of West Springfield in November 2015 at age 29, after serving as its town attorney for two years. He previously was a law clerk and attorney for the town of Agawam. Reichelt is serving his second term as mayor. He holds an A.S. from Holyoke Community College, a B.S. in business administration and management from Westfield State, and an M.B.A. and J.D. from Western New England University and its School of Law, respectively.