The QCC Foundation is run by a Board of Directors. We are an organization of dedicated and interested community leaders, including businessmen and women, educators, medical professionals, and community activists in Central Massachusetts.
Meet the Board
Matthew E. Wally
James M. Griffin
Mr. Griffin is a Business Development Consultant for the Semiconductor Capital Equipment industry after retiring from BTU International as the Vice President of Sales. In his 33-year career at BTU, Mr. Griffin managed global sales, marketing, and customer support organizations in twenty- five countries serving the Semiconductor, Solar, and Nuclear equipment markets.
Mr. Griffin is active in the Quinsigamond Community College Mentoring program. He strongly supports sharing business and life experiences with students to enhance their opportunities to be successful.
Mr. Griffin and his wife Carolyn enjoy spending time with their four children, three grandchildren, and 27 nieces and nephews. Mr. Griffin received a BA in History from the University of Massachusetts - Boston. He was elected to the QCC Foundation Board in September 2022.
Linda Cavaioli
Linda Cavaioli was Executive Director of the YWCA Central Massachusetts for 30 years and retired in 2021. Linda supported a 30-member board of directors and oversaw the daily operations of an $8 million non-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of racism and empowerment of women.
Linda is active in the community and serves as a member and Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Quinsigamond Community College Foundation, serves on the Board and as President for 2Gether We Eat Hydroponic Farming agency dedicated to food justice in Worcester, serves on the Board and member of Finance and Development Committees for Notre Dame Academy, serves a member of the President’s Advisory Committee for Mass. Women of Color Coalition, Cochair of the Mechanics Hall Portraits Project and a member Emeritus of the Community Board of DCF Worcester West Area Office, Commissioner Emeritus of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and a member Emeritus of the United Way Women’s Initiative. She also serves on the Martin Luther King Community Breakfast Committee. While at the YWCA she also has served as regional chair of the YWCAs New England Council and Chair of the YWCA USA Regional Leadership Committee.
Before joining the YWCA, Linda was the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Resource Development at the United Way of Central Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Hampshire and MBA from Clark University.
Diane M. Giampa
Diane Giampa serves as Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Marketing, and Retail Banking at Bay State Savings Bank’s 28 Franklin Street location in Worcester, MA. In this role, Ms. Giampa oversees Human Resources, Marketing, Deposit Operations, and the Bay State Savings Bank branch network.
Ms. Giampa joined Bay State Savings Bank in October 1997 as Assistant Vice President of Human Resources. She was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources and Marketing in 2003. Previously, she served as Director of Human Resources at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center in Waltham, MA, and Director of Human Resources at Lipton Center in Leominster, MA.
Ms. Giampa serves on the boards of several local organizations, including Girls Inc., McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys, Friends of the Mounted Police Unit – Worcester, and the Worcester Historical Museum. She is also a member of the Nichols College Human Resources Advisory Board, Elder Service Hotline Advisory Committee, Bank on Worcester County Leadership Committee, and the Theatre District Alliance. Additionally, she volunteers with organizations, including the Red Cross of Central MA, the United Way, the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance, Pink Revolution, and Share Our Strength.
Recently, Ms. Giampa was a nominee for the American Bankers Foundation’s George Bailey Distinguished Community Service Award. Ms. Giampa won United Way’s “Inspire by Example” Award in 2016 and was honored in 2014 as a Banker & Tradesman Community Bank Hero. Ms. Giampa was named one of the Leading Women in Central Mass by GoLocalWorcester.com in 2013.
Ms. Giampa holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA in Marketing and Business Administration from Anna Maria College. She also has an SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional) designation from the Society for Human Resource Management. She was elected to the QCC Foundation Board in June 2019.
Luis G. Pedraja
Dr. Pedraja became the first in his family to attend college, later earning a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. He taught philosophy, ethics, and religious studies at the University of Puget Sound and Southern Methodist University, where he served as a division chair and faculty senator. After becoming a dean and provost, Dr. Pedraja served as President of La Comunidad of Hispanic Scholars in his discipline. Dr. Pedraja passionately advocates for increased higher education access for all people, especially marginalized people historically underserved by the American higher education system.
Most recently, Dr. Pedraja served as Interim Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for California’s 35,000-student Peralta Community College District, where he led faculty, staff, and administrators to develop innovative programs and ensure student success. From 2011-2016, Dr. Pedraja was Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Antioch University Los Angeles, a non-profit institution serving adult students with bachelor's degree completion and professional graduate programs. Dr. Pedraja partnered with the Los Angeles Community College District and led Antioch’s creation of competency-based, hybrid, and online degree programs in applied studies, business, technology, and criminal justice, allowing students to use all community college and workforce development credits toward bachelor's degrees. Dr. Pedraja also led the establishment of on-site bachelor's degree completion programs at community colleges and an early college program at L.A. high schools. These innovative programs provide clear pathways to college for K-12 students in underserved communities and help adult students achieve new professional goals and career advancement.
From 2004-2011, Dr. Pedraja served as Vice President for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. He advanced universal access to quality higher education by overseeing the accreditation of community colleges and universities from New York to Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Dr. Pedraja also led the first program to grant American accreditation to foreign universities. Since then, universities in South America, Asia, and Europe have retained him for guidance on achieving American higher education standards. At Middle States, Dr. Pedraja also developed higher education policy and advocated strategic solutions to various challenges, including financial, governance, and political crises. For instance, Dr. Pedraja was instrumental in resolving student protests at the University of Puerto Rico that had debilitated the entire university system for months. At the invitation of the Higher Learning Commission, Dr. Pedraja also successfully led a 2014 evaluation of Arizona’s Pima Community College District, which had been under probation for violations of multiple higher education standards.
Dr. Pedraja has volunteered extensively with the American Red Cross Disaster Services and local emergency management. He has also served on non-profit boards and co-founded two non-profit organizations; one focused on animal rescue and the other on supporting cancer patients’ families.
Quinsigamond Community College welcomed Dr. Pedraja as President on July 10, 2017.
Kola A. Akindele
Mr. Akindele oversees the University Advancement division's corporate, foundation, community, and government relations areas. He is a seasoned external affairs professional with experience engaging with policymakers and advising organizational decision-makers on regulatory and legislative matters. Before his position at WPI, he served at UMass Medical School as Sr. Director of Community & Government Relations and then as their Assistant Vice Chancellor with additional responsibilities. Before that, he served as community and government relations manager at Hartford Healthcare.
In addition to a BA in Economics and Political Science from UMass Boston, he received his JD from Northeastern University and an MS in Health Informatics and Management from UMass Lowell. Kola grew up in Worcester, near the campus, and is also an Adjunct Faculty member for Health Policy at Worcester State University. He joined the QCC Foundation Board of Directors in September 2021.
Jack Cutone
Jack Cutone attended Quinsigamond Community College and went on to receive a B.S. Degree from Worcester State University in both Economics and Business Administration. He received his MBA from Anna Maria College and a Senior Executive Certificate from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business. He was the Managing Partner of 1031 Exchange, United Asset Trading Company, LLC.
Mr. Cutone serves on the Advisory Board for MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC) of Framingham State University, Board of Corporators for Avidia Bank, Past Leadership Team for Massachusetts Business Network International (BNI) and was a Past Chair for the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has been an Adjunct Economics Instructor at Quinsigamond Community College and Mass Bay Community College for the past twenty years. He is a Board Member on the Citizens Scholarship Foundation (CSF), served on the QCC Foundation Board from 2013 to 2022 and was re-elected in June of 2023.
Suzanne Graham Anderson
Suzanne Graham Anderson is the founder and CEO of Positively Suzanne LLC which is a lifestyle brand whose tenets are to inspire, motivate and empower. Under the brand umbrella she has written a book called Detoxifying Leadership. She hosts a podcast called Sit Down With Suzanne which is available in all podcasting directories. She hosts a show called Sipping Tea with Suzanne on YouTube Live every Wednesday. She is a life and empowerment coach who focuses on empowering others to be the best versions of themselves. She has a diverse list of clients, but her primary clients are black women.
Suzanne is a passionate advocate of the "You are enough movement." Suzanne was a leader in retail management for over twenty years, during which time she mentored and guided individuals of all ages to pursue their dreams and be the best they can be. Seeing a need for women to support and empower each other, Suzanne started mentoring women outside of work in her spare time and has been a mentor at QCC for the past several years. She is also a mentor for Eforall of Greater Worcester. Suzanne holds a dual masters in business and organizational leadership, which combined with her role as a minister at her local church gives her additional tools to help others navigate their leadership and life journey.
Suzanne joined the Board in September of 2023.
Jorgo Gushi
In June 2020, the QCC Foundation Board elected recent QCC graduate Jorgo Gushi. Mr. Gushi is a proud Quinsigamond Community College Class of 2020 graduate. He graduated from QCC with an Associate Degree of Science in Engineering. He is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a minor in Mechanical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. During his time as a student at QCC, Mr. Gushi excelled in academics and leadership. He received several awards, including Engineering Department Award, Special Recognition Award, and Outstanding Student Leader Award. For the 2019-2020 Academic Year, Mr. Gushi served as the Student Government Association President at QCC while being part of numerous governance councils in and out of campus. Mr. Gushi has advocated for students’ rights, college affordability, and policy changes on a state level while serving as the Chair of the Student Advisory Council to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and as a Member of the Open Educational Resources Advisory Council.
A native Greek-Albanian, Mr. Gushi moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2018 to pursue higher education. Since January 2019, Mr. Gushi has worked as an assistant at the Office of Student Life and Leadership and QCC and as a Student Support Tutor at the QCC Math Center.
Timothy Hally
Tim Hally has grown up in Central MA his whole life. Life changed for him and his family when his mom had a brain stem stroke back in 2013. Tim's journey with his family has fueled his passion for empathy and storytelling. Providing for his mom's care led him to stay local for college. He attended Clark University for his undergrad and MBA where he graduated with both in August 2020. Months later, he would launch Munq, a creative agency, with one of his childhood friends, Justin Matsen. Their growth in the Worcester community has been increasing, leading them to win Worcester Business Journal's "Best Video Production Company" 2024. On top of running the agency, Tim is also an adjunct professor at Clark University and sits on the Board of Directors at the Guild of Saint Anges. Tim joined the QCC Foundation Board in February 20204 and is looking forward to his work helping make college education more accessible for all.
Dr. Jean A. King
Dr. Jean King is the WPI Peterson family Dean in the School of Arts and Sciences. She also serves as a Professor of Biology and Biotechnology, an affiliate Professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department, a Professor in the Neuroscience Program, and a Director of the NeuroTech Suite at WPI. Before joining WPI, she was vice provost for biomedical research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School; a tenured professor of psychiatry, radiology, and neurology; and director of the university’s Center for Comparative Neuroimaging. She retains a lab and Adjunct Professorship at Umass Medical School, Worcester, MA.
Dr. King’s research uses multimodal approaches to identify and characterize neuronal plasticity and behavioral modifications associated with stress and resilience- with emphasis on focus areas like mindfulness, addiction, ADHD, depression, fearfulness, anxiety, neurological disorders, aging, cognition, pain and sex differences in model systems and humans with the hope of finding clues to help us better understand these conditions and disorders. Her new lab utilizes a translational approach incorporating clinical research and pre-clinical studies. In 2018, she helped launch the Neuroscience Initiative at WPI, fostering the establishment of a graduate program and an interdisciplinary Neurotechnology Suite at PracticePoint. The suite has a number of experienced faculty in areas like data science, computational biology, EEG, eye-tracking, sensors, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), fNIRS, and physiological monitoring. This multimodal hub supports innovative collaboration to advance our understanding of critical topics in neuroscience. The long-term goal of Dr. King’s research is to provide an understanding of the unique features of central mechanisms that regulate neurobehavioral health and well-being.
Dr. King has published over 100 original scientific publications, including papers, book chapters, and review articles in highly respected international scientific journals. She also served as an editor of the New York Academy of Sciences Publication-Roots of Mental Illness in Children. She has been a scientific consultant for the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Veterans Administration.
Dr. King is passionate about mentoring and the diversification of the scientific workforce. She has won several mentoring awards and serves on several Boards, including acting as the Co-Chair of World Women in Neuroscience (WWN), a member of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI), and the NSF- funded COBRE – Neurobiological Institute/University of Puerto Rico. She was elected to the QCC Foundation Board of Directors in June 2020.
Micah Klayman
Dr. Linda S. Larrivee
Dr. Mary Meade-Montaque
Now retired, Dr. Mary Meade-Montaque was the Manager for Instruction and School Leadership for Worcester Public Schools, managing the district’s middle, high, and alternative schools. Dr. Meade-Montaque’s career spans all educational levels. She began her career as a high school science and math teacher in New York City. On the college level, she served as Assistant Professor of Experiential Education Director of the Career Life Planning Center and Chemistry Instructor at Atlantic Union College. Before becoming a District Manager, she worked for Worcester Public Schools for 15 years as an Elementary School Principal.
Dr. Meade-Montaque is a native New Yorker. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, a Master of Arts in teaching Chemistry, and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. In addition to her formal degrees, Dr. Meade-Montaque has completed post-graduate work in Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, completed an extensive leadership training program with the National Institute for School Leadership, and completed the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University. The focus of Dr. Meade-Montaque's dissertation was principal leadership that supports both teacher and student growth and development. The emphasis of her current work centers on school turnaround leadership, supporting school administrators and teacher leaders in developing effective practices that improve student learning.
Dr. Meade-Montaque has received numerous awards. She received the Young Careerist Award from the Worcester County Business Association early in her career. The NAACP and the City of Worcester have recognized her as a pioneer in education for being Worcester's first African-American elementary school principal. The State of Massachusetts recognizes her as an Exemplary Educator. In the fall of 2000, Dr. Meade-Montaque received one of America’s highest awards presented to educators, the Milken Educator Award.
Dr. Meade-Montaque’s efforts in the community have centered on programs that empower women and minorities and promote education. To this end, she has worked with the YWCA of Central Massachusetts for over twenty years in many capacities, including serving as President. She has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Atlantic Union College. Additionally, she maintains numerous professional affiliations and is an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University. She was elected to the QCC Foundation Board in June 2019.
Gladys Rodriguez-Parker
Now retired, Ms. Rodriguez-Parker was Congressman James P. McGovern’s Senior District Representative. Considered one of the most impactful Latino voices in Worcester, Gladys was the Executive Director of Centro Las Americas (now, Centro, Inc.), the first Latino-led and Latino community-serving institution created in Worcester. She is a founding member of Worcester’s Latino Education Institute, a Board Director at the Worcester Community Action Council, and has served in multiple other not-for-profit organizations that provide services and support to underserved and underrepresented populations in Central Massachusetts. She has been a QCC Board Director since 2020.
Guardians Emeriti
- Roland Gauthier
- James Harrington
- Jeannie Hebert
- Susan Mailman
- Laurance Morrison
Directors Emeriti
- Carl E. Baylis
- J. C. Collins
- Edward J. Connor
- Russell Dye
- William Jones
- Robert Kenney
- Robert B. Kervick
- Francis X. Pisegna
- Stanley A. Shustak
- Edna P. Spencer
- William G. Stark
- Meridith D. Wesby