Lasting Legacies

With several decades of service among them, these retiring faculty and staff leave the Hilltop after making deep impressions.

Alicia Finn, Ph.D.
Dean of Students, Vice President for Student Affairs

There are few aspects of Saint Anselm College life in which Alicia Finn has not played a role—from greeting first-year students at orientation to helping graduates adjust their gowns before commencement. Whether it’s by hiring residential life staff, giving a pep talk to softball players, walking with students in the Relay for Life, or chairing a search committee, she had an impact on the life of every undergraduate during her nearly 20 years serving the college.

Finn’s roles as dean of students and vice president for student affairs were both complementary and overlapping. She was the first female dean of all students, working to ensure student engagement, development and success. While the job of dean of students is sometimes thought of as being all about conduct, she says, it is less than 20 percent of the position. She led a restructuring of residential life, served as SGA advisor, and founded and chaired key committees, to name just a few of her activities. She played an essential role in helping the college navigate its way through the pandemic. She never envisioned participating in virtual commencement ceremonies or addressing students virtually, encouraging them to “embrace the challenge with courage and creativity.”

Finn also was the first woman to serve as vice president of student affairs, a role she assumed in 2018. The role involves a broad vision: identifying relevant initiatives, centering people around common goals, and moving the college mission forward. Her central concerns were student and staff welfare, ensuring resources, and addressing wider college issues in the context of the changing landscape of higher education.

Crises occurred during her tenure at the college, but so did progress, she says. “There are countless transformational stories of students, incredible efforts of colleagues, the start of initiatives such as SEEK, Emerging Leaders, the flourishing of The Harbor, Relay for Life crossing the $1 million-mark, peer groups addressing mental health, an increased focus on inclu- sion, and so much more. I see the zeal of the community to persevere, grow, deepen our mission, and remain student-centered while striving to be student-ready.”

While holding administrative titles, Finn describes herself first and foremost as an educator. “I am a developmentalist. I believe in students and their limitless potential,” she says. “I wrote these words in my job application 20 years ago. They were true then and still are.” The truth of these words is obvious in the accolades she received upon retirement. The student newspaper put the word “beloved” before her title. The college president called her advocacy for students “tenacious,” and said that he will miss her “thoughtful guidance of the Student Affairs Division, her many selfless contributions to the community, and her poise and grace in any scenario.”

As she retires, this educator will miss the students, her Student Affairs staff- family, and other colleagues. “I believe I was truly blessed to have had these years at SAC,” she says. You could say the blessing goes both ways.

Ande Diaz, Ph.D.
Chief Diversity Officer

There were no shoes to fill when Ande Diaz arrived in the summer of 2017 as the college’s first full-time chief diversity officer (CDO). Seven years later, she leaves the college better prepared than ever to welcome people of all backgrounds. The college will now build on the solid and strategic foundation Diaz put in place for the important work of diversity and inclusion. Going forward, it is her shoes that will be hard to fill.

Diaz has always been interested in civic engagement and civil discourse, so she was drawn to Saint Anselm partly by the NHIOP. Once on campus, she learned how hospitality and welcoming others is sacred and embedded in a Catholic education. “I felt a deep responsibility to integrate our traditions with our future— not just for the decades ahead, but the perpetuity of the college,” she says. “I felt I was laying down a framework that had to be grounded in the mission and identity of the college and yet be forward-thinking to respond to evolving student body needs and the enrollment trends of the future.”

As an advocate for diversity and inclusion, Diaz held several leadership roles, including chairing the President’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusiveness, co-chairing the college’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) action plan, advising the president, and contributing to the Senior Administrative Leadership Team and the President’s Council. Shortly after her arrival, Diaz launched the Diversity and Inclusion Innovation Fund, which provided funding to more than 65 innovators to advance an inclusive campus culture.

Diversity is much more than compositional diversity, says Diaz. “It’s not just about the number of students of color or international students or Catholic students. It’s about having a culture of belonging.” Her grandmother came by boat from Puerto Rico to work in a textile factory in New York, so she feels a personal connection to the immigrant mill workers who were the college’s first students.

As CDO, Diaz worked across campus with everyone from professors to coaches to lab assistants. As a result, she feels that her accomplishments belong to the entire community. Certain moments highlight that success—such as when an alumnus reaches out to ask about raising culturally sensitive children, or a faculty member wants to discuss a troubling classroom conversation.

One of the things Diaz misses is the intimacy of the college—working in common cause with colleagues, finding ways to help students succeed. Living in Rhode Island, she will work part time in her husband’s consulting firm and volunteer for racial justice and climate justice causes. “We’re just down the road from the Benedictine Portsmouth Abbey School, so if any Anselmians are visiting Portsmouth Abbey, I hope they will reach out and connect!” she says. (She’ll take a break from her long- neglected beach reading.)

Maureen O’Reilly, Ph.D., R.N.
Director of Undergraduate Nursing

The building of a new home for the Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences is a major landmark for Saint Anselm College. As director of undergraduate nursing, Maureen O’Reilly was on the campaign steering committee and present at the groundbreaking in October. But when the doors open in 2025, this long-serving nurse, professor, and administrator might be taking a walk on the beach or visiting family and friends across the country.

O’Reilly arrived at the Hilltop as a part-time clinical faculty member in 1982, and while teaching at Saint Anselm, she also worked as a bedside nurse and earned a Ph.D. She chaired the nursing department, served on many committees, and contributed to the growth the Continuing Nursing Education Program. Over the years, she has watched the program grow. While she does not take credit, she says she’s pleased to see the continued high quality of its graduates, “which is due to the entire faculty and what they get at this college.”

O’Reilly enjoyed both classroom teaching and clinicals. “Bringing students into the hospital unit, you get to see the experience through their eyes. It’s exciting for them, and it excites me as a nurse all over again,” she says. She is thrilled when she gets to work on the maternal and newborn unit alongside her former students. “I get to see how fabulous they are!” In retirement, O’Reilly will enjoy having a flexible schedule and free time; however, she expects to be a frequent visitor to the Abbey Church, and she’ll enjoy attending college ceremonies— “because I won’t have to be running them.”

Deborah McCarter, Ph.D., R.N., W.H.N.P.-B.C., I.B.C.L.C.
Professor of Nursing

The pinning ceremony in the Abbey Church in April was a poignant one this year for Deb McCarter as she joined her colleagues in celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of 94 senior nursing students. It was her last pinning ceremony as a faculty member—although she may attend the next few to see some of her former students and colleagues. Through her 17 years at Saint Anselm College, McCarter influenced the careers of nurses at all levels of the profession— and in so doing, touched countless lives. Highlights include seeing the expressions on the faces of nursing students witnessing their first births, and hearing a student say, after caring for patients during clinicals, “I feel like a nurse.” She enjoyed not only teaching, but also conducting research that will improve patient care and highlight the critical importance of the nursing profession.

Recently, McCarter received New Hampshire Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing Award in the category of Nursing Educator/Educator. As McCarter retires, it’s a satisfying feeling for her to know that she has helped shape the future of nursing, especially in these challenging times in health care. “It has been my honor to work with faculty, staff, and administrators who bring so much to the world and are motivated for good,” she says. She remains motivated to do that, but in different ways. Besides enjoying more hikes with her dog Friendly, she plans to find avenues to work for racial reconciliation.

Keith Dickson 
Men’s Basketball Head Coach

For almost four decades, Coach Dickson was an unfailing presence at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.

“I remember the first game I coached,” he says. “We lost to Saint Michael’s at home. Not a great start for me, I guess, but we turned it around after that.” He certainly did. Between that game and his last game (a NE10 semifinal game at Southern Connecticut State University), he led the Hawks to 719 victories, making him the winningest coach in Northeast-10 Conference history and ninth winningest in NCAA Division II men’s basketball.

Dickson’s retirement marks the end of an era for the college, as well as the close of an exciting career. The team’s 10 NE-10 tournament championships (the most of any team in league history) are among the highlights. “There’s no greater feeling than cutting down the nets after a championship victory,” he says. The Hawks also won two NCAA regional championships. But while Dickson has earned many individual accolades (including his selection in 2020 as one of the “40 Outstanding Individuals” in Northeast-10 Conference history), it is not his own record he’s proud of. “I believe the players decide the outcomes. It’s all about our team performance,” he says.

Dickson feels fortunate to have coached the Hawks. “I really wanted to be at a place that allowed me to coach good kids who cared about both school and basketball while also giving us a chance to win,” he says. “In Saint Anselm, I found that place. The relationships I’ve built with my players and the positive memories we’ve created together will last me a lifetime.”

Many former players feel the same. “Coach Dickson wasn’t just a basketball coach to me, but someone who taught me and many others about life,” says Pat Delany ’02, lead assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors. “He is someone I can call to connect with, ask for advice, or to come down to Boston to grab dinner with, which he has done many times. Everyone at the Hilltop who [met] him is better for it, but nobody more than me.” Another former player, Chris Santo ’15, follows in his former coach’s footsteps as men’s basketball head coach.

Basketball will always be part of Dickson’s life, although he won’t be coaching and hasn’t played a competitive game in decades. “I can still hold my own in a game of one-on-one against my 7-year-old grandson Brady,” he says. “I probably won’t be able to hold him off for much longer.”

Dickson’s connection to the college is “very real and very deep,” he says, noting that he’ll be a Hawk forever. He will still be a familiar face at Stoutenburgh—one of 1,200 spectators maybe, but a very special one.

Beth Salerno, Ph.D.
Professor of History, Associate Academic Dean

For 24 years, Beth Salerno has been teaching the past. She hopes that, in doing so, she has helped shape the future. She taught and developed many courses and seminars, founded the Center for Teaching Excellence, chaired her department, and blogged from South Korea. While she won’t be teaching, she hopes to continue to shape the future.

In retirement, Salerno plans to get more involved in local and organic agriculture (including in her own garden) and “write to my political representatives rather than just wish I had.” She found Saint Anselm College welcoming from the start. “At a faculty dinner,” she says, “my husband, who was raised agnostic, was seated by Bishop Joseph. My husband asked him so many questions about monks, Catholicism, and faith that I was sure I’d never get tenure. Bishop Joseph thanked me afterward for such a thoughtful dinner companion. It was one of many reminders that my preconceptions are not reality.” As a teacher, Salerno loved the moments when “students suddenly came into sharper focus as whole persons. It could be a struggling student who suddenly got a concept and blossomed, or a great student who shared their struggles along the way.”

Salerno enjoyed working with students at the round desk in her office, which featured a piece of the wire fence that divides North and South Korea, a clock gifted by the History Society, and plenty of books to give to students doing research. She looks forward to visiting campus to meet with former colleagues for conversations about life instead of about grading, the administration, or core curricula. But she ushered in retirement by turning off her alarm clock and ignoring her email for a whole 24 hours.

Joseph Spoerl, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy

When a professor of moral philosophy describes a group of people as “marvelously kind and respectful,” it is a major compliment. Joe Spoerl’s area of expertise involves matters of what is right and wrong, and how people should live their lives in relation to others. He thinks about justice, truth, and virtue. Looking back on his 34 years in the Saint Anselm College classroom, Spoerl feels fortunate. “What I’ve enjoyed most about working with students here is just how kind and respectful they are,” he says. “I’ve taught at four or five different institutions of higher education, and the students here are far and away the nicest of them all. To all my students: Thank you for being such nice people!”

Spoerl has taught courses as varied as ethics, critical thinking, formal logic, history of modern philosophy, introduction to philosophy, and the life of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. He also taught in the college’s first-year seminar (Conversatio). Besides the association with students, he has appreciated “the wonderful opportunity to be constantly learning, both from my colleagues and my students. You really learn a subject by having to teach it, and the learning is what I have loved most about teaching.”

Now that he’s retired, the philosophy professor cultivates his vegetable garden as well as his thoughts. He has a long list of books to read. “I really look forward to sitting in my backyard and contemplating the universe. I am a philosopher after all!” he says. He and his wife, former theology professor Kelley Spoerl, won’t be strangers to campus, but will attend talks, exhibits, and events.

Kelley Spoerl, Ph.D.
Professor of Theology

Kelley Spoerl taught courses covering all Christian history, from the New Testament to the present. Joining the faculty in 1990 along with her husband, philosophy professor Joe Spoerl, she taught for 34 years, chairing her department for five of those years. A lifelong learner, she loved learning about all the things that were not part of her doctoral studies in early Christianity. “I taught both years of the old Humanities Program, as well as Biblical Theology, Christian Spirituality, and Women in Catholic Tradition. Preparing those courses and teaching them many times over the years provided a superb education for me,” she says.

Spoerl enjoyed mentoring as well as teaching—whether it was students in the classroom or junior colleagues in the department. She vividly recalls the sense of unity on campus when she joined students and colleagues at the 9/11 service in the Abbey Church. “It was a moving moment of solidarity, and I think it really helped me get through that semester, and really, the whole school year,” she says.

Among the things that bring her satisfaction as she looks back on her career is working with students who chose to go into the ministry after graduating, either through vowed monastic life, the priesthood, or lay ministry. “I’m honored to think I contributed something to the future leadership and ministry of the Roman Catholic Church,” she says. Among Spoerl’s retirement plans are improving her conversational French, refining her craft techniques, making trips to Quebec, and continuing to write scholarly articles in her field.

Carol Vachon
Accounts Payable Specialist

It’s fitting that, when asked to answer a few emailed questions for this article, Carol Vachon instantly replied, “Do you need it right away?” Working in Accounts Payable for more than 40 years, she’s familiar with requests marked “Urgent” in capital letters. “There were a lot of urgent requests needed yesterday. We always got them done,” she says. As Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B., ’71 said of his years working with Vachon in Financial Affairs, “Working with Carol was always a positive experience. She was knowledgeable, quick, and efficient, and had a ready smile.” In addition to these attributes, Vachon was known for her dry sense of humor and her seasonal office decorations.

Vachon began as a cashier in what was then called the Business Office on the second floor of Alumni Hall. She saw many changes, including the building and demolishing and rebuilding of Poisson Hall and a certain office birthday party when a bunch of helium balloons exploded just as the comptroller was walking by. The most memorable incident, however, was Fr. Mark’s election to Abbot Mark. “I remember going to the Abbey Church, and seeing him in his abbatial wardrobe walking in procession, I just cried,” she says. “I was so happy for him.”

Vachon has bittersweet emotions upon leaving Alumni Hall and the college after working for 43 years with “the greatest team.” She and her husband plan to travel, but she will still be a presence on campus as she goes for her regular walks and takes her turn reading a Shakespearean sonnet. (She hasn’t missed a year yet!)