Saint Elizabeth University is comprised of a diverse body of alumni who excel in every discipline. The Alum of the Month shines a spotlight on the personal and professional accomplishments of our alumni. If you would like to nominate yourself or a classmate of yours as our next Alum of the Month, then fill out the nomination form.

Jonadad Fequiere, ‘17

Hayley Holzhacker, ‘18

Ryan McKay, '22

Khajayah Little, '22

Judy Messing, '68

Judy Messing was a computer scientist before the computer science major was even invented.

“At the time, companies looking for computer programmers hired math, music or philosophy majors because we all had courses in logic,” recalls Judy, who earned her bachelor’s in mathematics in 1960.

Fascinated by the intellectual challenges in this burgeoning field, Judy was able to put her talents to work writing diagnostic programs for an experimental line of computers called UNIVAC (Universal Automatic Computer) shortly upon graduating. In the years to follow, Judy would work in different capacities for multiple computer-related companies and agencies.

Some of her accomplishments include programming large displays of military information, coding war game simulations, coding systems for the U.S. Army, testing early email programs and looking at solutions for protecting classified information. Judy even co-wrote a research paper on a mechanism to track access to computer files called “Beyond the Pale of MAC and DAC.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my working life,” says Judy. “I always worked with very smart people, had interesting projects, and was never bored.”

Anne Lanute, '98

“I was the first in my family to go to college because the opportunity just hadn’t been there for anybody else,” says Anne Lanute, ‘98. “Graduating from SEU was such a big day for me and my family.”

While interested in education, Anne’s parents were denied the ability to complete college due to family responsibilities. Her mother had to stop attending nursing school to care for her four small children and her father could not sacrifice their financial stability to earn a degree.

“Earning my degree was a gift to my parents because they felt they missed out on that experience,” recalls Anne. “It was something that meant so much to our entire family.”

A perpetual student, Anne has channeled her love of learning into her hobbies and personal interests. She believes that constantly learning introduces people to concepts they never knew they would find fascinating. This curiosity for the world actually led Anne to her career as a pastry chef.

Dr. David Jefferson, Jr., '21

“When I was in first grade, my teacher tied me to a chair with a jump rope and left me there for more than an hour,” explains Dr. David Jefferson Jr., ‘21. While this abuse initially made David weary of educators, he soon realized that his calling was to become the person he needed most in that moment.

“My time in education has gone from trauma to triumph,” explains David, who recently earned his doctorate in educational leadership at SEU. “That experience set the backdrop for me working with at-risk students who have also had challenges in education.”

A multi-vocational leader, every aspect of David’s professional, vocational and personal life has centered on assisting and inspiring young people to overcome obstacles blocking their success.

Kibbe McGaa Brown, ‘93, Dietetic Internship Program

A ring of red and a loaf of white ushered in an era of unprecedented illness and disease among members of the Lakota tribe. Representative of the refined carbohydrates and processed meat found in a bologna sandwich, this pithy phrase illustrates the movement from traditional food ways to more modern manners of consumption.

“The bologna sandwich was an alternative to standing at the stove, cooking all day,” explains Kibbe McGaa Brown, ‘93 a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and a graduate of SEU’s dietetic internship program. “Eating this way became a matter of status because some people had the ability to afford convenience.”

Gilliam Ojedis-Lucas, ’20

Gilliam Ojedis-Lucas, ’20, began her clinical practice in student teaching during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly after Gilliam’s clinical practice ended, she was hired as a full-time first grade teacher and was presented with another unique challenge: teaching entirely online.

“Whenever the other teachers at the school found out that I was doing my student teaching, they would all respond in the same way,” says Gilliam. “They would look shocked and say: ‘You’re doing it now? Well, you’re definitely going to be ready when you’re finished.’ And they were right, I was ready.”

Matthew Thomas, ’20

Matthew Thomas, ‘20, served in the US Navy from 1997 to 2001 and worked as a Hull Maintenance Technician Fireman during his years of service.

“My maternal grandfather Major David A. Thomas was the real reason why I served. I spent a lot of my time as a child with my grandpa and would always recount his stories of his time in the Air Force,” says Matthew. “He was my inspiration and hero.”

Following his time in the military, Matthew spent three years working as an EMT in Los Angeles, CA, where he met his wife and fellow SEU alum Heather. Working as an EMT later inspired Matthew to complete his degree in Health Administration at SEU.

“I am so happy that I attended SEU and had a wonderful time there. The professors that I met along the way were some of the greatest educators that I have had in my college career,” says Matthew.

Nada Mays, ’21

"I joined the Peace Corps to better understand the world," explains Nada Mays, who served in the Kingdom of eSwatini, a small landlocked country in the southern region of Africa. "As a Black and Palestinian person, I am very aware of how some regions of the world are portrayed in a falsely negative light."

While living in eSwatini for two years, Nada gained first-hand experience with the HIV pandemic. When she returned to the U.S., she was offered a position with a local community agency. In this role, she worked with incarcerated residents who were about to be released and counseled them about living with HIV.

Dr. Marion Hardy, '60

American flags waved from every street corner, marching bands played patriotic tunes while confetti streamed over large crowds and Dr. Marion Hardy, '60, stood in the middle of it all.

It was June of 1944. The Allied Forces had just invaded Normandy, securing a victory that would ultimately lead to the end of World War II, and Hardy's mother took her to New York to celebrate. In that moment, even though she was only a child, Hardy's admiration for the military was born.

"If I could, I would reenlist today," says Hardy, who spent several decades serving in the United States Air Force and retired as a full colonel. During her military career, Hardy filled positions that had never before been held by a woman. She was one of the first to fly in an F16 fighter aircraft as a Flight Surgeon, the first to hold the position of Commander, Chief of Hospital Services and one of the first to be appointed State Air Surgeon of New Hampshire.

Dr. Alex Guzman, '20

Growing up in a Spanish speaking household, Dr. Alex Guzmán was in English Language Learner (ELL) programs until the third grade. Alex's personal experience as an ELL student spurred his interest in researching this population for his dissertation. ⁠

Alex intends to use knowledge attained through earning his doctorate in educational leadership at SEU to create these equitable learning environments and encourage his peers to do the same.

"Continuing to higher education is difficult for low-income families," says Alex. "My mom, my sister, and I worked tirelessly to put me through college. I was the first to graduate from college, the first to earn a master's and now a doctorate."⁠

Thomas Michael, '20

"My internship gave me a head start in my career," says Thomas Michael, '20.

Last year, when he was nearing the end of his college career, Thomas realized that he wanted more hands-on experience. He became very interested in acquiring the experience and expertise necessary to operate a business effectively and turned to his advisors for assistance. As a psychology major with a business minor, Michael was looking for an internship that joined his two passions.

Heidi, '18 and Roger Biller, '93

A decade ago, Heidi Biller promised her seriously ill father Roger that he would see her graduate from Saint Elizabeth University. As the first male valedictorian to graduate from the University's “night and weekend” program in 1993, seeing his daughter walk across the stage at graduation was vitally important to him. Unfortunately, Roger was unable to attend Heidi’s college graduation due to complications from a liver transplant.

However, exactly ten years later, Heidi was able to fulfill her promise and Roger proudly watched as his daughter earned a master’s in educational leadership from the University.