Saint Michael’s College recognizes five staff members for exemplary service

Five hard-working and dedicated Saint Michael’s College staff members were cast into the limelight – a place they rarely occupy in the regular course of doing their job – each taking home a staff award and the respect of their peers this fall. 

The honorees were recognized for service to the Saint Michael’s community that goes above and beyond during an awards ceremony at the employee Harvest Mixer on October 30. 

Among the award winners: Jeff Fontaine, Public Safety Investigator; Bridgette Akins, Coordinator of Bergeron Wellness Outreach and Education; Janel Roberge, Associate Registrar for Online and Non-Traditional Programs; Dr. Catherine Welch, Associate Dean of Student Success and Title IX Coordinator; and Anthony Bassignani, Associate Director for Circulation Services. 

An explanation of each award is provided below as well as the comments about this year’s recipients that were read aloud during the ceremony.  

Buff Lindau Leadership Award  

This award is named for Buff Lindau, one of the first female leaders of the Saint Michael’s College. During her 40 years at the College, she built and nurtured relationships and shared stories of the Saint Michael’s community.  

Awarded to: Jeff Fontaine, Public Safety Investigator 

Jeff Fontaine, left, accepts the Buff Lindau Leadership Award from Athletic Communications Director Josh Kessler during the 2024 Saint Michael’s College Harvest Mixer and Staff Awards ceremony. (Photo by Caitlin Lei)

After nearly four decades as an officer with the Colchester Police Department, Jeff joined the Saint Michael’s Community in 2017 and has been a visible leader on campus in his near-decade here. A number of colleagues helped us paint the picture of Jeff’s impact. 

Jeff consistently goes above and beyond in all aspects of service to the Department of Public Safety, the College and the community at large. Jeff’s unwavering support and volunteer work with Special Olympics, especially through the Torch Run, his church, and his involvement with the student body for training and support are unparalleled. He has organized various mental health trainings for Public Safety, and active shooter training for Public Safety and the student body. 

Jeff is kind and cares so much about the students. He is real with them and ultimately wants to help them be better and make good decisions. 

Jeff works diligently, wisely, efficiently, and humbly, and has no interest in recognition or praise. Jeff is an example of integrity and purpose within Public Safety and in the larger Saint Michael’s Community. Public Safety is a better department because of the work that Jeff puts in behind the scenes every day. As Public Safety’s most recent Employee of the Year, Jeff works daily to establish and maintain relationships with students, faculty and staff. He is trusted, and people feel comfortable coming to him for help or support. 

Jeff will do whatever is needed to ensure our students’ safety. Much of his work is done behind the scenes. He is quick to put in extra hours and cover shifts or rearrange his schedule to support students. Additionally, he is quick to support other campus offices in ensuring smooth operation of the school. Jeff is a go-to support for people in and outside his department.   

Edmundite Founder’s Seed-Planter Award 

This award is given in honor of the College’s Edmundite founders, whose transformative, out-of-the-box thinking and actions planted seeds that flourished through their use of intellect, heart, and faith. 

Awarded to: Bridgette Akins, Coordinator of Bergeron Wellness Outreach and Education 

Bridgette Akins, left, accepts the Edmundite Founder’s Seed-Planter Award from Library Associate Director Kristin Hindes during the 2024 Saint Michael’s College Harvest Mixer and Awards lunch. (Photo by Caitlin Lei)

As the Coordinator of Bergeron Wellness Education and Outreach, Bridgette is a remarkable asset to our SMC community. Her exceptional creativity, coupled with her unwavering commitment to student well-being, has made a profound impact on our campus. Since joining our campus, she has consistently exceeded expectations, transforming Bergeron’s outreach and education programs into thriving initiatives that truly resonate with our students. 

One of Bridgette’s most notable contributions has been her ability to think outside the box, creatively and thoughtfully planting seeds. From the innovative “Wellness on Wheels” program to the engaging Zen Zone and Wellness Carts around campus, she has consistently created unique and effective strategies to promote student well-being. Her creative approach, combined with her genuine care for students, has fostered a positive and supportive environment for all. 

Beyond her exceptional programming, Bridgette is a dedicated mentor and leader. She has successfully recruited and mentored a team of student ambassadors, empowering them to contribute to campus life and develop valuable leadership skills. Her commitment to fostering student growth and development is truly inspiring.  

Here are some words from a nomination: 

She is a positive force of light and joy on our campus. She knows many of our students by name and goes out of her way to say hello and welcome everyone and anyone into her space. She sees hope and possibility in the world, on our campus, with our staff, faculty, and our students. She naturally engages readily and generously in collaborations with any staff, faculty or students who are interested, and finds a balance between being supportive while also making space for the ideas and initiatives of others. Brigette brings a can-do attitude to any challenges or bumps in the road, and it is refreshing and inspiring to be in her orbit. 

Bridgette, your positive energy, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to our students make you an invaluable member of our campus.  

Fr. Maurice Ouellet Service Award 

This service award honors Fr. Maurice Ouellet, S.S.E. ’48, the College’s first director of the Student Resource Center who also fought for justice in Selma, Alabama, as a civil rights activist. 

Awarded to: Janel Roberge, Associate Registrar for Online and Non-Traditional Programs 

Janel Roberge, left, accepts the Fr. Maurice Ouellet Service Award from Director of Adventure Sports Eben Widlund during the 2024 Saint Michael’s College Harvest Mixer and Staff Awards lunch. (Photo by Caitlin Lei)

In honesty, there are few crossovers between the world of Adventure Sports and the Registrar’s Office, especially Janel’s aspect.  But one of the amazing aspects of this institution is the cross-pollination that occurs when staff members step outside of their offices to join in bettering Saint Michael’s College 

In the words of Lara Scott, recipient of this same award in 2022:  

“I have had the opportunity to work with Janel on Ditch the Dumpster for the last few years. Janel first connected with DtD out of her own interest and commitment to the goals of the program. That first year, she was the most energetic, positive, ‘ready to help in any way’ volunteer and it was clear we were lucky to have her energy and dedication. From there, Janel took on more and more leadership and for the past two years has been the lead coordinator for the initiative. She has brought new, needed structure to the program, broadened awareness, and engaged more and more of the campus community. Janel is organized and creative, she’s willing to think in new ways and try things, she both sees the big picture and is always willing to help with every tiny detail. She’s been incredible to work with and has made this important initiative continue to feel like a giant team effort. Over the years, and in part due to Janel’s leadership, persistence, and care, Ditch the Dumpster has become an integrated part of the SMC experience and one that student, faculty, and staff, alike, ask about each spring. Janel is committed to SMC being a place where community, environment, and justice intertwine. I have so much gratitude to Janel for stepping into a really big role and leading an initiative that makes a significant difference in the community on and off campus, shifts our campus impact on local landfills, and reinforces our campus values.” 

When asked about Janel, her colleagues say “she is a joy to work with. No matter what you throw at her, Janel tackles it with 100% dedication and a sense of humor. She has the greenest of thumbs and always keeps our office plants (and many other plants across campus) alive and thriving. Most importantly, she and Mimzy always make the office more fun!” 

She strives to know processes inside and out not just from a Registrar perspective but also from a perspective of how other offices may be affected. She’s always the first to volunteer to help out, even when it’s well beyond the scope of her job description. She is passionate and cares deeply about SMC.   

The Unsung Hero Award 

This award is given to a member of Saint Michael’s College staff who works diligently, wisely, efficiently, and humbly – not for recognition or praise – but because of integrity and purpose. This recipient is a team player, a quiet leader, not often seen in the spotlight, and profoundly makes the community stronger.  

There were two Unsung Hero Awards presented this year. 

Awarded to: Dr. Catherine Welch, Associate Dean of Student Success and Title IX Coordinator 

Catherine Welch, left, accepts the Unsung Hero Award from Library Associate Director Anthony Bassignani during the 2024 Saint Michael’s College Harvest Mixer and Staff Awards lunch. (Photo by Caitlin Lei)

Since she graduated from Saint Mike’s in 2009, Catherine has held several roles at the college, first as an RD and later in various Student Life roles, but the common thread across these positions has been her ability to put our students first. Although you most recently might associate Catherine’s name with the Title IX training that you need to complete by November 1st (this is your friendly reminder to complete it if you haven’t already), Catherine does so many things for our community. She is part of the Dean’s staff and partakes in the on-call duty rotation of ADs. She chairs not only the Bias Response Team, but also both the Retention and the CARE Teams. As her nominator wrote, “she never says no when asked to do something”, which means she is also on the President’s Council and the President’s Task Force, as well as helping with the very important work surrounding our NECHE report.  

In addition to the many responsibilities and roles Catherine fulfills, she helped to organize and found a chapter of Active Minds on our campus, for which she was named Advisor of the Year at the national level. She has done amazing work with regard to mental health on our campus and was even recognized by the Class of 2016 when they dedicated that year’s Yearbook to Catherine writing “An invaluable asset to our college who embodies the benevolence and leadership that we have been taught to strive for every day.” Catherine strives every day to be there for students and help connect them with the resources they need to thrive at Saint Mike’s. 

As her nominator wrote: 

“Unlike many of our positions, Catherine is not able to bounce things off colleagues or even share the burden of these tough situations she carries.  She has worked countless hours on behalf of the College, with the College’s legal team, and for the students who stand before her.  She is truly an unsung hero amongst us.”        

Awarded to: Anthony Bassignani, Associate Director for Circulation Services 

Anthony Bassignani, left, accepts the Unsung Hero Award from Marketing and Communications Web Content Strategist Lauren Read during the 2024 Saint Michael’s College Harvest Mixer and Staff Awards lunch. (Photo by Caitlin Lei)

Anthony serves as the Associate Director for Circulation Services, but in his 11 years working for the College – not including his time as a student – he has worn many hats working at the Durick Library. You will almost always find Anthony helping out whenever you swing through the Library, whether it’s chatting with a student who just wanted someone to talk to, hunting down a book for someone, or providing research help. Like many a librarian, he is the person you go to when you need help. 

This summer, when help was needed to clear space in the Library for the new Student Success Center, Anthony teamed up with Liz Scott in the efforts to clear out and moved thousands of books so that construction could begin.  

Anthony is active all over campus, from leading three different MOVE student trips, serving as the treasurer of Phi Beta Kappa, teaching a First-Year Seminar course and, of course, serving as co-chair of the Staff Welfare Committee.  

Here are some words from the nomination: 

“During this past Spring 2024 semester at Saint Mike’s, I taught the History department upper-level course HI365-A: Public History. Anthony’s volunteer work as a certified van driver for my class was crucial to its success.  When I had seventeen students enroll for the course, I quickly realized we would need a second twelve-seat van and driver to accommodate each of the many field trips the course required. One day, I mentioned out loud in conversation with Anthony about my worry, and he immediately volunteered to be the second driver, explaining that he completed the required van certification. After clearing it with his supervisor, he told me the official happy news that he could assist with each of the six off-campus field trips. Every time there was a field trip, Anthony took about four hours out of his regularly-scheduled work day to assist my course by: getting van keys from Sutton Fire House, driving to Salmon Hall to pick up the van, driving to Klein parking lot to load up students (and make sure they were buckled), driving students to that day’s site, attending all tours, loading students back up in the van, and safely drive students back to campus. It is no exaggeration to say I could not have offered the class without Anthony’s volunteer assistance.  

Outside of class, Anthony is an affable and always-helpful colleague. Without complaint, he unlocks my office door when I forget my keys, helps me with printer issues, and always points me to the correct person I need for any given issue. And once, he volunteered to help me carry heavy boxes of textbooks across campus (even though manual labor probably isn’t in his job description…!)”