Welcome to life as a college student! Right from the first day, First Year Seminar helps you meet other students, connect with faculty members, and become part of the Elms community.
First Year Seminar (FYS) will empower you to make the most of your education here at Elms. With your instructor as a guide and mentor, you and your peers will explore important topics, frame critical questions and seek just solutions. Through special programming, in-class discussions, and campus-wide events, you will become an active member of the Elms College community.
The aim of First Year Seminar is to develop:
- Critical and innovative thinking
- Close reading of a text
- Analysis and open discussion
- Clear written and oral communication
- Appreciation of diversity and different viewpoints
- Intellectual and global curiosity
Hear more about First Year Seminar from Jennifer L. Granger Sullivan, Ed.D., Director of Experiential Learning, and Director of the First Year Seminar.
The Longest Table event for new students, outside Berchmans Hall, sponsored by First Year Seminar
September 2025
Introducing First Year Seminar’s
Common Read for 2026-2027:
First-Gen: A Memoir by Alejandra Campoverdi
First-Gen: A Memoir by Alejandra Campoverdi , has been selected as the Common Read for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The Common Read is an integral part of the First Year Seminar because it gives all new first-year students a shared academic experience centered on a theme from the Catholic Social Teachings (CST). This year’s theme is “Rights and Responsibilities.”
In her unflinching memoir, First Gen, Alejandra Campoverdi invites readers to explore the CST theme of Rights and Responsibilities. Through the lens of her own journey, she illustrates the invisible challenges faced by marginalized trailblazers striving for social mobility while simultaneously honoring their duties to family and community.
A national bestseller and winner of the Martin Cruz Smith Award, FIRST GEN is a story of generational inheritance, aspiration, and the true meaning of belonging—a gripping journey to “reclaim the parts of ourselves we sacrificed in order to survive.”
Through the Blazer Book Link Course Materials Program, students will receive a digital copy of First Gen along with all other required course materials.
Elms Innovation Challenge
The Elms Innovation Challenge is an experiential learning opportunity for all first-year students to collaborate on innovative ways to tackle the big problems.
This year’s challenge teaches students design thinking, the innovation process, and team building skills. There will be a common theme of innovation related to sustainability and the environment.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Wednesday 10/21- REQUIRED – Innovation Challenge Semi-Finals 12:15pm to 2:40pm
Friday 10/23- REQUIRED – Innovation Challenge Final Round- 9:30am to 12:00pm Veritas
LIVE INNOVATION CHALLENGE
9:30am-11:30am
Final Round Team Presentations – Veritas Auditorium
11:30 am-12:00pm
● Final Presentations
● Judges Deliberations
● Awards
12:15pm-1:15pm– Food Truck & Music in the Quad
What is the Innovation Challenge?
Overview
Students will be placed in teams of 5-6 students with their first-year seminar course. These teams will work together learning about brainstorming, design thinking, innovation and problem solving. Student teams will use this process to create a new “innovation” and pitch that innovation live to a panel of judges. Individuals can win money if their team is selected by the judges. See the prize information and judging criteria later in the workbook.
The Objective
• Develop students’ professional and networking skills
• Approach problem solving and innovation in a systematic way
• Provide authentic leadership and teamwork experience
• Increase the sense of belonging to the Elms Community
• Integrate more experiential learning activities into the curriculum
Student Outcomes
• Outcome #1: Students will demonstrate critical and empathetic analysis of a problem linked to Catholic Social Teaching.
• Outcome #2: Students will be able to articulate the importance of developing a deep insight into customer needs, desires, and aspirations
• Outcome #3: Students will discover their personal leadership styles
• Outcome #4: Students will be able to apply specific tools and methodologies to enhance creativity and enable innovation
VIEW PAST INNOVATION CHALLENGES
First Year Seminar Directors and Instructors:
Co-Directors for First Year Seminar and Innovation Challenge:
Jennifer L. Granger Sullivan, Ed.D.
Director of the Dolores Donlin Noonan ’39 Experiential Learning Program and
Director of the First Year Seminar
grangersullivanj@elms.edu
Jennifer L. Granger Sullivan, Ed.D. is the Director of the Dolores Donlin Noonan ’39 Experiential Learning Program at Elms College, where she has been working to coordinate, expand and enhance opportunities for community engagement since Fall 2021. She is also the Director of the First Year Seminar and serves as an instructor for one of the sections. Jennifer is also a Visiting Assistant Professor at Salem State University, teaching in their Higher Education in Student Affairs graduate program. Previously, as Director of Student Activities and Orientation at Lasell University, she taught a First Year Seminar course on leadership, and grew the Office of Student Activities and Orientation that focused on student leadership development, new student, transfer, and family orientation programming, student clubs and organization, and campus activities and traditions. Jennifer also served as the Assistant Director of Student Activities at Lasell University. She was awarded the Lasell University Thomas E.J. de Witt Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership in 2012. Jennifer has a doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University, a Master in Education with a focus on higher education and student affairs administration, and a B.A. in History from UMass Dartmouth. She spent over a decade serving on the UMass Dartmouth Alumni Board of Directors, including serving as President and Vice President. In 2019, Jennifer was awarded the UMass Dartmouth Outstanding Alumni Service Award. Additionally, Jennifer was a leader within the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention – NODA for over a decade, being a regional conference host, annual conference committee member, regional conference committee member, national Small College Network chair. She was awarded the Regional Outstanding Professional Presentation, Regional Outstanding Professional, and the Regional New Professional.
Thomas Waskiewicz, DBA, MBA, M.Ed.
Assistant Professor
Innovation Challenge Lead
waskiewiczt@elms.edu
Tom is an experienced educator who has taught business courses at the bachelor’s and master’s levels at Elms College, Westfield State University, and UMass Amherst. He has worked in many roles as a leader and educator with the UMASS Extension 4-H programs in MA. Prior, he was a high school guidance counselor, and elementary school teacher. He served as Marketing Director for Chemlawn Corporation and as Director of the Ashland Conference Center. An entrepreneur, Tom launched “Blades,” a small engine repair business. His civic engagement in the town of Hadley includes 22 years on the School Committee and the Disability Committee.
FYS Instructors:
Ryan Failing
Director of Residence Life
failingr@elms.edu
Mr. Failing (He,him,his) is originally from Michigan where he obtained his Bachelors of Public Health Education & Promotion from Central Michigan University and his Masters Degree of Higher Education Student Affairs from Eastern Michigan University. His professional career started in healthcare working as a phlebotomist. After completing his Masters, he worked at Coastal Carolina University as a student success advisor. He then transitioned to Residence Life working at NHTI in Concord, NH. Currently Mr. Failing serves as the Director of Residence Life at Elms College. Mr. Failing is a father of two toddlers, Isaac and Magnolia. When he isn’t working or doing dad things he enjoys reading, exploring the outdoors, and playing video games.
Jennifer L. Granger Sullivan, Ed.D.
Director of the Dolores Donlin Noonan ’39 Experiential Learning Program and
Director of the First Year Seminar
grangersullivanj@elms.edu
(See bio above)
Sean Milbier
Head Coach Women’s Soccer Associate Athletic Director
milbiers@elms.edu
Sean Milbier has served the Elms College community for the past 13 years as both the head women’s soccer coach and associate athletic director. Sean received his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Western New England University.
In addition to mentoring student athletes and fellow coaches, Sean serves on the Elms College Staff Council. The fall of 2026 marks Sean’s inaugural semester as a FYS instructor and he is excited to help the class of 2030 make the most of their first year!
Sean lives in Springfield with his wife, Sarah. They have two daughters, Madeleine and Sofia; a dog named Barkley, and a cat named Cleo.
Laura McNeil, Ph.D.
Director of the Honors Program, Professor of History
mcneill@elms.edu
Laura McNeil is the director of the Honors Scholar Program and a professor of history at Elms College. She received her B.A. from Hampshire College and her Ph.D. in history from Boston College. She offers survey courses in European and world history, and upper-level courses in her areas of specialization, modern Ireland and Britain. She enjoys travel and good food. As such, she has led study-abroad trips to Ireland and Italy, and enjoys offering unusual experiential-learning classes, most notably HIS250: “A Taste of Freedom,” a historical and culinary exploration of the American immigration experience.
Denisha Parks
Women’s Basketball Coach/Senior Women’s Administrator
parksd@elms.edu
Denisha serves as the head coach of the women’s basketball team and Senior Women’s Administrator at Elms College. She also works with the Center for Student Success as an academic coach and teaches in the Sociology Department. Parks earned her bachelor’s degree from Elms College in 2015 and her master’s degree in Sports Leadership from Lasell University.
Parks is passionate about supporting the Elms College community and helping students make the most of their college experience. Through her roles in athletics and academics, she enjoys mentoring and building meaningful connections with students while supporting their growth.
Leanne Price
Assistant Professor of Psychology
pricel@elms.edu
Leanne Price, ’13, Psy.D. (she/her/hers) earned her Master of Education and Doctor of Psychology Degree from Springfield College. She completed a pre-doctoral internship at Clifford Beers Clinic in New Haven, CT. She completed post-doctoral training as a clinician and evaluator at the Clifford Beers Marne Street Autism program. Dr. Price joined the Elms College Psychology Department in Fall 2021, where she now serves as a full-time assistant professor of psychology. Dr. Price also works as a clinical evaluator for the Hospital for Special Care Autism Center, where she provides a variety of diagnostic, assessment, and therapy services for children and adolescents impacted by autism spectrum disorder as part of the center’s multidisciplinary team. Dr. Price’s background in multicultural practice, strengths-based approaches to counseling/psychotherapy, and psychological evaluation serves as a valuable addition to her work and advocacy for autism services and accessibility. She also serves as the co-faculty advisor to the Active Minds and Psychology Clubs.
Rob Southall
Athletic Director
southallr@elms.edu
Rob Southall serves as the assistant athletic director and head men’s basketball coach at Elms College. He earned his master’s in physical education and bachelor’s in movement studies from Springfield College. He currently serves as the national chair representative for the New England NCAA basketball regional advisory committee. Prior to his employment at Elms, he served as a lecturer of physical education at Springfield College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Michael Wysocki
Men’s Soccer Coach/Professor of Sports Mgmt.
wysockim@elms.edu
Mike Wysocki is the head coach of the men’s soccer team and teaches sports management at Elms College. He received his bachelor’s in business administration from Western New England University (WNEU) in 2013 and earned his juris doctor with a business law concentration from the WNEU School of Law. He holds a USSF D license and served as the assistant coach to the women’s soccer team at Elms prior to becoming the men’s soccer head coach in 2017. He also works with the Center for Student Success as an academic coach to help many students achieve their academic potential here at the college.