(Left to right)—Michelle Small, Kaitlyn Leahy, Paul Nolette, Danielle Gregoire, Mark Bracken, Amy Corrigan, Tim Wilkerson, Matt Grew, Alexis Finneran, Zachary Greiner, David Tencza.

Under the State House Dome
By Annie Sherman ’99

Matt Grew ’99 was called “The Mayor” of his senior class. He never missed an opportunity to chat with classmates at Davison Hall or anywhere else on campus.

Tim Wilkerson ’98 was no different. Class president for three years, he was instrumental in bringing politicians to campus and was one of the first to greet them when they arrived.

Grew and Wilkerson and many other Saint Anselm alumni are pursuing their passion for politics under the golden dome of the Massachusetts State House.

Grew is liaison to the Governor’s Office of Legislative Affairs, where he oversees health care legislation and communication between the parties. Wilkerson is legal counsel to the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading.

Alexis Finneran ’98 is chief of staff for the Judiciary Committee and says community service was one of the reasons she chose a career in state politics.

“We help [constituents] get what they need, and point them in the right direction,” said Danielle Gregoire ’01, legislative aide to Rep. Stephen LeDuc. Amy Corrigan ’03 and Kaitlyn Leahy ’00 are also legislative aides, Corrigan for Rep. Colleen Garry and Leahy for Sen. Jack Hart.

David Tencza ’02 worked on U.S. Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign and is a legislative aide to Rep. John Quinn.

Michelle Small ’00, legislative director for Sen. Bob Hedlund, remembers shaking Tipper Gore’s hand as she campaigned for her husband Al during the N.H. presidential primary. “It was a big election year, so many politicians came to campus,” she said. “There was something in the air that drew me into the whole process.”

Mark Bracken ’01 is policy analyst for the Joint Committee on Financial Services; Paul Nolette ’01 is legal counsel to the Committee on Community Development and Small Business, and Zachary Greiner is a legislative aide to Sen. Brian Lees.

Though they serve at the State House in different roles, these graduates will be forever linked by the college that fostered their passion for politics.