Nurse Practitioner, Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Lindsay (Desharnais) Benton graduated from Saint Anselm College as a nursing major in 2012. She first started working at Catholic Medical Center as an RN in the ICU, then at Elliot Hospital in Pediatric Med/Surg, before working in pediatric primary care. While there, she fell in love with the relationships she made with families and began pursuing her masters at Boston College. She then started working at Boston Children’s Hospital while taking classes, and graduated with her Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree in May 2018. She currently works as a pediatric APRN at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Concord, NH. She lives in Candia, NH with her husband.

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?

Saint Anselm helped teach me to find the balance between hard work, determination, and giving of yourself to others—which are all important to nursing. So much of who I am comes from what I learned through classes, clinical rotations, friendships, choir, the Resident Assistant role, student-directed theater, and community service. Many of the lessons I learned didn’t happen inside a classroom—like how to give back to your community, learn from your mistakes, create your own success, and take time to share in important life moments. Saint Anselm is the difference between a good nurse and a great nurse.
 

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

Through my Saint Anselm friendships and trips back to campus. My friends help remind me of the importance of Saint Anselm College and the many good memories we shared. I occasionally go to mass at the Abbey, go for walks around campus on beautiful days, and guest lecture for the Pediatric Nursing course. Being back on campus also helps to bring back good memories, but more importantly re-invigorates me to dream bigger, do more, and do better. I also got married in the Abbey!
 

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

Because of the things I learned while at Saint Anselm, incorporating Anselmian values is already part of my everyday life and who I am as a person and a nurse. I try, every day, to show compassion, empathy, and respect at work with my patients and families, and at home with my husband and my own family. I also work hard, find time for prayer, and find ways to give back to my community and the people in it, which are strong Anselmian values.
 

What do you miss most about the Hilltop?

The things I miss most are seeing my friends every day and singing in the choir. The friendships I made during college I foresee having for the rest of my life, even if we don’t see each other often. With the choir, I got to travel to Europe twice, found spiritual solace, and made incredible friends. The choir opened my eyes and my heart to a whole side of college and myself that I would never have found without it. My incredible friends and the choir gave me more than I could ever put into words.

Reporter, NHPR

Lauren is an award-winning reporter and podcast host and producer at NHPR. She was co-host and co-creator of Stranglehold, a podcast about the first in the nation primary.

Before joining NHPR in 2017, Lauren spent nearly six years as a reporter, producer and fill-in host for WBEZ in Chicago. Most recently, she covered City Hall and Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration.
Lauren graduated with a BA in History from Saint Anselm College and has a Master of Science in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where she was also an adjunct lecturer. Her work has also appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and on CNN, The Rachel Maddow Show, NPR, and On The Media, among others.
 

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?

Saint Anselm was actually the place where I decided I wanted to pursue journalism. It took me quite some time to figure out, but it was my experience working the debates during the 2008 election cycle and all the craziness that surrounded it that made me realize the world of politics and journalism might be a good fit for me. I also loved the humanities program - in a way, it is kind of like my job today. Attending lectures, doing the readings, and then holding a discussion about it in seminar is kind of like going out and reporting, doing research and then going on the air, sharing with listeners what you've learned. Plus it is in part thanks to Prof Gary Bouchard that I decided to attend the Medill School of Journalism for graduate school - he told me real journalists get out of their comfort zone and explore new places, and he was exactly right. 
 

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

Most recently I've been swinging through the NHIOP to cover political events or to talk to students about journalism. I did a talk right before the primary about Stranglehold and I love hearing from students about what podcasts they're into or what questions they have about political coverage. I'm happy to talk to any student, any time and encourage any future journalists reading this to email me with questions! 

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

So in the last few years, given the current media environment and the distrust in, and sometimes, disdain for journalism, I've done a lot of explaining to sources and others I encounter what journalism really is. It is fact based, it is unbiased, and at its best, informs and holds powerful institutions accountable. Talking to people about this feels sort of like teaching, in a way, and though I know it won't make as big of a change as this country might need right now to understand how essential quality information is to our democracy (especially during a pandemic) but maybe Saint Anselm would have appreciated my attempts at making even small changes toward this bigger goal.

What do you miss most about the Hilltop? 

Maybe this is the quarantine talking, but right now I would love to have that freeing feeling of getting out of a 2:30 Friday class in the springtime, and having a wide open, sunny afternoon to sit out in the field behind the uppers and gossip with my roommate Megan (Sweeney) Hall. 

Scientist, Codiak BioSciences

Michael is a Scientist at Codiak BioSciences in Cambridge, MA where he develops manufacturing processes for exosome therapeutics. Michael has developed his career through the ecosystem of Cambridge start-up biotech and has worked on the development of several preclinical and clinical programs. Michael is contributor to his field as a leader in high-throughput process development and has presented his work externally through scientific meetings and patent applications. In addition to his B.A. in Biology, Michael received a M.S. in Biology from Northeastern University and enjoys spending time in the kitchen and on his road bike.
 

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?

Scientists require not only strong analytical skills and learned technical expertise to excel as leaders in their field -- they also require the ability to communicate their findings and think critically through complex problems. Studying Humanities at Saint Anselm helped me develop these communication and logic-based skills that have helped me solve countless scientific problems.
 

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

As a proud member of the Class of 2010 I have kept strong relationships with many of my fellow alumni and professors. It is easy to say that many of my Anselmian friends share a love for the college and its community and cherish any opportunity to reunite -- particularly on-campus. 
 

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

One thing that I miss and value most about Saint Anselm is its sense of community. This was made most apparent to me as a graduate student at a large urban university. Now as a member of the biotech sector, I have become active in building cultures that promote diversity and inclusion with well-defined corporate social responsibilities.
 

What do you miss most about the Hilltop? 

Mostly, I miss the immersion of friendship and learning, and the relative ease of building new and lasting relationships. But most importantly, I miss Coffee Shop ranch dressing, late nights in the O-Zone, and thinking that 8:30am was an early start to my day. 

Staff Nurse – Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Hilary is a 2014 graduate of Saint Anselm’s Nursing program. Combining her love of Oncology and end of life care, Hilary earned her chemotherapy certification and specialty as a Certified Hospice/Palliative Nurse (CHPN). She works at Mass General Hospital in Boston on an Acute Inpatient Oncology Unit (temporarily transitioned to a COVID-ICU). She is an active member of Mass General’s Ethics Committee and leads monthly Ethics Rounds, which allows her to attend Bioethics Courses at Harvard Medical School. Hilary currently serves as President of the Saint Anselm College/Rivier University At-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. She is on Sigma’s Region 15 panel planning the annual educational conference to be hosted in NH.
 

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?

The reputation of an Anselmian Nurse precedes you before ever walking into an interview. This is a school and program that is widely recognized and respected by Nurse Leaders at top hospitals. I acknowledge that this helped me to “get my foot in the door” in a very competitive job market. However I feel it is my education from Saint Anselm that has allowed me to grow in my field; though I feel I cannot claim to ‘excel’ as a nurse when I know there is so much room for growth. What I do know, is that Saint Anselm College taught me to see the dignity in each patient before me. It taught me that each person is more than their diagnosis, more than the lab values and results you see in their chart. Each person has their own story, their own desires and attributes that make them whole. Saint Anselm taught me to see and respect each part of the patient or coworker before me and to bring my whole self to our interaction and relationship. If I had not been allowed to explore in such a well-rounded Liberal Arts education, I would not have been privileged to experience so many transformational relationships in my career.
 

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

Serving on the college’s nursing honor society board has kept me in touch with my nursing professors and has given me excuses to come back to campus. I’ve also continued to help with Admission events, Abbey Player and Choir performances, and planning my 5 year reunion. It’s easy to stay involved once people know your number and email!

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

I think Saint Anselm College instills in us a desire for lifelong learning and hospitality that cannot be found on most campuses. I try to incorporate these ideals through certifications, clinical trials, symposiums, and conferences at work and through the various arts, athletic, and cultural opportunities available to me in Boston. I am always striving to display hospitality through service to others in my community.

What do you miss most about the Hilltop?

Knowing my best friends and a late night ice cream date at the C shop were only a few steps away.

Financial Advisor, UBS Private Wealth Management

Greg Merrill is a partner of The Shantz Mantione Group at UBS Private Wealth Management. There he and his team help exceptional families navigate significant financial transitions. A particular passion for Greg is working with business owners and entrepreneurs in helping them understand the financial, business, and personal impact of transitioning their business. This experience has led Greg to become the Founder and President of the Southeast Michigan Chapter of the Exit Planning Institute.  Since graduating, Greg has received his Certified Exit Planning Advisor ® (CEPA®) and Certified Financial Planning ™ (CFP®) designations. Greg lives in Stamford, CT with his fiancé Tory.
 

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?

I think this can be summarized into two categories:

• The advanced Microsoft Excel skills I learned in my course work at Saint A's started making a difference immediately upon graduation and is still something that I use every day.
• The personal skills that were developed and reinforced while being a student built the foundation that I try to expand on every day since such as: work ethic, problem solving, willingness to learn, teamwork, being able to communicate my ideas clearly and concisely, etc.
   

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

One of the main reasons I decided to go to Saint A's was the sense of community associated with a smaller school. I was fortunate to have some alum take time out of their days for me to talk to for advice my senior year which I found very helpful so I have made it a point since graduation to be available for any current student to reach out to and I have dozens of these conversations each year. In addition the Finance Trip to NYC was an amazing experience my senior year so ever since graduation I have hosted the group as one of their destinations during the trip each year in my UBS Private Wealth Management offices in NYC.
 

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

My day-to-day job is being a Private Wealth Advisor, but at the end of the day my business is really about people. With that being said my job would be nearly impossible without incorporating the Anselmian values into my day-to-day life. In every conversation I have each day I need to live by the simple rule: "Treat others as you would like to be treated."
 

What do you miss most about the Hilltop?

There is a lot that I miss, but if I had to choose one thing that I miss the most I have to say hockey and everything associated with it.  There is nothing that can replace that feeling of playing competitive athletics in front of the environment comprised of the entire Anselmian community packing the Sully for a Friday night game vs. Norwich (especially when we beat them my senior year)!

Exhibitions Project Assistant, Museum of Fine Art

Mary is an assistant project manager in the Exhibitions department at the MFA, Boston. She works with the Director of Exhibitions, Conservation, Design, and Collections Management to organize, plan content, and install objects for exhibition projects on view to more  than 1 million annual visitors. She also oversees art rotations for paintings, decorative arts, works on paper, and ancient objects.  Mary joined the MFA in 2015 and worked in the curatorial department for European art for 3 ½ years. There she assisted the department with the acquisition of over 250 paintings and decorative arts objects, and planned numerous events for museum patrons. Mary is also often enlisted to escort paintings that the museum lends to other institutions.
 

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?

In my role at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, I think back to the important lessons learned at Saint Anselm more often than not. I’m frequently exercising my well-rounded understanding of Art History gained from the extensive studies of the Fine Arts department. In addition, my three years working for Residential Life and the Chapel Art Center provided valuable experience in problem solving, professionalism, and community building. 
 

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

I enjoy keeping in touch with my roommates and classmates. I also try to regularly attend the alumni socials in the Boston area. I support the Chapel Art Center and attend their wonderful events whenever possible, and I’ve participated in communicating with accepted students via the Alumni Volunteer Network. If I’m in the Manchester area, I rarely hesitate to stop by the pub for my favorite treats – either grilled cheese with bacon or the delicious nacho plate.
 

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

When it comes to my job, I consistently draw from the Anselmian core values of care, hospitality, inclusiveness, and hard work. These principles keep me grounded in every project I work on at the MFA. They are also key in fostering professional relationships with colleagues and museum visitors in the Greater Boston community, and help me to focus during challenging times. I’m also fortunate to have Anselmians in family (my parents, my younger brother, and a few distant relatives) as well as in life-long friends. Being able to reflect back together on our years at SAC-- whether we graduated in 1981, 2012, or 2019 -- is a special way of keeping the important values we learned at front of mind every day.
 

What do you miss most about the Hilltop? 

Apart from Davison breakfasts, I definitely miss the studio art classrooms. In particular, the ceramics studio was on of my favorite places. I wouldn’t say ceramics was an art form that came to me naturally, but it was a great place to feel challenged and relaxed at the same time. I could use a creative outlet like that nowadays!

Senior Director, Public Affairs, The Herald Group

Ashley Pratte is Vice President at The Herald Group, a full-service public affairs firm based in Washington, D.C. She has extensive experience in crisis communications, strategic communications, and brand reputation management.
Before her move to Washington, D.C. Ashley served as press assistant, and interim communications director to Congressman Frank Guinta (R-NH). She also worked on his congressional campaign in 2010. Ashley has made frequent appearances on MSNBC, Fox News, Al Jazeera, and CBS News. She is also an opinion contributor for NBC News Think. She has been published in CNN, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, and The Hill. She was named as one of Maverick PAC’s 30 Under 30 in 2017. Ashley now resides in Washington, D.C. but is proud to call New Hampshire home. She graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Communication

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?

The Anselmian experience is a unique one and the lessons I learned on the hilltop are still applicable in my daily life. When I moved to Washington, DC in 2014 I had no idea just how many people in the journalism and political world knew of Saint Anselm and it truly amazed me. The connections I made on the hilltop enabled me to pursue the career of my dreams and gave me the confidence and network to excel. Outside of the networking aspect, it’s the skills I learned from my coursework, in particular public speaking and writing that have really helped me to excel. Every time I appear on a national news program I know I’m well equipped to handle anything that’s thrown at me. At the time I may not have appreciated the amount of writing I had to do for assignments, but now in my professional career I am so thankful because as a result I’ve been able to become an opinion contributor to NBC News for pieces that I write on topics that are important to me, a true dream come true. Believe it or not, I still receive feedback on my pieces from former professors!
 

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

Every time I come back home to New Hampshire I always make a stop at Saint Anselm to visit with professors, mentors, staff, and the monks on campus. Many of these people have shaped the person I am today and I am eternally grateful for their guidance and support in my life. I still remain connected with former professors of mine on social media and I love catching up with them. I also always send internship opportunities here in DC to the NHIOP and Careers office because I know how dedicated Saint Anselm students are to their internships and the work ethic they bring.
 

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

I always try to mentor those who are junior to me and who are looking for advice and guidance in the communications and media field. I often receive emails from current students on the Hilltop looking to make the jump to Washington, DC and I’m always happy to connect with them and share my story and my tips. The biggest takeaway from the Hilltop is the sense of community and looking out for one another and that is something that I continue to pay forward in my daily life.
 

What do you miss most about the Hilltop?

I miss the people and the community. The Hilltop will always be home to me and I am so fond of the memories and friendships I made during my time there. It’s been a true blessing to attend weddings of friends and even have members of the campus ministry and monastic community attend funerals for family members of mine who have passed since my time on the Hilltop. The Hilltop is truly a special place and I look back on my time there fondly.

Dentist, Ricci Family Dentistry

Dr. Eric John Ricci ’10, always dreamed of becoming a dentist just like his father. After St. Anselm, he attended Rhode Island College and obtained a Master of Arts degree in Biology. Dr. Ricci was awarded a federal grant through the National Science Foundation EPSCoR program for his research that resulted in the discovery of a plant cuticle on the species of moss, Physcomitrella patens. He then attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, where he was inducted into the Tisch College of Civic Life’s Honos Civicus Society. Currently, Dr. Ricci serves as a Corporate Member of the Board at Delta Dental of Rhode Island, and works as a general dentist with his father, Dr. John Ricci, in Providence.

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?

The curriculum at St. Anselm is designed to foster a constant exchange of ideas. This leads to graduates being better able to listen, comprehend, and then communicate. In my own field, communication is how we compress the complex science of Dentistry into a language that results in meaningful actions by my patients. As such, true healthcare literacy is having someone understand not that they have a cavity and need a filling, but how to prevent the next one. At Saint Anselm, we were taught not only the how, but also the why!
 

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

I stay connected with St. Anselm mostly thought he relationships I fostered there at the College. Most importantly, I met my wife Alison (Hammond) Ricci ’10 in 2006. Our first date was the C- Shop, so campus will always hold a special place in our hearts. Also, my best friend, Br. Francis McCarty ’10 now has professed solemn vows to Saint Anselm Abbey. He is like a brother to me, and continues to help transform me into the best version of myself that I can be. Again, it is the relationships that I have made, on that campus, that will always draw my wife and I back.
 

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

Education at Saint Anselm College not only teaches facts, but values. These values range from ones that are as large as Veracity, Beneficence, and Justice, and as small waiting a few extra seconds to hold the door for a stranger walking behind you. If we all incorporated more of the values taught at Saint Anselm, this world would be a much safer and loving place.
 

What do you miss most about the Hilltop?

Saint Anselm is one of the most special places in the world. It’s a tight-knit community, and that is truly unique. I miss having lifelong friends right down the hallway. I miss the professors, and the support staff such as janitors and Davison workers that served as all of our parents, when it was our first time away from home.

Operating Room Service Line Coordinator, Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?

As simply put as possible: diversity of courses and experiences creates diversity the minds of young humans. Saint Anselm College gave me the autonomy to dictate my course of study, and I was incredibly fortunate attain my BSN, but also minor in Spanish, Gender Studies, and Theology. I got to travel to Cuba to study US-Cuban relations, tour eastern Europe and Germany singing with the Choir, and provide prenatal care to expectant Haitian mothers just over the boarder in the Dominican Republic. Everyone has the ability to be more than one thing. We all have capability to switch gears, give more, and take on more responsibility; even when it does not directly fall into our lane. Being able to rise to the occasion and draw from a multitude of knowledge bases to solve problems in real time, in my opinion, is a contributing factor to an individual excelling in their field. Saint Anselm helped give me so much of that wide knowledge base and experience that I could draw from moving forward in my career.

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

Portraits magazine, Alumni Weekends, and following the college's social media. Seeing photos and videos of what is going on on campus makes me feel more connected to current happenings and up to speed on all of the extensive renovations and remodels going on right now! I was so looking forward to attending my reunion this summer, but I'm sure we will find a way to make up for it in the future!

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

Saint Anselm's motto of "faith seeking understanding," can be extrapolated in many different directions and can touch people in all walks of life. Currently, this idea appears in my life as "religion seeking science." As healing, seeking answers as to why certain methods are more effective than others. In understanding that the spirit is as important as the body. In the realization that we are not capable of fixing everything and saving everyone, despite how hard we may try. Religion and science are so beautifully complimentary and were created to abide together. The more I learn in my studies of the sciences, the more in awe I am of Christ and what a beautiful world the Father created for us.

What do you miss most about the Hilltop?

The Hilltop Community was its own ecosystem, from which one never really needed to leave. We had everything we needed: from our on campus apartments, to the pub and coffee shop open late at night, the beautiful playing fields where we watched many a game on warm weekends, the Abbey where we could attend mass, and so many members of the monastic community living right beside us. I was extremely fortunate to have professors and friends who supported my goals and celebrated my successes, and I know my story is not unique. Saint Anselm provides so many with an intellectual oasis in the midst of chaotic times, which allows for both personal and professional growth. 

Nurse Manager – Cardiac ICU, Duke University Health

How has being an Anselmian helped you excel in your field?
To me being Anselmian remains at the core of who I am, the lens through which I see the world and treat others.  My commitment to treating everyone I encounter with dignity and respect ensures no matter what type of conversation I am having with my staff they feel supported and respected which is a key component to being successful in a nursing leadership role.  The ability to think critically and collaboratively is at the core of our Anselmian roots which has helped me be able to coordinate with vast groups of people within a healthcare system. 
For example, I feel very driven in my role to improve patient outcomes and bring new innovations to the bedside.  For example, we trialed a new product within my unit; single-use patient disposable EKG leads to prevent hospital acquired infections in the ICU. So far there has been great success in reducing infection rates, this success does not come without the support and collaboration of a strong team. 

How do you stay connected with Saint Anselm College?

Like everyone else in 2020 I stay connected to the College specifically through social media.  I stay in very close touch with my college friend group which makes me feel connected to the college as well.  I had the wonderful opportunity last year to connect with one of my college mentors in campus ministry, Joycelin Raho when she was visiting North Carolina.  The great thing about Saint Anselm College is you always feel connected to the campus and the people no matter how much time goes by or physical distance exists.

How do you incorporate the Anselmian values into your day to day life?

One of the strongest values I learned and treasure from Saint Anselm College is service to others.  I have been blessed to find opportunities to continue to serve our global community.  This passion for service really ignited during my involvement with SBA and campus ministry while in school.  I have transitioned that passion to a wonderful NGO, Team Heart, which I have been involved with for many years.  We work in Rwanda helping to build and create a sustainable Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology practice within the country.  I work very closely with a wonderful nursing mentor and friend who also happens to be a Saint Anselm College Alumni, Julie Carragher, (McGowan) ’86 who is an amazing Nurse Practitioner.  I owe a lot of my growth and ability to understand sustainable global health to her mentorship and knowledge. We recently worked on a large country wide project together performing a needs assessment for the country and Team Heart to ensure we were bringing appropriate healthcare opportunities and resources to the country.  Our goal was to align our NGO with the World Health Organization’s sustainable development goals and ensure they also aligned with the Rwandan Ministry of Health goals for the country.  It was a wonderful experience to work so closely with Julie and ensure we as an NGO are really providing the needs expressed by the Rwandan people and not just what we perceive as their healthcare needs. 
 

What do you miss most about the Hilltop?

I miss having my college friends around constantly, eating meals together every day and spending time together.  Something so simple yet taken for granted.  We are still so close and talk constantly. We try to get together multiple times a year as a big group.  Life makes it harder and harder to find time with busy careers and growing families.  When we do find the time, we go right back to how we were sitting around a table at Davison Hall laughing and nothing else seems to matter in the world.  I think that is one of the magical things about the friendships you make at Saint Anselm College, they last a lifetime. We are careful to never take each other for granted and the time we had on the hilltop. It allowed us to grow and learn so much about each other on a deeper level creating a strong connection that is rare to find in this world.