Board of Trustees Welcomes New Leadership and Student Representative

Westfield State University has announced new leadership for its Board of Trustees, with Melissa Alvarado ’99 elected chair, George Gilmer ’92 elected vice chair, and William Reichelt ’09 elected secretary. The University also welcomes Maria Renta-Marrero as its new student trustee. Renta-Marrero has also been appointed as a student representative and voting member of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.

The new executive officers bring experience in financial services, business, government, law and nonprofit leadership to the Board as it provides oversight and guidance in support of the University’s mission and strategic priorities.

“Melissa, George and Will bring tremendous professional experience and leadership to the Board, along with a firsthand understanding of Westfield State and its impact on students,” said President Linda Thompson. “As alumni, they share a meaningful connection to the University and a commitment to its future. We are also pleased to welcome Maria as our student trustee and voting student member of the Board of Higher Education. Her perspective and leadership will ensure that the student voice is represented both here at Westfield State and at the statewide level. Together, they reflect the remarkable leaders Westfield State produces and the many ways members of our community continue to make an impact in their professions, their communities, and across the Commonwealth.”

Alvarado, a 1999 Westfield State graduate, is assistant vice president of strategic planning and delivery at MassMutual Financial Group and previously served as clerk of the Westfield State Foundation. Gilmer ’92 is chief financial officer for ActBlue, a nonprofit fundraising technology organization serving Democratic candidates and previously held senior finance and investor services positions with State Street Bank and BNY Mellon. Reichelt ’09, an attorney, has served as mayor of West Springfield since 2016 and previously served as the town’s attorney.

As Westfield State’s new student trustee Renta-Marrero will provide a direct student voice on the Board of Trustees and the Board of Higher Education, bringing the perspectives and experiences of the student body to discussions and decisions affecting Westfield State and public higher education throughout the Commonwealth.  

The BHE’s voting student seat rotates among the three segments of Massachusetts public higher education: community colleges, state universities, and the University of Massachusetts. One student serves as the voting member, while students representing the other two segments serve as non-voting advisors.

Renta-Marrero was selected to represent students across the state’s public colleges and universities through a vote of the Student Advisory Council, which includes student trustees and Student Government Association presidents from each public institution in Massachusetts.

“As a nontraditional and transfer student, I've lived the realities that a lot of Westfield State students face balancing school with work and life. I want to make sure those experiences shape the conversations happening at the Board level, especially making sure every student has the support they need to finish what they started,” Renta-Marrero said.

Renta-Marrero earned her Associate Degree in Business Administration from Springfield Technical Community College in 2025 and plans to receive her Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in entrepreneurship from Westfield State in 2027, and a Master of Business Administration in 2028. At Westfield State, she serves as treasurer of her graduating class, is a Commonwealth Honors scholar, and works as a peer academic advisor and transfer peer mentor to support Westfield students and help them achieve academic success. She is also president of the Research, Innovation, Design & Entrepreneurial (RIDE) Center, which connects students with community leaders to address complex problems through creativity and innovation. 

The new Board leadership comes as Westfield State advances its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, Infinite Opportunities, and its priorities of fostering innovative learning, advancing student success, strengthening strategic stewardship and expanding the University’s institutional impact.