Alumni Engagement
We are extremely proud of our alumni and prioritize keeping in touch with past students to praise their amazing accomplishments post-graduation.
If you are an alumnus of the West Chester Honors Program, please provide us with current contact information by clicking the button below:
Alumni Spotlight
Tammy Truong
Spotlight
Combining teaching tennis and working with individuals with disabilities, Truong created an Adaptive Tennis Day event for her capstone project at West Chester University. Truong said she believes her special connection to those with disabilities comes from the bond she shares with her best friend, who has Down syndrome. Their friendship began in first grade and continues to shape Truong. It impacted her major (nursing), inspired her to volunteer with adults with disabilities at Compass Point, and led her to creating her Adaptive Tennis Day event.!
Alumni Spotlight
Victoria Rodway
Spotlight
Victoria Rodway is a senior Social Work major with minors in Spanish, Multiethnic Studies, and Civic and Professional Leadership. She used her Junior internship at the Center for Civic Engagement and Social Impact at West Chester University to assist in organizing a Food Pantry on the school's Philadelphia location. She researched donors, recruited long term donor relationships, and organized a system for students to gain access to free food resources directly on campus in Center City, Philadelphia. She also had the opportunity to travel abroad with the social work department for three weeks to Nairobi, Kenya in May and June of 2022 to participate in a short-term field placement. She performed her placement with an organization called Missing Child Kenya, which raises awareness about missing children and children's issues in Kenya. While in Kenya, she explored her passion for service and interest in learning about other cultures through a cultural immersion course in addition to the three weeks of daily enriching cultural experiences. Victoria was selected to be a Community Engagement Scholar for the Fall 2022 semester.
Alumni Capstone Success Stories
We are extremely proud of the Capstones our students use to better communities, both here and abroad. Click on this link to see how Honors students, Kimmi Szajnuk and Cameron Ducey raised over $11,003.71 for young patients at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia! Kimmi is a senior, Cell & Molecular Biology major, and Cameron is a junior Nursing major – both members of the WCU Swim Team!
Involvement Opportunities
As a program, we recently created Capstone Catalog: Student Legacies to document the Capstone experiences of past Honors students, so current students can appreciate the Honors legacy of those before them.
If you are an Honors alumnus and would like your project added to the catalog, please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/5r17GaZpVHzMpBgA9
Connect with Honors through the new Honors College LinkedIn! The first link below takes you to the Honors College LinkedIn Page with content and updates related to current Honors happenings. The second link takes you to a networking group where you can communicate with other Honors alumni and current students.
Honors College Page: https://www.linkedin.com/school/honors-college-at-west-chester-university-of-pennsylvania/?viewAsMember=true
Honors Networking Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8911765/
Stay in Touch
Have a current photo you'd like to share for our alumni archive?
Let us know how you're doing
A Message from theHonors College Alumni Chapter President
Dear Honors Students,
My name is Caitlin Viespoli, and I’m thrilled to announce the re-launch of the West Chester University Honors College Alumni Chapter! I’m proud to introduce the 2024–2026 Honors College Alumni Chapter Executive Board:
President | Caitlin Viespoli ’22
Vice President | Dr. Kecia Nesmith ’99
Secretary | Carly Lare ’22
Treasurer | Matt Crider ’19
Alongside this dynamic team, we have a dedicated group of alumni serving as ambassadors for the chapter. The executive board held our first meeting this month, and we’re eager to build connections among alumni, support current Honors College students, and guide the future of our chapter.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch two key initiatives in the Spring semester: the Alumni Awards, in collaboration with the Honors department, and an event during Alumni Weekend.
We look forward to connecting with all of you and creating new opportunities to engage with the Honors College community in the years ahead.
Best regards,
Caitlin Viespoli ’22
President, Honors College Alumni Chapter
Executive Board
Caitlin Viespoli, President
Caitlin Viespoli is a market research consultant at IQVIA, a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. Caitlin has experience in both qualitative and quantitative research across a wide variety of therapeutic areas including oncology, vaccines, and rare disease. She is responsible for supporting all aspects of a project such as study design, data analysis, and reporting.
Outside of work, Caitlin enjoys cooking, practicing yoga, reading, and beach days down the shore.
Caitlin graduated from the West Chester University Honors College in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management and minors in Data Analytics and Civic and Professional Leadership. While at West Chester University, Caitlin collaborated with students and faculty to conduct research and develop marketing strategies to increase awareness of WCU’s civic and professional leadership minor. She served as president of Mu Kappa Tau, a leader in the Nobel Peace Leadership Series, and a discussion leader for two honors seminars.
Kecia Nesmith, Vice President
Dr. Kecia Nesmith is an accomplished educator and leader with a passion for innovation and equity in education. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from West Chester University in 1999, where she joined the sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Spring 1997). Dr. Nesmith also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language from West Chester University, a Master of Education in School Leadership from Wilmington University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Delaware.
Currently, Dr. Nesmith serves as the Principal of the Downingtown Cyber Academy and Supervisor of Teaching and Learning. She is the proud mother of two children: Nya, a college student, and James III, a high school student, and wife to her loving husband, James Jr. As the new Vice President of the Honors College Alumni Chapter of West Chester University, Dr. Nesmith is committed to giving back to her alma mater and inspiring future leaders.
Carly Lare, Secretary
Carly Lare is currently the Executive Director of CRC Watersheds Association, a nonprofit based in Newtown Square and dedicated to the preservation of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creek watersheds. At CRC, Carly spends most of her time engaging stakeholders, fundraising, and managing tree planting and stream cleanup restoration projects.
Currently, Carly also serves on the Board of Directors for the Goose Creek Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to the restoration of West Chester's Goose Creek.
Carly graduated from the West Chester Honors College in 2022 with a degree in Ecology and Conservation Biology. During her time in the Honors College, Carly was involved in Aid to South Africa (now known as PEACE), as Coordinator.
Matt Crider, Treasurer
Matt Crider leads strategy at a boutique consulting & performance marketing firm based in New York City. He specializes in growth strategy, scaling, strategy diversification, and marketing optimization, partnering with companies to solve key business challenges and drive sustainable growth.
In his spare time, Matt co-founded a women's sports company named March First (a nod to Women's History Month), dedicated to redefining the world of women's sports apparel -- starting with a golf-focused first collection.
Matt earned his Bachelor's degree in Accounting & Finance from West Chester University in 2019, where he was also a member of the Honors College.