Foundation Board of Directors

Jorgo Gushi is a Technical Account Manager at MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software, based in Natick, MA. In this role, he collaborates with major industry players to implement innovative solutions and enhance their engineering workflows, leveraging his deep technical expertise and strategic insight.

A proud alumnus of Quinsigamond Community College (Class of 2020), Jorgo was elected to the QCC Foundation Board of Directors in June 2020. He earned an Associate Degree of Science in Engineering at QCC, followed by a Bachelor of Science (Class of 2022) and a Master of Science (Class of 2023) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, specializing in wireless communications and signal processing.

Jorgo's time at QCC was marked by academic excellence and leadership. He received the Engineering Department Award, Special Recognition Award, and Outstanding Student Leader Award. As President of the Student Government Association during the 2019-2020 academic year, he played a pivotal role in various governance councils on and off campus. His dedication to advocacy is evident in his work for student rights, college affordability, and policy reform at the state level, where he served as Chair of the Student Advisory Council, a Member of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, and a Member of the Open Educational Resources Advisory Council.

Originally from Greece and Albania, Jorgo moved to Worcester in 2018, where he contributed significantly to the QCC Office of Student Life and Leadership and the Math Center. His journey reflects a strong commitment to innovation and education, driving his continued success and impact in the field.

Jorgo was elected President of the QCC Foundation in September 2024.

Mr. Wally is Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at UniBank. In his role, he oversees the Community Reinvestment Act program for the bank. Before his current role, Mr. Wally was the Community Development Group Manager for New England and New York at TD Bank. He has also served as the Executive Director for Worcester Community Housing Resources. Mr. Wally is a Greater Worcester Community Foundation Director and a Trustee Associate for the Nativity School of Worcester. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross and received a master's from Clark University, where he taught an occasional class in community development finance. He is also an elected member of the Worcester City Council. Mr. Wally was elected to the QCC Foundation Board of Directors in September 2018.

Mr. Griffin is a Business Development Consultant for the Semiconductor Capital Equipment industry after retiring from BTU International as the Vice President of Sales. In his 33-year career at BTU, Mr. Griffin managed global sales, marketing, and customer support organizations in twenty- five countries serving the Semiconductor, Solar, and Nuclear equipment markets.

Mr. Griffin is active in the Quinsigamond Community College Mentoring program. He strongly supports sharing business and life experiences with students to enhance their opportunities to be successful.

Mr. Griffin and his wife Carolyn enjoy spending time with their four children, three grandchildren, and 27 nieces and nephews. Mr. Griffin received a BA in History from the University of Massachusetts - Boston. He was elected to the QCC Foundation Board in September 2022.

Linda Cavaioli was Executive Director of the YWCA Central Massachusetts for 30 years and retired in 2021. Linda supported a 30-member board of directors and oversaw the daily operations of an $8 million non-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of racism and empowerment of women.

Linda is active in the community and serves as a member and Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Quinsigamond Community College Foundation, serves on the Board and as President for 2Gether We Eat Hydroponic Farming agency dedicated to food justice in Worcester, serves on the Board and member of Finance and Development Committees for Notre Dame Academy, serves a member of the President’s Advisory Committee for Mass. Women of Color Coalition, Cochair of the Mechanics Hall Portraits Project and a member Emeritus of the Community Board of DCF Worcester West Area Office, Commissioner Emeritus of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and a member Emeritus of the United Way Women’s Initiative. She also serves on the Martin Luther King Community Breakfast Committee. While at the YWCA she also has served as regional chair of the YWCAs New England Council and Chair of the YWCA USA Regional Leadership Committee.

Before joining the YWCA, Linda was the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Resource Development at the United Way of Central Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Hampshire and MBA from Clark University.

Diane Giampa serves as the Executive Vice President – Chief Community Engagement Officer at Bay State Savings Bank. In this role, Ms. Giampa oversees Human Resources, Marketing and the Bank’s philanthropic efforts.

Ms. Giampa joined Bay State Savings Bank in October 1997 as Assistant Vice President of Human Resources. She was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources and Marketing in 2003, and to Senior Vice President – Human Resources, Marketing & Retail Banking in 2017.   Previously, she served as Director of Human Resources at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center in Waltham, MA, and Director of Human Resources at Lipton Center in Leominster, MA.

Ms. Giampa serves on the boards of several local organizations, including the McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys, the Worcester Public Library Foundation, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Worcester Regional Strategic Opportunity Fund, Mechanics Hall and serves as the Board Chair of the Worcester Historical Museum. She is also a member of the Nichols College Human Resources Advisory Board, Elder Service Hotline Advisory Committee, Bank on Worcester County Leadership Committee, and the Theatre District Alliance. Additionally, she volunteers with many organizations, including the Red Cross of Central MA, the United Way, the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance, Pink Revolution, and Share Our Strength.

Recently, Ms. Giampa was a nominee for the American Bankers Foundation’s George Bailey Distinguished Community Service Award. Ms. Giampa won United Way’s “Inspire by Example” Award in 2016 and was honored in 2014 as a Banker & Tradesman Community Bank Hero. Ms. Giampa was named one of the Leading Women in Central Mass by GoLocalWorcester.com in 2013.  She was named one of Worcester Business Journal’s “Outstanding Women in Business” in 2022 and was the recipient of the Lois B. Green Leadership Award from the Women’s Initiative of the United Way in 2023. She also received the “Bold Advocate” award in 2023 from Girls Inc. – Worcester, where she served as Board Chair for 7 years.

Ms. Giampa holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA in Marketing and Business Administration from Anna Maria College. She also has an SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional) designation from the Society for Human Resource Management. She was elected to the QCC Foundation Board in June 2019.

Dr. Pedraja became the first in his family to attend college, later earning a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. He taught philosophy, ethics, and religious studies at the University of Puget Sound and Southern Methodist University, where he served as a division chair and faculty senator. After becoming a dean and provost, Dr. Pedraja served as President of La Comunidad of Hispanic Scholars in his discipline. Dr. Pedraja passionately advocates for increased higher education access for all people, especially marginalized people historically underserved by the American higher education system.

Most recently, Dr. Pedraja served as Interim Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for California’s 35,000-student Peralta Community College District, where he led faculty, staff, and administrators to develop innovative programs and ensure student success. From 2011-2016, Dr. Pedraja was Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Antioch University Los Angeles, a non-profit institution serving adult students with bachelor's degree completion and professional graduate programs. Dr. Pedraja partnered with the Los Angeles Community College District and led Antioch’s creation of competency-based, hybrid, and online degree programs in applied studies, business, technology, and criminal justice, allowing students to use all community college and workforce development credits toward bachelor's degrees. Dr. Pedraja also led the establishment of on-site bachelor's degree completion programs at community colleges and an early college program at L.A. high schools. These innovative programs provide clear pathways to college for K-12 students in underserved communities and help adult students achieve new professional goals and career advancement.

From 2004-2011, Dr. Pedraja served as Vice President for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. He advanced universal access to quality higher education by overseeing the accreditation of community colleges and universities from New York to Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Dr. Pedraja also led the first program to grant American accreditation to foreign universities. Since then, universities in South America, Asia, and Europe have retained him for guidance on achieving American higher education standards. At Middle States, Dr. Pedraja also developed higher education policy and advocated strategic solutions to various challenges, including financial, governance, and political crises. For instance, Dr. Pedraja was instrumental in resolving student protests at the University of Puerto Rico that had debilitated the entire university system for months. At the invitation of the Higher Learning Commission, Dr. Pedraja also successfully led a 2014 evaluation of Arizona’s Pima Community College District, which had been under probation for violations of multiple higher education standards.

Dr. Pedraja has volunteered extensively with the American Red Cross Disaster Services and local emergency management. He has also served on non-profit boards and co-founded two non-profit organizations; one focused on animal rescue and the other on supporting cancer patients’ families.

Quinsigamond Community College welcomed Dr. Pedraja as President on July 10, 2017.

Kola A. Akindele is the Associate Vice President for External Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). 

In this role, Kola oversees the corporate, foundation, community, and government relations areas under the University Advancement division. He is a seasoned external affairs professional with experience engaging with policymakers and advising organizational decisionmakers on regulatory and legislative matters.  Prior to his position at WPI, he served at UMass Medical School as Sr. Director of Community & Government Relations and then as their Assistant Vice Chancellor with additional responsibilities.  Before that, he served as community and government relations manager at Hartford Healthcare.

In addition to a BA in Economics and Political Science from UMass Boston, he received his JD from Northeastern University and a MS in Health Informatics and Management from UMass Lowell.  Kola grew up in Worcester, near the campus, and is also an Adjunct Faculty member for Health Policy at Worcester State University. 

Linda T. Cammuso is a founding partner at Estate Preservation Law Offices. A skilled estate planning professional, her practice focuses on estate and asset protection planning, estate and trust administration, tax planning, elder and disability law, and corporate and business planning. Accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Linda provides veterans and their families with advice on the complex areas of law regarding VA pension benefits, also known as Aid & Attendance. She previously worked in the nursing home industry where she gained valuable insight into elder law and long-term care issues. Her knowledge in this field is a distinct benefit in working with clients who are facing long-term care planning challenges. Previously, she practiced as an associate attorney at Fusaro, Altomare & Ermilio in its Estate, Trust and Tax Department.

In keeping with the partners’ vision for community reach, Linda has served as a member of the Board of Directors for various nonprofit organizations including Girls Inc. of Worcester (of which she was also the Secretary and Second Vice President), Luk Inc. and Spring House. She currently serves as a Corporator for Girls Inc. of Worcester and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. Linda developed the Estate Preservation Law Scholarship Fund to demonstrate the firm’s commitment to higher education. She is a past recipient of Worcester Business Journal’s Forty under Forty award and Outstanding Women in Business Award.

Linda has authored numerous articles on elder and long-term care planning issues and has appeared on Money Matters Radio as a co-host. She is a frequent speaker for various community and professional organizations.

Linda earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Assumption College and her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School.

She was elected to the Board in September of 2024.

Jack Cutone attended Quinsigamond Community College and went on to receive a B.S. Degree from Worcester State University in both Economics and Business Administration. He received his MBA from Anna Maria College and a Senior Executive Certificate from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business. He was the Managing Partner of 1031 Exchange, United Asset Trading Company, LLC.

Mr. Cutone serves on the Advisory Board for MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC) of Framingham State University, Board of Corporators for Avidia Bank, Past Leadership Team for Massachusetts Business Network International (BNI) and was a Past Chair for the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has been an Adjunct Economics Instructor at Quinsigamond Community College and Mass Bay Community College for the past twenty years. He is a Board Member on the Citizens Scholarship Foundation (CSF), served on the QCC Foundation Board from 2013 to 2022 and was re-elected in June of 2023.

Suzanne Graham Anderson is the founder and CEO of Positively Suzanne LLC which is a lifestyle brand whose tenets are to inspire, motivate and empower. Under the brand umbrella she has written a book called Detoxifying Leadership. She hosts a podcast called Sit Down With Suzanne which is available in all podcasting directories. She hosts a show called Sipping Tea with Suzanne on YouTube Live every Wednesday. She is a life and empowerment coach who focuses on empowering others to be the best versions of themselves. She has a diverse list of clients, but her primary clients are black women.

Suzanne is a passionate advocate of the "You are enough movement." Suzanne was a leader in retail management for over twenty years, during which time she mentored and guided individuals of all ages to pursue their dreams and be the best they can be. Seeing a need for women to support and empower each other, Suzanne started mentoring women outside of work in her spare time and has been a mentor at QCC for the past several years. She is also a mentor for Eforall of Greater Worcester. Suzanne holds a dual masters in business and organizational leadership, which combined with her role as a minister at her local church gives her additional tools to help others navigate their leadership and life journey. 

Suzanne joined the Board in September of 2023.

Tim Hally has grown up in Central MA. Life changed for him and his family when his mom had a brain stem stroke back in 2013. Tim's journey with his family has fueled his passion for empathy and storytelling. Providing for his mom's care led him to stay local for college. 

He attended Clark University for his undergrad and MBA where he graduated with both in August 2020. Months later, he would launch Munq, a creative agency, with one of his childhood friends, Justin Matsen. Their growth in the Worcester community has been increasing, leading them to win Worcester Business Journal's "Best Video Production Company" 2024. 

On top of running the agency, Tim is also an adjunct professor at Clark University and sits on the Board of Directors at the Guild of Saint Anges. Tim joined the QCC Foundation Board in February 20204 and is looking forward to his work helping make college education more accessible for all.

Dr. Jean King is the WPI Peterson family Dean in the School of Arts and Sciences. She also serves as a Professor of Biology and Biotechnology, affiliate Professor in Biomedical Engineering Department, Professor in the Neuroscience Program and Director of the NeuroTech Suite at WPI. Prior to joining WPI, she was Vice Provost for Biomedical Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School; a tenured professor of psychiatry, radiology, and neurology; and Director of the university’s Center for Comparative Neuroimaging. Dr. King’s research is broadly focused on the adverse effects of stress on the brain, body, and behavior, including her current nine million dollar NIH grant (5 years) to use AI to predict the response to mindfulness treatment for chronic pain. She is an active proponent for professional and diversity development through her service and leadership roles at the local, national, and international, including leadership roles with the National Institutes of Health, UMass Memorial Health Care, the Society for Neuroscience and World Women in Neuroscience organizations, and her diversity centered work has been featured in Nature. Dr. King is the recipient of several mentoring and community service awards, including the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senate Official Citation for her Advocacy for Adolescent Girls and Mentor to Women of All Ages, and the University of Massachusetts President’s Public Service Award for Exemplary Public service to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

Dr. King was elected to the QCC Foundation Board of Directors in June 2020.

Linda S. Larrivee, Ph.D. is the Dean of the School of Education, Health, and Natural Sciences at Worcester State University, where she oversees ten academic departments, including Biology, Chemistry; Communication Sciences and Disorders; Earth, Environment, and Physics; Education; Health Sciences; Mathematics; Nursing; and Occupational Therapy. These ten departments encompass 23 undergraduate programs and 15 graduate programs. She also oversees five centers, including the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Studies and Practice, the Center for PreK-12 Initiatives in Education, the Math Center, the WSU Speech-Language-Hearing Center, and the Center for STEM Research and Education as well as the WSU online journal Currents in Teaching and Learning. She has published numerous articles in refereed journals and edited texts. She has spoken extensively nationally and internationally on the subjects of emergent literacy, phonological awareness, psychometric considerations in assessment, and the relation between language development and reading development. Her research also includes the scholarship of teaching and learning. In addition, she is active in the Worcester community. Dr. Larrivee was elected to the QCC Foundation Board in June 2019.

Now retired, Dr. Mary Meade-Montaque was the Manager for Instruction and School Leadership for Worcester Public Schools, managing the district’s middle, high, and alternative schools. Dr. Meade-Montaque’s career spans all educational levels. She began her career as a high school science and math teacher in New York City. On the college level, she served as Assistant Professor of Experiential Education Director of the Career Life Planning Center and Chemistry Instructor at Atlantic Union College. Before becoming a District Manager, she worked for Worcester Public Schools for 15 years as an Elementary School Principal.

Dr. Meade-Montaque is a native New Yorker. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, a Master of Arts in teaching Chemistry, and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. In addition to her formal degrees, Dr. Meade-Montaque has completed post-graduate work in Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, completed an extensive leadership training program with the National Institute for School Leadership, and completed the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University. The focus of Dr. Meade-Montaque's dissertation was principal leadership that supports both teacher and student growth and development. The emphasis of her current work centers on school turnaround leadership, supporting school administrators and teacher leaders in developing effective practices that improve student learning.

Dr. Meade-Montaque has received numerous awards. She received the Young Careerist Award from the Worcester County Business Association early in her career. The NAACP and the City of Worcester have recognized her as a pioneer in education for being Worcester's first African-American elementary school principal. The State of Massachusetts recognizes her as an Exemplary Educator. In the fall of 2000, Dr. Meade-Montaque received one of America’s highest awards presented to educators, the Milken Educator Award.

Dr. Meade-Montaque’s efforts in the community have centered on programs that empower women and minorities and promote education. To this end, she has worked with the YWCA of Central Massachusetts for over twenty years in many capacities, including serving as President. She has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Atlantic Union College. Additionally, she maintains numerous professional affiliations and is an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University. She was elected to the QCC Foundation Board in June 2019.

Now retired, Ms. Rodriguez-Parker was Congressman James P. McGovern’s Senior District Representative. Considered one of the most impactful Latino voices in Worcester, Gladys was the Executive Director of Centro Las Americas (now, Centro, Inc.), the first Latino-led and Latino community-serving institution created in Worcester. She is a founding member of Worcester’s Latino Education Institute, a Board Director at the Worcester Community Action Council, and has served in multiple other not-for-profit organizations that provide services and support to underserved and underrepresented populations in Central Massachusetts. She has been a QCC Board Director since 2020.