Salve Regina University

2011 Alumni Award Recipients

Distinguished Alumna

Shortly after graduating with degrees in Spanish and education, Campbell began teaching Spanish at Rogers High School in Newport. She also served as an adjunct professor of Spanish for 20 years at both Bristol Community College and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Campbell earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Rhode Island College, which she put to work as a part-time guidance counselor at Rogers High School. In her 30 years with the Newport public school system, she inspired many students to pursue Spanish at the collegiate level.

Campbell’s mentor was her father, a physician who devoted his life to the well being of his patients. She adopted her father’s dedication, taking personal interest in the success of each of her students. She credits Salve Regina for instilling in her a strong work ethic and the drive to do her best in each of her endeavors. 

Distinguished Graduate Alumnus

O’Donnell began his career as a correctional officer before joining the North Kingstown Police Department as a patrolman. In 1986, he joined the R.I. State Police as a trooper and was later promoted to the division’s intelligence unit. O’Donnell worked in an undercover capacity in New England and aided with the infiltration of the Patriarca organized crime family.

In 1995, O’Donnell was one of 10 officers nationwide to receive the “Top Cop” award from President Clinton. One year later, he was one of four troopers nationwide to receive the “Trooper of the Year” award.

O’Donnell retired from the state police in 2009 and was appointed by President Obama as the U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island. In May 2011 he was sworn in by Gov. Lincoln Chafee as the 12th superintendent of the R.I. State Police and the Commissioner of the R.I. Department of Public Safety. 

Mission Award

After graduating from Salve Regina, Sister Mary Paul returned to India to serve as the administrator of Nazareth Hospital in the hill state of Meghalaya. During her tenure, the hospital was renovated and expanded and became a 360-bed multispecialty teaching and referral hospital.

Realizing the need for education and care beyond the hospital walls, Sister Mary Paul strengthened the rural health department. She supervised the post-graduate medical education program, functions of all departments of the hospital and the school of nursing.

In 2002, Sister Mary Paul returned to the U.S. to complete her master’s degree in counseling at Duquesne University. After graduating, she returned to New England, where she spent her “vacation” time volunteering for the Mount Saint Rita Health Center.

A member of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Sister Mary Paul is currently working as an administrator in Nazareth Hospital for the second time. 

Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

Pesapane began his career as a regional planner for the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. In 2009, he was promoted to homeland security exercise officer and was responsible for ensuring that the state’s homeland security strategy was properly prepared across all first-responder disciplines.

Pesapane completed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s master exercise practitioner program and was assigned to develop the state’s pandemic influenza operating plan. In 2009, this plan was tested by the H1N1 outbreak.

Following the severe floods in spring 2010, Pesapane was designated special assistant to the state coordinating officer. He then accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Boston, where his current responsibilities include integration of federal and state programs in the areas of individual and community preparedness and training. Most recently, Pesapane served as the operations section chief at the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center in response to Hurricane Irene.

Alumni Achievement

After graduation, Donohue-McDonald worked as Salve Regina’s director of student activities before launching a successful career in human resources, culminating in a senior position with MCI in Washington, D.C.

After choosing to devote herself to the role of full-time mother, Donohue-McDonald became the chief volunteer at her children’s Catholic school, organizing fundraising efforts, including a Christmas CD featuring the school choir. For this particular project, she hired a Salve Regina classmate’s son, giving the young man a start on his music production career.

In addition, Donohue-McDonald and her sister helped establish the “Will Power” race, named for her nephew, to benefit children with special needs. She has also spent significant time supporting efforts to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. She and her family regularly participate in the annual Susan B. Komen Walk for the Cure.

Alumni Achievement

Finn enrolled at Salve Regina in the late 1980s when the loss of her husband left her as a single parent with three small children. She is now the chief financial officer at SEA CORP, where she witnessed the organization's growth into a major company that employs more than 340 people.

During Finn’s tenure, the company has consistently ranked as one of the top companies in Rhode Island. She was named the 2011 CFO of the Year by Providence Business News and is the driving force behind SEA CORP’s commitment to community fundraising initiatives.

In 2007, Finn co-founded the Molly Finn Battle of the Bands in memory of her daughter. She was honored as grand marshal of Newport’s 2009 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. As a past president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), Finn was one of a dozen women to help revitalize the organization.

Alumni Achievement

Philbin continued her education with a master’s degree in counseling from Providence College. Eleven years ago, she began working at Child & Family as a program manager and since then has steadily advanced her career.

In her present position as senior vice president of network services, Philbin is responsible for the overall planning, direction and leadership of the Rhode Island Care Management Network. Her responsibilities include overseeing the quality of practice and operations, supervising the network program directors and managing a $20 million budget. Philbin has been instrumental in developing innovative programming that keeps families connected to their communities.

Philbin serves on various community boards including the advisory board for the Philbin Adult Learning School, the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority, Rhode Island Foster Parents Association and the Rhode Island Council on Resource Providers. She has also served on the juvenile hearing board for the city of Newport.

Alumni Achievement

Russo earned her MBA from Northeastern University. During this time, she interned at General Electric Capital in Norwalk, Conn., where she later accepted the position of vice president and spent six years managing a large distressed debt portfolio.

In 2005, Russo joined Microboard Processing, Inc., a high-tech contract manufacturer of printed circuit board assemblies founded by her father. In her role as executive vice president of administration and finance, she is responsible for managing the company’s strategic finance initiatives and offshore manufacturing partnerships, as well as its program management group.

Russo is also involved in her church and community. Since 2002, she and her husband have chaired a major annual fundraiser for Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, a nonprofit group that provides equine-assisted activities to adults and children with disabilities. Paying forward her lifelong love of horseback riding, the show has raised nearly $1 million over the past eight years.

Exceptional Volunteer

Caine’s lifelong relationship with Salve Regina began when her high school English teacher suggested she apply to the college.

Whether teaching English to first-graders in El Paso, Texas, or directing a preschool in Barrington, R.I., Caine’s loving heart and caring spirit has imbued her career and her life. She has spent countless volunteer hours as a driver for Head Start, screening for vision problems in elementary school students, serving on committees to choose Teacher of the Year and arranging preview parties for show houses to benefit various charities. Caine also served as president of the Riverside Junior Women’s Club and on committees for the statewide organization.

The first director of alumni affairs at Salve Regina, Caine is a founding and current committee member of the Governor’s Ball. She worked alongside Sister Therese Antone and others to develop this scholarship fundraiser into a successful holiday event in Rhode Island.

Exceptional Volunteer

After graduating cum laude from Salve Regina with her degree in chemistry and minors in math and biology, Murray earned her M.S. from New York University and established her career through positions at notable New York City medical centers.

For the past 15 years, Murray has served as the immunopathology laboratory manager at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she supervises a staff of 30. Inspired by her chemistry professor Dr. George Morris, she has mentored Salve Regina students through internships and job opportunities.

Murray has been a lead volunteer at St. Aloysius School in New Canaan, Conn., chairing the car raffle and other fundraising events such as annual golf outings and dinner dances. An original student volunteer representing Sigma Phi Sigma at the very first Governor’s Ball, she brought the same enthusiasm years later as chair of the 2006 alumni committee for the annual holiday gala.