Member Biographies
The Board of Trustees is the governing body of Franklin Pierce University. Its members
convene at least three times a year, either in New Hampshire on the Rindge Campus
or the Manchester Center, or at the Goodyear, Arizona Center.
ELLEN ARNOLD, of Rye, New Hampshire, is an attorney with extensive experience in land
use development, real estate, energy, and environmental law. She most recently served
as Of Counsel Attorney at McLane Middleton in Manchester, NH. She is also the Founder
and Manager at Arnold Land Consulting, serving as an attorney and strategic partner
for clients on the issues of land use, real estate development, and higher education.
From 2001-2019, she was Director of Real Estate and Associate General Counsel at Dartmouth
College, serving as lead in-house counsel for College Real Estate and Campus Services.
In her role, Ms. Arnold managed the College’s environmental issues, energy initiatives,
and community affairs, and was responsible for planning and permitting large and complex
construction projects. Prior to her time at Dartmouth, Ms. Arnold was a litigation
director at McLane Middleton where she chaired the firm’s Land Use Practice Group.
She is a former president of the New Hampshire Bar Association and was one of the
first women appointed as a judge in the Granite State. Ms. Arnold holds a bachelor’s
degree in political science and government from Skidmore College and a juris doctorate
from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law.
DERICA CARTY ’99, of Temple Hills, Maryland, is an instructional design/training trailblazer
and entrepreneur based in Washington, D.C. As the founder and President of Clear Curriculum,
she pioneers learning experiences for private, local, and federal government entities,
blending cutting-edge adult educational practices with comprehensive analyses of business
processes, goals, behaviors, and performances. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
from Franklin Pierce University and a Master of Science (MSed) in Instructional Technology
from Queen’s College in New York, in addition Derica is certified as a Women’s Business
Enterprise (WBE) and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) by the Women Presidents’ Educational
Organization. Actively engaged in community initiatives, Derica serves as a member
of Mid-Atlantic Advocacy through Education (MATE) DC, a nonprofit organization promoting
educational equity, mentors at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (NYBA) in D.C.,
and the serves on the Board for the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester. She was elected
to the Board of Trustees in 2021.
BETTY DIPIETRO of Woodbridge, New Jersey, is currently a Corporate Finance Vice President
at David Yurman responsible for the Company’s Accounting Operations. Ms. DiPietro
started her career and earned a CPA license as a public accountant at Arthur Andersen
LLP. She left the firm as an Audit and Business Advisory Manager to work at Lucent
Technologies where she held various financial leadership roles. She then transitioned
to Ralph Lauren to lead the Financial Planning and Analysis, as well as Business Development
corporate functions. Ms. DiPietro has served on the Development Committee of Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties and has also volunteered as a Big Sister
for the organization for numerous years. In addition, she spent several years volunteering
with the Woodbridge Domestic Violence Response team. She joined the Franklin Pierce
Board of Trustees in 2015.
STEVE DUPREY, Chair of the Board, of Concord, New Hampshire, is the President and
owner of The Duprey Companies which oversee property management, real estate development,
and hotel management subsidiaries, including the Grappone Conference Center. He has
more than 40 years of continuous volunteer service to local and state organizations
and commissions, including the Capitol Center for the Arts, the NH Historical Society,
the Red River Theatre, the Carroll County YMCA, and the NH YMCA, as well as the Concord
Housing Authority, the Governor’s Interagency Task Force on Homelessness, and the
New Hampshire Business Finance Authority, among other appointments. He currently serves
as Chair of the Board of Directors of the N.H. Pease Development Authority, Vice-chair
of the N.H Business Finance Authority, President of the Board of Trustees for The
Currier Museum of Art and is in his fifth term on the Board of Directors of the Greater
Concord Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Duprey graduated from New College of Florida in 1974
with a Bachelor of Art degree in Public Policy and received his Juris Doctor from
Cornell Law School in 1978. He was appointed to the Franklin Pierce Board of Trustees
in the Fall of 2021.
MELISSA DYMEK ’11, of Arlington, Virginia has spent her entire career with the U.S.
Department of State, where she currently serves as a Senior Foreign Affairs Officer
and Human Rights Team Lead in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. In this
role, she helps coordinate policy related to human rights, democracy, and multilateral
affairs in Europe. Prior to this appointment, she worked as a Foreign Affairs Officer
and Global Affairs Officer in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs with responsibilities
ranging from Leahy Law Implementation to expertise on U.S. engagement with the Council
of Europe. She has also served as a Program Specialist and in administrative roles
in the Department’s Bureaus of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, East Asian and
Pacific Affairs, and International Organizations; she also briefly worked at the U.S.
Mission to the United Nations. She began her career in 2011 as an intern in the Office
of the Under Secretary for Global Affairs and Democracy. A proud Massachusetts native,
she is an avid figure skater in her spare time. She graduated summa cum laude as the
valedictorian of Franklin Pierce University, earning a B.A. in Political Science.
SCOTT HALLENBECK ’89 of Cohassett, Massachusetts has led USA Football since 2005,
guiding its non-profit mission to lead, strengthen and grow the sport through premier
educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including
tackle and flag football. His leadership has been pivotal in establishing the sport’s
governing body as the global leader in youth football coaching education, certifying
more than 1.1 million coaches in 50 states and numerous foreign countries across six
continents. Hallenbeck initiated the Heads Up Football program in 2012, enhancing
the game’s safety and education standards. Under Hallenbeck’s guidance, the positive
cultural change created by Heads Up Football was advanced by the launch of USA Football’s
Football Development Model (FDM) in 2021. Developed in partnership with medical, child
development, long-term athlete development and football subject matter experts, the
FDM focuses on progressive skill instruction that teaches young athletes age-appropriate
skills and meets them at their current stage of development.
CAROL L. HOULE, CPA ’97, Trustee Secretary, of Salem, New Hampshire has served as
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Provident Bancorp, Inc. from
2013 through 2024. In her role at the Bank she provided strategic direction and leadership
to drive the financial success of The Provident Bank. Previously, she was a partner
at Shatswell, MacLeod & Company, providing professional external audit and consulting
services to financial institutions. Ms. Houle earned her Bachelor of Science degree
from Franklin Pierce in 1997 with a major in Business Administration (Accounting),
while working as a staff accountant at T. C. Edwards & Co.
MARK LITZERMAN, of Auburn, New Hampshire, retired in 2023 as Head of Global Portfolio
Management at Wells Fargo Investment Institute (WFII), a subsidiary of Wells Fargo
& Company focused on providing investment solutions and advice to help clients manage
risk and achieve financial success. Mark also served as Co-head of Global Equity Strategy,
providing expertise in developing WFII's equity market and asset allocation recommendations.
WFII serves clients across Wells Fargo's Wealth and Investment Management division,
including Wells Fargo Private Bank and Wells Fargo Advisors. Earlier, Mark co-led
Real Asset Strategy for WFII, developing asset allocation recommendations and market
insights for real assets, including REITs and MLPs. He also oversaw global equities
with a focus on small- and mid-cap U.S. stocks. Before joining Wells Fargo in 2006,
Mark held senior investment roles, including Chief Investment Officer at Hale & Dorr
Capital Management and Director of Equities at First NH Investment Services. A resident
of Auburn, New Hampshire, he holds a B.A. in Communications from Purdue University
and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of New Hampshire.
ALEXANDRA (MARELLA ) JOHNSON ’15, of Spofford, New Hampshire, has been appointed as
the first Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board member. The GOLD seat was created
to foster greater collaboration and input from younger alumni. Those appointed as
GOLD Board members must have graduated from Franklin Pierce no fewer than three years
ago, but no more than 10 years ago. Ms. Johnson will serve a two-year term and is
considered a full Board member with all rights and privileges thereto. Ms. Johnson
is currently employed by the State of New Hampshire- Department of Health & Human
Services (DHHS). Originally from Connecticut, she stayed in the Monadnock Region following
her graduation from FPU. As a student, she was involved in community service projects,
Pierce Activities Council, SGA, Peer Leader Program, Alternative Spring Break, and
Sistuhs. A 2015 graduate of Franklin Pierce, Ms. Johnson holds a bachelor of arts
degree in social work and counseling, and a certificate in Women and Leadership.
GENEVIEVE McGILLICUDDY ’94, of Atlanta, Georgia, is Vice President, Enterprises and
Strategic Partnerships at Turner Classic Movies (TCM). She is a film industry leader
with responsibility for creating, promoting, publicizing, directing and executing
high-profile and world-class festivals and events. Prior to her career at TCM, she
provided marketing and operational leadership for a start-up independent entertainment
company, and a film industry non-profit organization. McGillicuddy received the Fitzwater
Medallion for Leadership in Public Communication from Franklin Pierce University in
2015, and a Peabody Award for Turner Classic Movies in 2008. She received her B.A.
in English from Franklin Pierce University in 1994, her master’s in film studies from
Emory University, and attended the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute for Women in
Cable Telecommunications. Her volunteer work includes serving as a board member for
the Atlanta Jewish Film Society, as past chair of the Circle Mentoring program for
Turner Broadcasting, and as a member of the board of Turner Women. Ms. McGillicuddy
joined the Franklin Pierce Board of Trustees in the spring of 2020.
DOMINICK MICIOTTA ’91, of Greenwich, Connecticut is a leader in strategic marketing
and operations, as well as in higher education marketing and enrollment management.
He currently serves as the CEO of Common Core Management, LLC, which provides operational
support and management for professional service companies. He also works as the Chief
Marketing Officer for Smith Legacy Law. Based in Greenwich, CT, the firm provides
highly personalized legal services to an array of individuals and businesses nationwide.
Since 2022, Mr. Miciotta has served on the Board of Directors of Kids in Crisis, a
Cos Cob, CT-based nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, crisis counseling, and
community education programs for children and families facing a crisis. A 1991 graduate
of Franklin Pierce with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre, Dominick also holds
a Master of Education degree, with a concentration in higher education administration,
from Northeastern University in Boston, MA.
ROBERT "BOB" RILEY ’82 of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, is a 1982 graduate of Franklin
Pierce, and an Information Systems professional with background spanning project management,
software development/support, and technology management. With diverse operations experience
across industries, including healthcare, information technology, and manufacturing/logistics,
he brings strong understanding of organizational leadership. He is currently a Senior
Associate, Project Manager at Kyndryl, supporting Care New England, Rhode Island’s
second largest healthcare system. Mr. Riley is married to Franklin Pierce alumna Kim
Lewis Riley ’83, and both have been active in Alumni Board support for a long-standing
period. A former President of the Franklin Pierce Alumni Association, Mr. Riley has
also led Alumni Board committee work. He earned his MBA in Global Leadership from
Johnson & Wales University and holds PMP and CPIM certifications. He joined the Franklin
Pierce Board of Trustees in 2017.
ROLLIN SCHUSTER ’82, of Simsbury, Connecticut is a leading property and casualty broker,
benefits consultant, wealth manager, and retirement plan advisor. After nearly 30
years of building The Schuster Group, his company was acquired by NFP, where he currently
serves as managing director. Mr. Schuster’s desire to support the greater good inspired
him to create The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth and Opportunity Inc. (TANGO), where
he serves as President. The organization provides resources to over 1,200 organizations,
helping them build capacity through business-oriented education, preferred services,
and mission support. Mr. Schuster is also Treasurer of CW Resources, one of Connecticut’s
largest nonprofit organizations, and past Chairman of the Board of Qualidigm, a national
healthcare consulting company. Rollin graduated from Franklin Pierce in 1982 with
a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing.
NICK SOGGU, Vice Chair of the Board, of Bedford, New Hampshire is the President and
CEO of SilverTech, Inc. and CEO of Pannos Marketing, full-service digital marketing
and web development agencies with headquarters located in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Mr. Soggu has distinguished himself as a leader in technology innovation and digital
design, working with major brands in financial services, utilities, higher education,
tourism, and government. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Bellwether
Credit Union and the Amoskeag Industries, and he has previously served on Boards of
several local and New Hampshire-based organizations, including the Greater Manchester
Chamber of Commerce, the Manchester Development Corporation, the Manchester Young
Professionals Network, the Palace Theatre, Northeast Delta Dental, the American Red
Cross and the SEE Science Center. Mr. Soggu earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical
Engineering from Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, and his master’s
in the same discipline from the University of New Hampshire.
TRENT SPINER ’07, of Manchester, New Hampshire, is a journalist who has worked for
both New Hampshire and national news organizations. Since 2020, he has served as Editor-in-Chief
for the American Psychological Association (APA), one of the largest professional
associations in the country focused on psychology, mental health, diversity, equity
and inclusion initiatives, technology, and combating mis- and dis-information. He
leads a team of editors and writers responsible for APA’s national magazine, Monitor
on Psychology, which was named the top association magazine in the country in 2022.
He also runs the association’s overall content strategy, which includes the production
of digital, print, and multimedia stories. Before joining APA, Mr. Spiner covered
the 2020 presidential election for POLITICO. From 2014 to 2019, Spiner was executive
editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader, the largest and only statewide newspaper.
From 2010 to 2014, he was the evening assignment editor and web producer for ABC News
affiliate WMUR-TV in Manchester, NH. Mr. Spiner has been nominated for two Emmy awards,
named one of the top young editors in the country by Editor & Publisher, recognized
as one of the Union Leader’s “40 Under 40” and named a “must-follow journalist” by
POLITICO. A 2007 graduate of Franklin Pierce University, Spiner holds a bachelor of
arts degree in journalism with a minor in political science.
Trustees Emeriti
LESLYE A. ARSHT, of Arlington, Virginia, co-founded a national non-profit education
consultancy, StandardsWork, Inc. that continues to advance K-12 education reform.
Ms. Arsht served as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family
Policy from 2006 to 2008, following nearly two years of work on improving educational
transition for military children and increasing access for military spouse employment.
In 2003 to 2004, she served as senior advisor to the Iraqi Minister of Education,
traveled to war-torn Iraq and spent nine months helping Iraq rebuild its education
system. Previously, Ms. Arsht was counselor to the secretary and director of communications
at the U.S. Department of Education; the associate vice chancellor for news and public
affairs at Vanderbilt University; and Deputy Press Secretary to President Ronald Reagan.
Ms. Arsht was first elected to the Franklin Pierce Board of Trustees and 2001.
LLOYD H. ASTMANN ’69 is the managing partner of NHA Realty, LLC, a New Jersey based
commercial real estate holding company, and the founder and past president of The
Jilson Group, Inc. and Jilson Casters, Inc. in Lodi, New Jersey, companies he sold
in 2002. He is a 1969 graduate of Franklin Pierce and received his MBA from Fairleigh
Dickinson University. He is the past president of the Paramus Rotary Club, the recipient
of Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow, Rotarian of the Year Award and the Rotary
District 7490 Walter D. Head Award. Mr. Astmann is the past chairman of the board
of the Foundation at Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus, past chairman of the
board of Benjamin Barbarosh Independent Living Centers in Paramus and former chair
of the board of CarePlus Workforce Solutions in Paterson, New Jersey. He is the former
vice-chairman of the board of Life Opportunities Unlimited in Ridgewood, New Jersey,
and serves on the advisory board and U.S. Financial Services, Inc. in Fairfield, New
Jersey. Mr. Astmann is the first graduate of Franklin Pierce to have served as the
Chair of Franklin Pierce’s Board of Trustees.
CARLEEN M. FARRELL ’71 of Delray Beach, Florida and Mashpee, Massachusetts is a graduate
of Franklin Pierce College. She received her MA degree from New York University in
higher education administration. Throughout her career, Ms. Farrell served as Assistant
Director and Acting Director of Residential Life at Keene State College in New Hampshire,
Assistant Dean of Students at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Harvard
Business School, serving 22 years in the Executive Education division as Manager of
Enrollment and Admission Services and Associate Director of Open Enrollment. She currently
serves on the board of the Harvard University Retirees Association and holds memberships/officer
status in several volunteer organizations.She served on the Franklin Pierce Alumni
Association Board of Directors and as its president from 1974-76. She is the recipient
of the Franklin Pierce Alumni Participation Award and the Franklin Pierce Leader of
Conscience Award. Ms. Farrell served on the Franklin Pierce Board of Trustees from
1981-1994 and was reelected to the Board of Trustees in 2010 and now serves as Trustee
Emerita.
MARLIN FITZWATER, the only press secretary in history to be appointed by two Presidents,
became known to millions of Americans as the voice of the 26-nation coalition in the
Persian Gulf War. This Kansas native spent a decade in the front row of history, as
press secretary to Presidents Reagan and Bush. From 1983 to 1992, his voice reassured
the world in times of turmoil and change. Often wearing a wide brim hat and an open
smile, Fitzwater stood next to two Presidents during cold war summits, economic downturns,
and eight military conflicts. He gave over 850 press briefings in six years, winning
praise from the news media and the public for his honesty and good humor.
He was named an Outstanding Civil Servant in government in 1980; received the nation's
second highest civilian award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, from President Bush
in 1992; served on the Board of the Woodrow Wilson School for International Scholars,
and has received numerous other awards and honorary doctorate degrees.
Today he is an author and lecturer whose presidential anecdotes, political analysis,
and television commentary have received worldwide attention. He has been a member
of the Franklin Pierce University Board of Trustees since 1999, and he additionally
serves as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication.
IN MEMORIAM
FREDERICK W. PIERCE IV (1962-2024), Immediate Past Chair of the Board, spent his career
in real estate investment, development, consulting, finance and acquisition. Since
1995, he served as the President, CEO and principal shareholder of Pierce Education
Properties, L.P. (“PEP”), a Top 25 national owner, operator and developer of student
housing. PEP cumulatively acquired approximately $1.3 billion in student apartments
and operated more than 34,000 beds of student housing serving 34 universities in 19
states nationwide. Earlier, he led the finance and appraisal divisions for KPMG/Goodkin
Group, and was later recruited by Price Waterhouse (today known as PwC) to start and
build their real estate consulting practice. Mr. Pierce served as a member of and
in leadership roles on numerous Boards including current Chairman of the National
Multifamily Housing Council Student Housing Research Fund Advisory Board, Trustee
Emeritus of the California State University System, Vice Chair of Beta Theta Pi Foundation,
Chair-Elect of San Diego State University’s (SDSU) Campanile Foundation (endowment)
and ormer chairman of SDSU’s Fowler College of Business Board of Directors, among
others. Mr. Pierce was also former Chair of the City of San Diego’s Pension Fund and
Poway Unified School District Foundation Board. Mr. Pierce was a frequent speaker
on topics including student housing, real estate, education and the economy and was
the recipient of many professional and personal awards including the “Moving San Diego
Forward Award” from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2019. Mr. Pierce
was also honored to be among San Diego’s “Most Admired CEO” finalists in 2018 and
2019 and “50 Influential Leaders in San Diego” in 2017, 2018, and 2019, as selected
by the San Diego Daily Transcript. He was one of 24 national Student Housing Pioneers
named by Real Estate Forum Magazine in 2013 and the San Diego Ernst & Young Entrepreneur
of the Year for 2012. In 2022, Mr. Pierce received the Distinguished Alumni Monty
Award from SDSU’s Alumni Association (his second time in receiving that award). He
received his B.S. in Finance cum laude from, and engaged in, graduate study at San
Diego State University.
