Rivier Presents Business and Community Leaders with Alumni Achievement Awards

Left to right: Francis Bourgeois, Susan O’Hare, Jackeline Rodriguez, and Jessica Hagg.

Rivier University has granted 2024 Alumni Achievement Awards to four distinguished graduates in recognition of their outstanding leadership and service. These annual awards are presented to alumni who have utilized their Rivier education to make a difference in their professions and local communities while maintaining a continued connection with their alma mater.

“Our alumni represent the University with pride and distinction through contributions to their businesses, organizations, and communities,” says Karen Cooper, Vice President for University Advancement. “It is our privilege to recognize these four remarkable individuals for their ongoing commitment to the University’s mission of transforming hearts and minds to serve the world.”

2024 Alumni Achievement Awards Recipients

The Outstanding Business Leader Award was presented to Francis Bourgeois, Chief of University Police at Bentley University. Frank served as a Lieutenant of the Nashua Police Department for more than 20 years before joining the University Police at Bentley. He began this role during the COVID-19 pandemic and was directly involved in keeping the campus safe and in compliance with COVID-19 protocols. In 2021, he received the Ralph Avery Leadership Development Award from the Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. He says that Rivier’s mission of transforming hearts and minds to serve the world deeply resonated with him as he earned his Master of Business Administration degree in 2013. Frank is committed to building a culture of community engagement and developing relationships where students feel supported and valued by the University Police Department.

The Outstanding Educator Award was presented to Susan O’Hare, a devoted educator for more than 17 years. She earned her bachelor’s in social work from Rivier in 1987 and returned to earn her M.Ed. in Elementary Education Teaching in 1994. As an instructor for Early Childhood Education at Greater Lowell Technical High School, she teaches close to 600 students and prepares them to earn their early childhood certification by the time they graduate high school. Each year, Susan brings junior and senior students to Rivier for an immersive experience with the Department of Education. Once on campus, students can tour the University and learn about all the opportunities Rivier can offer them. Susan stays involved as a member of the University’s Education Advisory Council

The Outstanding Nursing Professional Award was presented to Jackeline Rodriguez, who has dedicated her career to serving others as a Nurse Officer with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and as a part-time Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with Cornerstone Wellness. As an outreach specialist with the Commissioned Corps, Jackie educates people about Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs and services. She earned her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate from Rivier in 2022. She received The DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity in 2023 by founding the Depression Support and Alliance Group, which educates women on how to identify and cope with depression and anxiety. She was inspired to create this group after working in women’s shelters and seeing the need for continued care after their time in the shelters.

The Young Alumni Award was presented to Jessica Hagg, Director of the Arlington Street Community Center in Nashua. She works with city schools and community partners to promote equal opportunities and eliminate barriers to services for the community. She has filled gaps in those services by creating programs like the Fatherhood Group, Teen Group, exercise classes, and Community Night, a monthly event featuring free activities like bingo or trivia and a shared meal. Earning her B.A. in Education and Community Leadership in 2022, Jess regularly partners with Rivier to support the Center, often working with student volunteers from the Education Club and Global Scholars Honors Program. She is on the Board of the New Leaders Council New Hampshire, leads the Queer Connections group in Nashua, and volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Rivier University, located in Nashua, New Hampshire, offers more than 60 on-campus and online degrees at the undergraduate, professional studies, graduate, and doctoral levels. For more information, visit rivier.edu.