( INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS HIGHLIGHT DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI )
OF
Since graduating from their respective schools , these twelve accomplished alumni have pursued various career paths , from professional acting to teaching and public service . Despite their different professions , they all share a commitment to excellence and maintain close ties with their alma maters and their missions .
CHARLIE RAGONA , 2018
GORDON SCHOOL Since graduating from Gordon , Charlie Ragona has distinguished himself as a leader , academically , artistically and athletically . He has mentored young surfers at Little Compton Surf Camp and Gnome Surf Therapy , rowed in the U . S . Youth Rowing Nationals , captained the Rhode Island Division III swim champions , and earned the title of RIIL Division III Senior Swimmer of the Year . The U . S . Presidential Scholars Program nominated him for its annual honors , and he built on his success with Gordon ’ s theater program as a lead performer in The Iliad and student director of The Laramie Project . He will be a freshman at Emory in the fall .
ERIN MUCCINO , 2004
THE WHEELER SCHOOL As a Wheeler School student , Erin Muccino enjoyed opportunities to dance during elective periods , but there was no formal dance program back then . After graduating in 2004 , she earned a degree in dance pedagogy from Butler University and danced with Festival Ballet before returning to Wheeler to begin her own program . Since then , she has provided offerings such as Dance Club — now an established favorite among Lower School students — and a range of enrichment courses for Upper School students like West African dance , intermediate and advanced ballet , musical theater and student choreography . Last year , the school ’ s Winter Dance Showcase featured over 60 dancers . With these offerings , Muccino has created a welcoming atmosphere for all students . “ We ’ ve added so much to the program in terms of encouraging students to find happiness and a greater sense of self-expression through their movement ,” she says .
Photo credit : Megan May
DR . TIMOTHY SHEAHAN , 1994
MOUNT SAINT CHARLES ACADEMY Dr . Timothy Sheahan is a viral disease researcher at the University of North Carolina who helped bring the first pill for treating COVID-19 to market . The pill , molnupiravir , is an effective , easily administered option for treating COVID victims when their infection is discovered . In addition to an interest in science , Sheahan pursued history , soccer and music while at Mount . Sheahan is currently an assistant professor in the department of epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC at Chapel Hill , where he is a highly regarded virologist contributing to our understanding of emerging viral diseases .
WILL HUNT , 2003
THE WHEELER SCHOOL Will Hunt vividly remembers the abandoned train tunnel near campus that his environmental science class visited when he was a student at the Wheeler School . “ It was this big forbidden place that I thought was very cool . But it got much cooler when I looked at a map of Providence and realized the tunnel ran directly beneath my house ,” he says . “ It sparked this fascination with things hidden underground which I have been following all over the world for years now .”
Since graduating from Wheeler in 2003 , Hunt has investigated and reported on many subterranean worlds . His writing has appeared in such places as The New Yorker , The Guardian and The Paris Review , and he is the author of the book , Underground , which details his explorations of the world beneath our feet .
Hunt talked about those experiences when he recently returned to Wheeler as the latest Fox Family Speaker , a series that brings individuals to campus to share their
extraordinary talents and passions with the school community . “ I would love for the students to see that there are lots of adventures and discoveries to be had and made , and that they should just be really curious about the world ,” Hunt said during his visit . “ I learned how to do that at Wheeler .”
JAMES POCCIA , 2015
BISHOP HENDRICKEN HIGH SCHOOL After Bishop Hendricken , James Poccia earned his B . A . in politics from Fairfield University . During his time at Fairfield , he worked in political administrations for the Connecticut General Assembly and the Rhode Island governor ' s office , as well as in the private sector for Schneider Electric . Post-undergraduate , Poccia worked for Providence-based veterans ' affairs law firm Chisholm , Chisholm , and Kilpatrick before attending Suffolk University School of Law . At Suffolk , Poccia participated in FIRSTGEN , an organization for first generation law students ; served as chief content editor for the Journal of Health & Biomedical Law ; and worked for two Boston-based law firms . He graduated in May and sat for the Massachusetts bar exam in July . As his petition to the Massachusetts Bar is pending , Poccia works for Syniti , a data management software and services company in Needham . He attributes his enthusiasm for the law to the many great history teachers at Hendricken .
TIMOTHY WELSH , 1993
LA SALLE ACADEMY Timothy Welsh was recently appointed principal of LaSalle Academy . As an alumnus , he has a deep connection to the mission of the school . The president of La Salle Academy says , " In Tim we have found a leader who embraces the
130 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l OCTOBER 2022