14 UHart Alumni to Receive Anchor Awards

James Alibrandi ’84 (CETA) saw his career take off even before he set foot on the UHart campus, where he would study for a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. It all began in high school when he had the opportunity to become an electrical apprentice at Interstate Electrical Services Corporation.

Fast forward to 1996 when Alibrandi was named president of the firm. Today, it is one of the largest electrical contractors in New England, with regional offices in six states and more than 750 employees.

Alibrandi’s skills extend far beyond technical know-how; he helps the firm grow in stature and reputation through his commitment to teamwork and his devotion to safety, innovation, and lean methodology. One result of this expertise is the creation of Interstate’s 100,000-square-foot operations center in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, which features New England’s most technologically advanced electrical prefabrication facility.

Alibrandi holds several electrician licenses across New England and is an active member of the Associated Builders and Contractors in all its New England chapters. He has previously served as a chapter chair and as a member of its national board. Always eager to give back to his community, Alibrandi also volunteers at his local Boys & Girls Club.

He and his wife, Karen (also a UHart graduate), enjoy their Bay State lifestyle with their two children.

Stephen Cusano ’15 (Hartt) has been making a culturally vibrant impact throughout Connecticut since his late teenage years. A drummer, producer, and recording studio entrepreneur, Cusano hails from North Haven, where he organized his first cultural innovation, “A Give Back Benefit Concert,” to support his high school’s music program.

After graduating from The Hartt School’s Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz, he embarked on a musical touring schedule with several notable acts.

Recognizing the need for a dedicated, artist-centered creative space in Hartford, Cusano founded Parkville Sounds, a continuously evolving hub for regional artists. It serves as a recording studio, performance venue, and cultural community center. Now in its ninth year, Parkville has hosted thousands of musicians, from local rising stars to international performers. Its services include album production, EPs, singles, live video, voiceovers, and more. Notable artists he has worked with include former members of the Allman Brothers Band, the Rolling Stones, and Lincoln Center jazz troupes.

The Parkville Sessions, which Cusano created and produced, is a live in-studio concert series available to the public.

Music, always at the heart of The Hartt School, has also been central to Cusano’s passion and artistic identity. This alignment has made him an invaluable contributor to the cultural life of Connecticut’s capital city.

Jillian Foley Cusano '16 (Hartt) who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet pedagogy from The Hartt School and serves as a dance teacher there, has evolved into a versatile artist and artistic entrepreneur.

In addition to her training at Hartt, she studied with the Northeast Ballet Company in Schenectady, New York. Her impressive and rapidly expanding portfolio includes a showcase at the Julidans International Festival for Contemporary Dance in Amsterdam, performances with the Amy Marshall Dance Company in New York, and roles as both choreographer and dancer for the Des Moines Metro Opera and the Portland Opera. Much of this work was accomplished while she directed productions and taught students at The Hartt School.

Cusano’s versatility knows no bounds. She is the chief operating officer of Parkville Sounds, a popular recording studio in Hartford; has contributed artistically to jazz projects at Lincoln Center, Amazon Prime, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and many others; and is the founder and president of the Hartford Dance Collective, which promotes female leadership and brings dance to new audiences. Through the Collective, Cusano has curated hundreds of performances and arts festivals, hosts adult classes, and collaborates with renowned artists, including Pilobolus, Merce Cunningham, and the Radio City Rockettes.

Regardless of the artistic role she assumes at any moment, it is clear that Cusano is one of UHart’s most trailblazing professionals.

Alexander Robertson '20 (Hartt) is an award-winning entrepreneur who is passionate about expanding accessibility to the arts, promoting ambitious, socially relevant storytelling, and building a more inclusive entertainment industry.

The road to his success as a producer and actor on stage, film, and extended reality was nurtured at The Hartt School, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in music theatre with a minor in performing arts management.

While just a few years out of school, Robertson became one of the youngest Black producers to receive multiple Tony Award nominations in a single season. Among other shows, he has produced a revival of Gypsy, Here There Are Blueberries (a Pulitzer Prize finalist), and Appropriate, which was a Tony winner. He has contributed to the development of several youth theater productions, including the live stage adaptation of Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas.

Robertson is the founder of Emlex Entertainment, dedicated to developing original intellectual properties across performance mediums. He also co-founded DMQR Productions, which champions historically underrepresented voices in theatrical storytelling.

As an actor, Robertson has performed around the world in many kinds of venues, including Disney Cruise Lines, for which he played Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid. He also appeared in Newsies at the New London Barn Playhouse and was in the Connecticut premiere of The Scottsboro Boys at Playhouse on Park.

Kelly Tischbein '18 (University Studies) is a high-performing team leader with experience as a software developer, scrum master, agile coach, and Coast Guardsman.

A graduate in computer science and web development, Tischbein has expertise in operational efficiency, productivity, and collaboration, benefiting her in both military and civilian life.

For over a year, she served on active duty as a liaison for the Coast Guard’s Military Entrance Processing Station, assisting recruits in meeting necessary qualifications.

After transitioning to the civilian sector, Tischbein developed her skills as an agile coach for Travelers, serving as a trainer and mentor for best practices and continuous improvement. She helped teams enhance their workflow, efficiency, and innovation. In this role, she led several initiatives that supported the corporation’s veteran community, particularly those at the start of their transition into civilian life and employment. This commitment also motivated Tischbein to serve as events chair for Travelers' Military Veterans Allies Diversity Leadership Board.

Her efforts fostered a more inclusive workplace culture, creating opportunities for underrepresented groups and ensuring all employees feel valued.

Many of these attributes were evident during Tischbein's time as a student, where she served as a Red Caps orientation leader and tour guide. She also held a leadership position in student government, advocating for undergraduate needs and collaborating with faculty and administration to enhance the student experience.

Sonserae Cicero C'08, '09 (University Studies) is a human capital and fair employment expert with more than 25 years of experience in the field. As the founder and chief executive officer of the Society of Human Engagement & Business Alignment, she is renowned for her expertise in critical areas such as human resources, diversity, inclusion, workforce transformations, talent development programs, and cultural change strategies. She has collaborated with organizations that collectively boast product and service portfolios exceeding $100 billion. Her commitment to employment justice has earned her an unparalleled reputation.

Cicero's advocacy for workplace diversity is exemplified by her previous role as chair of the Women of Walgreens Boots Alliance. Her impact through this and other initiatives has been widely recognized, including being named one of Connecticut's most influential individuals of color by the NAACP in 2018. Additionally, she received the prestigious Inspiration Award in 2021 for her contributions to the supply chain sector.

Consistent with her character, Cicero is actively engaged in community service and economic empowerment. She serves on several boards, including those of Jumoke Academy and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford, and she chairs various committees while also sitting on the leadership council for the National Small Business Association in its Northeast Region.

Cicero's unwavering commitment to equity, diversity, and workplace improvement is a testament to her outstanding leadership and the positive impact she continues to make in every environment she touches.

Robin McGuinness M'98 (ENHP) has a health care career spanning nearly four decades, during which her leadership has inspired many associates and patients.

Currently, she serves as the senior executive officer and chief nurse executive for AdventHealth’s West Florida division. In this capacity, she leads efforts to elevate the clinical nursing function to the highest level of excellence by developing well-planned and organized strategies for nursing and clinical services across 14 hospitals and one long-term acute care facility within the division.

After earning her Master of Science in Nursing from UHart, McGuinness continued her education and obtained a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Florida State University.

Her previous roles include director of the neuroscience unit and stroke program coordinator at Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center, and chief nursing officer at Florida Hospital Carrollwood. In Connecticut, she was a patient care manager at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven and director of surgical care at New Britain General Hospital. McGuinness’s advancement in her field is attributed to her leadership skills, which are applicable to both health care and other industries.

Now a Florida resident, she is a member of the Florida Center for Nursing Board of Directors and serves on multiple nursing advisory boards, including those for AdventHealth University and Lincoln Memorial University's Caylor School of Nursing.

When Charles Pious '80, P'09 (Barney) enrolled at the University of Hartford in the late 1970s, he had no idea how exciting business management would become for him. After taking a course with Professor Paul Mali, who instilled in him the belief that business management could be creative and rewarding, Pious developed a deep appreciation for the field.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in business management from UHart, he made a name for himself in packaging. Pious built a company that currently employs 160 people and generates annual sales exceeding $50 million.

During college summers, Pious worked at his grandfather’s corrugated box business. He started on the production floor, moved into package design, and then ventured into sales, winning 10 new accounts in one summer. His grandfather and uncles, who ran the plant, were pleased with his success.

After his grandfather’s death, Pious continued with the firm and became the number two sales representative by age 25. He also developed a successful customer-support strategy known as Vendor Managed Inventory.

Soon, another businessman offered him the chance to start and run a similar firm, which now has four thriving divisions: corrugated boxes, protective foam fabrication, technical wood crating, and pallet production.

Pious and his wife support several local charities, and he contributes his skills to various boards.

Howard Schnee '92 (Barney) is a music industry veteran with nearly 30 years of experience and success, and many innovative ventures ahead. From music and hospitality to venue management, real estate, venture capital, and consulting, Schnee credits the University of Hartford as one of the earliest and most important chapters in his professional journey.

He has significantly shaped the live music landscape through several of his enterprises, such as CEG Presents, which he co-founded and serves as president. CEG produces thousands of shows in major cities across the country, helping to turn many emerging artists into household names.

As a superb team builder, motivator, and strategic planner, Schnee is also a partner in the music investment firm SoundVision, co-founder of the emerging artist platform HearFirst, and a valued advisor to platforms like Volume.com and CashorTrade.

He has made numerous successful business assessments by leveraging his well-documented skills in fostering effective relationships, demonstrating honesty and loyalty in all dealings, and spearheading innovative ideas with full partner engagement.

Schnee has been a featured speaker at key industry events such as NIVA and INTIX and has appeared on top music industry podcasts and other platforms, including Bloomberg.

A married father of two residing in South Orange, New Jersey, Schnee supports numerous charitable and cultural organizations both locally and nationally.

To say that Francis Besancon C'63, '67 (ENHP) loved teaching would be a major understatement. Besancon, who passed away at age 51 in 1990, was well-known and well-liked in several Connecticut academic communities and certainly well-versed in all that makes an educator a great educator.

Besancon initially attended the University of Hartford to study engineering, receiving a Professional Certificate from Ward College of Technology in 1963. Four years later, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. He then built a career as a public-school teacher in such towns as Terryville and Woodbury.

One of Besancon’s favorite topics was physics, and as an extension of that, he established a robotics curriculum in Terryville, which many people consider to be his greatest legacy as an educator. His advanced placement courses were among his favorites, and it was often noted how the parent community in the districts in which he taught were supportive of his efforts. He also had a passion for coaching girls’ basketball.

Besancon took great pride in his profession and students. His widow, Gail, mentioned a booklet filled with notes from former students expressing their appreciation. Many students also visited him and Gail at home to help with projects, as Besancon loved to build and fix things.

Outside of the classroom, Besancon loved the theater. He and his wife were frequent patrons at Hartford Stage.

Ezra Shanken A'00, '02 (A&S), a lifelong advocate for civic improvement and innovation at the intersection of community and culture, is the chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, the third-largest Jewish community in Canada. He excels at building effective relationships with donors, partner organizations, other faith-based and ethno-cultural communities, and public officials—skills that have greatly benefited him and his constituents.

Following the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, Shanken intensified his efforts to coordinate assistance and raise awareness across a wide range of community organizations. Consequently, he has played a key role in mobilizing an unprecedented response to support those affected by the attacks. Under his leadership, he and his colleagues raised a record-breaking $20 million for the Israel Emergency Campaign. Additionally, the Federation and its partners have diligently addressed various issues related to the Jewish senior population, pandemic recovery efforts, and safety sustainability. These initiatives benefit Jewish life locally, in Israel, and around the world.

Regionally, the Federation's partnership with the local Jewish Community Center and King David High School has significantly enhanced the JCC, expanded child care and senior services, and created new arts and cultural spaces.

Although Shanken and his wife, along with their three young sons, enjoy their home life, they don’t always have their house entirely to themselves; he often opens it up to community members for a variety of meetings and events.

Street art, also known as graffiti, might not be an artist’s enduring goal, but as a boarding school student in Boston, it was an art form that led Benjamin Fain '02 (HAS) to an interest in broadening his creative palette. That interest led him to check out the Hartford Art School (HAS) at UHart. The Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate (with a concentration in sculpture) says that decision changed his life.

Fain is now a professional artist and business entrepreneur who wears his many hats with confidence and pride. Among his activities are opening new bars, restaurants, and hotels in upstate New York; working in his studio creating art from found objects; and spending time with his son.

Fain has a business relationship with a metal scrapper in the upstate town of Hudson who drives around and picks up metal scraps in alleyways. Whatever he doesn’t need, he drops off at Fain’s studio. “I have one rule,” Fain shares gleefully. “I must use whatever he drops off!”

All of Fain's commercial development projects include an artistic component. One bar, for instance, will promote authors whose work he and his business partners enjoy. He incorporates his art into the design of his commercial spaces and ensures that customers have the experience he envisions for them. For Fain, art and business always work together.

Kenniel Martin A'06, '07 (Barney) is a youth advocate and community builder who is recognized as a visionary leader. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Martin has made his home and career in Connecticut’s capital city, consistently demonstrating how a strong commitment to service and the power of endurance can transform lives. 


A lifelong soccer player, Martin moved to the U.S. as a teenager and found a clear path forward at Hartford’s Weaver High School, where he benefited from valuable opportunities and inspiring mentors. He was actively involved in soccer throughout high school, even serving as captain. After graduating, he achieved his goal of playing professional soccer overseas, an experience that further shaped his leadership and mentoring style, inspiring many others in the process.

Martin is the founder and executive director of the Hartford Lions Soccer Academy, an organization praised for its transformative impact on local youth through its commitment to equity, education, and empowerment. The academy offers structured athletic training, academic support, and mentorship for underserved children throughout Greater Hartford.

Martin's contributions to community enhancement extend beyond sports. The devoted husband, father, and mentor collaborates with schools, city government, and public safety officials to improve various programs in Hartford. His signature event, CommUnity Match, engages the city’s police and fire departments in initiatives designed to unify and heal communities facing complex challenges.

Celia R. Lofink '79, P'16 (ENHP) holds two degrees from the University of Hartford, which is one reason she considers herself a devoted member of the school’s academic community. The other reason is that her father served as an assistant dean in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions, making her a true member of the UHart family.

Lofink resides in Battlement Mesa, Colorado, with her husband, Jim. Her two grown sons also live in Colorado. As she often tells her friends, relatives, and colleagues, she advocates for living in places you love, surrounding yourself with good people, and working hard to make the world a better place. Both her years at UHart and her post-retirement life have reflected this philosophy.

At UHart, she was a clinical professor of management at the Barney School of Business, coordinator of its career-ready programs, and assistant dean. Lofink is now an emeritus professor.

While living in Connecticut, she served as a board member for Junior Achievement of Southwest New England.

Lofink has more than 25 years of corporate experience, where she was recognized for her ability to combine and maximize analytical and evaluative skills with insight, independent judgment, and effective collaborative decision-making.

Additionally, she holds a patent for an information filtering system that reads and categorizes large volumes of text data, and she has been published in several notable technology journals.