Central prepared me for life. I earned a BA in Biology, my secondary teaching certificate, and an MS in Biology from CCSU. I was co-captain of the 1983 Blue Devils football team as an undergraduate. Following graduation I worked as a research assistant at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station for three plus years, then taught high school biology for seven years, coached high school football for 11 years, coached football at UConn for four years and finally was the Director of Football Operations at the University of South Carolina (6), East Carolina (5), University of Kentucky (1), University of Louisville (3), University of Texas (3) and the University of South Florida (2) for 20 years. Central prepared me for all of these positions. Thank you Central and Go Blue Devils!
Clifford Snow '83
Angela Gallo BFA '97, is currently Dean of the McCall School of Visual and Performing Arts and Professor of Dance at Coker University. She is also the Artistic Director of Sapphire Moon Dance Company.
Angela was recently selected as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in South Carolina by 'Women We Admire.
Angela, with her company, has performed at White Wave Dance Festival, the Dancenow Downtown Festival, Dance Theatre Workshop, Williamsburg Arts Nexus (WAX), Atrium Theatre and others in NYC, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and in Canada at the Fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists (fFIDA) and in Southeast at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Alabama Dance Festival, Charlotte Dance Festival, Dimensions Dance Festival, Sumter Opera House, Patriot Hall, CMFA Artspace and the Koger Center. She has performed in the works of Jose Limon, Doug Varone, Dan Wagoner and Christian Von Howard. She has danced with AmDAT: Dance Art Technology (NY), Eisenhower Dance Ensemble (MI), the Power Company (SC) and worked on smaller projects with Ballet Preljocaj (France) and Anou Skan (France). She has also been a guest choreographer for Dance Now! Miami, Columbia City Ballet, Columbia Classical Ballet, Vibrations Dance Company, the Power Company, Converse College and others.Angela is often a sought-after guest artist in both the k-12 schools and higher education and has been an instructor at Joffrey Ballet Summer Program in Miami for almost 10 years.
Angela has been awarded the South Carolina Dance Associations Advocacy Award and Honor Award. She has been the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, SC Arts Commission, the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, South Arts, the Kyle Foundation, Black Creek Arts Council.
In addition to her degree from Central, Angela holds an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Michigan.
Angela Gallo '97
Dear CCSU,
I recently retired from the Armed Forces after completing 3 college degrees in 3 different areas of study. I served in 10 different countries. My most memorable mission was in Qarshi, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿. I’ve always cherished time spent in New Britain, CT while attending this great university. My goal going forward is to mentor other students and faculty members as they achieve retirement in the greatest country in the world. I look forward to telling my story. Proudly submitted.
MSgt Tom White
Retired Federal Agent, DOD
Class of 1994, CCSU
I had graduated from an out-of-state high school whose mascot was also the Blue Devil (Burlington City High School, Burlington, NJ) and returned to CCSU as a non-matriculated student after an 8-year long hiatus from college education. My first course was a Regional Geography course offered in the evening taught by an instructor who had a wonderful sense of humor, beginning with selecting The Complete Idiot's Guide to Geography as our text book. Several weeks went by before I had even made the connection that the instructor and the author of the book shared the same name because he had written the book. I asked him to sign it for me because it was the first time that I had ever met the author of a book that I had owned. His sense of humor extended into the text, and I still remember some of the jobs he had told, now almost 20 years later. He also encouraged students to bring in food to share representing the geographical regions we were studying and he permitted me to perform a dance from a region that I had studied. I enjoyed the course content and the method of instruction, and it was a great way to get back into life of being a college student again. I matriculated the following semester. Since then, I have enjoyed almost ever class I have taken at CCSU both as a non-traditional transfer undergraduate student and later as a graduate student. One of my undergraduate professors had suggested that I consider a career in academia and another was instrumental in changing my mindset about being a Connecticut transplant from another state, which finally made this state feel like my permanent home. I also really love that this university seems to hire so many of its own graduates, because it shows that CCSU has faith in the quality of the education it provides.
Ayse Adams
"One of the most defining aspects of my Central career has been the people I've met along the way. I was fortunate enough to have an incredible roommate who became one of my closest and fastest friends on campus. Joining the campus radio station, WFCS, has also introduced me to some great friends and memories in the Student Center. I've also received immense support and mentorship from faculty and staff on campus. Particularly, Courtney McDavid, Dr. Pudlinski, Dr. Ritzenhoff, Christine Castonguay, Jodi Latina, Audra Mika, and Dr. Lakmali Jayasinghe."
- Taylor Doyle, Current Student
"Central Activities Network (C.A.N) events were always my favorite as a student here. They're always coming up with new and fun events that always attract a crowd."
- Carolyn Martin, Central alum and staff