;)
The University of Saint Joseph is proud to honor three esteemed alumni whose meaningful contributions have enriched the University, their communities, and beyond. This year’s recipients are Janet Stolfi Alfano ’04, Maria M. Gonzalez Aldave ’85, and Patricia J. Chappell, SNDdeN, ’75. The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, June 6, 2025. Thank you to all who attended our 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony, which celebrated three outstanding honorees: Wendy Garvin Mayo ’04, Emily Burke O’Grady ’16, and Charlene Russell-Tucker ’85.
The University of Saint Joseph’s Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize the outstanding achievements and service of our graduates. These annual awards honor the professional and civic accomplishments of extraordinary graduates who bring great distinction to our University. We celebrate their accomplishments and are deeply appreciative of the work that they do.
Maggie Pinney ’95, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
The Business and Entrepreneurial Award
Janet Stolfi Alfano ‘04
Janet Stolfi Alfano ’04 is the Chief Executive Officer of The Diaper Bank of Connecticut, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the diaper needs of families across the state.
Alfano earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Saint Joseph in 2004 and her master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Policy Practice from the University of Connecticut. Her academic training laid a strong foundation for her lifelong commitment to service, justice, and advocacy.
After joining The Diaper Bank in 2007 as Operations Manager, she quickly worked her way up to the role of CEO in 2011. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded its reach, providing diapers — an essential yet often overlooked necessity — to thousands of families in need across Connecticut. Alfano’s work at The Diaper Bank embodies the values of dignity, support, and hope for underserved communities.
Beyond her leadership at The Diaper Bank, Alfano is a nationally renowned advocate for social justice. She was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls, where she helps to shape policies that benefit the population across Connecticut. She also serves as Treasurer of the Steering Committee for the CT Early Childhood Alliance and as the Board Chair of the CT Alliance for Basic Human Needs, working to improve early childhood development services for families. Her previous work as a member of the New Haven Early Childhood Council underscores her long- standing dedication to improving the lives of children and families.
Alfano’s career and volunteer service are a powerful reflection of the core values of the University of Saint Joseph, particularly those of mercy, justice, and service. Her unwavering commitment to women, children, and marginalized communities embodies the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy and the mission of USJ.
The Sister Fay O’Brien Education Award
María M. Gonzalez Aldave ‘85
María M. González-Aldave, a proud 1985 graduate of the University of Saint Joseph, has spent nearly four decades dedicated to education, advocacy, and service. At USJ, she double majored in Child Study with Early Childhood Teacher Licensure and Spanish with Secondary Education Teacher Licensure. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Bilingual/Bicultural/TESOL Education from the University of Connecticut in 1996.
González-Aldave began her career with Hartford Public Schools, where she spent 38 years as a teacher, curriculum designer, and instructional coach. She pioneered the dual language teaching model, taught bilingual and dual language kindergarten, and developed the Spanish curriculum at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy. As an instructional coach, she mentored educators and led professional development programs focused on multilingual learners and inclusive practices.
Recognized as Teacher of the Year three times, and as a district-wide runner-up in 2005, González-Aldave’s excellence in teaching was matched only by her commitment to equity and cultural pride in the classroom. Her Catholic faith and passion for social justice guided her efforts to help students overcome barriers through the power of education.
Outside of the classroom, González-Aldave volunteered with the Multistate Association for Bilingual Education – Northeast, the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, and the Connecticut Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. She also dedicated time to supporting immigrant and refugee teens at the Hartford Public Library through afterschool programs. An active member of St. Patrick – St. Anthony Church in Hartford, she helped lead community-building, cultural, and fundraising events that enriched the local community.
When she began her well-earned retirement in 2023, González-Aldave was celebrated by the colleagues, students, and families whose lives she transformed. Her legacy of service, leadership, and compassion exemplifies the values of the Sister Fay O’Brien Education Award and brings lasting honor to her and to the University of Saint Joseph.
The Sister Mary Rosa McDonough Award
Patricia J. Chappell, SNDdeN, ‘75
Sr. Patricia Chappell ’75 is a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and a licensed social worker in the District of Columbia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Saint Joseph and holds a master’s degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America. She is accredited by the Academy of Certified Social Workers, Inc.
From 1981 to 1989, Sr. Patricia worked with Shalom, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa., focusing on substance abuse intervention and providing services to African American youth and their families. She also served as a family therapist at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic.
Sr. Patricia served as the full-time President of the National Black Sisters’ Conference (NBSC) from 1995 to 2001. Under her leadership, the NBSC sponsored the inaugural National Gathering for Black Catholic Women. In 2001, she was elected to the Provincial Leadership Team of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in the former Connecticut Province— becoming the first African American to serve in this role. In 2011, she became the first African American Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, the National Catholic Nonviolent Peace and Justice Movement, based in Washington, D.C.
In 2019, she was elected to the Leadership Team of the US-East-West Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of Trinity University (Washington, DC), the Board of Directors of the NBSC, and is an active member of Sisters in the Spirit in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Support Our Aging Religious.
Sr. Patricia has received numerous honors, including the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in 2011 and the Ambassadors of Peace Award from Pax Christi USA in 2022. Sr. Patricia’s life and ministry exemplify the values of mercy, justice, and service – the very principles articulated by the Sisters of Mercy and the core of the University of Saint Joseph’s mission.