Alicia Vallette is a student at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and intends to earn an AS in Science and an AA in Liberal Arts before transferring to a four-year university. Alicia describes herself as an intellectually curious individual, enjoys learning new things, and finds joy in uncovering the threads that unite even the most seemingly disparate of topics. Alicia plans to continue her formal academic studies up through the graduate level and hopes to one day earn a doctoral degree, and she knows she will be a lifelong learner seeking interdisciplinary pursuits regardless of where she ends up.

Alicia is President of her home chapter, Pi Omicron, and helped her chapter earn the international distinction of Ninth Finalist for Most Distinguished Chapter at PTK Catalyst 2021. Prior to being elected Regional President in March 2021, Alicia served as the 2020-2021 Regional Vice President of Leadership. Alicia was selected as Rhode Island’s 2019 New Century Scholar and was recognized at PTK Catalyst in Orlando, Florida. Above all else, Alicia credits her experience with PTK as pivotal to helping her grow into the person she is today, and she is endlessly grateful for her PTK family and all of the incredible people she has met along the way.

Andrea Gordon Atkinson is a non-traditional student working towards a BFA with K-12 Certification and aspiring to be a high school art teacher. After almost a decade hiatus from school they're likely never leaving again, finding they feel most like themselves in a classroom. Andrea's goal is to provide students with a safe space in art classes to be themselves and explore their creative expression. Through leadership roles in Phi Theta Kappa and Student Senate at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), they are gaining the skills to effectively organize, inspire, and motivate a group of students towards meaningful endeavors. Andrea is holding an officer role for the New England Region for a consecutive term and is happy to serve you as the Vice President of Leadership.

Emily is a passionate student of Bristol Community College dedicated to her studies because of her belief in the transformative power in education.

This passion led to her services as President of Student Senate at her college, as well as her involvement in Phi Theta Kappa, working her way up from her chapter’s Public Relations Officer to the Vice President of Scholarship for the New England Region. She is also a strong advocate for dual enrollment. Having been a dual enrolled student herself; the program allowed her to graduate high school at sixteen, and obtain her Associate’s degree at seventeen. Despite the early start, Emily has chosen to stay at her community college because she feels she is not yet ready to close this chapter of her life.

Despite being an enthusiast of all subjects, Emily has taken the time to focus on developing her art, and add to her repertoire of skills she may combine and use across disciplines. She has many dreams and wishes for her future careers, including becoming an author, a teacher, artist, animator, physicist, and more.

However, Emily proclaims to be flexible in such goals and has a tendency to follow her heart, and in consideration of where she feels she is most needed.

Michele Kenney is a non-traditional, online, hospitality and tourism management student at NHTI in Concord, New Hampshire. She earned her associate degree in Business Administration in May of 2021, but wasn’t ready to leave the community college system. She plans to transfer in the fall of 2022 to a four-year program, followed by a Master’s program in sustainable tourism.

Michele joined PTK in the summer of 2020 and she credits her advisor and chapter members with helping her not only navigate through a world pandemic but also embrace a “year of opportunity.” In addition to her role as New England Region Vice President of Service, Michele is currently the Vice President of Service for her college chapter, Alpha Upsilon Omicron. She also served as Public Relations Officer in the Spring of 2021. Michele is the Student Representative to the Student Success Committee, a subcommittee of the College Council, and will assist the Student Conduct Hearing Boards as a Student Hearing Officer.

Amber Medeiros is thrilled to be returning as the New England Region’s Vice President of Fellowship for a consecutive term! She is a student at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, MA where she will earn an Associate degree in Psychology. Amber will then transfer to a four-year university to continue her studies in psychology before ultimately obtaining her Master’s degree in Social Work. Amber currently works at the Justice Resource Institute as a Therapeutic Counselor for the Total Achievement Program. Her career goals include working with children and teenagers in the juvenile justice system who have mental health and behavioral issues.

Outside of being an officer of the Alpha Kappa Upsilon chapter, classes, and work, Amber loves being outside, but only in the warmer weather. PTK has given Amber the chance to grow and learn more about who she is as a person. She is grateful for her time at the chapter, regional, and international levels of PTK thus far and could not be more excited to see what this year has in store!

Ethan Trautman currently resides in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and serves as the Vice President of Membership for both the New England Region and for his home chapter, Xi Alpha. His involvement in PTK began in the spring of 2020, but he has quickly learned and adapted to the challenges required to becoming a regional officer within the organization. Ethan's current major is Nursing at Berkshire Community College and hopes to use the experience he gains in PTK as a tool to better his ability to practice the nursing process. He hopes to one day lead in the field of nursing and in his own community through the valuable lessons taught to every member of Phi Theta Kappa. As of now, he is looking forward to working with and helping anyone that is equally as passionate and dedicated to Phi Theta Kappa as he is.

Susan started her career at the former Greater New Haven State Technical College in 1983. In 1996, she became involved with the Gateway Community College Foundation as a development assistant. In 1998, she worked with Admissions, College Life, Grants, Multicultural Affairs, Enrollment Management, Public Relations and Marketing, and Institutional Research. She is a trained Facilitator at the college.

Since her appointment as Advisor to Gateway’s Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Xi Theta, the chapter has received the Pinnacle Award for increasing membership. She served on the New England Regional Advisory Board from 2009 until October 2013 when she was selected to serve as the New England Region Associate Regional Coordinator.

Susan started her career at the former Greater New Haven State Technical College in 1983. In 1996, she became involved with the Gateway Community College Foundation as a development assistant. In 1998, she worked with Admissions, College Life, Grants, Multicultural Affairs, Enrollment Management, Public Relations and Marketing, and Institutional Research. She is a trained Facilitator at the college.

Since her appointment as Advisor to Gateway’s Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Xi Theta, the chapter has received the Pinnacle Award for increasing membership. She served on the New England Regional Advisory Board from 2009 until October 2013 when she was selected to serve as the New England Region Associate Regional Coordinator.