R.A. Salvatore took questions from faculty members Frank Mabee and J.J. Sylvia IV. At far right is a statue of Drizzt Do'Urden, Salvatore's famed "dark elf" character. Best-selling author and two-time Fitchburg State University alumnus R.A. Salvatore returned to campus in September for a day-long residency that included addresses to student groups and a public audience on the topic of “The Future of Storytelling.” Salvatore, who completed degrees from Fitchburg State in 1981 and 1991, and who delivered the commencement address at the university’s graduation ceremony in 2011, talked about the expanding media footprint of storytelling. With 20 million books sold since he was first published in the 1980s, Salvatore now plies his trade across media platforms, including graphic novels and games. His newest book, The Dao of Drizzt, is a collection of journal entries written in the character of Salvatore’s most popular creation, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. During Salvatore’s visit to his alma mater in September, he spoke about the evolution of storytelling as media has evolved, including his own work in new platforms like videogames. He compared his role to that of a dungeon master leading a game of Dungeons & Dragons.  “A good dungeon master lets the players tell them where they’re going next; a bad dungeon master hooks his fingers up their nose and drags them where he needs them to go,” Salvatore said. “When I’m writing books, I am giving you characters through whom you can live vicariously. You will see the world through (their) eyes. When you’re writing for videogames, the most important character to the player is the player’s character. Your job is to try to give that player a world to explore that makes sense, that will allow them to go on grand adventures, and improve their character.” Salvatore also took questions from the audience. One student asked for guidance on how to present backstory and “lore” into their creation. Salvatore replied that creating characters to whom readers could relate was the key to successful storytelling, a lesson he learned from the late Robert Cormier, another celebrated writer who hailed from Salvatore’s hometown of Leominster. "He said, 'Character is more important than plot,'" Salvatore said, quoting Cormier. "You can have the greatest story ever, but if people don't care about your characters, you'll never put any tension in that story. But if you have a character that people have come to love, give them a hangnail and the reader will say, 'Ouch.' And I've lived by that in my writing. That's how I show people my world." Salvatore’s visit to campus included meeting with students in several classes, including courses in the university’s newly-launched major in digital media innovation. The courses in this major allow students to develop a range of new digital skills that span social media, multimedia storytelling, information design, data studies, coding, and more.  Watch Salvatore’s talk on the university’s YouTube channel.

Fitchburg State University is launching a new bachelor’s degree in digital media innovation, preparing students for employment in continually evolving and intersecting fields including media/journalism, social media and content development. The new, STEM-designated program recently received final approval from the state Board of Higher Education. The 33-credit major will explore digital media and how digital technology and computing are changing social and cultural systems in employment markets as new tools reshape industries across the globe. “Fitchburg State’s new major in digital media innovation weaves innovative interdisciplinary coursework and research already being done on our campus into a curriculum designed to teach students the advanced digital skills they will need to succeed on the job market today and into the future,” University President Richard S. Lapidus said. “Students will graduate from this program ready to meet the needs of a flexible and changing global economy.” The courses in the new major will allow students to develop a large cross-section of disciplinary practices and a range of new digital skills that span social media, multimedia storytelling, information design, data studies, coding, and more. It will culminate in a community-engaged capstone project that demonstrates the changing ways we construct narratives using data, and equips students with skills to employ technologies and practices in a digital age. The capstone project also promotes students’ scholarship and professional development, allowing students to develop portfolio pieces that will assist them in their careers. While the program will be housed in the university’s Communications Media Department, its coursework and faculty span numerous disciplines. The curriculum is designed to serve graduates whose careers will require them to move seamlessly between disciplinary silos, while being able to communicate with fluency and translate between the languages of ethics, business, and technical knowledge. “The beauty of the DMI program is in how it combines digital practices from diverse fields like Geographical Information Systems and Biology to Game Design and Storytelling,” said Associate Professor Elise Takehana of the university’s English Studies Department, who helped create the new program. “It's a fresh approach to getting students involved in building a more humane digital society in a hands-on way in their own communities.” “Finding solutions to the challenges our world faces in the 21st century will require critical and creative thinking that combines knowledge from across many different fields,” said Assistant Professor J.J. Sylvia IV of the Communications Media Department, another of the program’s creators. “Our graduates will be equipped with the tools to tackle these challenges, and I can't wait to see the impact that they make." In addition to this new program, Fitchburg State offers several programs unique among the state’s public institutions. These include the groundbreaking police program whose graduates complete, in five years, both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice with full certification to serve in municipal police departments in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Fitchburg State also hosts the first game design program at a public institution in the state. Additional details about the new digital media innovation program will be posted to the university’s website at fitchburgstate.edu.

Fitchburg State University’s observance of Disability History Month in October will include a keynote presentation by advocate and activist Hugo Treviño. The online address will be given at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4. To watch the discussion, go to meet.google.com/ice-fhxd-iei or dial in to +1 414-909-6738 and enter PIN: 453 656 159#. Treviño is a first-generation Mexican-American, born and raised in Chicago, where he works as a disability specialist at the University of Illinois. He has a physical disability called spinal muscular atrophy which requires him to use a power wheelchair. As a student activist, he advocated for the rights of Latinxs, LGBQTIA, students with disabilities and other marginalized communities.  While Treviño’s presentation will be virtual, those interested in a shared viewing experience are invited to watch from the Falcon Hub in Hammond Hall. Light refreshments will be served. The presentation is offered in conjunction with the university’s observance of LGBTQ+ History Month, which is celebrated throughout October. About Hugo Treviño Treviño is a first generation Mexican American. As an activist, he has advocated for the rights of Latinxs, LGBQTIA, people with disabilities and other marginalized communities. He earned his B.A. at the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana (UIUC) in 2014.  His passion for education, student affairs, and travel, inspired him to obtain his Master of Education in International Higher Education in 2018, from Loyola University Chicago. His work passions include helping people with disabilities in multi-faceted ways including education, healthcare, and self-advocacy to name a few. This passion of service has led him to public speaking and working at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he makes sure students with disabilities have equal access to higher education and can achieve their full potential. He works to make sure that students get connected to mental and health care providers in order to get resources at the academic level and beyond. Hugo strongly believes that if people with disabilities can be granted Disability Equity in the form of access to an education and health care/treatments, this will lead to a lifetime of advocacy skills that will change the landscape of disability rights.

"Fitchburg State University will celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month in October with a series of in-person and virtual events created around the theme “We Are Everywhere.” See the entire list of programs at fitchburgstate.edu/lgbtq-history-month. The programs begin with a pride flag-raising ceremony and poetry reading at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3 on the patio outside Hammond Hall. The Fitchburg State Choir will perform “True Colors,” and speakers from across campus will offer remarks. The events continue on that date with a virtual address by transgender actress and activist Zoey Luna at 7 p.m. As one of the first transgender youth public figures, Luna has shared her life story through several documentaries and interviews and was featured in the MTV documentary “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” which followed the lives of transgender individuals. She appeared in the popular and groundbreaking series “Pose” and played a leading role in the Blumhouse feature film remake The Craft: Legacy. To watch the talk on Oct. 3, please visit meet.google.com/orr-dhxu-xbv. Those wishing to gather in person to watch the virtual address are invited to visit Ellis White Lecture Hall in Hammond Hall. The campus will host another virtual address at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 when speaker and author Lev Rosen appears. Rosen is the acclaimed author of books for all ages, including the adult titles All Men of Genius and Depth, as well as books for middle school readers (including Woundabout and The Memory Wall) and young adults (Jack of Hearts and Camp, which is being adapted into a feature film). Rosen’s books have been translated into many languages and sold around the globe. His next book, the historical mystery Lavender House, will be released this fall. To join the virtual talk, please visit meet.google.com/hpb-jbey-pgr. Those wishing to gather in person on campus to watch are invited to meet in Ellis White Lecture Hall in Hammond Hall.  Throughout the month, there will be a display of flags and pride lights in the trees in front of Hammond Hall as well as a “Journey to Equality” display in the campus library. Gender-Affirming Fashion Day, El Salon Mi Orgullo (My Pride) art reception, Pronoun Day, drag queen story hour, and a “second chance dance” are some of other events planned by the committee. To see all the month’s events, including social media campaigns around topics including National Coming Out Day on Tuesday, Oct. 11, please visit fitchburgstate.edu/lgbtq-history-month.

The Fitchburg State University CenterStage arts and culture series welcomes acclaimed tenor John McDermott back to campus for a performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 in Weston Auditorium. Tickets are available now. McDermott, born in Scotland to Irish parents and raised in Toronto, draws from a wide repertoire of songs telling stories of love and war, of loss and history. A McDermott performance is a festival for the ears. McDermott’s career began when he belted out an impromptu rendition of “Danny Boy” at a company party in Toronto. A few years later, for his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, he recorded an album of Irish and Scottish ballads. He was encouraged to share it with the world, and a long and successful history of recording and performing on stage and television had begun. McDermott is one of the original members of The Irish Tenors and a musical storyteller in the Celtic tradition. His voice and his signature rendition of “Danny Boy” are emotionally evocative and tenderly nostalgic. Tickets for John McDermott are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $5 for students. Tickets may be ordered online or by calling the Weston Box Office at 978.665.3347.

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is partnering with other regional organizations to host the Work North Central Hiring Event scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton. The event is free of charge to attend and open to the public. The regional organizations involved include Fitchburg State University, the MassHire North Central Massachusetts Career Center, the MassHire North Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, and Mount Wachusett Community College. The event will connect potential applicants with local employers of all sizes and industries to discuss employment and career opportunities available in the region. Employers from diverse industries will be seeking candidates with all levels of skill and backgrounds, including entry level, and professional and technical positions in such industries as construction, distribution, education, financial services, government, healthcare, hospitality, non-profit, manufacturing, restaurants and other industries. Additionally, some employers will be hiring on-site and may provide signing bonuses and other incentives. Job seekers attending the event will also be eligible to enter a drawing for a $500 Gift Local eGift card from the Chamber. The Gift Local eGift Card is redeemable at a variety of local businesses throughout the region, including restaurants, coffee shops, retail shops, inns, farms and attractions. In addition to networking and learning about available positions across the region, attendees can also take advantage of complimentary professional headshots, free career counseling, individual resume review and sessions on how to improve your interview skills. Mount Wachusett Community College will also be offering informational sessions on free training programs available for individuals interested in pursuing careers in health care and manufacturing. Other special sessions planned during the hiring event includes a panel presentation hosted by the Young Professionals of North Central Massachusetts. This panel of successful young professionals will discuss topics such as finding the balance of work and family, best ways to search for a job, dressing for the right job, talking about benefits, why networking is important and more. “As a leader in helping North Central Massachusetts compete for talent and advance the region’s economic prosperity, we realize there is a critical need to help our local businesses find qualified and skilled talent in order to grow and succeed,” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “This event is aimed to create economic opportunity, and a strong and diversified workforce for our employers, while providing the unemployed and underemployed the opportunity to meet with a number of employers in one location.” The Work North Central Hiring Event is a complement to the Chamber’s WorkNorthCentral.com Jobs Board, which serves as an online resource to connect job seekers and local employers while also improving the talent pipeline and better connect employers to local schools. Adult job seekers, high school graduates, college students in the community, retired individuals interested in returning to the workforce or anyone interested in learning about full and part-time employment opportunities in North Central Massachusetts are invited to attend to connect with participating employers. Pre-registration is not required, walk-ins are welcome. Free parking for job seekers and attendees is available at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. Public transportation is also available via the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) for anyone who may require it. MART will be offering complimentary round-trip shuttle service from the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Station, located at 100 Main Street, between 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., to the Hiring Event with a stop at the Wachusett Commuter Rail Station. Job seekers should look for the shuttle van labeled with the Hiring Event sign.  This special shuttle service can be accessed by job seekers from MART’s fixed bus route or at the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Station via MART’s intercity/MWCC bus for those located in Leominster, Gardner, Athol and other communities outside Fitchburg that connect there. Check MART’s website for more information. For more information on the Work North Central Hiring Event, please visit www.northcentralmass.com. Employers interested in participating and reserving a table at the Work North Central Hiring Event should contact Lauren Goulet at 978.353.7600, ext. 222, or Kat Deal at 978.353.7600, ext. 235, to inquire about availability.

For the fourth year in a row, Fitchburg State University was recognized for supporting the upward social mobility of its students in U.S. News & World Report’s latest rankings of colleges and universities.  Fitchburg State was also among the top public institutions in Massachusetts for best value, and among the top public universities in the North. For the value designation, the publication’s methodology weighed academic quality and net cost of attendance, with “best value” being a function of high academic quality balanced with low cost.  The university also scored as one of the top institutions in Massachusetts for serving veterans, according to the rankings.  For social mobility, Fitchburg State was among the highest performing institutions in Massachusetts, which was measured by weighing institutional success in enrolling and graduating economically disadvantaged students. “I am proud of Fitchburg State’s track record of success in supporting students in the pursuit and attainment of their academic goals,” University President Richard S. Lapidus said. “Creating a culture of student success is a continuous process, and we are committed to this most important work.” U.S. News & World Report has published rankings of colleges and universities each year since 1983. The methodology it employs for ranking various categories is posted on its website.

The 5th Recruit Officer Course of Fitchburg State University’s groundbreaking police program graduated from the police academy Friday, Sept. 9, ready to report for duty in municipal police departments across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The 21 members of the 5th ROC completed bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and spent the past 17 weeks in the police academy. The majority of the graduates have already been hired by police departments in Massachusetts. Academy Director Lisa Lane McCarty recounted meeting Officer Sean McCue when he visited campus as a high school student. His dream then was to one day serve his hometown of Fitchburg as a police officer. On Friday, he graduated from the program and has already been hired by the Fitchburg Police Department. Lane said that was just one example of a “truly remarkable” group of officers, who possess practical police skills as well as compassion and empathy. “If I have done my job, they all possess the knowledge, skills and tactics to be good police officers,” she said. “What will make them exceptional, is they know they have the ability to make people a little better than they found them.” Class leader Michael Masterson of Pepperell addressed the families, elected officials and police leaders gathered in Weston Auditorium and recounted the camaraderie that was forged among the 5th ROC members. In fall 2018, 90 recruit officers began the five-year program, and just 21 remained by the academy’s conclusion on Friday. “I can proudly say that I wouldn’t trade this group for the world,” said Masterson, who thanked the academy staff for being role models and modeling the highest standards. “The lessons taught by all of you will forever be ingrained in how we perform our duties.” Masterson said the new officers should hold their new profession to the highest possible standards. “True perfection is unattainable,” he said. “Strive for excellence, not perfection, because the world we live in is not perfect.” Fitchburg State’s police program, developed in collaboration with the state’s Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC), allows graduates to complete–in five years–their bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as municipal certification to serve departments in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It is believed to be the first program of its kind in the nation. Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus saluted the 5th ROC members for successfully completing a rigorous program amid the singular disruptions of the pandemic. “Your commitment and your passion for your chosen career is impressive and commendable,” said Lapidus, who encouraged the students to continue with their master’s degrees. Police reform in Massachusetts will make their advanced degrees highly desired, he said. “The hard work and sacrifice will ultimately pay off.” MPTC Executive Director Robert J. Ferullo Jr., retired chief of the Woburn Police Department, said graduates of this program are not only well-prepared to serve their communities, they are positioned to be future leaders in the field. “Welcome to the greatest profession on earth,” he said. Chief Ferullo described the rapid evolution of the profession just in the past few years, and said the graduates are ready to face the challenges ahead if they follow a simple rule: “Do the right thing,” he said. “Do what you learned at this phenomenal institution.” Natick Police Chief James Hicks, chairman of the MPTC, has already hired two of the 5th ROC graduates, twins John and Stephen Delehanty. Chief Hicks said the Fitchburg State police program, embedding academic and skills training over four years, is a model that will serve the profession well. “Continue to take what you learned over these last four-plus years, because that’s going to be the essence of your success,” he said. The 5th ROC graduates include: Benjamin Ashton of Leominster (hired by the Portsmouth, N.H. Police Department) Scott Cormier of Ashburnham (hired by the Ashburnham Police Department) John Delehanty of Natick (hired by the Natick Police Department) Stephen Delehanty of Natick (hired by the Natick Police Department) David Fors of Lunenburg Shane Gilman of (hired by the Clinton Police Department) Emily Grant of Mansfield Brett Halloran of West Yarmouth Steven Ingman of Winchendon Joseph Mancuso of Dracut Michael Masterson of Pepperell Toros Matellian of (hired by the Mendon Police Department) Sean McCue of (hired by the Fitchburg Police Department) Jake Minear of (hired by the Ayer Police Department)  Travis Morcaldi of (hired by the Fitchburg Police Department) Michael Sellards of (hired by the Concord Police Department) Kyle Smith of Lincoln, R.I. Matthew Smith of (hired by the Sherborn Police Department) Tristan Straker of Lawrence (hired by the Georgetown Police Department) Alexia Surprenant of Dracut (hired by the Ayer Police Department) George Tibbets III of Lunenburg Those interested can learn more about the program and Fitchburg State’s other undergraduate and graduate level criminal justice programs at fitchburgstate.edu/criminaljustice.

Fitchburg State University will celebrate Constitution Day with an address on free speech at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19 in the main lounge at Hammond Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. “Regulating Speech Online: Free Speech Values in Constitutional Frames” will be presented by Northeastern University Associate Professor Claudia E. Haupt. Dr. Haupt will discuss the constitutional issues at stake with online speech regulation and protection. The presentation marks Fitchburg State’s observance of Constitution Day, an annual event commemorating the signing of the nation’s founding document on Sept. 17, 1787. Related upcoming events–all of which are free and open to the public–include a presentation by best-selling author and Fitchburg State alumnus R.A. Salvatore, who will discuss “The Future of Storytelling” at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, in the main lounge of Hammond Hall. The campus quadrangle will be the setting for an open session of the university’s public speaking class, with students practicing their skills at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. And the university’s communications law and ethics class will host a public discussion on the ethics of free speech at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, in the Falcon Hub in Hammond Hall. In addition, the university’s Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library will be presenting a display entitled “Books Unite Us, Censorship Divides Us” throughout the week. The Constitution Day programming is sponsored by the university’s General Education Program, which prepares students to be  creative and critical thinkers who integrate and communicate learning from a variety of disciplines and experiences in ways that enhance civic, personal, and professional lives.