Meet the Staff
Resident Advisors (RAs)
RAs are students who have a strong interest in helping other students and would like to assist you in having a successful year at Merrimack. These upper-class students will make every effort to work with you and your community to establish guidelines and living agreements that are comfortable for everyone. Through residential programming, the Resident Advisors work as educators to enhance your college experience. Another role of the RA is to assist communities in maintaining community standards and implementing College policy. They serve a vital role in helping to insure that students can sleep, study, and live in a respectful environment.
Front Desk Attendants
The front desk attendants are employed by the Residence Life Office and are responsible for welcoming students and guests to the residence building, signing out game equipment, checking IDs, guest registration and serving as a resource to students living in the halls.
Faculty-in-Residence
Beginning in the fall of 2008, the faculty-in-residence program provides a unique opportunity for students and faculty alike. The program seeks to bridge the academic and residential realms of academic life at Merrimack College by integrating faculty into the residential community. Through the program, students will be able to interact with faculty outside the classroom in a variety of programs and activities.
Jim Grinnell is an Associate Professor of Management and Assistant Dean of the Girard School of Business. Jim will be serving as the first faculty-in-residence. Although he has not lived in a residence hall since his undergraduate days at the University of Maine, Jim is excited to once again live in a college residential community. As a huge hockey fan, you will catch him at Lawler Arena for all of the Merrimack hockey games. Please excuse him when he cheers for Maine and UMASS-Amherst (where Jim got his Ph.D.) when they come to town! You occassionally may ask Jim to turn down his music as he enjoys jazz, hard rock, alternative, crooners, and classic. Jim is also the proud father of four children: James (15), Anna (6), Ella (2), and Jacob (1).
Central Office Staff
Donna Swartwout, Assistant Dean of Students
Donna begins her sixth year working at Merrimack and oversees Residence Life, Sodexo Food Services, and the Hamel Health Center. Previously, she worked at Colgate University, The University of Maryland at College Park, Loyola College in Baltimore, MD, and St. Michael's College. She received her Ph.D. in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Maryland at College Park in 1995. Donna also received her Master's degree in Administration from St. Michael's College and her undergraduate degree in Mass Communication from St. Bonaventure University.
In her spare time Donna advises the Merrimack College pep band, and is a big fan of Merrimack athletics, especially the women’s basketball team. She also is a fan of the Buffalo Bills and many of us are still confused at this since the New England Patriots are a far superior team and beat the Bills every time they play.
TBA, Assistant Director of Residence Life
Carol Lemay, Office Manager
Carol began working at Merrimack College in the Accounting Office in 2000 and started in Residence Life in January of 2007. She holds an Associate Degree in Accounting from Northeastern University.
When she is not working at the college, she enjoys spending weekends at Squam Lake with her husband John and their spoiled Jack Russell named Bailey.
Bonnie Maitland, Assistant Director of Residence Life
Bonnie begins her third year in Residence Life after working at UMASS-Lowell for six years. There, Bonnie began as a Resident Director from 2001-2004 and then was the Assistant Director of Residence Life until 2006. Prior to UMASS-Lowell, Bonnie was a Hall Director at James Madison University from 1998-2001. In 1998, Bonnie received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree with a minor in Computer Information Systems from Plymouth State University. She then received her Masters in Criminal Justice from UMASS-Lowell in 2004.
Bonnie is currently working on a Masters in Higher Education Administration at Salem State College. She also serves as an elected representative to the Residential Life & Housing Directorate board of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). In her spare time, Bonnie enjoys cooking, baking, watching movies, and playing board games. She can often be found visiting the ocean, bowling alley, and drive-in movies.
Mark Hansen, Area Coordinator, Deegan Hall/Ash Centre
Mark is in his second year with the Residence Life staff after working for Boston University as a Residence Hall Director. Mark received his B.A. in Pure and Applied Mathematics from Boston University in 2006. In his spare time Mark enjoys reading, woodworking, and gardening. He has a cat named Cleo who holds weekly office hours. Mark is an avid fan of coffee and always has a fresh pot on in his office in Deegan West. Mark is also deathly afraid of condiments and will avoid them at all cost.
Sean Curran, Area Coordinator, Santagati Hall/Apartments
Sean is entering his second year in Residence Life at Merrimack. Sean is a native of Walpole Massachusetts. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Design at Becker College in 2003 where he also served as a Resident Assistant from 2001-2003. He then worked at Rivier College from 2003-2007 where he worked as a Resident Director and earned a M.Ed. in School Counseling with a certificate in Multicultural Counseling. In his spare time he enjoys, photography, exploring New England, the outdoors, long walks on the beach, and doing what he can to coax Mark's cat out of the apartment and into Mother Nature.
Sara Quagliaroli, Area Coordinator, Monican Centre/Townhouses
Sara is beginning her first year here in Residence Life. Sara worked previously in Residence Life at Rutgers University in New jersey and Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts. Sara earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Roger Williams University in 2007.
Since coming to Merrimack, Sara has revealed her love for Grey's Anatomy, Project Runway, and spice cake. Sara is very aware that she is one of five people who actually like spice cake and know where to find it in the grocery store.