The 2023 Alumni Achievement Awards

Recognizing Alumni for their
Outstanding Accomplishments

Distinguished Alumni
Achievement Award

Julie Olander ’83, G’90

Julie Olander has devoted her life to art and art education. A native of New Orleans, she attended FSU full-time as an adult while raising her family in Framingham. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art in 1982 and then returned to earn her master’s degree in Museum Administration in 1990. Julie has taught art throughout the region, including at Fisher College in Boston, and community art classes at the Danforth Art Museum.

Julie is a prolific and well-respected painter, and her works are consistently selected for juried shows, where she has won many ribbons and has been exhibited throughout the world. Julie has been a loyal alumna. She regularly attends FSU events, and has even hosted events at her homes on Cape Cod and in Florida. She endowed a scholarship fund to support FSU students majoring in the Arts, and is endowing a second scholarship to support graduate students in Art Education.

Alumni Achievement Award for
Leadership and Service

Peter Matrow ’73

Peter Matrow embodies the qualities the Leadership and Service Award was created to honor. After graduating from FSU, Peter became a faculty member of the Monson School System teaching 5th grade for nearly 36 years.

Peter has worked extensively with the Boy Scouts of America and has been active as a leader and volunteer in the Town of Monson and in his parish, St. Patrick’s. He has volunteered for more than 20 years with the Monson

Summerfest Committee and on the School Building Committee, and he was the co-chair of the Building Committee for the new town office building and Police Department. In 2016, Peter was elected as the Monson Town Moderator.

Alumni Educator
Achievement Award

Deb Donovan ‘72

Deb Donovan has had a remarkable career as an educator, retiring recently from her position as Principal of Boston Higashi School, which serves students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Deb has also been a Guest Lecturer at the undergraduate/graduate level at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston University, Northeastern University, Wheelock College, Westfield State College, Boston College and Mount Holyoke College. She is an active participant in many associations and nonprofit organizations.

Deb has remarked on how students with disabilities can shine through art. Deb has also been involved with the Office for Children as a volunteer and on their board, the Charles River Center, an independent agency supporting adult services.

Young Alumnus Alumni
Achievement Award

Dan Costello ‘16

Dan Costello defined the term “student leader” during his time at Framingham State. He served the Student Government Association for four years, including as President. He was also a Black & Gold Beginnings leader, a peer mentor, a peer tutor and even interned in the Alumni Office.

After graduating in 2016, Dan worked on a number of political campaigns, including as a campaign manager, and as a real estate agent. In March 2017, he

joined the Massachusetts Army National Guard, and has served as a Unit Supply Specialist, an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist and a Transportation Officer. Currently, he is a commissioned officer at the rank of Second Lieutenant and works as a Human Resources Specialist.

Honorary Alumnus Award

Dr. Robert Martin

Dr. Robert “Bob” Martin has dedicated his career to education, and has made a lasting mark on public higher education in the Commonwealth in the process. From 2004–2010, he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Framingham State and was instrumental in the creation of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship and Service, which supports the professional development, research and creative activities of FSU faculty.

Upon his retirement, Bob stayed active at FSU as a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Philosophy, teaching at least one course every semester. In 2013, the Board of Trustees asked Bob to serve as Interim President, and he graciously agreed. In 2014, Bob and his wife Elaine ’96 endowed the Robert and Elaine Martin Travel Assistance Fund, which provides stipends every year to help students cover the costs of travel to their study abroad locations.