October 28, 2026

Elms College celebrates opening of D’Amour Center for Faculty Teaching Excellence

REGIONAL
Staff report

Elms College recently celebrated the opening of the D’Amour Center for Faculty Teaching Excellence. (IObserve photo/courtesy of Elms College)

CHICOPEE— A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Elms College to celebrate the opening of the D’Amour Center for Faculty Teaching Excellence.

Made possible through the generosity of Michele and Donald D’Amour, the dedicated space provides Elms faculty with a welcoming environment to collaborate, exchange ideas, explore innovative approaches to teaching, and strengthen the educational experience for students.

The idea for the establishment of the center came when the Elms faculty were completing a revision of the core curriculum as a way to highlight the distinctiveness of an Elms College undergraduate education. One of the center’s goals is to support the faculty as they work collaboratively on the consistent implementation of the revised core curriculum over time. 

“The D’Amour family’s generosity is a beautiful reflection of what it means to believe in the mission of Elms College,” said Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., president of Elms College. “Michele and Donald have always understood that our faculty are at the heart of everything we do. By giving them the resources and opportunities to collaborate, grow, and continually strengthen their teaching, they are making an investment that extends far beyond our campus. Their generosity will touch the lives of our students and, ultimately, the countless individuals and communities those students will go on to serve.”

The D’Amour Center was originally established through an endowment made possible by a portion of the family’s historic $1.5 million contribution to the College’s Building Bridges Capital Campaign. At the time, the gift represented the largest single contribution in Elms College history. Another portion of that gift established an endowment supporting the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Haiti Nursing Continuing Education program, further demonstrating the family’s commitment to education and service both locally and internationally.

Recognizing the importance of providing faculty with a dedicated place to gather and work together, Michele and Donald D’Amour subsequently contributed additional funding to create the center’s new physical home.

For Bernadette Nowakowski, vice president of Institutional Advancement at Elms College, the opening represents a particularly meaningful example of the relationships that make the College’s mission possible.

“What makes the D’Amour family’s generosity so special is the thoughtfulness and genuine care behind it,” said Bernadette. “Michele and Donald didn’t simply see a need and offer their support. They took the time to understand our faculty, our students, and what makes an Elms education so meaningful. Their generosity reflects a deep belief in the work being done here and a desire to ensure that work continues to flourish for generations to come. We are profoundly grateful for their friendship, their confidence in Elms College, and their extraordinary commitment to our mission.”

Under the leadership of Professor Tom Cerasulo, director of the D’Amour Center, and Dr. Joyce Hampton, vice president of Academic Affairs, the center has already become an important part of academic life at Elms. Through guest lectures, workshops, symposia, and interdisciplinary conversations, it encourages faculty to explore new ideas, share best practices, and continually strengthen the college’s curriculum.

The new space builds upon that work, creating additional opportunities for meaningful collaboration among faculty across academic disciplines.

Rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Elms College emphasizes the values of faith, community, justice, and excellence. The D’Amour Center helps advance those values by supporting the educators who prepare students not only for professional success, but also for lives of purpose, service, and positive impact.

 The college is also grateful to several other benefactors who contributed to the construction of the D’Amour Center for Faculty Teaching Excellence.