Opening the Door to Opportunity: Denecker CDIC Dedication Celebrates Purpose and Possibility

On April 23, Assumption University marked a significant milestone in its commitment to student success with the dedication of the Dick ’69 and Maria Denecker Career Development and Internship Center (CDIC), celebrating a transformative gift that will shape the professional journeys of countless current and future Greyhounds.

University leaders, trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends gathered for the ceremony, which honored the Deneckers’ generosity and emphasized the central role of career and vocational discernment in a Catholic liberal education.

“Today, we celebrate the generosity of Dick and Maria,” Vice President for Advancement Jeff Gillooly said in a welcome. “And we usher in a new transformation of career development and internship opportunities for our Assumption students.”

Father Dennis Gallagher, A.A. ’69, a classmate of Denecker’s, led an invocation.

“From beginning to end, the promise of a Catholic liberal education is not only to invite students to a consideration of the enduring questions of truth, goodness, and beauty, but also to prepare them for satisfying and enriching work,” said Gallagher. “We ask your blessings on the staff of the center and on all throughout the campus and beyond, who accompany our students along the way as advisors, mentors, and career coaches. In a special way, we ask you to bless Dick and Maria Denecker, whose desire to promote the well-being of our students is reflected in their extraordinarily generous gift to the center.” 

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Trustees, Chairperson Candy Race ’78 highlighted the Deneckers’ longstanding commitment to Assumption and the critical role of philanthropy in advancing the University’s bold ten-year strategic plan, Thrive. She noted that the gift directly supports two of Thrive’s defining pillars: preparing students for lives of meaningful work and fostering a culture of generosity that strengthens Assumption’s momentum, growth, and future.

“[The Deneckers’] generosity does far more than provide resources. It creates opportunities, it opens doors, and it ensures that future generations of students can benefit from an Assumption education grounded in faith, purpose, and excellence,” said Race.

President Greg Weiner framed the dedication as part of a “renewed commitment to our students, to their futures, and to the belief that a truly great education prepares people not only to make a living, but to live meaningfully.”

Weiner reflected on how the Denecker CDIC advances Assumption’s approach to career preparation—one that integrates vocational discernment, professional development, and the enduring habits of mind formed through a Catholic liberal education.

“Career development at its best,” he said, “helps students discover how their gifts meet the needs of the world. Many of the jobs that students will hold do not yet exist. Technologies will evolve, industries will transform, and in that environment, narrow training is not enough. That is why we [at Assumption] think in terms of liberal, not literal, education. It’s why one of the most important parts of Thrive promises students professional experiences regardless of their literal connection to a program of study.”

Weiner highlighted the Denecker CDIC’s central role in Foundations Forward, a new four-year pathway designed to help students explore interests, build durable skills, engage in experiential learning, and confidently launch their careers. The CDIC, he said, stands as a cornerstone of this initiative—one where students will be coached, challenged, and mentored to consider not only what they want to do as professionals, but who they want to become.

“The holistic nature of an Assumption education is why our graduates number among the top 4 percent of universities nationwide for lifetime return on investment,” said Weiner. “But as any Greyhound will tell you, the true return on investment is not simply about what they do, but who they are—the kind of person that this university shaped them to be.”

As CEOs of leading companies and firms like Nvidia, Anthropic, and McKinsey continue to extoll the value of liberal education, especially in the age of artificial intelligence, Weiner pointed to Denecker’s own journey.

“When Dick, Maria, and I, began the conversation that culminated in this transformational gift, we discussed how the breadth of an Assumption education prepared him for a far-ranging global career much better than a literal education alone might have.”

Denecker, who graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts in foreign languages, went on to the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business and to a distinguished forty-year career in finance—including two decades as a Senior Vice President in Wealth Management at multinational Swiss bank UBS.

Weiner also mentioned Race, a graduate of Assumption’s English program, who led Fidelity Investments as Executive Vice President and Head of Marketing, as another example of the strong foundation and springboard to success provided by a well-rounded liberal education.

“Dick and Maria, on behalf of the entire Assumption family, I want to offer our heartfelt thanks for your transformative investment in education that unites Catholic liberal education with professional preparation, faith with reason, and ambition with purpose,” Weiner concluded before inviting Denecker to the podium for remarks.

“Maria and I are delighted to make this gift. We’re excited to give back to this University, to its talented leadership, and professors who helped me recognize opportunity when it came knocking during my four years here,” Denecker said.

Recalling how unexpected opportunities shaped his path, Denecker reflected on how much more intentional his career preparation might have been with a resource like the CDIC.

“We didn’t have the distinct advantage of a career development and internship center. I wish we did. How might things have changed if I had a CDIC in my corner as my ace in the hole, my coach to guide and prepare me, because I knew them and they knew me?”

Denecker pointed to three important moments that shaped his personal and professional path. His sophomore year roommate, Steve Goudreau ’69, encouraged him to take a summer job in direct sales and live together in Baltimore, Maryland. That experience, taking the risk of relying solely on commission and then becoming successful at it, became the focal point of his MBA interview at Notre Dame.

But Denecker noted that even the decision to apply for an MBA came from a chance conversation with Assumption’s longtime director of admissions Larry Reardon, who thought graduate studies in business would complement his foundation in liberal arts and language.

“My life would have been different if not for these fortunate coincidences,” Denecker said. “How providential—what a stroke of luck. But opportunity knocked and I answered the call, I walked through the door, thank goodness.”

Today’s students, he noted, can begin exploring opportunities earlier, with more guidance and less risk, supported by a center designed to walk alongside them through their journey.

“The CDIC gives you a reasoned alternative to what we might call happenstance,” Denecker told students in attendance. “How much better to have a coach to guide and prepare you early—so you can investigate, explore, and try new things.”

Drawing on his own experience, he encouraged students not to shy away from uncertainty.

“Don’t be afraid of the unknown. Choose your valuable summertime jobs well. Pick things that may be different from what you would have expected. Who knows what it may lead to?”

Following the remarks, the Deneckers joined Weiner, Race, CDIC Director Shannon Curtis, and student representative Daniel Griffin ’28 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially dedicate the Dick ’69 and Maria Denecker Career Development and Internship Center.

At a luncheon following the dedication, Curtis shared five key Denecker CDIC priorities and initiatives made possible by their generosity: supporting the Foundations Forward program through mentorship and coaching; utilizing the University’s recently launched LinkedIn Learning partnership to equip students with practical skills and credentials; integrating skills-based competencies more closely in the academic setting; expanding the Handshake online career center platform; and supporting students in the age of an AI-driven job market.

Griffin, who is from Somerville, Massachusetts, majoring in management, and currently interning with the Worcester Red Sox in marketing, attested to the CDIC’s impact on his Assumption journey.

“I have benefited tremendously from the CDIC in advancing my career. Over the past two years, I have taken advantage of 23 appointments, two Alumni Networking nights, a career fair, three classroom workshops, and two professional headshot days—to say I’ve enjoyed the CDIC would be an understatement.

When I started college, my goal was to build a strong resume and land an internship in the field of sports. This was only achievable because of my work alongside Alicia [Moquin], Andrea [Svagdys-Gumbrell], and Shannon [Curtis].”

Concluding by directly addressing the Deneckers, Griffin encapsulated the spirit of the day. “Your generosity provides students like me with the necessary resources to succeed in careers in their desired fields, but more importantly, it makes us even better people. Thank you.”

At its core, the Denecker CDIC reflects Assumption University’s commitment to career preparation and is deeply connected to formation, purpose, and service. Through Dick and Maria Denecker’s generous gift, the University has strengthened a space where students will be supported in discerning their paths, translating their education into meaningful work, and pursuing lives of purpose in service to the common good.

And of all Denecker’s advice—find a mentor, work hard, listen closely, interview as much as possible, and take advantage of the breaks—one of his hopes for student engagement with the CDIC rings loudest.

“Use this Center so you can say, ‘I found something I want to be involved in for the rest of my life.’”