Profiles of Elmira College Alumni

One of our youngest alumni is quickly on his way to becoming one of our most successful. After graduating from Elmira College with his bachelor’s in Psychology and Criminal Justice, John Cardente ‘02 became a Business Development Associate at Barclays Global Investors. He is now Vice-President for Structured and Market Investment Sales at Merrill Lynch.

In addition to having such a fast-paced career, John makes it a point to find time to help others. He volunteers with a group called “Rebuilding Together,” a national organization that helps low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities repair and rebuild their homes. For several years, John has also been a strong supporter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer.

In his spare time, John enjoys working with his hands. He has completely restored three pre-1975 motorcycles from scratch, and is always looking for another one to rebuild. When not busy there, John heads over to his studio to work on linocuts. “It keeps me well rounded. I get to draw, carve, and make something solid that shows what I’ve accomplished. And it’s messy.” He credits an art professor at Elmira College with getting him started in this fun hobby.

John reflects fondly on his college days. “I would say that on top of the curriculum [that] promoted intellectual curiosity, it was the caliber of my peers that made Elmira College a place I called home for four years.” John played varsity lacrosse, served as a Resident Assistant, and was also a member of the Gold Key society. John gives back to Elmira College now by working with the Office of Development to help current students get top-notch internships

Rosemarie Petitti Annunziata ’62 is a Senior Judge for the Court of Appeals for the State of Virginia.  Rosemarie’s career has been marked by her efforts to strengthen the status of women in society and to eliminate gender bias.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Rosemarie majored in French and Sociology to obtain her Bachelor of Arts from Elmira College in 1962.  Rosemarie received her master’s degree in French from Yale University, and her law degree from Washington College of Law at American University, where she now serves on the Dean's Advisory Council.  She began practicing law in 1978, and was elected as a judge in 1989. A Circuit Court Judge from 1989 to 1995, Rosemarie now serves as a Senior Judge for the Court of Appeals for the State of Virginia.

Prior to her election, she served on the Fairfax County Planning Commission from 1981 to 1986, and acted as a counsel and hearing officer for the Fairfax County Civil Service Commission and the Commonwealth of Virginia.  She has been an active member on many boards and committees such as the Virginia Bar Association's Committee on Special Issues of National and State Importance.  She also served as Chair of the Judicial Education Committee of the Judicial Conference of Virginia and a founding member of Virginia Women’s Attorney Association.

Rosemarie’s passion for eliminating racial and gender bias began during her time at Elmira College. Since then, she has spoken widely to build awareness on the issue of gender discrimination in the American community.  For her work, she received the Fairfax County Commission for Women’s Special Achievement Award and the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission Award. 

Internationally, Judge Annunziata served on a team of three women sponsored by the United States Information Service to provide training to women in Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. She assisted these women in their efforts to address the issues of gender bias in their own cultures.

Kevin Fleming ‘07 is one of Elmira’s newest alums. He was a graduating member of the Dazzling Class of 2007. With a liberal arts and science background, Kevin graduated magna cum laude with majors in adolescent education, biology, social studies, and environmental studies with a minor in history. As part of his teacher education program, he is New York State certified in biology and social studies grades 7-12. While busy with his studies, Kevin was also an active member the campus community serving as the Chief Justice of Judicial board as well as being a Resident Assistant, EC Ambassador, Orientation Leader, and member of five academic honor societies. Kevin was also a four year member of the Student Activities Board and Student Alumni Council, co-chairing the Athletic Alumni Weekend twice. When asked about the importance of alumni and SAC, Kevin says, “Without the past there is no future. It is the support from the alums that keep this campus going and ensure its bright future.” Kevin also helped generate new traditions at Elmira College serving as a founding member of the Extreme Croquet Club and founding event chair of EC’s first two annual Relay for Life walkathons. With a passion for music, Kevin was also a member of the EC concert ensemble, and helped reestablish the EC pep band.

Kevin is continuing his studies at Vanderbilt University working towards his master’s degree in science education. While at Vanderbilt, Kevin has been hired to work as a head resident for the residence life department. Kevin is also planning to obtain his doctoral degree in science education and also study education policy. After student teaching term III in Glasgow, Scotland, Kevin hopes to pursue teaching jobs internationally for American International Schools. “While teaching has always been a passion of mine I hope to some day expand beyond the classroom and work for international organizations such as UNESCO to help develop and improve learning opportunities for countries that lack sufficient educational systems.” When asked how EC has prepared him for his future and his career, Kevin says, “Elmira was the perfect fit for me. Its small size allowed me to get a close working relationship with my professors and the administration. In terms of opportunities, I couldn’t have asked for any more. My term III abroad experiences studying in Australia and teaching in Scotland helped me expand my horizons and also inspire me to seek teaching jobs overseas. I also got the chance to work closely with my professors and obtain research experience. One of my most significant achievements while at EC was the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST)’s international conference. I was one of only two undergraduates (both from EC) presenting at the conference. Not only did I get hands on experience, but I also was able to network with potential future employers and graduate schools. Opportunities like that simply do not happen for undergraduates at larger schools.”