Westfield State University Explained

Westfield State University
Former Names:	Barre Normal School (1839–1844) Westfield Normal School (1844–1932) Westfield State Teachers College (1932–1960) Massachusetts State College at Westfield (1960–1967) Westfield State College (1967–2010)^[1]
President:	Linda Thompson^[2]
Endowment:	$20,002,999 (2020)^[3]
Students:	4,702^[4] (fall 2022)
Undergrad:	4,630 (2020)^[5]
Postgrad:	766 (2020)
Country:	United States
Campus:	Residential
Colors:	Blue, White and Gold
Mascot:	Nestor
Nickname:	Owls

Westfield State University (commonly known as Westfield State) is a public university in Westfield, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1839 by Horace Mann as the first public coeducational college in America, without barrier to race, gender, or economic class.^[6]

Rankings

In 2013, WSU was ranked fourth nationally by US News in their Best Online Programs Honor Roll.^[7] WSU was also ranked first in the country for "Faculty Credentials & Training" and eleventh in "Student Services & Technology".

Notable alumni

• George B. Cortelyou (1882) - U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of Commerce, 1903–1904
• Nettie Stevens (1883) - discoverer of the X and Y chromosomes
• Eduardo C. Robreno (1967) - the first Cuban-American federal court judge
• Marsha Bemko (1977) - Executive Producer, Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
• Peter Laviolette (1986) - ice hockey player and coach
• Christopher Donelan (1987) - Sheriff of Franklin County
• Domenic Sarno (1993) - Mayor of Springfield
• Chris Caputo (2002) - Head Coach of the George Washington Colonials men's basketball team
• Todd M. Smola (2004) - Representative from Palmer
• John J. O'Connor - Artist with works in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art
• Alice Mary Dowd, American educator, author
• Geraldo Alicea - Former representative for the 6th Worcester District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• William D. Mullins – member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and baseball player^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Catalog: About the University . catalog.westfield.ma.edu . Westfield State University . 24 December 2023.
2. Westfield State University Board of Trustees votes to appoint Dr. Linda Thompson as 21st president . 5 August 2021 . Westfield State University . April 28, 2021.
3. Web site: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS. 2023-10-28 .
4. Web site: College Navigator - Westfield State University . en . 2024-07-24 . .
5. Web site: GENERAL INFORMATION . 2023-10-28.
6. Web site: About | Westfield State University.
7. Web site: 2012 . Best Online Bachelor's Programs . https://web.archive.org/web/20130404001914/http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/bachelors/rankings?sort=v_faculty_and_credentials_score&sortdir=desc . April 4, 2013 . U.S.News Education . U.S. News & World Report LP.
8. News: Cooney . Beth . Mooney . Jeanne . 1986-03-03 . Mullins honored by many . 1, 8 . . 2023-01-03.