Ramon S. Torrecilha, Ph.D., president of Westfield State University, was recently appointed as a trustee of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Dr. Torrecilha will serve a three-year term.

Evan Lucey (MS), Jarrod Petersen and Michael Goyette (Biology) presented their immunological research at the Upstate New York Immunology Conference (NYIC) this week. Their immunological studies featured wound healing experiments as well as HIV infection dynamics.

Westfield State University will host "Nún Isilmë" (underneath the moon), featuring the art of Tyler Vouros in the Arno Maris Art Gallery, Ely Campus Center, October 30–December 7. An artist's reception will be held on Wednesday, November 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the gallery.

Westfield State University has received a $140,000 Early College Implementation Grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to continue The Westfield Promise program, which was officially designated as an early college program by the Department of Higher Education in May. The program aims to benefit underrepresented student populations, including first-generation and students of color.

The Westfield State Foundation, after a record-breaking year of raising more than $3 million, increased the amount of scholarship awards to students and honored philanthropist James Huffmire at its annual meeting in September. As a result of the funding, the Foundation awarded 253 scholarships in 2017–18 to 194 students totaling $227,233. In addition, 161 internship scholarship awards were given, totaling $281,642. Total support eclipsed one-half of a million dollars.