Holyoke Community College Foundation Welcomes Three New Board Members

Ted Hebert

HOLYOKE — HCC Foundation Inc., the nonprofit fundraising arm of Holyoke Community College, recently welcomed three new members to its board of directors, including two alumni. Ted Hebert, owner of Teddy Bear Pools and Spas and a 1971 HCC alumnus; Kathleen Bronner, a retired fundraising professional and a 1977 HCC graduate; and David Rudder, dean of the Division of Professional Studies at Regis College in Weston, were appointed at the HCC Foundation’s annual meeting on Dec. 9.

Kathleen Bronner

“We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional leaders to the HCC Foundation board. Each brings unique expertise and a deep commitment to our mission of supporting student success at Holyoke Community College,” said Amanda Sbriscia, HCC’s vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation. “They join an outstanding group of community members whose dedication has already launched transformative initiatives and student support programs. Together, this board continues to be powerful advocates for our students and the communities we serve.”

David Rudder

Hebert recently completed two terms on the HCC board of trustees and has served for the past 10 years as the trustees’ representative on the foundation board. Through the foundation, he and his wife, Barbara, set up the Ted and Barbara Hebert Teddy Bear Pools Scholarship for Working Students, reflecting their passion for supporting working students who balance education and employment.

Retired from full-time work in 2021, Bronner is now a fundraising consultant for small nonprofit missions both in Western Mass. and the Cape Cod area. During her career, she worked for 25 years on behalf of her alma mater, Mount Holyoke College, and also for a short time at HCC before being recruited into the healthcare field with leadership roles at the Cape Cod Healthcare and Baystate Health foundations.

Rudder holds a PhD in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware and brings more than 20 years of higher education leadership experience to the HCC Foundation board. At Regis College, he oversees workforce development initiatives and has secured significant grants, including a $268,000 Donnelly Workforce Development award. Previously, he spent more than a decade at Springfield College in various leadership roles, including chair of the Human Services Department and associate dean, where he led the development of the college’s first online degree programs and expanded student support services.

The HCC Foundation has an endowment of $18.9 million, the largest of all 15 community colleges in Massachusetts, due in large part to nearly 200 endowed scholarships and other funds established by alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the college. In 2025, the HCC Foundation provided more than $6 million to the college to support scholarships, academic programs, student support services, and facility improvements.

In 2023, the HCC Foundation board of directors was recognized by the Assoc. of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges with the John W. Nason Award, a national honor that recognizes exceptional leadership and initiative.