Left to Right: Back Row: Father Matthew Alcombright, Dawn Erickson, Chad Erickson, Robin Jensen, Alison Goodreau ( freshmen) Joseph Walz (senior)
Front Row: Vivian Erickson(kindergarten), PJ Collins(first grade), Julianna Gifford (first grade). (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD- St. Mary’s of Westfield hired a new Advancement Director early last month and she has become involved in the effort to keep the parish high school open.
Robin Jensen was brought into the part-time position on February 4th to handle fundraising events, relations with donors and alumni, and annual giving. She joined the church and its school just shortly after the announcement was made that it would remain open for another year while leaders explore options to keep it open beyond that.
“I am very excited to take on this new role at St. Mary’s. It’s like returning home. I truly appreciate everyone being so extremely welcoming from Father Matt, to the maintenance team to the students and their parents, teachers, and staff. There is an amazing energy at our school, and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” said Jensen.
Jensen is a St. Mary’s parish school alumni and has served on various notable boards in Westfield including the Noble Hospital Trustee board, the Baystate Noble Community Board, and has been Vice Chair of Westfield Technical Academy and Chair of the Westfield State Foundation.
“I am happy to welcome Robin to the St. Mary’s community as the Advancement Director. She comes to us with great passion and zeal. I look forward to working closely with her as she collaborates with the community at St. Mary’s and the broader community as well,” Said Father Matt Alcombright.
Jensen said she is coming out of semi-retirement after staying home with her children for a few years. It is during that time that she volunteered on the various boards, including that of Amelia Park Children’s Museum. Prior to that, she was an Associate Dean of Services at a college, which she said will give her experience working with the students at St. Mary’s. She also oversaw the revitalization effort for the Amelia and Albert Ferst Interfaith Chapel on Westfield State University’s campus.
Jensen enters the position in a time when the future of St. Mary’s High School is uncertain. In January, school and church officials announced, for the second straight year, that they were going to keep the school open for just one more year while they sought ways to boost enrollment and keep it open permanently.
“What they’re basically saying is they want St. Mary’s to find the right model for our high school,” said Jensen, “He really wants us to find a model of school that works for us where we’re going to be successful. Because if you look at the numbers for the high school, they’re low. We really need to focus on what we offer for students.”
Over the next year, there will be several fundraising events to benefit the school and its efforts to remain open. This includes the annual St. Mary’s auction on April 27th in the St. Mary’s High School gym, which Jensen said is the signature event. The goal this year is to raise $100,000 for the church and school. Other fundraising events include pocketbook bingo and the golf tournament in June at the Tekoa Country Club. Jensen said that in the parking lot during the golf tournament, Sarat Ford will allow attendees to test drive a Lincoln for donations to the school.
Jensen said that, since she has taken the job, everyone she has interacted with has seemed optimistic about the future of the high school.
“I think we’re to the point where everyone is hopeful that we’re moving forward and that St. Mary’s is going to continue to be successful,” said Jensen.
While Jensen’s role is only part time and she is typically at the parish center Monday-Friday from 9-2 PM, she said she is readily available and can make appointments to meet outside those hours. St. Mary’s will formally introduce Jensen on March 18th at 6 p.m. during a meeting for the school’s advancement. At that meeting, officials will detail the plan for the school going forward.
