Recently Erin Morrell, the Associate Dean for Campus Activities & Orientation, had a chance meeting with alumni while in Orlando, Florida.
“During my family vacation to Orlando in early April, we traveled to Tampa, where we were having dinner at Maggiano’s. We were eating out before heading to see the UConn Women’s basketball team play in the final four of the NCAA Tournament in town.
While finishing up our meal, a gentleman came up to our table that worked at the restaurant (he turned out to be the Assistant Manager) to ask us how our meal was, but also to connect with us since we were clearly rooting for the Huskies based on our apparel.
He mentioned that he was also from Connecticut and went to a small college in the state. This intrigued me, so I asked which college. Never did I imagine what his answer would be. He proudly stated that he not only attended and graduated from Albertus Magnus College in 1996, but that he met his now wife while at Albertus. Joel also played for our Division III Men’s Basketball Team and worked as an RA on campus during his time at the College. It really is a small, but closely connected world.
He spoke fondly of his time on campus and shared that he has visited recently, when one of his former teammates made the Athletics Hall of Fame. While on the Albertus team, he made it to and won the GNAC Championships and he was named the MVP. He was proud to say his name is on one of the banners hanging in the Athletic Center Gym.
After our brief chat, he mentioned that in fact, his wife was in the restaurant eating dinner and he’d love for us to meet. We even had the opportunity to take a couple of photos together to remember the moment. My chance encounter with Joel Dorsett and his wife Duenna was such a wonderful experience, one that I won’t soon forget. Even though I did not graduate from Albertus, it gives me great pride to know that Albertus alumni are out in the world, sharing their successes and showing their Falcon Pride.”