Finding His Calling at Westfield State: How Matt Crusha, ‘27 Found a New Path at Westfield State

When Matt Crusha arrived at Westfield State University from South Windsor, Connecticut, he thought he had his future mapped out. A history enthusiast from a young age, he enrolled as a History and Education major with plans to become a teacher.

“Westfield State originally came on my radar for the supports offered through the Banacos Academic Center.  Westfield also had a History/Secondary Education program, which was my career goal,” Matt said. “When I had to decide, I just felt like Westfield was the best fit for me.”

That feeling was reinforced as soon as he arrived on campus. The smaller community and supportive faculty helped make the transition to college easier.

“What really drew me here was the support,” he said. “Whether it was through my advisor in the Banacos Center or the Student Affairs office, I was able to find the answer.  The size of the campus community was also a big draw for me.”

As a student, Matt thrived in his history courses, particularly classes taught by Dr. Brooke Orr and Dr. Adeyinka Banwo. He credits those professors, along with Dr. Erica Morin, for helping shape his academic experience and encouraging him along the way. Among his favorite classes were African American History and Traditional Africa, taught by professors who challenged him to think deeper and stay engaged with the material.

“I’m currently in my fourth course with Dr. Orr,” Matt said. “Her lecturing style is very engaging. The course content is great, and there are always opportunities to be involved in the discussions.” But by the end of his sophomore year, Matt realized teaching was no longer the path he wanted to pursue. “By the end of my sophomore year, I kind of felt like teaching wasn’t my calling anymore,” he said.

Rather than seeing the change as a setback, Matt embraced a new direction. He dropped the education component of his degree, added Political Science as a second major, and began exploring careers in higher education.

That exploration led to a summer internship in Westfield State's Alumni Relations Office. After speaking with History Department Chair, Dr. Christin Cleaton Ruiz, about internship opportunities; Matt connected with Alumni Relations and spent the summer assisting with commencement preparations, Reunion Weekend planning, and a Political Science alumni survey project.

As luck would have it, Matt was able to work with another Westfield State History alumnus, Ryan Meersman, ’12.  Ryan had firsthand experience teaching History in Worcester Public Schools but felt the call to come back to higher education and work in Alumni Relations, where he is now the Director.

“I spent a little over two years in the classroom before transitioning to a career in higher education,” Meersman said.  “I often share that I feel like I get the best of both worlds in what I was trained to do, because I’m still an educator and I especially use my history degree every day in Alumni Relations. Our work is often about looking to the past and the success of our alums to connect current students with opportunities that will benefit their futures.”

For his internship, the experience gave Matt firsthand exposure to the work that keeps a college community connected and engaged. The History Department highly encourages students take advantage of internships, as it helps them stand out in a tough job market.

“I've spent a lot of my time at Westfield involved in student activities,” Matt said. “Working in the Alumni Relations Office gave me a different perspective and became something I really enjoyed.”

“Matt’s high energy, friendly personality was a great fit for our office,” Meersman added.  “He was eager to develop a plan that helped him learn what a career in alumni relations and advancement could look like.”

Today, Matt sees a future for himself in higher education, whether through student activities, alumni relations, or another student-focused role. His time at Westfield not only changed his career aspirations but also helped him discover where he can make the greatest impact.

For prospective students considering Westfield State, Matt says the people are what make the difference.

“I would tell an incoming student about the amount of support and passion that every faculty member has here,” he said. “No matter how hard this new experience may seem, there will always be someone there that will help guide you through it.”

For Matt, Westfield State became more than the place where he earned a degree. It became the place where he found a new purpose and a career path he is excited to pursue.