UNH Today

The University of New Hampshire was once again strongly represented on the Union Leader’s annual 40 Under Forty award list this year, with eight state residents to have earned undergraduate or graduate degrees from UNH – and another from Granite State College, now the UNH College of Professional Studies (CPS) – recognized.

Those with direct UNH ties accounted for 20 percent of the list, and all three UNH campuses and CPS were represented by the UNH honorees.

The recipients from UNH and the rest of the awardees were honored at a March 6 ceremony at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord.

The list recognizes New Hampshire residents under the age of 40 who are making a difference in their communities and professions and who “eagerly give their time and talents to volunteer pursuits that strengthen and enrichment communities all across New Hampshire,” according to the Union Leader, making the UNH contingent a particularly strong representation of UNH’s Embrace New Hampshire strategic priority. It was the second year in a row in which UNH was well-represented, having placed 13 alums on the list last year.

Honorees with UNH ties include Nicole Bump ’07, Ryan Callaghan ’10, Michael Constance ’23G, Whitney Anne Gagnon ’09, Ryan Lessard ’12, Sean List ’15JD, Eric Salovitch ’11 and Donald Francis Shedd II ’08. Christian Marcelo earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Granite State College.

Bump, 39, graduated from UNH with a degree in communications and international affairs and is the founder and chief content officer of Bump Inbound, as well as a member of the Goffstown School Board. She volunteers with both Goffstown Forward and Goffstown Parents in Action.

Callaghan, 36, earned a degree in business administration from UNH and is a partner and chief investment officer at Harbor Group. Among his volunteer activities, he holds a position as a NH Jump$tart Coalition board member, through which he is involved in the organization’s FinLit 300 competition designed to advance financial literacy in high schools across the state.

Constance, 36, is the executive director of Camp Allen, whose mission is to provide a safe, affordable outdoor experience for people of all ages with disabilities. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from UNH and volunteers with the Bedford Rotary Club and American Camp Association New England.

Gagnon, 37, earned a dual degree in political science and justice studies before pursuing a JD degree at New England Law in Boston. She is currently a partner at McLane Middleton. Among her volunteer activities, she is on the Seacoast Science Center’s board of directors.

Lessard, 38, graduated from UNH Manchester with a degree in politics and society and is a senior account executive with Montagne Powers. A journalist for a decade, Lessard was awarded first place in the investigative story category in the 2020 NH Press Association Excellence in Journalism contest. He serves as a Big Brother in Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire.

List, 34, earned his JD from UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law in 2015 and is a partner and founder at Lehmann Major List, PLLC. He is also outside general counsel at Q, LLC in Dover and special counsel to the speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. His volunteer activities include serving as vice chair of the New Hampshire Lawyers Assistance Program Commission and volunteering with the DOVE Project.

Salovitch, 33, graduated from UNH with associate degrees in surveying and mapping and business management and is the president and owner of Northam Survey LLC. He helped establish the Robert Moynihan Education Grant Fund, to aid survey technicians in New Hampshire obtain formal education.

Shedd, 37, earned dual degrees in justice studies and sociology at UNH and later added a master’s in leadership and a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership from Granite State College. He was a featured speaker at the National Federation of Paralegal Association’s annual convention in Washington, D.C. in 2023 and has volunteered as Cub Master of Bedford Cub Scout Pack 5 and coach/manager with Bedford Little League.

Marcelo, 29, earned a degree in business management and an MBA from Granite State College in 2017 and 2021, respectively, and is currently a professor of business at Manchester Community College. He started the Christian Marcelo Business Education Scholarship for business students at Nashua High School North to help students pay for college expenses.