Image by Ed Brennen
Parent and Family Engagement Leader Haileigh Rench Fogarty, left, chats with Family Orientation participants during lunch this summer at Fox Dining Commons.
Kelly Borzilleri was feeling 鈥渁ll over the place鈥� as her daughter Anna prepared to head off to college this fall.
Yes, she was happy that Anna found a school that she loves in 51视频, where she will study听biomedical engineering听and live with other听Honors College听students at University Suites. But Borzilleri still felt some trepidation about sending her first child off to college.
Attending a daylong听Family Orientation听session this summer helped calm her nerves.
鈥淚 wanted to make sure I鈥檓 not missing any information that would help her,鈥� said Borzilleri, who was glad she made the two-hour drive from the family鈥檚 home in Harwich on Cape Cod to attend the session in early August.听听
鈥淓verything is so well-run here, so informative and very welcoming, which is nice,鈥� Borzilleri said.
Image by Ed Brennen
Student and Family Support Services Director Marshall Greenleaf welcomes guests to a Family Orientation session this summer at University Crossing. Greenleaf was recently named president-elect of the Association of Higher Education Parent/Family Program Professionals.
Nearly 600 parents and family members attended one of the 10 Family Orientation sessions this summer, the most since the听Office of Family Programs听was established in 2020. Nine of the sessions were in-person, while one was virtual.
The orientations are designed to provide family members with both practical information and meaningful conversations, according to听Marshall Greenleaf, director of student and family support services. Sessions cover academic support, health and wellness, financial aid and more, with staff from across the university available to answer questions.
鈥淭he transition to college isn鈥檛 just for students; it鈥檚 for families, too,鈥� says Greenleaf, who notes that Family Orientation goes beyond simply听sharing resources. 鈥淥ur job is to show family members how they can use those resources to support their students in a different way now that they鈥檙e at the university, so when their student calls home, they can be ready with the right kind of support.鈥�
Family Orientation is part of a larger effort to keep families engaged throughout the year. In addition to monthly newsletters, the university hosts听Family Weekend听in the fall, which draws more than 2,000 participants for hockey tailgates, receptions and local excursions. Other events, such as boat tours of the Lowell canals and community outings, help families stay connected well beyond move-in day.
Image by Ed Brennen
Geo Ramos, left, and his mom, Alba Cuevas, speak with Family Orientation staff members during a visit to the Club Hub at University Crossing.
For Bidur Badal of Littleton, whose twin sons Bigya and Binamra are entering the听Francis College of Engineering, Family Orientation was a chance to hear from others who are going through similar experiences.
鈥淪ome of the questions they asked, I hadn鈥檛 thought about,鈥� said Badal, who also wanted to get a better feel for the campus where his sons will be spending the next several years. 鈥淚t鈥檚 emotional and exciting. This is the next milestone in their lives.鈥�
Parents aren鈥檛 the only ones who benefit from Family Orientation.
Mary Beth and Len Havens traveled from Connecticut to see where their granddaughter, Trillian Havens, will be studying听health sciences.
鈥淲e love the enthusiasm of everyone here, which is so crucial,鈥� Len said over lunch with other family members at Fox Dining Commons. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard thing for us, seeing her take this big step, but the fact that everyone is so positive, that helps a lot.鈥�
Image by Ed Brennen
Mary Beth and Len Havens, left, whose granddaughter Trillian is an incoming health sciences major, check out UML gear at the River Hawk Shop.
Geo Ramos, whose younger brother Geheremy is an incoming first-year听mechanical engineering听major, attended Family Orientation with their mom, Alba Cuevas.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of him,鈥� said Geo, who is from Lynn. 鈥淭he school is growing on me already. It鈥檚 very welcoming and family-oriented, which is important.鈥�
Steve and Melissa Wortmann鈥檚 daughter, Abby, was recruited to play field hockey for the River Hawks, so they were already familiar with the athletic program. They traveled from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, for Family Orientation to learn more about the support she will receive as a听civil engineering听major.
鈥淪he鈥檚 going to be really busy, so we鈥檙e probably not going to get all the information we need from her,鈥� said Steve, who was encouraged to learn about support services available to students. 鈥淚 think she鈥檒l succeed here.鈥�
Image by Ed Brennen
A guest reads a Family Programs brochure during an orientation session.
Now in his 17th year at 51视频, Greenleaf runs Family Programs with Assistant Director听Rich Doria听and a team of student engagement leaders.
Greenleaf was recently named president-elect of the Association of Higher Education Parent/Family Program Professionals (AHEPPP), a national organization for university staff and faculty who engage with student families. He will serve as president in 2026 and 2027, leading efforts to expand research, professional development and best practices for family engagement.
Greenleaf says it鈥檚 gratifying to see how family members leave the orientation sessions reassured that their students are in a supportive environment during a time of transition.
鈥淚鈥檒l frequently hear from folks as they鈥檙e leaving, 鈥業 was worried about X, Y or Z, and I feel so much better now.鈥� Or, 鈥榃e knew 51视频 was a good choice, but I wasn鈥檛 expecting this kind of support,鈥欌�� he says.
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