Gulls With Grit
A Portrait Series of Perseverance at Endicott College
Everyone faces something.
Sometimes it’s loud—a diagnosis, a loss, a turning point. Sometimes it’s quiet—self-doubt, burnout, or feeling like you don’t belong.
Gulls With Grit celebrates the strength of the Endicott community through powerful portraits and personal stories. From illness and loss to identity and uncertainty, these individuals have faced adversity with courage and heart.
In a world that often prizes perfection, this exhibit offers something more authentic and more powerful: the courage to keep going, keep growing, and to rise above and soar.
Meet our Gulls With Grit
Alumni
Lorinda Visnick M’23
At 60 years old, Lorinda walked into the Massachusetts State House not as a visitor, but as an intern. Surrounded by students decades younger, she embraced the discomfort of starting over, diving into policy research and legislative work with curiosity and humility. Those experiences now inform her role as Beverly’s Ward 6 School Committee Representative. Currently earning her Ph.D. at UMass Boston, Lorinda proves that grit is the courage to take risks, keep learning, and step boldly into rooms where you don’t yet belong.
Psychology Major
Adrisela Forero ’28
Growing up fast in a home where she navigated instability and hardship, Adrisela learned to rely on her own strength and the power of education. As a teenager, she became a mother and left home, balancing school, work, and parenting while living in a shelter. Through education, therapy, and unwavering determination, Adrisela is breaking generational cycles and building a future rooted in resilience, independence, and hope for herself and her daughter.
Dean, Global Education
Warren Jaferian
Through years of living and working across West Africa, including surviving a life-changing kidnapping, Warren learned resilience, humility, and empathy. Rather than letting trauma define him, he transformed the experience into purpose, reshaping his worldview and deepening his commitment to global education. Today, he helps students step beyond their comfort zones, see the world differently, and understand that growth begins when curiosity outweighs fear.
Events Management Major
Emma Rutkiewicz ’27
After learning about her adoption, Emma spent years grappling with questions of identity and belonging. What began as quiet confusion evolved into a deeper journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Through therapy, reflection, and dance, she learned to embrace vulnerability and tell her story with courage. Today, Emma uses movement and voice to honor her past, support others, and prove that grit is learning to love who you are—and who you’re becoming.
MBA Candidate
Hector Johnson ’24 M’26
Hector Johnson knows how to pivot. It’s not just about his dynamism on the football field—though he is a force—but a life shaped by movement across continents, cultures, and sports. Grounded in discipline, adaptability, and a relentless work ethic instilled by his family, Hector earned national attention at the Nest and an invitation to the Patriots’ minicamp, where he pivoted once again. Now, back at Endicott, earning his MBA, he continues to chase his football dreams, evolving without losing momentum.
Director of Dance
Nicole Sao Pedro-Welch M’12
For nearly 20 years, Nicole Sao Pedro-Welch has been a force at Endicott—coaching championship teams, building a powerhouse dance program, and shaping generations of performers. Yet amid her professional highs came an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis. Leaning on the grit, grace, and determination she instills in her dancers, Nikki didn’t just persevere—she triumphed, in more ways than one.
Program Coordinator
Rachid Sow ’20
Rachid Sow charted an uncommon path. As a refugee of the war in Côte d’Ivoire, he experienced disruption to his education as a child. But after teaching himself to read and write, earning his degree at Endicott, and completing graduate work at Tufts, Rachid is an adjunct faculty member and program coordinator for fellow international students. He draws on his powerful lived experience to guide students toward reflection and purpose, reminding them that grit isn’t just about endurance, but also about voice and vision.
Acting President
Bryan Cain D’24
Driven from a young age, Dr. Cain climbed every professional rung, hitting every benchmark. But it wasn’t until he lost both parents that he realized success without impact was hollow. Their absence reshaped his purpose, and after reevaluating his path and honing his human-centric leadership style, the focus of his work is now to matter, not just achieve, by leading with empathy, presence, and a deep commitment to others.
Exercise Science Major
Katrina Haddad ’26
For years, Katrina’s identity was rooted in basketball until back-to-back ACL injuries forced her to reimagine herself beyond the game. During her physical recovery, she found a new purpose in advocating for mental health as a campus captain for The Hidden Opponent, learning that true strength isn’t just about showing up on the court—it’s about showing up for yourself and others when it matters most.
Elementary Education Major
Jackson Skane ’28
For much of his early life, Jackson struggled to find connection and understanding. Diagnosed with autism at three, he faced bullying and self-doubt—until he found his voice. A school presentation on autism sparked Skane Train Voices, a disability advocacy platform he co-founded with his sister. Today, Jackson speaks at schools and conferences, promoting empathy, awareness, and acceptance. His message is simple but powerful: kindness matters, and no one should have to change who they are to be understood.