Alumni Bookshelf

Dutchess Community College is proud to have a rich legacy of alumni who have made their mark as successful authors. From bestselling novels to critically acclaimed non-fiction works, many of our graduates have transformed their passion for writing into influential careers.

The Power to Inspire

These accomplished alumni not only showcase the power of storytelling but also serve as a testament to the creativity, dedication and intellectual curiosity fostered during their time at DCC. Their success continues to inspire current students, proving that the skills and experiences gained at DCC can lead to remarkable achievements in the literary world.

DCC alumni who have published include:

Carol Bettino, MA, LPC ’80

Psychotherapist and public speaker, Carol is the author of "Directions: Your Roadmap to Happiness" and "Better Choices, Better Life: How to Eliminate Your Self-Defeating Behavior and Live a Happier Life."

Daniel Carlson ’75

Retired police officer and law enforcement educator with broad writing and publishing experience, Daniel writes cozy mysteries with humor, romance and plenty of heart. His first series is The Hope Walker Mysteries, and "A Hopeless Murder" is the first book in that series.

Margarete Cassalina ’87

Margarete is an award-winning author and a dedicated volunteer of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since 1991. "See You at Sunset" is a poignant tale of a teenager challenged by cystic fibrosis, a fatal genetic disease. "Beyond Breathing" is a story of a mother’s loss of her 13-year-old daughter, Jenna, to cystic fibrosis. "Embracing the Beauty in the Broken" is a thought-provoking collection of life crises that provides the inspiration, motivation and confidence to move beyond our obstacles and live our best lives.

Anthony DeBarros ’84

Anthony has combined skills in software product development, data analysis, journalism and coding for much of his career. As Washington data news editor for The Wall Street Journal, he analyzes data about the economy, trade, the census, demographics and COVID-19. In 2018 he wrote "Practical SQL: A Beginner’s Guide to Storytelling With Data," a pragmatic, hands-on guide to analyzing data using SQL, the leading database management language.

Effiong Eyo ’93

With more than 15 years of experience teaching chemistry and biology in two private schools, Effiong self-published high school chemistry and biology teaching resources with E3 Scholastic Publishing.

Tierra Hatcher ’02

Tierra has been writing poetry and short stories since the age of 11. Raven Pearls is a story of four young ladies who were saved from backgrounds that could’ve ended their lives. This is a story of survival, freedom, obstacles, family, love, finding hope and most importantly, rising from the ashes.

Cynthia J. Leo, IWLC ’13

Always an avid reader, Cynthia dipped her toe into writing during college and had her short story, “Second Chance” published in DCC’s literary magazine, Exposed. Inspiration from her previous career in IT and her love of adventure travel inspired her to pen her first romance adventure novel, "Jagged Peaks", about a fashionista computer consultant as she heads to Mt. Everest for her next assignment.

Robert Parkin ’09

Robert is a data entry trainer at Firstsource and author of fantasy and sci fi series LightNovel. The first book in the series is "The Immortality Protocol Vol 1 – light novel." In a world laid bare, humanity scattered, one girl fights to reclaim what was stolen from her—the only family she has left.

Thomm Quackenbush ’01

Author of the Night’s Dream Series, published by Double Dragon Publishing. His fantasy fiction books take place in the Hudson Valley. The first book in the series, "We Shadows," is available in the Francis U. and Mary F. Ritz Library and was contracted for a SyFy mini-series.

Tom Seaman ’92

Tom is a certified life coach in the area of health and wellness and author of the books, "Diagnosis Dystonia; Navigating the Journey" and "Beyond Pain and Suffering: Adapting to Adversity and Life Changes." Tom helps people actively address their lifestyle choices to achieve better balance and improve their quality of life.

Randall A. Thoms ’91

"Retirement Investing for Middle Aged, Middle Income, Middle America" offers insight into self-managing some or all of a retirement portfolio.

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We are excited to invite our esteemed alumni authors to share their inspiring journeys with our current students and fellow graduates. Your success in the literary world is a testament to the talent and hard work nurtured during your time at DCC, and we believe your stories will serve as a powerful source of motivation for the next generation of writers. Whether through guest lectures, panel discussions or informal gatherings, we would love for you to return to campus and offer insights into your creative process, challenges and triumphs. Your experiences are invaluable, and we look forward to reconnecting with you to celebrate your achievements and continue fostering a vibrant, supportive literary community. To share your story, contact the Alumni office by email at dccf@sunydutchess.edu or by calling (845) 431-8400.