Worcester State University has welcomed two new staff members to lead its newly established TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program, a federally funded initiative designed to strengthen academic success and graduation outcomes for low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities.
The program was launched following the University’s recent award of a $1.3 million, five-year TRIO Student Support Services grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Housed in the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), the program will serve 140 students and provide individualized academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, career and graduate school guidance, and financial literacy support.
Susan Butler has joined Worcester State as Director of TRIO Student Support Services, bringing more than 20 years of experience in education as a teacher, school leader, and student support advisor. Her career has centered on advancing student learning and achievement, with a particular focus on expanding postsecondary access, persistence, and degree completion for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students.
Most recently, Butler served as a Senior Education Advisor at MassEdCO, where she provided comprehensive academic and college advising, financial aid guidance, and student success programming within the Worcester Public Schools. Her work supported FAFSA completion, college and scholarship applications, and financial aid appeals, while also strengthening institutional capacity through advisor training and professional development aligned with TRIO goals and best practices.
Susan Butler poses with one of her former TRIO students at their graduation.
“In my previous role, I had the opportunity to work closely with Worcester State on behalf of many of our students, which is where that connection really began,” Butler said. “I’m a firm believer in TRIO and its mission to help students overcome barriers to their goals. When this position became available, it felt like a natural extension of the work I had been doing—continuing to bridge gaps, support students, and provide them with the resources they need to succeed, now at the higher education level.”
Earlier in her career, Butler served as principal of both the middle and high school at Notre Dame Academy, where she led curriculum development, faculty supervision, and data-informed initiatives aimed at improving student outcomes and fostering inclusive learning environments.
In her new position, Butler says she is most excited about reconnecting directly with students. “In many administrative roles, you become more removed from students, and that’s something I’ve always found challenging,” she said. “I’ve worked in a range of positions—from teacher to principal to director—and whenever that direct connection to students is missing, I feel it. Being able to both lead a program and stay closely involved in advising students is the perfect balance for me.”
Joining Butler on the TRIO team is Sonia Root, who has been hired as TRIO Coordinator. Root has worked in higher education since 2016, beginning her career at Becker College, where she discovered a passion for working directly with students and supporting them in reaching their full potential.
Before arriving at Worcester State, Root worked as an academic advisor in TRIO Student Support Services at Fitchburg State University, where she was introduced to the TRIO program and became deeply connected to its mission and impact.
“I fell in love with TRIO because it centers the whole student,” Root said. “My goal is to support students on their path—whether that’s continuing at Worcester State or pursuing another option—while helping them do so in the most efficient and affordable way possible.”
At Worcester State, Root aims to provide students with a supportive, judgment-free space where challenges are viewed as part of the learning process. She hopes to help students build resilience, confidence, and the skills needed to stay on track toward their academic and personal goals.
“I want every student to know that it’s okay to get off track,” Root said. “It’s okay to fail an exam or even a course—that’s part of learning and growing. What matters most is knowing you have someone in your corner who will help you pick yourself up and keep moving forward.”
The University first received a TRIO grant in 1980 and went on to administer multiple grants serving students with disabilities, students learning English as a second language, and students from low-income backgrounds.
Laxmi Bissoondial, Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, oversees the TRIO SSS program and led the hiring process for the new staff.
“Our student population is incredibly diverse and layered, and the demand for personalized, holistic support continues to grow,” Bissoondial said. “Bringing Susan and Sonia onto this team allows us to meet students where they are and deepen Worcester State’s commitment to access, affordability, and student success.”
Today, 26 percent of Worcester State students come from low-income backgrounds, 53 percent are first-generation college students, and 4 percent identify as having a disability. The TRIO SSS program will begin accepting its first cohort of students this semester, expanding the University’s network of student success initiatives and reinforcing its commitment to equitable access and degree completion.
Established nationally more than 60 years ago, TRIO programs have supported millions of students across the country, helping remove barriers to higher education and serving as a pathway to opportunity for generations of learners.
Students interested in joining TRIO Student Support Services can learn more about eligibility and apply by visiting worcester.edu/trio. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to use the site to refer students who may benefit from the program.
Worcester State will celebrate National TRIO Day on Wednesday, February 18, with a campus-wide event highlighting the impact of TRIO programs. The celebration will feature a student panel, an admissions presentation, a campus tour, and a conversation with noted author Dr. Dariel Henry. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Wellness Center.
TRIO Day Poster
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