Still Part of this Place
"Staying active on the Alumni Council and the HCC Foundation has been incredibly rewarding; it's been great to give back to a school that gave me so much." – Ryan Rege '08
Editor's Note: This is one of a continuing series of interviews with HCC alumni called "Alumni Voices."
Ryan Rege ’08 serves on the Board of Directors of the Holyoke Community College Foundation and is a former president of the HCC Alumni Council.
The new academic year, 2026-2027, will mark his first full year as superintendent of the Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical School District in Turners Falls.
Rege, who lives in Belchertown, graduated from HCC in 2008 with a degree in liberal arts, later earning a bachelor's degree in education from Westfield State University and a master's degree in teaching and curriculum from Fitchburg State University.
He began his career in education working in the behavioral department at Valley West School before drawing on his restaurant background to teach culinary arts at Chicopee Comprehensive High School. He then moved to Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, where he taught culinary arts before becoming vocational director, overseeing the school's vocational programs for five years.
From there, Rege spent about three years as director of vocational programs at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School in Fitchburg, then returned to Pathfinder as principal for two years before being named superintendent in May 2026.
He also teaches courses in vocational education at Westfield State and Fitchburg State universities.
From his early classes at HCC to leading a vocational school district today, Rege shared his perspectives on education, career, and life.
What did you learn at HCC that still benefits you today?
The biggest thing I learned at HCC was how to learn. Education isn't just about rote memorization; it's about being inquisitive, taking chances, making mistakes, and being willing to ask questions without worrying about being judged. It wasn't any one specific person; it was more the culture of the school. The professors pushed you outside your comfort zone and got you engaged and asking questions. Courses were student centered, and there was real encouragement for student voice. That foundation has stuck with me through my entire career in education.
What's your most vivid HCC memory?
I took a great art class with Dean Nimmer that I still think about. It wasn't a subject I was comfortable with, but he made it a space where everyone felt safe taking chances and being vulnerable. He passed away a couple of years ago, and his family held a final show of his work in Holyoke. I went and picked up one of his pieces; it hangs in my dining room now. At the time I took his class, he was writing a book called Art from Intuition, which was really about not overthinking things and just getting them down on paper or canvas.
What surprising job have you had in the past?
I did stonemasonry for a while: landscaping, hardscaping, stonework. I learned it on the job, got pretty good at it, and even ran my own business for a little while.
What was the last book you finished?
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, by Jonathan Haidt. I have a 13-year-old son, so phones and social media terrify me.
What's the best piece of advice you've received?
The best advice I've ever received came from Gerry Paist, a superintendent at Pathfinder Tech. It was my first administrative position, and he told me to slow down, that nothing is as urgent as it seems. Make sure you're gathering all the information before you make decisions and implement them.
What person, dead or alive, would you most like to meet?
Bob Dylan. I think he's such an amazing writer, and I'm fascinated by his whole story. I really admire his perseverance and willingness to reinvent himself. He's never been afraid to take risks or challenge expectations while remaining true to his craft.
What is something you wish more people knew about you?
I love to plug alumni involvement. Staying active on the Alumni Council and the HCC Foundation has been incredibly rewarding, and I encourage others to get involved. It's been great to give back to a school that gave me so much. It keeps me tied to HCC, up to date on what students are doing and the direction the administration is leading the school. It's just great to still feel like part of the place.
PHOTO: Ryan Rege '08, then president of the HCC Alumni Council, welcomes new alumni at HCC's 75th Commencement ceremony in 2022.
