Instituted over a dozen years ago by Betsey Smith, retired senior associate dean of the School of Health Sciences, and Gina Frank, dean of Graduate Student Affairs, the festive annual tradition transforms the North Haven Campus dining hall into a holiday happening.  

“The students love this – it’s like the hallmark event for them. It’s just a fun evening with their friends and colleagues, faculty and staff,” said Frank. “I see a lot of smiles, and I think people are just happy to be together.” 

Director of Graduate Affairs Stefano Fasulo said students across all disciplines receive an invitation to take a break before finals week and enjoy a few hours of food, community and holiday spirit with their friends, instructors and colleagues.

“It’s always great to see the faculty, staff and students enjoying this time together,” Fasulo said. “For me, the best part is when I get to see the students just relaxing and enjoying themselves. It’s a moment of decompression from studies.”

First-year law students Anika Nissley, JD ’28, and Brooke Pollicove, ’25, JD ’28, began their evening enjoying a conversation with law professor John Thomas, who wore a flashy red blazer for the occasion. 

“He’s always got a song in his heart,” said Pollicove. 

Pollicove said her first holiday dinner as a law student offered a distinctly different experience from the annual undergraduate holiday dinners she enjoyed on Quinnipiac's Mount Carmel Campus.

“I feel in law school, you’re much closer to your professors than you are as an undergrad, so it’s kind of more special to be able to see them and do things with them. You know a lot more people, so it means more,” said Pollicove. 

Nissley said she was grateful for the community engendered by the holiday dinner.

“This is an experience you can’t just get anywhere. It’s not something that you sign up for when you go to law school, but we have it, and we’re grateful,” said Nissley. “I came to Quinnipiac for community and that was the vibe that was fostered the first time I was on campus, and this is just furthering it. I’m here with my people; I’m here with my professors. It’s holiday spirit.” 

First-year physician assistant students Shannon O’Hare, ’25, MHS ‘27, Lauren Merrill, ’25, MHS ’27, Allison Melnychuk, ’25, MHS ’27, and Sarah Kosakowski, ’25, MHS ’27, said the holiday dinner was a great way to wind down their first semester of studies.

“I love Christmas time, and it’s so fun to see everybody in the faculty all decked out and wanting to feed us good food,” said Merrill.

“It’s just nice to spend time out of the classroom with our friends,” added O’Hare.
“I love the holiday dinner. It’s awesome,” Melnychuk said. “I love all the good food and having our faculty serve the food. It’s so nice.” 

Grabbing Boomer for a group photo at their table, School of Education graduate students Daniel Pond, John Summers, and Chloe Oliver enjoyed a great dinner and a fun break from their first year in the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education program.

“I just think the environment and the people here are great,” Pond said. 

“I love the Christmas vibes,” said Oliver.

With busy schedules across many disciplines, the opportunity to bring these students together as a community makes the Graduate, Law and Medical Student Holiday Dinner all the more special, Fasulo said.

“There are components within our academic programs that do a great job with regards to interdisciplinary work, but it’s also fun to see people being able to interact when it’s not within the confines of classroom,” said Fasulo.  “I’m just glad that our students take advantage of it, and I wish even more would. We do ask for student input on the food, music, and decorations, and we appreciate it. We appreciate our students.”

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