In the 23 years since her frequent travels around the bases as a hard-hitting All-America senior shortstop at Algonquin Regional High, Katey Palumbo has traveled the world.
A 2001 inductee to the athletic hall of fame at Algonquin, she has worked as the director of international programs at Worcester State University since 2010.
Her office oversees visiting international students, professors and scholars, in addition to coordinating student opportunities abroad.
Palumbo also accompanies students on faculty-led programs to a number of countries, including Nicaragua and Ecuador and visits overseas institutional partners.
“When I look at the demographics of our student body, who are primarily from Central Massachusetts, I’m reminded of myself 20 years ago and how the opportunity to travel shapes your world,’’’ said Palumbo, now 40, and residing in Holden with her husband, Chris Hogan, and their two children, Ella, 10, and Jude, 8.
Advertisement
The family recently returned from a family hiking trip through Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Parks.
A basketball and softball captain at Algonquin, where she compiled a .539 career batting average as a three-time Mid-Wach batting champion, Palumbo later played for the Worcester County Crush club team that captured the 1992 state’s ASA Junior Olympic title.
“I always loved being on the field and being competitive,’’ said Palumbo.
She was a two-year starting second baseman at St. John’s University before transferring to the University of Miami, where she majored in Women’s Studies and Public Relations.
“I gave up my scholarship in order to attend Miami because I wanted to see more of the world,’’ said Palumbo. The summer after her junior year, she took a six-credit summer course at the University of Edinburgh.
“That trip defined my future in many ways. It was a first step,’’ said Palumbo.
After graduating from Miami, she moved to Ireland, where she worked at a hotel in the village of Rosscarbery. She also backpacked through Europe and by that time, had met Chris Hogan.
Advertisement
“He was from Australia and we met in a kitchen at a hostel in Killarney,’’ said Palumbo. Her husband works as director of client services and marketing at Biomere, a biomedical research firm in Worcester. They were married in 1999.
The couple also lived in Australia and central Turkey, where they taught English at a private K-12 school in Nevsehir. Prior to her current position, Palumbo taught at a private language academy on the campus of Dean College, as well as working as an ESL teacher at Worcester State.
Her father, Matt Palumbo, was a football, basketball and baseball standout at St. John’s High of Shrewsbury and former head coach of the Worcester County Crush.
“Dad said in order to be successful you need more than the gift of talent, you need to match it with dedication,’’ said Palumbo.
Last winter, she helped coach her daughter’s travel basketball team.
“Going through successes and tough times as an athlete instills a work ethic and a unique perspective,’’ she said. “I still have my old glove and wear it when I play catch with my kids.’’
Marvin Pave can be reached at marvin.pave@rcn.com