By Liam Reilly
@liampreilly852
Springfield College isn’t just a place where careers blossom, but love too. We asked couples who met their significant other on Alden Street to share the stories of their campus courtships.
Brian and Deleney Magoffin
Brian (‘05, G’ 17) and Deleney (‘05, G ’11) met in 2001 when they were assigned to the same New Student Orientation group. They started off as good friends, and didn’t start dating until 2009. At the time, Deleney was in grad school at Springfield College and Brian was serving as the College’s Assistant Director of Sports Communications.
After three years of dating, Brian proposed to Deleney where they first met – outside the entrance to Judd Gymnasium. They were married in 2012. Flash forward to 12 years later, and Brian is now the Director of Strategic Athletic Communications/Coordinator of College Media Relations while Deleney is the Director of Alumni Relations.
Springfield College has been an integral part of the couple’s life, and now is becoming a part of their two daughters’ lives. Kensley and Jules can frequently be spotted helping their mom set up for an open house or running up to their dad shortly after the end of a Springfield College women’s volleyball game.
“They’re as uniquely passionate about this place as we are,” Brian said. “They wear their Springfield College sweatshirts at school, they’re both Camp Massasoit kids, and if men’s volleyball or women’s basketball is playing they want to be there to cheer them on.”
The Magoffins’ secret to lasting love is learning to be there for each other during hard times and knowing the difference between listening and hearing.
“We love each other differently and more now because there’s been many ways we’ve grown,” Deleney said. “I think long-lasting love is about sitting with the bad and good stuff and not bailing when things get hard. It’s much sweeter when you get on the other side because of everything you’ve gone through.”
Brian said that it all comes down to appreciating one another.
“Ultimately it’s about having empathy,” he said. “There’s things that she may be going through that I can’t understand, but I can be there to support her and know that the family we’re creating is the most important thing in our lives.”
Marty Dobrow and Missy-Marie Montgomery
The first day of faculty orientation of what was then called the Humanities department paved the way for another Springfield College couple. Marty and Missy-Marie introduced themselves in the student union and immediately became friends. They found that they have shared interests in writing and teaching, with Missy passionate for poetry and Marty for journalism.
Springfield College meant a lot to the couple – it was where they met, where they had spent more than a decade of their lives, and where their three kids had grown up – so when they decided to get married in 2010, it was an easy decision to do it on campus. The ceremony was held in July at the Richard B. Flynn Campus Union, which was newly constructed at the time. Three Communication/Sports Journalism students served as ushers and Daniel Zukergood, an Education professor, and his band played music. The couple’s oldest son, Jeremiah, also played music, and the newlyweds both sang songs that they wrote for each other.
Today, Marty’s and Missy-Marie’s offices are two doors down from each other in Weiser Hall. Working in the same environment can be challenging for some, but this couple has risen above obstacles and found connection in their work lives. They often teach the same students, co-chaperone alternative Spring Break trips, and were faculty advisors of different writing clubs.
“I can see how some couples would not like working together but I think it would be worse if he didn’t,” Missy-Marie said. “There’d be no connection between our jobs and we wouldn’t have those shared experiences.”
Whether it’s greeting each other or leaving a reminder, the two always make sure to call the other “Love.”They’ve stuck together by finding the joy in working together and using laughter to trudge through tough times.
“We’re still able to have long and rich conversations without getting bored even though we know a lot of each other’s life stories,” Marty said. “We laugh a lot because humor helps soften the hard times but sweetens the good times.”
Charles Shoffner and Jennifer Dashiell-Shoffner
A rejection on the bus unexpectedly led to a 22-year relationship.
Charles was fresh off transferring to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and preparing for one of the first track meets of the season. He was sitting in the back of the bus, and moved up to the front to talk to his roommate. He turned around and saw Jennifer, who was a sprinter on the women’s team. At the time, the only interactions the two had was when Charles would purposely tease Jennifer just to mess with her. As Charles was about to talk to her, Jennifer interrupted him.
“I yelled, ‘No, Charles, you cannot have my phone number,’” Jennifer said. “And I said it really loud, in front of everyone on the bus. Everyone started yelling ‘Ooo!’”
After making the walk of shame to the back of the bus and his friends making fun of him for it for the next four hours, Charles knew he had to get Jennifer’s number. He was able to talk one of Jennifer’s close friends into convincing her to open up and talk to him.
Like every couple, the two experienced their struggles early on. They endured bumps and breakups along the way, and saw other people. Eventually they knew they had to grow and mature together. A few years later Charles and Jennifer decided to get married.
Eventually both of them found their new workplace at Springfield College. Charles is an assistant coach for the Pride men’s and women’s track team while Jennifer is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling.
Although the couple are rarely on campus at the same time together, working in the same environment has made life easier for them. When it comes to having to drop off their son, they’re only buildings away from each other instead of figuring out finding a place to meet.
After being together for 22 years, Charles and Jennifer have learned how to keep lasting love.
“Compromise,” Charles and Jennifer said at the same time. Then Jennifer added: “People think love is enough and it’s not. A big thing we’ve learned is compromise.”
Photo courtesy of Deleney Magoffin