Beacons Spring 2024

BEACONS A MA G A Z I NE FOR U M AS S BOST ON ALU M N I AN D F R IE N DS

A Foundation for the Future Four years in the making, the official inauguration of Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco marks the start of a new era for UMass Boston.

Sp r i n g 2 024

A JOYFUL CELEBRATION At the university’s Celebration of Philanthropy on April 4, Danielle Grant ’24 shared how the support of three endowed scholarships kept her on track to achieve her degree in early childhood education as a working mother of four and children’s book author. Danielle will return to campus for her master’s degree in the fall as a teacher in the Boston Public Schools.

The annual Celebration of Philanthropy dinner honors donors to UMass Boston. This year’s event— attended by more than 250 people—was the largest in UMass Boston history and featured a new donor recognition mural in the Campus Center.

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Spring 2024

Contents SPRING 2024

FEATURES 16

A Foundation for the Future

Postponed by the pandemic, Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco’s long-awaited inauguration ceremony celebrated his four years of leadership and his ambitious vision for UMass Boston.

24

Service by the Truckload

Torry Katsiroubas Stamm G’08 carries on a four-generation legacy of entrepreneurship and public service.

26

A Better Way to Beach

Effie Orfanides ’06 is making waves in the tech world with a new app for beach enthusiasts.

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From Pain to Purpose

Nonprofit founder Stephanie Crawford CER’20 garnered city and state accolades in 2023 for the support she offers individuals and families facing pregnancy and infant loss.

DEPARTMENTS 02

Your Take

03

From the Chancellor

04

The Tea

32

Class Notes

44

Did You Know?

FRONT COVER Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco on UMass Boston’s recently renovated central plaza.

Photo by Kathleen Dooher.

SEE PAGE 16

B ACK COVER Suárez-Orozco’s name joins those of all former UMass Boston leaders on the Chancellor’s Chain of Office.

Photo by Javier Rivas.

Beacons

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Your Take

For this issue of Beacons, we asked our alumni:

What was your favorite view on campus?

12% Campus Center

4% Residence Halls

42% Harborwalk

HARBORWALK “ As an alum and current staff member, I find a brief stop at the Harborwalk a way to ground myself and tackle the day. It’s not just the view, it’s the sounds and smells of the ocean that bring a sense of peace in the middle of the city. It’s also the best spot to watch the sunrise! It’s breathtaking!”

—Dianne Kirkpatrick ’18 “ Many a walk or bike ride along this peaceful and scenic strip was a calming reminder of the happiness found in the simple pleasures of life.”

—Arlene Conn ’82

16% The Ryan Lounge at McCormack Hall

26% Other

RYAN LOUNGE “ The view allowed me to relax while studying. It was almost like a respite for a short time.”

—Nancy Doherty ’01

What is your favorite tourist attraction in Boston?

Visit alumni.umb.edu/yourtake to submit your answer!

Submissions are edited for length and clarity.

HEALEY LIBRARY 2

“ It seemed like it was another world way back in the early 80s. Small things meant a lot. The Harborwalk was important to me in those days.

Every time I felt blue and lonely, I would go to the Harborwalk and gaze at the blue ocean, always remembering that my homeland, Morocco, was straight across, just on the other side of the horizon.

That made me feel at peace.”

—Mohammed Zefzaf ’85

“ The eighth floor of Healey Library offered the best view of the harbor, as well as a place to quietly study.”

—Jonathan Burak ’11

Spring 2024

From the Chancellor

BEACONS Chancellor

Marcelo Suárez-Orozco Provost

Joseph Berger Vice Chancellor for University

Advancement

Adam Wise

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Engagement

Allison Duffy

O

Senior Director of Alumni Engagement

Steven Whittemore

N APRIL 5TH, I was honored to be

inaugurated as the ninth chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston. It was among the most humbling experiences of my life, the culmination of a long professional journey that began at the dawn of Argentina’s Dirty War and gained direction in California’s community college system.

The cover story of this edition of Beacons magazine highlights that memorable day which, for me, marked the advent of UMass Boston 2.0, bolstered by a new strategic plan, revitalized academic and administrative operations, and robust partnerships with Boston and the Commonwealth. As I reflect on where my journey has taken me, I see it as a version of a uniquely American story about the life-changing power of a public research university to promote engagement with the world and giving back.

In this edition of Beacons magazine, we share stories of alumni whose life experiences and UMass Boston education inspired creative, entrepreneurial ways to engage and give back.

You will meet Torry Kastiroubas Stamm G’08, a Beacon with deep family roots in public education, entrepreneurship, and civic service in and around Boston, who charted an entrepreneurial pathway for giving back in the areas of food security and health equity. Drawing on her UMass Boston MBA and her life experience as a contributor to her family’s thriving produce truck business, Torry pivoted the business during the COVID pandemic

Beacons

into a new venture, Morrissey Market, that supports small produce suppliers, and provides nonprofits and people with access to healthy food, while embracing ethical business practices and sustainability.

You will read about the inspiring journey of Stephanie Crawford CER’20, who traversed the depths of despair in losing her stillborn son but emerged as an educator and passionate advocate for families traumatized by post-pregnancy loss. Now a PhD student at UMass Boston, Stephanie founded a nonprofit organization, Propa City Community Outreach, to engage with mothers who have experienced infant loss, and provides doula services to families seeking child development support. Stephanie’s journey to make families whole has enabled her to turn her pain into purpose.

And, just in time for summer, you will read about Beacheo, an app developed by lifelong beach enthusiast Effie Orfanides ’06, that consolidates essential beach information from parking availability to restroom facilities to weather updates and streamlines the beachgoing experience for users.

I hope you enjoy reading about the good work of these exemplary Beacons.

Sincerely,

MARCELO SUÁREZ-OROZCO Chancellor

Communications Specialist

Vanessa Chatterley Editors

Allison Duffy Vanessa Chatterley Andrea Kennedy Austyn Ellese Mayfield Steven Whittemore Art Director

Kaajal Asher kaajalasher.com Contributors

Danielle Bilotta Heather Brigham G’18 Vanessa Carta G’11 DeWayne Lehman Sandra Mason Elizabeth Solet Photos and Illustrations

Ed Collier Kathleen Dooher John Holcroft Bartosz Kosowski Alex Nabaum Javier Rivas Shirley Anne Photography Beacons magazine celebrates the accomplishments and impact of the UMass Boston community and the lasting connection alumni and friends have with UMass Boston, Boston State College, and our legacy schools.

We welcome your inquiries, ideas, and comments. Please share them with the UMass Boston Alumni Engagement team at 617.287.5330 or alumni@umb.edu.

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The Tea High honors for professors The UMass Boston faculty has claimed several prestigious honors recently, underscoring the caliber of research and scholarship being conducted at UMass Boston:

ADVANCEing faculty diversity

In a historic first for the

Professor of Physics

English Professor John Fulton,

Department of Physics,

Christopher Fuchs has been

director of the Creative Writing

Assistant Professor

named one of Vox’s 2023

MFA Program, was one of 35

Mohamed Amine Gharbi

Future Perfect 50, honoring

writers selected by the National

received a Faculty Early

his work as a pioneer of

Endowment for the Arts from

Career Development

quantum physics. Vox’s

an applicant pool of over 2,000

(CAREER) award from

annual list celebrates visionary

submissions to receive a

the National Science

change agents whose ideas

$25,000 FY 2024 Creative

Foundation. The award

can transform our future for

Writing Fellowship. The highly

grants Gharbi over

the better. Fuchs is recognized

competitive fellowships are

$600,000 to advance his

for his codevelopment of

judged on the artistic

research on the mobility of

QBism, a theory asserting

excellence of submitted work;

living microorganisms, which that probabilities in quantum

Fulton earned his for The

could play a pivotal role in

mechanics reflect observers’

Flounder and Other Stories, a

applications like the

expectations rather than

Poets & Writers Page One New

creation of micromotors

objective reality, bridging

and Noteworthy Book

and micromachines for

the gap between

selection. (Learn more in our

biosensing, bioremediation,

consciousness and the

Alumni and Faculty Bookshelf

and disease treatment.

physical world.

on page 11.)

You have to decide what side you are on. . . .

It’s better to be with the people who are saying something than the people who are trying to keep folks from saying something.”

—Nikki Giovanni, one of the nation’s best-known and most celebrated poets at “An Evening with Nikki Giovanni,” hosted by the College of Education & Human Development. More than 300 people attended to hear the renowned writer, educator, and activist reflect on her life and career.

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE program awarded a three-year, $1 million grant to a team of five UMass Boston faculty members tackling gender and racial inequity among the university’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics faculty.

“While the student body at UMass Boston is one of the most diverse in the country, the faculty is not as diverse,” explained Associate Professor of Leadership in Education Katalin Szelényi, who is a co-principal investigator on the grant with Biology Professor Adán Colón-Carmona, Chemistry Professor Hannah Sevian, Management Professor Maureen Scully, and Dean of Faculty and English Professor Rajini Srikanth.

Their project aims to provide clarity around factors affecting the career outcomes of women faculty and faculty of color in STEM fields, with approaches that are relevant to all faculty at the university, both tenure- and nontenure- stream.

This may include the way faculty activities are recognized and rewarded or undervalued, and organizational barriers that inhibit equity.

In addition to cultivating and supporting the university’s increasingly diverse faculty, the project will create “a model for other universities,” said Provost Joseph Berger. UMass Boston was one of only six higher education institutions in the U.S. to receive an ADVANCE Adaptation grant in 2023.

Spring 2024

Giving the mic to climate-impacted communities TOTAL GIVING:

$37,366,952

48-Hour Giving Challenge

April 10–12, 2024

19 1,068 $64,831 DONORS:

13,816

TEAMS

DONORS

RAISED

NEW ENDOWMENTS:

$12,700,000

The Waverley Street Foundation has awarded a shared two-year, $2.3 million grant to the School for the Environment and the environmental news radio program Living on Earth,

PARTICIPATION LEADERBOARD

which is produced at UMass Boston and airs

Men’s Lacrosse / 149 donors

on 250 public radio stations nationwide.

Women’s Soccer / 145 donors$100K+ GIFTS:

Together, the partners will use the funds to launch a joint Center for Climate &

Men’s Soccer / 141 donors

Environmental Justice Media. The center will

Men’s Hockey / 82 donors

provide media skills training for students of color and members of marginalized commu-

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Women’s Volleyball / 79 donors

nities, then help participants create micro-podcasts to deliver their stories of climate injustice and progress. The goals: amplifying the voices of climate-impacted communities and catalyzing grassroots climate action.

Waverley Street Foundation was launched

ACCOLADES MEN’S HOCKEY

Most alumni donors

by Apple founder Steve Jobs and is

MEN’S LACROSSE

cochaired by his widow, philanthropist

Most parent donors

Laurene Powell Jobs, and Apple Vice President for Environment, Policy and Social

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Initiatives Lisa Jackson, former administrator

Most friend donors

of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

The foundation has committed to granting its entire $3-billion-plus endowment by 2035 to support climate solutions grounded in community needs.

Beacons

* Unrestricted gifts can be used Most faculty/staff donors

toward a variety of university needs WOMEN’S SOCCER and initiatives.

First to reach goal

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New Campus Hub for Native & Indigenous Students ast fall, the campus community celebrated the grand opening of the Native & Indigenous Student Resource Hub, a space that Assistant Professor of Native American History Maria John hopes will provide a natural home, meeting place, and dedicated space for students to socialize, collaborate, and access resources through community events, staffing support, and more.

“I don’t think we can underestimate the power of having a place that is just for the students,” said John, adding that it’s been challenging for Native and Indigenous students to find one another on campus without a dedicated space to do the work of community building. The hub,

sponsored by the Institute for New England Native American Studies and the Native American & Indigenous Studies minor, is located on the third floor of the Campus Center. “This brings visibility, community, the opportunity to build, a sense of belonging, and so much more.”

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Karen Ferrer-Muñiz said the hub continues an important collaboration of students, faculty, and staff to “further uplift an ecology of acknowledgement of Native communities as the traditional land caretakers of Massachusetts.”

Climate pioneers headline new lecture series Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco’s new lecture series “From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience” is drawing climate pioneers to campus to share their thoughts on how the global community can progress toward climate resiliency.

The series kicked off in November with Dr. Ram Ramanathan, distinguished professor emeritus of climate sustainability at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Ramanathan discovered the greenhouse effect of CFCs in 1975, establishing the now-accepted fact that non-CO2 gases are a major contributor to planet warming. He was followed in April by Dr. Vanessa Kerry, the World Health Organization’s first director-general special envoy for climate and health (and daughter of former Massachusetts senator and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry).

Though one is an atmospheric scientist and the other a physician, both speakers emphasized the importance of viewing the climate crisis through a public health lens.

“We have got to change the narrative on our climate problem,” said

“It also provides a space for our community to centrally offer tailored support, community, and cultural celebration for the Native community and their allies that focuses on holistic student success through belonging,” she said. “I look forward to seeing how this hub grows and hopefully flourishes in the coming years.”

“ It was important to showcase extraordinary nonprofit leaders doing good work in this city at a great institution that shares those values.”

—JOHN WERNER, organizer of more than 3,000 TED talks, on why he decided to host TEDxBoston’s Boston Leaders event on the UMass Boston campus in January.

The 15 featured speakers—including Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco and alumni Paul English ’87, G’89, H’19;

Ramanathan, noting that past successes curtailing pollution have hinged on

Elisabeth Jackson ’00; and Imari Paris Jeffries ’97,

protecting human health. “Thanks to our former EPA head and White House

G’99, G’03, PhD’23—lead service-oriented

advisor Gina McCarthy [’76], aggressive laws were passed, and they were all

organizations whose missions range from local to global.

for health reasons.”

To see recordings of the talks, visit www.youtube.com/c/TEDxBeaconStreet.

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Spring 2024

Student Q&A: Kaushar Barejiya ’24 Undergraduate Student Body President Kaushar Barejiya ’24 is determined to become an attorney, and as she finishes up her senior year as a political science major at UMass Boston, she’s one step closer to making that dream a reality. We met up with Barejiya to learn more about her UMass Boston experience, both in and out of the classroom.

Q: What made you choose to attend UMass Boston?

Q: Who at UMass Boston has had the most influence

At first, I planned to head to law school in London but decided to

on your life?

pursue my undergraduate studies in the United States instead.

My time at UMass Boston has been shaped by the collective

Being an international student, I didn’t have the luxury of visiting

contributions and influences of many people, specifically my

the campus in person before making my decision. So, it’s fair

professors and friends. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention

to say that all the reasons I now love UMass Boston

Rachel Puopolo, my academic advisor and director of CLA

weren’t apparent to me back then. They only be-

First in the College of Liberal Arts. She has been a constant

came real once I stepped foot on campus.

support since day one. Her patience and her wise words have helped me through some tough academic

Q: How did UMass Boston play a role in

challenges.

where you are today?

I cannot emphasize enough that a significant portion of the college experience exists beyond the academic buildings.

Q: What are your goals after graduation?

After graduation, I plan to work for a year or two and then go to law school to get my JD.

Whether it was joining clubs, taking on leadership roles, or pursuing

Q: What would you tell a prospective

internships with nonprofits and even

student considering attending UMass

the congressional office of Senator

Boston?

Ed Markey, these experiences

With a plethora of resources available

expanded my network and gave

at UMass Boston, having a sense

a purpose and meaning to my

of direction enables you to utilize

education. UMass Boston’s unique

them effectively. While the college

position in the city as a public

experience can be overwhelming,

university helped me tap into

having short- and long-term goals will

resources and opportunities

help you stay centered and grounded.

afforded by the city of Boston.

Extracurriculars are the cornerstone of

Q: What has been your most

find something that best suits your passions

memorable experience as a Beacon

and interests here at UMass Boston, but you

thus far?

will have to go out and put effort into finding it.

any college student’s experience. You will

Being elected as the undergraduate

Beacons

student body president for the academic

Q: Is there anything you would like to add

year 2023–24 was undeniably one of the

that we haven’t covered yet?

most profound and memorable experiences

The college experience is an unparalleled and

of my time as a Beacon. Whether it was

irreplaceable opportunity that comes once

navigating complex issues, collaborating

in a lifetime. Embrace it fully. It’s a time to

with the university administration, or

explore new endeavors, even if that means

spearheading initiatives that came with

facing failure along the way. At UMass

multilayered obstacles, every day was a

Boston, you will find a great community of

chance to lead with integrity.

friends and professors.

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THEN

NOW 8

Spring 2024

THEN 50th anniversary of the creation of UMass Boston campus on Columbia Point

NOW

The Massachusetts Legislature established the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1964. The second university in the UMass system, UMass Boston opened its doors in 1965 at a renovated building in Park Square in downtown Boston. The university moved to its present campus on Columbia Point in Dorchester in 1974.

Historic photo credits: University Archives and Special Collections

Beacons

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The Tea

B

A new collaboration for public education

OSTON MAYOR Michelle Wu announced during her annual state of the city address in January a new partnership between Boston Public Schools (BPS) and UMass Boston to transform the BCLA- McCormack School on Columbia Point into the city’s first University-Assisted Community Hub School.

“Together, we’ll give our high school students direct access to college coursework and resources, partner educators from both institutions, and create a seamless pathway into UMass Boston for our graduates as we renovate a state-of-the-art high school campus embedded in the Columbia Point community,” Mayor Wu said in her address.

The new partnership developed over a year of research and strategizing, including a fact-finding mission to California, where UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, in his previous position as dean of the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies at UCLA, led the development of a new model of high school aimed at enhancing college success.

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“As Boston’s only public research university, we are committed to providing BPS students with an equitable pathway to and through UMass Boston. We look forward to working alongside the mayor and superintendent with BCLAMcCormack leadership, teachers, students, parents, and the community to ensure this is a successful collaboration,” said Suárez-Orozco.

Umass Boston has a long-standing collaboration with BCLA-McCormack, which is located just a block from campus. The new partnership expands the relationship significantly. In keeping with the community school model, the partners will focus not just on academics, but also on wraparound services that contribute to student, family, and community engagement and wellness. At UCLA’s partner school, these initiatives include extended school days, health clinics, family legal services, and more.

In codeveloping what will be Massachusetts’ first university-assisted community school, the partners are positing “a new vision for educational transformation in Boston Public Schools,” said Tara Parker, dean of the

UMass Boston College of Education & Human Development.

A deepened partnership with BPS and the City of Boston presents the university with “an incredible opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to anti-racism, health promotion, and education for the future,” she said. “In the spirit of Ruth Batson and others who fought for equity in public schools, we seek to mobilize our resources and work in partnership with school leadership, teachers, students, families, and the larger community to cocreate meaningful change in this school and beyond.”

Collaborations between the two schools have already begun. When the college brought acclaimed poet and educator Nikki Giovanni to campus in March for a distinguished lecture, they also arranged for her to speak to more than 200 students at BCLAMcCormack and meet with teachers over lunch. Some of the students shared their own poetry with Giovanni. “It was amazing—a very special day at the school,” said Dean Parker. “When we left, the school leaders said, ‘Now we really know what this partnership with UMass Boston can be!’”

Spring 2024

The Tea

Alumni and Faculty Bookshelf

JOHN FULTON, recognized as one of the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing

Fellows for 2024, presents a radiant collection that lays bare the riddles of desire, youth, old age, poverty, and wealth in his latest book, The Flounder and Other Stories. From inner-city pawnshops to high-powered law firms, and from the California desert to the coast of France, Fulton paints a vivid picture of life’s challenges and moments of hope. Through lucid prose, he offers insights into what endures in a changing world. Fulton is a professor of English and the director of the MFA program in creative writing at UMass Boston.

YVONNE DESOUSA ’91 embarks on a deeply personal exploration of love and addiction in her memoir, Shelter of the Monument: A Provincetown Love Story. Starting with her upbringing in Provincetown, a close-knit fishing community, deSousa introduces readers to Richard, a troubled figure she becomes romantically involved with despite warnings from her family and rumors of his dark past.

As deSousa delves deeper into their tumultuous romance, she lays bare the harsh realities of loving someone consumed by addiction.

Beacons

LINDA UPHAM-BORNSTEIN ’77

dives into organized taxpayer activity in the 1930s through her book, Mr. Taxpayer Versus Mr. Tax Spender: Taxpayers Associations, Pocketbook Politics, and the Law During the Great Depression. The book provides a comprehensive overview of these grassroots organizations, tracing their origins from the 1860s and highlighting their peak in the 1930s. UphamBornstein details the organizational methods and strategies employed by these associations, including constructive economy, political lobbying, tax strikes, and litigation.

SCOT LEHIGH G’97’s debut novel, Just East of Nowhere, is a gritty coming-of-age tale set in the overlooked corners of Maine. The story follows a troubled cast of characters who are caught in the undercurrents of a struggling coastal town. The novel should resonate with anyone who also came from, as in singer Kris Kristofferson’s evocative phrase, “just the other side of nowhere.” Shortly after its publication, Just East of Nowhere claimed the #1 spot on the Portland Press Herald’s fiction bestseller list.

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The Tea

UMass Boston Hosts FirstEver Alumni Exhibition

“With the amount and variety of artworks to choose from, collaboration and compromise were key,” she said. “When deciding on the layout of the show, it really felt like the works grouped themselves together in a way. Color schemes and similar subject matter became clear as we arranged the artworks. Since there are so many artworks in the exhibition, grouping them together keeps visitors from being overwhelmed and welcomes

BY VANESSA CHATTERLEY

them to explore each piece.”

David R. Andresen ’71 paid homage

he University Hall Gallery at

to his past as a former embassy public

UMass Boston hosted its inaugural alumni

affairs officer in his piece, Autoportraits–

art exhibition and reception this past

Paris. Dorothy Walsh ’76 blended pho-

spring. Aptly named Looking Back, Facing

tography, a contemporary medium, with

Forward, the exhibition showcased over

oil and egg tempera, an ancient painting

40 pieces from 31 alumni, whose class

technique, in her piece, Reaching.

years span over five decades.

Jennifer Kufchak ’03 depicted a whimsi-

University Hall Gallery Director Samuel

Mr. Photon and Friends, while Russell

exhibition stemmed from a long-standing

Dupont ’71 showcased the evolution of

desire to showcase the diverse voices

Boston neighborhoods through his wood-

and skills of UMass Boston alumni artists.

cut prints, Harry the Greeks and Dudley

“This exhibition showed us how impor-

Street. Howard Thomas Hay ’21 ex-

tant art and creativity are to our alumni,”

plored themes of body dysmorphia in his

he said. “Having art in our lives, no matter

surrealistic digital photograph, Heading

what our primary specialties might be,

Down the Trail. Saida Cora ’18 celebrated

helps with creative problem solving,

Ukrainian culture in her acrylic painting,

developing empathy, and provides people

The White Stork, and Heather MacLean

with a healthier and more balanced life.”

G’21 presented Happy Jar, a whimsical

In addition to this being the first-ever

stoneware creation reflecting her joy in

UMass Boston alumni art exhibition, it also marked the debut of students taking

working with clay.

Barbara Hebard ’75, a skilled book-

on the gallery’s curatorial process for

binder whose work has been showcased

a large-scale show. Gallery Assistants

at nearly 100 exhibitions around the

Hunter Murphy ’24, Erika Perez ’24, Willa

world, said she was thrilled to have her

Schanback ’26, and Isabella Slonka ’26,

work on display at her alma mater.

under the mentorship of Toabe, were

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cal and fantastical scene in her painting,

Toabe said the idea to host an alumni

“I was elated, glad that UMass was open

tasked with selecting, arranging, and

both to book arts and to work done by

categorizing the pieces that appeared in

alumni who had graduated so many years

the show.

ago,” she said. “The exhibition should help

Slonka, who is pursuing her bachelor’s

viewers, particularly current students, see

degree in history with an art history minor,

not only the diversity of the works, but also

said she was grateful for the firsthand

the variety of courses of study completed

experience.

by the alumni. Regardless of their major,

Spring 2024

UMass Boston alumni have a strong love of the arts and express that in multiple forms of media.”

Nick Zaremba ’01—a mixed-media

artist whose portfolio includes illustration, printmaking, graphic design, and site-specific 3D installations—said he hopes the exhibition inspired inward reflection among gallery visitors.

“I’m proud of my school for having a continuously active, beautiful gallery space on campus,” he said, adding that such spaces are vital to the university experience. “I’m grateful to be part of such a diverse list of alumni artists and honored to have taken part in this exhibition.”

As a student, Slonka said she found it comforting to see how art still plays a role in the lives of UMass Boston alumni.

“When speaking to many of our artists, I noticed what an impact their time at UMass Boston had on their art and careers,” she said. “I feel that it is important to highlight the success stories of our alumni through their art.”

The following alumni were featured in Looking Back, Facing Forward: Jeremy Ackman ’12; David R. Andresen ’71; Adam Augello ’17; Saida Cora ’18; Charlie Crowell ’13; Kathleen P. Dunn ’83; Russell Dupont ’71; Katie Fitzpatrick ’07; Lisa Gualtieri ’79; Gallery Director Samuel Toabe

Howard Thomas Hay ’21; Barbara Adams Hebard ’75; Rachelle Jeanty CER’17, G’19; Corey Jones ’13; Farrin Khan ’21; Jennifer Kufchak ’03; Erika Lopez-Torres ’21; Heather MacLean G’21; Edward Maglott ’87; Sylvain Malfroy-Camine ’17; Derek Mangus ’05; Patrice McInnis ’92, CER’21; Stephen Molloy ’76; Maureen Murphy ’77; Sarah Newcomb G’04; Merlo Philiossaint ’13; Jesus Pizarro ’18; Deborah Sacon G’92; Maria Servellon ’12; Dorothy Walsh ’76; Hsin-Ching Wu PhD’20; and Nick Zaremba ’01.

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Light of Hope Physics Professor Jonathan Celli is working to bring photodynamic cancer care to rural South Asian communities.

N RURAL INDIA and other parts of South Asia, the high incidence of oral cancers is a major health concern. In these areas, even when early-stage cancers are detected, treatment may not be accessible to patients.

When available, current care options often require that patients travel long distances to receive care like radiation and chemotherapy, which involve multiple rounds of costly medical treatments and may come with debilitating side effects. A new method for managing the disease is urgently needed to address the health crisis while considering the barriers to health care access, including infrastructure.

This spring, UMass Boston Professor of Physics Jonathan Celli was awarded $608,000 from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support his efforts to advance the development of a low-cost, compact medical device for screening and treating oral cancers. The award is part of a five-year, $2.87 million, multi-PI NCI cooperative agreement in collaboration with Tayyaba Hasan, professor of dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Rongguang Liang, professor of optical sciences at the University of Arizona.

The joint project aims to create an affordable, user-friendly, handheld therapeutic device that can put cancer treatment within reach for more patients. “The device’s purpose is to screen for early signs of oral cancer, identify lesion locations, and provide immediate treatment at the point of care,” explained Celli.

Both a diagnostic and treatment tool for cancerous oral lesions, the device eradicates malignant cells through photodynamic therapy (PDT), which involves using a light

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source in combination with light-activated medication. It is a method that has already shown great promise in treating oral cancers.

The PDT device is specifically designed for low-resource, rural locations. In a single appointment, medical providers can use the device to both screen for oral cancer and treat malignant or pre-malignant oral lesions, offering a medical intervention for oral cancers that is more feasible and less invasive than traditional cancer care.

“This work builds on an earlier prototype device built at UMass Boston through previous NCI funding. A clinical trial in India using this device produced excellent results.

Out of 29 patients with early-stage oral cancer, 22 had complete tumor response in a single PDT session with our hardware. And compared to other therapies, healing was excellent, with oral mucosa returning to a shiny and healthy state after PDT. We are

excited about designing and testing the nextgeneration device to build on what we saw with the previous system,” said Celli.

Once the device is ready, the technology will undergo testing in a Phase IIb clinical trial in India. Clinical partners in India are Moni Abraham Kuriakose, an oncologist with Karkinos Healthcare and Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Center, and Mohd Akram, a radiotherapist at Aligarh Muslim University.

UMass Boston Postdoctoral Research Associate Shakir Khan has been instrumental in the project. Graduate and undergraduate students studying biology, engineering, and physics have also participated in the project through research positions in Celli’s lab.

The research has led to a pending U.S. patent and the launch of a start-up company named Photodynamic Solutions.

—By Sandra Mason

Spring 2024

Gina King (far right) with CEHD Dean Tara Parker (second from left) and fellow scholarship awardees.

Giving is at your fingertips!

Scan here to make your gift directly from your mobile device.

The village makes a difference Building a better life through determination and community

T

HROUGHOUT HER LIFE,

two things have been focal for Gina King ’24: her love for her family and her unwavering resolve to pursue her dreams.

Born and raised in Boston, Gina headed to California in 2015 to pursue an independent life of her own. There, she began her college career, earning associate degrees with summa cum laude honors in business administration and early education.

A promising job opportunity brought her back to Boston in 2019, and Gina began building a professional career and family of her own.

Life took an unexpected turn for Gina when she found herself without a job amid a wave of pandemic layoffs and a change in her relationship left

her parenting alone. Now a single mother of a young son—with special health needs of his own—Gina began imagining the type of life she wanted to build for herself and baby Julian.

And she knew that education was the key to unlocking a brighter future for them both.

Gina chose to enroll in the College of Education & Human Development at UMass Boston to pursue her bachelor’s degree, a choice made possible through the generosity of donors who contributed to the scholarships Gina earned along the way. Her scholarships helped her balance working six days a week while creating a safe and stable environment for her son, carrying a full-time course load, and investing the necessary time to focus on her

studies to make the Dean’s List.

This December, Gina will graduate from UMass Boston with a BA in early childhood education and her teaching licensure. After graduation, she plans to begin her career as an educator; and in January 2025, she’ll begin pursuing her master’s degree in behavioral therapy with the goal of becoming a behavioral analyst for under-resourced children and families. Gina credits the support of the generous Beacon community as being central to her success.

“I am so grateful, because it truly does take a village to raise a child,” Gina says, “and right now donors are participating in that village financially to make going to school and finding a higher paying job possible.”

YOUR GIFT MATTERS Seventy-two percent of UMass Boston undergraduate students receive financial aid that helps remove the barriers between them and achieving their dreams. Your gifts to the UMass Boston Annual Fund provide unrestricted resources that empower success in every corner of our campus. Join our community of likeminded donors in creating an engine of opportunities that propel our students forward. Together, we’re preparing a new generation of leaders who are ready to change the world!

Visit umb.edu/give today to make your gift online!

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Spring 2024

A Foundation for the Future With the inauguration of Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, UMass Boston celebrates the official installation of its ninth chancellor and the promising future of what he calls “UMass Boston 2.0.”

⁄⁄⁄⁄⁄ AU S T Y N E L L E S E M AY F I E L D

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APRIL 5, 2024, was a sun-dappled Friday on

Columbia Point. Harbor winds caught the familiar edges of scarves and spring coats as the Beacon community buzzed about the campus, wrapping up the activity of another week.

But on that Friday, a mix of regalia—tams, hoods, tassels, and robes—fluttered alongside the usual seasonal attire as a processional of leaders and dignitaries made their way to Clark Athletic Center for the momentous business of the day: the much-anticipated inauguration of Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco.

“It’s a celebration,” said Suárez-Orozco of the day’s events, “a celebration of what we’ve achieved, of what we’ve constructed together. We’re moving into another era.”

⁄⁄⁄⁄⁄ While inaugurations typically mark the beginning of a leader’s tenure, the ceremony officially inducting SuárezOrozco as UMass Boston’s ninth chancellor has been four years and many achievements in the making. He assumed the role of university chancellor on August 1, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic roiled across the globe and social divisions in the U.S. added even more tension to seemingly unprecedented times. What he found upon his arrival was an institution brimming with potential, at an inflection point in the journey of realizing its mission.

“I think that given the crisis of purpose in higher education, this is the moment to articulate with clarity what exactly an urban public research university in the 21st century—especially in this iconic city of Boston—stands for,” said Suárez-Orozco. “We’re reaffirming our foundations in a new way, in a fixed way. We’re setting the course, as Beacons,

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toward a destination where education serves to pursue truth at a time when truth is so contested, pursue science when large segments of our population don’t believe in science, and pursue justice at a time when inequality is at unprecedented, historic levels.”

The course and the destination comprise equal parts of what Suárez-Orozco describes as “UMass Boston 2.0,” though unlike many software updates, the improvements led by Suárez-Orozco move beyond bug fixes and superficial edits.

Since joining as the university’s leader, Suárez-Orozco has been setting the stage for UMass Boston 2.0. He made key hiring and personnel selections—a new dean of students, new provost, and newly installed leadership across a swath of previously interim school and college appointments. In 2022, the university released a comprehensive ten-year strategic plan, For the Times, and the institution has seen record-level support for both research funding and philanthropic giving. Enrollment and retention have been bolstered, alongside career and internship opportunities for students and alumni. And amid improved metrics and data points, the newly opened quadrangle sits at the heart of campus as a physical representation of the university’s blossoming and growth.

Suárez-Orozco is quick to note that these transformative achievements were born from collaboration and partnership. He doesn’t use the word “I” very often, and his use of “we” is not a “royal we.” His unwavering belief in the power

Spring 2024

An ovation for Suárez-Orozco at the moment of his installation.

Bottom right: His Holiness Pope Francis sent a message of support from Vatican City.

We’re addressing what our country desperately needs today: more equality, more justice, more truth, more science, more democracy.”

– MARCELO SUÁREZ-OROZCO

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About Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco Prior to coming to UMass Boston, Suárez-Orozco served as the inaugural UCLA Wasserman Dean, leading two academic departments, 16 nationally renowned

His research focuses on cultural

The bottom line is this: More than maybe anywhere else, what happens on this campus matters.

It matters for individuals, for communities, for our state, and our world.”

psychology and psychological

– GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY

research institutes, and two innovative demonstration schools at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education & Information Studies.

anthropology, with an emphasis on education, globalization, and migration.

His award-winning books and edited volumes have been published by Harvard University Press, Stanford University Press, University of California Press, Cambridge University Press, New York University Press, and others.

In January 2018 His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Suárez-Orozco to the Executive Committee of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and on July 4, 2018, the Carnegie Corporation of New York named him a “Great Immigrant / Great American.”

An immigrant from Argentina, Dr. Suárez-Orozco is a product of the California master plan, having studied in community college and at the University of California Berkeley, where he received his AB, MA, and PhD (in anthropology) in 1986.

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Spring 2024

Members of the chancellor’s family look on during the ceremony.

and necessary action of the collective is a value imbedded in his language and strategic vision for change.

“It’s the power of the ‘we’. . . it’s the power of the ‘us,’” Suárez-Orozco said of the accomplishments and opportunities occurring on campus and beyond. “[Humans] really are Homo sapiens social, the social species. Our connections with the broader community are fundamental to better understanding what is needed. It’s also what distinguishes UMass Boston, I think, from some of the other universities here in the general neighborhood.”

⁄⁄⁄⁄⁄ The chancellor’s catalytic leadership was heralded throughout the inauguration ceremony by colleagues and collaborators from across decades and sectors. His Holiness Pope Francis, who appointed Suárez-Orozco to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, sent a message from the Vatican celebrating the chancellor as a cultivator of the next generation of change agents and peacemakers.

University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan cited Suárez-Orozco’s galvanization of talent and resources in making UMass Boston “an indispensable educational resource for this region and far beyond.” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu highlighted the chancellor’s influence in positioning the university as a true engine for community empowerment, joining the City of Boston in early education and workforce development initiatives. And Governor Maura Healey spoke earnestly of Suárez-Orozco’s demonstrated care and commitment to UMass Boston, its students, and the people of Massachusetts.

“The bottom line is this: More than maybe anywhere else, what happens on this campus matters. It matters for individuals, for communities, for our state, and our world,” said Gov. Healey. “No institution combines excellence and equity, achievement and access, and diversity quite like UMass Boston. We are so grateful, Chancellor Marcelo, to have you here in the Commonwealth as a leader helping to lead not just this university, but also as a leader in this state.”

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The day was replete with accolades and ritual, including the ceremonial bestowing of the UMass Boston chancellor’s medallion. And while Suárez-Orozco is not one for pomp, he was described as a man keenly interested in circumstance.

That is to say, the situations and realities facing humanity.

In her recorded remarks, Danielle Allen, PhD, who worked with Suárez-Orozco at Harvard University, provided a sketch of Suárez-Orozco as a distinctive leader, who brilliantly unites head and heart.

“Marcelo always reminded us that people were pursuing two things: love and work—to have a chance for a foundation for flourishing for themselves and the people they love. For him, the well-being of human beings is always at the center of what he does,” said Allen. “He’s as smart as they come, and he’s a person who always understands the emotional impact of the choices that leaders make. He unites that incredible talent for empathy to smart, penetrating analysis. This is why he’s a person who leads with such a sense of purpose.”

Opposite: (Top) Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey delivers her remarks.

(Bottom) Kaushar Barejiya ’24 and Delaney Bowen ’21 G’24 represented UMass students on the dais, speaking as presidents of the Undergraduate Student Government and Graduate Student Assembly, respectively.

⁄⁄⁄⁄⁄ Suárez-Orozco is eagerly eyeing the horizon and the opportunities that await UMass Boston in this new era.

“It’s the beauty and novel quality of our mission that keeps me motivated. We’re a jewel in Columbia Point, and I think we’ve been the best kept secret in the great, great ecology of higher education in Boston and in the Commonwealth,” said Suárez-Orozco. “Now is the time to work with more passion and tell our story.”

“If UMass Boston didn’t exist, we would have to invent it,” Suárez-Orozco continued, paraphrasing Voltaire. “You can’t have a happy future for the city of Boston or for the Commonwealth without a happy future for our students, because we are the face of the New Boston. And we’re addressing what our country desperately needs today: more equality, more justice, more truth, more science, more democracy. At a time when universities need clarity of purpose, that’s what we offer. I’m in 100 percent, and the best is yet to come.”

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A Full Day of Celebration ⁄⁄⁄⁄⁄ The Chancellor’s installation was not the only momentous occasion on Inauguration Day. The ceremony was bookended by events celebrating exciting developments at UMass Boston.

A new space for a new era The day kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the university’s new quadrangle. Gathered at the Quad’s central crossroads with well-wishers, UMass President Marty Meehan, Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Karam, Trustee Mary Burns, and UMass Building Authority Director Barbara Kroncke, the Chancellor asserted that in opening the transformed space, “we literally open the campus of UMass Boston 2.0.”

The accessible Quad, landscaped with 500 trees and 95,000 plants and shrubs, features three recreation fields, numerous picnic tables and benches, a basketball court, and a 300-space parking lot. It replaces an unusable underground garage and the campus’s original Science Center building, a transformation requiring more than a decade of planning and execution and 421,118 hours of labor, said Kroncke.

“We’re getting rid of a piece of history that we needed to get rid of,” said Meehan. Now, “the students at UMass Boston are going to have a facility that they deserve.”

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Important conversations for our times Following a community-wide celebratory luncheon, UMass Boston hosted academic symposia that gathered national experts in the Campus Center Ballroom to discuss three “grand scholarly challenges”: issues of national and international import where the university is positioning itself to have real impact.

“ These are the fundamental challenges of our times. And they are aligned to our strategic vision moving forward,” said Suárez-Orozco. “These are global challenges which have a local reality. So I like to think of us as being ‘glocal’ in our endeavors to connect with and—through research, through science, through the humanities— address these challenges and make our institution more relevant to the problems of the world.”

Spring 2024

Climate Change: From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience UMass Boston alum and former White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy ’76, Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer, and Harvard University Professor Mary Waters took part in a discussion on climate change, “From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience.” The panel was moderated by Steve Curwood, host and executive director of Living on Earth, who facilitated questions regarding the future of green jobs, the importance of spreading wealth and education globally, and the richness that diversity can bring to creatively and effectively fighting the climate crisis.

Education for the Future: University-Assisted Community Schools College of Education & Human Development Dean Tara Parker led a discussion on the role universities play to provide sustained support to schools in their communities. Education experts for this panel included Wasserman Dean Christina Christie and Associate Dean of Public Engagement Annamarie Francois from the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, Senior Advisor for Youth and Schools at the City Above: Chancellor Suárez-Orozco cuts the ribbon in the historic ceremony opening the new quad. Below: Attendees listen in at the “Education for the Future” symposium.

of Boston Rebecca Grainger, UMass Boston Associate Professor Christopher Martell, Gastón Institute Director Lorna Rivera, and the Richard K. Lubin Foundation Director of Education Emily Woods.

Health & Wellness: Confronting Inequity in Health Care Manning College of Nursing & Health Sciences Dean Bo Fernhall led a session exploring research on cardiovascular fitness, cancer disparities, and the impact of environmental change and climate on public health with a panel of experts: Nurse Director at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Cancer Care Equity Program Lumila Svoboda, UMass Boston Associate Professor Alexander F. Medico More, and Professor and Executive Associate Dean at the Indiana University School of Public Health NiCole Keith.

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SERVICE

BY THE TRUCKLOAD Alumna Torry Katsiroubas Stamm G’08 carries on a four-generation legacy of entrepreneurship and public service.

BY HEATHER BRIGHAM G’18

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Spring 2024

CROSS NEW ENGLAND , you can see them: iconic green trucks bearing the name “Katsiroubas Bros.” The modern-day convoy of a thriving produce business, these trucks also represent a century-old legacy of entrepreneurship and commitment to community, spearheaded today by UMass Boston alumna Torry

Katsiroubas Stamm G’08.

Stamm was born into a family with deep ties to public education, civic service, and entrepreneurship. Her great-grandfather on her mother’s side, William T. Morrissey, was an engineer in Boston’s Public Works Department for 30 years, eventually becoming head of the Metropolitan District Commission.

Her maternal grandfather served as a dean at Boston State College.

Stamm’s family on her father’s side hailed from Greece and epitomized hard work and perseverance. Katsiroubas Brothers traces back to 1914, when brothers Jim and Fred Katsiroubas opened a banana cart selling to Boston restauranteurs. Over the years, their modest endeavor blossomed, transformed over four generations to a store, then a produce wagon, and now a wholesaler that provides produce and specialty foods to more than 1,000 restaurants and other customers.

From as early as age five, Stamm was immersed in the family business, excitedly lending a hand whenever possible. She remembers spending Friday nights rolling coins on her grandparents’ bed. Her involvement continued through her youth and college years; she spent every weekend and school vacation working. After college, following her father’s advice to explore beyond the family business, she ventured to New York City, where she worked for a magazine and dabbled in photography. After a few years in NYC, Beacons

she found herself drawn back to Boston and the family business.

Upon her return, Stamm rejoined Katsiroubas Brothers full time. But as a woman in a male-dominated industry, she faced challenges. “My dad had a lot of confidence in me. And I had confidence in myself because of him,” said Stamm.

“But the environment I was in did not have confidence in me.” With encouragement from her father, she decided to get an MBA as a strategic move to distinguish herself and advance her career.

Stamm applied to several business schools, but her choice to attend UMass Boston was “a no-brainer,” she said.

“UMass Boston checked every box— and more.” She was proud to continue her public schooling, especially at an institution located on the very street—William T. Morrissey Boulevard—the city had named after her great-grandfather.

After graduation, armed with newfound business acumen, Stamm transitioned into a leadership role within her family’s business. After her father’s death from ALS in 2013, Torry became the company’s president. Today, Katsiroubas Brothers has more than 50 of those signature green trucks and nearly 200 employees, led by the vision and dedication of Stamm and her brother, Ted, now the company’s CEO. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and many of their restaurant clients closed doors, Stamm and her team had to reimagine how to deliver the produce of their farming partners. They pivoted from wholesale delivery to CSA-style produce boxes sold to individuals and donated to nonprofits. What started as a temporary solution to the pandemic shutdown has evolved into a mission to give nonprofits and people with food-related disease access to healthy foods through the food as medicine

movement, launching a new arm of the business known as Morrissey Market.

With the goal of supporting small suppliers while helping to combat food insecurity, Morrissey Market is in the process of becoming a Certified B Corp, embodying the values of sustainability and ethical business practices.

Stamm’s personal goal is to “be a person for others,” and her endeavors extend beyond her business ventures.

She established the Nick and Debbie Katsiroubas Scholarship at UMass Boston, providing financial assistance to deserving students pursuing either business or nursing degrees—honoring her family’s business background as well as the nurses who cared for her father when he was ill. In addition to the scholarship, Stamm returns to UMass Boston at least once per semester to guest lecture, has mentored female students, and has served on the College of Management advisory board. In memory of her father, her family also founded the Nick Katsiroubas Foundation, dedicated to supporting causes related to food insecurity.

Looking to the future, Stamm is determined to impart to her three children the same values that shaped her. For her business, she envisions a continued expansion of Morrissey Market’s impact, embracing the evolving landscape of food access and health equity while upholding the values of philanthropy and community engagement.

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A Better Way to Beach E F F I E O R F A N I D E S ’ 0 6 I S M A K I N G W AV E S I N T H E T E C H W O R L D W I T H A N A P P T H AT P R O M I S E S T O S AV E H O U R S O F F R U S T R AT I O N A N D P L A N N I N G F O R B E A C H E N T H U S I A S T S A C R O S S T H E C O U N T R Y.

B y Va n e s s a C h att e r l ey BEACHEO, a free app available on Android and iOS, offers comprehensive details about saltwater beaches in the United States and Puerto Rico. Touting itself as “a better way to beach,” the app provides beachgoers with insights such as weather forecasts, sand conditions, parking availability, bathroom facilities, and other amenities.

“No mobile app has ever provided information like this—all in one place,” said Effie Orfanides ’06. “The Beacheo app helps take the guesswork out of going to the beach.

Whether you need to be sure a beach has a bathroom or you’re wondering whether to pack your boogie board, Beacheo is going to answer those questions for you before you even leave the house.”

The idea for Beacheo sprouted during Orfanides’ college days—when resources like cell phones, search engines, and GPS were still in their infancy. Between lectures and exams, Orfanides would try to coordinate beach trips with a cousin who was notorious for sleeping in and impromptu trips to Starbucks. By the time they would finally arrive at Orfanides’ favorite beach spot, Old Silver Beach in Falmouth, Mass., the parking lot would be at capacity.

“We would pull off to the side of the road and go, ‘Okay, we need to find a beach, but we want to make sure it has a bathroom. And we want to make sure it has food, because we didn’t pack anything to eat. And we don’t want to travel very far,’” Orfanides recalled.

“It would take even more time out of our morning trying to figure out what beach to go to that would have all the amenities we were looking for.”

Living in Massachusetts, where prime beach spots filled up quickly, Orfanides envisioned a solution to streamline the beachgoing experience—a platform that

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consolidated essential beach information, from parking availability to restroom facilities.

It was then that Orfanides turned to her cousin and said, “It would be so cool if there was something with all of this information in one place.”

Fueled by this desire for a one-stop solution, Orfanides’ idea for Beacheo began to take shape.

But it wasn’t until years later, amidst personal and professional upheavals, that Orfanides embarked on realizing her vision. Following a turbulent period marked by a divorce, relocation to Florida, and the loss of a job and a dog, Orfanides decided it was time to breathe life into her long-dormant idea.

“I remember thinking, ‘You know what? I always wanted to do this app. It’s been in the back of my mind for years.’ And I felt like now’s the time to do it,” she said.

Armed with this newfound determination and a network of industry contacts from her journalism background, Orfanides made her foray into app development.

She started by enlisting the help of friends to research beaches across the country for key details like hours, parking availability, bathroom facilities, and sand conditions.

“It was a lot of time-consuming, grueling research. Hours and hours of finding information and adding it to Google Sheets. That’s how we started: just collecting information and putting it in a spreadsheet,” she said. Orfanides added that some states, like Massachusetts, were easier due to personal familiarity, but others—like California and Florida—posed significant challenges due to their sheer volume of beaches.

Beacheo officially launched in January 2022, marking the culmination of

Orfanides’ tireless efforts. The app has quickly gained traction, amassing over 15,000 downloads in its first two years.

One of Beacheo’s standout features is its user-friendly interface, designed to provide seamless navigation and real-time updates.

The app harnesses data from sources like the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ensuring users have access to accurate weather forecasts and tidal information.

Today, Beacheo continues to evolve, regularly undergoing updates and spot checks to ensure accuracy and reliability for its vast database of nearly 3,000 beaches.

“I’ve learned so much over the past few years about just business in general and it’s been a crazy ride,” she said. “I want this app to be as helpful as possible, and I’m constantly thinking of ways to upgrade it and make it more useful.”

In the next few years, Orfanides hopes to expand Beacheo’s reach beyond U.S. shores, encompassing global beach destinations.

Phase two of the app, currently in beta testing, promises enhancements like interactive mapping and a feature to bookmark favorite beaches.

Above all, Orfanides said she hopes Beacheo transforms the way people plan their beach outings.

“There’s truly nothing like hearing positive feedback from people who see that this app is a necessity in today’s day and age, but I also love the constructive feedback, too. I’ve gotten so many personal messages that have been so touching and make it all worth it. It’s been super rewarding,” she said. “If I can make your life a little bit easier, then that’s what I want to do.”

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FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE / Danielle Bilotta

UMass Boston early childhood education PhD candidate Stephanie Crawford CER’20 has been named a 2023 Extraordinary Woman by the City of Boston and a 2023 Commonwealth Heroine by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for her work in community and family services, advocacy, and post-pregnancy baby loss.

With the help of a close friend, Crawford founded the nonprofit Propa City Community Outreach in 2011 to support mothers who experienced pregnancy and infant loss.

“My son was stillborn in February 2011, and this was my way of healing and trying to support someone else and help soften the blow, because I had experienced such a big blow,” she said.

Crawford’s nonprofit initially focused on providing support to parents one-on-one, but she soon realized community members needed the space and resources to talk about their mental health and address topics that were still considered taboo in her community, such as pregnancy loss and grief.

The outreach program provides education, public awareness, and support in processing healing in positive ways, including resources for youths to advocate for their own healing journey, sessions to help discover various healing modalities, and further support for families and individuals that have suffered baby loss.

In 2011, Crawford was also taking a class at UMass Boston when her professor encouraged her to pursue the PostMaster’s Certificate in Early Education and Teaching. While being accepted into the program, she learned she was pregnant for a second time following her previous loss and was hesitant to move forward. After a positive conversation with the program director, Crawford decided to enroll in 2020. She said she felt supported during her entire time in the program while she was pregnant and even brought her son to class when he was a toddler.

Currently, Crawford is in her second year of her PhD program at UMass Boston while working as a teacher in the Boston Public Schools system and has found similarities

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between her nonprofit work and her work as a kindergarten teacher. Her experiences have highlighted the importance of not isolating individuals to force them to figure out their own emotions but rather addressing their concerns as a community.

“When one person is not healed, it definitely affects the community,” she said. “Find ways to help them and address what they’re lacking in and fill them up with what they need, because that affects the classroom, or the world, in a positive way.”

Crawford explains that it’s also important to give children more credit that they do know themselves and provide them the space to identify their emotions and express how they may want to deal with them.

“We give them the feelings, then we tell them what to do with those feelings, then we tell them how much time they have to do it, and then we tell them to get back to doing what we want them to do,” she said. “I think that one of the most important things is allowing young children to have autonomy.”

Through Belle Joie Doula & Family services, Crawford also offers doula services and education for families with children up to 5 years of age, with and without special needs, to learn about effective child development practices. When Crawford completes her PhD program, she hopes to merge her worlds together and dig deeper into what can be done to support whole families, enhancing her work as an educator, and supporting family engagement in Boston Public Schools.

Crawford said her work is inspired by her need to honor her son; her work being recognized feels like she has been able to turn her pain into purpose.

“When you experience loss, sometimes one of your biggest fears is that you’re going to forget your child because they’re not here and you can’t make those memories,” she said.

“Whenever my work is being recognized, it reminds me that God put me here for a reason, and it feels like I’ve honored my child and there’s a purpose to my story.”

Spring 2024

Class notes 1960

Salem Arts Association and is a Fine Arts

Paul English ’87, G’89, H’19, tech

years’ experience in the public and

Committee volunteer and exhibiting and

entrepreneur and philanthropist, and his

private school sector serving as

Arthur N. Mabbett ’69, founder,

demonstrating artist at the Topsfield Fair.

partner Rachel Cohen developed a

principal at Lawrence Catholic Academy

dating app that pairs people based on

and as an assistant principal at

chairman, and CEO of Mabbett & Associates Inc., was honored with an EBJ

Karen Keane ’73, chairman emerita of

their availability to go out that week. Lola

Saltonstall School in Salem. She taught

Lifetime Achievement Award by the

Bonhams Skinner, was appointed chair

Dating—a project under English’s Boston

in the Lowell Public Schools and in Cath-

Environmental Business Journal, an

of the Massachusetts College of Art and

Venture Studio—is designed to reduce

olic schools in Medford and Woburn.

independent business research

Design Board of Trustees. Keane was

the “talking stage” between prospective

publication that provides strategic market

instrumental in establishing Bonhams

partners and instead get them to meet

Marianne Genova Long G’93, a

intelligence to the environmental industry.

Skinner—a leading provider of live and

in person.

dedicated educator in the field of

For 44 years, Mabbett, Inc. has provided

online auction and appraisal services for

environmental, health, and safety

fine art, antiques, and jewelry. Keane is

Stuart Gregerman ’86 was sworn in as

three decades, has been included in

consulting and engineering services to

also a leading appraiser on the PBS

the ninth board member of the Revere &

Marquis Who’s Who. Long currently

industry, commercial enterprise, and

series “Antiques Roadshow” and

Son Heritage Trust Corporation. In

serves as a mathematics teacher for

federal, state, and local agencies.

specializes in American furniture and

addition to his role as board member,

grades 9 through 12 at Malden High

Mabbett, Inc. is a U.S. Small Business

decorative arts, Americana, and folk art.

Gregerman serves on the Revere & Son

School. Prior to this, Long was a high

Heritage Trust Corporation Develop-

school mathematics teacher with RPA

James Pontuso ’70 was named visiting

ment/Marketing/PR Committee, working

Fall River Public Schools and spent 25

professor at University of Virginia, where

on fundraising and marketing.

years with the City of Waltham.

Administration certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business.

1970

he is teaching “The American Political

Sterling Anderson ’76 used his own

Department. He has authored or edited

family history to portray how race, politics, religion, and economics set the cultural direction of a society in his new book, Escaping the Delusions of Culture: A Cultural, Familial, and African American Reality.

Dennis Cowan ’78 was selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in government relations and practice.

Cowan is a former managing partner at Plunkett Cooney and currently serves as coleader of the firm’s Business Transactions & Planning Practice Group.

Eduardo Crespo ’72 was featured in the Boston Business Journal for his business

Tradition,” a course in the Politics

mathematics whose career spans nearly

1990

seven books and published more than

Vanessa Calderón-Rosado G’94,

announced her candidacy to represent

100 articles, reviews, and essays. His

PhD’00, CEO of Inquilinos Boricuas en

the Outer and Lower Cape in the

latest book, Nature’s Virtue, was published by St. Augustine’s Press in 2019. Until his retirement in June 2022, he was Patterson Professor in the Government Department at HampdenSydney College.

Richard Trapilo ’76 joined Coastal Commercial Real Estate as a broker. He

Accino, Boston, received the Governor’s Award in the Humanities from Mass Humanities. She was honored for her work in promoting Latinx culture and building community through the arts in Boston’s South End, as well as for her contributions to shaping a more equitable philanthropic ecosystem in Massachusetts.

has an extensive background in acquiring, developing, and selling commercial properties. In addition to commercial property, he has experience in buying and selling residential property.

1980

receiving the Small Business Administra-

JD Chesloff G’93, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and Imari Paris Jeffries ’97, G’99, G’03, PhD’23, executive director of Embrace Boston, were among those named to the Boston Business Journal’s list of 2023 “Movement Makers.” The list

tion’s 2023 Minority Owned Small

Diane Britt ’87 had her artwork featured

comprises 50 individuals in the Greater

Business of the Year for Massachusetts.

at the Thomases Family Endowment of

Boston business community who are

He is the founder and CEO of Hispanic

the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation

taking a stand, creating change, and

Market Solution, a multicultural-focused

Art Gallery. The exhibit, which was on

taking actionable steps to work together

marketing firm with offices in Lawrence

display from March to April 2024,

to make Boston continue to grow as a

and Boca Raton, Florida, which he

focuses on Jewish themes, imagery, and

place for equity, inclusion, and diverse

launched in 2003.

historical and personal imagery. This

points of view.

Massachusetts House of Representatives. She worked for the state’s Department of Children and Families for five years, for the nonprofit Community Connections for 10 years, and for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Cape and Islands for five years before joining the Homeless Prevention Council in 2018.

Mark Reed-Edwards ’90 published his debut children’s book titled Bo Gotta Go. The story revolves around Bo, a spirited Portuguese water dog with a penchant for lounging on the couch, exploring every nook of the house, and basking in the sun. However, Bo occasionally succumbs to restlessness! Residing in Massachusetts with his family, Reed-Edwards, a dedicated writer, draws inspiration from his beloved Portuguese water dog, Bowie, who serves as the muse behind Bo Gotta Go.

Danielle Robinett ’94 retired from the U.S. Army after 34 years. She enlisted in

includes her grandmother’s stories

Peter Grimshaw ’76 is a freelance

spanning from life in town at the end of

Mary Kelly G’98, CER’17 was

cartoonist at Silver Moon Comics and

the 19th century to experiences during

appointed principal of St. Patrick School

Collectibles in Salem, Mass. He is also a

the Holocaust, as well as ancient folklore

in Lawrence. She started her position on

volunteer and exhibiting artist at the

surrounding golems.

July 1, 2023. Kelly brings more than 30

30

Hadley Luddy ’94, CEO of the Homeless Prevention Council,

the Army in 1989 as an operating room technician and left active duty to return to school, enrolling at UMass Boston to study finance. While at UMass Boston,

Spring 2024

Sidnee Berch ’20 landed a position as digital marketing coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, a National Football League team based in Ohio. In this role, Berch manages the team’s email marketing and engagement. She also creates outreach initiatives to keep fans informed about upcoming games, housekeeping notes, and other game-related news. Prior to this role, Berch completed a sports marketing and operations internship with the Jacksonville Icemen, a mid-level professional ice hockey league. After eight months, she was offered a position with the Atlanta Gladiators, a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Georgia. She said these opportunities gave her the type of hands-on experience that she might not have otherwise had before landing her coveted role with the NFL team.

William Baga G’07 was appointed

Christine DePalma ’04, G’09 was

children with learning, social, and

principal at Clifford Academy, the

promoted to associate director of campus

emotional disabilities; and supervision.

Home for Little Wanderers’ special

operations at EMD Serono, the health

education school in Walpole for students

care business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt,

Susan Ko PhD’01 joined Vantage

experiencing emotional, behavioral, and/

Germany in the U.S. and Canada.

Leadership Consulting as a partner

or learning difficulties. Baga joins Clifford

based in Los Angeles. Ko has more than

she worked in the university’s Veterans

Academy from Boston Prep, a charter

Blake Dinius ’09, an entomologist

two decades of experience as a

Affairs office and joined the ROTC

school in Boston’s Hyde Park, where he

extension educator for Plymouth

licensed psychologist and executive

program. In 1994, she became a combat

was assistant principal of the high school.

County, led a discussion titled

coach, with expertise in assessment,

“Rainbows on the Wing: Creating

multi-project management, talent

engineer and was the first female combat engineering company

Abbey Baker ’08 published a book

Landscapes for Dragonflies.” The event

recruitment, and leadership develop-

commander. Robinett now supports the

educating prospective and current law

was hosted by the Cape Cod Museum

ment. In her role at Vantage, Ko focuses

Military Officers Association of America.

students on what it is like to be an

of Natural History. After earning his

on client service, business development,

attorney so that they might make an

biology degree from UMass Boston,

and thought leadership.

Marjorie Tucker G’90 published Hard’s

educated decision on whether a life in

Dinius embarked on a career in insect

Luck: An Infantryman’s Personal Memoir

law is for them. The book is called

research on bees, lacewings, springtails,

Katherine Kuusela ’05, G’07 was hired

of World War II in the Battle of the Bulge.

Legally Briefed: The Aspiring Attorney’s

and various other critters, contributing

as a financial planner and insurance agent

Tucker is the daughter of Corp. Howard

Essential Guide to Life After Law School.

to the establishment of global guidelines

at New York Life and Orchard Financial

and practices in the field.

Strategies & Insurance Services. In this

F. Tucker, Jr., the original author, who is a retired federal civil servant and teacher.

Chris Breen ’06 was appointed deputy

Tucker modified and rewrote Hard’s

director of the Office of Neighborhood

Katrina Hobbs Everett ’07 was elected

income protection (insurance), retirement

Luck, which recounts Corp. Tucker’s

Services (ONS) by Mayor Michelle Wu.

to the Haverhill City Council earlier this

planning, estate conservation, budgeting

experiences as an Army half-track driver

A Boston native, Breen has already

month, making history as the first Black

and saving, employee benefits, buy-sell

and technician during the largest land

devoted 18 years to serving the city, in

woman to serve on the council. Everett is

agreements, and rollovers.

battle ever fought by U.S. forces.

roles that span from teaching at the Eliot

an adjunct instructor at Merrimack

K–8 Innovation School to tackling urban

College and was the cofounder of Power

Patrice Lamour ’03 launched

renewal. As deputy director, he is tasked

of Self-Education. She runs a B2B

LAMOUR Clinic to provide behavioral

with enriching the ONS’s essential service

consulting firm focused on providing

health, therapeutic, and community-

Adam Baacke G’03 was named

provision and strengthening ties with local

large- and small-scale consulting,

based services that aid individuals,

commissioner of the Division of Capital

entities.

coaching, and facilitation services.

children, and families to achieve

the Commonwealth. Baacke comes from

Flossy Calderon ’01 was promoted to

Jason Kaplan G’01, CER’02, associate

2023, she opened a second location in

UMass Lowell, where he spent the past

vice president of ABCD Head Start &

professor and chair of the School

Randolph, Mass.

nine years, most recently as assistant vice

Children’s Services at Action for Boston

Psychology Department at William James

chancellor for campus development. He

Community Development. A 20-year

College, has been named 2023 Trainer of

Kristine Lincoln G’06 was named

has an extensive background in city

veteran of early education, Calderon

the Year by the Massachusetts School

interim director of student services for

planning, real estate development, and

most recently served as director of

Psychologists Association. Kaplan’s

Old Rochester Regional School District.

capital construction management.

ABCD Head Start & Children’s Services.

research interests include systems

In this role, Lincoln oversees the student

She serves on the board of the

change; the assessment and treatment of

services office, which assists school

2000

role, she helps clients with family and

optimal daily functioning. In August

Asset Management and Maintenance for

Massachusetts Head Start Association.

Beacons

31

Class notes

staff in working with families to meet the

Shawn Connors G’10 was appointed

Amanda Grant ’19 was appointed

(CFA) designation. Hartford has worked

unique needs of students through

assistant principal of King Philip Regional

co-response mental health clinician to

at the firm since 2020. The CFA charter

individualized learning programs.

Middle School. He has over 18 years of

the Behavioral Health Unit Police

is a globally recognized credential for

educational experience teaching English.

Collaborative for the Tewksbury Police

investment analysis competence and

Department. In this role, she will

integrity and portfolio management.

Victoria McKay ’05 was named director of development at the

Whitney Dailey G’11 was a speaker at the

respond alongside Tewksbury police to

Massachusetts Historical Society. In this

Impact Relations Institute – Impact Council

mental health emergencies and crises

Shray Joshi ’19 was named to Forbes’

role, she manages and oversees the

in January 2024. Dailey is the executive

as part of the Behavioral Health Unit

30 Under 30 list for marketing and

internal infrastructure, major gifts, and

vice president of Purpose at Allison and

Police Collaborative and will work with

advertising. He founded Good Peeps in

recurring giving, and provides crucial

leads the agency’s Purpose Center of

individuals after crises to ensure they

2022, a full-service marketing agency

support for overall development strategy

Excellence—a dedicated team specializing

have access to appropriate services.

focused on helping consumer packaged

and goals.

in Purpose brand strategy and ESG leadership.

Anna Rue G’05 gave a presentation

goods companies.

Daniel Hartford ’13, a financial advisor and portfolio manager at Morgan

Bienvenu Musehenu Kulungu ’10,

titled “Supporting Nordic American Folk

Kurt Deion G’19—a public historian,

Stanley Wealth Management, has

founder and CEO of Kulungu Corp.,

Arts in the Upper Midwest: Past Projects

author, guest speaker, and presidential

earned the Chartered Financial Analyst

announced the construction of a major

and New Directions,” which explored the

expert—was promoted to the position of

Nordic Folk Arts project at the University

education specialist at the Historic

of Wisconsin–Madison and gave an

Congressional Cemetery in Washington,

overview of how the project worked to

DC. He was also named to the 2024

support the practice and study of Nordic

Next-Gen Leader cohort for the White

American traditional arts in the region

House Historical Association. Additionally,

and beyond.

Deion is on a speaking circuit for his book,

teacher at Maria Hastings Elementary School in Lexington,

De’Shawn Washington ’13, G’18, G’22, a fourth-grade

Presidential Grave Hunter: One Kid’s

was named 2024 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. The

Yvonne Spicer EdD’04, who previously

Quest to Visit the Tombs of Every

Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program is the state’s

served as the first mayor of Framing-

President and Vice President (2023).

top award for educators and annually recognizes excellence

ham, was named executive director of Life Science Cares’ Boston operations.

Emily Dulong G’12, vice president of government advocacy and public policy

in teaching across Massachusetts through the selection of a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment, and positive contributions of educators statewide. Washington is

Ryan Stoute ’02 was hired as an MRI

at the Massachusetts Health & Hospital

technologist at Salem Hospital. He was

Association, was named to Boston

appointed to this role after passing his

Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list.

ARRT MRI registry exam in June 2023.

Dulong is a leading advocate for health

recognition as the 62nd recipient of this award

care organizations, caregivers, and

automatically designates him as Massachusetts’ candidate

patients in Massachusetts.

for the National Teacher of the Year Program.

Eliza Wilson ’09 was appointed

the first Black male to be named Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and the fourth recipient from Lexington. His

associate member of the School Site Council for Brockton Public High School.

Fakisha Fabre ’17, G’17 was promoted to vice president of diversity and inclusion at

2010

Morgan Stanley. Fabre is an experienced

Abe Abdul G’13 assumed his role as the

demonstrated history of working in both

159th president of the Massachusetts Dental Society in July 2023. Abdul has the distinction of being the first

diversity and inclusion professional with a the nonprofit organization management and finance/financial services industries.

individual from a minority background to

Kristie Ferrantella G’16 was named

lead the organization.

Nantucket’s municipal housing director. In her role, she oversees all the administra-

Christian Chan G’08, PhD’12, an associate professor at the International Christian University in Tokyo, became a co-winner of the Ig Nobel Prize in Education for his team’s studies that showed a correlation between boring

tive functions and communication initiatives of the town’s housing office, represents the town to local and state agencies, as well at the state house, and serves as the fair housing director for the town.

teachers and bored students.

32

Spring 2024

Committee for the Massachusetts

engage area stakeholders and the

School Administrators’ Association.

early learning community around early literacy.

2020

Karen Hunt ’20 announced her

Gustavo Burkett PhD’24 was

retirement from Catholic Charities in

appointed to the role of dean of Colby

Malden, where she worked for 18 years

College. In this role, Burkett has broad

as a lead preschool teacher.

oversight of the student experience at Colby and works to fully integrate the

Donald J. Jenkins PhD’23 was named

College’s academic and campus life

chief operating officer of Convergent

programs.

Energy and Power. He entered the energy storage sector through various roles at

Debra Butler PhD’22 was named

Enel X (previously EnerNOC), a division of

executive director of the American

multinational power company Enel.

U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo ’98 was honored as one of the

Society of Adaptation Professionals.

distinguished recipients of the 2023 Brother Thomas

Butler joined ASAP as a member in 2017

Rebecca Penders PhD’20 and her

Fellowship. Administered by the Boston Foundation, the

and worked part time for ASAP in 2019

team received the Quality Improvement

Brother Thomas Fellowship is a highly sought-after accolade

while completing her PhD dissertation in

Award by the Association of Women’s

environmental studies from UMass

Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses

Boston.

(AWHONN) for their work on the Blue

that celebrates exceptional artists for their significant impact on the arts and their dedication to creating meaningful change. Mhlaba-Adebo is a multifaceted artist known for her profound exploration of culture, identity, and social justice

Band Initiative, a program that helps to

Caroline Cooney ’22, the current

alert health care providers about a

Miss World Massachusetts, recently

patient’s risk for preeclampsia.

through various artistic mediums. Her work spans visual arts,

competed for the title of Miss World

spoken word, and music, and she consistently uses her art as

America. The Miss World and Miss

Thamara Pierre-Louis G’22 joined the

a catalyst for initiating critical conversations and inspiring

World America Organization stands

Boston Parks and Recreation

social change.

out in the pageant world for their

Department as its community outreach

“Beauty with a Purpose” service

coordinator. In this role, Pierre-Louis is

project, with each state competitor

responsible for planning and scheduling

embarking on a service project of their

events and activities; participating in

own choosing.

meetings and workshops; coordinating and providing program plans; and

new hospital in the Democratic Republic

J. Matt Rafeld ’10, G’18 was hired as

Timothy Cronin G’23 was selected as

helping to formulate, implement, and

of the Congo. The hospital will satisfy

director of financial wellness at Alera

a 2024 honoree for the Boston

maintain community events.

the needs of an underserved region

Group, a Deerfield, Illinois-based firm.

Innovators in Healthcare Award from the

where most hospitals are poorly staffed and equipped.

Boston Business Journal. The award

Keelin Severtson G’20 was named the

Andrew Rebello CER’16, principal

celebrates those whose work most

Macalester College volleyball program’s

of Diman Regional Vocational

stands out locally in the industry.

top assistant coach.

Brian Moynihan G’16 was promoted to

Technical High School, received the

partner at E.J. Callahan & Associates, a

national Milken Educator Award,

Miguel Ferry CER’23, G’23 was

Maria Vasco ’20 was named to Boston

construction accounting firm in

bestowed by the Milken Family

promoted to senior project manager at

Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list. She

Massachusetts. He has over 15 years of

Foundation. The award honors

Massachusetts General Hospital.

is the founder and owner of Uvida Shop,

experience in the construction industry,

exceptional educators from coast to

specializing in accounting, tax, and

coast for their excellence and

Victoria Franco G’21 was named

which she started while a student at

business advisory services, with a focus

innovation in the field. A respected

director of marketing at BCC Research,

UMass Boston.

in the construction, real estate,

leader in and outside the school,

a market research and data company

architecture, and M&D industries.

Rebello was recently sworn in as a

headquartered in Boston.

Boston’s first and only zero-waste store,

member of Governor Healey’s

Gabrielle Weatherbee G’20 was promoted to audit and assurance

Stephanie Peach G’15, a 2007

Economic Development Planning

Sheila Gould CER’22 was named

manager at Deloitte and Touche. She

graduate of Peabody High School, has

Council to develop the Massachu-

director of early literacy initiatives at the

serves clients in the investment manage-

made history by becoming the first

setts Economic Development Plan

Irene E. and George A. Davis Founda-

ment sector, including mutual funds,

woman to lead the Peabody City Council

and serves as a member of the

tion. In her role, she will help the

closed-end funds, and private

in over a decade.

Educational Policy and Legislative

foundation determine how best to

investment funds.

Beacons

33

In Memoriam

In Memoriam It has saddened us to learn of the passing of the following members of the UMass Boston community since our last issue.

ALUMNI

Robert F. Finnegan ’71

Richard Mosca ’68

Paul J. Wilbanks ’79

Ann-Marie Toomey Amendolare ’60

Francis S. Fletcher ’76

Jane C. Mulford ’69

Mary Ann McBride Wilkins ’56

Mary Anne Arabian ’59

Daniel J. Foley ’77

Michael J. Mulkerin ’69

Christine A. Wilson ’11

Francine L. Barco G’97

Claire A. Fusaro G’69

Denis Mulvihill G’73

Diedra Wolfe ’70

Philip G. Bennett ’78

Marie Ellen Garvin G’72

Robert E. Murphy ’73

Mary Nash Woodford ’54

Jason T. Berube G’01

Thomas F. Geysen ’67

Robert R. Nardone G’75

Anna F. Yoder PhD’05

David B. Bigelow ’95

William Good ’70

Patricia M. Norton ’80

Tucker G. Zenski ’06

Hazel B. Briceno G’90

Mary Grant Keaveney ’58

Margaret Gippert O’Brien ’77

Jacqueline A. Canali ’62

Giana Gray CER’11, G’12

Doris McAnneny O’Meara ’57, G’61

FACULTY AND STAFF

William R. Carter ’74

Robert V. Groves ’62

Marie Nicholson O’Neill ’48

Professor Emeritus Marvin Antonoff

Kathleen Grimshaw Cheverie ’66

Wendy Yuksel Hanawalt ’75

Mary Dinjian Orr ’38, G’39

Professor Elizabeth Bostrom

Anne Youngclaus Claflin ’62

Alice K. Harrigan G’99

Allan D. O’Toole ’86

Professor Emeritus John Brereton

Edward F. Clough ’75

Stephen G. Harvey ’75

Paul M. Pantano ’75

Professor Antonio Carrara

Virginia Callahan Coleman ’58

Carol Boudreau Hayes ’63, G’79

Jeannette Lambert Peabody ’87

Professor James Dittmar

M. Claire Collins ’97

Peter F. Hayes ’78

Ruth Hanigan Peck ’56

Professor Emerita Claire Golomb

Alan M. Cooper ’58

Sarah Tosney Herzig G’69

Barbara Perry G’76

Professor Nicholas Lembo

Patricia G. Coulombe ’60, G’70

Robert G. Hogan ’74

John M. Powers G’94

John Murphy

David Coyle ’04

Walter D. Holland ’73

Robert C. Ragucci ’77

Professor Clark Taylor

Gerard A. Crawford, II ’77

John J. Holleran ’73

Carol K. Rainwater ’75

Iris Tolbert

Helen M. Cummings G’55

Dennis J. Jackson ’77

Christina Regan ’15

Professor Daniel Wakefield

Therese Cunniff ’99

Luc L. Jean ’91

Ann Marie Rhuda-McGrath ’91

Robert J. Cunniff ’69

John W. Jordan, Jr. ’62

Raymond J. Richard ’74

FRIENDS

Eileen Cunniffe G’70

Phyllis Kane Kelleher ’58

Gerald Ridge ’60

Kevin Castanien

Margaret Cunningham ’72

V. Richard Kelter ’69

Nancy Skally Rizzo G’68

Phyllis Cutler

Margaret Yulduzian Damboorajian ’57

George J. Kenny ’93, G’95

Ellen M. Ronayne ’89

Bill Doran

Cydney Dang ’01

Patrika Wallach Knickle ’90

William J. Ruggiero ’71

Eva Ehrlich

Judith E. Degrinney ’83

Mildred M. Leblanc ’97

Jane Russell ’70

John J. Evans, Jr.

Sharon Henault Demello ’70

Kevin J. Lessard ’67

Paul L. D. Russell ’77

Myra A. Ferguson

Jean Ramsdell DePlacido ’65

Charles H. Lyons ’75, G’81

Frederick H. Saintours G’05

Florence M. Griffith

Marian L. Devance ’80

Richard MacDonald ’75

James W. Shea G’74

Thomas M. Hanlon

Ellen Kelly Dickson ’74

Claire Milmore MacDonald ’70

Janice Moore Slater G’56

David S. King

Virginia M. Dolan ’81

Charles F. Madden ’88, G’12

Christine Covino Spinale ’74

Michael Meagher P’25

Michael A. Donato G’66

Mary T. Mahoney ’89

Mary C. Stack ’71

Joseph W. Murphy

Paul C. Dorn ’90

Lois J. Martin ’81

Sabrina B. Tarulli ’96

Joseph J. O’Donnell

Patrick E. Dougherty ’71

Barbara T. Maxwell ’69

Vera Kethura Tavernier ’72

Richard A. Soden

Marie Duerden ’70, G’75

John R. McCarthy ’56

Carol A. Taylor ’66

Rachael Solem

William J. Dufresne, MD ’77

Daniel J. McDevitt ’77

Joan C. Todd ’85

Stephen J. Sweeney H’85

Mary E. Dunn EdD ’07

John A. McHugh ’70

Catherine Wadden Trainor ’63

Greg Torres

Cheryl A. Eastman ’02

Gladys Medzorian ’57

Susana Ulloa-Beal ’93

Mary B. Toth

Paul W. Ehrlich ’73

Anne Kane Michalik ’78

Alan A. Varteresian ’61

John E. Walsh

Michael A. Ellis ’06

Dennis J. Michaud ’80, G’99

Nancy Ayers Wade ’69

Lynsey May Eno G’21

Robert P. Mierzykowski ’83

Laura Kelley Walsh ’73

Robert F. Erickson, Sr. ’73

Robert L. Molla ’74

Patricia A. Waterman ’73

Concetto C. Ferrara ’79

Arlene Lavin Morrissey ’66, G’74,

Robert S. Webber ’81

Christine E. Fiander G’11

34

EdD’00

William J. White ’74

Spring 2024

In Memoriam

PHYLLIS KANE KELLEHER ’58 Phyllis passed away at the age of 87 after a short period of declining health. Born in Boston and raised in Dorchester, she was a resident of Stoughton, Mass., for many years and enjoyed spending her summers in South Yarmouth. Phyllis was a beloved teacher in the Stoughton School System for more than 40 years, teaching at the Gibbons Elementary School, Jones Early Childhood Center, Dawe Elementary School, and O’Donnell Middle School. She retired as the Assistant Principal of the Gibbons School. Phyllis was a sports lover and refereed basketball for several years. She was a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the Kappa Delta Phi Society. In 1963, she married Joseph L. Kelleher, and they shared over 60 years of marriage. In addition to her husband, Phyllis is survived by her two daughters, her son-in-law, her grandchildren, her sister, and several nieces and nephews.

PROFESSOR EMERITUS WILLIAM ROBINSON

Bill, professor emeritus of environmental toxicology, passed away in March at the age of 75. He joined UMass Boston’s Environmental Coastal & Ocean Sciences Program as an associate professor in 1992, was promoted to full professor in 2000, and held many administrative leadership roles during his tenure. Bill retired in 2019 and continued to be part of the School for the Environment community, conducting research and advising students. He genuinely enjoyed his chosen career and pursued varied interests in his personal life with the same enthusiasm. Bill and his wife, Scottie, enjoyed travel, live music performances, and sailing together. They cared deeply about the development and evolution of the School for the Environment and in 2022 established the William E. Robinson Research Fellowship Fund of the School for the Environment at UMass Boston.

ELLEN KELLY DICKSON ’74

After a battle with cancer, Ellen passed away peacefully at 71, surrounded by family. Born in Boston and raised in Dedham, Mass., she grew up in a vibrant and busy household as the oldest of eight, with seven younger brothers. While at UMass Boston, she held the inaugural Student Trustee position and addressed the student body at commencement. In 1975, while enrolled in the MBA program at Babson College, she met the love of her life, Henry “Chip” Dickson. They moved to Summit, New Jersey, in 1993, where Ellen served her community in several ways. She was a member of the city council for six years and was serving as mayor when Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012. Ellen and Chip became Florida residents in 2018, where Ellen joined the boards for the Beach Property Owners’ Association of Delray Beach and the Florida Coalition for Preservation. Ellen was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. In 2021, Ellen and Chip established the Ellen Kelly Dickson Scholarship Fund at UMass Boston. Her spirit lives on with her husband of 46 years, her immediate and extended family, and her large network of friends.

Beacons

35

Alumni Events

Marc Abelard ’00 and wife Ginette Saintus Abelard ’04 at the Cape Cod reception.

(Photo: Neilan Media)

Alumni gather at the Providence, RI reception. (Photo: Neilan Media)

Cape Cod Alumni & Friends Reception (Photo: Neilan Media)

Beacons gather at the starting line of the annual Beacon 5K. (Photo: Javier Rivas)

Henry Score ’22, Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation Jacqui Schuman, and Robert Score P’22 at the Cape Cod reception. (Photo: Young Alumni Council President Gray Milkowski ’18 cheers on Shiva Pabba G’23 as he crosses the Beacon 5K finish line. (Photo: Javier Rivas) Neilan Media)

36

Spring 2024

Alumni catching up at the New York City reception.

(Photo: Jonathan Heisler Photography)

Yolanda Navas ’17 and Christopher Finlay ’13 at the Washington, DC reception.

(Photo: Chris Ferenzi Photography)

Stephen Karll ’68, Gina McCarthy ’76, Lauren Forbes ’19, Chancellor Suárez-Orozco, Jacob Santamaria ’76, Alumni Association President Kathy Carten ’79, and Julianne Dyer Wood G’07 at the annual Beacon Alumni Awards dinner. (Photo: Bob Durling Photography)

Alumni & Friends Reception in Tampa.

(Photo: Jake Ford Photography)

Beacons

Panelists Ramesh Raskar, John Werner, Paul English ’87, G’89, H’19, and Provost Joseph Berger at the launch of the Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute. (Photo: Javier Rivas)

UMass Boston Alumni Engagement’s annual Alumni Holiday Reception at the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. (Photo: Professional Event Images, Inc.)

37

Alumni Events

Zohra Jayaraman ’17 and guest Sundar at the San Francisco reception.

(Photo: Visage Studio)

Kimberly Cooper, Grace Golden, and Darren Golden ’13 at the San Diego reception. (Photo: Barry Hackett Photography)

Robert Kraft and Chancellor Suárez-Orozco with the Kraft Scholars at a reception celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Kraft Scholars Program. (Photo: Eric Adler)

Alumni and friends applaud remarks by Chancellor Suárez-Orozco at the holiday reception. (Photo: Professional Event Images, Inc.)

38

Dilek Mir ’91 and Amelia Joaquim ’11, G’15 at the Los Angeles reception.

(Photo: Barry Hackett Photography)

Alumni catching up at the Alumni & Friends Reception in Fort Lauderdale.

(Photo: Jake Ford Photography)

Spring 2024

The Alumni Association and the Young Alumni Council Welcome New Members Both volunteer boards added to their membership over the past year, with two new directors of the Alumni Association Board of Directors and eight new members of the Young Alumni Council. The boards play volunteer advisory roles, assisting the Office of Alumni Engagement in connecting alumni to their alma mater through events, programs, and philanthropy, fostering a lifelong relationship between alumni and their alma mater. To learn more, visit alumni.umb.edu or email us at alumni@umb.edu.

New Young Alumni Council Members

New Alumni Association Board Members

SUKIA AKIBA ’16

Sociology Executive Director, The Soul Supplier Cambridge, Mass.

JAKE BATES ’22

SANDIP DASGUPTA G’21 Sandip received an MBA from UMass Boston in 2021. He currently serves as the manager of digital and emerging technologies at Ernst & Young, Boston. Prior to his current role, Sandip was an architect for Publicis Sapient in Boston. Sandip enjoys camping with his family and is an avid golfer.

Computer Science Software Engineer, Liberty Mutual Sandwich, Mass.

STEPHANIE BENSADOUN ’18

Psychology Managing Director, National Center for Public Performance Arlington, Mass.

IVAN CUTTS ’18

Management Vice President/Community Manager, J.P. Mogan Chase Brockton, Mass.

DLYNZEE DAMAS ’21

SHKEYA BRITTLE ’04 Shkeya received a BS in management from UMass Boston in 2004. She currently serves as director of events and corporate partnerships at Revolutionary Spaces in Boston. Prior to her current role, she was the coordinator of events and admissions recruitment for UMass Boston. Shkeya served on the planning committee for Harbor to the Bay, a volunteer organization that raises money for AIDS/HIV support.

Environmental Science Planning Engineer, MWRA Brockton, Mass.

ROMAN DAVIS ’14

Exercise & Health Sciences Director of Employee Development and Corporate Strategy, Jay Cashman, Inc. Braintree, Mass.

ALANA HYLTON CER’21, G’22

Public Administration Program Manager, Monitoring & Compliance, MWRA Quincy, Mass.

KUSH PATEL ’21

Political Science Volunteer, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Marlborough, Mass.

Beacons

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Did You Know?

The MakerSpace at UMass Boston The UMass Boston MakerSpace gives our students, faculty, and staff access to physical and digital tools for scientific and creative projects. MakerSpace was spearheaded in 2016 by Information Technology Associate Chief Information Officer Apurva Mehta and School for the Environment Academic Labs Director Helenmary Holtz and was expanded into an interdisciplinary community of teachers and learners by IT Assistant Vice Chancellor of Client Services John Mazzarella ’08, G’11. Since taking the helm in June of 2023, Zack Ronald ’10, the university’s manager for innovative educational technology, has built MakerSpace into a signature program for UMass Boston, attracting users ranging from local public school students to entrepreneurs from the Venture Development Center to international visitors interested in learning more about this innovative initiative. Ronald shared some facts with us about the MakerSpace and its evolution.

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Founded with equipment donations from various departments on campus, the space has been sustained by Information Technology Services as a place to create and belong. “We’ve continued to invest in this space to align

with the university’s goal of advancing holistic student success. The engagement we’ve seen from the 150-plus students who have used the space this spring shows this is an investment worthy of our support,” said Ray Lefebvre, the university’s chief information officer.

2

The space is outfitted with 10 Prusa Mk3 S+ networked printers, two 3D

students, faculty, and staff, no matter their major or background. “We provide a place where all

students are welcome regardless of academic discipline, a place where everyone is welcome to create, make, and learn,” said Zack Ronald. “It’s important to me to create a sense of community and belonging for all makers.”

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There is a dedicated team of students assisting participants through teaching, mentoring, training, and support. “I’ve worked with student employees

in many different areas on campus for almost 15 years, and MakerSpace has attracted hugely passionate students interested in the work we do. That passion turns into a desire to share the knowledge with others through peer mentorship and training efforts, as well as other creative projects that constantly expand the capabilities of the lab,” said Mazzarella. “The level of engagement, participation, and emotional investment of students in the UMass Boston MakerSpace has to be one of the highest of any facet of campus life that I’ve seen!”

5

MakerSpace has a mission to become zero waste by 2025. With help from the Master Planning and Sustainability Office and continued support from

IT, makers have found innovative ways to reuse materials, and are continually accepting and refurbishing donated equipment.

scanners and circuit boards, Arduino, and robotic components available to all students. Students lead workshops and certification courses on the use

of all the equipment and materials in the space.

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3

MakerSpace is open to all UMass Boston

To learn more or support UMass Boston MakerSpace, visit www.umb.edu/makerspace.

Spring 2024

Beacon Bash S E P T E M B E R 2 0–2 1

Come home to UMass Boston’s beautiful harbor campus to reminisce and celebrate what it means to be a Beacon!

4 All-Alumni Reunion Dinner & Outdoor Movie Night 4 Beacon 5K & BBQ 4 Boston Harbor Boat Cruises 4 Campus Tours 4 Faculty Lectures 4 Golden Reunion Society Celebration & Class of 1974 Induction

Golden Reunion Society Celebration & Class of 1974 Induction Have you celebrated your 50th reunion already?

Then join us for the inaugural Golden Reunion Society Celebration and the induction of the Class of ’74.

The Golden Reunion Society is for all alumni who have celebrated their milestone 50th reunion. Come connect with fellow alumni from Boston State College and UMass Boston for an unforgettable evening of nostalgia and laughter.

Let’s celebrate over 50 years of memories and welcome the Class of ’74 into our esteemed society.

Don’t miss out on this epic reunion!

We look forward to seeing you in September. Discover more about Beacon Bash events at umb.edu/beaconbash.

University of Massachusetts Boston Office of Alumni Engagement 100 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, MA 02125-3393

This is the moment to articulate with clarity what exactly an urban public research university in the 21st century stands for.”

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Boston, MA Permit No. 52094