A MAGAZINE FOR UMASS BOSTON ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Summer 2025
& Particles Possibilities
A look at the world of quantum through UMass Boston’s transdisciplinary lens.
THE JOURNEY COMMENCES
On May 29, soon-to-be graduates processed through the campus quad toward the 2025 undergraduate commencement ceremony on the Campus Center Lawn. Read more about this year’s celebrations on page 14.
“I don’t want you to leave UMass Boston behind. I want you to take UMass Boston with you. Challenge yourselves. Keep learning. See where change is needed and always be that change.”
— Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco
FEATURES
18 Impact Is Inevitable
Quantum mechanics challenges everything we think we know. UMass Boston is stepping into the next frontier to explore how public research, education, and industry collaboration might unlock the power of the quantum world.
24 A Life in Art, a Legacy in Motion
How Professor Emerita Ruth Butler’s insatiable curiosity, scholarly excellence, and joie de vivre led to a legendary career and paved the way for students to expand their horizons.
28 Lady in Red
At 93, former Mass. state representative Jo Ann Sprague ’80 continues to demonstrate that a signature color and a commitment to public service never go out of style.
32 The Reinventor
Sean Im ’90 chose tenacity in the midst of tragedy to explore opportunity, optimize his potential, and leverage his leadership in the field of infrastructure through applied AI.
34 Sky’s the Limit
Christina Cassotis ’94, CEO of Pittsburgh International Airport, turned a quiet, nearly forgotten airport into a global model for innovation, sustainability, and possibility.
For this issue of Beacons, we asked:
“The student newspaper, The Mass Media, gave me a chance to become a journalist, as well as hone my interviewing skills. I valued the opportunity and still have clips of my published articles. As a commuter student, being on the newspaper made me feel part of the UMass Boston community.”
Karen Darley ’92
“The physics and engineering clubs became a place to drop off heavy coats and backpacks and spend the day between classes. Professors from nearby departments would often stop by for a coffee break and to chat with students, which frequently turned into impromptu group tutoring sessions. The social community we built remains one of my fondest memories of UMass Boston.”
John Rouillard ’90
“As a lacrosse and cross country/track athlete, I spent many hours in the Clark Athletic Center weight room. As a student athlete, I learned resilience and commitment— skills I use in my professional career every day.”
Joe Miller ’14
What’s the most memorable book you’ve ever read?
Visit umb.edu/yourtake to submit your answer! Submissions are edited for length and clarity.
“I worked in several leadership roles on campus: member of the Undergraduate Student Government, orientation leader, Beacon Ambassador, and FirstYear Leadership Institute Mentor. It was a pleasure to engage, support, and collaborate with prospective and current students in these roles.”
David Manning ’15
In addition to joining registered student organizations and clubs, some alumni, like Elizabeth Paden ’81, G’87, took advantage of the CPR trainings and unique archaeology digs in Boston. The campus daycare was essential for Anna Goodwin ’77 to maintain her coursework, and access to a shared piano on campus brought joy to her and her classmates.
AT UMASS BOSTON'S 57th Commencement Exercises in May, we were honored to celebrate the Class of 2025 with a keynote address by the Honorable Andrea Joy Campbell, attorney general of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Attorney General Campbell drew on her extraordinary personal story of perseverance to remind graduates that their journeys to leadership will take many forms.
In this issue of Beacons magazine, we share stories of alumni whose career paths were spurred by intellectual curiosity, public service, and intercultural experience—values they cultivated during their time as students at UMass Boston.
Our cover story highlights the growth of UMass Boston’s Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) program, a strategic academic initiative to position the university as a leader in quantum education and innovation for Massachusetts. On the strength of a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, UMass Boston continues to build a QISE ecosystem for exploring quantum systems and fundamentals, training students for the workforce via the Quantum Information Science certificate program and developing practical quantum applications for business partners. Readers will also learn about Jo Ann Sprague ’80, who first stepped into public service as a town meeting member, and later as a Walpole selectperson, a legislator in the Massachusetts House, and a nonprofit advocate. The “Lady in
Red,” as she came to be known for her signature red attire, earned her UMass Boston degree at age 50 as her public service career took off, demonstrating that there is never a bad time to lead.
You will read about Christina Cassotis ’94, who has become one of the most influential figures in airport leadership. Asking questions like ‘why not’ or ‘what if,’ Cassotis led a transformation that positioned Pittsburgh International Airport as a global leader in sustainability, innovation, community investment, and as one of the most forward-thinking airports in the world. Indeed, it was her novel vision of what an airport could be that defined her pathway to leadership.
And you will meet Sean Im ’90, founder of VerticalAI, a firm that works to transform legacy industries by embedding AI into day-to-day systems and workflows. Overcoming a profound personal loss while at UMass Boston and graduating with a computer science degree, Im spent time living and working internationally, forging a leadership style grounded in empathy and innovation—and pledging to live each day as if it were his last. That bodes well for his work in the AI space.
These exemplary Beacon leaders each embarked on unique journeys to leadership. I hope you enjoy reading about their good work.
Sincerely,
MARCELO SUÁREZ-OROZCO Chancellor
BEACONS
Chancellor
Marcelo Suárez-Orozco
Provost
Joseph Berger
Vice Chancellor for University Advancement
Adam Wise
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Engagement
Allison Duffy
Senior Director of Alumni Engagement
Steven Whittemore
Communications Specialist
Vanessa Chatterley
Editors
Susan Karcz
Andrea Kennedy
Austyn Ellese Mayfield
Art Direction
Red Ink Design
Contributors
Madeline Kaprich G’24
DeWayne Lehman G’15
Catherine LeBlanc
Kelly Marksbury
Sandra Mason
Jen A. Miller
Crystal Valencia G’14
Photos and Illustrations
Nick Brady
Bartosz Kosowski
Lydia Leclair
Laura Petrilla
Kaitlin Prince
Javier Rivas
Mel Taing
Alex Williamson
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.
The chancellor on WCVB’s “On the Record” in June, where he discussed federal funding, immigration, and climate resilience.
The Tea
Professor Cat Mazza Debuts New Solo Art Exhibition
This past year, artist and educator Cat Mazza had her first solo exhibition, Network, at Northeastern University’s Gallery 360 in Boston. Mazza began teaching at UMass Boston in 2007 and is currently a professor of art specializing in digital media in the Art & Art History Department.
Mazza’s work seamlessly blends the ancient practice of textile art with modern technology. Some of the pieces in Network were created with knitPro, a freeware app developed by Mazza and programmer Eric St. Onge in 2004 that converts digital images into stitchable patterns. Others include animated video works made with “Knitoscope” software, a program which transforms digital video (much of it digitally drawn, pixel by pixel, by Mazza) into knitted animations.
Network reflects Mazza’s
ongoing exploration of social change, labor practices, and mental health. “Exploring ideas and then making artwork that’s informed by research and history is something I bring into the classroom,” she said. “I like to find out what’s important to [my students], what’s inspiring them, and to encourage them to make their work about their ideas.”
Mazza’s exhibition invited
viewers to reflect on their own connections to textiles and tactile experiences by exploring themes of labor, technology, craft, and community. “It’s about time that an artist of [Mazza’s] stature and accomplishment has a show of this scale. Her work is incredible on so many levels, and it touches so many people,” said Amy Halliday, curator of Network
UMass Boston, For the City
UMass Boston alumni currently working for the City of Boston gathered for a meet-and-greet at City Hall to connect, network, and share their work experiences. The event was co-hosted by Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco and City Councilors Gabriela Coletta Zapata ’16, John Fitzgerald, and Erin Murphy ’99.
College of Management Introduces Five Undergraduate Majors
Students can now pursue a Bachelor of Science in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems and business analytics, and marketing. These new majors join the college’s most popular degree program, the BS in management, ensuring that students have both broad and specialized options to build expertise in high-demand fields and connect with top employers. With hands-on learning, industry-aligned coursework, and access to a strong professional network, graduates will be ready to launch successful careers in business.
“Our goal is to prepare students for the future of business by offering focused programs that blend theory with real-world application,” said Venky Venkatachalam, dean of the College of Management. “These new majors will give students the knowledge, confidence, and connections to excel in their careers.”
L to R: Erin Murphy ’99, Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, Gabriela Coletta Zapata ’16, John Fitzgerald, and Boston’s Chief of Human Services José Massó ’08
Charitable Trust Supports Music Students with Scholarships and New Equipment
Gifts from the Murray Burnstine Charitable Trust have had a remarkable impact on the university’s music students. During the 2024–2025 academic year, $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 55 music majors with financial need. An estimated $50,000 in new instruments, accessories, and equipment has been acquired, including state-of-theart audio production technology to support a new audio production course. The Trust donated another $190,000 to support scholarships, instruments, and equipment, as well as music composition, for the upcoming academic year. Murray Burnstine was a mechanical engineer and lifelong musician, playing in bands and local orchestras throughout his life. He created the Trust to support opportunities for young people to advance their musical studies.
Two New Foundation Grants Support Climate Resiliency
The Barr Foundation granted the Sustainable Solutions Lab (SSL) $700,000 over two years to support and elevate the lab’s climate resilience efforts. The grant will support a community-engagement program and climate justice research through SSL’s Climate Inequality and Integrative Resilience Center initiative, which focuses on climate migration, climate and health, and Indigenous knowledge and governance. This new funding builds on the Barr Foundation’s prior three-year, $1,050,000 grant to SSL.
SSL will also receive $540,000 over three years from the Liberty Mutual Foundation to fund its Climate Careers Curricula (C3) initiative. Building on the university’s existing academic programs and recently developed microcredential program in wind energy, C3 will develop microcredentialed trainings for a broad range of jobs in the sustainability sector, including areas such as solar installation, energy auditing, green building techniques, and climate resilience planning. Through community partners and City of Boston affiliates, these trainings will target vulnerable young adults, people of color, and low-income adults currently underrepresented in blue and green jobs, creating economic opportunities for vulnerable populations and building community capacity to address climate challenges directly.
Beacons Day of Giving
April 9–11, 2025
20 1,149 $143,925
TEAMS DONORS RAISED
PARTICIPATION LEADERBOARD
Men’s Soccer / 165 Gifts
Men’s Baseball / 147 Gifts
Women’s Soccer / 141 Gifts
Men’s Lacrosse / 121 Gifts
Women’s Hockey / 86 Gifts
ACCOLADES
MEN’S SOCCER
Most alumni donors
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Most student donors
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
Most faculty/staff donors
MEN’S BASEBALL
Most friend donors
* Unrestricted gifts can be used toward a variety of university needs and initiatives.
MEN’S LACROSSE
Most dollars raised
Beacon Pledge Provides Free Tuition for Eligible Students
Beginning in Fall 2025, UMass Boston’s new Beacon Pledge program will use federal, state, and institutional aid to cover total tuition and mandatory fees for in-state students from families with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less. This funding extends the $45 million in institutional funds UMass Boston
employs annually, resulting in the lowest average student debt upon graduation across the UMass system. The initiative will provide unprecedented certainty for students and families as they begin their college application process.
University leaders hope the program can support as many as
3,000 students in its first year, with more than one-third expected to come from Suffolk County and a vast majority expected to be students of color.
The Beacon Pledge program draws on the significant support the Healey-Driscoll Administration has provided through MASSGrant Plus Expansion.
Biology Major Earns Prestigious Goldwater Prize
Kurt Jancsy ’26, a junior majoring in biology and cognitive science at UMass Boston, has been named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar. The Goldwater Scholarship Program is widely considered the most prestigious award in the U.S. for undergraduates in natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. He is the sixth UMass Boston student in the past seven years to be named a Goldwater Scholar. Jancsy is planning to pursue a veterinary surgery residency and eventually a PhD in cancer biology. His goal is to become a clinician-scientist who advances cancer treatment across species through translational research and surgical innovation. He works with Associate Professor of Biology Catherine McCusker, pursuing research in the McCusker Lab. The lab’s primary focus is on studying nerve and limb regeneration using the Mexican axolotl as a model species.
“Our Beacon Pledge program will make a four-year degree at Boston’s premier public research university not just a dream but an attainable reality. I want to thank the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their unwavering support of public higher education,” said Chancellor Suárez-Orozco.
Biology Professor Receives $2.1M Grant to Study Prostate Cancer Resistance
Associate Professor of Biology Changmeng Cai has received a five-year, $2.1 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study how the protein SETD7 may slow prostate cancer progression and curb resistance to hormone therapy. The funding will support lab research, treatment testing in mouse models, and tumor sample analysis.
The project, Noncanonical Activities of SETD7 in Preventing Prostate Cancer Progression and Therapy Resistance, examines how chromatin regulation—the way DNA is packaged—can drive cancer growth and treatment resistance. Cai’s lab focuses on SETD7, a protein that appears to suppress tumors, and how its loss is linked to aggressive prostate cancer.
“We found that in advanced prostate cancer that resists hormone therapy, SETD7 levels are much lower,” said Cai. In addition to modifying chromatin, SETD7 alters the cancer-promoting protein FOXA1, reducing its activity.
Collaborators include experts from UMass Boston, the University of Toronto, Duke University, and EpiAxis Therapeutics. The project builds on work published by Cai’s former student Zifeng Wang PhD’23, whose research earned several UMass Boston awards.
Student Q&A: Joseph Scangas ’26
JOSEPH SCANGAS ’26 , an incoming senior majoring in exercise and health sciences at UMass Boston, recently had the opportunity of a lifetime: studying abroad in Italy during the spring semester. Originally from Millbury, MA, Scangas transferred to UMass Boston in search of new academic and personal experiences. We caught up with him following his return from a memorable visit.
Q: What made you choose to attend UMass Boston?
It wasn’t an easy decision, but after touring the campus and learning more about UMass Boston, I knew it was the place for me. I mean, what’s better than being 10 minutes from downtown Boston on a peninsula surrounded by water? Ultimately, I chose UMass Boston for its strong academics and affordability.
Q: How did UMass Boston play a role in where you are today?
UMass Boston challenged me to meet new people, explore opportunities, and get involved on campus. I began working part-time in the Alumni Engagement Office and as a research assistant in the Manning College of Nursing & Health Sciences. Gaining confidence and feeling comfortable was what I needed to reach new horizons, and UMass Boston gave me that.
Q: You pursued the UMass Boston Study Abroad experience. Where did you go?
I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and I had the time of my life. Applying to the program was easy, and the Office of Global Programs provided orientation, answered all of my questions, and made the process seamless. They even helped me apply for a visa and renew my passport.
Q: What experiences did you look forward to while studying abroad?
Beyond the classroom, I was ecstatic about traveling across Europe. I visited World War II memorial sites, explored beautiful cities, and enjoyed incredible food. Immersing myself in different cultures had always been a dream of mine, and this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I crossed off major bucket list items at the age of 20, and I still can’t believe it.
Q: Would you recommend studying abroad to others?
Absolutely. Exploring a new continent—let alone another country— requires vulnerability, and with that, comes growth. I had to navigate time zones and language barriers while being totally independent. The unfamiliarity of everything made even simple tasks like grocery shopping seem daunting at first. Yet, with time, those challenges
became opportunities for growth, pushing me to step out of my comfort zone and develop my resilience more than ever before.
Q: Who at UMass Boston has had the most influence on your life?
My professors in the Exercise & Health Sciences Department, including Dean Bo Fernhall, Tracy Baynard, and Carlos Salas— as well as the PhD students I work under, João Marôco and Anton Pecha. In addition to my academics, my bosses, Steve Whittemore and Courtney Ready, have made my time at UMass Boston easier and challenged me to be better.
Q: What advice would you give a prospective student?
Consider what you want out of college. UMass Boston provides an inexpensive education that will provide great job opportunities and friends for life. I’ve been nothing but grateful for my time here and I could not have done it without my family and the undergraduate student services team who provided an easy transfer and all the resources I needed.
Q: Is there anything you’d like to add?
My time in college has been far from linear, but experiencing discomfort and new challenges makes you a stronger person. Being a part of the UMass Boston community has enriched me in so many diverse ways. Having phenomenal resources at my fingertips here at UMass Boston has truly furthered my passion and educational dreams. I am grateful every day that I transferred here.
Faculty
Q&A
: Rosanna DeMarco, PhD, RN, FAAN
A fellow of the American Academy of Nursing since 2008, and author of over 100 publications in refereed journals, Professor Rosanna DeMarco has received numerous awards in recognition of her long-standing work with people living with HIV locally, nationally, and internationally. Her remarkable career included 11 years as a faculty member at UMass Boston, where she also served as the associate dean of academic affairs and interim dean of the Manning College of Nursing & Health Sciences. In 2024, she was named a Living Legend by the American Nurses Association Massachusetts, an award that recognizes nurses of the Commonwealth who have made significant lifetime contributions to the profession.
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in nursing?
A: I grew up in a working-class Italian American family in Brockton, MA, and was the first in my family to attend college. My neighbor was a registered nurse and encouraged me to think about a future in nursing— not just as a hospital-based job, but as a dynamic field that blended art, science, and
community. I’d considered becoming a physician, but I realized I was drawn more to the complex process of healing than the skills aligned with diagnosing disease toward cure. I wanted to help people live well in the real world and that has guided my entire path.
Q: You’ve described community and public health nursing as your place. What drew you there?
A: Community health let me meet people where they were: in their homes, in their neighborhoods, in their lives. Early in my career, I worked in home care or visiting nursing and later joined a hospice home program as they were just becoming established in the U.S. This kind of nursing is rarely visible—it doesn’t come with scrubs or a white coat—but it’s deeply personal.
Q: You’ve worn many hats—nurse, teacher, administrator, researcher. How did that evolution happen?
A: Honestly, it happened because people noticed things in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. I started teaching because someone saw how effective I was in educating patients, families, and students. Later, I pursued my master’s in community and public health nursing—on a generous traineeship—and eventually earned my PhD at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, through a fellowship award. There, I saw how certain communities were experiencing a revolving door of illness and care, which helped me understand the challenge of health disparities on a deeper level. That made me want to undertake relevant research that could lead to real-world, impactful interventions. Eventually, I moved into leadership positions in higher education because I wanted to help shape the future of my profession and build transdisciplinary knowledge across health sciences, both basic and applied.
Q: What drew you to UMass Boston?
A: At a public university, there’s this sense of responsibility that felt different. UMass Boston
has this really human element that truly considers the community as part of who they are and who they serve. And when I got here and met the students, who looked like me, sounded like me, and talked about how they wouldn’t be there without a scholarship, I knew it was the right fit.
Q: Is there any advice you would share with alumni who are part of the next generation of nurses and nursing educators?
A: I encourage those interested in the field to think about how the skills and education they have can serve others. Nurses are clinicians, researchers, educators, and administrators who always serve individuals, families, and neighborhoods in the context of advocacy. I think of nursing as the practice of healing and care—the applied science of prevention, health, and wellness in the context of the environment and the person—that’s what sets us apart. Often, when the media needs a health expert, they call a physician. I hope soon that people will recognize that nurses can contribute significantly as spokespersons for health, because that’s what we do every day—advance health.
Q: What have you been up to since retiring from UMass Boston?
A: Retirement’s been full—in the best way. I’m currently a nurse scientist at the VA Boston Healthcare System, mentoring newly graduated nurses on evidence-based health projects to improve care for our veterans. I co-lead a research interest group with the Eastern Nursing Research Society, focused on active military and veteran health, and continue to publish refereed articles and a community and public health textbook for undergraduate nursing students. I still get calls from PhD students asking me to join their dissertation committees, which is gratifying! For fun, I am an avid Mass Audubon member, I work on improving my pencil sketching, and I’m reading all the classic novels I missed along the way. I have a lot to share, and I still have a lot to learn.
ResilientMass Summit Sparks Global Momentum for Local Climate Action
BY CRYSTAL VALENCIA G’12
The ResilientMass Summit at UMass Boston gathered over 400 global leaders, scientists, mayors, local officials, policymakers, students, Indigenous representatives, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs to stress one urgent message: climate resilience is a global challenge that demands local action.
Governor Maura Healey highlighted the state’s commitment to climate resilience through the ResilientMass Plan, which outlines individual action items for all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts, and a $1 billion investment in climate technology. “It’s about how we move forward, how we build strong action-oriented partnerships with local communities,” Healey said during the keynote address.
“Massachusetts will continue to contribute our ideas, our values, and
our collective muscle to this important initiative.”
A central theme of the ResilientMass summit showcased an integrated, all-of-government approach to building climate resilience that has been successfully implemented in Massachusetts, offering a blueprint for other states and cities worldwide.
The event built on momentum from the Vatican’s 2024 summit From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience and serves as the launchpad for 10 upcoming international summits in 2025 and 2026, in advance of a reconvening at the Vatican in 2027.
Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, a lead organizer of ResilientMass, emphasized the importance of the rigorous, collaborative planning these summits make possible. “The ResilientMass Summit offered us an
opportunity to expand the ways we think about climate resilience strategy and share best practices. We can make them better practices.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu underscored the city’s pioneering climate policies, including the first Net Zero Carbon Zoning ordinance in the U.S. and the $150 million Boston Energy Saver program.
“Climate resilience is collaboration,” Wu said. “Every public official and private partner, every single one of us needs to be ready to roll up our sleeves and pitch in.”
Gina McCarthy ’76, former White House National Climate Advisor, moderated a panel on innovative finance strategies for resilience infrastructure. “The more I look at the ways the public and private sectors can work together, the more I’m hopeful there is a future
for my kids and grandkids,” she said. “Massachusetts was the start of revolution in this country. We need to still be the driver of that revolution.”
As Suárez-Orozco said, “All resilience is local. Governors, mayors, scientists, and civil society actors will convene and chart pathways toward a healed, sustainable, and more humane future.”
The summit featured panels and breakout sessions on finance and investment, coastal resilience, Indigenous stewardship, health and climate, nature-based solutions, youth engagement, workforce development, and more. Across every discussion, participants emphasized a shared goal: building equitable, science-driven, and community-centered climate strategies.
1. Chancellor Suárez-Orozco, Gov. Maura Healey, Gov. Wilbur Ottichilo, Hon. Gustavo Beliz 2. Mayor Michelle Wu 3. Kenneth Strzepek, Research Scientist, MIT 4. Gina McCarthy ’76 5. MA Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer and Energy and Environmental Affairs Sec. Rebecca Tepper 6. Gov. Healey addresses the more than 400 participants.
Hurdling to the Top
Junior hurdler Aryianna Garceau ’26, a native of Dalton, Mass., delivered a master class in speed and precision at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May. She captured the national title in the 100-meter hurdles with an NCAA Division III record-breaking time of 13.54 seconds, making her the fastest hurdler in DIII history. This historic win follows her national gold in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2024–25 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Women’s National Championship in March, where she posted a facility-best time of 8.35 seconds.
Garceau is only the third Beacon athlete to earn back-to-back national titles in consecutive indoor and outdoor seasons, joining program icons Wadeline Jonathas and Genesia Eddins ’92. The wins make Garceau UMass Boston’s 21st NCAA National Champion in Track and Field. Named the 2024–25 Little East Conference Track Runner of the Year, Garceau finished the 2024–25 season undefeated against Division III competition.
“When I first got the job and sat down with her and planned out the entire year on paper, it seemed simple. Execute from week to week,” said Ozzie Brown, men’s and women’s head cross-country track and field coach, after Garceau’s gold-medal race in March. “There were a few hiccups along the way, but she’s such a warrior and can overcome anything. This championship couldn’t have gone to a more deserving and hardworking young woman, and as I told her, this is just the beginning.”
UMass Boston Launches First-of-Its-Kind Nursing Simulation Lab
UMASS BOSTON celebrated a major milestone this spring with the launch of the new Home Care Digital & Simulation Lab—the first immersive reality training lab for nursing students in Massachusetts. With $3 million in federal funding secured by Congressman Stephen Lynch, the lab represents a groundbreaking step in nursing education at the Manning College of Nursing & Health Sciences.
“This is a very big deal for UMass Boston,” said Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco. “As the only public research university in Boston with nationally recognized nursing programs, we embrace our responsibility to educate health care providers for our diverse and aging population.”
Located on the second floor of the Quinn Administration Building, the lab uses floor-to-ceiling video projections and interactive touchpoints to simulate real-world environments—like airports,
train stations, playgrounds, or homes— where students might provide care in the future. The technology supports team-based training, custom quiz-building, and immersive emergency scenarios.
“This is adding to the variety of experiences we can offer students,” said Rosemary Samia G’18, director of the Center for Clinical Education & Research. She added that the lab introduces a level of flexibility and gamified learning that’s difficult to replicate in a traditional classroom. “You can still offer high-level clinical content, but in a more relaxed and engaging environment. Today’s learners thrive when learning is interactive and hands-on.”
Graduate nursing student Cecilia Menzinger G’26, who also teaches undergraduates, believes the new lab will be a transformative tool for education and training.
“We teach nursing students a lot of hands-on skills, but this is a more interactive environment, and they get to practice those skills repeatedly…. This is where they can make mistakes, and we teach them, correct them, and when they go out there, they represent us really well.”
Faculty members can design their own simulations, incorporating 360-degree videos captured from real-life locations. The flexibility and realism of the lab is expected to boost students’ confidence and clinical judgment long before they enter the workforce.
“This is a reflection of the changes in our health care system,” said Congressman Lynch. “We desperately need new nurses, and we have so many young men and women who would love to become part of that profession. It’s actually the perfect storm for us in terms of having the talent here in the Greater Boston area and now having this facility as well to make that happen.”
Alumni and Faculty Bookshelf
In Made in NuYoRico, MARISOL NEGRÓN, associate professor of American studies and Latino studies, traces salsa’s cultural history over a 50-year period, beginning with the creation of Fania Records in 1964. Through interviews and analysis of music, films, magazines, legal archives, and visual culture, she reveals how Nuyorican social histories shaped salsa’s evolution during the 1960s and 1970s. Salsa’s aesthetics challenged mainstream ideas of Americanness and Puerto Ricanness, creating an alternative space for New York’s poor and working-class Puerto Ricans to resist racial and colonial oppression. Demonstrating how musicians, fans, and the music itself repudiated narratives of Puerto Ricans as a deviant population, Negrón explores salsa’s complex musical, cultural, and political entanglements, showing its deep connection to Nuyorican identity and history.
SHANNON PARKER G’00 delivers her third novel, Love & Lobsters, a charming cinematic romance set in a picturesque New England town. Charlie, a female lobsterman more at home in the Atlantic than in love, writes a viral blog post comparing relationships to self-protective lobsters. As she organizes Christmas Cove’s first holiday festival, she finds herself drawn to Logan, the unavailable man renting her family’s lighthouse, while also forging a connection with a mysterious online stranger. With her posts delving into trust and commitment, Charlie must decide if love is worth the plunge, or if she’s safer staying ashore. Parker’s latest release has been optioned for film.
Henry’s Classroom follows AMY MACKIN G’22 on her often frustrating yet sometimes humorous journey with her neurodivergent son—from the earliest signs of developmental delay through years of early intervention, diagnosis, and navigating the public education system. As Henry faces ongoing challenges, mother and son ultimately step away from traditional structures to forge a new path. Blending memoir with cultural critique, Henry’s Classroom makes a compelling case for a more expansive and adaptable vision of American schools and workplaces—one that fosters true equity and inclusion.
JOSEPH N. COOPER, the inaugural Dr. J. Keith Motley Endowed Chair of Sport Leadership & Administration at UMass Boston, published Black Sporting Resistance: Diaspora, Transnationalism, and Internationalism. The book presents a theoretically grounded analysis of how Black sportspersons have engaged in resistance across national borders throughout history, using sport as a platform for advancing racial justice on both local and global scales. Cooper examines key concepts such as the African diaspora, transnationalism, internationalism, and the intersection of sport activism with broader social movements, including the Black Liberation Struggle, PanAfricanism, and Black Radicalism.
Commencement2025
AT UMASS BOSTON’S 57th undergraduate commencement exercises, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell challenged the Class of 2025 to rise above today’s global challenges with courage and conviction. “I will do everything in my power to fight not only to protect our values, but to protect our residents and our people, our state economy, and the incredible institution that the UMass system is,” she said. Campbell praised the resilience of the 2,635 graduates through the pandemic, economic instability, and global conflicts, calling their achievement a powerful testament to perseverance.
Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco commended students for overcoming immense obstacles and urged them to carry UMass Boston’s spirit of inquiry and commitment to justice into the world. “Many of you began your UMass Boston journey during the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. You encountered obstacles, detours, and wicked knots, but you reached the finish line with grit, grace, and a smile on your face. It took determination and ganas to arrive at this moment. For that, I salute you,” he said.
The graduate commencement saw 1,066 master’s degrees conferred, and two distinguished alumni honored with Chancellor’s Medals. Maine Governor Janet T. Mills ’70 was honored for her leadership and public service, and Massachusetts State Representative Michael J. Moran ’96 was recognized for his advocacy on behalf of immigrants and workers.
The university marked a milestone by awarding a record 134 doctoral degrees—just months after being elevated to Carnegie Research One (R1) status, the highest designation for research institutions.
The doctoral commencement featured the presentation of two honorary doctorates of humane letters. Environmental advocate Cathleen Douglas Stone H’25 was honored for her lifelong commitment to sustainability and social equity. Martin J. Walsh H’25, former Boston mayor and U.S. Secretary of Labor, was recognized for his advocacy for working people and equitable communities.
2025 JFK Award winner and undergraduate student speaker Basim Naeem ’25 with Chancellor’s Medal recipient AG Andrea Campbell.
Student speaker spotlight
Basim Naeem ’25 was this year’s recipient of the John F. Kennedy Award for Academic Excellence, the highest honor a UMass Boston undergraduate can receive. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Naeem created a place of belonging at UMass Boston by co-founding the Pakistani Student Association. A biology major, he worked as a resident assistant, medical assistant, and research assistant in the Pathania Lab, co-authoring a study on breast cancer. On commencement day, he encouraged his peers to pursue change by using not only their degrees, but also their passion and purpose. “We’re entering the world with more than just a degree—we bring energy, ambition, and the drive to create lasting change. We all possess the capacity to bring change. Otherwise you wouldn’t be sitting here today.”
After graduation, Naeem will spend two years working in clinical research while applying to MD and MPH programs, as his long-term career goal is to become an oncologist with a specialization in neurology.
Graduate student speaker Charlotte Kyeremah G’20, PhD’25, born in Ghana, came to the U.S. in 2018 to pursue a second master’s and later a PhD in integrative biosciences at UMass Boston. The eldest of five children and the first in her family to attend college, she credits her parents, husband, and mentors for her academic success. During her doctoral studies, Kyeremah built a low-cost, portable digital holographic microscopy system. Successfully tested in the Duraisingh Lab at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, the device was able to detect malaria-infected red blood cells and shows promise for use in underserved areas. At the graduate commencement ceremonies she shared her story of overcoming adversity and cultural transition. She emphasized the importance of resilience, mentorship, and purpose, telling fellow graduates, “We didn’t just earn degrees—we earned a voice.”
2: Chancellor
3: UMass Boston graduates hail from 130 countries and speak more than 70 languages.
4. At the May 28 Honoree Dinner, Chancellor’s Awards were presented to distinguished faculty (front, from left) Juanita UrbanRich, Elora Chowdhury, and Zong-Guo. Reflections were shared by honorees (from right) Stone, Mills, Walsh, and (rear left-center) Moran.
5. Nearly 60 percent of UMass Boston students are first-generation college students.
6. Chancellor Suárez-Orozco, Gov. Janet Mills ’70, H’25, Provost Berger. 7. The Class of 2025 included 123 undergraduate and graduate student veterans.
1 One of the 134 doctoral candidates, Meg Hassey, G’20, PhD’25, was hooded by Professor Stacy VanDeveer (left); her father, William Hassey EdD; and College of Liberal Arts Dean Pratima Prasad.
Suárez-Orozco, James Stone, Cathleen Stone H’25, Provost Berger.
Impact is Inevitable
BY ALEX WILLIAMSON
BY JEN A. MILLER | ILLUSTRATIONS
Quantum mechanics challenges what we think we know about how the world works— and shows physicists and engineers a doorway to astonishing technological possibilities. UMass Boston is exploring how public research, interdisciplinary education, and industry collaboration might unlock the power of the quantum world.
n June 2025, UMass Boston physics professor Christopher Fuchs arrived on the remote island of Helgoland, Germany, to mark the 100th anniversary of the field of quantum mechanics. He and more than 300 physicists, including Nobel Prize laureates and other luminaries, had gathered to celebrate the landmark—a scientific breakthrough so momentous that UNESCO has named 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
In its centennial year, quantum mechanics is both the force behind everyday technologies and the catalyst for the next generation of discovery. On the cusp of the next 100 years of quantum mechanics, UMass Boston has positioned itself, through academic research, student training programs, and quantum-enabled core facilities, to be a leader in its next phase.
“Boston has long been a central hub for research and computing technologies,” said Akira Sone, assistant professor in the Department of Physics. “UMass Boston, together with institutions like MIT and Harvard, is sharing resources and building up education and research within the city. It’s the perfect place for it.”
QUANTUM MECHANICS IS EVERYTHING
The Helgoland 2025 conference took place on that hard-to-reach island because it is the site of, according to legend, a quantum-physics eureka moment on par with Newton’s apple. German scientist Werner
Heisenberg came to the island in 1925 to escape terrible hay fever. His memoirs relate that during one sleepless night, he was struck by his theory of matrix mechanics, a foundation of quantum physics.
In truth, that breakthrough might have been more a result of collaborative effort than an epiphany— Heisenberg had been working on his calculations for months, building on the ideas and input of other early quantum theorists like Niels Bohr and Wolfgang Pauli. But it is indisputable that, by unlocking the way matter works on the subatomic level, Heisenberg and his fellow quantum pioneers changed how we understand the world.
Quantum physics is about mechanics—the ways forces act on and move physical bodies—but also uncertainty. It looks at the subatomic particles that make up all matter. Smaller than one-billionth of a centimeter, they don’t move or act in ways that physics at larger scales would predict. The more you know about where a subatomic particle is going, for example, the less you can know about where it is. But with quantum physics, you can calculate the probability of finding it in different spots.
If you’re confused, you’re not alone. Quantum mechanics is a slippery concept to grasp. “It’s strange, it’s interesting, it’s counterintuitive,” said Sone.
Maxim Olchanyi, professor in the Department of Physics, uses sleight of hand to explain it. “Card tricks show things that both are and aren’t,” he said, like quantum states that don’t exist until they are measured. “The laws of quantum are impossible to visualize without magic.”
But for those living and breathing this science, understanding subatomic probabilities and harnessing their power has already led to revolutionary technologies. Quantum mechanics drives the design of modern electronics like cell phones, as well as lasers, nanoscale atomic force microscopes, and atomic clocks essential for the global positioning system (GPS).
A COMPUTING REVOLUTION
One particularly exciting area of quantum innovation is computing. Due to subatomic properties like superposition (in which a particle whose state is undetermined functionally exists in all possible states at once, bits of data at the quantum scale can interact in ways far more complex than classical computing’s on (1) and off (0) binary allows. As a result, “you can write things in a programming language that you can’t for regular computers,” said Fuchs.
Professor Fuchs presenting at the Department of Physics 2025 Annual Research Symposium, which brought together physics faculty and students from universities across Boston.
String a lot of these quantum bits together, and you have a new kind of computing power. “You can speed up exponentially,” said Sone. “Where a classical computer might take years and years to solve a problem, a quantum computer can solve it within seconds.”
While quantum computers exist now, they aren’t yet scaled to the level that physicists theorize would unlock their true power. UMass Boston is working to help change that.
QUANTUM AT UMASS BOSTON
UMass Boston’s College of Science & Mathematics has already begun laying the foundation for a robust Quantum Information Science & Engineering (QISE) program, building on the knowledge and research interests of academic leaders and faculty within the departments of engineering and physics.
UMass Boston is an ideal place for this work because of the expertise already on campus. In the past two years alone, UMass Boston faculty have received major recognition and more than $5 million in grant funding for their work in both the practical and theoretical aspects of quantum science.
Their studies address an array of areas in the field. Olchanyi is investigating number theory–inspired effects on cold atoms, one of the few attempts in the world to use quantum mechanics to study number theory. Fuchs established QBism, a view of quantum mechanics in which particle probabilities are determined by an observer’s expectations rather than objective reality—work that landed him on Vox’s 2023 Future Perfect 50 list of innovators shaping our global future.
Sone is advancing AI-based approaches to quantum science and technology research and education. And Robin Côté, distinguished professor of physics, former dean of the College of Science & Mathematics, and head of the university’s new interdisciplinary Data & Quantum Science Center (DataQS), is leading a grant designed to deliver high-quality research, grow faculty, and establish a workforce development infrastructure with industry partners.
“It is truly inspiring to see our faculty and students receiving national recognition and support for their groundbreaking research,” said Provost Joseph Berger. “We’re proud to support such visionary work that not only deepens fundamental understanding, but also elevates our academic community on the global stage.”
IMPACT THROUGH INDUSTRY
Supporting the quantum industry is key to the university’s growth trajectory in quantum technology. UMass Boston is home to the Quantum Hardware Development & Commercialization Core Facility. There, Associate Professor Matthew Bell, director of the core facility and chair of the Department of Engineering, along with students and staff, works with both local start-ups, such as Millimeter Waves Systems and Quantum Microwave, and established international companies, such as Raytheon, to provide the facilities and know-how they need to test their quantum devices.
This kind of facility is crucial because quantum development can’t be run in a regular testing facility or lab. These devices need to be cooled to temperatures unimaginable to most human beings, down close to absolute zero (-459.67 degrees Fahrenheit or -273.15 degrees Celsius).
The core allows companies to “develop prototypes and components relevant to emerging technologies in the new quantum economy,” said Bala Sundaram, professor of physics and vice provost for research and strategic initiatives.
think by using the fundamental rules of quantum mechanics. This is being explored with resources at the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC)—a joint venture between the University of Massachusetts system and Boston University, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, and Yale— which houses cutting-edge quantum and AI infrastructure.
PREPARING THE QUANTUM WORKFORCE
Often, the work of the core facility is synergistic with UMass Boston’s Venture Development Center (VDC), an incubator where students, faculty, and entrepreneurs come together to launch innovative technology and life sciences into the world. For example, the start-up Atlantic Quantum collaborated with faculty to characterize a computer chip it developed. FerroByte, which is developing new materials specifically designed for use in facilitating quantum technologies, has also joined the VDC.
Intertwining quantum computing and artificial intelligence (another field UMass Boston faculty and students are heavily involved in) could lead to AI that not only learns faster but also reshapes how machines
That this work is being done at UMass Boston, the city’s only public research institution, said Sundaram, will have a “profound impact on producing the skilled workforce needed to grow and sustain these emerging sectors in the Commonwealth’s economy.”
Preparing students to join that workforce is a priority for the university. In addition to undergraduate and graduate physics and engineering degrees, UMass Boston has launched a Quantum Information Certificate program that makes the topic accessible to undergraduate students of all majors. Four courses over two years cover topics like the mathematical foundations of quantum information and the applications of quantum information across scientific systems.
Matthew Bell, associate professor of engineering at a quantum computing research facility on campus.
Top : A plaque on the highest point on the island of Helgoland translates to: “In June 1925, the 23-year-old Werner Heisenberg achieved a breakthrough here on Helgoland in the formulation of quantum mechanics, the fundamental theory of natural laws in the atomic realm, which has had a profound impact on human thought far beyond physics.”
Bottom : Helgoland, Germany
The program started in 2020 and has gone through two cycles of students. While it’s still too early to track the contributions of those students to the quantum field, Côté is pleased with the program’s progress and hopes that in the future, it will expand beyond undergrads to enroll professionals who want to also ride the quantum mechanics wave.
“That could be someone from industry or an engineer who wants to retool,” he said. “You might not know anything about quantum mechanics, but take this series of four courses and you have a base for quantum information science and engineering.”
As these educational efforts expand in Boston, Côté hopes that UMass Boston will become a global hub for educating quantum scientists, including students from outside the region who could come to Boston for summer school or workshops to experience the level of physics happening here that isn’t happening elsewhere.
Students from smaller colleges or universities “don’t have the occasion to really engage and see a lot of the new developments going on in the field,” said Côté. “There are a lot of great students who just don’t have access to what we have here, and there is a lot of talent everywhere.”
INTO THE UNKNOWN
Guessing what quantum mechanics will enable in the next 100 years is like tracking a particle itself: you can calculate the probability of where it will end up, but not know for sure. Better devices for measurement? Probably. A full scale, working quantum computer? It’s possible.
UMass Boston’s quantum experts can’t know today what the tools built by quantum mechanics will be, in the same way it would have been impossible for Heisenberg to guess that we’d use his discoveries to produce pictures of the insides of our bodies or make telephones “smart.” But they are working to illuminate the science, build the industry, and prepare students for a quantum-enabled future that is sure to bring new marvels.
“It’s like regular computers today, which are used to design new computers, and design every single product we have,” said Bell. “Once you have a quantum computer, you have a whole new avenue of possibilities to develop the next technology.”
A Life in Art, A Legacy in Motion
HONORING THE INDELIBLE IMPACT of PROFESSOR EMERITA RUTH BUTLER
Professor Emerita Ruth Butler was known for her passion for life, for learning, and for others. For more than twenty years at UMass Boston—seven as chair of the Art & Art History Department—Butler brought both rigor and vitality to the field. A specialist in 19th-century French art, she became internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on sculptor Auguste Rodin, and is the only American to be appointed to the board of the Musée Rodin in Paris.
But what distinguished Ruth Butler’s career wasn’t simply her scholarly precision or curatorial discernment; it was her deep belief in the transformative power of public education. Leaving the prestigious University of Maryland in 1973 to join the newly formed UMass Boston campus downtown, she sought to teach students for whom education was only one part of a robust and connected life. She believed in public education, not as an ideal, but as a necessity—one capable of opening the doors to the world. Fueled by that vision, she established the Ruth Butler Travel Scholarship, a fund she created in 2003 and endowed in 2007.
BY AUSTYN ELLESE MAYFIELD
The scholarship reflects Butler’s own belief in the power of travel as a form of artistic and intellectual awakening. From her early voyages across the Atlantic to her research in small French villages and her visits to galleries in Tokyo, she experienced the world with an open heart and a keen eye. Her encounters abroad were not passive; she engaged with people, places, and culture in ways that were deeply human. Whether knocking on the door of the Butler Castle in Ireland (because “she, too, was a Butler!”) or conversing with strangers in Parisian cafés, she immersed herself in the texture of life wherever she went.
That spirit of engagement underpins every requirement of the Ruth Butler Travel Scholarship. Open to both studio artists and art historians, applicants must propose a meaningful international project—whether artistic or research-based—and demonstrate a clear project plan and established engagement with institutions or individuals abroad in the location where the student has proposed to complete their work. Be it museums or archives or practicing artists, students are expected to have initiated dialogue with their overseas collaborators. And, just as Butler did, they must come prepared with some knowledge of the local language.
This purposeful encounter with another place, shaped by inquiry, connection, and self-direction, moves the experience beyond “study abroad” in the traditional sense. In return, recipients—known as Butler Fellows—gain more than knowledge. They re-
turn deeply enriched, having lived abroad as artists and researchers, not tourists. To date, 29 UMass Boston students have taken this journey. Their destinations have spanned the globe—Mexico City, Milan, Paris, Berlin—each project carrying forward Butler’s belief that art must be both practiced and intentionally explored in its cultural context.
Beyond the travel fellowship, her endowment has also supported broader access to the arts. Thanks to her gift, students in the department receive free admission to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. Her fund has also enabled class trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, and more—making experiences that were once out of reach part of everyday education for UMass Boston students.
Professor Emerita Ruth Butler died on November 28, 2024, at the age of 93, leaving a remarkable body of scholarly work and an immeasurable impact that will continue to inspire and support artists and the study of art. In this way, her endowed scholarship is more than a gift. It’s become a compass, showing the way toward what’s possible when curiosity meets opportunity, when rigor meets generosity, and when a scholar like Butler dedicates her life’s work to ensure that others might discover their own unforgettable journeys into the world—and through life—with clarity, courage, and purpose.
Ruth Butler’s generosity has afforded 29 UMass Boston students an incredible global experiential learning opportunity, in addition to underwriting memberships at art and cultural institutions in and around Boston. Through her foresight and generosity, Butler’s legacy expands access to art, honors artists, and deepens appreciation for art history—ensuring these values endure for generations to come.
Rixy Fernandez ’19
2019 Butler Fellow Mexico
The scholarship was one of the first experiences and opportunities that helped me realize my discipline in an international sense. Getting to explore historic muralism in Mexico City was a jump start to the research and work I’ve done today as a street artist, and I see [the scholarship] as such a foundational pillar to being gifted resources to motivate me forward.
I’m truly not sure how my work would live and expand today if it wasn’t for the opportunity during my time at UMass Boston. I’ve gained experience personally and professionally on community building, cultural exchange, independent and freelance approaches, grant investments, historical background and art history, and site-specific projects. Truly a blast and grateful time of my life!
Erika Lopez-Torres ’21
2021 Butler Fellow Mexico
Being a Ruth Butler Travel Scholarship recipient impacted my life in many ways: personally, artistically, and socially. I was able to travel for two whole months, during which I met people from all over, many of whom I still know. I interacted with people in spaces that I never thought I would be in, and I was able to hold space for the parts of myself that were not allowed to shine before.
All of the experiences that I had on that trip have informed my creative practice in various invaluable ways. The most valuable thing that I gained from this experience was being able to have a world perspective and a hunger for learning about anyone and everyone, including getting to know myself more deeply and genuinely.
Leticia Sidney ’24
2024 Butler Fellow France
I was awarded the Ruth Butler Travel Scholarship at the end of my senior year at UMass Boston—a time that felt overwhelming and uncertain, as I looked ahead without a clear idea of how to find my place in the art world. I spent two transformative months in Paris, the city where printmaking arguably became an established contemporary fine art form. I visited a range of printmaking studios and artists, each offering me unique perspectives.
One of the most meaningful parts of my stay was an internship at Salt and Cedar, the letterpress studio of artist Megan O’Connell. I was lucky to help her print editions of poems, tear hundreds of sheets of paper, and assist in the early stages of a book. More than anything, I learned by watching Megan—a master of her craft and generous with her knowledge.
To have been given time to slow down, reflect, and learn in a city so rich with history and artistic energy—it was nothing short of life-changing. And I owe that to Ruth Butler. Her belief in the power of travel and art to shape lives has had a profound impact on mine.
Tehudis Salcedo ’23
2023
Butler Fellow Spain
Woojin Jung ’23
2023
Butler Fellow Italy
Last fall, I had the life-changing opportunity to travel to Italy to study the resonating effects of golden mosaics in medieval churches and explore the birthplace of painting conservation. Receiving the Ruth Butler Travel Scholarship made this journey possible. It deepened my understanding of the conservation field and allowed me to engage with it in a tangible, immersive way.
Most important, I built meaningful connections with professionals in the field—connections that continue to inspire and guide me. This journey was more than academic. This experience helped me see that art conservation is not only about preserving the physical object, but also about understanding the culture, history, and people behind it. My time in Italy through the Ruth Butler Travel Scholarship didn’t just teach me how to care for art; it showed me why it matters.
This scholarship was a life-changing experience that opened up my heart to experience a different pace of life. It helped me meet my family in Spain, Italy, and Switzerland for the first time, which was the best experience I’ve had in my life. I worked on paintings that turned into sculptures over time and saw two of my favorite painters’ (Dali and Picasso) hometowns and their museums. I’m really inspired by their work. I would love to get better at showing emotions in my paintings. I’m getting there slowly. I’ve transitioned into sculpture. I’m a working artist, and this gave me the push to keep my dreams alive. I am working on two commissioned paintings right now and am currently part of a residency at Elevated Thought in Lawrence, MA.
Left: Jo Ann and her husband, Warren, at Fort Meade, Maryland, in March 1953, just three months after their wedding. Jo Ann was a second lieutenant overseeing officer records; Warren was a first lieutenant and executive officer of the 527th Military Police Company.
Top: Jo Ann, wearing her signature red, at her home in Chatham, MA, earlier this year.
Right: Jo Ann and her supporters campaigning in Walpole Center in fall 1994, just days before she won her second term as a Massachusetts state representative.
LADY IN RED
BY VANESSA CHATTERLEY
Jo Ann Sprague ’80 Proves It’s Never Too Late to Lead
Long before Jo Ann Sprague ’80 ever held public office—before her name adorned ballot slips and campaign signs and her signature red wardrobe became synonymous with resilience—she held her most demanding and formative role: a mother of six.
“She raised six children, essentially on her own,” said her daughter Peg Riley.
Sprague’s husband worked for tech giants IBM and Honeywell, a job that kept him on the road and the family constantly on the move—first Michigan, then Illinois, then Minnesota. By the time they finally put down stakes in Walpole, MA, in 1962, the chaos of raising six kids had begun to subside.
For the first time in years, Sprague found herself with a rare and precious commodity: time.
“It was the first time she could truly pause,” Riley said. “She could finally catch her breath and ask, ‘What do I want to do for me?’”
That question didn’t just change Sprague’s life. It sparked a transformation. She took on a copywriter position at the Walpole Times, where she was tasked with typing up stories on local politics.
“I got a job there because I was so hungry to earn a little money of my own and to do something on the outside,” she said.
That hunger grew into curiosity. Curiosity evolved into purpose.
At night, with the family car to herself, Sprague drove into town to attend select board and finance committee meetings in Walpole. She wasn’t attending those meetings in any official capacity—at least not yet. She showed up as a taxpayer. A mother. A woman who wanted to understand where her dollars went, and why.
“I wanted to know where the local tax dollar was going and how they were spending our money,” she said.
However, it wasn’t long before she became something more: a spokesperson for her community. Sprague wasn’t afraid to stand up, ask tough questions, and challenge ideas she felt strongly about—and people soon took notice.
“She learned to become fearless,” said her daughter Susan Sprague Walters ’83. “I think that’s a real theme in her life from that time on. She’s always polite and she’s always kind, but she’s never afraid to speak up.”
Neighbors began pulling her aside after meetings. “Thank you,” they’d say. “You said what I couldn’t.”
“I would speak for the people who couldn’t speak for themselves,” she said. “And that was the beginning.”
In the mid-1970s, Sprague stepped into public service, first as a town meeting member, then as a Walpole selectman in 1977. At the same time, she made another bold move: She enrolled full-time at UMass Boston to study classical languages, a passion sparked by childhood visits to the Parthenon replica in Nashville’s Centennial Park.
“I had a hunger to know how things were back then. I wanted a deep classical education. I didn’t want to quit until I had read the Iliad in Greek and the Aeneid in Latin,” she said.
She graduated in 1980, age 50, with a degree in classical studies—just as her career in public service was gaining momentum.
Throughout the 1980s and into the ’90s, Sprague served on the Walpole Capital Budget Committee and the Republican Town Committee. But her commitment to public service reached far beyond politics. She sat on the board of directors for both the Walpole Visiting Nurses Association and HIRE Enterprises. She was an active member of the Walpole League of Women Voters—serving as both membership chair and secretary—and led the Walpole Scholarship Foundation as president of the Board of Trustees.
These experiences laid the groundwork for her eventual entry into state politics—an era that her children remember fondly.
“It was just the two of us in the beginning,” Walters said, recalling her role as her mother’s first campaign manager. “We had no idea what we were doing, but my mom was fearless.”
Campaigning became a family event. Her kids held signs, knocked on doors, carpooled to events. Sprague was the spark at the center of it all.
“She was the tornado,” said her son Steve Sprague ’77 “And we were just whisked along for the ride.”
After narrowly losing her first bid for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Sprague did something both symbolic and strategic: she reinvented her image.
“You learn everything you need to know if you ever lose a race,” she said. When she ran again, she made a bold decision that would define her public image: she wore red.
“I stood on a busy corner in Walpole, alone, in a bright red suit, holding my red-and-white sign. I wanted to stand out,” she recalled. A political mentor later told her, “Don’t ever go out again without red on.”
Red became her signature—and eventually, her title. Soon, people were recognizing Sprague as “Lady in Red,” a nickname that followed her all the way to the State House.
Riley recalled neighborhood children even dressing up as her mom for Halloween.
“They’d put on white wigs and red jackets and be my mom,” she said. Her white pickup truck, often hauling campaign signs, became part of that visual brand as well. “As soon as people saw that white pickup truck with the blur of red, they knew it was her.”
In 1993, Sprague won a seat in the Massachusetts House. Six years later, she moved to the state senate, where
she served two districts over two terms: first Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth, then Bristol and Norfolk.
As she climbed the ranks, Sprague quickly became known for more than just her vibrant wardrobe. People were drawn to her empathy, her natural connection with others, and, above all, her unwavering advocacy for veterans—a cause shaped by her own experience in uniform.
In 1950, at just 18, she joined the Women’s Army Corps and was assigned to the Pentagon Motor Pool, driving high-ranking officials around
Washington, D.C. In 1951, at 19, she received a waiver to attend officer candidate school—despite being underage and without a college degree— and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. While serving at Fort Meade, Maryland, she met her future husband, Warren Sprague, a World War II Navy veteran.
“The Army gave me a job, a home, and a purpose. I learned to love our country and respect the government that defends our country,” she said. “The Army opened doors that couldn’t be opened before.”
If you see a place where you can make a difference, reach for it.
In return, she made it her mission to open doors for other veterans—beginning with a successful push to exempt their pensions from Massachusetts income tax. When the bill faced opposition, she stood on the House floor and said, “I dare anyone in this room to tell me that our veterans haven’t contributed to our country and this state.” The bill passed unanimously. She also played a key role in establishing the Massachusetts Heroes Plates program to honor decorated service members.
In 2001, Sprague ran for U.S. Congress in the Massachusetts 9th congressional district. She didn’t win, but her legacy grew stronger. She remained in the state senate until 2004, retiring not because she had to—but because she promised she would.
“She believed in term limits,” said Walters. “And she kept her word.”
Today, at 93, Sprague still serves.
Now living in Chatham, she’s the most senior member of the town’s finance committee, having been recently appointed to another three-year term. She actively participates in meetings, focusing her efforts on financial matters where her skills best fit.
“It’s never too late to hope for something wonderful,” Sprague said.
“Don’t let age or education hold you back. If you see a place where you can make a difference, reach for it.”
The Reinventor
At UMass Boston, Sean Im ’90 chose tenacity in the midst of tragedy. Now he’s rewiring the future. BY KELLY MARKSBURY
HEN SEAN IM ’90 returned to UMass Boston to speak with College of Management students, he didn’t start with his track record as president of Samsung SDS America. Nor did he lead with the fact that he recently founded VerticalAI, a venture-backed AI firm attracting serious attention for transforming legacy industries through advanced technology and human-centered design. Instead, he started with a truth most executives wouldn’t share.
“I got lost at UMass Boston. For two years, I really failed. And then I had a turnaround.”
His goal that day wasn’t to deliver a breathtaking highlight reel to dazzle the students—it was to show how ambition and uncertainty, shaped by
personal loss, can forge a leadership style grounded in empathy and reinvention.
Shaped by Motion, Motivated by Grief Born in Seoul to a Korean diplomat father and a homemaker mother, Im moved every few years. The family spent three years in Colombia, returned to Korea, then lived in Ecuador for four more. That transnational childhood, Im said, gave him early fluency in multicultural environments, an ability to adapt quickly, and the confidence to navigate unfamiliar territory—qualities that still shape how he leads today. Arriving in Boston for college brought its own challenges—but also a
setting that sparked something in him: the skyline, the sea, the sense that here, something meaningful could begin.
“The first two years, I explored life,” he said. “I was reading, reflecting, asking myself big questions about meaning and direction. That exploration led to a kind of existential crisis— not from partying or distraction, but from not [yet] knowing what I was supposed to become.”
When Im’s roommate woke him from a nap at Healey Library to tell him that his father had died in a car accident, it was not just a moment of grief for Im—it was a breaking point.
“That was the lowest point of my life,” he said. “What my father’s death taught me was that life is short, and no
Sean Im ‘90 with College of Management Dean Venky Venkatachalam and management students.
one’s guaranteed a lifetime. And so my guidance from that point onwards was, ‘I’m going to live my life as if today was my last day.’”
As Im moved through doubt and loss toward finding his purpose, “every day became a war against myself,” he said. “Some days I lost. But if you keep going, you start winning more than you lose.”
In the Room Where It Happens
Im earned his degree in computer science, then took a job at a tech firm, where he quickly realized he was drawn to the strategies shaping the enterprise, not just the systems behind it.
“I started noticing the people making big decisions weren’t the engineers. They were the business leaders.”
That insight led Im to reinvent himself as an executive. He earned an MBA from Yonsei University in Seoul, then held a series of consulting and leadership roles at Accenture, PwC, IBM, and eventually Samsung SDS. At Samsung, he helped lead the company’s global shift toward cloud and AI technology, ultimately serving as president and CEO of Samsung SDS America, where his leadership was instrumental to managing and growing a $2.6 billion business portfolio.
In 2024, in another bold pivot, Im left Samsung to launch VerticalAI, an AI-first consultancy focused on transforming infrastructure-heavy industries. The move puts Im at the forefront of a burgeoning market for vertical artificial intelligence—AI built for specific industries—that is projected to reach $47.1 billion by 2030 and potentially exceed $100 billion by 2032.
VerticalAI is digging into rugged sectors like logistics, transportation, and manufacturing—trillion-dollar markets still running on duct-taped legacy systems. The company helps streamline operations and reduce complexity by embedding AI into day-to-day systems and workflows. The goal is to make artificial intelligence useful, scalable, ethical, and meaningful in the real world.
“If technology creates more friction or anxiety, it’s not innovation,” Im said. “I want to build systems that feel intuitive—so people can spend more time doing meaningful work.”
Leadership, Beacon Style
Throughout his career, Im has drawn on the lessons he learned at UMass Boston.
“There’s a unique profile here,” he told students. “Many of you are working while you study. That takes grit. Don’t downplay it. Lead with it.”
Im sees his own story in today’s UMass Boston students. “I consider my competitive advantage the fact that I’ve lived and worked across cultures,” he said. “It makes you better at spotting the intersections”—at recognizing the spaces where differences converge and give rise to innovation.
Im’s leadership has been defined by empathy, adaptability, and a focus on bridging divides. Facing a widening generational gap between Gen Z employees and senior staff, for example, Im didn’t impose a typical top-down solution. Instead, he brought together a leadership team of Gen Z employees and paired them with senior leaders for a four-day retreat, where both groups could
Four Lessons from Sean Im ’90
Don’t downplay your UMass Boston story.
“Working through school shows resilience. That’s something employers notice.”
Look for intersections.
“I was a tech guy who became a business strategist. The growth edge is where fields meet.”
Be coachable.
“Skills matter, but character matters more. Be someone others want to invest in.”
Treat your name like a brand.
“Your reputation is your asset. Everything you do adds to it. Guard it. Grow it.”
openly discuss challenges and propose changes. This experience surfaced 18 new initiatives, each led by Gen Z employees.
Students sat forward in their seats as Im spoke with frankness and humor. Afterward, Im heard from more than 30 students—some of whom hadn’t even attended but reached out after hearing about his talk from peers. He continues to mentor several of them, offering guidance and encouragement, and he’s described the response as humbling and energizing.
“This generation wants meaning,” Im said. “They want to matter.”
From the couch in Healey Library to the launch of VerticalAI, Sean Im’s story is proof to students that reinvention isn’t a one-time event—it’s a way of moving through the world with purpose.
Sky’s the Limit
CHRISTINA
CASSOTIS ’94
TAKES PITTSBURGH TO NEW HEIGHTS
By Vanessa Chatterley
ON A COLD January morning in 2015, Christina Cassotis ’94 walked into Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) with a vision, a plan—and more than a few skeptics quietly watching her every move.
The airport was a shell of its former self. Once a bustling hub for a major airline, it had become eerily quiet, its soaring terminals half-used, and its passengers dwindling. Most people saw an aging facility left behind by the airline industry. Cassotis, however, saw a blank canvas and a world of opportunity.
“I didn’t come to run an airport,” she said. “I came to change an industry.”
What followed was less of a turnaround and more of a renaissance. Over the next decade, Cassotis led a transformation that positioned Pittsburgh International as a global leader in sustainability, innovation, and community investment.
Under her leadership as CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, the airport earned a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking in the world. It became the first airport inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame. PIT has repeatedly been named an airport of the year, including by Air Transport World and the CAPA Centre for Aviation. It was ranked among Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World and featured in Condé Nast Traveler’s Bright Ideas in Travel list. Additionally, PIT received national recognition from the White House for PIT2Work, the airport’s workforce development initiative.
Cassotis didn’t just modernize the airport. She redefined it.
Her path to becoming one of the most influential figures in airport leadership didn’t follow a traditional flight path. After deliberately flunking out of college—“I got seven F’s
and a B-plus,” she laughed—Cassotis spent several years bartending, waitressing, and even volunteering as a counselor for survivors of domestic violence.
Eventually, she found her way to UMass Boston.
“UMass Boston gave me a chance when nobody else would,” she said. “I was living in the city, bartending on Beacon Hill, and when I decided to go back to school, I knew I wanted to study what I loved: English. One of my best friends in the world, I met in a writing class there. We still talk three times a week.”
Cassotis grew up in Londonderry, NH, a small town known for its plentiful apple orchards. She credits her father—a commercial airline pilot who flew international routes for decades—with sparking her love for aviation.
“When I was 10, my parents took my brother and me to London. I remember
feeling like the whole world had opened up, and I thought, ‘I want this. I want to see the world,’” she said. Though she knew early on that she didn’t want to be a pilot herself, it wasn’t until working at the Massachusetts Port Authority that she realized airports could be her entry point into the industry.
“At Massport, I’d sit on my break and just watch people, wondering where they were coming from or going to,” she said. “I loved it.”
That realization led to a 17-year career in aviation consulting, a master’s from MIT, and, eventually, the top job at Pittsburgh International. But when she arrived, she faced a community still longing for the return of its hub operations.
“People in Pittsburgh felt that success meant being a hub, because that’s what they had known,” she recalled. “But I knew that wasn’t coming back. I told the board I’d only take the job if they were okay with that.”
They were. And Cassotis got to work.
Over the next 10 years, she introduced sweeping changes. Pittsburgh International became home to the first microgrid in the world that fully powers an airport using natural gas and solar energy. She launched xBridge, an in-terminal innovation lab where start-ups can test new tech in a real-world environment. Amenities like a sensory-friendly room for travelers with special needs, a childcare center for employees, and the Neighborhood 91 additive manufacturing campus redefined what an airport could offer—not just for its passengers, but for the community and its economy.
“To me, it’s a natural output of a culture that is always asking, ‘What else can we do?’ and ‘Why not?’ or ‘What if?’” Cassotis said.
Among all of Cassotis’s achievements, her proudest moment is still on the horizon: a new $1.7 billion terminal, set to open in late 2025. Cassotis said the facility reflects years of persistence, even in the face of a global pandemic that threatened to derail it all.
“When COVID hit, we had half of the necessary airline signatures we needed to move the project forward. And then we had none. But we kept designing anyway. I believed travel would come back. We bet on ourselves— and it paid off.”
The terminal’s sustainable, passenger-first design represents an architectural upgrade. Not only will it consolidate all check-in, ticketing, security, and baggage operations into one facility, but the project also includes additional space for concessions, an expanded TSA checkpoint, and a new parking garage.
“This industry has needed a kick in the pants,” Cassotis said. “And I would say that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
Class notes
1960
Louis Bier G’62 celebrated the 65th anniversary of his ordination to the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was ordained on August 3, 1959, and has served his community for more than six decades.
Arthur N. Mabbett ’69, founder, chairman, and CEO of Mabbett & Associates, Inc., was honored with the 2024 EBC Daniel K. Moon Lifetime Achievement Award by the Environmental Business Council (EBC). Additionally, he was named a 2025 Good Scout Award recipient by Scouting Boston, an honor that recognizes his outstanding leadership and dedication to community service.
1970
Dennis Cowan ’78 was named a 2024 notable nonprofit board leader by Crain’s Detroit Business. A partner at Plunkett Cooney and a distinguished attorney, Cowan has also made significant contributions to public service, including his tenure as Royal Oak, MI, mayor and as a member of the city commission.
Russell Dupont ’71, an artist who specializes in writing and photography, published Norman Mailer Walks into a Bar and Other Stories, a collection of short stories set in Boston and its neighborhoods.
Mark Forest ’78 was reelected to a second four-year term on the Barnstable County Commission. His leadership extends to local government, where he has taken on the role of acting town manager in both Provincetown and Brewster.
Thomas Gibbons ’79, a retired telephone technician, has been a crossing guard in Brookline, MA, since 2019. After earning his degree in law enforcement, Gibbons worked for Southwestern Bell and the New England Telephone Company before retiring in 2017.
Janet Mills ’70 was awarded the French Legion of Honor by President Emmanuel
Macron in recognition of her dedication to promoting French language and culture in Maine. As Governor of Maine, Mills has been instrumental in supporting Maine’s Franco-American heritage, organizing initiatives to digitize historical records and hosting cultural events statewide.
Christopher Muse G’72 is the author of Justice Under God, which tells the powerful story of his nearly decade-long fight to exonerate Bobby Joe Leaster, who was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 1970. Originally published in 2022, a newly edited version of the book was released in January 2025.
William F. O’Rourke ’77, G’99 was appointed director of public works for the Town of Plainville, MA. He brings over 32 years of experience in engineering, including roles in both the public and private sectors. He served as deputy director of public works and town engineer for Sudbury, MA.
Ellen Downey Rainville ’76 celebrated her 40th anniversary as director of the J.V. Fletcher Library in Westford, MA. Rainville became assistant director in 1980 and took on the director role in 1984. Throughout her tenure, she has overseen numerous transformations, including the library’s $32 million expansion and its adaptation to new technologies.
Leo Sandy ’70 was named the recipient of the 11th Lucy Fowlkes Breed Award for his volunteer service at the Family Connections Center at the Laconia Prison in New Hampshire.
Dora B. Schriro G’74 was selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who in recognition of her distinguished career in corrections and immigration detention. Schriro serves as the principal of Dora B. Schriro Consulting Services LLC, where she provides expert guidance to nonprofit organizations and government agencies, focusing on inspections, policy advocacy, and the implementation of best practices to elevate industry standards.
1980
Richard Ahern ’80 received the Massachusetts General Hospital 2024 Norman Knight Advanced Practice Nurse Award, in recognition of his excellence in patient care.
Donna J. Aldrich ’81, writing under the name DJ Geribo, has authored eight books spanning multiple genres. Her works include two children’s books, a middle-grade novel, a nonfiction book, a memoir, and three literary fiction novels.
Stephen Collins ’81 brought the life and intricate relationships of Herman Melville to the stage in Sailing Towards My Father, a one-man play performed by Collins at the Marion Art Center’s Anne Braitmayer Webb Theater. Written and directed by Carl A. Rossi, the play explores Melville’s evolution as a writer and his complex ties to family, faith, and contemporaries such as Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Donna Cotterell ’86 was appointed Marblehead’s first dedicated grant coordinator, working in the town’s Community Development and Planning Department. She focuses on securing funding for coastal resilience, affordable housing, and fostering community inclusivity.
Maureen Curran ’81 served on the board of directors for PACE (People Acting in Community Endeavors) in New Bedford, MA, for 14 years. On June 1, 2024, she was elected vice president and held the position until January 31, 2025.
Paul English ’87, G’89, H’19, co-founder of Kayak and founder of Boston Venture Studio, launched SpamStrike, a new iPhone app designed to block spam messages. Frustrated by the influx of political texts during election season, English developed the free app to help users filter out spam based on keywords such as names of politicians or terms such as “donate.”
1990
Chris Aronis ’97 joined EnFi, bringing 20 years of experience in fintech go-to-market and operations leadership. His expertise spans risk and compliance, lending, trading, and data aggregation, and he has built high-performance teams at both early-stage start-ups and public companies.
Chris Carberry G’99 published Alcohol in Space: Past, Present and Future in 2019, and it’s now the inspiration behind the new documentary Alcohol in Space, available on Amazon Prime. Directed by Sam Burbank, the documentary explores the evolving concept of alcohol production and consumption beyond Earth.
Jeffrey Granatino G’97 retired in June 2024 after a 33-year career in education, including roles as teacher, coach, athletic director, vice principal, principal, and superintendent in districts across the South Shore. The Marshfield School Committee honored his nine years as superintendent by naming the district’s newest school the Jeffrey W. Granatino Early Education Center. He now serves as academy director for the newly formed Marshfield Coastal Academy, a branch of the Atlantic Resiliency Innovation Institute.
Michael Hayde G’97 helped lead Clark Atlanta University football to a historic turnaround season during his first year as football recruiting coordinator. The Panthers finished the 2024 season with a 7-3-1 record—their best in recent history—and reached the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship game.
Imari K. Paris Jeffries ’97, G’99, G’03, PhD’23 was the keynote speaker for UMass Chan Medical School’s 2025 Martin Luther King Celebration of Service on January 27. As the president and CEO of Embrace Boston, Jeffries spoke about the importance of interconnectedness in life and democracy.
Hadley Luddy ’94 was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in November 2024. In her role, she represents the 4th Barnstable District, which includes the four Outer Cape towns, as well as Orleans, Chatham, and Harwich.
Paul MacDonald ’91 officially retired in June 2024 after a distinguished career as an Army infantryman with both the U.S. Army and the Massachusetts National Guard. He achieved the rank of sergeant first class and dedicated decades of service to his country.
Kim Foley MacKinnon ’98 released her latest book, 100 Things to Do in Massachusetts Before You Die. This guide takes readers on a journey across the Bay State, uncovering must-see destinations such as the historic landmarks of Concord and Lexington, the beaches of Cape Cod, and the vibrant arts scene in the Berkshires.
James P. Martin ’98 was appointed chief of police for Hanover, NH. Martin, who previously served as captain and second-in-command at the Hanover Police Department, officially stepped into his new role in February 2025. With 25 years of experience in law enforcement, including time as a supervisory special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Martin has been a key leader in public safety and community engagement.
Jeffrey Perkins G’98 co-presented a talk titled “A History of Bennington College Through Books” at the
Beth Oliver ’88, chief nurse executive and senior vice president of cardiac services at Mount Sinai Health System, was named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives for 2024. For over 28 years, Oliver has played a transformational role in cardiac nursing at Mount Sinai. She has led the cardiovascular service line strategy and operations, ensuring quality care delivery at New York’s Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital.
Bennington Museum in Vermont. Perkins joined Bennington College in September 2022 from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, where he served as vice president of communications and marketing and associate vice president of communications and external relations.
Alex Pollack ’97 was named director of photography at National Geographic. In her role, she leads the photographic vision for the brand’s editorial products and platforms; oversees photographic commissioning, acquisition, and research; and guides photo-led story development, studio photography, and photo engineering.
Barbara Vejvoda ’92 was appointed associate vice president of principal gifts at the UMass Amherst Foundation. Vejvoda brings 15 years of expertise as a principal gifts fundraising leader across institutions of higher education, academic medical centers, and scientific research organizations.
Sam Welch ’92 released The Republic, an alternative pop album that delves into philosophical reflections on life, death, and the human condition. A trained vocalist and pianist, Welch has spent over 20 years creating music inspired by his experiences with depression, his Navy service, and his Unitarian faith.
David Wilson G’97, an English professor at Wright State University, has authored over 30 works of fiction, nonfiction, and drama under the pseudonym D. Harlan Wilson. His latest book, Strangelove Country: Science Fiction, Filmosophy, and The Kubrickian Consciousness, was published by Stalking Horse Press this year and examines Stanley Kubrick’s futurist cinema through a philosophical lens.
2000
Shannon Bennett G’02 was appointed senior vice president of marketing & communications at Battelle, where she leads global marketing strategies, brand development, community relations, and reputation management.
Derrick Ciesla G’07 was appointed head of school at Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester. With 24 years of experience as an educator, Ciesla brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role, having previously served as principal of Russell Elementary School.
Mona Connolly Casper G’01, CER’14 was honored with the Thomas J. “Tommy” Butler South Boston Small Business Leadership Award at the South Boston Street Festival. As manager of Seapoint Bar and Grille, Casper carries on the legacy of her late mother, Mona, who originally managed the restaurant.
Marcelo Costa ’01 was named the global financial services industry lead at Evolv Consulting, a strategy consulting firm specializing in data and AI business transformation. In this role, he is responsible for strategic planning, financial management, and operational oversight to drive growth and profitability within the financial services industry.
Blake Dinius ’09, an entomologist extension educator for Plymouth County, MA, presented The Magic of Butterflies at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History on March 2, as part of the March Gardening for Life Speaker Series. His talk explored butterflies’ ecology, their adaptations, and the challenges they face in today’s environment.
Barbara Ferrer G’05 was elected to the board of trustees of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Ferrer currently serves as the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Throughout her career, she has championed health equity and community well-being, previously leading efforts at the Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Annissa Essaibi George G’08 was named the 2025 event chair for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester’s New England Women’s Leadership Awards, an annual event that celebrates accomplished women making a difference in their communities.
Theresa Haddad Maynard G’08, CER’10 was named branch director for the Chelmsford and Billerica offices of ERA Key Realty Services. She previously served as branch manager for Coldwell Banker Realty’s Easton office.
Roeshana Moore-Evans ’09, G’21 was named president of the Massachusetts Public Health Alliance (MPHA). Moore-Evans is the CEO of Equity Empowerment Consulting and brings extensive leadership experience to her new role, including as the executive director of the Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Initiative. MooreEvans has been a member of the MPHA board since 2014 and currently co-chairs its Racial Equity in Health Committee.
Dianna Shaw G’01 has spent over 30 years helping seniors navigate health care and aging, offering services like assisted living and nursing home guidance, ER advocacy, and wellness planning. Now a senior care advisor and chair of the Barrington, RI, Senior
Services Advisory Board, Shaw advocates for affordable housing and intergenerational community initiatives while fostering meaningful connections with seniors.
Michael Spellberg ’09 was promoted to partner at Lathrop GPM LLP. Specializing in biotechnology, Spellberg’s practice encompasses patent preparation and prosecution, global IP portfolio management, freedom-to-operate analyses, and due diligence and opinion work.
Beth Swinning ’05, G’07 was appointed the second poet laureate of Westwood, MA, beginning her two-year term on June 1. A teacher and librarian at Martha Jones Elementary School, as well as a performance poet and advocate, Swinning aims to make poetry accessible to all through workshops, open mic events, and community partnerships.
Andrew Wise G’06 was appointed chief development officer at Health Imperatives, bringing over 15 years of nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and communications experience to the role.
2010
Brittony Croasdell CER’14 and her husband, David Hill, recently became the first married couple to serve as trainers for the Allergan Medical Institute. At their clinic, Fulcrum Aesthetics in Chicago, Croasdell applies her background in emergency room nursing and medical aesthetics. A board-certified nurse practitioner, Croasdell’s training includes advanced studies from UMass Boston and specialized courses in aesthetic medicine.
Daniel Harris ’16 joined the University of Delaware’s College of Health Sciences as a tenure-track assistant professor in the epidemiology program. Harris’s research focuses on pharmacoepidemiology, and his work on medication safety, particularly in older adults and nursing home settings appears in national guidelines.
Carmillia Jackson ’12, G’18 was promoted to grants administrator for Brockton Public Schools. She previously
contributed to the facilities and equity, diversity, and inclusion departments, playing a key role in launching the ACT Conference, the district’s first EDI Professional Development Day.
Iliana Joaquin ’14 serves as both a mentor and board member for Silver Lining Mentoring, a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth in foster care. Through her mentorship, Joaquin has helped young people build strong, lasting relationships and develop critical life skills.
Colleen Galvin Labbe ’12, G’15 was named the director of social-emotional learning (SEL) and instruction for Boston Public Schools. In this role, Labbe leads a team in the Office of Health and Wellness, in teaching and learning that is dedicated to building capacity for integrating SEL into academic instruction and fostering supportive, inclusive classroom environments.
Myra McWethy G’16, CER’16 launched Bellflower Blends, a gourmet sugar blend business she co-founded with her son. The company, which offers a variety of unique sugar blends, operates online and has locations in Nashville, TN, and San Diego, CA. Inspired by McWethy’s extensive travels and passion for culinary exploration, Bellflower Blends brings together global sweeteners and innovative flavors.
Landon Merrill G’10 was promoted to partner at Genoa Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in science-driven companies. Merrill joined Genoa in June 2021, bringing over 20 years of leadership experience in the life sciences industry, spanning sectors such as R&D tools, medical devices, automation, and pharma services.
Mirian Moultrie ’11 was appointed executive director of the National Scleroderma Foundation New England chapter, following 12 years of service in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Moultrie has over a decade of nonprofit experience—including serving as regional director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts.
Jose H. Nino G’16 was named development strategy and engagement lead at Amplify LatinX, the largest Latino advocacy group in Massachusetts. Nino plays a
pivotal role in bolstering the organization’s strategy and development efforts, working closely with donors, partners, and community leaders to secure funding for initiatives that promote Latino prosperity and leadership representation across the state.
Matthew Perachi ’16, a private wealth client service associate at GW&K Investment Management, earned the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation. The CFA program is a prestigious certification for investment and financial professionals, covering topics such as portfolio management, corporate finance, and alternative investments.
C. Logan Robertson G’11 was elected to partnership at CohnReznick, effective February 1, 2025. Robertson provides a range of client advisory services focused on accounting, reporting, and advisory, as well as performing reviews, compilations, and agreed-upon-procedures for attest clients.
Sean Romo G’17, who earned his master’s in historical archaeology from UMass Boston, has recently taken on the role of director of archaeology at Jamestown Rediscovery in Virginia.
Maria Servellón ’12, a multimedia artist and filmmaker based in Boston, pushes creative boundaries in her latest film, Phantasma. The short mystery drama follows a disillusioned writer on a quest to find the source of a mysterious ringing bell, meeting overlooked souls along the way. Servellón, who teaches at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, was also selected as one of WBUR’s 2024 Makers.
Kelsey Souza ’13 was sworn in as a new officer for the Cambridge Police Department. Souza previously served as a police officer at Northeastern University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in homeland security.
Tiffanie Cherie Ellis-Niles ’99 was nominated to the Massachusetts Juvenile Court by Governor Maura Healey. As a founding partner and managing attorney at Lyles and Niles, LLP, Ellis-Niles has dedicated her legal career to advocating for children and families, particularly those involved with the Department of Children and Families. Her practice spans bankruptcy, family law, probate, landlord/ tenant disputes, and civil litigation.
Thomas Vallely ’77 was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by former president Joe Biden, which recognizes an individual who has performed exemplary deeds or services for his or her country or fellow citizens. Vallely is senior advisor for Vietnam at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute, where he co-teaches a course on the Vietnam War and supports the expansion of the institute’s engagement with Vietnam, including in the fields of Vietnamese studies and public policy. Vallely served with the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam.
Danny Tieu ’12 joined the residential lending team as vice president, Community Reinvestment Act residential loan officer at Needham Bank. With over eight years of mortgage industry experience, he will focus on fostering partnerships with real estate agents, housing authorities, and nonprofits to support low-to-moderate income and minority borrowers.
Emily Judd-Williams G’11 was named director of the Brookline Council on Aging and Senior Center. She brings over 20 years of experience in senior services, most recently serving as executive director of the Town of Bridgewater’s Department of Elder Affairs.
Mary Yazbeck-Saliba ’01 was recognized as a 2024 top agent by BestAgents.us for her outstanding contributions to real estate. A broker at RE/MAX Real Estate Center, Yazbeck -Saliba specializes in relocation and multifamily and single-family investments.
Henry Yip ’19 was named assistant coach for the University of North Dakota women’s volleyball team. Yip has experience coaching at all NCAA levels, including roles with Harvard women’s volleyball and Merrimack College men’s volleyball.
2020
Lauren Baron G’21 joined Future in Sight as the new early supports and services (ESS) coordinator and teacher of the visually impaired (TVI). After 16 years as a TVI and an educator on a single ESS team, including her time at UMass Boston from 2019 to 2021, Baron is excited to now provide services across all ESS programs in the state.
Christopher Brown G’22 is an award-winning filmmaker and urban historian whose debut documentary, Taken Away, explores the destruction of Boston’s historic West End during urban renewal in the 1950s. The film was showcased in a shortened form at Boston’s West End Museum.
Tyler Capecci ’20, a senior advisor at 128 CRE, received the 17th annual RW Holmes Scholarship. Sponsored by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors New England and the RW Holmes Foundation, the scholarship is designed to support rising CRE junior associates who demonstrate outstanding industry potential.
Bobby Coughlin ’24 joined MassBio as a member engagement specialist. MassBio is a not-for-profit organization that represents and provides services and support for the Massachusetts life sciences industry.
Kristine Din PhD’22 was named director of student involvement at Wellesley College. She previously worked at Northeastern University’s Asian American Center, in residential life at several colleges, and as director of intercultural affairs at Stonehill College.
Caitlin Osorio Ferrarini PhD’24, assistant teaching professor in The Global School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, received an Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in International Education Award from Diversity Abroad. Recognized in the Global Student Leadership: Graduate category, Ferrarini was honored for her scholarship on the assets that students of diverse backgrounds, particularly first-generation college students and students of color, bring to global learning experiences.
Ahmed Ibreljic ’23 was named to Boston Business Journal’s 25 Under 25 in 2024 for his innovative contributions to education and technology. As a co-founder of EduX, he helped develop an AI-powered platform that streamlines course scheduling to keep students on track for graduation. Alongside co-founders Joseph Nguyen and Daniel Maienza, he earned the Jack M. Wilson First to Market Award and $4,000 in funding at the 2024 DifferenceMaker $50,000 Idea Challenge.
Samiya Khalid G’20, PhD’24, a policy analyst at AIM HR Solutions, was selected for an honorable mention for the 2024 PhD Dissertation Award by the
Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. Her dissertation, titled “Unheard Voices: Lady Health Workers in Lahore’s Peripheral Communities,” highlighted the experiences of underrepresented health workers.
Mathew Palin ’22 was sworn in as an officer with the Avon Police Department. A graduate of the Randolph Municipal Police Training Committee 20th Recruit Officer Class, Palin completed over 20 weeks of intensive law enforcement training and previously served as a correctional officer with the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department.
Ayesha Saddiqa G’23 was honored by Hotel Management as one of its 30 Under 30 awardees, a prestigious recognition within the hospitality industry. Selected from hundreds of nominees, she was the only general manager on the list and is the youngest GM at her company, HEI Hotels & Resorts.
Marie Alina Lordya Saint Jean G’23 has brought authentic Haitian cuisine to Boston’s Longwood Medical Area with her food truck, Lordya Gourmet, as part of the Longwood Collective’s winter food truck series. Saint Jean, who registered her business in 2021 while attending UMass Boston, officially launched the food truck in June 2023.
Maria Vasco ’20 was selected as one of ten small business owners for an accelerator program led by Celtic’s star Jaylen Brown and former Celtic Jrue Holiday, along with Holiday’s wife, Lauren. As the founder of Uvida Shop, Boston’s first and only zero-waste store, Vasco is making strides in sustainability by offering home goods and essentials without plastic packaging or waste.
Spencer Virden G’22 published his debut novel, Left in Philadelphia, an intimate story exploring one man’s quiet yet profound journey through life. The novel follows Eli Greene as he embarks on a road trip with his sibling, revisiting vivid memories and grappling with life’s fundamental questions about love, control, and purpose.
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
Francisco J. Alarcon ’10
Richard P. Allen ’66
Brian J. Ames ’12
Gertrude M. Ames ’77
Joseph Andrew G’68
Virginia M. Avery ’86
Thomas F. Bamford ’76
Rachel A. Barra ’99
James G. Beaton ’66
John O. Belliveau ’97
Ruth V. Benjamin ’79, P’88
Daniel J. Browne Jr. ’62, G’67
Paul F. Buckley ’89
Patricia A. Buckley Butler ’81
Mary Ellen Cahill ’69
Ralph K. Calitri ’69, G’84
Carol F. Dewever Campbell ’62
Katherine M. Duffy Carey ’60
Mary E. Casey ’87
Robert J. Cashman ’92
Assad Chamas ’81
Kamran Amjad Choudhry ’24
Barbara A. Watson Clark ’72
Agnes B. Clifford ’68
Michael P. Clifford ’78
John C. Cloherty ’61
Richard T. Cloonan ’77
Dorothy H. Cole ’90, CER’92, CER’94
Alice S. Combes ’69
Michael J. Connell ’71
Noel D. Cotterell ’82, G’99
Richard T. Craven ’70
Jean T. Cristiani ’72, G’86, P’85
Pamela DeMarco Cronin ’63
Clare Crowell ’94
Janice L. Culkin ’72
Brenda L. Cuneo ’82
James E. Curley ’71
Maureen McDevitt Curtin ’64
Edith M. Daly ’73, G’76
Barry L. Dauer ’82
Elaine M. De Costa ’56
Peg Duncan Devaney ’65, G’69
Maria J. Dexter ’90
Emiliano Diaz ’70
Dorothy E. DiSciullo ’71
Carol Walsh Dooley ’53
Dolores A. Ziolkowski Doyle ’69
Elizabeth A. Easterly ’71
William Edwards ’82
Yale F. Fineman ’92
Maureen McCarthy Ghublikian ’71
John D. Gibson G’90
Louise C. Gingras G’69
Matthew Goldstein G’16
Joyce M. Grant ’60
Helen L. Grindley ’62, G’69
Frances E. Hallice ’76
Kathleen L. Hankinson ’84
Martha Hardiman ’70
Christopher E. Harding ’85
Gordon J. Hardy ’74
Joseph J. Harzbecker Jr. G’99
Marcia Stimato Head ’67, G’72
Sarah Heller ’77
Julie A. Herra ’97
Maureen A. Higgins ’71
David L. Horn ’67
Benjamin F. Hubbart ’80
Joseph W. Johnson III G’79
Mary Kiernan Kane ’59
Robert J. Kelley ’68
Edwin M. Kelly ’78
Eugene F. Kelly G’98
Grace C. Kelly ’55, G’70
Mary T. Killeen-McDonald ’86, G’99, P’80, ’81,’ 82, ’89, ’90
Anthony M. Kindamo ’74
Mary C. Kirkpatrick ’69
George A. Landry III ’73
Joan Lessard ’75
Susan J. Lincourt ’82, P’99
Mary Vogel Lydon ’72
Steven R. MacDonald G’82
James C. MacGillivray ’68
Dionne B. MacPherson ’90
Richard P. Mahoney ’66
Anne P. Manton ’78
Janine A. Massicotte ’18
Francis X. Mawn Jr. ’69
Robert J. McDermott ’82
David P. McGillicuddy ’96
Paul J. McGrath ’72
James M. McKenna ’85
Kirsten M. McKim ’93
Leslie J. McManus ’87
Gerald A. Meehan ’74
James P. Melzar ’66
Amy L. Miller ’79
Marilyn A. Mooney ’87
George E. Noel ’12
Stephen Z. Nonack G’88
John F. O’Keefe ’84
Daniel W. O’Leary ’69
Gordon A. Otis ’80
Sandra Mooney Owen ’64
Charles L. Pantos ’76
Myrna D. Parkin ’76
Maria H. Pinheiro ’89
Ronald E. Pozzo G’66
Joanne M. Moosey Preston G’89
Kathleen A. Purvis G’07
Julia E. Rizer ’98
Francis Roche ’75
Eulene J. Rock ’00
Ina N. Rubin ’73
Anthony S. Runch ’75
Dominic Russo ’73, G’75, G’76
Beverly S. Sacks-Schaffer ’81
Salvatore J. Salamone ’74
Julian Saleh ’19
William M. Sances ’80
Helen I. Sanders-Dotson ’14
Gary R. Sheehan ’78
Kathleen G. Short ’97
Robert E. Skerry Jr. ’74
Robert P. Sloane ’76
Kathleen A. Snow ’65
Clyde J. Steeves ’77
Elena G. Stoeva G’06
Mary T. Sullivan ’52
Dean Sutherland ’75
Margaret R. Kelliher Sweeney ’68
Sibel M. Tekin ’88
Jean F. Tshibula ’93
Mary E. Pigott Untersee ’55
Rika M. van Willigen G’93
Zachary O. Waldon ’06
John P. Waldron G’70
Mary Jane Walsh G’92
Linda M. Webber G’99
Leonard A. Welsh ’71
Charles Williams Jr. ’75
Nancy Balut Wilusz ’68
Marie F. Windsor ’79
Dorothy M. Prendergast Wing ’51
Mildred A. Regan Wojnar ’52
Edward F. Woods ’79
Phyllis M. Palmer Young ’58
Betsy A. Youngholm ’82, G ’90
Scott B. Zwick ’96
FACULTY AND STAFF
Anne Scrivener Agee
Brandon E. Allen
Professor Emerita Ruth Butler
Vendela E. Carlson
Martin J. Coyne Jr.
Professor Emeritus Frederick C. Gamst
James W. Glenn
Professor Emeritus Robert A. Greene
Alan E. Hastings Sr. P’86
Professor Susan Haussler
Professor Richard V. Kesseli
Professor Emeritus Charles A. Knight
Walter D. Littell
Marie M. Malloy
Professor Emerita Margaret A. Mansfield
Patricia A. Nelson
Professor Anny Newman
Professor William A. Percy Jr.
Terence S. Phalen
Professor Marc Pomplun
Professor Emeritus Lowell M. Schwartz
Professor George W. Slover
FRIENDS
Thomas W. Bryant Jr. P’93
Joyce Canning
Kevin F. Donoghue P’94, ’99
Kitty Dukakis
Carolyn E. Elliott
Danielle Legros Georges
June H. Grande
Dorothy Hayes
Daniel J. Holland
Philip W. Johnston H’89
Mary E. Addesa Lemieux
George K. Marshall
Nellie L. Poindexter P’83
Peter J. Powers
Elaine L. Quitt
Kannankote Srikanth
Robert L. Turner
Fletcher H. Wiley
RICHARD T. CRAVEN ’70
Richard “Richie” Craven, 76, of Somerville, MA, and previously of Charlestown, MA, passed away on January 5 at Mt. Auburn Hospital. Born in Boston, he was the son of the late Thomas and Rose Craven. Richie grew up in Charlestown, attended St. Catherine’s Parochial School, and graduated from Charlestown High School in 1966. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston State College in 1970, where he starred in both hockey and lacrosse, later earning induction into the UMass Boston Athletics Hall of Fame. He led the hockey team to three Codfish Bowl titles and continued playing in the New England Amateur Hockey League for five years after graduation. Richie worked for over 25 years at New England Telephone/AT&T and later for the City of Somerville in Constituent Services. He was a proud member of the 520 Club in Charlestown and a devoted Boston Bruins fan. Richie is survived by his wife, his children and their spouses, a niece and nephew, and beloved golden retriever.
MAUREEN ANNE MCCARTHY GHUBLIKIAN ’71
Maureen Ghublikian, 74, of Mashpee, MA, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after a protracted battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Boston, she graduated from St. Gregory’s High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Boston State College, and later an MBA from Suffolk University. Maureen married John “Jack” R. Ghublikian in 1973, whom she met while teaching at Holbrook Junior High School. Together, they shared 51 years of marriage, raising three children and enjoying travel, boating, golf, and sunsets. Maureen began her career as a math teacher and basketball coach, advocating for pay equity for female coaches, before transitioning into finance. A lover of the arts, she was a regular at the ballet, symphony, and her children’s performances. She also enjoyed swimming, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Maureen is survived by her husband, children, brother, and many dear friends.
PROFESSOR RICHARD V. KESSELI JR.
Richard “Rick” Kesseli Jr., 71, of Milton, MA, passed away surrounded by family. Born in Worcester, MA, he grew up in Holden, MA, with his two siblings. A lifelong lover of nature, Rick studied biology at UMass Amherst and later earned a PhD in plant genetics from UC Davis. He became a biology professor at UMass Boston in 1992, chairing the department and inspiring students for over three decades. Rick met his wife, Judy Lieberman, during a road trip to Nova Scotia in 1977. They reunited years later and raised two children, who—along with their partners and a grandson—were his greatest joy. An avid outdoorsman, he biked to work daily, hiked, kayaked, and explored nature worldwide. He volunteered for environmental causes and cherished time with family and friends. Rick’s kindness, principles, and quiet humor left a lasting mark. He will be deeply missed.
We host several alumni events throughout the country, in over 20 different cities. Check out photos from our most recent events and be sure to join us the next time we’re in your city!
Beacon 5K at Beacon Bash. (Photo: B-Raps Studios)
Golden Reunion Society Celebration at Beacon Bash. (Photo: B-Raps Studios)
Ellen (Kickham) Green ’75, Lori (Mullen) DeBettencourt ’74, Nancy Fallon ’74, Barbara (McManus) Keohane ’74, Gayle (Simmons) Daly ’74, and Patricia (O’Leary) Donahue ’74 | Golden Reunion Society Celebration. (Photo: B-Raps Studios)
Yolanda Burrell ’11 and Roger Sullivan ’91 | Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chris Ferenzi Photography)
Ryan McDonald, Sara Mbaya, Timmy Mbaya ’11, Megan Moritz ’19, Brian Le ’17, G’22, Carol Neal, Don Neal ’80, G’83, and Derek Dupras ’98, CER’98 | Newport Beach, CA.
(Photo: Barry Hackett Photography)
San Diego, CA. (Photo: Barry Hackett Photography)
Greg White ’83 | San Diego, CA. (Photo: Barry Hackett Photography)
Santa Monica, CA. (Photo: Barry Hackett Photography)
April Rannikko ’20 and Jake Bohenko ’19 | Alumni Holiday Reception. (Photo: Focus Forward Media)
Ingrid Stewart ’82, Ifueko Egharevba ’74, Michael Plante ’02, Aaron Blake, Patressa Blake ’10, CK Taylor G’12, Stephen Luce | Dallas, TX.
(Photo: Willie & Kim Photography)
Austin, TX. (Photo: Saturn Photography)
Jack Lambert ’00, Eric Summerville ’07, and Jacqueline Schuman | Scottsdale, AZ. (Photo: Elevation Event Photography)
Tampa, FL. (Photo: Jake Ford Photography)
Naples, FL. (Photo: Jake Ford Photography)
Bill Mahoney G’78, Denyce Mahoney, UMass President Meehan, Ron Zampell ’71, G’77, and Ann Zampell | Fort Myers, FL. (Photo: Jake Ford Photography) Pompano Beach, FL. (Photo: Jake Ford Photography)
Jim O’Sullivan ’80 | 1978–1982 Alumni Gathering.
(Photo: Bob Durling)
Mark Governor ’78, Lesley Rodriguez ’17, Liz Napasindayao CER’21 | San Francisco, CA. (Photo: Matthew Mikaelian Photography)
San Diego, CA. (Photo: Barry Hackett Photography)
Santa Monica, CA. (Photo: Barry Hackett Photography)
Spring 2025 Women Beacons in Business. (Photo: Nurcin Celebi ’16, G’19)
Kent Benjamin ’88, Rontear Pendleton ’02, Ron Taylor ’98 | Black History Month Panel. (Photo: Heather Brigham G’18)
Alumni Events
Alumni Association Welcomes New Board Members
Two outstanding alumni have been appointed to the UMass Boston Alumni Association Board of Directors: Annissa M. Essaibi George G’08 and Lydia Rivera ’05.
“The nomination committee was thrilled to put forth Annissa and Lydia for board consideration,” said nomination committee chair Maureen Melton ’85, G’90. “Their wide-ranging experience in their work and volunteerism reflects a deep commitment to excellence and service. They bring strengths that align closely with the goals of our new networking and mentoring committee.”
The board of directors guides the association’s mission to provide opportunities for alumni to stay connected, participate in mentorship and service programs, and offer philanthropic support. By building an inclusive and active alumni network, the association serves as a vital advisor and partner in the university’s ongoing success.
“I’m pleased to welcome these two outstanding alumni to our board. Their strong commitment to service and unwavering support for our campus make them invaluable additions,” said alumni board president Phil Carver ’09, G’14. “I look forward to collaborating with each of them as we advance the mission of the association.”
LYDIA RIVERA ’05
Lydia earned a BA in labor studies from UMass Boston in 2005. She is principal and founder of LydRiv Communications (LRC), which specializes in public relations services for both the public and private sectors. Prior to founding LRC in September 2012, she served as spokesperson and deputy director of communications for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Lydia provides pro bono public relations services to the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials and Women’s Transportation Seminar. She produces the podcast Building Boston & Beyond, showcasing the various projects underway in Massachusetts and promoting profit and nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving quality of life for residents. Lydia is also a member of the board of trustees of St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children.
ANNISSA M. ESSAIBI GEORGE G’08
Annissa earned her BA in political science from Boston University in 1996 and a master’s in education from UMass Boston in 2008. She was a teacher at East Boston High School for 13 years prior to her election to the Boston City Council in 2015, where she served until 2022. In October 2022, the board of directors of Big Sister Boston, now Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, appointed Annissa president & CEO. She is currently the owner of Stitch House, a Dorchester shop for knitting, sewing, quilting, fabric, and craft supplies and classes that opened in 2007. Annissa serves on numerous boards including the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, and The Greg Hill Foundation. She was named one of Boston Magazine’s Most Influential Bostonians of 2025.
BEACON BASH: Homecoming Weekend
SEPTEMBER 19–20, 2025
Come home to UMass Boston’s beautiful harbor campus to reminisce and celebrate what it means to be a Beacon!
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Learn more and register at umb.edu/beaconbash
Golden Reunion Society Celebration & Class of 1975 Induction
Are you celebrating your 50th reunion?
Join us for the second annual Golden Reunion Society Celebration & Class of 1975 Induction Ceremony.
The Golden Reunion Society is for alumni who have marked their milestone 50th reunion. Come celebrate with fellow alumni from Boston State College and UMass Boston as we welcome the Class of 1975 into this distinguished society. Don’t miss out on this grand reunion!
The Venture Development Center
launched in 2009 as a hub for entrepreneurial activities on cam pus. It continues to be a thriving resource for early-stage start-ups as well as for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Executive Direc tor Shubhro Sen and Manager of Operations and Outreach Maria Vasilevsky oversee operations and arrange the VDC’s robust array of services and programming. “Our vibrant VDC community consists of innovators at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. We offer support as they work toward building commercially viable products and companies,” Sen said. Sen and Vasilevsky shared five facts about the VDC and its unique role in UMass Boston’s research and innovation ecosystem.
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GEIRs are also eligible to receive H-1B and J-1 visas for three to five years.
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The VDC-based Rising Entrepreneurs Association is a student-run organization for aspiring undergraduate entrepreneurs. In addition to their own student-led events, participants take advantage of the VDC’s educational programming and are eligible for mentoring and one-on-one support from the VDC staff.
Early-stage innovators—even if they are not already affiliated with UMass Boston—can rent the VDC’s affordable office, wet lab, and tech lab spaces. The 24/7 coworking facility is modern, full of light, includes ample event space, and comes with stunning views of Boston Harbor.
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While the wet lab spaces attract scientific ventures, the VDC is industry-agnostic. “We are open to all innovative and scalable ideas that offer real value to our campus and region,” explained Sen. “Though we are seeing more artificial intelligence/machine learning and life sciences companies recently, we feature companies in blue tech, chip design, quantum computing, robotics, wearables, and photonics. The entrepreneurs we work with at the VDC are transforming ideas and cutting-edge translational research into breakthrough innovations and commercially viable businesses.”
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Most VDC events are open to the entire university community. Essential information and inspiration abound through showcases of the GEIR ventures, expert-led panels on critical topics for entrepreneurial success, hackathons, student project showcases, prototyping workshops at the MakerSpace, and celebrations of key university and industry milestones.
Join the VDC for an upcoming event! Learn more at vdc.umb.edu.
At UMass Boston, every graduate carries a story of perseverance, purpose, and possibility. When you give, you help transform these stories into lasting legacies.
Why your support matters:
• Approximately 60% of our undergraduates are the first in their families to attend college.
• More than 40% of students qualify for Pell Grants, highlighting deep financial need.
• More than 80% of UMass Boston graduates stay in Massachusetts—keeping talent and excellence in the local workforce and strengthening our communities.
Your generosity makes a difference where it matters most, by launching careers, expanding research, and building a brighter future for Boston and beyond.
Give today at umb.edu/beaconjourney or scan the QR code today!
