Simmons College

Gloria Steinem visits Simmons College for Women's History Month

Photo copyright Martha Rial/St Petersburg Times/ZUMA Press

Happy Women's History Month! Simmons College is celebrating big this year with a special visit from Gloria Steinem, one of the most significant and iconic figures of the women's rights movement. She will be on campus March 22 to discuss modern day feminism.

From the Simmons College Press Room:

Steinem, who last visited the Simmons campus 40 years ago in 1973 when she received the first doctorate for Human Justice awarded by the College, will address students, faculty, and staff in the talk, "The F Word: Feminism Today." Steinem's visit is part of SimmonsPalooza, a series of events and programs focused on the celebration of diversity, inclusion, and social activism at Simmons. The event is being organized by the Simmons Class of 2013 in collaboration with the Office of Student Leadership and Activities, the President's Office, and the Alumnae Association Executive Board.

The event is for the Simmons community and is not open to the public.

Women's History Month began in 1987 when the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to officially recognize women's history, which at the time was largely missing from the general public consciousness.

In addition to Gloria Steinem's visit, Simmons is celebrating Women's History Month with several events scheduled throughout March that are open to the public. Highlights include:

Simmons students talk about life at college

Going to college for the first time can be both an exciting, and intimidating experience. Add to that the decision to attend a women's college and live in a big city, and the questions only multiple.

But what is life really like as a Simmons student? We chatted with current undergraduate students to get the all details!

What is it like living with a roommate?

One of the biggest anxieties for the majority of college students is living in a dorm and sharing a room. "I have found Simmons residence halls are a very relaxed, clean, safe, and a comfortable place to unwind after a busy day on the Academic Campus," says Kendall Bauer '16. The most important aspect of living at Simmons is that students feel they are part of a community. "The residence halls here have a homey feel, and Resident Advisors really work to foster a sense of community amongst their residents," says Molly Maidman '13.

What do you do for fun?

Since Simmons is located in the heart of Boston, students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities on and off campus. Some of their favorite things to do include going out for dinner with friends; exploring the city; shopping on Newbury Street; going to the movies (students get discounted tickets!); and attending different concerts and shows. "I love exploring new areas of Boston I've never been to," says Chelsea Keyes '14. "I also enjoy visiting friends at neighboring colleges since there are so many nearby."

What do you like about living in Boston?

Although the greater Boston area is home to 4.5 million people, Boston is a "city of neighborhoods," and many students say it's easy to get around. "Everything here is very accessible, so I can get almost anywhere I need to either by walking or taking the T," says Molly '13. "I feel comfortable walking around the city, and I know I can always stop someone on the street if I need help with something." With all that Boston has to offer, it's no surprise that many students stick around to find jobs and internships. "I can see myself staying here after I graduate because the city has so much to offer," says Kendall '16. "The longer I am here, the more I want to stay!"

How would you describe the Simmons community?

As a Simmons student, you are a member of a tightly-knit community of current students, faculty, staff and alumnae who are there to support you throughout your career. "At the beginning of my college experience, I wasn't sure where I fit in the Simmons community," says Kendall '16. "But now I feel I belong here at Simmons because of the guidance of women leaders, faculty, and friends who all care about my personal well-being and success."

Is it easy to get involved on campus?

At the beginning of each semester Simmons hosts the Connections Carnival, which gives students the opportunity to learn about and sign up for different organizations and groups on campus. "It is so easy to get involved," says Nerissa Chan '14. "With the right organization you can really find yourself having the time of your life in college." There are more than 70 organizations on campus and if students can't find exactly what they are looking for, they can create a new organization. "I think that getting involved was the best thing I could've done as a first-year," says Kendall '16. "People who are the most involved feel a connection to the Simmons community right away, which will lead to their success and overall happiness."

Still have questions about what it's like to be a Simmons student? Check out the Woman on Campus video series, visit the Simmons Life blog, or tweet to @SimmonsCollege.

Content for this post was contributed by:

Kendall Bauer '16, Public Relations/Marketing Communications

Nerissa Chan '14, Communications and Business Management

Chelsea Keyes '14, Public Relations/Marketing Communications

Molly Maidman '13, Psychology and Sociology

Seven ways to stay motivated during your final semester

As winter break approaches many students are excited for a month off to spend time with the family, work, or travel. For seniors, the spring semester will be their last at Simmons, a daunting yet exciting experience. How do you make it through the final semester without letting senioritis take over? Here are seven ways to stay motivated.

Take a class outside of your major.

Simmons has many different classes to chose from. If you are on a science track, enroll in a beginners art course or take a class in the communications department. Try cross registering within the Colleges of the Fenway. The five other colleges have a variety of courses that are different than the ones offered at Simmons. Challenging yourself or trying something new is a good way to keep your interest in school and you also might discover a new hobby!

Start the job search.

It may be distracting, but it will motivate you to do your best during your final year. Looking for jobs early will give you a long-term goal, and something to look forward to prior to graduation. Searching for jobs will also give you something practical to do when you happen to be procrastinating.

Join a club.

This is your last chance to connect with new people and get to know your classmates. Take the leap and do something you've always wanted to do at Simmons, but never did. This is also a great way to network.

Know Your Professor: Noah Wilson-Rich, urban beekeeper

Watch Noah Wilson-Rich: Every city needs honey bees

Meet Noah Wilson-Rich, one of Simmons College's newest faculty members in the Department of Biology. If there's one thing you need to know about Noah Wilson-Rich, it's that he's an expert on urban beekeeping. He recently gave an extremely popular TED Talk about the importance of honey bees in cities, and the key role they play in creating a sustainable ecosystem. In this edition of Know Your Professor, we chatted with Noah Wilson-Rich to find out more about his passion for bees, what he does when he's not teaching, and why he loves Simmons.

Any plans for a beehive at Simmons?

I am willing and ready to set up a (non-aggressive!) honey bee hive at Simmons anytime. I am a relentless proponent of urban beekeeping, urban agriculture, and sustainability as a whole. Anyone who eats food needs to understand that honey bees are of vital importance because of their role as pollinators.The Simmons Sustainability Club is working hard at getting a honey bee hive on campus. These Simmons honey bees would reflect the Simmons community in many ways.

How so?

Because bees are a female-dominated society that does extremely good work for the betterment of this world. The educational value of honey bees is endless. There are opportunities for hands-on agricultural and sustainability training; we can study systems to test theories relating to economics, sociology, biology, and chemistry; and the sale of honey and beeswax products can be a source of fundraising revenue for student groups. I strongly encourage everyone at Simmons to join the effort to bring honey bees to campus!

What's your favorite class to teach? Why?

Biology 342 - Topics in Behavioral Biology is my baby! I enjoy teaching this class for so many reasons. Animal behavior is so fascinating because we have been studying it our entire lives, whether consciously or not. Beyond studying the human animal, we take a lot of "virtual field trips" to become intimately familiar with all sorts of animals. So far this semester, we have learned interior decorating techniques from bowerbird nests in the dense forests of Papua New Guinea; dating and mate choice advice from seahorses; food selection techniques from platypuses and sharks; navigation techniques from sea turtles, sibling rivalry dynamics from African hyenas; and many, many more! Teaching this behavior course really is a dream come true for me.

What book are you currently reading?

Inferno by Max Hastings and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.

Then and Now: Simmons celebrates the school's history

Each year, Simmons College celebrates its history by holding a Founder's Day ceremony in memory of John Simmons. Much has changed since Simmons first opened its doors in 1899, but its mission to educate women for an independent livelihood remains the same. Take a look at Simmons then and now.

Learn more about the College's history by visiting the Simmons College Archives.

Registration now open for the 2013 Simmons Leadership Conference

Watch: Highlights from the 2012 Simmons Leadership Conference: Innovation & Impact.

Ticket are now on sale for the 2013 Simmons Leadership Conference to be held at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston on April 2, 2013. This year's theme is Women of Influence, and the day-long conference will feature program sessions focused on skill-building, networking, and knowledge exchange with inspiring women leaders.

Simmons commits to social change by holding first student-led Gender, Justice, and Social Entrepreneurship Conference

Simmons College recently hosted its inaugural student-led Gender, Justice, and Social Entrepreneurship Conference, sponsored by the Simmons School of Management and the College of Arts and Sciences. This year's conference was focused on discussing the intersection of gender and food justice and brought together more than 150 members of the Simmons community.

Considering Simmons' strong commitment to finding innovative solutions to social change, with a specific focus on developing women leaders, the conference was an ideal fit for the community. Adding to the uniqueness of the conference, it was a student-led initiative. There was an application process at the end of spring semester, and three full-time and three part-time students were selected by professors to work on all aspects of developing the conference from May until October.

Where are they now? Megan Johnson '07 is celebrity news journalist for the Boston Herald

Welcome to 300 The Fenway's latest installment of "Where are they now?", a feature that chronicles the amazing things Simmons College women are accomplishing after graduation.

Meet Megan Johnson from the Class of 2007. Megan graduated from Simmons with B.A. in English and minors in East Asian studies and history, and is now a writer for the Boston Herald's Insider Track. Since working at the Boston Herald, Megan has made her mark covering the Boston celebrity scene, and was featured in Stuff Magazine's "30 under 30 and Overachieving" list. We had the chance to chat with Megan and get a glimpse into her fast-paced career.

What is a typical day like at your job?

There really is no typical day at my job. I work for a column called the Inside Track, which follows celebrities, politicians, athletes, etc. Each day we have to come up with a column for the next day's newspaper. So every morning, we start with almost nothing.

Usually, I wake up and read my emails and all the sites where I get my news, I check Twitter for tips, and keep my eyes open for interesting stories. I'm in the office around noon, at which point I'm continuing to stalk Twitter and the internet for stories; interviewing subjects; fielding calls; doing random administrative stuff; and attempting to plan what our section is going to have in the paper the next day.

What was the job application process like for you?

My job application process was not traditional. I was unemployed for awhile before I started at the Boston Herald. I worked freelance and taught English as a Second Language, but I didn't have full time work for a long time. When I met the girl who had my job before me, I instantly thought, "That would be the perfect job for me!" We became friendly, and ultimately, when she was ready to leave, she got me an interview along with three other candidates.

I had been on so many job interviews since I graduated, but I remember the night before I came in for the interview, I was watching "Wall Street" where Charlie Sheen says, "Your life comes down to just a few moments. This is one of them." I just remember thinking that line as I walked into the Herald, where I previously had two other horrible job interviews (for other gigs). I was so focused; just so adamant that this job was mine. I presented my binder of all my published clips to my bosses, and just tried to act like myself. The day before I found out whether or not I got the job, I was so wrought with anxiety. When my boss called and said, "Are you sure you're willing to work this job for next to nothing?!" I said "yes, yes yes!"

What is your favorite part of your job?

I have so many favorite parts. I love to write, of course, so getting paid to do that is wonderful. But, being able to meet and interview notable people I look up to is a great experience. I love that every day is an adventure. Sometimes I think I'm going to have a slow day, and I end up chasing the Bruins around town as they carry the Stanley Cup in a baby carriage.

Fenway neighborhood opens its doors to Boston community

Simmons is fortunate to be located in what some consider "Boston's secret little neighborhood", an area that offers a mix of museums, historic landmarks, and music venues. The Fenway neighborhood is often associated with the city's beloved Red Sox, but did you know it's also home to numerous cultural, medical, and academic institutions?

Opening our Doors, an annual event organized by The Fenway Alliance, aims to highlight the neighborhood's vibrancy. The festival is held each year on Columbus Day and is considered the largest single day cultural experience in Boston. And it's free! Opening our Doors drew a crowd last year of more than 14,000 people and it's expected to attract even more attendees for this year's October 8 celebration.

Talk to students, meet professors during Simmons College's Fall Open House

Simmons College is getting ready to host two major undergraduate open houses this fall, along with a slew of other admission information sessions, and Woman on Campus Sarah Galvez '15 has the scoop on what visitors can expect when they attend. Watch!

Register now to attend an open house and you'll have the opportunity to talk with current students and professors, and learn more about the application and financial aid process:

Register: Saturday, October 6, 2012, 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Register: Sunday, November 4, 2012, 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.