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The Simmons College of Arts and Sciences faculty will help you prepare professionally, because they are distinguished professionals themselves. They are recognized experts and leaders; who practice the professions they teach — and take pride in personally mentoring their students.

Simmons professors are actively engaged in their fields as distinguished researchers, Fulbright scholars, administrators, consultants, and community leaders. Their achievements cover a wide range of areas, from literature and law, to public education, cultural diversity, and corporate communications in the United States and around the world. Our faculty serve as advisors to numerous government, non-profit, and corporate organizations, such as the Massachusetts Department of Education, the Boston Public Library, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, Girl Scouts of America, Inc., the National Endowment for the Humanities, IBM, and the United Nations.

Dean Diane Raymond has led the College of Arts and Sciences faculty since 2002 — and has taught philosophy and women’s studies at Simmons since 1985. Author of Existentialism and The Philosophical Tradition, co-author (with Warren Blumenfeld) of Looking at Gay and Lesbian Life, and editor of Sexual Politics and Popular Culture, among other publications, she continues to teach one course each semester and has worked extensively with graduate students.

Program Director

Joan Abrams

Assistant Professor of Communications, Director of the Master’s in Communications Management
B.A., M.S., Simmons College
M.P.A., Harvard University
joan.abrams@simmons.edu

Ms. Abrams graduated from Simmons College in 1971 with a degree in Communications. She pursued a career in public relations then became the first woman sales representative for Xerox in the New England area. Abrams went on to a career in marketing at Honeywell, Inc. where she was the Director of Marketing of the U.S. Computer Operations. Abrams received a graduate degree in Communications Management from Simmons College in 1991 and a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1993. After working in marketing in the private sector, Abrams found a niche in advocacy public relations concentrating in the arts, environment and healthcare. Prior to joining the Simmons Communications faculty, she served as President of the Festival of Ballet in Rhode Island. She also served as President of Save the Bay, and recently completed the job as chair of their $10 million capital campaign.

Faculty

Dr. Lynda Beltz

Professor of Communications
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Indiana University
lynda.beltz@simmons.edu

Dr. Lynda Beltz is Professor of Communications at Simmons College, and is responsible for the institution and development of the College’s Master’s in Communications Management program. In her honor, the program confers the Beltz Prize Award each year to a graduating student in the program based on her/his academic performance and professional promise. Dr. Beltz previously served on the faculties at Boston University, Carnegie-Mellon’s Tepper School of Business, and Indiana University. She also has experience in corporate communications from her time at Marathon Oil Company.

Kelley Chunn

Principal, Kelley Chunn & Associates
B.A., New York University
M.S., Simmons College
kelley.chunn@simmons.edu

Kelley Chunn is the principal of Kelley Chunn & Associates, a 10-year-old state-certified consultancy, which specializes in multicultural, cause-related public relations and marketing. Her firm serves an eclectic mix of clients, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Bermuda Ministry of Education, Mass. Department of Public Health, Big Sister Association, Roxbury Community College, The Wang Center for the Performing Arts, and the African American Federation of Greater Boston. Previously, Ms. Chunn worked as an assistant professor of PR and marketing at Northeastern University and as a news and public affairs writer and producer at several Boston television stations. In 1982, she was a media consultant to the Nigerian government’s National Television Authority.

Jean S. Corson

President, CorsonWolff Consulting
jean.wolff@simmons.edu

Jean S. Corson is president of CorsonWolff Consulting, a nationally recognized organizational behavior and development firm located in Exeter, NH. As a seasoned consultant and coach, Jean is a catalyst and guide for organizations and individuals facing transition and change. Her practice focuses on workplace behavior, team collaboration and communication with government, education, business and non-profit sectors. Jean is also an instructor for Learning Tree International. Jean received her M.S. in Communication Management at Simmons ('96) and a B.A at The University of New Hampshire, graduating magna cum laude and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Jean is a provocative speaker, who has presented at numerous local, state and national forums. She seeks out forward-thinking organizations that are driven by the energy and spirit of workers and where authenticity can thrive and achieve outstanding results.

Bill Earle

Director of Finance and Accounting, BBN Technologies
B.S., Florida State University
william.earle@simmons.edu

William Earle is the Director of Finance and Accounting and BBN Technologies (BBNT). He has directed nine diverse operating departments at BBN to meet all revenue, cash flow, and operating income targets in the most recently completed fiscal year. He also has restructured the corporate finance and accounting department, resulting in cost reductions totaling 1 million dollars over a three-year period. Mr. Earle currently supervises a team of 24 finance, accounting, and IT professionals who are responsible for all facets of BBNT business. He also served as the lead finance and accounting liaison during the transition from BBN Corporation to a GTE subsidiary in 1997 and then from GTE to Verizon LLC in 2000.

Dr. Marlene G. Fine

Professor of Communications
B.A., MBA, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
M.A., University of Minnesota
marlene.fine@simmons.edu

Dr. Marlene Fine is a full-time professor of Communications at the graduate and undergraduate level. Prior to joining the College, Dr. Fine was the Dean of Graduate Studies at Emerson College. She has also been an Associate Professor of Analysis and Communication at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, where she served as Director of the Master in Business Administration Program and Chair of the Marketing and Communication Department.

Dr. Fine has lectured and published widely in communication. She is the author of Building Successful Multicultural Organizations: Challenges and Opportunities and numerous journal articles and book chapters. Her latest work is a reconceptualization of leadership as serving others.

Mark Kennedy

Principal, Strategic Innovation Partnerships, LLC
B.A., Tufts University
mark.kennedy@simmons.edu

Mark Kennedy is the founder and principal of Strategic Innovation Partnerships, LLC, a strategy consulting firm. Clients are global, both in terms of regional participation and headquarter locations, and include companies such as 3M, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and others. Mr. Kennedy works primarily with CEOs, general managers, portfolio managers and senior managers in technology, marketing, and manufacturing. He has worked extensively in Europe and Asia, as a consultant to major corporations in the development of growth initiatives, innovation and long-term vision. He has been a keynote presenter in the field of innovation throughout the U.S. and in Mexico and Germany. Mr. Kennedy was a visiting lecturer this year at an MCM Organizational Communication and Culture class at the American University of Rome. He is a recipient of the Ernst Abbe 100-Year Commemorative Medal from Schott Glas.

Kenneth W. Kerber

Principal, Kerber & Associates
B.S. Psychology, Loyola University
M.A., Ph.D. Personality Psychology, University of Illinois.
kenneth.kerber@simmons.edu

Kenneth Kerber has extensive experience in training and organization development strategy at high technology companies and has designed and implemented organizational, team, and individual development interventions as well as designed and facilitated educational workshops for executives, managers, and frontline employees. Dr. Kerber was director of training and development at 3Com Corporation where he lead the company’s worldwide training and development department and managed up to 10 T&D professionals located in California, Illinois and Massachusetts as well as England, Ireland, and Australia. Previously he was manager of human and organizational development at 3Com, director of training and organizational development at Chipcom Corp., and manager of management and organizational development at Data General. He has designed numerous corporate workshops, has been published in many professional periodicals and publications and has been a presenter at various seminars and conferences. Dr. Kerber was previously an assistant professor of psychology at Holy Cross College.

Anne Kreidler

Principal, Anne Kreidler Associates
B.S., Boston University College of Communication
anne.kreidler@simmons.edu

Anne Kreidler has 30 years of diverse communication and related human resources experience at international and domestic companies. Her record emphasizes strategic development and the design and implementation of employee communication and employee relations programs. Areas of specialty include aligning employees with business strategy and culture change. She has an extensive background in project management and a variety of creative talents. By combining a hands-on approach with state-of-the-art technology, Ms. Kreidler has met complex communication needs within different cultures and management styles. She focuses on communication and positive employee relations as change and motivational agents and as strategic tools to align employees with organizational strategies and priorities. Clients include Biogen, Citizens Bank, EMC Corporation, Computervision, Digital, KAO Infosystems and others. Prior to starting her own business, she was Vice President of Corporate Communication for The Progressive Corporation, and manager of Corporate Employee Communication for Digital Equipment Corp.

Peter Masucci

Founding Partner, VX Management Group
B.S. Engineering, Boston University
MBA, Clark University
peter.masucci@simmons.edu

Peter Masucci is a co-founder of VX Management Group, Inc., an executive-level management consulting firm, where he currently serves as a principal marketing consultant. Mr. Masucci has more than 30 years of high-technology management and marketing experience, and has held a variety of positions with companies in the computer, software, telecommunications, and Internet industries. His background includes work with both large, publicly held companies, as well as with several small, pre-IPO start-ups in roles of increasing management responsibility. He has worked on all aspects of the marketing and general management functions during his career at such companies as FutureTense/Open Market, PictureTel and Digital Equipment Corp. Prior to these assignments, Mr. Masucci spent five years in the aerospace industry working on the Apollo spacecraft program at Rockwell International and NASA.

Mr. Masucci has lectured on a variety of marketing topics at industry conferences around the world and authored several articles on product marketing. He was also a featured speaker at an MIT Enterprise Forum fall workshop on marketing.

Dr. Vonda Powell

B.A. Economics Spelman College
Ph.D. Business Administration University of Illinois
vonda.powell@simmons.edu

Dr. Powell is an assistant professor of Communications. Her professional experience includes positions with A.C. Nielson, the Clorox Company, AT&T,and Essence Communications. Prior to joining the College, Professor Powell has taught at the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce and the International Business Institute in the Netherlands.

Dr. Powell is an award-winning writer and freelance development professional. She has written for the Marketing Science Institute, the National Black MBA Association, the American Oil Chemists Society, Kimberly-Clark, and Proctor and Gamble. In addition, Dr. Powell has employed her services in the non-profit sector by authoring successful funding proposals for the: Ewing Marion Kaufman Fund, Charles Sandage Entrepreneurship Trust, Boys and Girls Club of Illinois, and the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development.

Dr. Powell has a firm commitment to active learning and Socratic teaching methods. Whenever possible she enjoys combining theoretical and service learning projects. Her teaching interests include international marketing and public relations, strategic marketing, and writing courses.

Dr. Edward T. Vieira, Jr.

B.A., Rhode Island College
M.B.A. Bryant University
Ph.D. in Marketing Communication, University of Connecticut
edward.vieira@simmons.edu

Dr. Vieira is a full-time associate professor within the Communications Management program as well as in the undergraduate college. He teaches introductory and advanced advertising courses, as well as theory classes in the undergraduate and graduate programs. He has twenty years of experience in marketing management and strategic marketing.

Dr. Vieira’s research interests are in cognitive motivation, emotion, and involvement in mediated message processing; consumer behavior theory; persuasive and marketing communication message content; and the role that emerging technologies play in mediated message processing. His conference papers have been presented at the International Communication Association, the National Communication Association, International Society for Research on Emotions, and Society of Experimental Psychology Convention. Moreover, Professor Vieira has written a number of editorial pieces on social issues published by the Association for Education in Journalism, and Mass Communication.

In his spare time, Dr. Vieira writes children’s stories and paints.

Naomi Wilsey

Senior Manager, Integrated Marketing Communications, IBM
M.S. Communications Management, Simmons College
B.A. Fine Arts and Education, University of Colorado
naomi.wilsey@simmons.edu

Naomi Wilsey has been in marketing and marketing communications for over 20 years. She has been self-employed as a designer and worked as an advertising manager in educational publishing. She is a recipient of the Beltz Prize for Academic Excellence. Upon graduation from the MCM program, Ms. Wilsey received the Bookbuilders of Boston scholarship and then took the opportunity to attend Wroxton College for a two-week international communications and culture course in the UK. Since 1996, she has been employed by IBM, first as communications manager in media relations and is currently a manager of Integrated Marketing Communications.

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Did You Know?

MCM faculty member Mark Kennedy, founder and principal of Strategic Innovation Partnerships, has worked extensively in Europe and Asia as a consultant to major corporations in the development of growth initiatives, innovation and long-term vision.

 

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