Simmons University celebrated the 121st Commencement Ceremonies at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway on Friday, May 15, 2026. During two ceremonies, Simmons awarded over 500 baccalaureate degrees and nearly 1,200 graduate degrees to the Class of 2026.

• Commencement

Simmons University’s first annual First-Generation Graduation Ceremony was held on May 11, a joint event presented by the Multicultural Center and First to FINish, the First-Generation Student Support Program that provides resources and guidance for students.

• Commencement
• First-generation Student
• Mentorship

The 2025–26 Barbara Lee Fellows, as well as numerous Massachusetts legislators, attended an end-of-year celebration at the State House. Simmons President Lynn Perry Wooten, Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Strategy, and Engagement Dr. Rachel Deleveaux, and the Fellows shared reflections and expressions of gratitude.

• Community Engagement
• Leadership

Professor Emeritus Donald W. Thomas, who served as a professor in the Department of Psychology at Simmons from 1966 to 1999, passed away in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on March 12, 2026. He was 90 years old.

• In Memoriam

In honor of National Library Week, Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) hosted a virtual award ceremony and alumnae/i panel discussion, “Building a Career in LIS: Lessons, Milestones, and Whatever Comes Next in the Age of AI.”

• Awards and Honors
• Careers and Internships

Two dozen students presented on a wide range of topics at the STEM Colloquium 2026, presented by the School of Sciences and Health Professions. The event showcased student research, including oral and poster presentations.

• Research
• Science and Technology
• Traditions & Annual Events

Boston Magazine has published its 2026 list of 150 Most Influential Bostonians. President Lynn Perry Wooten was among the recognized individuals.

• Awards and Honors
• Leadership

The 2026 Robert M. Gay Memorial Lecture featured Tiya Miles, the Michael Garvey Professor of History and Radcliffe Alumnae Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. Miles spoke about spiritual and ecological approaches to reconstructing and understanding Harriet Tubman.

• Traditions & Annual Events

Simmons University’s School of Nursing (SON) welcomed six new faculty members this academic year. We asked our new faculty members what they want their students to know about nursing today, and about an experience that changed how they viewed their profession.

The Colleges of the Fenway recently hosted “From Classroom to Career in the Age of AI,” featuring panelists from diverse industries. Speakers discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the workplace and how those in higher education can help prepare students for this new professional landscape.