Master's in Communications Management
Kelley
Chunn ’90 MCM
Scandals like those at Enron and Andersen Consulting have
shaken consumer confidence in corporate America. It’s no longer good enough to operate “business
as usual.” Kelley Chunn, MCM graduate and principal of Kelley Chunn & Associates,
says organizations are standing out and gaining customer loyalty by affecting
positive social change through the use of culturally sensitive cause-related
marketing campaigns.
Lynn Ingraham Cole ’97 MCM
Serving in the name of public good is a central attribute of the Simmons
student. Just ask Lynn Ingraham Cole ’97 (MCM), executive director of
the Children’s Center in Augusta, Maine, who works tirelessly to ensure
that the private non-profit agency helps children with special needs develop
the learning skills they need. In her free time, Cole recently co-founded Hardy
Girls Healthy Women, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young
women.
Barbara Moulton ’04 MCM
What’s it like working for the nation’s first subway system? For
Barbara Moulton, director of marketing communications at the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority (MBTA), it’s fast-paced, exciting, and eventful. “No
two days are ever the same,” says this 14-year MBTA veteran.
Mark O’Day ’99 MCM
Growing up the son of an America’s Cup winner and Olympic Gold medalist
sailboat racer, Mark O’Day ’99 learned a great deal about sailing-
especially the importance of looking ahead to anticipate wind shifts and what
other boats may do. He applies that same principle to his work as director of
marketing for Comcast (formerly AT&T Broadband/MediaOne).
Carolyn Grimes ’01 MCM
“The work I did in the MCM program helped me obtain my current position
as Director of Graduate Service Programs at The Scott/Ross Center for Community
Service where I have the opportunity to work with graduate students, faculty
and staff at Simmons…"
BJ Bliss ’01 MCM
"…After completing my MCM degree at Simmons, I was not only able
to obtain a senior consulting position as an organization change consultant,
but my salary increased immediately by 33 percent…"
Rebecca H. McCullough ’03 MCM
"MCM has given me the confidence to relocate and change careers and has
helped me leverage my strengths, professional desires and knowledge into a meaningful
career in the nonprofit sector…"
Education
Kristen Abbett ’00 MATESL
Kristen Abbett always knew she wanted to teach, she just didn’t know
what or whom. Trips to South Africa and Nicaragua, and a stint as an assistant
teacher at a local high school, provided her with the experiences she needed
to answer those questions.
Susan A. Ainsleigh ’93 M.S.Ed., BCBA
Simmons instructor Susan Ainsleigh had never worked with
individuals with special needs or even considered a career as a teacher when
in 1990 she accepted a job at a private, residential school for children with
severe special needs. “I wanted a challenging, interesting job, and when
I went to interview, something clicked.” Ainsleigh says she looked forward
to being there everyday and soon decided to pursue a master’s degree in
special education, which she received from Simmons in 1993.
Janelle Bradshaw ’03 M.S.Ed. Urban Education, ’04 C.A.G.S. Educational
Leadership
As a pre-law undergrad at Smith College, Janelle Bradshaw was pretty certain
of her future — law school and then a professional career as an attorney.
But a minor in education and a student teaching assignment her senior year changed
all that. “I really loved and valued that experience,” she says.
After graduation, Bradshaw pursued a teaching position in Boston and was hired
as a fourth and fifth-grade teacher at the Mather Elementary School in Dorchester,
the oldest elementary school in the country.
DaQuall Graham ’00 MAT, ’03 C.A.G.S. Educational Leadership
As a child, DaQuall Graham decided he wouldn’t settle for the cards
life dealt him. “Growing up as a boy without a father and being conscious
of that void can be difficult to brave… I took advantage of any and all
positive opportunities and decided I would make a difference with my life.” After
securing his undergraduate degree in education from American International College,
Graham came to Simmons for his MAT and continued on to obtain his C.A.G.S. in
Educational Leadership.
Mark Ito ’04 MAT
Whether directing marketing efforts for high-tech companies, running his own
business, or obtaining his MBA, this native Californian always found enjoyment
in the experience and was willing to adapt to challenges and opportunities.
So, when personal circumstances allowed him to explore a new career path, he
decided to pursue something he had always wanted to do — teach.
Richard D. Lavoie M.A., M.Ed., Visiting Professor, Special Education
Visiting Professor Rick Lavoie has been advocating for children with special
needs nearly his whole life. “When I was 10 years old, I had a family
member with severe special needs and I could always reach him and teach him
in ways others couldn’t,” explained Lavoie. “This ability
became a moving force in my life; it became a mission for me.”
Catherine Zusy ’04 MAT
When Catherine Zusy was seven years old and living in Kensington, MD, she organized
a neighborhood fair to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. With
prizes donated from a nearby general store and a “staff” of four
siblings to supervise, she proudly collected $23.70 and appeared on her local
television station. “I’ve always had an interest in organizing things,” says
Zusy, with a smile.
Liberal Arts
Nathalie Handal ’91, ’93 English
“I have always been in love with words and never cease to be seduced
by them,” says Nathalie Handal ’91, ’93, a poet, playwright
and writer living in New York City. “As a child, I told endless stories
and was very much encouraged to read. Today, I see the world as a poem — a
poem I keep writing and rewriting. All that I observe, that I experience, filters
itself into words.”
Meera
Lee Sethi ’04 M.A. Children’s Literature, MAT Education
Just one year before Meera Lee Sethi was born in Singapore, a half a world
away Chris Van Allsburg penned his first — and Sethi’s favorite — children’s
book, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. Though most people today are drawn
to Allsburg’s Christmas classic, The Polar Express, Sethi favors The
Garden for its delightful story of a little boy who chases after a dog
and ends up in the garden of a mysterious magician.
Laura Prieto Ph.D., associate professor, History and Women’s Studies
The daughter of immigrants from Argentina and Cuba, Associate Professor of
History and Women’s Studies Laura Prieto grew up listening to the tales
of her parents’ “early days.” “The past was always a
part of my present,” she says. “My parents placed great emphasis
on their past and spoke about it often.”
Jyoti Puri, M.A., Ph.D., associate professor, Sociology and Women’s
Studies
Growing up as a young girl in India, Jyoti Puri was always encouraged and
supported in her efforts to succeed academically and personally. “I didn’t
feel constrained by my gender; it wasn’t even an issue in my life, but
there always were inconsistencies,” says Puri.
Marie Celestin ’00, ’02 GCS
Serving in the name of public good is a central attribute of the Simmons student.
Take a look at energetic social activist Marie Celestin ’00, ’02
(GCS) who has a guiding hand in numerous organizations like Mass Vote, the
Girls’ Coalition,
Project HIP HOP, Youth on Board, and the National Youth Action Council. Celestin
also hosts Girl TV, a weekly cable program, and directs the G.I.R.L.S. Project,
an annual conference that provides a forum for girls to speak out and be
heard on various social, economic, and educational issues.
Other Accolades
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich '72 (English) won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for history for her book A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, which was also turned into a film adaptation not only of Ballard's life, but also of the meticulous work of Ulrich.
Internationally published poet, playwright, and writer Nathalie Handal ’91, ’93 (English) edited The Poetry of Arab Women: A Contemporary Anthology, an Academy of American Poets bestseller and winner of the Pen Oakland/Josephine Miles Award.
Historian Kate CliffordLarson ’95 (GCS) is the author of Bound For The Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of An American Hero and a consultant for the National Park Service’s Harriet Tubman Special Resource Study.
In America’s Second Tongue: American Indian Education and the Ownership of English, Ruth Katern Spack ’70(English) examines the effects of English-language instruction policies on Native-American students.
Dual-Degree in History/Archive Management
Hobson Woodward ’04 M.A. History, M.S. Archives Management
Despite having a medieval history professor for a mother, Hobson Woodward
had no intention of becoming a historian when he grew up. Funny how things change!
Now a graduate student at Simmons, Woodward is working to complete the dual-degree
program in History and Archives Management, while managing responsibilities
as a husband and father.
Jonathan Lill '03 M.S. Library and Information Science
"The Simmons program allowed me to draw on my background in art, and
it showed me the crossover among my fields of interest," says Lill. "It
then opened the doors for me to obtain practical experience at area libraries
and archival organizations while I attended classes. I feel I'm well prepared
for my job search."
Sarah Watkins '00 M.S. Library and Information Science
"Using USS Constitution as a lens, 205 years of American history
comes alive. One of the best things about my job is connecting people with history
in engaging ways. The archives at the museum are an important part of the memory
of USS Constitution."
