Gwen Ifill School Alumnae/i
In the Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences, we cultivate a diverse and talented generation of trailblazers who are poised to become leaders in their professions and in their communities.
Student-Alumnae/i Interviews
A Journey from Journalism to Higher Learning
Rama Srinivasan ’10MA is a journalist turned academic and writer. A master's degree in gender and cultural studies introduced Srinivasan to intellectual theories that would lead to her PhD, and eventually a Marie-Curie Postdoctoral in Venice.
How Simmons and Journalism Paved Way to PR Career
Robyn Liverant ’86, a communications major, has been a public relations and communications consultant for the past 25 years, primarily for clients in the arts, publishing, and luxury goods sectors. Post Simmons, she worked for various companies, including in magazine publishing, before representing clients independently.
Launching a Career in Radio with Support from Simmons
Katie Cole ’22 had a Simmons experience that helped encourage and support her interests. Now a Digital Associate Producer at WBUR, Cole’s participation in student-driven media working as the General Manager at Simmons University Radio and as the Editor-in-Chief of The Voice helped set her up for success professionally.
Publishing Company Owner Reflects on Simmons Education
Lisa De Niscia ‘07MA is a writer and founder of Whitepoint Press, a publishing company she founded in 2012. Whitepoint Press brings to light novels, short story collections, and poetry that are often overlooked by major publishers.
Alumna Educator on Her Simmons Experience
Kelly Cotton ’22 brought her passion for reading and writing into teaching.
Simmons Alumna on Finding Her Voice, Creating Opportunity
Louise Michelle Vital ’00 is a senior lecturer in the Higher Education Administration program at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Vital’s involvement on campus ultimately led her to her first job right out of college.
Simmons Communications Alumna Reflects on College Experience
Carmen Báez ’79, HD’04 is a retired advertising and marketing professional who focuses her time in PRxPR, a private disaster aid fund in Puerto Rico. She serves on the Conservation Trust board in Puerto Rico, and was a member of Simmons’ Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2014.
Gwen Ifill School Alums in the News
Digital Girlhoods and the Adult Response to Tweens Online
Katherine A Phelps ’13MA has published her first book, Digital Girlhoods (Temple University Press, 2025), exploring the potential pitfalls and opportunities for tween girls engaging in social media.
Simmons Alumna Centers Survivorship
Kenyora Lenair Johnson ’10, CEO of End Rape On Campus (EROC), is dedicated to elevating survivorship and centering marginalized populations. To honor Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we spoke with her about EROC’s bold initiatives, as well as Simmons’ intergenerational community.
What is Interaction Design?
All designers aspire to engage and delight their users. Interaction Design, or IxD, seeks to create optimal conditions for engagement between people and products — both digital and physical.
Six Students Selected for the 2025 Senior Scholar Award
Ginjer Doherty ’25, Aviva Foster ’25, CJ Haggard ’25, Theo Hatfield ’25, Lili Malatinszky ’25, and Grace Walters ’25 have been selected for the prestigious Senior Scholar Award at Simmons University. Sponsored by the Provost’s Office and the Office of Research and Fellowships, the Senior Scholar Award recognizes outstanding scholarly research across different disciplinary fields.
Building a Family History at Simmons
Nearly a century ago, Anna T. Kenney attended Simmons College, majoring in Secretarial Studies. Now, Kenney’s great-granddaughter, Annie Doherty ’26, has followed in her great-grandmother's footsteps to Simmons.
Gregory Maguire ’78MA Defying Gravity
Gregory Maguire '78MA, best-selling author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, reflects on his time as one of the first graduates of the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature program at Simmons, now celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Lived Experience: An Engine of Advocacy
A motivated advocate for social justice, Rayna Hill ’22MA/MPP is creating an equitable future for LGBTQ+ youth in the state of Massachusetts.
Archivist Cherishes Communal Essence of Libraries
National Library Lovers’ Month is, according to the Boston Public Library, “a time to recognize the value of libraries and all the special things we love about them.” To celebrate National Library Lovers’ Month, we spoke with University Archivist Kelsey Kolbet ’21MS/MA about her love of archives and women’s history, and why she chose Simmons.
Ways to Get Involved as a Gwen Ifill School Alum
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The Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences
The Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities and Social Sciences cultivates trailblazers and leaders. Here, you'll study the modes of expression through which we record and interpret the human experience.