Alumnae/i Association Awards

The Simmons University Alumnae/i Association proudly presents several awards annually to recognize, honor, and celebrate the exceptional accomplishments and careers of various Simmons community members, including undergraduate alum and faculty/staff. You can read more about the awards that the Association presents and previous winners below.

The nomination period for the 2024 Priscilla McKee Award is open from March 18, 2024 to April 18,2024. Nomination requirements and submission form can be found on the 2024 Priscilla McKee Award Nomination Form.

We will announce the recipients of the awards toward the end of the Spring semester. If you have additional questions, please reach out to the AAEB's Director of Awards.

General Qualifications for Undergraduate Alum Awards

Any alum who attended Simmons and received an undergraduate degree is eligible for nomination if they meet the specific requirements for a particular award category. Exceptions include:

  • Current employees of Simmons
  • Current members of the Board of Trustees
  • Current members of the Alumnae/i Association Executive Board (AAEB) or the Alum Awards Committee
  • Alum cannot receive the same award more than once
  • All award recipients must be living at the time the nomination is submitted

Recent Alum Achievement Award

The Recent Alum Achievement Award recognizes an undergraduate alum who graduated within the previous 10 years and who has made outstanding contributions to Simmons University and in professional or civic fields of endeavor. The candidate should also demonstrate promise for continuing service and leadership to Simmons and in their field.  First awarded in 2004, the Recent Alum Achievement Award may also recognize a recipient who has demonstrated accomplishments in their career choice and recognition in other volunteer efforts.

Alum Service Award

Established in 1964 by the Alumnae/i Association, the Alum Service Award recognizes a graduate who has demonstrated dedicated service to the Alumnae/i Association through leadership in class, club, and/or Alumnae/i Association programs and committees. This award seeks to honor a graduate who has served Simmons and the Alumnae/i Association with dedication through leadership, and who has exhibited an outstanding and ongoing commitment to the University and the Association. Criteria for recognition may include extensive work with clubs, class, the Association and/or students; fundraising, visibility created for Simmons University and longevity and dedication in leadership roles.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award is a wonderful opportunity to recognize an undergraduate alum for outstanding achievements and to celebrate their commitment to the community and beyond. This award honors an undergraduate alum whose lifetime accomplishments have brought them to the top of their field of endeavor. The committee welcomes nominations that reflect the diversity of Simmons alum and their many avenues of achievement.

Community Service Award

Established in 1999 by the Alumnae/i Association, the Community Service Award was created in support of the Simmons commitment to community service, and as a means of recognizing the long history of alum commitment to their communities and volunteer organizations. This award seeks to recognize a graduate who has made a significant volunteer contribution to the world around them, and who has undertaken unique and innovative approaches to solving community issues and bettering the world. The goal of the Community Service Award is to recognize an undergraduate alum who is actively engaged in voluntary service that benefits the local or regional community, a specific non-profit group, or the national or international community.

Priscilla McKee Award for Faculty/Staff

The Priscilla McKee Award, established by the Alumnae/i Association in 1988, is presented annually to one member of the faculty or staff of the University in recognition of exceptional service to the Simmons community. Priscilla McKee, Vice President of Simmons from 1979 to 1988, was noted for her intense dedication to the best interests of the University. In recognition of her 31 years of service to Simmons, the Executive Board of the Alumnae/i Association voted unanimously to make her an honorary member and established the Priscilla McKee Faculty/Staff Award for outstanding service to Simmons.

Past Award Winners

1959
Dorothy Boulding Ferebee '20

1960
Abbie Dunks '18

1961
Eva Whiting White '07

1962
Marjorie Heseltine '16

1963
Helen Goodell '23

1964
Mildred Custin '27

1965
Claire O'Neill '42

1966
Louise Andrews Kent '09

1967
Elizabeth Miller Goodman '34

1968
Sue Sadow '17

1969
Jacquelyn Low Farber '52

1970
Doris Siegel '35, '39SW

1971
Anna Tanneyhill '28

1972
Rita Ricardo Campbell '41

1973
Beatrice Pollack Sandler '28

1974
Charlotte Moulton '34

1975
Elizabeth Hubbard Lansing '33

1976
Anne Marie Bickerstaff '41

1977
Ida Fisher Davidoff '24

1978
Priscilla Lees Cummings, M.D. '28

1979
Jennette Oppenheimer '34, '35SW

1980
Lois F. O'Grady, M.D. '58

1981
Priscilla Wright Gardner '37

1982
Roslyn Blake Bell '44

1983
Florence Flores '38

1984
Louise Cort '66

1985
Gertrude Beiff Fox '39

1986
Gail Levin '69

1987
Irma Miller Brosseau '52

1988
Harriet Elam-Thomas '63, '00HD

1989
Dr. Eleanor Tufts '49

1990
Elizabeth Lane Stilwell '80

1991
Lynette Chandler '60

1992
Hynda Fisher Kleinman '69

1993
Dr. Anne L. Bryant '71

1994
Ann Fudge '73, '98HD

1995
Esta Goldfarb Soler '68

1996
Rehema Ellis '74

1997
Elinor Lipman '72

1998
Alice K. Wolf '55

1999
Karen Young-Thomas '77

2000
Joyce Kulhawik '74

2001
Barbara E. Nelson '53

2002
Grace Richardson '60

2003
Bernice J. Poutas '48

2004
Rachel Myerowitz '67

2005
Esther Baum Davidowitz '55

2006
Millicent Gorham '76

2007
Elizabeth (Betty) Ivey '57

2008
Hannah M. McCarthy '68

2009
Gwen Ifill '77, '93HD

2010
Joan Melber Warburg '45, '97HD

2011
Dr. Esther M. Wilkins '38

2012
Sondra Perl '69

2013
Frances Katen Burke '50

2014
Carmen Baez '79, '03HD
Mary Abott Hess '64, '91HD

2015
No awards given this year

2016
Emily Scott Pottruck '78

2017
Barbara Fish Lee '67, '01HD

2018
Lenore Epstein Blum '63

2019
Sandra Labas Fenwick '72

2020
Paula Dore-Duffy ‘70

2021
Dr. Patricia N. Whitley-Williams '71

2022
Jane Drooker Frahm '59, PT '60

2004
Natalie Handal '91, '93GS

2005
Marie-Florcy Celestin '00, '02GS

2009
Lisa J.B. Peterson '03

2010
Courtney Knapp '03, '06GS

2011
Julia Reynolds '08

2012
Sasha DuBois '08

2013
Julia Roy '05

2014
No award given this year

2015
No awards given this year

2016
Christina Maynard '06, '14SW

2017
Adela Raz '08

2018
Melissa Gersin '10

2019
Katherine Swanson '09

2020
Tiffani Sykhammountry ‘16

2021
Sarah J. Galvez '14
Aaron Wolfson '14

1964
Mary Smith Scott '06
Ellen Keegan Doyle '15
Mildred Cornwall Sears '23
Marie-Clare Welch Rowbotham '45
Linda Altman Levine '58

1965
Anna A. Kloss '15
Beula Hayden Mathews '18
Marjorie L. Shea '25<
Pauline Nelson Oxnard '35
Joan Melber Warburg '45

1966
Mary E. Osgood '09
Emily G. Webb '16
Helen Baker Lichty '19
Helen Chamberlin Holland '25
Pomona Mitchell Sawyer '44

1967
Stella M. Durrell '07
Rebecca Gross Marsh '12
Dorothy Andrews Thebus '21
Marjorie Stimson '22
Lucile English Hubbarb '27

1968
Phyllis Lapham Anderson '17
Charlotte Ford Morrison '18
Ruth Mitchell Wunderly '19
Kathryn Wilson Moore '41

1969
Dora Sherbune Seubert '08
Carita Hunter Lovejoy '19
Harriet Dorsey Archibald '32
Grace Hall Gibby '32
Linda Kotzen Paresky '64

1970
Ella Wood Gray '16
Lucy E. Fisher '22
Eleanor L. Ricker '31
Sylvia Bloomfield Brenner '36, '37SW
Miriam Gosian Madfis '40

1971
Harriette Gordon Ellis '40
Aline Colton Whiteside '22
Virginia Haynes Chrisman '24
Madeline Williams Bonney '25
Anne Tutko Tetrik '39, '40SW

1972
Tilly Svenson Dickinson '19
Anita Clark Bates '21
Elizabeth McCoy Hayward '23
Audrey Franklin Hoffman '30
Rita Leys Dolan '50

1973
Agnes Kelsey Shute '18
Eleanor Howland Chapman '23
Ruth Weller Deane '32
Betty Emhoff Green '45
Dianne Kofman Chirls '58

1974
Ester Williams Bleyle '18
Marion Walker Hoag '23
Edith Bowker Howe '30
Coral Kenny O'Brien '40
Beverly Asselta '65

1975
Elsa Badger '25
Margaret-Mary Downey Johnston '34
Lillian Eldridge Batchelder '51
Mary Dreier Holleman '57

1976
Lillian Williams Keen '11
Marion S. Williams '13
Katherine M. Heggie '35
Joan Potter Baldwin '54

1977
Margaret C. Tatro '27
Elizabeth Allen Licher '31
Elizabeth Kinghorn Tausch '32
Ester Usher '38
Cassie M. Grant '41

1978
Rose Bramson Tannenbaum '19
Mary Wager Burt '24
Hilda Tangring '26
Dorothy F. Colburn '30
Martha J. Fay '39

1979
Rachel Stone Jones '24
Barabara Hildreth Parkhurst '41
Elinor Haines Ward '35

1980
Eleanore Asinof Dunn '43
Elizabeth Mulroy '64
Ruth S. Leonard '28

1981
Carol Green '70
Martha Katz-Hyman '70
Deborah Loomis Lafond '71

1982
Martha Hyndman Gray '61
Linda Victor '75

1983
Louise H. Lovell '33
Elsa Galdston '72

1984
Beryl Hardacker Bunker '40
Lois Shir Rohtstein '75

1985
Sally Betts Buck '25
Sybil Hartley Eshbach '42
Myrna Abbott Kasser '62

1986
Sara Brest Malatsky '30
Edith Samuelson Eastman '37

1987
Parmys Goodale Pratt '37
Helen Morris Rodman '40

1988
Florence Adelson Saslow '44
Constance Lewis '63

1989
Doris Woodward Bellamy '31
Winifred Whittemore Kneisel '37
Ruth Garfink Eff '40

1990
Jane Bergwell Shattuck '48
Lucille Sheehan '75

1991
Jo-Ann Robotti Messing '75

1992
Lucille Kiely Marshall '38
Barbara Burke Garlick '47

1993
Elaine McCarthy '76
Elicia Carroll Kelley '46, '48GS

1994
Ruth Ginsburg '71

1995
Connie Gray '59

1996
Joy Disbro Warren '68
Peggy Loeb '62

1997
Margaret 'Cricket' Laun '46
Elizabeth Jones Ranger '47

1998
Carol Waller Pope '74

1999
Shirley Holmes Fago '50
Leslie Dykeman '70

2000
Gerry Morenski '63, P'87
Suzanne Culver

2001
Carol Woolf '61, '83 SM

2002
Sandra Goldberg '57

2003
Pamela Jackson '85

2005
Amy White '81

2006
Mary Wentworth '52

2007
Emily Scott Pottuck '78

2008
Rebeca H. Blum '84
Sandy R. Dickerman '58

2009
Christian Pope Campbell '91
Clotilde Zannetos '58

2010
Jacqueline Tuttle '55

2011
Roslyn M. Watson '71

2012
Kathleen Morrissey LaPoint '84

2013
Bobbi Thompson '77

2014
Jennifer Coplon '67, '69SW
Eleanor Blanton '59

2015
No awards given this year

2016
Margaret Kane '75
Marilyn Woloohojian '54

2017
Charlotte Meyer '52
Jean Anjoorian '52
Ann Herpy Himmelberger '52

2018
Janet Trafton Tobin '67
Nancy Sandler Gavrin '58

2019
Dolores D'Angelo '69, '72MA
2018 Black Alumnae/i Symposium Planning Committee

2020
Margaret Marr Kearney ‘65
Rita Taddonio Walsh ‘55

2022
Enna Jimenez '91, '06E, HT

2000
Ruth Sheinwold Cowin '33, '34SW

2002
Phyllis Nickerson Dotson '62

2003
Tricia Cassidy Petkicwicz '59

2004
Patricia Marshall '50

2005
Yolanda Romanelli '45

2006
Louise R. Brown '58, '77LS

2007
Audrey Fishman Franklin '67

2008
Judith Tavano '72, '74GS

2009
Hope Alperin Hirsch '67
Betty Emhoff Green '45

2010
Marjorie Checkoway '69

2011
Geraldine Conway Morenski '63, P '87

2012
Sandra MacIver Thompson '60

2013
Hon. Amy Nechtem '76

2014
Karen Livingston '76

2015
No awards presented this year

2016
Leslie Morris, 75
Norma Imershein, '46

2017
Merrill Fisher Gottesman '75

2018
Nicole Bowen Hardy '91

2019
Carmen Aponte Baez '79, '03HD

2020
Carol F. Anderson ‘70

2021
Margo Simon Golden ‘79

2022
Kenyora L. Parham '10

The Priscilla McKee Award, established by the Alumnae/i Association in 1988, is presented annually to one member of the faculty or staff of the University in recognition of exceptional service to the Simmons community. Priscilla McKee, Vice President of Simmons from 1979 to 1988, was noted for her intense dedication to the best interests of the University. In recognition of her 31 years of service to Simmons, the Executive Board of the Alumnae/i Association voted unanimously to make her an honorary member and established the Priscilla McKee Faculty/Staff Award for outstanding service to Simmons.

1990
Henry Halko, Professor of History

1991
Elizabeth Rawlins '67GS, Associate Dean

1992
Anne E. Coghlan '48, '98HD, Dean of Sciences

1993
Mary Logan Canavan '38, Director of Planned Giving

1994
Laurie Taylor Crumpacker '63, Chair of History Department

1998
Donna M. Dolan '84, '86GS, Registrar of the College

2000
James M, Matarazzo, '65 LS, P'92, Dean of GSLIS

2001
Barbara Sawtelle, Professor of Economics

2002
Diane Hammer, '85, Administrative Director, Institute for Leadership and Change

2003
Steve London, Chair and Professor of Sociology, Faculty Director of the Scott Ross Center For Community Service

2004
Bob White, Professor of Communications

2005
Kathy Porteus '81LS, Assistant Director Alumni Admissions

2006
David G. Gullette, Professor, English Department

2007
Kathy Peroni-Callahan '84, Purchasing and Accounts Payable

2008
Lisa G. Chapnick, Senior Vice President Administration & Finance

2009
Deborah Marlino, Associate Dean School of Management

2010
Diane Raymond, Ph.D., Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

2011
Pat Fallon, Assistant Vice President, Comptroller's Office

2012
Jan Taylor '07GS, Assistant Vice President, Alumnae/i Relations and Annual Giving

2013
Donald Basch, Professor of Economics

2015
Cheryl Howard '71, Vice President of Communications, Diversity & Inclusion

2016
Alice Kantor, Director of Athletics

2018
Valerie Beaudrault, Grants & Contracts Administrator

2019
Judy Beal, Dean of the College of Natural, Behavioral and Health Sciences

2020
Dr. Em Claire Knowles '88 DA, '07 E

2021
Diane M. Hallisey '82, '89MS

2022
Richard Voos '90MS

2023
Jason Wood, 01MS, '11MS, Simmons University Archivist & Deputy Director

Established in 1992, the Mary Logan Canavan '38 Planned Giving Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an alumna who consistently gives her time, energy and financial support to further the planned giving program at Simmons University. This award was created to honor Mary Logan Canavan '38, former director of planned giving at Simmons and an instrumental figure in the creation if Simmons' successful planned giving program. Mary, who passed away in August of 2007, encouraged and enabled planned gifts of many varieties, in ways that are still benefiting Simmons University today, and will for decades to come. Recipients of this honor embody the true ideals of John Simmons whose bequest founded the University so that women might pursue an education, and they also share Mary's unique vision for the future of Simmons University, her incredible work ethic and her ability to inspire generosity in others.

1992
Katherine M. Heggie '35

1993
Beryl H. Bunker '40

1994
Marjorie C. Berg '44

1995
Margaret West Laun '46

1996
Martha Fay '39

1997
Cynthia R. Haddad '85

1998
Inez D. Reese '33

1999
Rose Ciccolo '43

2000
Martha Bears Rich '44

2001
Elizabeth K. Matthys '49

2002
Elizabeth G. Welch '42, '43GS

2003
Hope Hynes '39

2004
Mary Dee Wheble '50

2005
Lucy J. Buckley '52

2006
Lilo S. Feinstein '53

2007
Peggy Adelson Saslow '44
Antonia Smerlas Lakis '44

2008
Judith Moody '59

2009
Rev. Elizabeth Chace '69

2010
Carol Liebermann Ellman '65

2011
Sandra Lief Garrett '67

2012
Patricia Weill Park '06

2013
Linda Charpentier '68