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
Arts in the Classroom and the World
Lydia Peabody ’10, who majored in arts administration and art history with a minor in marketing, has worked across the country in roles at the Art Institute of Chicago, as an Associate Professor at Montserrat College of Art, and as Curator-at-Large at the Peabody Essex Museum. For the last three years, Peabody has been with The Wolf Kahn Foundation as a board member. She currently chairs the Foundation’s grants committee.
Educators Support Students Through Simmons Master’s Program
Linda Lawton ’23MS was in the insurance industry for 17 years before returning to graduate school to study education. While working as a teacher at the New England Center for Children, Lawton attended Simmons University to pursue her master's degree in education. For the last three years, Lawton has been teaching at the Fannie E. Proctor Elementary School in Northborough, Massachusetts. There, she runs a sub-separate classroom for third through fifth-grade students.
Learning Through an Interdisciplinary Lens
Chloe Crelia ’22 majored in Spanish, served on the editorial board of Sidelines, Simmons’ literary and arts magazine, and was also a founding member of the Transfer Student Organization. Since September 2025, Crelia has been an Educational Technologist at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Theatrical Influences on Children’s Literature
Rodney Fierce ’12MS graduated from Simmons University with a master’s degree in children’s literature and has dual undergraduate degrees from Princeton University in English literature and theater and dance. Fierce also earned his PhD in English language and literature from the University of Southern Mississippi. Currently, Fierce is a humanities instructor at Sonoma Academy in California.
Coast to Coast Connections with a Simmons Alumna
Caitlin Tramel ’99 graduated from Simmons with dual degrees in sociology and elementary education. She has worked in university administration at several schools, including Barnard College and Harvard Medical School. Since February 2025, Tramel has served as Assistant Vice President of Individual Giving at Santa Clara University, where she is responsible for a team of nearly 40 frontline fundraisers.
Simmons Alumna Connects with Culture to Inspire Others
Kaitlin Benton received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and art history from Simmons University. While attending the University, Benton worked as one of the Trustman Art Gallery Assistant and Curatorial Fellows. Since January 2025, Benton has served as Department Coordinator for the Art of Asia and Art of Global Africa at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Journalism Through Podcasting
While a student at Simmons, Janelle Anderson ’17 was a contributor and General Manager for the Simmons radio station, The Shark. After graduation, Anderson worked at WBUR and Pineapple Street Studios. Currently, she is a podcast producer for The New York Times.
Simmons Alum Finds Success in Children's Publishing
While at Simmons, Ivan Taurisano ’22 was a dean’s fellow in the children's literature program and an adjunct professor teaching a general education course. He is currently an associate editor at Macmillan Publishers.
Gwen Ifill School Alums in the News
Alumna Embraces Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature
Since completing her master of arts in children’s literature at Simmons, Amber Weinstock ’24MA has begun her doctoral studies at the University of Connecticut. We caught up with Weinstock, winner of the 2024 Graduate Student Essay Award, to ask how Simmons prepared her for her current studies.
The Transformative Power of Children’s Literature
Cassie Sheets-Kavanagh ’18MA, who earned her master of arts in children’s literature at Simmons, is pursuing a PhD in curriculum, instruction, and teacher education at Michigan State University.
SON Alumna Makes Impact in Pediatric Neurology
Beverly Byron ’75, is currently the co-chair of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Fatality Review Team. She is a longtime nurse educator and legal nurse consultant who double majored in nursing and sociology at Simmons.
Graphic Novelist Offers Representation for ADHD Kids
We spoke to author and illustrator Damian Alexander ’18MFA about how he found his creative home in writing and illustrating books for young adults, and what drew him to the Simmons Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children.
Honors 3+1 Student Embraces Interdisciplinarity
Abigail Pearson ’26, ’27MSW is an honors student pursuing an accelerated degree in social work. We spoke with her about the vitality of an interdisciplinary education and the thriving community at Simmons.
International Honors Student Studies Economic Development
Paulina Rodas Mejia ’26, a double major in economics and international relations, is pursuing research in economic development. We spoke with her about her interdisciplinary interests, the honors program, and being an international student from Honduras at Simmons.
Celebrating the 2025-26 Passionate Leaders Scholars
Six undergraduate scholars from different disciplines have been selected for a $3,000 grant that supports student-driven initiatives focused on advancing scientific research and improving communities, and represents unique voices through the arts and humanities.
Simmons Alum Supports Employer Relations for Students
In recognition of November as National Career Development Month, we spoke to Associate Director Employer Relations Jenn Walker Wall ’05 about her plans to strengthen relationships with area employers, and between Simmons students and alumnae/i.
Ways to Get Involved as a Gwen Ifill School Alum
Share Your News
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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.