President Wooten Shares Updates at Alumnae/i Town Hall
Campus & Community
President Wooten Shares Updates at Alumnae/i Town Hall
From growing enrollment to the opening of the Living and Learning Center, Simmons University is making progress while remaining true to its founding mission.
Simmons University President Lynn Perry Wooten welcomed alumnae/i from across the globe to a virtual Town Hall on October 28, sharing updates on enrollment, University finances, the campus transformation, and opportunities for graduates to stay involved.
Held during Founder’s Week, the Town Hall offered an opportunity to reflect on Simmons’ 125-plus-year history and look ahead. President Wooten also wished founder John Simmons a happy 230th birthday, honoring his vision for women's education.
"Simmons has been resilient. We have persevered. We have reinvented ourselves," President Wooten said, noting that fewer than 30 women's colleges remain in the United States. "Despite all the change, we do know that the world still needs universities like Simmons."
Building Momentum
President Wooten acknowledged the challenges facing higher education, including rising costs, increased competition, and changing student expectations, while highlighting encouraging enrollment and financial results.
The incoming undergraduate Class of 2030 includes students from diverse backgrounds, with 38% identifying as first-generation college students. Graduate applications and deposits also exceeded enrollment targets.
Student revenue is projected to grow by more than $10 million in the near future, while the University's endowment reached $297 million at the close of fiscal year 2026.
These gains support Future in Focus, Simmons' strategic vision for strengthening undergraduate and graduate education, creating a more connected campus, and ensuring the University's long-term financial sustainability. A key component is a new undergraduate career cohort model that will bring students together around shared academic and professional interests, with opportunities for mentoring, internships, experiential learning, and preparation for life after graduation.
A New Chapter for One Simmons
The exterior of the nearly completed Living and Learning Center.
One of the Town Hall's highlights was a preview of the Living and Learning Center, scheduled to open in January 2027.
Rae-Anne Butera, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, shared a look at the new 19-story facility, which will bring together student residences, dining, athletics, wellness, and gathering spaces on Simmons' academic campus.
"What we have built here is really a campus center. The living room of the campus for everyone," Butera said.
The Living and Learning Center marks the culmination of One Simmons – the University’s landmark initiative to create a unified, student-centered campus designed for the 21st century and beyond. Responding to questions from alumnae/i, Butera emphasized plans to preserve the traditions and history of the residential campus through storytelling and commemorative spaces in the new building.
Alumnae/i will have opportunities to visit the new facility, beginning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 20, 2027, and Reunion on June 12, when graduates will be able to stay in the new residence halls.
The Power of the Simmons Community
President Wooten also shared stories of current students putting their education into practice, from a nursing student advocating for a patient during a clinical rotation to a business student applying classroom lessons through her work with young people at the Boys & Girls Clubs. She highlighted the influence of faculty mentorship and the alumnae/i network on students preparing for their careers.
Simmons achieved a 30% alumnae/i engagement rate in fiscal year 2026, surpassing the University's 25% goal. The University tracks engagement through activities such as communications, participation in events, volunteering, and use of Simmons Network.
President Wooten encouraged graduates to consider how they can contribute to Simmons through the Five Ts: Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimony, and Ties. These include volunteering and mentoring students, sharing professional expertise and networks, supporting scholarships and the University's long-term future, and serving as ambassadors for Simmons. She emphasized that alumnae/i can make a difference in many ways, regardless of how much time or financial support they can offer.
"Every dollar matters, every dollar makes a difference," she said.
