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The Latest News

Simmons' Beatley Library, photograph by Ashley Purvis

SLIS Student Receives Josephine Forman Scholarship

School of Library and Information Science Student Rai Terry ’26MS was named the 2025 recipient of the Josephine Forman Scholarship.


Students working with archives on a table

SLIS Alumnae/i Curates Anti-Slavery Collection at Boston Public Library

Viv Williams ’19MS joined the staff of the Boston Public Library (BPL) as Curator of Modern Books and Manuscripts.


Photo of main campus quad on a bright sunny day. the view is looking from the Fens towards Drinan Hall and Palace Road

Simmons Alumna Honored by Forbes

Lisa ("Liz") Kautz '99MBA was honored by Forbes in a 2025 listing of "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State."


Image of arms placing a book on library shelf

SLIS Student Interns at Boston Public Library

Jen Leahy '25MS wrote a guest blog post for the Boston Public Library (BPL) about her experience as an Archives Intern at BPL Special Collections.


The final beam for the LCC project is hoisted during the Topping Off Ceremony

Leaders Celebrate Simmons’ Impact at Topping-Off Ceremony

Local and state officials gathered with project and Simmons University leaders this week to celebrate a major milestone in the University’s transformational One Simmons project — the topping off of its new Living and Learning Center.


Dean Astrid Sheil, Kristen Palston, and students who worked on the Simmons Leadership Conference 2025

Applying Classroom Skills to Simmons Leadership Conference

Students in the course “Applied Inclusive Leadership: Project Management for Real-World Impact” used a real-time model for learning successful project management: the Simmons Leadership Conference 2025.


Bookshelves in a library

SLIS Professor Named Outstanding Information Science Teacher

School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) Professor and Library and Information Science PhD Program Director Kyong Eun Oh has been named the 2025 winner of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award.


President Lynn Perry Wooten and Provost Stephanie Cosner with a group of alumnae/i at Reunion 2025

Simmons Celebrates 125 Years

Over 350 members of the Simmons community gathered on campus June 6–8 to celebrate Simmons University’s 125th Anniversary with a unique Reunion for all classes that included special celebrations for the classes of 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 2000, and 2003.


Leadership in the News

Dean Astrid Sheil, Kristen Palston, and students who worked on the Simmons Leadership Conference 2025

Applying Classroom Skills to Simmons Leadership Conference

Students in the course “Applied Inclusive Leadership: Project Management for Real-World Impact” used a real-time model for learning successful project management: the Simmons Leadership Conference 2025.


Headshot of Gary Bailey

Social Work Professor Honored as Legacy Maker

Professor and MSW Program Director Gary Bailey was featured in Portraits of Pride 2025, a recognition of LGBTQ+ leaders in the Greater Boston area.


The Simmons University campus quad in spring with trees in bloom. Photo credit: Ashley Purvis.

Clinton Valedictorian Chooses Simmons

Ella Askren, an academically-driven student and accomplished athlete, will attend Simmons in Fall 2025. At Simmons, she plans to study physical therapy and play soccer.


Aislinn Doherty ’25

Practicing Social Justice via Arts, Archives, and Community

Aislinn Doherty ’25 reflects on expanding her leadership skills as a Bonner Leader, and making it her mission to get involved with as many organizations and opportunities as possible while at Simmons.


Trustee Tiffany Dufu and Brooke Shields in a fireside chat, Simmons Leadership Conference 2025, Jill Person Photography.

SLC25 Celebrates Leaders’ Capacity for Change

The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership recently hosted the 46th Annual Simmons Leadership Conference. The diverse array of panelists and guest speakers championed resilience, self-growth, and interpersonal connection.


Annie Doherty

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.


Esta Soler '68, '06HD, photograph by Dean J. Biriny.

An Advocate for Women and Children

Esta Soler ’68, ’06HD is the President of Futures Without Violence (FUTURES). Based in San Francisco, Boston, and Washington D.C., this nonprofit organization aims to prevent violence against women and families.


Dr. Dorothy (Boulding) Ferebee, Class of 1920, receives the first Alumnae/i Lifetime Achievement Award in 1959, photograph courtesy of Simmons University Archives.

Harbinger of Health, Racial, and Gender Equity

An early proponent of reproductive rights and a courageous advocate of racial, socioeconomic, and gender equity decades before the Civil Rights and Women’s Movements, Dr. Dorothy Celeste Boulding Ferebee, Class of 1920, was a visionary leader ahead of her time.


STEM in the News

Computer science researchers Maleehah Africawala '25, Megan McNamara '25, Professor Nanette Veilleux, Fayza Beshir '25, and Emily Douglas '25 worked together for a Faculty-Student Collaborative Fellowship.

Computer Science Researchers Develop Humanitarian Software

As part of Simmons’ Faculty-Student Collaborative Fellowship program, computer science majors Maleehah Africawala ’25, Fayza Beshir ’25, Emily Douglas ’25, and Megan McNamara ’25 worked under the supervision of Professor Nanette Veilleux to develop humanitarian software for Simmons’ REEF Support Center.


Sophie Salas ’25

Valuing Hands-on STEM Training and the Latinx Community

First-generation college student Sophie Salas ’25 reflects on finding community at Simmons and taking advantage of opportunities to make an impact, both in her community and academic work.


Lefavour Hall on the Simmons University campus

Simmons Announces 2025–2026 Clare Boothe Luce Scholars

Funded by the Henry Luce Foundation, Simmons has awarded six scholarships to sophomores pursuing accelerated dual-degree engineering and STEM-related bachelor’s degrees.


Annabelle Hannah ’25 on the Simmons campus

Finding Support in STEM and Relishing Urban Life

Chemistry and Physics double major Annabelle Hannah ’25 discusses her laboratory research experiences and how she found community at Simmons.


A collage of photos: Gina Gawargi ’27, MJ Vasquez ’26, and Fuma Iwakura ’27

Thriving as Future STEM Leaders and Innovators

Fuma Iwakura ’26, MJ Vasquez ’27, and Gina Gawargi ’27 are part of the Dynamic Research Education Academy for Mentoring (DREAM) program, which currently has about 60 student participants. The NASA-funded initiative helps increase the retention of Simmons students in STEM fields.


Kayla Pringle ’26 standing among the book stacks in the Simmons library

The Simmons Edge Accelerates Academic and Career Success

Accelerated graduate education is a key feature that drew Kayla Pringle ’26 to Simmons. With the launch of the Simmons Edge, all undergraduate students will have the opportunity to graduate with an advanced degree in a wide selection of fields in as few as four or five years.


A hand holding a glowing globe with the letters AI in the center

SLIS Professor Explains the Technological Shift to AI

Simmons School of Library and Information Science is leading efforts to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy into the curriculum. Assistant Professor Don Simmons offered a virtual webinar covering the basics of AI and how it is shaping how we work and learn.


One of the Simmons University signs near campus

Simmons Awarded Grant Funding from Luce Foundation

Funding from the Henry Luce Foundation will support Simmons’ efforts to advance student success, retention, and confidence in STEMM-related fields as well as a Clare Boothe Luce Professorship.


Faculty in the News

Bookshelves in a library

SLIS Professor Named Outstanding Information Science Teacher

School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) Professor and Library and Information Science PhD Program Director Kyong Eun Oh has been named the 2025 winner of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Outstanding Information Science Teacher Award.


Headshot of Gary Bailey

Social Work Professor Honored as Legacy Maker

Professor and MSW Program Director Gary Bailey was featured in Portraits of Pride 2025, a recognition of LGBTQ+ leaders in the Greater Boston area.


Naresh Agarwal writing on a whiteboard during a class lecture

SLIS Faculty Member Receives Research Grant

The Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) announced that Professor Naresh Agarwal, a faculty member at Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) and Director of the Information Science and Technology Concentration, has received the 2025 Bob Williams...


A selection of cut vegetables arranged in a salad bar

Nutrition Professor Weighs In On Dietary Guidelines

Department of Nutrition Professor Teresa Fung was quoted in an article on Civil Eats, “Everything You Know About the Dietary Guidelines Is Wrong.”


A close up photo of a block of text, much of which has been crossed out with a black marker

Professor Shares Response to Censorship in Higher Ed

School of Library and Information Science Professor and Associate Dean Laura Saunders published an article on “The Chilling Impact of Censorship in Higher Education."


Helen G. Drinan Hall on main campus

Simmons School of Management Welcomes New Faculty

Justine Pouravelis is a 15-time Emmy-Award Winning sports media executive with 17 years of industry experience. Christina Ramey specializes in program development and operational excellence in higher education and professional learning.


Headshot of Suzanne Leonard

Simmons Faculty Member Quoted in The Washington Post

An article in The Washington Post discusses the impact of Miranda July’s second novel and features commentary by Suzanne Leonard, Professor of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Program Director for Gender and Cultural Studies.


Simmons University archives.

Boston Globe Interviews Professor on Threats to Archives

Katherine Wisser, Associate Professor and Master's Program Director, Director Archives Concentration, and Director of Archives Certificate Program in the Simmons School of Library and Information Science was interviewed by The Boston Globe for, “An archivist’s job is to ‘keep the receipts.’ What happens when they can’t do their job?”


What stories will you tell?

Simmons' Beatley Library, photograph by Ashley Purvis

SLIS Student Receives Josephine Forman Scholarship

School of Library and Information Science Student Rai Terry ’26MS was named the 2025 recipient of the Josephine Forman Scholarship.


Students working with archives on a table

SLIS Alumnae/i Curates Anti-Slavery Collection at Boston Public Library

Viv Williams ’19MS joined the staff of the Boston Public Library (BPL) as Curator of Modern Books and Manuscripts.


Photo of main campus quad on a bright sunny day. the view is looking from the Fens towards Drinan Hall and Palace Road

Simmons Alumna Honored by Forbes

Lisa ("Liz") Kautz '99MBA was honored by Forbes in a 2025 listing of "Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State."


Image of arms placing a book on library shelf

SLIS Student Interns at Boston Public Library

Jen Leahy '25MS wrote a guest blog post for the Boston Public Library (BPL) about her experience as an Archives Intern at BPL Special Collections.


A house cut out of wood with an etching of a family in the main part of the house

Family Support Through Care and Housing Support

Deyanira Gomera ’24MSW is a school-based clinician at Housing Families, Inc., a nonprofit in Malden, Massachusetts, that offers a range of programs for individuals and families in need of stable housing. In this role, Gomera works in partnership with Everett and Peabody public schools to provide group therapy to children and teens who are living in shelters.


A close-up photo of a dictionary entry of the definition of misinformation

SLIS Alumnus Reexamines Misinformation

SLIS alumnus Matthew Connor Sullivan ’14MS, ’24PhD is a Librarian for Collection Development and Assessment at Harvard University’s Widener Library. We spoke with him about his interdisciplinary approach to library and information science (LIS) research and the formative mentorship he received at Simmons.


The 8 SURPASs scholars for 2025

Congratulations to the 2025 SURPASs Scholars

Eight undergraduate scholars from disciplines across Simmons have been selected to join the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons (SURPASs). SURPASs students receive the necessary funding and mentorship to execute an independent research project of their own design.


Houley Koundourou ’28

Undergraduate Receives Prize from New England Poetry Club

Houley Koundourou ’28, a double major in Writing and Political Science, recently won the 2025 Victor Howes Prize in Poetry, awarded on behalf of the New England Poetry Club. We spoke with Koundourou about poetic inspiration, her Senegalese ancestry, and the value of a women’s-centered education.



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