Since 1996, the Office of Student Life has bestowed the Charlotte Mae Morocco Award upon an exceptional graduating senior. This particular honor recognizes an individual “who has shown a strong commitment through positive contributions to the Simmons community. The award recipient is successful in their academic and co-curricular efforts; is sensitive to the value of diversity within the Simmons community; and is self-confident, skillful, creative, and compassionate.” Psychology major Caitlin P. Curry ’24 is this year’s awardee.

• Awards and Honors
• In Memoriam
• Mentorship

We have curated a list of books (including novels, memoirs, poetry collections, non-fiction works, academic monographs, and youth literature) and films that recognize the significant cultural contributions of Asian, Indigenous Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander individuals and communities.

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

On Friday, May 17, 2024, Simmons University celebrated the 119th Commencement Ceremonies at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. These events honored the many accomplishments of the Class of 2024. Simmons awarded over 500 baccalaureate degrees and nearly 2,100 graduate degrees during these ceremonies.

• Commencement

National Nurses Week, May 6-12, 2024, offers a time to reflect with respect and gratitude on the work of nurses. In recognition of the week, here is a round-up of recent stories on the School of Nursing at Simmons.

• Traditions & Annual Events

Professor Homi K. Bhabha, the Anne F. Rothenberg Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, was this year’s featured speaker for the Robert M. Gay Memorial Lecture. In his conversation with Simmons faculty and students, Bhabha emphasized the importance of dialogue with people from different backgrounds and points of view on their terms.

• Traditions & Annual Events

School of Nursing Dean Heather Shlosser and Nursing Student Amanda Whitbeck attended Capitol Hill Day, where they advocated for crucial funding and support with several congressional offices, including those of Representative Ayanna Pressley, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey, and Representative Seth Moulton.

• Mentorship
• Social Justice & Advocacy

The 2024 conference featured a roster of speakers exploring this year’s theme of “Creating Impact” in their personal and professional lives, and how those efforts ripple out to the people and communities around them.

• Leadership
• Traditions & Annual Events

Knowing how significant running was to Professor Stephen London (1942–2022), his daughters Andrea London and Jessica London-Rand ’04MSW ran the 2023 Boston Marathon to honor his legacy, and continue to fundraise in his name. We spoke with them about their...

• Community Engagement
• In Memoriam

On Tuesday, April 2, the Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities hosted the fifth annual Ifill Forum, which honors the late Gwen Ifill ’77, ’93HD and her legacy as a ground-breaking Black woman journalist. Joy Reid, author, journalist, and host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut, graced the Simmons campus as the 2024 guest speaker, while NBC10 Boston and NECN anchor Latoyia Edwards served as the moderator.

• Ifill Forum

Jim Corcoran, Associate Professor Emeritus, left a 35-year legacy of teaching students in Communications at Simmons. Thanks to the support of many donors and the work of his wife, Carolyn Shute ’88 ’91MA, the James P. Corcoran Scholarship has been established to honor that legacy, in perpetuity.

• Giving
• In Memoriam
• Scholarships and Financial Aid