In honor of the University’s 125th anniversary, we examine Barbara (Schneider) Margolis ’51 and her resolute commitment to rehabilitating incarcerated individuals. Barbara Margolis ’51, who majored in retail management (then retailing) at Simmons, became one of the nation’s most beloved prisoners’ rights advocates. Margolis developed rehabilitation and career-transition programs for male inmates at Rikers Island, the world’s largest penal complex (situated within the Bronx and accessible via a girder bridge in Queens).

• 125th Anniversary
• Simmons History
• Social Justice & Advocacy

Anne Villano ’22MSW says her decision to enroll in Simmons’ School of Social Work was influenced by two key factors that also shaped volunteer service she engaged in while earning her degree – and her path since graduating: life experience and an affinity for advocacy.

• Careers and Internships
• Social Justice & Advocacy

Social Work major Maggie Spadaro ’25 recently published a children’s book that fosters awareness and empathy regarding individuals experiencing homelessness. We spoke with her about this unique project, Simmons’ vital community, and her social justice-related aspirations.

• Online Student
• Social Justice & Advocacy

Corrie Locke-Hardy '20MA combines her love of baking with social activism with her cookbook, The Revolution Will Be Well Fed.

• Careers and Internships
• First-generation Student
• LGBTQIA+
• Mentorship
• Social Justice & Advocacy

Associate Professor Masato Aoki collaborates with faculty in the BA in Economics Degree and the Economics Student Liaison to organize ECONnect, a career preparation program which integrates a loyal and enthusiastic Economic alumnae/i community.

• Careers and Internships
• Mentorship
• Social Justice & Advocacy

The Bonner Community Leaders Program is a unique opportunity for students who want to combine a strong commitment to service with personal growth, teamwork, leadership development, and scholarship. We spoke with Ellie Foss ’28, Jocelyn Miranda Landaverde ’28, Bridget Swezey ’28, and Soraya Timas ’28 about what drew them to the program.

• Awards and Honors
• Leadership
• Social Justice & Advocacy

January 21, 2025 — the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day — is the ninth annual National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH). Created by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, NDORH "is an opportunity to engage in collective action to create a more just and equitable world."

• Community Engagement
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Social Justice & Advocacy

Local leaders recently gathered at Simmons University to discuss what it means to lead in today’s world. The event was part of the Unpacking Series and was hosted by the Simmons Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in collaboration with the Institute for Inclusive Leadership, the School of Management, the School of Social Work, and the Stephen D. London Center for Community Engagement and Social Justice.

• Leadership
• Social Justice & Advocacy

The London Center for Community Engagement and Social Justice hosted Dr. O'Connell, founder and president of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, to discuss caring for unhoused populations in Boston. His talk was titled “Continuity within Chaos: Caring for Individuals Living Chronically in Shelters and on the Streets.”

• Social Justice & Advocacy

In a new documentary film, Never Cried: Boston’s Busing Legacy, sisters Leola Hampton and Linda Stark reflect on a trauma they endured fifty years ago. Dr. Gary Bailey, Professor of Practice and MSW Director of Simmons’ School of Social Work, makes appearances throughout the film.

• Social Justice & Advocacy