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The Latest News
Professor Embraces Environmental Economics and Public Policy
Professor of Economics Zinnia Mukherjee specializes in environmental and natural economics, the economics of sustainable growth and development, and public policy. To celebrate National Economic Education Month, we spoke with her about her research and the wide applicability of economics.
Alum Recognized for Dedication to Arts
Teri Groome ’04MA is a winner of the Champion of the Arts Award by ArtsEmerson.
Simmons Nutrition Student Supports Women and Children
Clarissa Palencia ’24, ’26MS is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion + Dietetic Internship (MSDI) Track. We spoke with her about her interest in women’s nutrition and the supportive community at Simmons.
Simmons Sharks Win NAC Tennis Championship
Simmons University Tennis recently took on the Husson University Eagles at the Apex Tennis Center in Portland, Maine, for the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship and decisively won.
Simmons Economics Alumna Champions Change
Linda Rossetti ’86 is an entrepreneur, author, and researcher who specializes in transformational change. We spoke with her about navigating life’s changes and the supportive relationships she formed at Simmons.
SLIS Forms Partnership with University of Maine at Augusta
Through a new partnership, undergraduate library and information science students at UMA will be able to fast track their graduate education at Simmons.
3+3 DPT Student on Timing and Transition
Ashley McGrath '25 '27DPT shares her experience in the Accelerated Program in Health and Exercise Science & Physical Therapy (3+3).
SLIS Alumnus Helps Archive Art History at MoMA
Jonathan Lill ’03MS is Head of Metadata and Systems at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Archives, Library, and Research Collections (ALRC). We spoke with him about his multifaceted career, the essential training he received at Simmons, and the rewards of his profession.
Leadership in the News
Simmons Economics Alumna Champions Change
Linda Rossetti ’86 is an entrepreneur, author, and researcher who specializes in transformational change. We spoke with her about navigating life’s changes and the supportive relationships she formed at Simmons.
Information Literacy Consultants Support Simmons Students
This fall, the Tutoring Center received an internal grant from the Simmons Center for Information Literacy (SCIL) to hire five School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) students as Information Literacy Consultants (ILCs).
Alum Profiled for Dedication to Making Culture Accessible
Olawumi “Ola” Akinwumi ’13MA, who serves as president of the Roxbury Cultural District (RCD), is a dynamic cultural strategist, event producer, and community engagement leader who is committed to celebrating communities of color through arts, culture, and storytelling.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
STEM in the News
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Professor Embraces Environmental Economics and Public Policy
Professor of Economics Zinnia Mukherjee specializes in environmental and natural economics, the economics of sustainable growth and development, and public policy. To celebrate National Economic Education Month, we spoke with her about her research and the wide applicability of economics.
Hope Floats: Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Later
Simmons School of Social Work Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Development Johnnie Hamilton-Mason shared a retrospective conversation based on her research, titled “Hope Floats: African American Women's Survival Experiences after Katrina.”
SOM Dean Quoted in NBC News Boston
The city of Boston is hosting seven FIFA World Cup soccer games in June 2026. As NBC News Boston reported, business leaders — including individuals from Simmons — gathered in Foxborough on September 24 for a Women's Business Summit focused on the economic impact of the World Cup.
Simmons Professor Weighs in on Best Picturebooks
Assistant Teaching Professor Shelley Isaacson was quoted in an article for Slate, “The 25 Greatest Picture Books of the Past 25 Years.” Isaacson supported the inclusion of The Undefeated written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Versify, 2019) on the list.
Professor Takes New Approach to Countering the War on Drugs
Assistant Professor Jeffrey Steen brings lived/ living experience and academic rigor to social work and the area of substance use. We spoke with him about his recent research award, advances in harm reduction, and the collaborative community at Simmons.
SLIS Professor Shares How AI Can Benefit Libraries
School of Library and Information Science Assistant Professor Don Simmons was featured in an Elsevier story, “The role of AI in universities is growing — what does that mean for librarians?”
Gender Studies Professor Quoted in Fortune
Professor Suzanne Leonard, a faculty member in the Department of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Director of the Graduate Program in Gender and Cultural Studies, recently commented on the Netflix series The Hunting Wives for Fortune magazine.
SLIS West Director on Funding Cuts in Rural Libraries
Director of the Simmons School of Library and Information Science SLIS West program Eric Poulin published an editorial in The Shoestring warning that funding cuts to social services will result in a lack of access to electronic resources that will disproportionately hurt small, rural communities and their schools.
What stories will you tell?
Alum Recognized for Dedication to Arts
Teri Groome ’04MA is a winner of the Champion of the Arts Award by ArtsEmerson.
Simmons Nutrition Student Supports Women and Children
Clarissa Palencia ’24, ’26MS is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion + Dietetic Internship (MSDI) Track. We spoke with her about her interest in women’s nutrition and the supportive community at Simmons.
Simmons Economics Alumna Champions Change
Linda Rossetti ’86 is an entrepreneur, author, and researcher who specializes in transformational change. We spoke with her about navigating life’s changes and the supportive relationships she formed at Simmons.
3+3 DPT Student on Timing and Transition
Ashley McGrath '25 '27DPT shares her experience in the Accelerated Program in Health and Exercise Science & Physical Therapy (3+3).
SLIS Alumnus Helps Archive Art History at MoMA
Jonathan Lill ’03MS is Head of Metadata and Systems at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Archives, Library, and Research Collections (ALRC). We spoke with him about his multifaceted career, the essential training he received at Simmons, and the rewards of his profession.
Physical Therapist Alumna Finds her Dream Job
Nina Testa ’23, ’25DPT is an outpatient physical therapist at the Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network in Haverhill, MA. To honor National Physical Therapy Month (October) 2025, we spoke with her about the value of Simmons’ accelerated education, her recent research, and the University’s inclusive atmosphere.
Simmons Alumna Inducted into Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
On September 14, Alexandra Yudelevich Newman ’08, a standout tennis player during her time at Simmons, was inducted into the Ronnie Arrow Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
SLIS Student Relishes Exchange in Seoul
Graduate student Ryan Harrington ’27MS recently returned from an exchange program at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. We spoke with him about this unique opportunity, the superb training at Simmons, and the importance of historical memory.
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