James Piper

Emeritus

Shout-outs from Students and Alums

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.


Elekcia Pimentel ’25 and Christina Orfanos ’25 in commencement attire

Celebrating Online Degree Completion Graduates, Class of 2025

Felipa Arevalo and Christina Orfanos are among the 2025 graduates in the Simmons Online Degree Completion Program for adult learners. We spoke to a few graduates about what the program meant to them.


Breanna J. McDaniel wearing a long gold dress

The Story Listener

Breanna J. McDaniel ’14MA is the author of four acclaimed picturebooks and the recipient of the 2025 Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award. On July 26, McDaniel will present a presentation with author-illustrator Vashti Harrison at the Summer Children's Literature Institute at Simmons University.


The Simmons University campus in summer.

Alumna Artist Featured in Authority Magazine

Simmons alumna and multidisciplinary artist Natasha Di Fiore ’03, ’08MBA was recently featured in a profile published in Authority Magazine. The daughter of Italian immigrants, Di Fiore embraces the values of collaboration, creativity, and resilience. Her artistic expertise spans fashion, music, modeling, and film.


An empty grade school hallway with lockers along the walls

Finding Purpose in School-Based Social Work

Diana Pelaez ’24MSW is a clinical social worker for the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) — the largest voluntary school-integration program in the country.


Emma Soule '26, Anna Gagliastro '26, Eli Ratner, Abby Ferrone '25, Ally Hyde '27

Barbara Lee Fellows Intern at the Massachusetts State House

Simmons recently hosted a celebration for student participants in the Barbara Lee Fellowship, an internship program that pairs Simmons students with female-identifying senators and representatives at the Massachusetts State House.