Jennifer Eckert Center for Leadership & Engagement
The Jennifer Eckert Center for Leadership & Engagement has a mission to to enhance leadership development opportunities for a diverse and engaged student body by empowering students to practice Everyday Leadership, social responsibility, and mutual respect.
Our vision is to strengthen competency, foster equity, and work to close the opportunity gap for students through collaborative programming, leadership development, and enrichment opportunities.
This center and its programming are made possible by the philanthropy of Simmons alumna and trustee Jennifer Eckert ’08 MSW. At its core, the center will enable Simmons to more explicitly and intentionally embed leadership within a student’s experience from the moment they’re accepted, furthering the university’s work as one of Boston’s premier leadership institutions.
Initiatives supported by the Eckert Center include a fellowship program that enables graduate students to lead projects on diversity, equity, and inclusion while receiving professional leadership coaching; the Simmons Bridge Program, which enhances incoming first-year BIPOC students’ opportunities to connect and thrive in the Simmons community; and opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in community service, citizenship, and leadership development throughout their time at Simmons.
Center Staff
Staff
Tasha Baclawski
Project Coordinator
Elysia Johnson
Assistant Director, Jennifer Eckert Center for Leadership and Engagement
Christy Lusiak
Director, Jennifer Eckert Center for Leadership & Engagement
The Jennifer Eckert Center for Leadership & Engagement in the News
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.
Women in Leadership and Social Justice
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.
Welcome to the Simmons LGBTQIA+ Lounge
In honor of LGBTQIA+ History Month, we welcome the LGBTQIA+ community at Simmons to gather in their new lounge, located in the Jennifer Eckert Center for Leadership & Engagement.
Getting Ready for Orientation 2024
Orientation Leaders Katelyn Fox ’25 and Maggie Wettergren ’26 share the inside scoop on First Bite Orientation, June 13 and 14.
Karla Alba ’23, Inaugural Jennifer Eckert Leadership Fellow for DEI, Knows the Importance of Difficult Conversations
Jennifer Eckert '08MSW, a member of the Simmons University Board of Trustees, provided a generous donation to support the mission of Simmons University to become a beacon of leadership in the world of higher education. A portion of these funds...
Significant Gift Invests in Simmons University’s Vision For Educating Inclusive “Everyday Leaders”
Simmons University today announced a new $5 million gift from Simmons alumna and Trustee Jennifer Eckert to expand the scope and impact of its innovative approach to leadership education throughout the institution. The gift will create the new Jennifer Eckert...
Leadership in the News
Athlete Discovers Value of Nutrition
Accelerated student Arianna Joyce ’26, ’27MS is a competitive figure skater who is passionate about nutrition. We spoke with her about the encouraging community at Simmons and the value of an accelerated education.
First-Gen Commuter Student Navigates Higher Education
Valeria Cardoza ’27 shares her unique experience as a first-generation student at Simmons, and a participant in the Bonner Leaders Program.
The ‘Art of the Ask’
Students in “Applied Inclusive Leadership: Project Management for Real-World Impact” (BUS 375) learn a unique approach to delivering business requests, and have the opportunity to put their skills into practice.
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.
The Jennifer Eckert Center for Leadership and Engagement
The Jennifer Eckert Center for Leadership and Engagement has a mission to to enhance leadership development opportunities for a diverse and engaged student body by empowering students to practice Everyday Leadership, social responsibility, and mutual respect.