Simmons College

Student Brings Patch Adams to Campus

Brianna Bouchard '14 on her 2012 trip to Guatemala City with Patch Adams.

Clowning around to change the world? It's no joke -- for Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams it's a mission to bring humor and healthcare to those in need. Widely known for his belief that health care should be a vehicle for social change, Dr. Patch Adams gained recognition after Robin Williams portrayed him in the 1998 hit film, Patch Adams. It's a vision that resonates with Simmons Nursing student Brianna Bouchard '14, who joined Adams on a clowning volunteer healthcare trip to Guatemala City during her sophomore year. She was so moved by the experience that she worked with the Simmons Student Nursing Association to bring Dr. Patch Adams to campus.

From 6-8 pm on Thursday, March 6th, the entire College community is invited to attend Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams' speech, followed by a meet & greet, free of charge. Donations benefiting Adams' not-for-profit health care organization, the Gesundheit! Institute, are welcome throughout the event.

We spoke with Brianna to find out more about her passion for healthcare, and why she's so inspired by the work of Patch Adams.

Celebrate Women's History Month

Gloria Steinem giving the Simmons College commencement address in 1973.

The Simmons campus is celebrating Women's History Month! Every March we recognize the important efforts and accomplishments of the amazing women in history who have improved the world with their activism, bravery, and determination.

The 2014 National Women's History Month theme is Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment. We're incredibly proud of our impressive and courageous students, alumnae/i, faculty, and staff, and so excited to celebrate women throughout March:

Students Lift Voices with NE Philharmonic

The Simmons Concert Choir at their 2013 Spring concert

On Saturday, March 1st, The Simmons College and MIT Concert Choirs will accompany the New England Philharmonic, in celebration of the bicentennial of the Star Spangled Banner. This exciting concert, held at the Tsai Performance Center, will premiere Michael Gandolfi's Chesapeake: Summer of 1814, which documents the events leading up to the creation of the Star Spangled Banner. Make sure you purchase tickets to the event!

We had the opportunity to ask the Music Director of the Simmons College Concert Choir, Danica Buckley, a few questions:

Activist Janet Mock Rocks Simmons

On Thursday, February 20th, the Simmons campus was thrilled to welcome the New York Times best selling author and fierce trans advocate, Janet Mock, to present her keynote address in honor of Black History Month.

Janet Mock with Simmons student, Kate Connelly at Thursday night's event

Where are they now? Lindsey Bourcier '12, '13SOM

It's time for 300 The Fenway's latest installment of Where are they now? This series chronicles the amazing things Simmons College women are accomplishing after graduation.

Meet Lindsey Bourcier from the Undergraduate class of 2012 and the School of Management Masters program of 2013. Lindsey transferred to Simmons in the fall of her Sophomore year and graduated with a B.A. in Communications, Public Relations and Marketing, a minor in Public Health, and an M.S. in Communications Management. She currently holds the position of Marketing and Outreach Coordinator for Koshland Pharm: Custom Compounding Pharmacy in San Francisco, California.

We had the opportunity to talk with Lindsey and see what it's like to work in the compounding pharmacy industry.

Simmons Speaks: Celebrating Black History Month

We asked students, faculty, and staff why it's important to celebrate and attend Black History Month events.

It's about being allies, it's about being included, it's about participating in those things that we want to both understand, make a difference, and see made better. - Gary Bailey, Professor of Practice, SSW

It's the only month out of 12 months that African American culture is actually celebrated and I think it's very important that here at Simmons it's embraced because we always talk about diversity and inclusion and what better way to do it than for everyone to come to our events and learn about black culture. - Sandy, Biochemistry '15

It's really important to be able have a different perspective, a month isn't even enough. But it's a start. - Erin, Political Science '16

Simmons is celebrating Black History Month in a variety of ways including highlighting the legacy of several of our incredible Black alumnae.

We've held many exciting events on campus this month and we hope you will join us for the remaining events that embrace the theme "Our Roots, Our Voices, Our Stories."

College Remembers Former President Holmes

We are sad to write that William J. Holmes, the fourth President of Simmons College, recently passed away.

President Holmes contributed a great deal to the Simmons community in over two decades of leadership, including several major improvements that still benefit students today. The Boston Globe shared his obituary.

I write to share the sad news that William J. Holmes, the fourth President of Simmons College, passed away this morning, Friday, February 7. Holmes became president in 1970 and retired from the College in 1993.

During his tenure, President Holmes led several major initiatives that had a tremendous impact on the College. He oversaw two major fundraising campaigns: PRIDE I (for renovations to the Main College Building) and PRIDE II (to increase salaries, the endowment, and to provide funding for endowed chairs). He also led the construction of both the Park Science Center and the Holmes Sport Center. During his presidency, the College added two additional graduate schools (the Graduate School of Management and the Graduate School of Health Studies, now called the School of Nursing and Health Sciences) and many new graduate programs.- President Helen Drinan

Read President Drinan's full memorial.

Professor Bob White shared with us this video looking back at what Simmons meant to President Holmes in his own words upon his retirement in 1993. This loving tribute, created by faculty, staff, and students, shows some of the highlights of Holmes's tenure, including how he led the college through some turbulent times for the nation.

Know Your Professor: Marlene Fine

Meet Marlene Fine, Professor and Interim Chair of the Communications Department. In addition to being a well loved professor and advisor, Professor Fine recently released The Interracial Adoption Option a book she co-wrote with her spouse, Fern Johnson, detailing their experience adopting two African American children. We got the chance to talk to Professor Fine about Simmons, her book, and much more!

Simmons World Challenge: Brutality

For nine days during winter break, 20 of our most talented students returned to campus early to participate in The Simmons World Challenge, a program that empowers Simmons sophomores to tackle social problems facing local, national, and global communities. These students, grouped into five teams, were tasked with developing solutions to resolve situations in which individuals have chosen violence, whether systematically or impulsively. On Friday, January 31st, these students presented their exciting proposals for stemming brutality.

While all the teams have very powerful solutions, the team focused on intimate partner violence will have the opportunity to partner with Betsy's Friends and apply for a grant aimed at raising awareness of intimate partner violence on campus.

Campus Celebrates Black History Month

Black Student Organization President Diane Franklin eulogizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1968

A century ago in 1914, Simmons College awarded a Bachelor's of Science in Business to its first black student, Lydia Brown. As we contemplate this important anniversary, we recognize the efforts of our community who have striven in the past 100 years to make Simmons a truly diverse and inclusive campus. Let's take a quick look back at some of the milestones in Simmons's history:

• In the early 1960s, the number of black women choosing Simmons increased. During the decade that saw the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, the college graduated more than 30 black students.
• In 1967, a group of motivated students founded the Black Students Organization (BSO), which still meets today. This organization became and remains one of the most active student groups on campus, bringing civil rights projects in Boston and other campuses closer to Simmons by focusing on volunteer community aid work and bringing speakers to campus to address subjects such as black rights and urban affairs.
• The 1980s and 1990s saw the participation of African Americans as Trustees, Corporate members, honorary degree recipients, commencement speakers, staff members, and faculty.

Join us in honoring Black History Month by attending the wide range of events that embrace the theme "Our Roots, Our Voices, Our Stories."