To commemorate Simmons’ 125th anniversary, we spoke with Karen MacKenzie ’10, ’12MSW and her daughter Jennifer “Jen” DiRico ’12MBA about graduating alongside one another, Simmons’ spirit of inclusivity, and the formative power of a women’s-centered education.
“As the mother of Jen [Jennifer DiRico ’12MBA], I was so proud of her,” says psychotherapist Karen MacKenzie ’10, ’12MSW when reflecting on her memories of Simmons’ 2012 Commencement. “Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to graduate from college and graduate school at my age, so it was an especially joyous occasion. . . . To this day, I recall our mother-daughter graduation with such pride and fondness.”
“And I did not expect to obtain a Master of Business Administration degree just a few years out of college,” adds Jen DiRico ’12MBA, now the Chief Financial Officer of Commvault. “The friends and family we invited to the ceremony thought seeing a mother and daughter graduate together was so cool.”
Although several families have a multigenerational history with Simmons, it is less common for mothers and daughters to attend the University simultaneously. “My mom was on campus on a regular basis. We would see each other and say hi, and my friends thought it was so adorable,” recalls DiRico. “Looking back, I appreciate those moments even more now. . . . Studying as an adult [or more mature student] can be challenging. For instance, you are studying in the library when other people your age enjoy evenings and weekends away from work. For my mom and me, our shared experience intensified our camaraderie and empathy toward one another.”
“I loved greeting Jen and her friends, but I also did not want to overstep,” says MacKenzie.
“When I told my peers about how my mom went back to school in her forties [for her bachelor’s degree], then pursued her master’s while I was getting my MBA, they were so amazed,” says DiRico. “I am just so proud of her.”
Becoming a Dix Scholar at Simmons
Although MacKenzie had several professions throughout early adulthood, including real estate, nursing, and business, she lacked a sense of fulfillment. In the aftermath of a family tragedy, she sought therapy. The therapist observed that MacKenzie was compassionate and a skilled communicator, and encouraged her to study at Simmons.
“Since I trusted this individual, I toured the Simmons campus and learned about the Dix Scholars program [undergraduate studies designed for adult learners]. . . . What Dix Scholars did for me was lifesaving,” emphasized MacKenzie. “Simmons afforded me the opportunity to get a real college experience that was tailored to somebody older. But I still got to go to school and socialize with people from different generations, and it was amazing.”
Since obtaining her graduate degree from Simmons’ School of Social Work, MacKenzie has established a private psychotherapy practice in Boston. “It is an honor to impact people’s lives by enabling their feelings to be heard and validated, and by giving them space to reflect on their experiences,” she says.
Leadership Aspirations
“For as long as I can remember, I wanted to work in business,” says DiRico. Before becoming a CFO, she worked as the food and beverage director in a restaurant, as well as other hospitality and finance-related jobs.
“At some point, I knew that an MBA from Simmons could really help me. . . . And the fact that Simmons offered [at that time] a 16-month MBA program and a women’s-centered learning environment sealed the deal,” says DiRico. “Since I had attended Dana Hall [an all-female boarding school in Wellesley, MA] for middle school and high school, I was aware of the transformative power of this educational model.”
“For me, being surrounded by other females is a great opportunity to be supported as an aspiring leader and professional. Simmons was a safe space; I developed deeper bonds with my peers and classmates, and we still stay in touch,” says DiRico. “Rather than feeling coddled in a women’s-centered environment, Simmons gave me a framework to understand myself as a businessperson and the business world in general.”
After becoming a CFO at Commvault, a cybersecurity and data protection company, DiRico realized the instrumental role Simmons played in her ability to lead. “In my industry, I’m usually one of the few women in the room,” she observes. “Simmons made me aware of gender dynamics, and when it comes to diversity, awareness is half the battle. . . . I hope that in the near future, female CFOs will be much more common. I love my job but I most love being a leader . . . I believe that people work for people. Hard skills are meaningless if people do not want to work for or with you.”
Inclusivity and Inspiration at Simmons
One of MacKenzie’s favorite things about Simmons is the University’s inclusive, socially rich atmosphere. “As a more mature student, I could have felt old, decrepit, and antiquated, but instead Simmons students energized me. I formed many intergenerational friendships at Simmons,” she says. “I became friends with students from Afghanistan, India, and some whose parents came to the US from Saudi Arabia just to name a few. I feel privileged that my Simmons education afforded me the opportunity to be in the midst of and learn from these amazing young women.”
“The combination of the curriculum and my study friends really made my Simmons experience so valuable, professional and personally,” says DiRico. During her MBA program, she became close with three other students who would meet in Common Grounds every day at 7:30am to study or vent over coffee. “With those women, I felt like I found my people. We were so different in terms of our respective business perspectives — higher education, nonprofit, marketing, and finance. They introduced me to different ways of making decisions and leading organizations.”
Both mother and daughter remember their wonderful Simmons professors. As DiRico recounts, “I took Organizational Design and Learning with Professor Emerita Spela Trefalt. . . I credit her for helping me write in a direct, compelling manner. I also studied statistics, data, and operations management with [former] Assistant Professor Linda Boardman Liu ’97MBA, which are topics that resonate with my interests.”
MacKenzie found faculty from the Department of Psychology and the School of Social Work to be especially inspiring. “Associate Professor of Psychology Geoff Turner introduced me to developmental psychology and attachment theory, which are interpretive lenses I use for my training and practice. Dr. Turner made such an impression on me and challenged me [as an adult student] in a respectful way,” she recalls. MacKenzie also credits her MSW Professor Candace Saunders (d. 2022). “When I met her, I felt like I had come home. I attended her office hours every week, and she was always warm, attentive, and kind. . . . she continued to be my supervisor for 3 years post graduation. And Associate Professor Abbie Frost was another supportive presence in my program whom I remember fondly.”
The formative education MacKenzie and DiRico received at Simmons prepared them for their respective careers. “There are tactical things I took from Simmons, like financial modeling. However, the most important lesson I learned from Simmons is to speak your mind,” said DiRico. “In my workplace, I have the confidence to say what needs to be said . . . My colleagues have labeled me ‘the truth-teller,’ because you’ll always get the truth from me.”
For MacKenzie, Simmons instilled in her a sense of openness and curiosity. “I was exposed to new ideas and different points of view . . . This intellectual foundation helped me understand that people have different worldviews and process their thoughts differently,” she explains. “Overall, Simmons taught me the value of perseverance and eliminated self-doubt while suspending judgment on others — all of which are at the core of the University’s mission.”
“Above all, I could be myself at Simmons,” says DiRico. “There was an implicit sense of acceptance: come as you are.”
“From the day I first set foot on the Simmons campus, it was like another world, and I realized that I could call this new world my home. I felt then that Simmons would be a perfect fit for me, and it was,” recalls MacKenzie.
“Simmons lifted me up at a time when I most needed it,” she adds. “As an older student, I could appreciate the privilege of receiving a college education, which others may take for granted. . . . Jen and I have so much gratitude for Simmons and its faculty.”