News
Discover Simmons
Explore the latest news from Simmons as well as stories about leadership, science & technology, our faculty and more.
Or search all news stories for the topic of your choice.
The Latest News
Children’s Literature Alum Celebrates Bookshop’s First Anniversary
Stacy Whitman '05MA celebrates the first anniversary of her brick and mortar bookstore, Curious Cat Bookshop in Winsted, CT, with an article in the CT Insider.
Simmons Accounting Students Land Jobs at 'Big 4' Firms
Eight of the ten recent Simmons Accounting graduates have accepted offers at one of these multi-billion dollar firms, which include PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG), and Deloitte.
Simmons Biochemistry Alum’s Nonprofit Celebrates 10-year Milestone
Oksana Hradyska ’12 recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of her successful non-profit, Sitters for Scholars. Hradyska founded the organization as a free babysitting service in 2014, in response to the lack of affordable and reliable childcare for parents attending college. The services were later expanded for low-income, single-parent families.
Simmons School of Management Professors Co-author New Textbook on Public Relations
In their recently published book, Public Relations Planning, Professor Edward Vieira, Jr. and Associate Professor Yulong Li offer a comprehensive guide to strategic communication, replete with rich insights and academic research. We spoke with them about their approach to PR, advances in the field, and how Simmons offers students robust career training.
![The logo for the grant proposal "RCN-UBE: Transforming Learning and Equity in UBE [Undergraduate Biology Education] by Cultivating an Ecosystem of Feedback (TUnE-BIO)"](/sites/default/files/styles/360x240/public/2024-09/tune-bio-logo.png?h=10d202d3&itok=1bCOIe1P){kind=logo}
National Science Foundation Grant Aims to Retain STEM Students
Sarah Rose Cavanagh, Senior Associate Director for Teaching and Learning in the Center for Faculty Excellence, was recently awarded a four-year $496K grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The goal of the funded project is to tackle high attrition rates in biology education at the undergraduate level by improving assessment and feedback practices.
Associate Professor Saher Selod Historicizes Islamophobia in the United States
Simmons’ Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) hosted “Islamophobia in the United States: Understanding Past and Present Anti-Muslim Discrimination,” a virtual lecture by Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Research for the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding Saher Selod. This talk chronicled the history of anti-Muslim racism and demonstrated how 9/11 instituted a new era of the racialization of Muslims.
Simmons Hosts Project Shema’s Webinar on Contemporary Antisemitism
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted a webinar with Project Shema, entitled “Understanding Antisemitism in the Current Political Climate.” The webinar defined antisemitism, contextualized Jewish identity, and suggested how participants may empathize with the Jewish community.
Simmons University’s School of Library and Information Science Welcomes Three New Faculty Members
Simmons University’s School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) welcomes three new faculty members this Fall, with expertise in archives management, school librarianship, and public librarianship for children and teens.
Leadership in the News
The Extroverted Archivist: Engaging the Underrepresented in Archives
Bridgett Johnson-Pride '18MAMS was named Director of Public Services for Archives and Special Collections at Harvard University in October, 2023. We caught up with Johnson-Pride about her current role, and how she engages with patrons as an extroverted archivist.
Doctoral Candidate Named Acting Director of Institute of Museum and Library Services
Cyndee Landrum, a student in the Simmons University Library and Information Science PhD, was named Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) this March. In honor of Library Card Sign-up Month, we share this interview with Landrum about her studies at Simmons and goals at IMLS.
Simmons Alumna and Chief Justice Advances System Improvements in Child Welfare in Massachusetts and Nationally
The Honorable Amy L. Nechtem ’76 is the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Juvenile Court Department, protecting the safety, health, and wellbeing of children residing in the state. Chief Justice Nechtem spoke with us about her her commitment to systems enhancement affecting vulnerable children and families, both influenced by the early impact of the Simmons sisterhood.
Children’s Literature Alumna Named among Rising Star Women of Education
Janet Daniels ’10MFA, the Assistant Director of the Student Center at Harvard University’s Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, was recently recognized as one of the Rising Star Women of Education for 2024.
MBA Alumna Shares Success in Business and Government
Tammy Caputi ’99MBA is the president and owner of Yale Electric West, Inc., a lighting and electrical supply distributing company, and a Councilwoman for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona.
From the Muddy River to Community Farms: Research Possibilities for Simmons Students
We spoke to Samantha Margolin '23 about how her research projects at Simmons prepared her to expand her confidence, and her burgeoning career.
Simmons Awarded Prestigious Carnegie Designation for Leadership for Public Purpose
This designation recognizes our institutional commitment to the pursuit of leadership and the collective public good. Most exciting, this honor is a national recognition of the unique brand of leadership we have developed and advanced at Simmons – a group of everyday leaders committed to doing well and doing good.
In Non-Profit Leadership Role, Incoming Student Empowers Girls
Incoming student Kaylee Richard is the program director of Girls at Work, “a non-profit after-school program that uses power tools and the Socratic method to empower girls.”
STEM in the News
National Science Foundation Grant Aims to Retain STEM Students
Sarah Rose Cavanagh, Senior Associate Director for Teaching and Learning in the Center for Faculty Excellence, was recently awarded a four-year $496K grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The goal of the funded project is to tackle high attrition rates in biology education at the undergraduate level by improving assessment and feedback practices.
STEM Student Receives Research Scholarship from American Chemical Society
Biochemistry major and Literature and Writing minor Reagan Cleversey ’26 received the competitive James Flack Norris / Theodore William Richards Summer Research Scholarship from the American Chemical Society. She spoke with us about her passion for medicinal chemistry and the importance of mentorship.
Changes in Reproductive Health Laws Impact Perinatal Hospice Care
Emily (Orlando) Cane ’23MPH was interviewed by Hospice News about how changes in reproductive health laws have impacted perinatal hospice care.
Accelerated Degree Student Presents Poster on ChatGPT at Technical Symposium
Raneem Emad Amer Mousa ’25 is pursuing the Dual-Degree in Engineering Simmons offers in collaboration with Columbia University. Her research project, “Is ChatGPT the Academic Catalyst We’ve All Been Waiting For?” was accepted for inclusion in the SIGCSE Technical Symposium 2024.
From Boston to New York: Simmons 3+2 Engineering Student Accepted to Columbia University
Sophia Moore ’24 is one of the first Simmons students to complete the initial portion of the accelerated 3+2 Engineering program. Having obtained her first bachelor’s degree from Simmons, this fall she will relocate to the New York metropolitan area to pursue her second bachelor’s degree at Columbia University.
Chemistry/Physics Student Accepted into Research Experience at UPenn
Annabelle Hannah ’25, a double-major in Chemistry and Physics, was accepted into the 2024 summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). The 10-week program is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).
Debora Edouard ’24 and Kadijah McClean ’24 Open Simmons Chapter of the National Society of Black Women in Medicine
Established in 2017, the National Society of Black Women in Medicine is committed to increasing the recruitment and retention of Black women pursuing careers in the medical field. This academic year, Neurobiology major Debora Edouard ’24 and Biochemistry and Public Health minor Kadijah McClean ’24 co-founded the Simmons chapter of the Society.
Simmons Welcomes Passionate Leaders Project Scholars for Spring 2024
The Passionate Leaders Project (PLP) supports Simmons undergraduates by enriching their academic and professional interests beyond the boundaries of a conventional classroom. Students may request up to $4,000 to support their research, internships, and creative endeavors. This semester’s cohort comprises student-scholars producing original research on healthcare for seniors, fashion sustainability, and the intersection of the arts, social justice, and gender-expansive agency.
Faculty in the News
Simmons School of Management Professors Co-author New Textbook on Public Relations
In their recently published book, Public Relations Planning, Professor Edward Vieira, Jr. and Associate Professor Yulong Li offer a comprehensive guide to strategic communication, replete with rich insights and academic research. We spoke with them about their approach to PR, advances in the field, and how Simmons offers students robust career training.
National Science Foundation Grant Aims to Retain STEM Students
Sarah Rose Cavanagh, Senior Associate Director for Teaching and Learning in the Center for Faculty Excellence, was recently awarded a four-year $496K grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The goal of the funded project is to tackle high attrition rates in biology education at the undergraduate level by improving assessment and feedback practices.
Associate Professor Saher Selod Historicizes Islamophobia in the United States
Simmons’ Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) hosted “Islamophobia in the United States: Understanding Past and Present Anti-Muslim Discrimination,” a virtual lecture by Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Research for the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding Saher Selod. This talk chronicled the history of anti-Muslim racism and demonstrated how 9/11 instituted a new era of the racialization of Muslims.
Simmons University’s School of Library and Information Science Welcomes Three New Faculty Members
Simmons University’s School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) welcomes three new faculty members this Fall, with expertise in archives management, school librarianship, and public librarianship for children and teens.
Simmons University’s School of Sciences and Health Professions Welcomes Six New Faculty Members
The new faculty members have joined the Behavior Analysis, Biology, Physical Therapy, Psychology, and Public Health programs.
School of Social Work Professor Studies Impact of Inequity on Preterm Birth
Joanna Almeida, professor and Eva Whiting White Endowed Chair at Simmons School of Social Work, was quoted in a MedicalXpress article about her new study of factors impacting preterm birth in the Commonwealth.
Simmons Faculty Research Student Perception of Medical Marijuana
A research paper by School of Nursing faculty Clark Cassone and Patricia Rissmiller was highlighted in the HempGazette, “Survey Finds US Nurse Practitioner Students Support Medical Cannabis.”
Senior Associate Director for Teaching and Learning Weighs In On Mental Health “Crisis”
Sarah Cavanagh was interviewed for an article, “Fighting the Mental-Health Crisis Narrative” in the Chronicle of Higher Education. In the article, Cavanagh addresses the balanced approach to mental health issues offered in her book, Mind Over Monsters: Supporting Youth Mental Health With Compassionate Challenge.
What stories will you tell?
Children’s Literature Alum Celebrates Bookshop’s First Anniversary
Stacy Whitman '05MA celebrates the first anniversary of her brick and mortar bookstore, Curious Cat Bookshop in Winsted, CT, with an article in the CT Insider.
Simmons Biochemistry Alum’s Nonprofit Celebrates 10-year Milestone
Oksana Hradyska ’12 recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of her successful non-profit, Sitters for Scholars. Hradyska founded the organization as a free babysitting service in 2014, in response to the lack of affordable and reliable childcare for parents attending college. The services were later expanded for low-income, single-parent families.
Children’s Lit Alum Finds Folkloric Inspiration for Spooky Debut Novel
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Children’s Literature Program at Simmons, we caught up with Ally Russell ’15MFA about her role of Marketing Manager at independent publisher Nosy Crow, and the release of her debut novel.
The Extroverted Archivist: Engaging the Underrepresented in Archives
Bridgett Johnson-Pride '18MAMS was named Director of Public Services for Archives and Special Collections at Harvard University in October, 2023. We caught up with Johnson-Pride about her current role, and how she engages with patrons as an extroverted archivist.
Doctoral Candidate Named Acting Director of Institute of Museum and Library Services
Cyndee Landrum, a student in the Simmons University Library and Information Science PhD, was named Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) this March. In honor of Library Card Sign-up Month, we share this interview with Landrum about her studies at Simmons and goals at IMLS.
Simmons Alum Receives Mass Book Award Honor
The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2023) by Elaine Dimopoulos ’08MFA was selected as an Honors title for the Mass Book Awards.
Simmons Alumna and Chief Justice Advances System Improvements in Child Welfare in Massachusetts and Nationally
The Honorable Amy L. Nechtem ’76 is the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Juvenile Court Department, protecting the safety, health, and wellbeing of children residing in the state. Chief Justice Nechtem spoke with us about her her commitment to systems enhancement affecting vulnerable children and families, both influenced by the early impact of the Simmons sisterhood.
Children’s Literature Alumna Named among Rising Star Women of Education
Janet Daniels ’10MFA, the Assistant Director of the Student Center at Harvard University’s Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, was recently recognized as one of the Rising Star Women of Education for 2024.
Connect with Simmons
Media Inquiries
Members of the press should feel free to reach out with questions regarding any aspect of the University, including commentary from faculty experts on the news of the day.
One Simmons
As the University changes to meet the evolving needs of our students, we are ensuring that our physical space also meets those needs.
Submit Your News Story Idea
If a faculty member, student, or alum has published a paper, won an award, started a notable job or completed an important project, we want to know about it!
Simmons Magazine
Through news and feature stories, the Simmons Magazine highlights the inspiring ways members of our community are making a difference in their career fields, communities, and the wider world.
Laura Wareck
Associate Vice President of University Communications