Shout-outs from Students and Alums
PT Student Embraces Disability-Centric Approach
Bringing a distinctive methodology to her profession, Amanda Michel ’23, ’25DPT has already made headlines, gracing the cover story of American Physical Therapy Association magazine (July 2024). We spoke with her about disability-informed research, her love of dance, and the supportive atmosphere of Simmons.
Digital Girlhoods and the Adult Response to Tweens Online
Katherine A Phelps ’13MA has published her first book, Digital Girlhoods (Temple University Press, 2025), exploring the potential pitfalls and opportunities for tween girls engaging in social media.
Simmons Alumna Centers Survivorship
Kenyora Lenair Johnson ’10, CEO of End Rape On Campus (EROC), is dedicated to elevating survivorship and centering marginalized populations. To honor Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we spoke with her about EROC’s bold initiatives, as well as Simmons’ intergenerational community.
SLIS Alumnus Co-Curates Major Jane Austen Exhibition
In February 2024, Dale Stinchcomb ’16MS, became the Drue Heinz Curator of Literary and Historical Manuscripts at the Morgan Library and Museum. We spoke with him about this unique role, his forthcoming co-curated exhibition on Jane Austen, and the essential training that he received at Simmons.
Alumna Delivers Trauma-Informed Care at Boston Children’s
Rachel Nyakako is a clinical social worker in the Children’s Hospital Primary Care Center (CHPCC) at Boston Children’s Hospital. She serves as a link for patients and families in need of mental and behavioral healthcare and resources. Such support, she...
Six Students Selected for the 2025 Senior Scholar Award
Ginjer Doherty ’25, Aviva Foster ’25, CJ Haggard ’25, Theo Hatfield ’25, Lili Malatinszky ’25, and Grace Walters ’25 have been selected for the prestigious Senior Scholar Award at Simmons University. Sponsored by the Provost’s Office and the Office of Research and Fellowships, the Senior Scholar Award recognizes outstanding scholarly research across different disciplinary fields.
Thriving as Future STEM Leaders and Innovators
Fuma Iwakura ’26, MJ Vasquez ’27, and Gina Gawargi ’27 are part of the Dynamic Research Education Academy for Mentoring (DREAM) program, which currently has about 60 student participants. The NASA-funded initiative helps increase the retention of Simmons students in STEM fields.
Cambridge Director of Libraries Fosters Learning and Community
Maria McCauley ’17PhD says some of her fondest childhood memories are of visiting her local public library. This lifelong passion for knowledge is part of the reason she decided to pursue library and information science as a second career.