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
Celebrating Online Degree Completion Graduates, Class of 2025
Elekcia Pimentel and Christina Orfanos are among the 2025 graduates in the Simmons Online Degree Completion Program for adult learners. We spoke to a few graduates about what the program meant to them.
Celebrate Juneteenth 2025 in Boston
Simmons will observe Juneteenth on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in commemoration of when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom following the Civil War. Boston offers a variety of ways to celebrate Juneteenth, involving art, music, dance, food, and a shared remembrance of the history of enslavement and freedom.
The Story Listener
Breanna J. McDaniel ’14MA is the author of four acclaimed picturebooks and the recipient of the 2025 Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award. On July 26, McDaniel will present a presentation with author-illustrator Vashti Harrison at the Summer Children's Literature Institute at Simmons University.
Alumna Artist Featured in Authority Magazine
Simmons alumna and multidisciplinary artist Natasha Di Fiore ’03, ’08MBA was recently featured in a profile published in Authority Magazine. The daughter of Italian immigrants, Di Fiore embraces the values of collaboration, creativity, and resilience. Her artistic expertise spans fashion, music, modeling, and film.
Boston’s LGBTQ+ Events and Support Networks for Pride Month
Throughout June, Pride Month celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. We have pulled together a roundup of local events, communities, and organizations offering opportunities for support and celebration during Pride Month 2025.
SLIS Faculty Member Receives Research Grant
The Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) announced that Professor Naresh Agarwal, a faculty member at Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) and Director of the Information Science and Technology Concentration, has received the 2025 Bob Williams...
Nutrition Professor Weighs In On Dietary Guidelines
Department of Nutrition Professor Teresa Fung was quoted in an article on Civil Eats, “Everything You Know About the Dietary Guidelines Is Wrong.”
University Archives Digitizes Gwen Ifill Papers Collection
Archives and Digital Initiatives Fellow Hannah Gershone ’25MS and University Archivist and Digital Initiatives Librarian Kelsey Kolbet ’21MA/MS recently completed a substantial digitization project involving manuscripts, photographs, and memorabilia related to Gwen Ifill ’77, ’93HD (1955–2016).
Leadership in the News
Clinton Valedictorian Chooses Simmons
Ella Askren, an academically-driven student and accomplished athlete, will attend Simmons in Fall 2025. At Simmons, she plans to study physical therapy and play soccer.
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.
SLC25 Celebrates Leaders’ Capacity for Change
The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership recently hosted the 46th Annual Simmons Leadership Conference. The diverse array of panelists and guest speakers championed resilience, self-growth, and interpersonal connection.
Building a Family History at Simmons
Nearly a century ago, Anna T. Kenney attended Simmons College, majoring in Secretarial Studies. Now, Kenney’s great-granddaughter, Annie Doherty ’26, has followed in her great-grandmother's footsteps to Simmons.
An Advocate for Women and Children
Esta Soler ’68, ’06HD is the President of Futures Without Violence (FUTURES). Based in San Francisco, Boston, and Washington D.C., this nonprofit organization aims to prevent violence against women and families.
Harbinger of Health, Racial, and Gender Equity
An early proponent of reproductive rights and a courageous advocate of racial, socioeconomic, and gender equity decades before the Civil Rights and Women’s Movements, Dr. Dorothy Celeste Boulding Ferebee, Class of 1920, was a visionary leader ahead of her time.
Dr. Adrianna Nava Champions Leadership in Nursing
Dr. Adrianna Nava “fights to ensure that nurses’ voices are heard in healthcare policy,” said Delmy Piano, Assistant Professor of Practice and Assistant Director of Simmons’ Dotson Bridge and Mentoring Program, when introducing the Dotson’s 2025 hybrid Lectureship Event on...
2025 Simmons Leadership Conference Announces Speaker Lineup
On March 20, 2025, the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership will host its annual Leadership Conference. An inspiring array of speakers will animate this year’s theme, “Leading Change.” Members of the Simmons community are entitled to complimentary virtual attendance.
STEM in the News
Computer Science Researchers Develop Humanitarian Software
As part of Simmons’ Faculty-Student Collaborative Fellowship program, computer science majors Maleehah Africawala ’25, Fayza Beshir ’25, Emily Douglas ’25, and Megan McNamara ’25 worked under the supervision of Professor Nanette Veilleux to develop humanitarian software for Simmons’ REEF Support Center.
Valuing Hands-on STEM Training and the Latinx Community
First-generation college student Sophie Salas ’25 reflects on finding community at Simmons and taking advantage of opportunities to make an impact, both in her community and academic work.
Simmons Announces 2025–2026 Clare Boothe Luce Scholars
Funded by the Henry Luce Foundation, Simmons has awarded six scholarships to sophomores pursuing accelerated dual-degree engineering and STEM-related bachelor’s degrees.
Finding Support in STEM and Relishing Urban Life
Chemistry and Physics double major Annabelle Hannah ’25 discusses her laboratory research experiences and how she found community at Simmons.
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.
The Simmons Edge Accelerates Academic and Career Success
Accelerated graduate education is a key feature that drew Kayla Pringle ’26 to Simmons. With the launch of the Simmons Edge, all undergraduate students will have the opportunity to graduate with an advanced degree in a wide selection of fields in as few as four or five years.
SLIS Professor Explains the Technological Shift to AI
Simmons School of Library and Information Science is leading efforts to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy into the curriculum. Assistant Professor Don Simmons offered a virtual webinar covering the basics of AI and how it is shaping how we work and learn.
Simmons Awarded Grant Funding from Luce Foundation
Funding from the Henry Luce Foundation will support Simmons’ efforts to advance student success, retention, and confidence in STEM-related fields as well as a Clare Boothe Luce Professorship.
Faculty in the News
SLIS Faculty Member Receives Research Grant
The Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) announced that Professor Naresh Agarwal, a faculty member at Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) and Director of the Information Science and Technology Concentration, has received the 2025 Bob Williams...
Nutrition Professor Weighs In On Dietary Guidelines
Department of Nutrition Professor Teresa Fung was quoted in an article on Civil Eats, “Everything You Know About the Dietary Guidelines Is Wrong.”
Professor Shares Response to Censorship in Higher Ed
School of Library and Information Science Professor and Associate Dean Laura Saunders published an article on “The Chilling Impact of Censorship in Higher Education."
Simmons School of Management Welcomes New Faculty
Justine Pouravelis is a 15-time Emmy-Award Winning sports media executive with 17 years of industry experience. Christina Ramey specializes in program development and operational excellence in higher education and professional learning.
Simmons Faculty Member Quoted in The Washington Post
An article in The Washington Post discusses the impact of Miranda July’s second novel and features commentary by Suzanne Leonard, Professor of Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Program Director for Gender and Cultural Studies.
Boston Globe Interviews Professor on Threats to Archives
Katherine Wisser, Associate Professor and Master's Program Director, Director Archives Concentration, and Director of Archives Certificate Program in the Simmons School of Library and Information Science was interviewed by The Boston Globe for, “An archivist’s job is to ‘keep the receipts.’ What happens when they can’t do their job?”
SLIS Lecturer Researches Women Who Collected Medieval Art
In a talk she delivered at the 2024 Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair, School of Library and Information Science faculty member Dr. Lisa Fagin Davis discussed the history of women creating, reading, and owning medieval European manuscripts. To honor Women’s History Month 2025, we spoke with her about this research and its connection to her Simmons courses.
Artist-Scholar Integrates Politics, Poetry, and Race
Assistant Professor of Humanities Patrick Sylvain is a literary scholar and poet whose intellectual curiosity knows no bounds. His work explores the issues of nationhood, leadership, race, and (de)colonization. In conjunction with Black History Month 2025, we spoke with him about Haitian politics, poetry, and zombies.
What stories will you tell?
Celebrating Online Degree Completion Graduates, Class of 2025
Elekcia Pimentel and Christina Orfanos are among the 2025 graduates in the Simmons Online Degree Completion Program for adult learners. We spoke to a few graduates about what the program meant to them.
The Story Listener
Breanna J. McDaniel ’14MA is the author of four acclaimed picturebooks and the recipient of the 2025 Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award. On July 26, McDaniel will present a presentation with author-illustrator Vashti Harrison at the Summer Children's Literature Institute at Simmons University.
Alumna Artist Featured in Authority Magazine
Simmons alumna and multidisciplinary artist Natasha Di Fiore ’03, ’08MBA was recently featured in a profile published in Authority Magazine. The daughter of Italian immigrants, Di Fiore embraces the values of collaboration, creativity, and resilience. Her artistic expertise spans fashion, music, modeling, and film.
Finding Purpose in School-Based Social Work
Diana Pelaez ’24MSW is a clinical social worker for the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) — the largest voluntary school-integration program in the country.
Barbara Lee Fellows Intern at the Massachusetts State House
Simmons recently hosted a celebration for student participants in the Barbara Lee Fellowship, an internship program that pairs Simmons students with female-identifying senators and representatives at the Massachusetts State House.
Immersed in Art and Stories in Bologna, Italy
Students in the Children’s Literature Master’s Programs at Simmons visited the 2025 Bologna Book Fair, held from March 31 to April 3 in Bologna, Italy.
Computer Science Researchers Develop Humanitarian Software
As part of Simmons’ Faculty-Student Collaborative Fellowship program, computer science majors Maleehah Africawala ’25, Fayza Beshir ’25, Emily Douglas ’25, and Megan McNamara ’25 worked under the supervision of Professor Nanette Veilleux to develop humanitarian software for Simmons’ REEF Support Center.
Experiencing the Magic of Children’s Literature
Evgenia Mantikas ’25MFA reflects on her graduate experience in the Children's Literature program at Simmons.
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