Commencement Spotlights

Much of the class of 2024 began their college career remotely during the height of a global pandemic. But unprecedented times created adaptive, resilient, and tenacious students, who found ways to make the most out of their college experiences.

By studying abroad, founding student clubs and organizations, advancing to graduate school, and opening a new Esports lab, the class of 2024 has embodied UMass Dartmouth's mission to serve as an intellectual catalyst for economic, social, and cultural transformation.

Jonathan Matsler, JD '24: Ready to Pursue Justice

Practical experiences at UMass Law prepared military veteran for his new role in criminal prosecution

Melanie Veilleux pictured outside the Claire T. Carney Library

Melanie Veilleux '24: Graphic designer

Graphic design student builds professional résumé in on-campus experiences

Medical Laboratory Science major

Colin Soares '24: Aspiring pediatrician

Medical laboratory science major is prepared for work at one of the nation's top children's hospitals before applying to medical school

Marketing major

Jordan Tavares '24: Honors marketing major unexpectedly finds his career in green sector

Internship in offshore wind industry and work in sustainability led to job with Energy New England

Shawn Koohy '24 at the ACCOMPLISH awards ceremony

Shawn Koohy '24: Opportunities in research

Mathematics major builds prolific undergraduate research career

Jeremie Rogers, JD '24: Police officer earns law degree and plans to work with youth

Part-time law student is grateful for the support of the UMass Law community as he commuted from Martha's Vineyard

Nursing major, football player

William Tuttle '24: Mentor, football player, and future nurse

UMassD experiences developed a future leader

Student Commencement Speaker

Natalia Vargas, JD '24: UMass Law Commencement Speaker reaches lifelong dream

Builds a new community more than 1,000 miles from home

Bioengineering student Jackie Ramirez

Jacqueline Ramirez '24: On the fast track

From robotics to biodegradable plastics, Jackie Ramirez is graduating early with a wealth of experience in the lab.

Clivens Joseph '24

Clivens Joseph '24, '25: Charged with creativity, grounded in excellence

College Now alum and first-generation college student finds out what he's capable of at UMassD

Honors Nursing major

Olivia Munyambu '24: Researching the mental health of UMassD students of the African diaspora

Honors nursing major's research exposes healthcare disparities in the U.S.

Law student research

Matthew Gruneberg, JD candidate '24: From draftsman and illustrator to lawyer

After making a career change, Gruneberg says law is "what I was meant to do"