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.

Student sitting on steps in Library
Illustration major Emily Fontes '23 creates a pitch deck for children's TV show for Honors College APEX project

Also doubled minored in Business Administration and Art History
christina hart standing in library
Christina Hart '23: Hands-on learning

Christina Hart '23 puts her engineering knowledge to work solving real-world problems.

Senior history major Henrique Melo '23 pictured in the Claire T. Carney Library.
Henrique Melo '23: Keys to success

Senior history major finds his stride with help of College Now program
Katherine McCormick, JD ’23 aspires to pursue justice for America’s workers

McCormick has taught elementary school in Bangkok and excelled in the recent ABA Client Counseling Competition

Nursing major, Commencement Speaker
Anne Jean '23: College Now program provided foundation for her success

Nursing major and Commencement Speaker hopes to open a women’s birthing center in her native country of Haiti

Kathryn Grande '23 pictured in the Claire T. Carney Library
Kathryn Grande '23: Comeback Corsair

English major finds sense of confidence and success in online return to UMassD
Student viktoriya balabanova standing in the library
Viktoriya Balabanova '23: Seizing opportunities

Physics major Viktoriya Balabanova has earned multiple competitive research opportunities and compiled an impressive record of accomplishments, all while raising a family.  
Nursing major
Jillian Brooke Rush ’23: A future in hospice nursing

Nursing student enjoys comforting and caring for patients and families in transition
Kenny Duong '23
Kenny Duong '22, '23: Becoming a leader

MIS alumnus and MSTM student is well-positioned for a career as a leader
Emily Dillan, JD ’23: Pursuing justice for survivors of domestic violence

Cause is a personal one for Dillan, who says “every survivor’s justice is my own”
UMass Law’s Janay Davidson, JD candidate '23 is ready for work as a New York City public defender

UMass Law experiences prepared Davidson for litigation position after graduation
student john lucas guimaraes in the library
John Lucas Guimaraes '23: Engineering a more inclusive world

Civil engineering student Joao “John” Lucas Coelho Guimaraes is a leader with a passion for public service.