Feature Stories 2024

Photo of CAS alum
James Pace ’09: Forever a Corsair

From student leader to thriving professional, Pace discusses how UMass Dartmouth influenced his journey to success & his decision to join the Alumni Association.

Bioengineering student Kissamy Georges at her research internship at Vanderbilt University
Kissamy Georges '27: Defying expectations

Bioengineering major and first-gen college student selected for NSF-REU in her first year at UMassD.

SMAST alumnus Caue Lazaneo in the field
Cauê Zirnberger Lazaneo PhD '21: The ocean-climate connection

From a young surfer in Brazil to an international oceanographer, SMAST alumnus lands professorship.

Portrait of Dean Madan Annavarjula
Meet Dean Madan Annavarjula

Charlton College of Business Dean sees a treasure trove of opportunities for UMassD students

Steven Giesta at Commencement
Steven Giesta '12, '24: Master of Business Administration

Fall River native opens doors for his career with an MBA from UMassD

First yearbook photo vs. current
Making history: UMassD women’s basketball celebrates 50 years of athletic excellence

Alumni of the UMass Dartmouth women’s basketball program share the impactful experiences and unforgettable memories that transformed their lives.

Scholarship recipient, psychology major
Naomi Mwangi ’25: Scholarships nurture dreams

First-generation psychology student uses scholarships as stepping stones on her path to making a difference in youth mental health.

Nursing BS-PhD alum Melissa Desroches
Nursing PhD Alumni Series: Dr. Melissa Desroches, PhD, RN, CNE

Building more equitable care for individuals with disabilities

Electrical engineering graduate student Divyamaan Sahoo
Divyamaan Sahoo MS '24: The art of engineering

Artist turned engineer develops new solutions in marine acoustics

Student Maggie McCafferty standing outside the UMassD library
Maggie McCafferty '24, '25: Leading in the lab and on the field

Bioengineering student and women's field hockey captain Maggie McCafferty found a supportive community of athletes and women in STEM at UMass Dartmouth.

a line up of students Julia Ribbon, Jacob Cuouto, Faiza Rahaman, Laryssa Desouza, and Dominic Deoliviera
UMass Dartmouth attracts top achievers: Why they chose UMassD

The class of 2028 includes students who graduated at the top of their high school class. Here's what they hope to achieve over the next four years.

on the water
Ryan Wallace ’06 builds more than a successful career at UMass Dartmouth

Beyond being the CFO at Vineyard Offshore, Wallace is a husband, father, and friend with a profound connection to his alma mater that only keeps getting stronger.

Scholarship donor
John Babbitt & family keep parents’ memory alive through scholarship

The Babbitt Family established a scholarship for current students in memory of his mother & father, who served on the Board of Trustees during UMass Dartmouth’s early days as SMTI.

Professional photo of Lai
Shaunna Lai ’05: Nursing with a blend of science and empathy

When her dreams of becoming a nurse felt out of reach, Lai’s education at UMass Dartmouth was supported by scholarships, inspiring her to give back to current students in the same way.

CCB alum in CCB
Silavong Phimmasone ’19: A Jack of all trades champions versatility

Former UMass Dartmouth Student Trustee and 2019 Commencement speaker “embraced the suck” to jumpstart his career and climb up the Citizens Bank food chain.

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

PhD Series
Nursing PhD Alumni Series: Dr. Rayna Letourneau, PhD '17, RN

Trailblazer in nursing workforce development

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

SMAST PhD student Jessie Kittel
Jessica Kittel PhD '24: Diving into discovery

PhD student and 100-ton captain Jessica Kittel is using climate data to better understand fish stocks

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.

Junior interior architecture + design major Apeksha Prasai '25 pictured in CVPA
Apeksha Prasai '25: Embracing change

Junior interior architecture and design major hopes to make home country more accessible

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"

Foundation Board member, donor, alumna
UMassD’s Jan Reynolds ’82 honors parents, value of education with philanthropy

After Reynolds graduated from UMass Dartmouth with her father in 1982, she maintains a special connection to their alma mater with her extensive philanthropic history.

Seth Shea standing in front of the ocean
Seth Shea '24: Lobsterman turned environmental engineer

Civil and environmental engineering student says experience as a lobsterman inspired his interest in environmental resources.

McCord Murray '24, Data Science and Mathematics dual major.
McCord Murray '24: The science of math

Data science and math dual-major unlocks his potential

Ashlee Shuemaker '24: From intern to inspiration

STEMming While Black secretary is set to graduate with a job offer from Dell Technologies

Professinal headshot
Frank Scarano: A cornerstone of UMass Dartmouth’s MLS community

Professor and chairperson of Medical Laboratory Science demonstrates unwavering faith in countless generations of Corsairs that have relied on his leadership and guidance.

Christopher Brunette sitting in the library
Christopher Brunette '24, '25: Never stop asking "why?"

Electrical and computer engineering student says curiosity is what makes him an engineer

Kevin Valentine '24: Nursing major finds his calling

A team player, he plans to become an operating room nurse

Honors Bioengineering major
Olivia Collins: Developing a laser light technique to detect early cancer

In memory of her mom, Honors bioengineering major hopes her research will contribute to the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer

Photo of Tiffany and Fetchner Jadotte
The Jadottes: Corsair Pair sends love to CCB, UMass Law students through giving

After Cupid’s arrow struck these Corsairs as scholars, the Jadottes remain connected to the UMass Dartmouth and UMass Law communities through their philanthropic giving.

Group shot of College Now students
Once College Now, always College Now: Alumni fund scholarship for students

The UMass Dartmouth Alumni Association established a current use scholarship for hard-working College Now students set to graduate this spring.

Honors College political science major
Zoi Burns '24: DEI is her "heart and soul"

Political science major advances senior leadership pipeline at their Pine Street Inn Internship

VIP donor & alumna
Mary Louise Nunes ’83 and her pillars of philanthropy

It was love at first ledger when Nunes began her career in the mid-1980s. Now, she instills that same love for accounting in current UMassD students with her philanthropy.

CNHS and Honors College
Paige Bernier '24: Research success for this nursing major

Third-generation Corsair is the 5th member of her family to attend UMass Dartmouth

Student Aidan Root scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef while studying in Australia
Engineers Abroad: College of Engineering students explore Australia, Ireland, and Greece

Three engineering students share their experiences studying abroad

Members of The Torch pose at the first team meeting of the spring semester 2024.
The Torch

News for students, by students, keeps campus informed

PhD student Agata Piffer Braga and Professor Dan MacDonald at SMAST looking at the autonomous underwater vehicle T-REMUS
From apprentice to expert: A UMass Dartmouth mentorship story

Engineering/SMAST professor Daniel MacDonald and PhD student Agata Piffer Braga share their research and their perspectives from both sides of mentorship

Biology alum '12 and now assistant professor Katrina Velle
Katrina Velle '12: Paying it back

Biology alumna hired as assistant professor, returns to UMassD with multiple six-figure research grants

UMassD donor and students
Donors help create a community space for military-affiliated students

UMass Dartmouth debuts new Veterans' Resource Center.

CNHS alumna
Honoring a sister, friend, and caregiver

Suzanne Rodrigues establishes a lasting legacy for her sister with a planned gift to UMass Dartmouth.

MLS students in lab
UMassD's first-year MLS and nursing scholars take a "S.T.E.P. Up"

A unique program for first-year College of Nursing and Health Sciences students pushes them to embrace their new identities as future medical professionals

Cybersecurity grant bestowed to UMassD
Prepared to protect your business

A $3.5 million National Science Foundation grant bolsters cybersecurity program, readying students to become leaders in this cutting-edge field.

Former students with former faculty
New scholarship preserves the values of retired Chancellor Professor Ron DiPippo

Mechanical engineering alumni establish scholarship honoring their influential professor.

Performing research on boat
Making an impact on global sustainability

Scholars and researchers at the School for Marine Science and Technology contribute to creating a sustainable seafood supply while supporting the development of renewable energy.

Scholarship student
Empowering Sarah Adjei '26: Scholarships pave the way for global education access

From Ghana to UMass Dartmouth’s Ring Road, Sarah Adjei traveled across the world to attend college with the support of scholarship donors.

Exterior of Building
Restoring a modern learning hub

The largest investment in UMass Dartmouth’s history will prepare the Arts & Sciences building to serve students for the future

Shelly Scott
Shelly Scott goes the extra mile to love & support UMassD students through adversity

Scott does whatever she can to help students succeed, including investing in their potentials and financially supporting their endeavors with philanthropic giving.

Senior management major Devon Zapor '24
Devon Zapor '24: Event management

Management student builds experience toward dream job

Left to right: Kelsey Ferreira, Cami Boyd-Thomas, and Caro Cuevas pictured in Kyoto, Japan
Three CVPA students spend winter session in Kyoto, Japan

Arts majors study Japanese manga and anime for art history requirement

Honors Nursing major
Queyka "Kayeekuh" SaintLouis '24: First-generation nursing major aspires to become a nurse educator

Working at a camp for children and teens with diabetes impacted her career goals

Honors College Student Council
Honors College Student Council builds a community

Students develop friendships across campus and gain leadership skills

Student Christian Fall seated in the library living room
Christian Fall '24: An electrical engineer en route to medical school

Electrical engineer and entrepreneur is the first undergraduate SMART Scholar at UMassD

CAS alum
Haim Gal Moore ’18: From studying biology at UMassD to medicine at UMass Chan

Now a second-year student at UMass Chan Medical School, Moore’s interests in the immunology of cancer and related research adventures stemmed from his time at UMassD.

Student Percy Williams standing outside on UMassD campus
Percy Mason Williams '24: A sense of belonging

Computer science major reflects on his UMassD experience, including an internship at technology company Honeywell

Monika Janina Kristjánsdóttir
Monika Kristjánsdóttir '25: Making an impact

First-generation international honors student-athlete uses talents and passions to make a difference

Drawing by Connor Chan '24
Connor Chan '24

Drawing major explores the anatomy of friendship in his work for the 2024 Senior Exhibition