President's Notes XIV.12 | April 24, 2025

The second annual Social Justice Symposium: Tell Me Who You Are held April 10 was fantastic! We were thrilled to have this opportunity to build civic engagement in our community on social justice issues. This event was another example of ways in which our work inside and outside the classroom connects with the Regis mission and values. This year’s theme focusing on the power of the individual to effect change and engage in civil discourse was inspired by the Common Read Book Tell Me Who You Are by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi. Attendees explored original research, essays, reflections and creative projects based on solving issues in our professional fields of interest and in our communities. Over 140 submissions were received from students, faculty and staff and more than 150 people attended. Below is Stephanya Mendes '25, education major, presenting her poster on Democracy or Dystopia? 

Symposium Viewers Choice Award winners were: 

• Art: Dekai Wilson
• Panel Presentation: Aerrond Alforte
• Poster: Jelicity Marcado
• 3-Minute Thesis Slam: Jonnie Charest

Winners of the First-Year Writing Contest were:

• First Place: Emily Connors, “Life Without a Filter"
• Second Place: Joshua Dion, “The Night of My Eighteenth Birthday"
• Third Place: Luke Meelia, “The Empty Void to Fill"
• Fourth Place (tie): Jeffrey Herbin, “Growing Up Black"
• Fourth Place (tie): Ellen Lambrukos, “Back on the Beam"

It was an honor to celebrate the extraordinary academic achievements of more than 100 students who have worked tirelessly to earn the distinction of being inducted into one of Regis’ official National Honor Societies this week. Congratulations to Lillian Wehmeyer '25 (below, top) for receiving the Maria Leonard Book Award for earning the highest GPA over the past four years. And to Levi Dunlap '25 (below, bottom) for receiving the Mary C. Bryan Award in Women's Studies for demonstrating exemplary scholarship that enhances the understanding of women’s or gender studies. 

Thomas Genzale Jr. '25, nursing major, participated in the annual 'Race to Cure' Sarcoma Foundation of America 5K in Boston. This event brings together the sarcoma community to increase awareness about sarcoma and create lasting, supportive connections. Thomas' own diagnosis with the illness fueled his desire to become a nurse and, while working at MGH on the same unit he once received treatment on, he has a different perspective on life caring for others with the same illness. 

Associate Professor of Religious Studies Ernie Collamati was interviewed by Fox 25 News on the passing of Pope Francis. Regis College theologian reacts to death of Pope Francis.

Exciting news is that Regis College’s institutional marketing campaign, Rise at Regis, received the Platinum Award—the highest honor—at the Hermes Creative Awards! One of the oldest and largest creative competitions in the world, the Hermes Awards are administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals and recognize excellence among the creators and messengers, honoring outstanding work across traditional and digital platforms. Entries are judged on publications, branding collateral, websites, videos, and marketing, advertising, and communication programs. 

Congratulations to Nadia Raymond, assistant professor and director of global nursing, for being elected President-Elect of the Organization of Nurse Leaders (ONL)!  Nadia's two-year term will begin on July 1, 2025.

Our Occupational Therapy program and faculty Mary Jean Hughes got a nice plug by Hanscom Credit Union (HFCU) when announcing the WealthTrek full-service financial wellness office that features a quest room “experience center” designed to teach anyone about best practices related to managing their money and more. Mary Jean takes our OT students on a tour of the office in Burlington to understand the dynamics of questing related to OT. 

Diana Perdue, Senior Instructional Designer, led a session at the 2025 Innovative Education Conference held virtually in March by the Office for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning at the University of Rhode Island. The presentation titled "Developing Generative AI Faculty Training That Establishes a Shared Starting Point" explored innovative training to bridge faculty skill gaps, foster ethical AI use, and enhance institutional readiness for Gen AI.

Anu Gaur, Regulatory and Clinical Research Management Program Director, was a guest Lecturer at the Wichita State University, Kansas, for a Regulatory Expert Lecture to their Biomedical Engineering program.

Applied Behavior Analysis faculty Jacquelyn MacDonald and Diana Parry-Cruwys were invited to give a virtual workshop on Family Supports and Supervision at Butterfly Effects in Virgina in March. Jackie  was also invited to give a workshop on Self-Care Strategies for the ABA professional for BOCES in Potsdam NY.

Check out this parenting podcast The Momentum Parenting Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts by ABA faculty Roseanne Lesack and Jillian Wilson about simple ABA/behavioral strategies for parents. They cover many different topics, with the recent episode about individualized education plans (IEP) for neurodiverse children at school. 

Naomi Kooker, assistant professor of communications, is the producer and screenwriter of Why Are You You?, a feature documentary about youth empowerment, premiering June 12 at 7 p.m. at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA. Naomi, with Director and Editor Lindsay Caddle LaPointe (center), a former Regis communication instructor, and Executive Producer Dawn McKechnie (left), spent four years interviewing participants in the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists youth program (YRUU). Now adults, these participants reflect on how having a sense of belonging is core to building community and a sense of agency in their lives and in the world—values that resonate with our mission and the core values of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston.

Thanks to the Carole Remick ’54 Charitable Foundation grant to The Regis Herald, Naomi and Valerie Amicangioli '25, Humanities major and Regis Herald editor and writer, attended the 2025 Boston University Power of Narrative Conference in March. They met renowned keynote speakers, pictured here: award-winning author and journalist Susan Orlean and trailblazing TV journalist and anchor Connie Chung.

The Sloane School of Business and Communication recently invited Paula Fleming, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to speak to Assistant Professor Charlene Geary's Organizational Behavior class recently. It was an informative session with many takeaways including potential internship opportunities and full-time positions for our students with businesses who are BBB members. 

I had so much fun participating in Fran Power-Charnitsky and Jim Windelborn’s intro to forensic science course signature assignment this week. Students analyzed physical evidence and interviewed suspects to establish motives and alibis in a murder mystery case. I played a suspect.

At the Elliott Lecture last week featuring Tracy Kidder, three of Professors Pat Elliott and Julia Lisella’s former English students traveled from Connecticut, New Jersey, and locally to attend. They were thrilled when they learned of Pat's generous bequest and attended the first lecture last year. What a great testament to their devotion to Regis and our faculty! From left with me are Rachel Anderson '11, Melissa Moore '11 and Allyson Silva '11.