On May 18, on a stage in Venezuela, Chaerin Kim stepped out to perform her eighth curtain call of the evening, as the audience gave a standing ovation. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and conductor, she had just set a new world record by being the first soloist to play concertos on both harp and piano, accompanied by an orchestra, premiering her own composition in the same concert.

Over 1,900 New Enrollees Build on Recent Growth of Boston’s Public Research University

The University Hall Theatre will once again be filled with music, with an electro-pop operatic romp ripped from a scandalous slice of Tolstoi’s War and Peace. Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 will launch on November 13, with auditions – open to students of all majors – on September 9 and 10. The theatre space will once again transform with an immersive seating plan, putting the audience in the middle of the action of a Russian socialite ball.

Quantum mechanics challenges what we think we know about how the world works— and shows physicists and engineers a doorway to astonishing technological possibilities. UMass Boston is exploring how public research, interdisciplinary education, and industry collaboration might unlock the power of the quantum world.

Long before Jo Ann Sprague ’80 ever held public office—before her name adorned ballot slips and campaign signs and her signature red wardrobe became synonymous with resilience—she held her most demanding and formative role: a mother of six.

At UMass Boston, Sean Im ’90 chose tenacity in the midst of tragedy. Now he’s rewiring the future.

On a cold January morning in 2015, Christina Cassotis ’94 walked into Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) with a vision, a plan—and more than a few skeptics quietly watching her every move.

Professor Emerita Ruth Butler was known for her passion for life, for learning, and for others. For more than two decades at UMass Boston—seven of those as chair of the Art and Art History Department—Butler brought both rigor and vitality to the field. A specialist in 19th-century French art, she became internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on sculptor Auguste Rodin, and is the only American to be appointed to the board of the Musée Rodin in Paris.

A fellow of the American Academy of Nursing since 2008, and author of over 100 publications in refereed journals, Professor Rosanna DeMarco has received numerous awards in recognition of her long-standing work with people living with HIV locally, nationally, and internationally. Her remarkable career included 11 years as a faculty member at UMass Boston, where she also served as the associate dean of academic affairs and interim dean of the Manning College of Nursing & Health Sciences. In 2024, she was named a Living Legend by the American Nurses Association Massachusetts, an award that recognizes nurses of the Commonwealth who have made significant lifetime contributions to the profession.

JOSEPH SCANGAS ’26, an incoming senior majoring in exercise and health sciences at UMass Boston, recently had the opportunity of a lifetime: studying abroad in Italy during the spring semester. Originally from Millbury, MA, Scangas transferred to UMass Boston in search of new academic and personal experiences. We caught up with him following his return from a memorable visit.

Class Notes

We honor and remember members of our Beacon community who have passed away.

Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco and Congressman Stephen Lynch—along with UMass Board of Trustees Chairman Stephen Karam, Provost Joseph Berger, Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences Dean Bo Fernhall, and students—cut the ribbon on May 12 on a new immersive reality nursing lab to enhance simulated training of future nurses.

The Venture Development Center

For this issue of Beacons, we asked you: How did you spend your time at UMass Boston?

The 2025 summer cohort shares their experiences working as Gardner Ambassadors at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

The College of Management at UMass Boston recently celebrated the third annual BEST Boston program—a fast-growing business and community initiative that equips business students with experiential learning while helping local companies thrive.

The UMass Boston Orchestra has a new conductor for the coming year, as accomplished music educator and trumpeter Ryan Noe has been named visiting assistant professor in music. Noe has played trumpet with the orchestra many times since joining UMass Boston in 2021 and is looking forward to leading students and community members he previously sat next to. In addition to conducting, the position includes teaching Music Education and a Special Topics in Composition course.

Physical activity may help slow the growth of an aggressive form of prostate cancer according to a recent study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Vice Chancellor of Athletics and Recreation at UMass Boston, Dr. Jacqueline Schuman, has been selected as a 2025 Women Leaders in Sports Nike Executive of the Year Award Winner, as announced by the Women Leaders in Sports organization.