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.

Meghan Bailey, processing archivist in UMass Boston’s Healey Library University Archives & Special Collections (UASC), is using her Innovative Grant award from the artists’ foundation Art + Everywhere to transform archives into a creative catalyst.

A new public artwork now greets visitors outside University Hall at UMass Boston: Transmutation by the highly acclaimed artist Cannupa Hanska Luger.

Four Ruth Batson Academy Students Awarded Full Starratt Scholarships from the University

Off-Campus Living Made Simple: Support for Finding Apartments and Roommates

Live On or Off Campus: UMass Boston Housing Fits Your Journey

Fast, Easy Access to the City: Just Steps from Campus