President's Notes XIII.17 | May 9, 2024

Senior Week was full of fun events including an outdoor movie night, Red Sox game, cap decorating, and senior wine and cheese event.

Can you believe we have three co-valedictorians this year! Congratulations to Olivia Alvino, Kristin Barrett, and Lilla Torontali. Read about these impressive seniors.

I was delighted to present the Regis-Casserly Award winners at the annual Athletics Awards Ceremony. Named in honor of Mother Mary Regis, the first Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston and the individual for whom our university is named, and Sister Mary Regis Casserly, one of the founders of Regis College, the prestigious award is the highest honor presented to a graduating male and female senior student athlete. This year we have three recipients who excelled in athletics, academics, leadership, and service. Congratulations to Zach Sweeney from the men's lacrosse team, Madeline Conover from the women's lacrosse team, and Megan Miller from the women's lacrosse and swimming and diving teams. Read about all of the award winners here.

Congratulations also to student athletes (and sisters) Ashleigh Kelley and Erin Kelley for breaking their own school records last week at the 2024 New England Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Ashleigh finished 6th of 21 competitors in the 5,000 meter run with a time that was over 14 seconds faster than her previous record she established just three weeks ago! Erin earned her best result in the 10,000 meter run, finishing 10th of 24 runners with a school-record time over 55 seconds faster than her previous record! Read the full story here.

Congratulations to the entire women's track and field team for winning its third GNAC title in outdoor track and field!

The inspiring Sankofa Ceremony was celebrated last evening to recognize the accomplishments of graduating students of historically underrepresented ethnicities. Students were donned with a Kente, Serape, or Regis' custom stole designed by the Asian American Association. I am so proud of all we do to make this university an inclusive community that is conscious of the students we serve. Here is a touching photo of Lunisse Antoine graduating with a Master's in Strategic Communication and her daughter Laila Joy McQueen who donned the Kente.

This afternoon, the Young School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences celebrated several pinning ceremonies. Nursing pinning marks the transition from student to professional nursing practice. The social work pinning honors the achievement of students in the social work bachelors program. Last week, the health and fitness studies department honored graduates in exercise science, nutrition, sport management, therapeutic recreation, and health science programs at a pinning ceremony. Dental hygiene students will join the club at a pinning ceremony tonight; as well as medical imaging tomorrow.

I was thrilled to announce last week Joyce and Bill Cummings, founders of Cummings Foundation, made a $2 million dollar gift to honor former State Representative Carol Donovan '59. This generous gift will endow the Dean of Nursing position, which will now be known as the Carol A. Donovan Endowed Dean of Nursing. Cummings Foundation has been a great partner to Regis for many years, providing resources through its Sustaining Grant program to enhance our nursing program. Earlier this week, Foundation volunteers, Susan Solomont and Janeen Hansen, pictured here with me and Sharon Higgins, visited our simulation labs. Thanks to Mary Lou Cullen, and Institutional Advancement for graciously hosting our guests.

Pre-licensure nursing faculty Kathleen Bombino, Fabiola Lalande, and Mary Lou Cullen volunteered to facilitate training sessions recently to highly qualified medical assistants (MA) at Mass. League for Community Health Centers to administer IM vaccinations to enhance access to immunization services, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to public health initiatives.