Happy new year and welcome to Spring 2025. It has been hectic since the new year began. We are monitoring news out of Washington, D.C. on a daily—and in some cases an hourly—basis. Understandably there is some angst among our student body; I have sent this message to all students on Monday with reassurance that we are here to support them. There was also a communication about updated Title IX regulations. Know this is top of mind and we are taking appropriate actions as soon as we can. Thank you for the support you provide our students and families.
Join the Center for Inclusive Excellence tomorrow, Jan. 31 at noon for a virtual workshop about immigration rights in Massachusetts. Register here.
Student News and Achievements
In honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the MLK Week planning committee hosted the inaugural Spirit of MLK dinner and award ceremony on Monday. The Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to advancing the principles of justice, equality, and social change championed by Dr. King. Congratulations Brian Williams '25 and Ells Mine Saint Paul '23.
Brian made outstanding contributions to cultivating an inclusion space for students on campus while working as the Commuter and Multicultural Coordinator.
Ells Mine, biomedical engineering alum, made great contributions while a student by leading the Haitian American Student Association, maintaining leadership positions in Student Government Association and American Medical Student Association, and advocating for equity in co-curricular, academics, and athletics spaces.
Pictured below is Brian with nursing major Marsha Francois '25 accepting his award; and event keynote speaker Aiden Charles '25, biomedical engineering, accepting the award on behalf of Ells Mine who was at a research convention in San Diego and unable to attend.
Here is a photo from an MLK Week community service project at Community Servings in Jamaica Plain. Center for Ministry and Service Grad Intern Sarah Casey and Gerena Walker, Director of the Center for Student Engagement, accompanied students Kimberly Avalo and Crystal Longfield, both DMS majors in the Honors Program, to prepare meals.
Athletic competitions continue with men's and women's track and field competing tomorrow, as well as men's volleyball playing at home at 6 p.m. The men's and women's basketball senior day games are this Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively. Best of luck Pride!
Faculty and Staff News and Achievements
Congratulations MEd alum Kiahna Esquilin '23, Student Support Coach, for receiving the Outstanding New Professional Award from National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community. The 2025 Mena Valdez award is given for contributions to higher ed and Latinx/a/o communities and will be distributed at the NASPA National Conference in New Orleans this March.
Congratulations to Diana Perdue, Niloofar Gholamrezaei, Jennifer Krusinger, and Shannon Hogan for having an article published in TRAIIL, an online collection of openly licensed, peer-reviewed strategies that utilize generative AI tools to support higher ed learning. The paper was formulated from their conference presentation Inclusive AI-Integration through a Studio Arts Model at a Small Liberal Arts College given at the 2024 University of Rhode Island Innovative Education Conference.
Shannon also represented Regis recently at the Massachusetts PKAL Winter Meeting where he gave a talk on Integrating Studio Arts and AI to Teach Biotechnology Deals: A Model for STEM Innovation.
Nick Lanier, Director of the Center for Veteran and Military Families and Interim Director of Internships and Career Development, was a guest speaker on the Vet SOS Podcast to talk about the Regis Veterans program. Nick described his principle to make it as easy as possible for the Veteran community pursuing an education.
Heather Josselyn-Cranson, Chair of Music, was invited to join the National Board for Delta Epsilon Sigma, the National Catholic Honor Society. Regis’ chapter, the Iota Chapter, is one of the oldest in the country, and Regis students who are members of the Iota Chapter have received scholarships and fellowships from Delta Epsilon Sigma.
Please save the date and join me on Wed., Feb. 12 for #RegisGivingDay—a 24-hour celebration of generosity and community. Visit the Upper Student Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for treats, games, and prizes.
It’s not about the amount you give—it’s about coming together to make a difference. Let’s harness the power of collective giving to empower our students to lead with compassion and purpose.
Together, we can show the world what makes Regis so special! Learn more.
