April 2025: Celebrating Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, & Service at Simmons

April is the month of celebrating undergraduate research, scholarship, service, and creativity at Simmons! From the Senior Scholar Showcase to the STEM Colloquium, departments across the university will highlight the work of undergraduate students across disciplines. 

Mark your calendars for the following events:

Senior Scholar Award Showcase Wednesday, April 23 | 2:00-3:30 PM

Please join us for the Senior Scholar Award Showcase on Wednesday, April 23 in the Kotzen room. All are welcome! Food and beverages will be provided.🧁🥪 Please RSVP so we can provide enough refreshments.

The Senior Scholar Award recognizes outstanding undergraduate research and scholarship across disciplines. The 2025 Senior Scholar Award recipients will present their research:

• Ginjer Doherty '25: Queer Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) Experiences with Gynecological Care
• Aviva Foster '25: The Social Influence of GIFs: How GIFs Shape Emotional Perception and Empathy
• CJ Haggard '25: “To Indulge Her with a License”: Female Liquor License Holders in Revolutionary Boston 
• Theo Hatfield '25: Exploration of Non-Autophagic roles of Atg8a in Drosophila Behavioral Development
• Lili Malatinszky '25: Generating a Split Fluorescent-Tagged Spastin/SPAS-1 to Explore Spastin Removal's Neuroprotective Effects in Parkinson's Disease Pathology 
• Grace Walters '25: Rooted and Rising: A Holistic and Accessible Approach to Early Childhood Education 

We can't wait to see you there! Please reach out to [email protected] with questions.

The 2025 SHPP STEM Colloquium | Wednesday, April 23 | 3:30 - 7:00 PM

Supported by a generous gift in memory of Cecile Leinwand Bronfin '63 from her family, the School of Sciences and Health Professions (SHPP) is excited to present the 2025 SSHP STEM Colloquium! 

• 3:30 - 5:00 PM: Oral Presentations | 3rd Floor, Main College Building
• 5:30 PM: Welcome remarks with Dr. John Young, Associate Professor, and Elizabeth Backofen, Endowed Chair 
• 5:45 - 7:00 PM: Poster Session with refreshments | Linda K. Paresky Conference Center, 3rd Floor, Main College Building

This year's colloquium features the work of over 100 undergraduate students in the STEM disciplines. All Simmons community members are invited to attend this showcase of student work! 🎉

The Stephen D. London Center for Community Engagement & Social Justice - End of Year Showcase | Wednesday, April 23 | 3:30 - 5:00 PM

Please join us for our annual awards ceremony and showcase to celebrate the significant contributions our Simmons University leaders have made within our community!

This event will take place in room C-520/521 on the 5th floor of the Management Building. Food and beverages will be provided! Please reach out to [email protected] with questions.

3rd Annual Celebrating Survivors Dinner | Thursday, April 24 | 6 - 8:30 PM 

This special event is dedicated to honoring the enduring legacy of Betsy's Friends, shedding light on the vital work in violence prevention at Simmons University, and fostering a sense of unity in support of survivors 

campus-wide. This evening promises to be a meaningful experience filled with community, inspiration, connection, and food!  Whether you are learning about Betsy’s Friends for the first time or have many years of involvement, please join us for a community dinner and program. We encourage you to join us in celebrating the strength of survivors and the positive changes initiated by this remarkable community. Please RSVP to attend the survivor's dinner.

Department of Race, Gender, & Sexuality Studies - Undergraduate Research Symposium | Wednesday, April 30 | 12:00 PM

Join the DRGSS for our third annual Undergraduate Research Symposium featuring three seniors in the department who will each present on their fellowship/ independent study / thesis projects:

• Ginjer Doherty '25, Queer Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) Experiences with Gynecological Care

• Lamya Richardson '25, Sisters in the Struggle: Black Activism and Mentorship at Simmons
• Saadiqah Yusuf '25, Sanctuaries of Struggle: An Oral History of Black Muslim Boston 

All are welcome! Free lunch will be provided.🥪 Please RSVP ahead of time so we can provide sufficient food and beverages. Email [email protected] with questions.

Survivors Community Quilt Event

To honor survivors of sexual violence during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the REEF Center is hosting their first Survivors Community Quilt Event on Saturday, April 12th on the Residential Quad from 12-3pm! This event is a space for healing, creativity, and community, where we’ll create a quilt honoring survivor resilience. There will be interactive art, resources from local organizations, food, and a student art market where vendors will donate proceeds to violence prevention efforts. 

Follow us on instagram at @simmons_vpeo for more info! 

2026-2027 Fulbright Info Session

The 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Program catalog and application cycle is officially open!

If you're a junior, senior, grad student, or alum interested in teaching English overseas, exploring an independent research project, making art, or attending grad school in another country, the 

Fulbright may be a great opportunity to explore. The info session will cover the Program’s history, eligibility, award types, award benefits, and application components and tips, as well as campus resources and deadlines. Register for the virtual info session on Wednesday, April 16 at 2:00 PM EDT to learn more.

Please email [email protected] with any questions!

Become a Wellness Ambassador for 2025-26!

Are you passionate and knowledgeable about personal and community wellness? Are you interested in working as part of a team to promote wellbeing in the Simmons community? Apply to be a Wellness Ambassador! For the 2025-26 academic year, we are seeking to fill the position of Outreach and Engagement Coordinator. Applications are due on Friday, April 11th.

▶️ Looking for campus events, activities, and student organizations? 

Log into your Campus Connect account on your browser or mobile app to stay up to date!

The Anchor is a periodic newsletter connecting students to in-person and online activities, events, resources, and other Simmons updates. For more information, email [email protected].