NBA veteran and philanthropist Terance Mann highlighted the work of Lasell School of Fashion students at his eponymous No Limits Fashion Event in Lowell last summer. Mann uses his platform to promote diversity in the fashion industry, introduce new talent, and foster innovation.

Lasell alumni Taylor Lane ’24 and Lauren Swift ’24, along with current student Hazel Nichol ’25, were selected to showcase their work at the No Limits student runway event. Swift was selected as the winner; she will design a garment for Mann to wear before a game during the upcoming NBA season.

The partnership and event were mutually beneficial for Lasell students and the Terance Mann Foundation, according to Daynia La-Force, foundation executive director.

“The Lasell community embodies everything that the foundation stands for,” she said. “Providing a platform for young people to express their talents aligns perfectly with our mission.”

Lasell’s Spring Giving Day celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2024 by raising funds for Connected Learning experiences such as stipends for unpaid summer internships, Shoulder to Shoulder service-learning trips, and more.

Seventy-five donors contributed more than $93,000, with support coming from every area of the University, including faculty, staff, alumni, parents, friends, and Lasell Village residents.

Hundreds of local dignitaries, business leaders, and representatives from other colleges and universities joined the Lasell community to celebrate the inauguration of Eric M. Turner as the University’s 10th president on October 18.

The formal installation ceremony was the centerpiece of a full day of events that began with an academic colloquium and concluded with a large reception. Inauguration speakers included former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and representatives of the Lasell community, including Arielle Hornbaker ’25, Professor Sara Large, David Hill P'17, Judge Fabiola Pierre White ’04, Anthony Berry ’23 G’24, Samari Auguste ’23 G’24, Lasell Village resident Kay Sloan, and TD Byrd Hughes, director of the Center for Community-Based Learning.

Paige Mesropian ’25 sang “Take My Hand” and Erica Da Costa ’23 recited a closing poem.

Photo by John Gillooly

The Connected Learning Fund, supported by donations from the FAO Schwarz Foundation and private donors, has awarded funding to five projects that support student industry-immersion experiences.

In the spring, a cohort of nine students and two faculty members competed at the DECA international conference in Austin, Texas; a separate group of more than 40 students attended the Coterie trade show in New York. This fall, funding supported a day trip to New York City garment district showrooms; student attendance at the IGNITE Research Conference hosted by Psi Chi, the international psychology honor society; and a visit to ABC News’ world headquarters.

Lasell’s Connected Learning educational philosophy emphasizes the tie between classroom learning and immersive industry experiences. Funding awarded for these high-impact trips removes financial barriers to participation and the cost of travel, enabling them to deepen their learning, build relationships with mentors, and explore future employment opportunities.

Lasell University’s 170th Commencement ceremonies took place on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11. The community celebrated the achievements of more than 500 graduates from the Class of 2024.

Friday’s Graduate and Professional Studies ceremony included keynote remarks from bestselling author Andre Dubus III and graduate student speaker Bekah Elisabeth Belle G’24. On Saturday, Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg delivered the keynote address, while undergraduate speaker Joseph Vincent LaFiura II ’24 shared reflections on behalf of the graduating class.

The 2024 recipients of the Thomas E.J. de Witt Awards for Excellence in Educational Leadership were honored at Saturday’s ceremony. Linda Bucci, professor and program chair of justice studies, received the faculty award; Carrie Weatherbee, assistant vice president of university advancement, received the staff award.

Photo by John Gillooly

Five Boston Marathon runners raised $10,000 for Lasell’s D.J. Simmonds ’08 Memorial Scholarship Fund, including Meghan Flaherty, assistant director of admission, and JoAnna Bishop Baker ’12 G’14 (pictured above).

The fund was established in 2015 by Nicole Simmonds-Jordan G’21 and the Simmonds family in honor of D.J., a Lasell alumnus and member of the Boston Police Department who passed away from injuries sustained in a shootout with the Boston Marathon bombers. The fund supports the next generation of Lasell students and honors the sacrifices that D.J. made to protect and serve his community.

Jamie Marcoux, an experienced administrator who has overseen successful athletic programs at both the NCAA Division II and III levels, has joined the Lasell community as assistant vice president for athletics.

In her new role, she will lead a program with 17 NCAA Division III varsity teams while overseeing fundraising; marketing and communications; compliance; and recreation, fitness, and intramural programs.

Marcoux was the director of athletics at Johnson & Wales University, where she also coached the women’s volleyball team to five Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships.

“Jamie is a proven professional in all aspects of leading an athletic department,” said Dave Hennessey, associate vice president and dean of student affairs. “She is known as a strong advocate for her team and has expressed great enthusiasm for Lasell.”

Marcoux has a master’s degree in athletic training from Indiana State University and a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Rhode Island College.

Photo by Morgan Choquet

The University has acquired 25 Catapult Vector vests, a wearable technology that tracks athletic performance. The equipment is prominent in the field of sports science analytics, which uses data to inform performance training, corrective exercise plans, return-to-play decisions, and more.

The vests and accompanying software provide an opportunity for unprecedented collaboration between academic programs and athletic teams, says Kerry Smith, assistant professor and department chair of exercise science.

Lasell’s athletic teams wear the vests during practice and game play. Exercise science students help set up the equipment and record the data, which can then be shared with graduate students studying applied data analytics. Their findings are then provided to support staff, including master’s degree students studying athletic training, who can give player-specific, data-informed plans to coaches.

“This will put our students and athletes at the top of the field,” says Smith. “They’ll graduate knowing the trends and at pace with where the industry is going. It says a lot about Lasell’s willingness to invest in both education and the performance of our athletes.”

Photo by Chloe Kinteris