Undergraduate Admissions Staff
Meet the good people who work with you as you explore and apply to UMass Boston!
No two prospective students are the same—especially at a university as diverse as UMass Boston—which is why our admissions team includes admissions counselors and other staff who hail from widely different backgrounds and are trained to help you on a one-on-one, case-by-case basis.
Start making your connections now—meet the UMass Boston Undergraduate Admissions staff.
John Drew
Director
Phone: 617.287.6100
Responsibilities: Manage the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, including freshman, transfer, and international admissions.
Advice for college bound students: Begin looking at a wide range of colleges and universities and then narrow your list down after you have visited a few campuses. When selecting a college you need to think about the campus setting, location, academic programs and extracurricular activities in addition to many other factors. Although at times it may be stressful, think of the college search process as a journey that will end with a new place to call home, new friends and many role models or mentors.
The best thing about UMass Boston is. . .How passionate the students, faculty and staff are about the various organizations and causes they are involved with. The UMass Boston community is fully engaged in learning, teaching and participating in the broader community.
Stacy-Ann Wint
Assistant Director, International AdmissionsPhone: 617.287.6176
Fax: 617.287.5999
stacy-ann.wint@umb.eduResponsibilities: Review applications from domestic and international freshmen and transfer students. Designated School Official (DSO) for international student I-20s and visa-related issues.
Travel territory:Bunker Hill Community College and Roxbury Community College
Advice for college bound students: Tap into all the resources available at your high school and through your city prior to your senior year—e.g., SAT prep, tutoring, student activity groups, youth programs, guidance counselors, library scholarship books, sports, etc.
The best thing about UMass Boston is. . . The variety of classes, concentrations, certificates, and minors that can be added to your major—there’s a class in nearly every subject.
Michelle Sunday
Transfer Articulation OfficerPhone: 617.287.6211
Fax: 617.287.5999
michelle.sunday@umb.eduResponsibilities: Review transfer credits, evaluate equivalencies/transferability of courses, and create and update articulation tables in transfer credit system.
Travel territory: North Shore Community College
Advice for college bound students: Apply early and pay attention to deadlines. The earlier you apply (with a complete application) the earlier you will receive your decision and the earlier you can begin planning your future!
The best thing about UMass Boston is. . . The catwalk! All of the buildings on campus are connected by the catwalk. This means that no matter what the New England weather decides to throw your way, rest assured that your walk from class to class will be a comfortable one.
Gerald Dowling
Admissions RecruiterPhone: 617.287.6114
Responsibilities: Assist student with the application and admissions process. Also work on other recruitment initiatives, special tours and events.
Fax: 617.287.5999
gerald.dowling@umb.edu
Travel territory: Suffolk County in Massachusetts
Advice for college bound students: I would advise college bound students to concentrate on getting good grades in high school and apply early. They should also visit each college they are interested in.
The best thing about UMass Boston is . . . Its commitment to educating a diverse student body and its mission of being an excellent urban university that is affordable to all those who apply. It helped me become the person I am today.
Eileen Curtin
Assistant DirectorPhone: 617.287.6126
Fax: 617.287.5999
eileen.curtin@umb.eduResponsibilities: Liaison to the Honors Program, Scholarship Office, and the Veterans Upward Bound program. Also works closely with applicants that have learning disabilities.
Travel territory: Norfolk, Middlesex, and Worcester Counties in Massachusetts, and also Maine.
Advice for college bound students: Get involved with some of the many clubs and organizations UMass Boston has to offer. Meet new people, develop new skills, and make the best of your college experience.The best thing about UMass Boston is. . . The diversity. Just sitting in a classroom at UMass Boston is a learning experience in itself. The students here come from many different parts of the world, are from different age ranges, have had different experiences and have developed many different beliefs and ideas about the world we live in. This can lead to some very vibrant class discussions and can also lead to a deeper and more unique grasp of the subject at hand.
Miguel J. Alvarez
Associate Director for International AdmissionsPhone: 617.287.6079
Fax: 617.287.5999
miguel.alvarez@umb.eduResponsibilities: Domestic and International Admissions of freshman and transfer students. Responsible for international college transfer credit evaluations. Designated School Official (DSO) for international student I-20s and visa-related issues.
Travel territory: MassBay Community College, ESL Centers, and high schools with a high population of international students.
Advice for college bound students: College life is challenging but fun. Be yourself, read, study hard and do your best. I encourage you to learn a second world language, make plans, and participate in a study abroad program.
The best thing about UMass Boston is . . . The excellent academic experience, the location and the students…definitely.
Lisa G. Williams
Associate Director of OperationsPhone: 617.287.6113
Fax: 617.287.5999
lisa.williams@umb.eduResponsibilities: Manage the Office of Undergraduate processing staff, and manage the application and transcript flow within the office
Advice for college bound students: Apply early (as soon as first quarter grades are available) and keep your options open
The best thing about UMass Boston is. . . UMass Boston offers many opportunities for motivated students who do not currently meet the admission requirements for the university, including our many precollegiate programs such as Direction for Student Potential (DSP), Admissions Guaranteed Program and Urban Scholars.
Kerry Boyd
Director of the Transfer CenterPhone: 617.287.6075
Fax: 617.287.5999
kerry.boyd@umb.eduResponsibilities: Oversees transfer recruitment and transfer credit processing.
Travel territory: Massasoit Community College
Advice for college bound students: Do not underestimate the importance of a campus visit. Experiencing the atmosphere of a campus will give you invaluable information beyond what you can find on the website or in a brochure.
The best thing about UMass Boston is . . .It offers the opportunity and abundance of a large university, with the intimacy and attentiveness of a small college.
Phone: 617.287.6194
Tania Glinski
Assistant Director
Fax: 617.287.5999
tania.glinski@umb.edu
Responsibilities: Recruit high school applicants by showcasing UMass Boston at college fairs and high schools in Western Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I also work with applicants, their families, and guidance departments to complete and review applications.Travel territory: Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties in Massachusetts, and all of New Hampshire
Advice for college bound students: Don’t procrastinate! There are thousands of colleges and universities out there and they all have their own individual requirements and deadlines. When you have narrowed down the schools that you want to apply to, be sure to double check what materials you need to provide and what days those materials are due. Once you know what you need to do - apply and complete your application early! At UMass Boston, the earlier you provide us with a completed application, the sooner we can tell you your decision.
The best thing about UMass Boston is. . . The diverse student body. Our students come from all walks of life, and are able to enhance our learning environment by contributing their knowledge and experiences for other students to learn from.
Zhanna Owens
Assistant Director, International Admissions
Phone: 617.287.6128
Responsibilities: Review applications for domestic and international students; provide career and enrollment counseling to potential students; advise on the F-1 visa application process.
Fax: 617.287.5999
zhanna.owens@umb.edu
Advice for college bound students: If you are not sure what major you want to pursue, don’t worry. You can start as an undeclared student and take classes from different areas which can also count towards General Education Requirements. You will have the opportunity to evaluate different fields of study and think about what kind of career you want to have.
The best thing about UMass Boston is. . . The diversity of the student population. UMass Boston currently has students representing 140 countries and speaking 90 different languages. Visit our campus and you will witness it for yourself.
Phone: 617.287.6103
Serena Wang
International Admissions Counselor
Fax: 617.287.5999
serena.wang@umb.edu
Responsibilities: Evaluate International candidates’ profiles including candidates from UMass Boston’s partnership programs in China; determine student admission according to UMass Boston’s admission criteria; counsel and assist prospective students for admission in the application processAdvice for college bound students: When researching colleges and universities, always keep in mind the application deadlines and requirements. Be persistent and self-disciplined when applying to your top choice of colleges and universities. Use all the resources available to you throughout the application process, including seeking advice and insight from faculty and staff at UMass Boston.
The best thing about UMass Boston is. . . This is a university that truly embraces inclusion and it is always evolving with new ideas and interests. Its dynamic atmosphere, abundant resources, and rigorous academic training all make UMass Boston a great institution for a renowned education.
Nimol San
Associate DirectorPhone: 617.287.6027
Fax: 617.287.5999
nimol.san@umb.edu
Responsibilities: I assist in our fall and spring recruitment travels both locally and regionally. I conduct info sessions and interview prospective students. I also make admission decisions on freshmen, transfers, and internationals undergraduate applications. I coordinate the Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Program. I am the liaison to the Admission Guaranteed Program at UMass Boston.Travel territory: Essex and Middlesex Counties in Massachusetts and Northern Essex Community College.
Advice for college bound students: Learn to build personal relationships with your high school teachers, counselors, coaches, supervisors/employers, mentors, etc. You may need to ask them for letters of recommendations for college. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for some help along the way. We all can learn a lot from each other. Some people are more experienced and more knowledgeable in other areas than we are. We should all strive to better ourselves and reach out to help others along the way. Get involved with clubs and organizations that you are passionate about or want to learn more about in your high school or college campus. That’s where you will meet people and establish friendships that may last a lifetime. Always, be kind and polite, it will get you far in life. More people are more willing to help when you are genuinely kind and respectful.
The best thing about UMass Boston is. . . The people – students, staff and faculty! Our campus is vibrant and very diverse with people who are eager to learn, teach, and serve. What we do on this campus goes far beyond Boston. I am proud to say that UMass Boston is one of only 27 colleges and universities in the United States to have the designation of being an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI). I am proud to say that UMass Boston is one of only 15 institutions to have received the AANAPISI funding. Our faculty, staff and students are the best! Other than that, we have a beautiful campus! I hope you come and visit us soon.
Cheryl Monahan
Assistant DirectorPhone: 617.287.6192
Fax: 617.287.5999
cheryl.monahan@umb.eduResponsibilities: I am the liaison to the Accelerated Nursing Program, the College of Public and Community Service, and Changing Lives Through Literature. I also supervise the Beacon Ambassadors, our student Tour guides. These exceptional students represent the University not only by giving tours of our beautiful campus, but as student representatives who are committed to the campus and are advocates for student success.
Travel territory: Quincy College, Cape Cod Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, Middlesex Community College, Greenfield Community College, Community Colleges of Rhode Island, Southern Maine Community College, and New Hampshire colleges.
Advice for college bound students: Visit all of the schools that you are interested in, and learn all that you can about the community that you will now call “home” for the next four years. Be Pro-active! Become part of student activities and join a couple of clubs. Sit in the front of the classroom and participate in your education. Be active in your learning and enjoy the wonderful process of education.The best thing about UMass Boston is . . . The students here are so diverse in many ways, and they are very serious about their education. Most of our students work either on campus as part of their work study or off campus. I believe we have the finest faculty in the Boston area. They are really committed to the success of their students. They are involved in their communities and they bring that interest to the classroom usually in the form of internships for students. Our Campus is situated on Dorchester Bay, the setting is unique, and the views are beautiful.
Jaclyn Cowell
Assistant Director
Phone: 617.287.6118
Fax: 617.287.5999
jaclyn.cowell@umb.edu
Responsibilities: Review transfer credits, evaluate equivalencies/transferability of courses, and create and update articulation tables in transfer credit system.
Advice for college bound students: Visit as many schools as you can and take notes! There is a lot of information shared on a campus visit between the information sessions, campus tours and speaking with students that you can’t find online. This way when it comes time to apply to schools you can look back at your notes and remember all the reasons why you enjoyed your visit.
The best thing about UMass Boston is . . . The people, diverse academic offerings, and the location.
Michael Parcella
Admissions Counselor
Phone: 617.287.6141
Fax: 617.287.5999
michael.parcella@umb.edu
Responsibilities: Review transcripts, evaluate transferability of courses, update articulation tables in transfer credit system, and assist with prospective student information sessions.
Advice for college bound students: Explore your college. There are so many different programs and clubs that are offered to students, so take advantage of them. Explore your interests academically and find out what you’re looking for in a career. Join a club and find a new hobby while making lifelong friends. The more involved a student is in their college, the better experience they will have at that college.
The best thing about UMass Boston is . . .The campus here at UMass Boston is amazing and is only going to get better. It is a great feeling to walk out of class and be on Boston Harbor. The JFK library is one of the few presidential libraries on a university campus, great for studying and research. The newly renovated Clark Center gymnasium and Beacon fitness center are great places to stay active. Also it is very easy to get in and out of the city. This campus offers so many resources to students and the 25-year master plan has just begun.
