Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs
Harry Brett
University Photographer
Harry is a lifelong photographer whose work has included a broad range of activities and subjects, including news, weddings, and special events. For the past 20 years he has served as UMass Boston’s photographer, covering university events and shooting for publications such as the University Reporter and UMass Boston magazine.
Phone: 617-287-5300
Email: harry.brett@umb.edu
Philip J. Carver
Public Affairs Program Administrator
Phil brings a long history of civic engagement to his work at UMass Boston, where he serves as the university’s point person for developing, coordinating, and maintaining data management systems tracking community outreach activities and keeping senior staff informed about these efforts. In addition, Phil is UMass Boston’s liaison to the local business community, working with Main Streets programs, boards of trade, and local economic development agencies to provide university support for their economic development activities. Prior to joining UMass Boston, Phil served as manager of information/chief of staff at the state’s Executive Office of Transportation Planning and, previously, as a business manager for the Massachusetts Highway Department. He has received several awards for his civic work in Dorchester and the city.
Phone: 617-287-7359
Email: philip.carver@umb.edu
John Ciccarelli
Associate Vice Chancellor for Government Relations, Public Affairs, and Economic Development
John provides leadership and strategic planning for UMass Boston in the areas of urban outreach, public policy, communications, and government and community relations. Specifically, he serves as the university’s primary liaison with city, state, and federal governments, various external constituencies, and community and regulatory organizations. With other university officials, he helps advance UMass Boston’s legislative agenda and secure government support for major university initiatives.
John joined the university as assistant to the chancellor for economic development. From his office in the College of Management, he worked on a variety of projects, from cataloguing the university’s work in economic development locally and internationally, to finding new opportunities consistent with the university’s mission of teaching, research and service. Prior to coming to UMass Boston, John was state director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, part of a national network funded by federal and state government at UMass Amherst. He served in various capacities for the national network, including as president, as vice president, and as a member of its accreditation board. He received his undergraduate degree from Holy Cross College and his master of public administration degree from Northeastern University.
Phone: 617-287-5146
Email: John.Ciccarelli@umb.edu
Noel Cotterell
Production and Advertising Manager
A graduate of UMass Boston’s College of Management, Noel is responsible for overseeing the office’s budget. He provides technical and procedural advice regarding printing and advertising projects for the university community, and is responsible for scheduling all print and advertising projects for the university. Noel also serves as the chief negotiator for print and advertising contracts for the university.
Phone: 617-287-5386
Email: noel.cotterell@umb.edu
Rose Coveney
Senior Graphic Designer
Rose has 20 years of graphic design experience. Before coming to UMass Boston, she ran her own graphic design business. Prior to that, she worked with KPMG, where she held the position of regional art director for 12 years. Rose is responsible for the design and production of a variety of projects including brochures, logos, newsletters, advertising, and other marketing materials.
Phone: 617-287-5384
Email: rose-anne.coveney@umb.edu
Wendy Gordon
Senior Graphic Designer
After transferring from Northeastern University, Wendy began as a work-study design assistant for the former Office of New Student Services. When she graduated, she was hired full-time as a graphic arts technician and was later promoted to graphic designer. Wendy works on various projects for the Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs, including the undergraduate and graduate catalogs, flyers, posters, invitations, brochures, and newspaper ads.
Phone: 617-287-6009
Email: wendy.gordon@umb.edu
Peter Grennen
Senior Editor/Writer
Peter has more than 20 years of experience in editorial production and writing for publishers in the New York City area and elsewhere – among them Penguin Putnam, Random House, and Doubleday – and as a copy chief for Hearst Business Publications. His responsibilities at UMass Boston include editing such major publications as the undergraduate catalog, the student handbook, and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs’ annual report, as well as numerous brochures and other publications. He works on many of the chancellor’s communications, and he is also a frequent contributor to the University Reporter as both a writer and editor. Peter has a B.A. in English and political economy from Fordham University.
Phone: 617-287-5306
Email: peter.grennen@umb.edu
Gail Hobin
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Community Relations
Gail, formerly the director of community relations and special events, is the assistant vice chancellor for community relations. In this position, Gail serves as the university’s primary liaison to local leaders, community groups, and organizations across the City of Boston. She works with them to provide assistance and support from UMass Boston and represents the university’s interests. Prior to her involvement with the Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs, Gail worked in the College of Management as assistant to the dean. She oversees the scheduling of campus space for all non-academic use. Gail earned both her B.A. and her M.Ed. at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Phone: 617-287-5310
Email: gail.hobin@umb.edu
Sharon Kennedy
Director of Marketing
As the director of university marketing, Sharon is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the image of the university for internal and external audiences, as well as creating and managing an integrated marketing program. She works with a university-wide team to tell the UMass Boston story, both on and off campus, to our prospective students and their families, our neighbors, and leaders in education, business, and the community. Sharon came to UMass Boston from the Liberty Square Group, where she served as senior vice president for strategic events. Previously she held the positions of assistant to the president for special events at Harvard University, special assistant to the president and deputy social secretary for communications in the Office of the Social Secretary at the White House, and deputy director of public affairs at the Federal Highway Administration. Sharon earned her B.A. in business administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Phone: 617-287-5300
Email: Sharon.Kennedy@umb.edu
Anne-Marie Kent
Senior Staff Writer
Prior to joining University Communications in 1999, Anne-Marie completed a professional writing internship for the Drug Enforcement Administration, served as public affairs specialist for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and taught freshman English at UMass Boston through the Division of Corporate, Continuing, and Distance Education. As senior staff writer, she is responsible for compiling reports and briefings and contributing to the University Reporter and various other university publications. She is an active member of the university’s Safety Planning Committee, co-chair of its Crisis Communications subcommittee, and co-author of the university’s Emergency Operations Plan. Anne-Marie earned both her B.A. and M.A. in English at UMass Boston.
Phone: 617-287-6808
Email: anne-marie.kent@umb.edu
Will Kilburn
Assistant Director of Public Information and Public Relations
Will is responsible for communicating information about the university and its activities through public relations initiatives and publications such as the University Reporter. As associate editor for the Reporter, he helps to plan upcoming issues, writes and edits articles, and coordinates layout. Prior to UMass Boston, Will worked in editorial and production capacities at the Boston Globe, BostonWorks, Monster, Houghton Mifflin Publishing, Cahner’s Business Information, New England Cable News, WBZ Radio, Christian Science Monitor Radio, and WBUR. He earned his B.A. in print journalism with a concentration in environmental studies from Boston University.
Phone: 617-287-5317
Email: Will.kilburn@umb.edu
Suzanne Korschun
Senior Graphic Designer
Suzanne works on a variety of publications for the university, including major student-recruitment pieces, commencement invitations and programs, and WUMB and Boston Folk Festival magazines and publicity pieces. She received her B.A. in art history and fine arts from Yale University. Prior to joining the university, she worked as a graphic designer at Hispanex, Inc. in Boston, where she designed college text books, CD-ROMs, the company web site, and ancillary educational materials. Suzanne also has extensive experience designing ads, brochures, posters, and invitations.
Phone: 617-287-5392
Email: suzanne.korschun@umb.edu
DeWayne Lehman
Director of Communications
As the director of communications for UMass Boston, DeWayne is responsible for telling the university’s story via the media, university publications, and other external avenues. He brings extensive experience in media, communications, and public relations from his previous work in journalism, government, and the private sector. Most recently, DeWayne served as the director of public affairs at Schneider Associates, a Boston public relations agency. He also previously worked as the director of media/public relations for the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development and served as the deputy press secretary for Boston’s Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Prior to joining the city, he worked as an editor and reporter at Boston-area papers. DeWayne earned a bachelor of arts degree in American studies from Anderson College, in Anderson, Indiana.
Phone: 617-287-5302
Email: DeWayne.Lehman@umb.edu
Colleen Lofgren
Office Coordinator
Colleen is the administrative assistant for the Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs. Prior to joining this division, Colleen worked as the receptionist in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at UMass Boston. She is pursuing a B.A. in communications and political science at the university, and she also has a real estate license.
Phone: 617-287-5307
Email: Colleen.Lofgren@umb.edu
Angie Markowski
Graphic Designer
Angie has a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Susquehanna University, Pennsylvania. She brings conceptual designs to the graphic arts and publications department. In her previous assignments she has excelled at designing new client web sites, and mailings and brochures. She has contributed toward archiving and updating the university photo database, which is an extensive online resource providing accessibility to thousands of images of university events and community. She specializes in print designing, including invitations, brochures, newsletters and advertisements. She has several graphic design honors and awards to her credit.
Phone: 617-287-5549
Email: Angie.Markowski@umb.edu
Jeffrey Mitchell
University Editor
Jeff is responsible as a planner, editor, and writer for many major university publications, among them UMass Boston magazine, viewbooks for student recruitment, fundraising brochures, and the UMass Boston Schedule of Courses; he has also worked on CD-ROM and web projects, video productions, and print advertising. He came to UMass Boston in 1980 from New York City, where he was coordinating director of the Academy of American Poets and earned a PhD in English literature at Columbia University.
Phone: 617-287-5388
Email: jeffrey.mitchell@umb.edu
Kaushik Prakash
Communications Research Associate
Kaushik works in communications and public information tracking news articles that feature UMass Boston and its community; distributing the “UMass Boston in the News” daily e-newsletter; and researching, writing, and distributing press releases and media advisories. He pays special attention to the achievements of students, faculty, and staff and brings them to the forefront in the form of “Spotlight” and “News and Events” postings on the UMass Boston homepage. Kaushik is also a frequent contributing writer to the University Reporter.
Kaushik has a master’s degree in business administration from the UMass Boston and a bachelor’s degree in business management earned in his hometown Bangalore, India. Prior to joining the business school at UMass Boston, Kaushik served as the operations manager at one of India’s largest financial institutions for three years.
Phone: 617-287-5383
Email: kaushik.prakash@umb.edu
Maria Helena Serpa
Administrative Assistant
Lena serves as administrative assistant for the assistant vice chancellor for community relations. In this role, she works closely with community organizations seeking to use campus space for non-academic needs, providing scheduling and coordinating assistance. Prior to joining the Office of Government Relations and Public Affairs, she worked for four years as office manager for the Sociology Department at UMass Boston. She earned bachelor’s degrees in English and music from UMass Boston and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in library science at Simmons College.
Phone: 617 287-5304
Email: lena.serpa@umb.edu
Diane Vasseur
Administrative Assistant
Diane Vasseur is an administrative assistant to the Office of University Government Relations and Public Affairs. Diane has been with the university for over 17 years. Sixteen of those years have been in the public relations department, formerly known as Public Information and External Relations.
Phone: 617-287-5380
Email: diane.vasseur@umb.edu
Sarah Weatherbee
Art Director and Senior Graphic Designer
Before joining UMass Boston, Sarah ran her own freelance business specializing in design for art galleries, museums, and non-profit organizations. Some of her noteworthy accomplishments include: art exhibits in New England galleries that featured her personal artwork, design of exhibit catalogs, and experience in the printing industry. Her breadth of knowledge extends beyond her design and art backgrounds. She has held positions of responsibility in the fields of printing and arts management. She received her BFA from Portland School of Art.
Phone: 617-287-5382
Email: sarah.weatherbee@umb.edu
How to Contact Us
University of Massachusetts Boston100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393
Quinn Administration Building, 3rd Floor
Phone: 617-287-5300
Fax: 617-287-5305
E-mail: news@umb.edu