Joan Becker Wins Top Council for Opportunity in Education Award

By Samuel Heizmann

What do the following UMass Boston programs have in common? Upward Bound, Veterans Upward Bound, Urban Scholars, Project REACH, Math Science Upward Bound, Admission Guaranteed Program, Health Careers Opportunity Program, and the Gavin GEAR UP?

Yes, they all prepare targeted populations for university study by providing participants with study skills instruction, tutoring, and advising. These programs bring people to UMass Boston and encourage them to apply. They also generate outside funding—over $3.4 million. They produce results, too. More than 85 percent of Upward Bound graduates, more than 95 percent of the Urban Scholars and Math Science Upward Bound graduates, and more than 60 percent of Project REACH students go on to college. All of these programs rely on the hard work of Joan Becker, associate vice provost for academic support services, for their continued success.

Recently, Becker’s efforts for these and other programs were recognized by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE). COE is a non-profit organization that works in tandem with colleges and universities to help low-income aspirants enter and graduate from college. At a September ceremony in Washington, D.C., Becker was presented with COE’s Walter O. Mason Award, which “celebrates excellence in the advancement of educational opportunities for low-income and under-served students.”

“Surprised and humbled” by the Mason Award, Becker says, “It is the highest honor the council bestows.” While awards are great, Becker believes, her students’ accomplishments are just as meaningful. “I measure success by the number of students who are able to reach their full potential,” she says.
Initially recruited by UMass Boston in 1984 to develop the Urban Scholars Program, Becker brings her enthusiasm to

this and the other pre-collegiate programs the university offers to increase access to higher education. “I do the work because it needs to be done,” says Becker simply. She adds, “If we are serious about the democratic ideals that serve as the foundation of this country, we have a responsibility to ‘love other people’s children’ and to ensure that they have the same education we would demand for our own.”

Image: Joan Becker, associate vice provost for academic support services, won the Walter O. Mason Award in recognition for her commitment to increasing access to higher education. (Photo by Harry Brett)

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