Growing Our Alumni Community
The continued growth of alumni participation on our volunteer boards reflects the deep commitment our graduates have to the university. A strong and engaged alumni presence is vital to representing the campus and fostering meaningful connections.
Over the past year, seven outstanding alumni have been appointed to the UMass Boston Alumni Association board of directors. The board guides the association’s mission to provide opportunities for alumni to stay connected, participate in mentorship and service programs, and offer philanthropic support. By building an inclusive and active alumni network, the association advises and partners in the university’s ongoing success.
CATHERINE BATES ’07, G’14
Senior Academic Administration Analyst, UMass Boston
Since 2022, Katie has supported academic financial operations and strategic planning for the Provost’s Office. She began her professional career at Skinner House Books, supporting editorial production, event planning, and business operations. She also previously served in various roles at UMass Boston’s Center for Collaborative Leadership and the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, which included overseeing leadership programs, curriculum, logistics, and budgets. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from UMass Boston.
JENNIFER FLANAGAN’98
Senior Vice President, Liberty Square Group; Senior Advisor, Vicente
Jennifer provides guidance to clients on legislative processes and regulatory compliance. She began her career as chief of staff for State Representative Mary Jane Simmons as well as direct care staff at YOU, Inc. As a state representative (2005–2008) and state senator (2009–2017), she led substance use treatment and mental health legislation. She later directed cannabis regulation as a Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from UMass Boston and her master’s in mental health counseling from Fitchburg State University.
KELLY MANNING ’98
Executive Vice President, Manning Personnel Group
Kelly oversees client service and candidate experience for Manning Personnel Group, a boutique job placement and career advisory firm serving the Greater Boston area. A member of the firm’s senior leadership team with more than 25 years of experience, she also leads the firm’s temporary staffing division, which she launched in 2002. Kelly is passionate about mentoring team members and building lasting relationships with both job seekers and clients across a portfolio of organizations ranging from pre-IPO start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Kelly is a summa cum laude graduate of UMass Boston, where she double-majored in psychology and sociology, and is a graduate of Notre Dame Academy inHingham.
JOSÉ F. MASSÓ ’08
Chief of Human Services, City of Boston
Since 2022, José has served as a member of Mayor Michelle Wu’s cabinet. He oversees a diverse portfolio of city departments including the Boston Public Library, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Age Strong Commission, Veterans Services, Office of Returning Citizens, and the Office of Youth Engagement & Advanceme0nt. A nonprofit leader, community organizer, and lifelong resident of Boston, José has over two decades of experience in building and leading large, complex mission driven organizations, including United South End Settlements, YMCA of Greater Boston, Boston Public Health Commission, and Urban Edge. José attended Northeastern University before earning a bachelor’s in management from UMass Boston.
ZACHARY RONALD ’10
Manager of Emerging Technology, UMass Boston
Zack manages the IT Technovator hub, oversees MakerSpace operations, and supports HyFlex instruction and classroom capture services. He began as a classroom technologist at UMass Boston, managing classroom capture systems, videography, livestreaming, audio engineering, and distance-learning technologies. He holds credentials in design thinking and teaching with artificial intelligence, has participated in the Digital Learning Innovators Institute, and is a certified Apple Teacher. Zack holds a bachelor’s in history from UMass Boston.
MATTHEW SWEENEY JR. ’91
CEO & Partner, Long Term Centers Group, Inc.
As a managing partner at Long Term Centers Group, Matt has overseen expansion, operations, compliance, and real estate across facilities. His prior roles include senior financial consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield, senior budget analyst at Boston Medical Center, and COO at Serenity Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation, where he serves as the licensed administrator. Matt has taught courses at Cambridge College and UMass Boston. He earned his bachelor’s in economics from UMass Boston and his master’s in health care management from Lesley University.
TANYA ZUCCONI G’07
Founder & Principal Advisor, ZGM Advisors
Tanya is an experienced health care leader with a demonstrated history of success in startups, academic medical centers, private practices, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. She is currently focused on AI governance and bridging the gap between technical architecture and frontline clinical ops. Tanya holds dual bachelor’s degrees in sociology and psychology from the University of Tulsa and a master’s in business administration from UMass Boston. She has completed MIT Sloan AI strategy coursework and is a member of CHAI's Mental Health Chatbot & Ambient AI Workgroups.
New Young Alumni Council Members
The Young Alumni Council welcomed six new members this year. The Council is a volunteer leadership organization made up of graduates from the past 15 years who are dedicated to fostering a lifelong relationship with the university and engaging young alumni through events, service, and giving.