UMass Boston

As the Commencement ceremonies on May 27 and 28 drew to a close, beaming new graduates hurried to meet up with their families and friends. Some of them took a moment to reflect on their time at UMass Boston, and to discuss their plans for the future.

Ashanti Mclean, BA in Environmental Studies

“I really liked the diversity of the whole campus: meeting new people, getting new perspectives, and expanding any epistemic bubbles I may be in,” Mclean said, gesturing at the crowds of graduates. She also appreciated the diversity of experiences that she found in her field of study, and the ways in which it looks for just and equitable solutions to environmental problems: “[Environmental science at UMass Boston] lets you touch on a lot of different fields, like social sciences, while you get in touch with the hard sciences at the same time. It’s a full experience.”

She hopes to use her new degree to get involved in environmental research. “I’m thinking about energy research, in particular.”

Emanuel Da Silva, BS in Entrepreneurship and Marketing

Da Silva counsels aspiring new students to persist, no matter what. “Honestly, in my first semester, when I started out, I was very nervous. I’m a first-generation student, so I didn’t have a lot of people to tell me what to do, and light the way. But I met a lot of good people, and I just kept going… and that’s why I’m here today, graduating.” 

Emanuel hopes to put his skills to use in a marketing job—or, eventually, to start his own business.

Rhiannon Lecuyer, BS in Physics

After graduation, Lecuyer has big plans. “I’m going to work at UMass Boston for the Directions for Student Potential program,” she said. “Then, after that ends this summer, I’m going to start at Tufts University with a masters in biomedical engineering.”

As a McNair scholarship recipient, she has already made connections to the world of research at UMass Boston, and is eager for the scientific opportunities in the next stage of her education. She hopes to work on a project related to optics—perhaps microscopes—but will only learn the specifics once she has been paired with an advisor at Tufts.

Ariyanna Roach, BS in Exercise and Health Sciences

Roach transferred from UMass Amherst to UMass Boston for her Junior year. “I liked Boston a lot better because it’s way more diverse, and you get the hustle and bustle of the city,” she said. “Also, through UMass Boston, I got to travel to Japan through a study abroad program, which was really nice.”

After graduation, she will continue her work as a program manager for ABL Fitness, the organization where she did an undergraduate internship. “We do functional fitness sessions for individuals with neurodivergence,” she explained. “I do individual sessions, I teach a variety of group sessions, and I oversee our volunteers and our assistance coaches.”

“I love all our athletes, and the people I get to work with every day.”

Claire Ross, MA in Historical Archaeology

Ross took a break from taking pictures to explain her field of study. “My area of research is in the 19^th century, mainly the mid-Atlantic and New England, and looking at 19^th century material culture and archaeology from those regions.”

Part of the appeal of UMass Boston’s anthropology department, she said, was the ability to travel to archeological sites. “I’ve been able to go to Iceland through an NSF grant that my professor in the department got, and I’ve also done a lot of other grant-funded work in the East Hampton/Shelter Island area. Travel is one thing that’s great about UMass Boston, as well as the professors—they’re super supportive.”

“I’m very excited to be graduating, but it’s bittersweet because I really do love it here.”