Biosketch
Each year, a graduating student is chosen to deliver a message that reflects on their class’s college experience, sharing meaningful moments, expressing gratitude, and inspiring excitement for the adventures to come. This year, Nokomis Bramantecohen was selected to honor that tradition, representing the undergraduate students of the Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the Manning School of Business.
Nokomis is from Wilmington, Massachusetts and came to the University of Massachusetts Lowell as a commuter student, navigating the challenges of finding belonging while also balancing work and academics.
From early on, she immersed herself within campus life, serving as an Orientation Leader where she became a welcoming and supportive presence for incoming students. She later took on leadership roles as a Well-Being Leader, a mentor for the Asian American Centers for Excellence and Engagement, and an Executive Board Member serving as the Treasurer and Captain for the UMass Lowell Club Field Hockey team.
Through these experiences, Nokomis was selected for a Chancellor's Medal for student service and dedicated herself to fostering community, uplifting others and creating inclusive spaces who, like her, may have once felt like outsiders.
Her journey at UMass Lowell has been defined by growth, resilience and compassion. After studying abroad for a semester in Milan, Italy, the experience had deepened her cultural perspective and independence, Nokomis returned for her senior year with a fresh perspective. She later expanded her involvement as a Resident Advisor, a Research Lab Assistant working with middle childhood and collecting data on lung function, and an Honors College student working alongside a nonprofit organization within the City of Lowell at Girls, Inc. Across all of her roles, she has remained passionate about breaking mental health stigma, community engagement and advocating for underrepresented voices.
Nokomis is a graduating senior today with a Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Community Social Psychology, and double minors in Sociology and Italian. As someone who has worked to fully fund her academic journey, she carries forward not only academic achievement but a deep understanding of perseverance and purpose.
Looking ahead, her plan is to go to Salem State University to obtain a Master's in Social Work and work full time as an Assistant Resident Director. In her downtime she loves to read, make arts and crafts and spend time with nature. She hopes to continue her work in mental health advocacy and community-based initiatives to create a positive environment and foster safe spaces.