Meet Our Alumni and Students

  • Matthew Beyranevand
    Education

    Matthew Beyranevand produces and hosts “Math with Matthew,” a public access cable television show that combines comedy and music to help pre-teen children understand mathematics without even realizing it.

  • Sydney Fagundes
    Education

    Sydney Fagundes has found her calling: teaching young children, with a focus on science and math.

  • Janelle Christopher
    Education

    Janelle Christopher started studying at UMass Lowell at the same time as her mom, Lorraine.

  • Iman Chahine
    Education

    Assoc. Prof. Iman Chahine helps teachers understand how different systems of mathematics serve different cultures. Her research focuses on how indigenous and techno-literate societies engage in mathematics through daily practices.

  • Ralph Saint-Louis
    Biology and UTeach

    Ralph Saint-Louis ’18, ’20 was recognized by Time Magazine as one of its 2022 Innovative Teachers.

  • Joyce Vega
    Education

    Joyce Vega is grateful for all of the scholarships she was able to apply for through UML’s scholarship portal.

  • Edward Morante
    English

    Edward Morante says his studies in education and English, and his participation in the DifferenceMaker program, are preparing him to teach children of all ages.

  • Robai Werunga
    Early Intervention and Special Education

    Asst. Prof. Robai Werunga works on providing early intervention to students who may have learning or behavioral disabilities. She says cultural factors play a part in determining which children get timely help – and which ones get unnecessary services.

  • Christina Sirignano
    History and Education

    A scholarship endowed in memory of the late English teacher and lecturer Socrates Lagios helped Christina Sirignano complete her master’s degree in education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Angela Messina
    Education

    Until her senior year of high school, Angela Messina assumed she couldn’t afford college. But thanks to scholarships and work, she’s pursuing her dream of being a public school teacher.

  • Michael Aloisi
    Education

    Michael Aloisi always knew that he wanted to teach. The College of Education is helping him discover all the ways that he can do it – even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • John Martin
    English, Education

    John Martin ’10 ’13 went from ho-hum high school student to Teacher of the Year in the Connecticut district where he teaches high school English.

  • Payal Patel
    Biology, UTeach

    When Payal Patel started college as an engineering major, she missed tutoring and teaching – so she decided to make education her career.

  • Varsha Perkins
    Education

    Varsha Perkins loves both her teaching and honors classes.

  • Roberto Rivera
    English, Spanish and Italian & Education

    Roberto Rivera combined a B.A. in English literature and Spanish and Italian with a master’s degree in education to become an ESL teacher in the Lawrence schools.

  • Duc Vu
    Chemistry, UTeach

    Duc Vu discovered his ability to teach in high school, so he signed up for the UTeach program in STEM education.

  • Morgan Tierno
    Biology and UTeach

    Biology teacher Morgan Tierno’s student teaching and first year on the job were complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and major social issues. But, she says, UTeach prepared her for those challenges.

  • Gertrude Bailey
    Elementary Education

    A Lowell elementary school is named for Gertrude M. Bailey ’48, who taught countless Lowell schoolchildren and mentored a generation of student teachers.

  • Melanie Carignan
    Education

    Melanie Carignan is so enthusiastic about the undergraduate education major that she volunteered to be the College of Education’s first alumni ambassador.

  • Neil Oliveria
    History & Education

    Neil Oliveria, already a grandfather, is pursuing degrees in history and education so he can embark on a new career as a teacher.

  • Karin Loach
    Education – STEM

    Science teacher Karin Loach says UMass Lowell’s well-paced and structured online Doctor of Education program was a perfect fit.

  • Bob Manseau
    Education

    Bob Manseau was named Principal of the Year for his work in New Hampshire, but its his education from UMass Lowell that made the difference for him.

  • Leslie Marrero
    Education

    Leslie Marrero says schools are already inviting her to apply for teaching jobs because she’s earning dual certification in teaching students with moderate disabilities.

  • Matt Crowley
    Education

    Matt Crowley, part of a team that led a radical turnaround in Brockton High School, is bringing his literacy campaign to the Woburn public schools.

  • Norm Bazin
    Men's Ice Hockey Coach

    As an alum and a coach, Norm Bazin makes the River Hawks proud on and off the ice.

  • Amanda Baptiste
    Exercise Physiology and Education

    Through leadership opportunities as a student-athlete, exercise physiology graduate Amanda Baptiste found her voice — and discovered her calling to become a high school biology teacher.

  • Ryan Descheneaux
    Education

    Ryan Descheneaux was inspired to teach by his uncle.

  • Matthew Olson
    Education

    Matthew Olson, dean of humanities and social science at Middlesex Community College, says there is a direct connection between the doctorate he earned in Leadership in Schooling and his current job.

  • Eleanora Peters
    Education

    Eleanora Peters fell in love with teaching at the Boston Museum of Science.

  • Declan Burke
    Education

    Declan Burke struggled in school as a child. Now he plans to become a special education teacher.

  • Martha Mayo
    Education

    Retired special collections librarian Martha Mayo ’92 collects art – and supports art at UMass Lowell (UML).

  • Thomas Heywosz
    Math and UTeach

    Thomas Heywosz’s experiences in the UTeach program and in Haiti have made him a successful high school math teacher.