There’s no better way to sum it up: 2025 was a big one for UMass Lowell.

A device that makes permanently mounted window bars fire-safe by allowing residents to release them instantly in an emergency won the annual Francis College of Engineering Prototyping Competition, hosted by the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute.

The final project for Introduction to Engineering Design allowed students to give back to their community while testing their new engineering skills.

The UMass Lowell delegation, consisting of four students and two professors, was the only delegation from a Massachusetts public university to attend Conference of the Parties 30 (COP30).

Code Smart topped four other teams to win the inaugural Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneurship Competition, co-hosted by the Manning School of Business and industry partner Helport AI.

Senior English major Julia Magee has won the 2025 Elinor Lipman Award for Writing for her short story “A Little Less than Halfway to Boiling,” which impressed judges with its vivid first-person voice and earned her recognition from the Pollard Memorial Library Foundation.

Political Science Professor Ardeth Thawnghmung, an internationally recognized scholar of Myanmar politics and a community leader, is UMass Lowell’s 2025 Distinguished University Professor.

UMass Lowell has partnered with tech manufacturer WolfVision to launch the nation’s first Technology Enhanced Active Learning (TEAL) Faculty Certification Program, helping instructors create more engaging, student-centered classrooms.

Brothers Caleb ’26 and Josiah Gennell ’22, ’24 turned a pandemic workout routine into The Natty Bros, a growing YouTube brand and live-event series that’s promoting professional arm wrestling across New England.

Jake Burke ’90, ’92 tapped his UMass Lowell network for a job at StratusPointIT, where he works for his former intern, Eric Correnti ’98, and alongside Charley Boudreau ’92.

Siblings Martin, Justin and Jasmin Marwad, who earned bachelor’s degrees in 2023 and master’s degrees in 2024, recently made it on to the Guinness World Records list for their degree-earning prowess.

Associate Professor of Art and Design Yuko Oda has had three works in a Rome art exhibit focused on climate, including a sculpture for which she borrowed tree roots and leaves from a park in the city.

Psychology Assistant Professor Sarah Merrill studies the tags that trauma and other adverse experiences can leave on children’s genes – and whether interventions can buffer the effects of stress. Her research is part of the rapidly expanding field of epigenetics.

Professor Marina Ruths was recently named a fellow of the American Chemical Society in recognition of her research in friction studies and for her service to the professional organization. 

A new digital archive preserves the stories of business, civic and cultural leaders whose efforts over the past five decades transformed Lowell into a model of urban revitalization.

The Celebration of Industry Partnerships, held in the heart of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, recognized more than 160 organizations that work with UMass Lowell.

More than 75 UMass Lowell faculty, staff and graduate students came together for the inaugural STEM Teaching, Educator Learning and Research (STELAR) Conference, designed to spark collaboration and lay the groundwork for a new interdisciplinary STEM education and research center.

Senior music education major Glen Njeru helped evacuate 40 fellow UMass Lowell Marching Band members from a burning charter bus on the way to a performance, earning praise from his directors and Chancellor Julie Chen for his quick thinking, composure and leadership.

A new program launched by the Office of Student Life and Well-being, The Financial Seed, gives students the opportunity to grow their financial literacy through a variety of personalized resources. 

Paul Kuttner brings a wealth of experience in the arts, community-campus partnerships and informal education to his new role as director of the Tsongas Industrial History Center and director of educational partnerships for the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

University Dining is advancing UMass Lowell’s sustainability efforts through a new reusable container program and research collaborations that promote plant-forward, environmentally responsible dining.

Early-career alumni from around the world have joined forces through the new Manning School of Business Professional Leaders Council to mentor students, share industry insights and strengthen real-world connections between the classroom and the workplace.

A talk on ancient coins by History Assistant Professor Jane Sancinito for the American Numismatic Society inspired New York doctor David Menchell to buy a collection of ancient Roman and Greek coins for students at UMass Lowell to study.

Assistant Professor of Biology Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn and her students are studying the genetics, microbiomes and resilience of wild and farmed oysters on the North Shore of Massachusetts to understand how climate change and disease affect coastal ecosystems and aquaculture.

The New England Consortium at UMass Lowell recently secured a five-year $7.3 million grant from the federal National Institute of Environmental Sciences to protect the health of frontline workers.

The annual James B. Francis Lecture on the Built Environment, featuring civil and environmental engineering alum Steven Fallon ’20, examined how artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics can help design more attainable and sustainable housing.

Two Computer Science students studied in France this summer as part of a larger effort to provide opportunities for students in the Kennedy College of Sciences to experience international learning in preparation for today’s global workplaces.

From the “Capybara Express” to the “Aluminum Falcon Experience,” UMass Lowell students and alumni brought engineering, art and community spirit to the annual Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race.

Galadriel Chilton, a first-generation college graduate and longtime advocate for equitable access to information, has joined UMass Lowell as dean of the University Library, where she aims to expand research support, refresh collections and create welcoming spaces for all students.

As digital and social media coordinator for the New England Patriots, English alum Carter Hochman ’19 has turned his student-athlete experience at UML and media passion into a dream job in the NFL.

The Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences Department received a $750,000 Workforce Development Grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to build two specialized teaching and research facilities: mammalian cell culture and histology laboratories.

Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Chiara Ghezzi recently won two grants from the NIH to support her groundbreaking research into the microbiome of the oral cavity and its connection to disease.

Electrical Engineering Assistant Professor Anhar Bhuiyan has won two National Science Foundation grants for his research into better materials and electronic devices for high-voltage power components used in space – and here on Earth.

Assistant Professor of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Joy Winbourne has joined forces with two engineering professors to advance research into sustainable mulch.

Returning students will discover plenty of improvements around campus this summer, from the new South Campus plaza and refreshed hangout spaces to renovated classrooms and updated athletic facilities.

New Francis College of Engineering Dean Susan Roberts, a chemical engineer with a distinguished career advancing interdisciplinary research and graduate education, is excited to lead the college through a new era of research, innovation and collaboration.

Associate Professor David Cornell recent won the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

UMass Lowell’s PROPEL Careers Program gives local high school students paid, hands-on research experiences in engineering and science labs, building their skills, confidence and interest in pursuing college and STEM careers.

Nearly 600 family members gained resources and reassurance at Family Orientation sessions this summer — part of the university’s larger mission to support not only students, but the loved ones who guide them through the transition to college.

The Center for Wind Energy Science, Technology and Research (WindSTAR) continues to receive support from the National Science Foundation.

From Silicon Valley to Armenia, UMass Lowell students spent the summer building skills, earning income and exploring career paths through paid professional experiences.

Mechanical engineering majors Andrew Bonczek, Zachary Muniz and Ethan Norton landed summer internships as product definition engineers at GE Aerospace, following the flight plan of fellow UMass Lowell Rocketry Club member Alinna Hanna ’25.

The Greater Lowell Franco American Digital Archive aims to record, preserve and share the history of the area's French Canadian immigrants and their descendants for scholars, students and the public.

A new partnership with the Lowell Regional Transit Authority will bring fixed-schedule, fare-free bus service to UMass Lowell’s Orange Line, also providing a direct route from campus to Lowell’s commuter rail station for the first time.

UMass Lowell baseball pitchers Nolan Geisler, Kevin Rourke and Jake LeFrancois are staying sharp this summer in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, which is adding an expansion franchise in Lowell next year.

UMass Lowell’s Global Entrepreneurship Exchange (GE2) program returned in person on campus for the first time since the pandemic, offering 25 students the chance to collaborate on a real-world challenge: how to turn a faculty-designed space technology into a viable business.

Graphic design alumna and adjunct professor Kristin Morrissey Jordan ’14 draws on her user experience expertise to run Second Chance Ranch Rescue, a nonprofit dog rescue that she started with her husband, mechanical engineering alum Cam Jordan ’14.

Associate Professor Angela Wangari Walter of the Department of Public Health in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences joins an elite group of scholars from across the nation who have been selected to receive the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar award.

Sixteen Kennedy College of Sciences students explored evolution and development firsthand during a two-week study abroad course in the Galápagos Islands, combining classroom learning with immersive field research and cultural experiences.

Professor and Chair of the Solomont School of Nursing Heidi Collins Fantasia and Doctor of Nursing Practice alumna Michelle Flanagan ’25 set the record straight on evidence-based treatments for menopause in a paper published in Nursing for Women’s Health.

Two recent pilot studies published in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology and Environmental Health suggest that consuming a soluble fiber supplement regularly with food reduces levels of toxic PFOS and PFOA.

Dean of Student Affairs and Wellness Brenda Evans ’94, ’95 was recently honored with the Butts-Whiting Award, the most prestigious accolade presented by the Association of College Unions International. 

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Assistant Professor Alessandro Sabato has won a $607,855 CAREER Grant from the National Science Foundation to advance his work on an innovative system for monitoring the structural integrity of bridges, dams and wind turbines.

Four recent graduates from the Kennedy College of Sciences' master’s program in mathematics who have landed their dream jobs as math teachers in high schools around the region. 

Visiting Lecturer Matthew Beyranevand ’03, ’10 aims to improve students’ understanding of higher mathematics – and to make precalculus classes more fun. Two undergraduate students are helping him while gaining research experience.

The UMass Lowell team of Matthew Ruggiero ’25, Emily Lauretano ’25 and Kaylee Estevao ’25 beat 19 colleges in the fall to earn the regional College Bowl title. At the national competition in May, the team placed fourth among 11 colleges.

One of the newest members of the university’s electrical engineering faculty, Assistant Professor Anhar Bhuiyan, has won a prestigious seed grant to support his research into better materials for the components that power satellites and unmanned spacecraft.

Former UMass Lowell ice hockey and current Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been named the winner of both the NHL's Hart Memorial Trophy and Vezina Trophy. The Hart Memorial Trophy is given to "the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team," while the Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the best goaltender in the league.

UMass Lowell alum Jilly Martin ’09 has built a successful country music career with the duo Martin and Kelly by applying the skills she learned as a business student to thrive as an independent artist and entrepreneur.

Core Research Facilities hosted its inaugural Art in Science Image Competition.

After two decades in military research and biotech entrepreneurship, Robert Kenefick has circled back to where his scientific journey began—academia.

Ten years ago, criminal justice alum Jake Sulzer ’15 took a “shot in the dark” and offered to release a local band’s album on vinyl. Now, he runs a successful independent record label, Counter Intuitive Records, and recently launched a brick-and-mortar store in Brookline, Massachusetts.

UMass Lowell environmental science alum William Stefanov ’88 is using his Earth science expertise at NASA to coordinate disaster response, train astronauts and advance remote sensing technologies aboard the International Space Station.

There was a 65-year age gap between the oldest member of UMass Lowell’s Class of 2025, 83-year-old John Doherty, and the youngest members, 18-year-old twins Franzi and Edward Hoene, but the graduates were united by a love of learning and a desire to grow.

Education and Honors College students are studying abroad in Belize, England and Greece, thanks to School of Education faculty who are leading new programs for global learning.

Manning School of Business students put their skills to the test at the inaugural UMass Lowell Sales Challenge, part of a growing sales curriculum and new Sales Hub initiative.

To bring care directly to children in Lowell, the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences has partnered with Lowell Public Schools and the Lowell Community Health Center to launch a Mobile Health Unit.

Six graduating seniors from UMass Lowell’s Class of 2025 share how dedicated mentors shaped their success and prepared them for what’s next.

The university recognized nearly two dozen student organizations and their leaders at the annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony at University Crossing.

Senior public health major Fajr Zahid was named UMass Lowell’s Student Employee of the Year for her outstanding work managing well-being leaders in the Office of Student Life & Well-being.

A panel of recent political science alumni returned to UMass Lowell to tell students about what they’ve done since graduation and how UML prepared them for everything from policy and polling jobs to working for the president’s advance team.

Peer leaders from the Office of Multicultural Affairs are now supported with scholarships and mentorship from workforce management software company UKG, a longtime industry partner of UMass Lowell.

The UMass Lowell WindHawks are competing in the final round of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Collegiate Wind Competition, scheduled for May 12-15 in Boulder, Colorado.

Team Pawva’s Smart Pet Bed, which tracks the weight, body temperature and sleeping patterns of a dog or cat, took the top prize at the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute’s 13th annual $50,000 Idea Challenge.

Sean Simonini, who is double-majoring in biology and political science, wants to help find treatments and a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease. He won a $7,500 Goldwater Scholarship to support that work.

Paul Marion ’76, ’05 and Rosemary Noon, who have deep ancestral roots in Lowell, recently donated a treasure trove of artifacts to the Center for Lowell History, which is part of the UMass Lowell Library.

Thirteen Ph.D. students put their presentation skills to the test in UMass Lowell’s inaugural Three Minute Thesis competition, an international program designed to help graduate students explain their research in a succinct and compelling way to general audiences.

The Shah Academy of Innovation and Leadership is helping select engineering students to develop into future industry leaders through scholarships, mentorship and professional skill-building opportunities.

More than 200 students showcased their research work and academic endeavors at the 28th annual Student Research and Community Engagement Symposium at University Crossing.

The inaugural Manning School of Business Industry Days brought over 100 professionals, including 44 alumni, to campus for two days of talks and networking with students, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world business challenges.

A team of computer science students placed first in the Northeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, clinching them a spot in the national contest.

The actuarial studies program prepares students to protect the financial stability of businesses and individuals, whether at insurance companies, consulting firms, government agencies or financial institutions.

English Prof. Maureen Stanton’s new memoir, “The Murmur of Everything Moving,” about young love, death, caretaking and grief, has won major literary awards. One resulted in the book’s publication this month, 25 years after she first wrote it.

UMass Lowell student teams, including Mock Trial, a cyber security team, Model United Nations (U.N.) and an investment class, are on a winning streak this year.

As the new director of the DifferenceMaker program, alum Richard Juknavorian ’98 is leveraging his experience in startups and venture capital to help students turn their creative ideas into sustainable businesses.

As a 2D FX animator, UMass Lowell art and design alumna Katie Lucas ’20 has had a hand in some highly acclaimed projects, including the film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” and Cartoon Network’s “Rick and Morty.”

History majors at UMass Lowell take advantage of its historic location and a range of opportunities for internships, research with faculty and experiences abroad.

Backed by a $360,000 U.S. Army Research Office grant, Plastics Engineering Assoc. Prof. Wan-Ting (Grace) Chen is studying how biofilms affect the breakdown of plastic in freshwater environments. The three-year project could help prevent the formation of harmful microplastics

For years, UMass Lowell's Baseball Research Center has been the primary equipment testing lab for Major League Baseball. Now, it’s embracing pickleball – the latest sport to capture the imagination of players young and old – through a partnership with the United Pickleball Association of America and Pickle Pro Labs. 

Thanks to the new UMass Community College Advantage Scholarship, a dozen transfer students have received a $10,000 boost to complete their bachelor’s degrees at UMass Lowell.

Zuckerberg students gain experience working for biotechnology companies, hospitals, municipalities, professional sports teams and rehabilitation clinics, honing their skills before graduating.

English alumna Venus Israni has returned to her alma mater to lead the River Hawk Scholars Academy, UML’s support program for first-generation college students.

A warming climate is leading to greater extremes of wet and dry weather, a pattern called hydroclimate whiplash. One example is the Los Angeles fires, which were followed by torrential rains and mudslides, says Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Prof. Christopher Skinner.

UMass Lowell is now listed as a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) university, a prestigious designation used to identify the nation’s top research institutions.

David Laurello ’81, ’88, former CEO of Stratus Technologies, has returned to his alma mater as executive in residence at the Manning School of Business, mentoring students, teaching courses and bridging the gap between academia and industry.

Physics Ph.D. student Charmi Patel ’24 recently traveled to Sweden to deploy HiT&MiS, an innovative optical spectrograph developed by the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology to study space weather in the little-understood "ignorosphere."

UMass Lowell faculty and staff pursue fascinating hobbies outside of their academic roles, from historical reenactments and powerlifting to mixology and figure skating.

Researchers from UMass Lowell and the UK will use drones, computer vision and AI to conduct wind turbine inspection and monitoring, especially in remote locations.

Seven Honors College students, representing six different majors, traveled to Ghana during winter break for a study abroad seminar on public health and energy.

Work is set to begin on the expansion and renovation of the Olney Science Center, providing modern labs, collaborative spaces and amenities to enhance the learning experience for Kennedy College of Sciences students.

Julie Keysor, the new chair of the Physical Therapy and Kinesiology (PTK) Department, brings her personal experiences, research expertise and leadership capabilities to the students and faculty of the department.