Two-day Commencement Ceremonies Held May 12, 13

2023 Commencement Tassel

04/28/2023

Media contacts:Emily Gowdey-Backus, director of media relations and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations
The struggle for equity and justice in an increasingly polarized world will be the central focus of the 2023 UMass Lowell Commencement ceremonies. The university will host 2011 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Tawakkol Karman and president and CEO of nonprofit Embrace Boston, Imari K. Paris Jeffries, over its Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13, weekend of festivities.
A member of the coalition spearheading Boston’s newest landmark, “The Embrace,” Paris Jeffries will address the undergraduates processing Saturday morning. Paris Jeffries is president and CEO of Embrace Boston, a nonprofit organization working to cultivate racial and economic justice in the Bay State capital. He is a UMass trustee and serves on the boards of several community-based organizations, including Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, Mass Humanities, Boston Ballet and The Huntington Theater Company. 
Tawakkol Abdel-Salam Khalid Karman
Nobel Peace Prize honoree Tawakkol Karman
A human rights activist, journalist, politician and winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, Karman will conclude the 2023 UMass Lowell Commencement ceremony when she addresses undergraduates Saturday afternoon. In her native Yemen, Karman emerged as a courageous leader during the 2011 Arab Spring. Known as the “Mother of the Revolution,” she promoted nonviolence and reconciliation while fighting corruption and repression. Karman will graduate from UMass Lowell during Friday's Commencement ceremony with a master's degree in security studies.
UMass Lowell’s Katherine L. Tucker, a professor of nutritional epidemiology in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, will give the Commencement address Friday as master’s and doctoral degree students are honored. In 2021, she was named UMass Lowell’s Distinguished University Professor, the highest honor bestowed on faculty in recognition of outstanding contributions to teaching, research and service. 
The university will also award three honorary degrees to the following individuals during its 2023 Commencement weekend.
  • A chemistry and chemical biology professor at Harvard University, Joanna Aizenberg began her lifelong focus on the field when she graduated from Moscow State University in 1984. Over nearly four decades, she has pursued higher degrees and continued to advance the understanding of materials sciences and chemistry as a pioneer in a rapidly evolving field.
  • Amy ’89, ’90 and James ’88 Regan embody what it means to be a lifetime River Hawk. Amy spent her career in education, including adjunct faculty positions at Mount Wachusett Community College, Rivier University and York County Community College. Jim recently retired from a 32-year career at Digital Federal Credit Union, where he ultimately served as president and CEO since 2008. Together, they have steadfastly supported UMass Lowell. In 2012, the couple were inducted into UMass Lowell’s Circle of Honor for their generous giving and five years later established the Regan Family Endowment for high-achieving students in business. 
  • A distinguished lawyer, legislator and judge, Cornelius Kiernan will be honored posthumously. A long-time advocate of his native Lowell, Kiernan was a graduate of Lowell High School, Boston University and Northeastern University School of Law who would go on to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for 25 years. A World War II U.S. Army veteran, Kiernan died in Lowell Jan. 20, 1996.
Imari Paris Jeffries
Embrace Boston CEO Imari K. Paris Jeffries
Bhupen Shah ’92 will be presented the UMass Lowell Distinguished Alumni award during the Saturday morning ceremony. After earning a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering technology from UMass Lowell, Shah worked for several startup companies before co-founding Atlantic Cores, a fabless semiconductor company. He would later go on to join the Acacia Communications Inc. leadership team in 2009.
Shah and his wife, Ramika, generously support UMass Lowell, including creation of the Shah Family Endowed Scholarship Fund for engineering students as well as continued support of the College of Engineering Dean’s Discretionary and the Student Emergency Needs funds. In April 2020, the couple committed to renovate Kitson Hall and the building was renamed Shah Hall in their honor. Shah is a member of the Francis College of Engineering’s Industrial Advisory Board and a former member of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board at UMass Lowell. He was inducted into the James B. Francis Society of Distinguished Engineers in May 2023.
The 2023 UMass Lowell Chancellor’s Award winners are as follows:
  • Chancellor’s Medal for Outstanding University Support: Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
  • Chancellor’s Medal for University and Athletic Support: Michael Kuenzler
  • Chancellor’s Medal for Public Service and Civic Engagement: Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association
Katherine Tucker faculty bio headshot photo
Distinguished University Professor Katherine L. Tucker
This year’s student Commencement speakers reflect the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and passion of the UMass Lowell student body.
  • Los Angeles resident, Mohamed Osman, a graduate of the Francis College of Engineering was chosen to address his fellow graduate students at Friday’s masters and doctoral degree ceremony.
  • Ewaldine “Shakira” Fedna, a biological sciences major from Lynn, Massachusetts, will address graduating seniors from the Francis College of Engineering, Kennedy College of Sciences and Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences Saturday morning.
  • Education studies major Sarah Lindtveit, of Methuen, Massachusetts, will conclude the 2023 Commencement ceremonies Saturday afternoon speaking to the graduating students of the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Manning School of Business.
Additional event information can be found on the UMass Lowell Commencement webpage.

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