More than 4,200 graduates join global community of River Hawk alumni
05/16/2026
Media Contacts: David Joyner, executive director of communications and digital media, David_Joyner@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, associate director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. – Go out and inspire the next generation of thinkers, leaders and doers — and know that you’ll always have a home in UMass Lowell.
That was the message to the members of Class of 2026 this weekend, as the university awarded 4,252 degrees to the graduates in three ceremonies on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.
Diplomas representing 191 doctoral, 1,514 master’s, 2,530 bachelor’s and 17 associate degrees were awarded from the university’s College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Francis College of Engineering; Kennedy College of Sciences; Manning School of Business; and Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences.
Class of 2026 members hail from 47 states and 97 countries. Among the graduates, 243 achieved a cumulative academic grade-point average of 4.0 and 878 were the first in their families to attain a college degree. Many graduates who earned their degrees through UMass Lowell’s top-rated online program, now in its 30th year, were on campus for the first time to enjoy Commencement festivities.
UMass Lowell graduates who received their master's or doctoral degrees attended the university’s ceremony on Friday, May 15. Undergraduates in all colleges received their degrees in two ceremonies on Saturday, May 16.
As their UMass Lowell education propels them forward in their professional and personal lives, the newest members of a worldwide family of more than 125,000 UMass Lowell alumni were challenged by UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen:
“Remember to reach back and help the next generation of River Hawks,” she said. “That family includes leaders and innovators in every field — in business, health care, education, engineering, science, the arts, public service and, yes, even professional sports.”
Before thousands of parents, family, friends, teachers and alumni, the graduates reflected the breadth of academic, research, career-connected and service opportunities available to UMass Lowell students. Graduating students included Cate Kleeman of Gibbsboro, N.J., who received her master’s degree in business analytics after last year earning a degree in environmental science. Kleeman’s UMass Lowell journey took her to Ghana, where she studied energy and public health, and to the United Nations’ global climate change conference last year in Brazil. Kleeman also captained the field hockey team.
Along with Chen, UMass Board of Trustees Vice Chair Mary Burns ’84, and UMass Board of Trustees Student Member Abigail Cooper ’26, of Dudley spoke to graduates at each of the ceremonies. Cooper, who received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice Saturday afternoon, is planning a career as a lawyer.
Still other accomplished graduates addressed their classmates as student speakers:
Yasie Nejad ’26, of Salem, N.H., a first-generation college graduate who received her master’s degree in public health in dietetics, addressed classmates during Friday’s ceremony. Nejad shared her educational journey, first as a UMass Lowell undergraduate biology student who wasn’t quite sure she could be a physician and then as a graduate student who began to embrace the confidence of faculty mentors and others in the UMass Lowell community who believed in her.Nejad is a recipient of a 2026 Chancellor’s Medal for Community Service, an honor that recognizes her leadership beyond campus. She was also named the 2026 Outstanding Dietetics Student award from the Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
“I think many of us have had moments like that here — moments where something finally clicked —where belief that at first looks like borrowed confidence eventually becomes our own. These are moments that changed the trajectories of our careers and of our lives,” she said.
Bachelor’s degree recipients in the Francis College of Engineering, Kennedy College of Sciences and Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences heard from classmate Madelyn Archambault ’26, of Dracut, on Saturday morning Archambault was awarded her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, after having completed a senior capstone project in which she built a plasma reactor that reduces plastic waste. A recipient of a Chancellor’s Medal for Student Service for her contributions to the university, Archambault will pursue her master’s degree in mechanical engineering at UMass Lowell this fall, with an eye toward a career in manufacturing and business.
“At UMass Lowell, we have started to gain our momentum for life. Keep building on the momentum you gained,” she said. “Push yourself to go out of your comfort zone. Learn a little something new each day, gain new experiences, and don’t forget to stay connected.”
Before being awarded her bachelor’s degree in psychology, Nokomis Bramantecohen ’26, of Wilmington, addressed classmates in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Manning School of Business.
A member of the university’s Honors College and a recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal for Student Service, Bramantecohen completed her degree with a River Hawk Experience Distinction in community engagement. To earn that honor, she integrated her academic studies with volunteer and paid extracurricular experiences throughout Greater Lowell. Bramantecohen will pursue a master’s degree in social work and is planning a career in higher education and advocacy.
“We are innovators, creating new ideas. We are leaders, modeling the way for the people around us. We are people who know how to adapt, persevere and create change. Our future will be shaped by the risks we take, the voices we uplift and the love we choose to give,” she said.
The graduates’ achievements underscore UMass Lowell’s designation as a Carnegie-classified Research 1 university. The events also evidenced the emergence of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, an innovation ecosystem that leverages UMass Lowell’s research enterprise and industry partnerships, with the strengths of the city of Lowell, in a development that’s reshaping the city’s economic future. For the second time in three years, The Wall Street Journal has named UMass Lowell the No. 1 public university in Massachusetts.
Awards and Recognitions
During the ceremonies, UMass Lowell bestowed five honorary degrees to: retired Brig. Gen. Jack Hammond, chief executive director of Home Base National Center of Excellence for Mental Health and Brain Injuries; Liberty Mutual Insurance Chairman, President and CEO Timothy Sweeney; and longtime UMass Lowell supporters John and Mary Alden ’60, and Janice Perry.
Hammond was recognized for his service to the nation and commitment to veterans. During his military career, he led U.S. and NATO forces in combat and counterterrorism operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2012, he joined Home Base, which provides innovative solutions for mental health and brain injuries at no cost to veterans, military service members and their families. Home Base is a member of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor.
Sweeney, who grew up in the Mill City and is a Lowell High School graduate, joined Liberty Mutual in 1993. Since then, he has held leadership roles that have helped shape the company’s growth. He became president and CEO in 2023 and was elected chairman of Liberty Mutual Holding Company Inc., the company’s parent, in 2025. Liberty Mutual is the ninth-largest global property and casualty insurer.
Chancellor’s Medal recipients and distinguished alumni were also feted throughout the weekend-long celebration.
A Chancellor’s Medal for Outstanding University Support was awarded to Weston & Sampson, a leading provider of engineering, consulting, design and infrastructure services. The company shares UMass Lowell’s commitment to climate resiliency and environmental stewardship through its partnership with the university’s Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy and as a partner in the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor. Accepting the award on behalf of the company was CEO Frank Ricciardi.
A Chancellor’s Medal for Public Service and Civic Engagement was awarded to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, which has helped young people in Lowell learn, grow and build bright futures for 125 years. A valued partner of UMass Lowell, the organization creates meaningful opportunities for the university’s students to engage in service, experiential learning and career-connected work while strengthening UMass Lowell’s ties to the city. Executive Director Joe Hungler accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Lisa Brothers ’84, of Wilmington was honored for her contributions to her profession, the community and the university. As the CEO and president of Nitsch Engineering from 2011 to 2024, Brothers was responsible for the firm’s growth strategy, strategic direction and overall performance. She retired as the company’s chair earlier this year. Brothers, who earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from UMass Lowell and a master’s in business administration from Northeastern University, has returned to campus frequently to speak with students and serves on the Chancellor’s Advisory Board and Shah Leadership Academy Advisory Board.
Additional awards were granted throughout the two-day celebration. A complete list of distinguished guests and graduating seniors with top academic achievements can be found on the UMass Lowell Commencement website.
