by Wesley J. Dunham, iCons Strategic Communications and Program Manager
The UMass Amherst Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program is an innovative academic certificate program designed to inspire a diverse generation of innovators with the attitudes and skills needed to solve the problems facing society. Through team-based projects, iCons students build on the strengths of their respective majors, gaining experience in cross-disciplinary communication and integrative problem-solving.
This past fall, we proudly launched our sixteenth cohort of the iCons Program, known as the Sweet 16 cohort. The cohort is the largest in the program’s history with 144 students from eight different schools and colleges and 41 different majors. Included in the new cohort are five Chemistry majors:
Harriet Gregory ’28, Sustainable Energy & Materials track
Zachary Moore ’29, Sustainable Energy & Materials track
Nina Nevalainen ’28, Sustainable Energy & Materials track
Khadeejah Sarr ’28, Biomedicine/Biosystems track
Bhawna Teerth ’28, AI and the Future of Work track
The growth in the overall cohort size is due, in part, to the expansion of the program with our newest academic track, AI and Automation. This track will help prepare our graduates to exert leadership over the transformative impacts of artificial intelligence on society. Students are currently enrolled in ECE 150 Making Better Decisions by Humans and AI with Prof. Hossein Pishro-Nik (Electrical and Computer Engineering) and Prof. Christian Rojas (Resource Economics).
In October 2025, the UMass iCons Program hosted its annual Idea Slam, focusing on the problem of unsustainable construction. Thought leaders Dr. Charles Bateman and Dongyeop Shin ’14 (Chemical Engineering and iCons alumnus) from Saint-Gobain highlighted current issues in the construction and materials sector. Following their insights, students and faculty formed teams to brainstorm and pitch innovative solutions, fostering collaborative, creative problem-solving. The event showcased the iCons Program’s commitment to experiential learning and empowering students to address critical societal issues.
The iCons Industry Consortium also had a great year, adding two new members: Saint Gobain and MIT Lincoln Labs. As discussed above, Saint Gobain is interested in working with iCons on minimizing material waste, especially in the construction industry. And MIT Lincoln Labs seeks iCons participation in projects related to automation, AI, and remote communication. We welcome both of our new members and look forward to the new levels of student success we can reach with them.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our supporters – especially the Mahoney Family and the Marram Family – and all our industry partners for their ongoing belief in our mission and our students. Together, we are empowering a new generation of innovators who are prepared to make meaningful impacts in all they do.
To stay updated on iCons news and events, please visit our website at https://icons.cns.umass.edu. We wish you all good health, happiness, and continued success.