The University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF) has announced the recipients of the 2025 UMass Alumni Honors Awards.

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UMass Alumni Honors Awards are presented each year by the UMass Amherst Foundation to recognize the achievements of outstanding alumni who have translated their UMass experience into professional success and meaningful service. The honorees, who represent different career stages and fields, amplify the university’s mission and impact locally and globally.

“I am proud to recognize the extensive accomplishments of this year’s Alumni Honors Awards recipients,” said UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier A. Reyes. “Their careers and achievements illustrate the value of outstanding public higher education, and each of them has shown a deep commitment to advancing the common good through their professional and volunteer work. They embody the university’s mission and are exemplary role models for generations of students to come.”

This year’s UMass Alumni Honors Awards recipients are:

• Marian Heard ’76, ’01 H – President and CEO, Oxen Hill Partners, who spent more than three decades in leadership positions within the United Way system.
   
• Christopher Lathan, MD ’90, ’92 MS – Chief Clinical Access Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a clinical medical oncologist with an unwavering dedication to broadening access to cancer care.
   
• Mark A. Vezzola ’00 – Deputy General Counsel, Pechanga Band of Indians, who advises and represents various tribal entities; develops and updates ordinances, policies, and procedures; and advocates for the tribe’s interests in both state and tribal court.
   
• Katrina Spade ’13 M.Arch. – Founder and CEO, Recompose, a public benefit corporation, that offers an inclusive, ethical, and sustainable approach to death care practices.
   
• Janie Kaplan ’79 – Chairwoman, Women for UMass; Advisor, Women of Isenberg, whose career spans more than three decades in information technology consulting and who has made exceptional contributions to mentorship of UMass-affiliated women.
   
• Nabanita De ’17 MS – Founder and CEO, PrivacyLicense.ai, who is a visionary serial technology entrepreneur reshaping the future of privacy and AI.

“We are fortunate to have a large community of alumni who are making important contributions to their communities, the nation, and the world,” said Michelle-Kim Cohen ’03, president of the UMass Amherst Alumni Association. “This year’s honorees reinforce the notion that UMass is a place that fosters innovation, creativity, and the motivation to drive change where it is needed the most.”

The honorees will be celebrated during an event on October 23 at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in Cambridge, Mass. sponsored by the UMass Amherst Alumni Association.

For more information about the distinguished alumni or to register for the event, visit the UMass Amherst Alumni Association website.