EMCON Alumni Newsletter June 2025

Dear Alumni and Friends,

The end of the academic year is a time to celebrate hard work, perseverance, and nursing excellence. Sometimes the pace of the semester makes day-to-day activities go by in a blur. Taking a step back and seeing our recent graduates walk across the stage with their families cheering (and we saw quite an impressive array of cheering sections, with some families printing out life size headshots of graduates) drives home why our faculty, staff, and students come in every day: dedicating their time and focus to teach, support, and learn the nursing profession. 

I want to give a shout-out to our Alumni Board, who enthusiastically welcomed our Doctor of Nursing Practice and Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates at their respective scholarship day and ceremony. It was special to see nursing alumni welcoming graduates to the alumni community, establishing meaningful connections, and bringing a smile to each graduate's face with a Marieb College of Nursing license plate frame. Knowing that we have a caring and dedicated alumni community gives me great assurance that our newest graduates are joining dedicated UMass nurses who care deeply about each other, and the profession.

Leaders who greatly enhanced the ALANA Nursing Student Group: Roelsy Tineo Reyes, Efuah Gyanson, Danielle Afrikoma, Harriet Boakye, Wesley Chiu, Niyo Mwajuma.

Dean Vorderstrasse with Alyson Saben, Dr. E. Ann Sheridan's niece, who came from Maryland to the senior recognition ceremony to celebrate Director of Undergraduate Programs Celeste Surreira '96, '11MS, '14DNP, the first faculty to receive the Dr. E. Ann Sheridan Faculty Mentorship Award.

Julia De Villier '25DNP won the swag giveaway at the DNP Scholarship Day at the alumni board table hosted by Emily Amico '00, pictured on the right, and Chris Schrauf '68.

EMCNEI Corner

The Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation awarded $55,000 in grants in May. Grant teams include both a nursing and engineering faculty member and focus on projects related to health and healthcare. Two faculty pilot grants and one jointly funded seed grant with the Institute of Diversity Sciences for a project with social impact goals were awarded.

Interns Welcomed to Nurse-Engineer Research Teams
Six undergraduate interns have joined the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation this summer. Interns will work with doctoral students and other center team members on several projects this summer. We are excited to have their energy and excitement for our work in nurse-engineer teams!

Left to right: 
Kourosh Alimohammadbeik, RN (Nursing PhD student)
Sam Sitole (post doctoral researcher)
Nell Woolfolk (EMCNEI intern, Biomedical Engineering)
Gina Georgadarellis (Engineering PhD student)
Marco Vital (EMCNEI intern, Mechanical Engineering)
Hoon Lee (Engineering PhD student)
Brenda Nyarko, RN  (Nursing PhD student)
Maya Mawla (EMCNEI intern, Nursing)
Rose Giglio (EMCNEI intern, Biomedical Engineering)
Frank Sup, PhD (EMCNEI Co-Director) 
Aayush Rahul Deherkar (EMCNEI intern, Computer Science)

ICYMI - Alumni Share Their Story

Twelve nurses sat down with Crystal S. Neuhauser, Chief Development Officer to share their UMass and nursing story. Here are a few quotes from the interviews. 

"UMass had the kind of program I was looking for—intensive, immersive, and built around real patient relationships."

"Modern nurses aren’t confined to the bedside. We work in tech, on corporate boards, in advocacy—always keeping patients’ best interests at heart."

Read more about our nursing alumni and their stories that they graciously shared in honor of nurses week.

Congratulations!

Alumni Board Member Tunde Olatinwo '21ABSN married Kerice Kelly on May 15, 2025! Congratulations Tunde from all of us at the College!

Do you have an update to share? We want to hear from you! Let us know what's new with you.

Gabrielle Abelard '97, '01MS Nurse.Org Nurse Leader of the Year

Clinical Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director Gabrielle Abelard received the Nurse Leader of the Year Award from Nurse.org. Congratulations Dr. Abelard!

Abelard is the Chief Executive Officer and Clinical Director at Abelard Psychotherapy Mental Health Clinic. Learn how her journey working in the mental health field started with a tube of red lipstick.

Jeannine Blake '20MS, '22Ph.D. recipient of Young Professional Award 

Associate Professor Jeannine Blake '20MS, '22Ph.D. received the Young Professional Award from the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. Congratulations Jeannine!

Cidalia Vital '07MS, '20Ph.D. receives 2025 Distinguished Community Partner Award 

State Senator Adam Gómez, for the Hampden District, presented a proclamation and official citation to Cidalia Vital '07MS, '20Ph.D., who received the 2025 Distinguished Community Partner Award. Vital leads the Department of Nursing Research at Baystate Medical Center, and her work with the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation has resulted in interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and community engagement. Vital has collaborated with the Center to submit two patents for products in healthcare, and have a third submission planned for 2025. Thank you Cidalia for all you do for nursing in Massachusetts!

Congratulating MaryAnn Hogan and Mary Ellen Burke on their incredible careers 

Excellent faculty and academic leaders have long been a cornerstone at the College, and I would like to acknowledge two legendary nurses who have been an integral part of educating countless students over many decades, shaping nursing educational policy nationally, and making the EMCoN a welcoming home for nursing students. 

We got together last month to celebrate MaryAnn Hogan and Mary Ellen Burke, their accomplishments, and wish them well for what comes next. If you would like to send them a note of congratulations, please feel welcome to reply to this email.  

Save the Date: October 4, 2025 for UMass Homecoming

Please save the date for Homecoming! Take a tour of Skinner Hall led by those who know it best - our student ambassadors, and join together with nurses, friends, and community members for a meet-and-greet. More details to come, hope to see you!

In Closing

This summer will be a time of strategic planning at the College and UMass. Chancellor Javier Reyes spoke repeatedly at graduation ceremonies about how UMass will stay true to our mission to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and advance knowledge for the betterment of the world.

Our Accelerated students are busy throughout the summer in Skinner Hall completing their courses, and their dedication is a daily reminder that the work of nurses is ongoing. Nurses are consistently rated as the most trusted profession, and despite any external factors, we triumphantly lead the way to provide outstanding care to fellow community members. 

Sincerely,

Allison Vorderstrasse
Professor and Dean
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing