Alumni @ Lesley

Lesley's Centennial Commencement 2010!

Lesley's Centennial Commencement was held May 19th, 2010 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Graduates were honored by President Joseph Moore, local politicians, honorary degree recipients and Commencement speaker US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Alumni, family and friends can check out video of the main ceremony and the diploma ceremonies by clicking here.

We also have lots of pictures of the event available here on our website through Flickr, and on Facebook. Check them out, and of course tag yourself or your friends!

For a full description of the festivities, click here. We offer congratulations to all our 2010 graduates and hope that you all stay in touch!

Lesley’s Dr. Anne Collins Pulls Math Education Out of Its Rut!

Lesley Professor Anne Collins says, “Math education in America is stuck in a rut!”  As director of Lesley’s math programs and a highly regarded national expert, she should know!  Dr. Collins has secured over $4 million in federal and state grants for educational initiatives that place Lesley at the forefront of education reform.

Through her efforts, Lesley has partnered with multiple school districts in Massachusetts from Fall River to Springfield to train stronger math teachers.  An outspoken advocate for mathematics education reform, she calls for the elimination of “busywork” like filling out formulas and doing repetitive practice work, decrying it as a “passive and irrelevant experience” that leads to “students finding themselves both unexcited and intimidated by the subject.”

Lesley Alumna founds Non-Profit to Fight Child Homelessness

Laurie and friends at the UnitedStates4Kids Launch Event. Pictured from left to right: Robert Whalen, Victoria Whalen (President), Manuel de Santaren (chair of US4Kids photo committee), Laurie Schoen (CEO), Scott Schoen, Colin Cowie(Celebrity Event Planner and Television Personality)

Laurie Gachelin Schoen is a Lesley graduate who is making a difference in the lives of others every day.  A graduate of the Lesley College Class of 1986, Laurie recently founded an organization to fight homelessness called UnitedStates4Kids.

Partnering with three national organizations; Project HEALTH, Share Our Strength, and Horizons for Homeless Children, Laurie intends for UnitedStates4Kids to raise awareness about the national crisis of homelessness that plagues an estimated 750,000 American children between newborn and age six each year.  A strong supporter of Lesley’s educational mission of service and innovation, Laurie’s first project is to organize a photo exhibition to raise awareness and funds to combat the national crisis of child homelessness in America.

Loyal Lesley Daughters Video

In celebration of Lesley's 100 Year Anniversary, Loyal Lesley Daughters looks back over our history through the memories and insights of 12 Lesley graduates from the 1920s to the 1960s. Listen as the graduates discuss the social impact their education had on their lives and their futures and follow changes at Lesley from a small Normal School to a nationally renowned college for future educators. Lesley University appreciates tremendously the support of MassHumanities for the production of the Loyal Lesley Daughters exhibit and video.

Alumni Council Volunteer Awards 2010

Lesley University's second annual Alumni Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was held on Saturday, March 20th, 2010. Alumni Volunteer honors were also awarded to this

year's recipients, Deborah Nathan, GSASS '06 (pictured left) and Shawna Ferguson, LC '95 (pictured right). President Joe Moore was on hand to congratulate the award winners, and the evening's keynote speaker, Dean of Lesley College Sean McNiff, addressed guests and award recipients, highlighting Lesley's long tradition of service and honoring the accomplishments of all of Lesley's volunteers.