Alumni News 2025: Alumni honored for dedication to UMassD and career achievements

The UMass Dartmouth Alumni Association and friends celebrate excellence and pride at the 52nd annual Alumni Awards

The UMass Dartmouth Alumni Association held the 52^nd annual Alumni Awards during a brunch gathering at Blue & Gold Weekend on October 18 to recognize five individuals for their professional accomplishments and service to UMassD and the community: Douglas Hughes, MA ’96; Diane Phillips ’84; Thais Sousa ’17, DNP ’22; Amy Shapiro; and Richard L. Lafrance.

“This year’s recipients share a common quality: They are all dedicated to creating opportunities for UMass Dartmouth students and individuals in our community,” said James Pace ’09, president of the Alumni Association, in his welcome to guests who included faculty, staff, alumni friends, families, and colleagues of the honorees.

Chancellor Mark A. Fuller, PhD, noted the importance of alumni connections in creating a thriving academic environment, inviting them to help launch students into successful careers through mentorships and opening up job and internship opportunities.  

“It is my passion to create opportunities for students, and alumni play a vital role in this,” Chancellor Fuller said.

Diane Phillips ’84 received the Alumni Volunteer Service Award for her trailblazing career and impactful service to UMass Dartmouth. She has over 25 years of experience in the Department of Defense, leading teams in product development and acquisition that work to improve the technologies and products for protective clothing and equipment programs. A former UMass Dartmouth Alumni Association member, she worked to create networking opportunities that connect female students with pathways to success in science, technology, engineering, and math, leveraging her participation in the Women in Defense Greater Boston Chapter to launch the annual Empowering Women in STEM networking event, now in its 6^th year. 

“When I was a textile engineering student, I was one of the only female students in class,” Phillips said. “We are here because we love UMass Dartmouth and the opportunities that it provided for our lives and our desire to share these with students today.”

Thais Sousa ’17, DNP ’22, an adult care nurse practitioner in New Bedford, was honored with the Rising Star Award for her groundbreaking research advocating for mothers in recovery from substance abuse. Her doctoral thesis on the harmful effects of policies that remove children from sober mothers due to prescribed medications like suboxone led to the introduction of H.166, a bill aimed at reforming these policies and improving support systems for affected families. Sousa’s dedication to both nursing and social change has made a lasting impact on those affected by this dilemma in the SouthCoast community and beyond.

Sousa reflected on the values of research and curiosity that she acquired at UMass Dartmouth. “This is the result of a collective effort to allow me to do what UMass Dartmouth taught me to do—to improve public health,” she said. “Research is most powerful when you listen to people with an open heart without judgement. UMass Dartmouth reinforced my belief that education is a tool for empowerment.”

Dr. Amy Shapiro, the inaugural dean of UMass Dartmouth’s Honors College, accepted the Faculty/Staff Recognition Award for her leadership and dedication to the university. Creating opportunities for highly motivated students is at the heart of Dr. Shapiro’s work at the Honors College, where outstanding students engage in research with faculty, explore unique internships, and complete a challenging independent project that is the culmination of their honors education.

Proud of what the students in the Honors College accomplish, Shapiro remarked that she is most honored to help guide in their success. “It is a privilege every day to serve these students,” she said. “We fund their research, challenge them in their courses, and mentor them through their honors theses so their skills are visible to graduate schools and employers.”

The Alumni Achievement Award recipient was presented to Douglas Hughes, MA ’96, a compassionate leader and tireless advocate whose work has transformed the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As vice president of clinical services at LifeStream, his visionary leadership has advanced the organization’s mission of community inclusion, helping those with intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, and autism live fuller, more independent lives.

“I am humbled to be honored today,” Hughes said. “My life’s passion is to improve the lives of people with disabilities.”

The Blue and Gold Legacy Award was presented to Richard Lafrance, chairman of Lafrance Hospitality, a long-time community supporter and a devoted member of the UMass Dartmouth family. For over 30 years, Lafrance has demonstrated his commitment to UMass Dartmouth and the success of its students through contributions to many fundraising initiatives. He and his family have generously supported students through the Lafrance Family Scholarship Endowment, which provides financial assistance for students in the Charlton College of Business, and the Lafrance Family Endowment in support of the university.

Recalling the many connections that the Lafrance and their hospitality management company have had with UMass Dartmouth over the years, from his father serving on the building authority committee when the predecessor institution Southeastern Massachusetts Technical Institute was under construction to his grandson who is an alum, Lafrance noted the legacies of the two organizations in the SouthCoast.

I am proud to be recognized for this award,” Lafrance said. “I am proud to be involved with this university and what it represents to the community.”

As one of the most anticipated annual events, the Alumni Awards continue the university’s long-standing tradition of recognizing members of the UMass Dartmouth community who exemplify achievement and leadership. Each year, our honorees inspire future generations of Corsairs to excel both in and beyond the classroom.

If you would like to nominate a graduate for an Alumni Award, please submit a nomination here.

“This year’s recipients share a common quality: They are all dedicated to creating opportunities for UMass Dartmouth students and individuals in our community,”