Alumni, parents, and friends in the Sunshine State came together to celebrate UMass Amherst’s leadership in nursing, public health, business, and student success. 

The UMass Amherst Foundation brought the Accelerate campaign to Florida at the beginning of February, with two events in Delray Beach and Naples.

At these celebratory events, members of the UMass Amherst Florida community socialized with deans, faculty, and their peers and learned more about the ways in which the campaign can advance inspired teaching, impactful research, and vibrant campus life.

In Delray Beach, the deans of the Marieb College of Nursing and the School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) mingled with guests and introduced faculty speakers specializing in nursing and engineering innovation, equitable and sustainable nursing care, wearable sensor technology for monitoring physical activity, and easier access to hearing aids for an aging population.

“We are dedicated to producing ideas, discoveries, and future leaders that will benefit as many people and communities as possible in practical ways,” said SPHHS Dean Anna Maria Siega-Riz.  

Following the faculty presentations, Provost Fouad Abd-El-Khalick stressed that students, faculty, and staff at UMass Amherst are addressing critical challenges like nationwide nursing shortages, improvements in maternal health, care for those with mental health and substance abuse issues, and stroke rehabilitation.  

“Our faculty and students are committed to changing lives and strengthening the future of our nation's health, I hope this has you thinking about ways you can get involved.”

—Provost Fouad Abd-El-Khalick

The very next evening in Naples, attendees heard from Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford, Dean of the Isenberg School of Management Anne Massey, and UMass Amherst Alumni Association President Rachel Spates MS ’05.  

Bamford talked about the department’s drive to create more scholarship opportunities for student-athletes and introduced new Head Football Coach Joe Harasymiak to the crowd. He then welcomed Spates to the podium to talk about the Sport Management Program, a partnership between Athletics and Isenberg.  

“This is what I find so special about this university...the fact that faculty and alumni put extensive effort into making sure each student’s experience is meaningful and memorable.”

—Rachel Spates MS ’05, after detailing the mentoring and support she received as a graduate student

Chancellor Javier Reyes closed out the program by emphasizing the impact UMass Amherst has on the commonwealth, the nation, and the world through both its on-campus work and the pursuits of its alumni.  

“Our alumni are leaders, and they are doers. They help to fuel our local economies, engage in the global marketplace, and contribute to the vibrancy of our communities,” he said. “UMass faculty are at the forefront of research and scholarship that helps to advance solutions to real-world problems and needs, such as clean energy, food and water safety, quantum networking, artificial intelligence, and sustainable food production.  

“These are just some of the ways that the work we do serves the common good, and your philanthropic support helps to make our success possible.”      

Learn more about upcoming Accelerate campaign events in Washington, D.C. and New York City.