Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Brian Benson
Cabo Verdean Sees BSU Education as Key to Serving Her Country
As a financial professional for the Cabo Verdean government, Katia Lopes, G’27, is committed to uncovering tax fraud. Bridgewater State University is giving her an advanced skillset to accomplish that goal. "I knew BSU was the perfect place for me," said Lopes, who first came to campus for a summer leadership academy and is now pursuing a master’s degree in accountancy.
International Recognition for Bridgewater State Physics Professor
Inside Dr. Thaya Paramanathan’s laboratory, you’ll find advanced scientific instruments alongside something much more personal. The lab’s walls feature stars for each graduate and pennants highlighting where they have gone on to graduate school. The decorations paint an impressive record of accomplishment: 17 students are pursuing or have earned PhDs. Alumni have studied at Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA and the University of North Carolina, among others.
BSU Professor Named Counselor Educator of the Year
For the second time in recent years, Massachusetts’ top counselor educator is a Bridgewater State University professor. Dr. M. Nikki Freeburg received the 2026 award from the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, just three years after now-emerita Professor Christy Lyons Graham earned the same honor. “It was a total surprise to me,” Freeburg said.
Students Build Iconic BSU Sculpture
Arriving on campus with an interest in art, Logan Brown, '26, discovered his passion lay not with pencils or paintbrushes but with a welding torch. Logan uses the tool to transform sheets of metal into sculptures, including a 5-foot-tall piece on the Bridgewater State campus that features a giant heart followed by the letters BSU. "It's definitely cool. I feel pretty proud," said Logan, who earned a degree in art. "When I have kids, I'm going to drive past it and say, 'See that?
BSU Professor Has Unique Opportunity to Examine 16th Century Grammar Book
On a visit to Portugal's national library, Dr. Fernanda Ferreira found herself awestruck. She was turning the worn pages of a book that shaped the Portuguese language she studies and teaches. Ferreira, who is a professor of global languages and literatures at Bridgewater State University, browsed the first Portuguese grammar book, Grammatica da lingoagem portuguesa, published by Fernão de Oliveira in 1536.
BSU Student Explores Microelectronics Industry
As one of a select group of students chosen for an MIT microelectronics program, Christopher Leary, '28, gained a behind-the-scenes look at the careers for which his BSU education is preparing him.
How BSU Transformed an Alumnus’s Outlook on Education
When Weston Smith, '18, crossed the Bridgewater State University commencement stage, he celebrated an academic milestone that was as much about his two young children as it was about himself. Smith's path to a bachelor's degree spanned two decades and three attempts before culminating in a BSU degree in strategic communications. "I wanted to progress not only with my education but also my career," he said. "The bigger factor was that I was going to lead by example for my children.
With Support from Career Services, BSU Student Secures Internship at Global IT Company
“I took away valuable real-world work experience. I’m so grateful I got an opportunity to apply everything I’ve been learning in class to hands-on work. Now I’m more confident.” Zainab Al-Mosawi, ’27, knew an internship would be an important step toward a career in human resources. But as the first member of her immediate family to attend college, Zainab was stepping into unfamiliar territory.
New Partnership Helps BSU Students Pursue Advanced Healthcare Degrees
Agreement with Northeastern University marks the third collaboration with a New England school I saw it immediately as a pathway for our students that’s advantageous. Dr. Martina Arndt, G’21, G’26 Dean of the Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics Deborah Ashiedu, ’25, G’26, aspires to make a difference through a career as a nurse practitioner. Having earned two biology degrees from BSU, Ashiedu is ready for the specialized training she needs to land her dream job.
What Lies Beneath: BSU Faculty and Students Help Uncover Hidden History at Cemetery
BSU gives lots of opportunities to its students to explore different aspects of a field besides just classwork. It’s good to get experience outside, where there are a lot of different variables involved and you have to problem-solve. Environmental geosciences major Bobby Hohler, ’27, is unraveling secrets that lie just below the Earth’s surface, yet may have remained hidden for almost 200 years.
From BSU to PwC: Accounting Student Makes the Most of a Bridgewater Education
Glendys Bonilla, ’27, came to BSU with a keen interest in accounting. She didn’t consider a position with a top firm within reach — until she attended a career panel designed for first-generation students like herself. The event featured an alumna who works as an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a multinational company considered one of the Big Four accounting firms.
BSU Photonics Student Studies Innovative Cancer Treatment
Ava Bickford, ’27, traces her love of science to performing simple childhood experiments with a beginner’s microscope alongside her uncle, Ray. Now a student researcher at BSU, Ava’s work has taken on deep personal significance. Inspired by Ray’s ongoing battle with colon cancer, Ava is researching how lasers can be used to treat cancer, combining her passion for science with a desire to make a difference.
New Telescope Helps BSU Student Researcher Aim for the Stars
This experience has been extremely valuable to me. Nowhere else have I been able to find such in-depth research opportunities that are so open. All I had to do was go to my mentor and say, ‘I’d like to do this.’ Physics major (astrophysics concentration) Maxfield Capron, ’27, transferred to BSU specifically for its astrophysics program. Now deeply involved in research, they have the unique opportunity to be among the first to use BSU’s new telescope.
BSU Students Gain Hands-on Experience Through Co-ops
This co-op creates a direct connection between my education and my career goals. It provides an opportunity to work with one of the most respected airlines in the industry while gaining experience that supports my interests in flying, managing, and maintaining aircraft. Many workers spend their entire careers seeking a dream employer. Dillon McCarthy, ’28, is realizing that opportunity while he is still in college.
From Salad Bowl to Physics Lesson
Most people view cucumbers as an ingredient on their salad. Paul Fredette sees cukes as a tool for teaching physics. Determined to bring real-world examples into the classroom, Fredette grew a special variety called the “squirting cucumber” in partnership with BSU’s Greenhouse. The plant, which is inedible, launches its seeds more than 30 feet at a velocity of around 45 miles per hour.
BSU Students Achieve Pioneering Win in Cybersecurity Competition
Four BSU seniors cracked the code to an historic win in a recent state cybersecurity competition, becoming the event’s first all-female team to claim the title. For Raven Telepak, ’26, and her BSU teammates, the victory was much more than a personal achievement. She saw it as a step toward gender parity in her profession. “It felt not just like a win for us, but also for all of the women in cyber,” Raven said.
‘Graduates of Perseverance’
They say all roads lead to Rome, but for one graduate, the road from Rome led to Bridgewater State University and a college degree. Meaghan Maddock’s parents met when her Boston-raised father met her Italian mother while studying abroad in Europe. Meaghan was born and raised in Rome but knew of BSU because of her father. When it came time to pick a college, she traveled to the United States to tour the school and fell in love with the campus.
‘You are Your Best Thing’
As Isabella Rose Almeder, ’20, G’26, prepared to sing BSU’s Alma Mater from the stage of the Xfinity Center, she couldn’t help but think about the bevy of world-renowned artists who have graced the same stage. “Oh my God, I’m singing on the same stage as Pitbull,” said Isabella, who is returning to the Xfinity Center in August to attend a concert by the rapper. “I think it’s so cool.
Commencement speaker finds comfort in supportive friends and faculty at BSU
When Julianna Sances, ’26, wondered about her future and whether she would be successful in life, she didn’t have far to look for reassurance. As a BSU student, she found encouragement in close friends and supportive faculty. “BSU gave me that support system to feel like I can move on and find the next chapter in my life,” the English major said.
Brockton Great-Grandmother Set to Graduate from BSU
When fifth-grader Aixa Blackwell faces a challenging night of homework, she doesn’t have far to look for inspiration. That motivation comes from her great-grandmother, who has her own assignments as she nears the completion of a bachelor’s degree decades in the making. “It’s inspiring to me because I’ve seen the improvement she’s making,” Aixa said of her great-grandmother, Sheryl Royster, ’26, a sociology major at Bridgewater State University.
Bridgewater State Students Explore China Through Travel Course
When Gavin Mumford, ’28, heard about the chance to visit China as part of a BSU course, he seized the opportunity to explore a new culture and country firsthand. “I don’t want someone to tell me what the world is like,” said Gavin, a political science major with a concentration in international affairs. “I want to go see it myself.” Gavin and eight of his peers spent spring break overseas through a study abroad travel course. The class, taught by Drs.
BSU Graduate Students Gain Hands-on Experience Producing New Magazine
This internship has helped me with my future career prospects and feeling confident in going forth in the literary and magazine editing field. This has acted as a stepping stone for me to see what the environment is like and has given me the confidence to know that I can do this.
Undergraduate Research Propels BSU Student to Advanced Lab
Shannon McLaughlin and mentor Ryan Hannagan seek environmentally friendly way to produce hydrogen This is something I never thought I’d have been able to do in my career, never mind in college. Coming to BSU, it’s been an amazing opportunity. When Shannon McLaughlin, ’26, transferred to BSU as a junior last year, she wasn’t sure how much she could achieve with so little time left in her college career -- or what opportunities the university had in store for her.
Bridgewater Music Alumna Leads her Students to Carnegie Hall
Colleen McDonough also performed at the renowned venue as a BSU student They still to this day have significant impacts on the work that I do. I was incredibly well prepared for the world of music education, and we were always held to incredibly high standards. Colleen McDonough, ’18, on the role of BSU music faculty For many musicians, performing at Carnegie Hall is a once-in-a-lifetime dream. Weymouth High School choral director Colleen McDonough, ’18, has now achieved it twice.
Finding Community in a Crafty BSU Club
As a new transfer student, Rachel Moore sought to quickly become involved in the Bridgewater State community. When she couldn’t find a club that satisfied her itch for scrapbooking and junk journaling, she decided to form one herself. Rachel co-founded the Cut and Paste Club last fall. Its weekly meetings often draw more than two dozen students who laugh and socialize as they turn scraps of paper into treasured keepsakes.
Professor Honors Pioneering African American Poet
A stamp can be viewed as a soon-forgotten transactional item. But Dr. Emily Field hopes the U.S. Postal Service’s new Phillis Wheatley stamp sparks people’s curiosity. The stamp, which is part of the USPS’s Black Heritage series, honors the first published African American author. During the stamp unveiling, Field spoke to an audience gathered at the Old South Meeting House in Boston, the place where Wheatley was baptized and attended church services.
BSU Biology Student Studies Coral at Woods Hole
Olivia Quintin, ’26, is fascinated by coral. To explore her passion further, she forged a research partnership between BSU and one of the world’s most prestigious oceanographic research institutions. Eager to chart her own path, Olivia contacted the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution about an internship. The biology major landed the position with key financial support from Bridgewater State.
Bridgewater State Reading Program Earns National Recognition
Master’s degree prepares literacy professionals to help children learn to read Earning this recognition signifies for potential students and candidates that our program meets several rigorous standards. It validates that what we’re doing is working. Dr. Marlene Correia, associate professor of literacy education During her 23-year career as a special education teacher, Jodi Walters, G’26, has seen many students struggle with reading. To learn how to help them, Jodi became a student again herself.
A Bridgewater State Love Story
Some love stories start with fireworks. For Maddie Monagle, ’18, and Jonny Matthews, ’19, it began with friendship – formed in Pope Hall and shaped by the everyday moments of life at Bridgewater State University.” “We really were like best friends at first,” Monagle recalled, noting their friend groups started hanging out together soon after Matthews moved in as a transfer student.
Alumni’s Personal Training Business Rooted in BSU Studies
Jonady St. Germain and Darren Stephens have been friends and classmates since they were in elementary school. As Bridgewater State University students, they added a new dimension to their relationship. While pursuing degrees in exercise science and business, the Class of 2018 graduates co-founded their own personal training business, LIT2LIFT. This new venture dovetailed perfectly with their Bridgewater State experiences, they said.
English Professor’s Book Lands on Three Best of 2025 Lists
In Abbreviate, Dr. Sarah Fawn Montgomery explores the injustices of girlhood We’re seeing a lot of women’s rights being rolled back politically and socially, but also the right to speak up, the right to even voice a story. I want to tell young people they have a tremendous amount of wisdom. Young people have a tremendous amount of voice. Dr. Sarah Fawn Montgomery For her newest book, Dr. Sarah Fawn Montgomery turned to a genre and topic that especially resonates with her Bridgewater State students.
BSU Picks New Bookstore Vendor
Bridgewater State University selected eCampus.com because their approach puts students first. This partnership introduces a modern online bookstore that gives students clear visibility into required course materials during registration, helping them plan and manage costs earlier. Mark Carmody, associate vice president for operations The campus bookstore is changing vendors in a move that is poised to create a more accessible, affordable and streamlined way for students to buy course materials.
Alumnus Paints Portraits of Victims of Nazi Persecution
Fritz Kitzing was first arrested for simply wearing gender non-conforming clothing. Josef Kohout’s “crime”? Mailing a Christmas card to his boyfriend. Kitzing and Kohout were among thousands of LGBT people imprisoned by the Nazis in World War II concentration camps during the Holocaust. While they both survived, many others died after facing horrific living conditions and torture at the hands of their captors.
Student, Alumna Present Research at Major Health Conference
As an executive/project assistant for the Boston Public Health Commission, Awo Y. Musa, ’24, uses data to uncover trends and drive policy decisions about numerous behavioral health topics. It is important work that is similar to a project she completed as a Bridgewater State student. As an undergraduate, Musa shared her interest in data analysis with Dr. Jim Leone, a professor of health and kinesiology. Leone offered her the opportunity to contribute to a study about males who face homelessness.
Double Bear Discovers Benefits of Study Abroad at BSU
Studying abroad felt far out of reach when Danielle Johnson, ’25, G’27, first came to Bridgewater State University. But, with support from BSU and her parents, Danielle now considers herself quite the globetrotter. “I had never been on a plane before,” recalled Danielle, who earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and theater and expects to complete her master’s in reading (with a concetration in teaching English to speakers of other languages) next fall.
Choral Festival Provides BSU Students with Hands-On Experience
As an aspiring choir teacher, Jillian Barton, ’27, wants to inspire her future students to broaden their horizons. Recently, she got a hands-on lesson in the behind-the-scenes logistics necessary for creating truly meaningful musical experiences. Jillian served as a manager for Bridgewater State University’s inaugural high school choral festival, a day-long event that brought together more than 300 students from 23 high schools.
Partnership Helps BSU Students Pursue Health Care Careers
With more than 13,000 vacant positions in Massachusetts hospitals, the Bay State faces a significant shortage of qualified health care professionals. To help meet that need, Bridgewater State University is offering a streamlined pathway for students to pursue these critical careers. BSU recently signed an agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute for Health Professions (IHP), which offers degrees that complement a Bridgewater education.
Real Business
When Kara McManus, G’26, pursues a career as a government or nonprofit administrator, she will inevitably partner with various consultants. Thanks to an innovative BSU initiative, she’ll do so with lots of first-hand experience. This semester, Kara and her classmates in a nonprofit administration course are helping SouthCoast Community Foundation build a database of nonprofits in the region.
Mutual Admiration
Entrepreneurs Laura Viola Maccarone, ’07, and Stephanie Boyle, ’11, never met as Bridgewater State students, but they are now each other’s biggest supporters as small business owners. “It’s been an incredible ride,” said Maccarone, who founded graphic design firm Rizbee Studio almost a decade ago. “We’ve been not only colleagues but really become great friends.” Boyle started her business, byFriday, 4 ½ years ago to provide administrative services for other firms.
Calming Effect
When a BSU student experiences a traumatic event, police officers often meet them with a four-legged companion. That pal is Mikey, a trained comfort dog whose presence creates a calming effect. “Having Mikey there helps them feel a little bit better and tell us what happened,” said BSUPD Detective Capt. Robert McEvoy, who has been Mikey’s handler since the American black Labrador retriever arrived at BSU in 2022.
Launching a Career
BSU program helps juniors land internships It made a huge difference. It gave me new experiences. I didn’t know how to find an internship, and this helped me. It made me very aware of how I could become a better version of myself and be successful. As a first-generation college student, Diamond Hunter, ’26, is forging a new path for her family as she pursues a college degree. Knowing she needed guidance in securing an internship, Diamond participated in BSU’s first-ever Junior Career Launch program.
Mastering Social Work
Dorrette Bogle Stephenson, G’22, entered Bridgewater State University’s social work program with extensive professional experience. However, she wanted one more addition to her resume: a master’s degree. “For me, it was all about the diversity in terms of staff and students. I just love (interacting with) all kinds of people,” Stephenson said.
New Addition
When Jill Milton, ’94, arrived at Bridgewater State as a freshman, she had the passion to become a teacher but lacked the skills to first be a successful student. Bridgewater, she recalled, was the perfect place for a first-generation student like her to grow academically. “Bridgewater was well prepared to help me improve my writing and my research skills,” said Milton, who studied early childhood education.
Former Chief Honored
Among his many accomplishments as police chief, David Tillinghast helped design BSU’s first modern police station. Now that station will bear his name. In a recent ceremony, the university named the station after Tillinghast, who served for more than 30 years before retiring in 2024. True to what many remember as his humble leadership style, Tillinghast was quick to pass the praise on to his former fellow officers and President Frederick W.
Center Stage
Music major feels at home in stadiums, classrooms and beyond I feel like I’ve grown a lot. All of the faculty and my peers are so supportive. They’re looking at your potential, not how good you are at the start. It’s a very growth-focused environment. At the end of high school, Delaney Hughes, ’26, was relegated to playing the flute over Zoom amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Just a few years later, the BSU student performed a solo near the 50-yard line of an NFL stadium.
Computer Networking
When Aaliyah Oliveira’s parents face computer problems, they rely on her to figure out what is wrong. With a cybersecurity degree now within reach, Aaliyah is eager to put her tech savviness to use on a much larger scale. “Being able to help people is a big factor,” Aaliyah, of Brockton, said of pursuing a cybersecurity and digital forensics degree at BSU.
Banking Success
Cate Adams, ’01, moved around in her early undergraduate years, attending colleges in Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Florida. But the now-banking executive realized the ideal school was actually close to home in Massachusetts. Bridgewater State “offered a great education and value,” said Adams, the chief commercial banking officer at North Easton Savings Bank.
In Plane Site
Bridgewater State’s newest building is firmly bolted to the ground, but it helps aviation science students like Molly Keenan, ’26, reach for the skies. The new hangar at New Bedford Regional Airport protects BSU’s planes from adverse weather conditions, making them ready to fly when students need to take lessons.
Research is on her Plate
Chemistry student studies ancient food artifacts Going into Bridgewater, I really had no idea what I wanted to do as a career. Now I have more answers than I did before. Mackenzie Cobb, ’26, is using modern scientific techniques to gain insights into how people lived thousands of years ago. The West Bridgewater resident is studying pieces of pottery with the goal of determining what these ancient people ate. Along the way, she’s gaining new perspectives on her own future.
Different Chapters
Nathan Couto, ’10, enrolled at Bridgewater State to study creative writing. He graduated with a degree in elementary education but never abandoned his passion for the written word. Now, the school administrator is blending his personal and professional interests by writing children’s books. “Working in education, it made sense,” said Couto, who was a third-grade teacher before moving into administration.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Brian
Contact Brian, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack