Brandeis Magazine

Karen Devereaux Melillo, Heller PhD’90, was named interim dean at UMass Lowell’s School of Nursing. She is the first dean of the school, which was elevated from a department in 2013 and relocated to the university’s new Health and Social Sciences Building. Karen served as chair of the Department of Nursing for nine years. Carol Hardy-Fanta, PhD’91, is director emeritus at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at UMass Amherst. Michael Ochs, MA’91, PhD’95, a professor of mathematics and statistics at the College of New Jersey, co-authored an article about polycythemia vera that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Polycythemia vera is a rare blood disease in which the body makes too many red blood cells. Michael’s work could help experts estimate the probability of different potential molecular activities in cancer. Patrick Breslin, IBS MA’92, joined NERA Economic Consulting as vice president of the firm’s transfer pricing practice. He has extensive experience analyzing complex transactions and regulatory issues in the contexts of litigation and other controversy. He had been a principal at Bates White. Roberta Montemorra Marvin, PhD’92, published the Cambridge Verdi Encyclopedia and co-edited a volume of essays, “Music in Print and Beyond: Hildegard von Bingen to the Beatles.” Marty Kingsbury, MFA’93, an animal-loving poet and playwright, published a new young-adult novel, “Rescuing Oricito.” The book, about animal adoption, is based on her own rescue dog’s journey. Barbara Ferrer, Heller PhD’94, former executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, was named chief strategy officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. In her new role, she will lead the foundation’s work to develop, define and hone strategies for program areas including education and learning; food, health and well-being; family economic security; racial equity; and community engagement. Beth Falconer, Heller MA’99, was promoted to executive director of the Firehouse Center for the Arts, in Newburyport, Mass. The Firehouse is home to the 191-seat Arakelian Theater and the Firehouse Art Gallery. A popular restaurant is also located in the structure, once the central firehouse for the community.